Coffee and Cigarettes

"Prescott!"

The sleep-deprived man startled awake at the sound of his name spoken into his ear.

"Prescott, are you there?"

"Yeah," Prescott responded as he stretched his stiff shoulder, "I'm still alive."

Adam's voice was the first human one to snap him awake. Prescott was convinced that the locusts never slept. Their noises had quiet down. But even the slightest sound of their existence kept him awake.

"However long that will last. Is she with you?"

"No. Queen Myrrah locked me in my lab shortly after you radioed me. She hasn't returned since."

"Bitch kicked me out of my own room. Do these creatures ever sleep?!" Prescott said in an aggravated tone.

"Sleep habits vary among each species. But in general, they can survive on fewer hours of sleep than we do."

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind," Prescott rubbed his forehead.

He forgot for a moment that he was talking to a scientist and he'd receive a literal answer to such questions. All Prescott wanted was some sleep. And quite possibly some decent food. The food ration bars he managed to grab didn't last too long. After searching through his now empty pockets he checked his watch. It was near five in the morning. He wasn't sure if he'd be lucky enough to have room service once again. Not that he wished to have another Locust walk through the door. But it was preferable to the other option in his mind.

"If Myrrah catches us on the comms too often, between the two of us, she'll kill me first for interrupting your work," Prescott said.

"Just be careful. I won't be able to persuade Myrrah into keeping you alive should she change her mind."

"I'll keep the channel open."

Prescott opened the door just enough to peek through the crack. The noises could still be heard. But much to his luck there wasn't a single Locust in close proximity. It was deja vu sneaking out. The mixture of anxiety and fatigue made Prescott feel slightly nauseous. The heavy armor and boots made more noise than he expected. He hoped above all that it wouldn't catch the attention of the Locusts. Prescott finally reached the closest break room. It looked more like a small kitchen with all the large appliances. The main kitchen was located near the dining hall. With Azura's grand size these smaller rooms provided a convenient break between scheduled meals. Prescott scanned the unoccupied room before heading straight for the pantry. Its contents consisted mostly of glass jars filled with preserved food. He managed to find snack bars that looked more promising than the ration bars. Prescott underestimated exactly how tired he was and one of the jars crashed to the floor.

"Shit!" Prescott swore under his breath as he quickly turned his attention to the open archway.

The break room didn't have a door. And even if it had the noise would have still been heard outside. Prescott stared at the doorway, his heart pounding in his ears, expecting one of those creatures to attack. But none did. Prescott resumed pocketing the packaged snacks, all while keeping his attention to the open doorway. He was about to make his way out when he noticed the coffee maker was full. It must have automatically brewed an hour or two ago for it was still hot to touch. Prescott grabbed a mug to take with him. But he quickly regretted his decision to stay in that room longer than he needed to. He almost spilled the coffee when he heard the clank of metal draw closer. The Armored Kantus had returned once again. It made no hostile advances, but that didn't comfort the chairman. The Kantus simple stared at him, leaning slightly forward and breathing heavily. Without moving his own gaze, Prescott slowly placed the mug on the counter and pushed it as far away from himself as he could from where he stood. The Kantus looked at the drink and walked towards Prescott. The Kantus stopped only to pick up the mug.

"That's hot," Prescott said.

The Kantus downed the mug with no regard to Prescott's warning. It smacked its jaws a few times while staring at the empty cup. Prescott quirked an eyebrow at the creature's heat tolerance. He moved the rest of the coffee towards the Kantus. Prescott cautiously moved past the preoccupied Kantus and made his way back to his quarters. It was a force of habit to walk through that door. Myrrah was at the edge of the large bed studying Prescott's Memoirs. She was dressed in what appeared to be undergarments.

"Put your clothes back on!" Prescott quickly diverted his gaze.

"I didn't expect you to want another round so soon," Myrrah said calmly, not even bothering to look up from the journal.

"It wouldn't have happened at all had I known who you were!"

"I do not recall your haste in inquiring my identity at the time," Myrrah replied.

Prescott left without another word. He was able to avoid the Locusts once again in the short distance to the room he had spent the night. He tossed the contents of his pockets onto the dresser before heading towards the bed. The bulky armor was uncomfortable to lay in even under the bed's cushion. Prescott didn't bother trying to remove it for it would only be one more losing battle. The quilted comforter muffled Prescott's selective choice of words before he unintentionally fell asleep. Though his nap didn't last too long. Prescott woke to the sound of the Locust once again, except this time it was only one creature he heard. And it was closer than he preferred. Prescott had managed to turn on his side in his sleep even with the bulky armor. His eyes flew open to the sight of the Armored Kantus standing at the side of the bed. Prescott screamed and scrambled across the bed trying to distance himself from the Kantus. After the initial shock wore off he looked more like he was trying to become part of the bed, sinking in the best he could. Prescott was certain that the same Kantus that took his pistol made it its duty to follow him. It looked down at the ceramic mug in its hand for a moment before tossing it next to Prescott. The Chairman took the mug, looked at it then back at the Kantus.

"Coffee," Prescott said.

The Kantus attempted to repeat the word.

"Yeah," Prescott slowly eased out of the bed at the other side without breaking his stare at the Locust before him.

It had been two hours, at the most, since his trip earlier to the kitchen.

'Should have dropped caffeine on them from the beginning,'Prescott amused himself.

The Kantus didn't take long to finish the first cup. It let out a sudden loud screech. The unexpected noise made Prescott jump.

"What did I do?!"

The Kantus let out another screech and Prescott quickly left the room. He kept glancing back to be sure the Kantus wasn't following him.

"Prescott to CIC," the chairman flipped through the different channels.

It was a hopeless attempt especially after this long.

"Lowe. Rivera. Anybody?"

The Kantus let out another screech from the break room. Prescott jumped again at the noise. He then felt someone grab the back of his armor and pulled him away from the break room.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

"I believe I should be the one asking," Myrrah's voice spoke.

She shoved him into his quarters.

"Do you really think anyone is going to rescue you? Adam won't be coming to your aid. The rest of the filthy humans are dead. All of them. I didn't think your memory would be so terrible. Unless you're only capable of retaining gratifying memories," the Queen said, her lip curled into a slight smile as she spoke the last sentence.

Prescott glared at her in agitation. She was toying with him again.

'Just a game. Two can play at that.'

"You're doing it wrong," Prescott said as he backed into the room slightly.

"What?" Myrrah quickly snapped at him.

"I said you're doing it wrong."

Prescott had worked himself out of his armor quicker than he expected. Allowing himself to be exposed before the woman responsible for the genocide of the human race was risky. But he couldn't let her win this.

"I don't know about your Locusts," Prescott paused for a moment to pull his shirt over his head, "but it is possible for women to enjoy sex."

Myrrah only glared at Prescott for a few moments before shutting the door behind her.