Author's Note: Hiya! It's now time for the...Oh wait, I don't think there are any Anonymous Reviewers this time. But here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Damien paced back and forth, trying to evenly balance on his tentacles. His gaze focused on the gravel underneath him. "I guess I am getting better at balancing on eight limbs. It's always good to see a bit of progress after a while."
Jacque watched from the rocky throne, watching the Spy practice moving around on land with his cephalopod appendages. He jumped in alarm each time Damien nearly lost balance and flailed his human arms about, worried that his friend may plummet and crash.
"Non, mon ami, I'm alright…" Damien reassured, regaining his balance for what seemed to be the fourth of fifth time, "I'm getting used to…er, 'walking' like this." He suddenly stopped to find one of his tentacles sticking to the ground. "Oh great…not again." He moaned, grabbing the tentacle with both and pulled. "How am I supposed to control these things properly? I was doing just fine before."
Jacque shrugged. Click, click-click-click-click. Click-y.
The fleshy-pink suction cups finally gave up as Damien yanked the tentacle from the ground, causing him to lose his balance and falling on the ground on his back. "I know I need more practice, Jacque…it's just taking too long. At this rate, it will be difficult to walk on land." He sighed, sitting up and looking at his eight writhing appendages. "Why was I given these repulsive things in the first place? They ruined my live…and the worst part is not remembering it all!" he glanced over at what was left of the Engineer's body nearby. "And I discovered that I am a man-eater and crave fresh blood! It seems that I am a monster…I don't think that it could be any worse."
The black Spy Crab hoped down from his perch and scurried over to Damien. He tapped at his side with one claw. Click…click-click?
"Hm?"
Click-click-click-click, click.
"You're right. I could think of the positives, Jacque…Well, for starters, I made new friends to look after." The Spy smiled weakly.
Jacque squeaked of delight as he nuzzled Damien's hand.
"Then I…discovered new talents and abilities, a beautiful place where I can call home…" Damien's smile suddenly disappeared. "But I have no purpose. Why am I here? What am I truly supposed to do with these extra limbs? Is there an actual life I have to pursue? Or am I a complete waste of a life form?"
Click-click-click-click. Click-y.
Damien blinked as he glanced down at the crab. "What? A secret compartment from scientists?"
Jacque nodded. Click.
"Where is it at? And why would you mention it all of a sudden?" Damien asked.
Jacque began a series of clicks with his pinchers, trying to explain as best as he can and as much as he knew. As he clicked, Damien gave quick nods of understanding.
"So, there is a secret filing compartment at one of the bases above the surface, oui? And these files contain information about experiments and projects unseen by anyone else but the scientists themselves? How do you know of this place?"
Click, click-click click-y. Click-click-click.
"You were…created in a lab and you have seen the files themselves?" Damien's golden eyes lit up as he asked.
Jacque nodded.
"Maybe there will be some files about myself! This could be my hope to understand who I am now…and who I was before. I need to get those files and see what my purpose is." Damien said, placing a finger up to his chin, "But we still need to know which base it is at."
Jacque thought for a moment, but then shrugged of disappointment.
"You mean you don't know which base is at?" The Spy frowned.
Jacque shook his head. Click…click-click-click…
Damien sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I guess it will be a hopeless attempt to search, then…" he sighed, looking down at the ground, "It's alright…I'm sure I'll figure it out one day or another. My purpose will come to me soon enough."
The Spy Crab hopped onto Damien's lap, smiling up at the Spy in a friendly matter.
Damien smiled, patting the crab on the head. "You're right…I've got other things I need to focus on. Like my duty to protect the Spy Crabs…and you, of course."
Jacque chirped and snuggled the gloved hand. Seconds later, his eyes grew drowsy and he yawned stretching his claws and tiny legs.
Damien chuckled. "Look like someone is tired. Here." He scooped Jacque with both of his hands and rose, carrying him back to the throne. Once he sat down, Damien placed the crab on his lab. "Would you like a lullaby to help you sleep?" he asked.
Jacque slowly nodded, nestling and cuddling one of Damien's hands.
Damien took his free hand and began stroking his crab gently with clawed fingers. He cleared his throat and began to sing. "Dodo, dinette dodo, dino. Mon petite poulette…"
The crab's beady black eyes instantly began to droop. He yawned once more before purring of content.
"Va faire dodo dans les bras de sa maman…"
Jacque drifted into a deep sleep. He nuzzled and cooed in his sleep with a simple smile. Other crabs, however, picked up the sound of Damien's soothing voice and gathered around the throne at the Spy's eight limbs. Some curled up in balls by themselves, others grouped together in small packs. Each crab started to fall asleep, succumbing to the soft, alluring melody.
"Qui la berce doucement. Dodo dinette, dodo dino…" Damien petted the sleeping crab, smiling down at him as he stopped the lullaby. "Bonne nuit, mon ami…Sweet dreams to you." He looked up, and was quite surprised to see most of the Spy Crab herd around his tentacles asleep as well. "Did…my singing do that?" he asked himself quietly. "I wonder…if I can do that to crabs, then what can my voice do to…humans?" he yawned as his reptilian eyes became half-open. "I guess I can worry about it some other time…" Damien leaned back and closed his eyes, falling into a relaxed slumber.