Hello everyone! Welcome back to chapter 12 (formerly chapter 11)! I first posted this chapter back in 2015, and I also did my first major edit of Unusual Testing then too. That seems like so long ago now. Not much has changed about this chapter since then though! Happy reading!
The cart ride wasn't pleasant to say the least. The transport car was unbearably loud and every bump and jolt of the cart, while not particularly painful, was incredibly annoying. Kirchoff still leaned against his chest. Valen purred and curled up a little tighter, content with the fact that they were on their way to a better place to live.
So, Kirchoff said. He might have been actually speaking, but the noise of the cart was so loud that even if he was he doubted he could have heard him. Do you think it's possible for me to finish my story without being interrupted.
I hope so, he replied. I'm getting sick of waiting to hear the end of it.
You're not the only one. So where was I… ah, right. Once I reached the rooftop, I was all but determined to kill myself. I wasn't in my right mind, because of my grief and the enormous amount of alcohol I drank.
Another image. He was standing on the edge of the roof, all but prepared to jump. He took a step forwards and…
Wait! Valen shouted. Stop!
Why, what's wrong? He asked, concern lacing his voice. I've barely started.
I'm seeing your memories again.
Oh… Kirchoff looked at him inquisitively. Valen, can you tell me in more about what you're seeing.
I'm not just seeing things, It's as though I'm experiencing everything like I was you. All your emotions and all the sensations you felt… I could feel them like I was you… Most of them are just little snippets, but some of them last for a lot longer.
Hmmm… were all of your senses the same as normal? He questioned.
No, Valen answered. Whenever I was experiencing one of your memories, my… your vision was much more vivid than normal and the rest of my, gah… your senses were dulled.
I see… has this happened before?
No you imbecile! Valen snapped, but he caught himself before he went further. Not being sassy was tough. The first time I experienced your memories was when you were talking about the incident you had in the alley. That was also the most vivid one…
Maybe whatever this is is just a more advanced form of your telepathy thing, Kirchoff suggested. Maybe if you're in my head when I'm feeling strong emotions, you can experience my memories or something.
Maybe… Can you just tell me your story when I'm not taking up space in your head?
Okay. For now I'll just say that I lucked out and didn't end up jumping to my untimely demise. Also know that you're still welcome in here, He tapped his temple. Any time you want. Although I hope you'll show a bit of restraint from now on.
In response, Valen curled up even tighter around him. He was so warm and soft, he could spend the rest of his life just cuddling him. His scent was also very pleasing. Most humans smelled rank and sour because of all the products that they washed themselves with, but Kirchoff had a more pleasant, masculine scent to him. A purr made it's way out of his mouth and he nuzzled his head into Kirchoff's hair.
What's with you all of a sudden? Kirchoff asked him. You're like some kind of cuddle monster!
I like cuddling.
I can see that. Any reasons why?
I've never had any physical contact with anyone before. I don't know what it is, but I just love the feeling of you touching me. I love being close to you and wrap myself around you and I love the feel of your skin. It's so warm and smooth. And your scent is amazing. It's so… He stopped, realizing what he was saying. Er… I mean…
Don't worry, Kirchoff responded. I like cuddling with you too. It makes me feel safer.
That made him purr so loud that the vibrations of the cart were temporarily overpowered by his humming.
Someone is certainly pleased.
Can you tell? He wriggled and clung to Kirchoff even tighter.
Well, what matters now is that we're together and we're hopefully being moved to a better home.
Speaking of which, do you have any idea where we're being moved?
Hmmm, Kirchoff went silent for a while. He could sense him thinking hard, going over any places that they might be moved to. This time, he didn't have any kind of images or sensations go through his head. Maybe Kirchoff was right. Perhaps he could only experience his memories if he was feeling some kind of strong emotion. But if that was the case, why hadn't it happened before?
Kirchoff's voice interrupted his train of thought. I have several ideas…
Are you planning on sharing those ideas? Valen asked. Perhaps with a certain someone who is curled up around you.
Kirchoff chuckled and shook his head. The first thing that pops to my mind is another research lab, but I doubt Dr. Nigel would go back on her word.
How do you know that? He still didn't trust the woman Dr. Nigel. Maybe if she hadn't stood by and let Kirchoff to be brutally tortured, then he might have been able get along with her, but that was out of the question now. She was the one who ordered you to be tortured.
I'm still pissed at her for letting Julianne torture me, but I did work with her for a six months more or less. I believe her when she said that she didn't mean for things to get out of hand.
He snorted. As far as I'm concerned, you're the only person that I trust.
I'm flattered, Even though he was inside his head, Valen couldn't tell if that remark was sarcastic or not. Another place we might be going to is one of the indoor farms, but I doubt that. Knowing you, you'd probably eat all of the cattle.
I would not! Kirchoff gave him a look. Okay, maybe not all at once.
Besides that, the only other place I can think of is the dangerous extraterrestrial lifeform enclosures. He broke off. Fear radiated off of Kirchoff so strongly that it made him feel uncomfortable. If there was something that could scare Kirchoff that much after all he had been through... If we get locked up in there I doubt we'd survive a week.
Why? His pride stung. He was a Xenomorph, one of the most dangerous creatures known to humans. Whatever kind of dangerous creatures they had aboard this station were no match for him. I'm a dangerous extraterrestrial.
Well you aren't the most dangerous thing on board this station. Most of what I've heard are rumors and speculations, but even if a fraction of them are true, then you do not want to go there.
What could be so bad about it?
I heard that the last time a Xenomorph was brought down there, it was to see how well a it could defend itself against the local wildlife. They spent weeks cleaning the acid off the walls.
That made his blood run cold. Not to honk his own horn, but he thought pretty highly of himself. If there were creatures around that could turn him into a green splatter on the wall, then he didn't want anything to do with them. That does seem pretty bad.
Thank you captain obvious.
Quit doing my job! Leave some sarcastic comebacks for me!
You're not doing a very good job right now. You'd better be careful, I think you're losing your touch.
I'm just a little rusty. It's hard to make sarcastic comments when you're bawling your eyes out.
I only cried once or twice, and I had an excuse!
If you can call incapacitating torture an excuse, Valen scoffed.
Yes, I'm pretty sure that counts as an excuse.
...You win this time.
Kirchoff laughed and ran his hand over his head. He petted the length of his head and he pressed back into it, trying to get the most out of the physical contact between his head and Kirchoff's soft, warm hand. This went on for the remainder of their trip until the transport cart came to a rough stop, rocking the container gently. Then the sounds of clanking and people moving outside filtered through the walls of the chamber. A series of rhythmic clanks sounded, accompanied by a loud whirr. It went on for about a minute, then the door slowly, silently opened.
He winced and shielded his eyes from the blinding light outside.
Valen, can you help me up? He asked. Valen stuck his hands under his arms and hauled him to his feet. Together, they walked out of the transport cart and the light coming from outside burned his retinas. He winced and covered his eyes with his hand.
Valen, where are we?
No response.
Valen, what is it? Where the hell are we?
I… This place… Kirchoff felt a rush of air as Valen ran past him. Our new home is amazing!
That peaked his attention. Very slowly, he uncovered his eyes and let them adjust to the light. When his eyes no longer hurt, he squinted his eyes and the scene in front of him took his breath away. Spread out before him was a massive forest of pine trees that stretched as far as the eye could see. It wasn't outdoors, he could still clearly see the concrete walls that had been painted a dull baby blue, but the room was so incredible huge that it may as well have been outside. The place was even lit like the outdoors, a large cluster of lights in the shape of the sun clustered over his head, casting a bright, white white glow down on the trees. had He took a deep breath and smelled the fresh scent of the needles and woods.
Have you ever seen anything like it? It's incredible! Valen ran in a circle, flopped down and started writhing in the grass. This giant indoor forest was their new home? Dr. Nigel said that she had to pull some strings, but this was ridiculous. The entire forest must have covered at least several square kilometers. Kirchoff knew that the Bernard Research Facility a massive place, but now that he had seen this, it was probably more comparable in size to an entire space station than a typical facility. And if this entire forest was contained deep underground, what the hell else was down here?
"Enjoying the view Kirchoff?" A familiar feminine voice boomed out over the indoor pine forest.. Dr. Nigel must have been watching him standing around while Valen was running around doing who knew what. "I take it this exceeds your expectations?"
Kirchoff nodded. "Any expectations I had have been blown out of the water," He rasped. He wondered if she could hear him, but if he knew her she had planned this down to the last detail.
"This forest was part of an incredibly old experiment to see if Terran vegetation could grow in the local soil. Fortunately for you, the composition of the soil is very similar to that of Earth. And since I know what you're going to ask, this place was scheduled for decommissioning in several months, but I pulled a few strings and cashed in on a ton of favours and now this place is under my control. I passed it of as a part of a new experiment I was conducting on you."
That made him a tad uneasy, "So… Are you conducting a new experiment on us?"
"I will have to conduct some tests in the future if you want to stay here. I did say that I was using this place to conduct an experiment after all, but given your current state, I don't think anyone will raise their eyebrows if I give you some time to recover."
"How long?"
"I'm not sure. I'll have to get you to be inspected by a physician before I can pass judgement on that."
"I'm not so sure Valen would like that. I'm the only person he trusts, and he's the only person he trusts to keep me safe. And I assume that sending a doctor in here to inspect me while Valen breathes over their shoulder isn't an option."
"No, I'm not sending anyone in there, but if you want to stay here you have to get yourself checked out. I don't know what kind of damage was done to your body and it's been over half a week since the incident. If you don't get checked out now, there may be further complications down the road that we can prevent now."
"...Alright, but I'll have to talk it over with Valen first."
"Well aren't you two a cute couple. You have to talk things over with your little alien lovebird?"
Heat rushed to Kirchoff's cheeks and he felt like was going to die of embarrassment.
Dr. Nigel's laughter rang out over the intercom and echoed throughout the forest. "I was just pulling your leg Kirchoff! Oh my god, the look on your face was priceless."
He grumbled some swears under his breath and kicked at a patch of grass at his feet.
"I'll leave you alone for now. I'll check on you in a few hours, I still have a ton of paperwork to sort through."
"Don't you always have paperwork to do?"
"...I see Valen has worn off on you," The sound of fumbling with the microphone and then nothing.
Worn off on me, He thought to himself. She must know Valen better than I thought.
He turned his attention back to Valen, who had climbed the trunk of a nearby tree and was perched up at the top like a giant bird. He was using his tail to grasp onto the trunk of the tree.
There's so much space! And it smells amazing, so fresh and clean. I've never felt so free! He pounced from his branch down onto a lower one on a nearby tree. Then he started leaping his way from tree to tree like a giant cat, barely touching one pine before jumping to the next.
In that moment, watching Valen jumping from tree to tree, Kirchoff felt something change. Something deep down shifted while he watched Valen leap through the pines, totally fixated on his lithe, bounding form. Seeing Valen outside of a white walled cell was like seeing a whole nother side of him, so different from the cynical asshole he had met his first day on the job. His cheeks flushed, and he didn't know why he was blushing and he felt confused.
Before he could mull over what that was all about, Valen pounced out of the trees and landed directly in front of him. He was squirming and wagging his tail in excitement.
Isn't this place amazing?
It sure is better than a lab cell, He remarked. I can't believe Dr. Nigel managed to get her hands on this place for us.
I must admit she did do a good job. I think I don't hate her as much now.
Well that's great to hear, because she wants to get a doctor to look at me.
I know, and I agree.
What? That was unexpected. He was expecting a big argument. You agree with her?
I don't like it, He said. I don't want you out of my sight for any longer than five seconds, but she did make a good point. You may have some internal damage that could lead to future complications, and the last thing I want is to have you die from some affliction you could have prevented.
You know, when you're not being sassy, you're actually pretty smart.
Shut up you incompetent idiot and go get a checkup.
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