The Keeper, L-7013 as it was assigned, understood that live-stock was not truly sentient.
Oh, they, of course, were made of human DNA, but they were not Entitles. They were not the same. They were not capable of the same intelligence, the same life as the Builders of the Verse. They were lesser. The leavings. They needed centuries upon centuries of development to reach a semblance of genetic relevance. They were what gave life, but they were not alive.
That was what the Entitles proclaimed, and as a Keeper, L-0182 knew that what the Entitles proclaimed, was truth.
But at the same moment, L-0182 found that all of the live-stock⦠All of it was different.
Singular.
And that was were their fascination lay. The difference between each and every member of the animals in its care.
"Grey!" bright, soft eyes of different colors. Unique. Singular.
The youngling was getting better at finding L-0182, spotting them amongst the staff of inadequate terrestrial-healers with near a hundred percent accuracy. To reassure their latest favorite, L-0182 looked over their shoulder, repeated action to remind them who L-0182 were and that their time together would be brief. Despite their better judgment, L-0182 dropped its Cloak and earned itself a brighter smile. The youngling, Jupiter, so named for the planet so close, was smiling, in that queer way of her's. She always smiled closed lips, no matter how elated. A restriction she placed upon herself for her missing bones in her mouth. It was a sign of beauty to have all those bones, neat and orderly and white, and L-0182 had long learned that the youngling was vain.
"It's nice for you to visit," she said, brightly, patting the invitingly the mattress of her bed.
Dutifully, as was L-0182's habit, they placed themselves at the foot of it.
"I am only stopping to see the progress of your injuries, youngling," without the Universal Translator implant, the youngling had no knowledge of its words. It was a technicality that L-0182 often abused, to speak to livestock was strictly forbidden, but one wasn't really speaking if the other party did not understand.
A useful loophole, a barrier between disciplinary action. The Keeper knew its designation as L-0182 was tenuous. If they followed the rules, they would have a letter and a number, they would live, and care for the Balem Abbraxus' holding. Otherwise, they would be Cycled, turned to Regen-X designated for other Keepers.
"Can we listen to your music box?" she pleaded, nearly bouncing in her bed. With the passing weeks, she had grown stronger from her horrific injuries, and more energetic. It was endearing- fascinating to see.
"Not today. Hold still."
As if she understood, Jupiter held still as they lifted the compact scanner. L-0182 tried not to think about the fact that they had stolen the device from their superior, but the concern- curiosity of what had truly happened to the youngling had compelled them to do so. The Terrestial machines were just not accurate enough, too crude and prone to disgustingly erroneous. A quick scan told them that Jupiter was relatively healthy, if in a state of repair from what she had explained was a fall down several flights of stairs.
A breath L-0182 had been holding, unconsciously, fled from their pours. She will be fine. Jupiter's different hued eyes stared, brows furrowed. If she hadn't been, L-0182 had no idea what they would have done.
"That's not something that you usually have," she said simply, leaning forward. She placed her hand on the joint between their hand and arm. Concern was plain on her pretty face.
L-0182 flipped its hand on its circular jointed, chirping wordlessly in reassurance. They squeezed her warmer arm gently, very aware of its enormous strength in comparison to the Terrestrial.
"That is not your concern, Youngling," than with a casual flip, they hide the scanner and replaced the Cloak they had dropped.
L-0182 moved to leave, giving Jupiter another sweet, wordless chirp of reassurance.
"Please be careful," the words were whispered, said solemnly, and something in L-0182's chest squeezed.
The Youngling was live-stock, they reminded themselves sternly as they left, only live-stock. Jupiter wasn't even in their regularly assigned district. The Youngling was a temporary favorite, just as the others were. Nina, with her warm brown eyes and long silver hair, George with his large nose and grinning gape. Little Henry and Ana, with their tiny black curls and sweetly giggling mouths. And so many others since I was granted a letter and a number.
