Year : 771
A little more than 3 years after the Cell Game
Leaning against the long cables of the pen, 17 watched the herd in silence. Everything was back to normal. The rangers had almost all left to hand the poachers over to the police, only three had remained to watch the animals. The animals were now all calm and peaceful, including the big male who did not react to 17's presence anymore.
The female had now returned to her family, and she seemed to be doing much better too. Her cub was with her, and seemed to be healthy. When Ruri had taken him out of his mother's womb, he was in a bad state. He was all blue, apparently he had been without oxygen for a few minutes. But Ruri had taken care of him. 17 had stayed close to her, not to intervene, but to make sure that she was safe. She knew exactly how to act and ishe had the young deer back on its feet very quickly. She cleaned him up, lifted him up, and helped her mother feed him. She had shown remarkable composure, 17 had to admit.
"Here's the coffee I promised, just a little late."
17 turned around and smilingly accepted the cup that Ruri handed her. She approached the barrier, next to him, and both drank a few sips in silence.
- Isn't this coffee good? she finally said
- Yes.
- You didn't ask me, but I washed my hands before serving it to you.
- ... thank you (17 immediately thinks that he should have asked)
- And you'll notice that I didn't made your scarf dirty, I was careful!
- Yes, thank you.
- Thank you also, you were very useful to me. With you, I was able to act very quickly, and really, it was important to be fast..
- ... you're welcome. Is he ok now?
- Yes. He's still a little fragile, you can tell, he's staggering a little. I asked the rangers to release the animals by tonight, and to keep an eye on this little one for a few days. But normally, yes, he is saved. And his mother too.
- Good.
Ruri gave him a big smile. 17 hesitated, but finally returned it. She really did have a beautiful smile, which lit up her whole face. He felt a strange sensation as they exchanged a long look, a mixture of quietness and complicity that he had difficulty to define.
In general, he had trouble with emotions. Dr. Gero had sought to remove from 17 and 18 everything that made them human. First and foremost, their memories and emotions. He had not succeeded completely, as the twins had fought with all their strength against a cybernetization that was being carried out against their will. 17, in particular, had never agreed to submit. But despite their efforts, some of their humanity had gradually dissipated. They were still able to feel emotions, but they had lost the "memory" of what they were. So it was not always easy for 17 to characterize what he was feeling, beyond simple sensations like anger for example.
He was still thinking about it, when he remembered the questions he had put aside since their meeting.
- ... and so ?
- So what?
- Why did the giant deer calm down? You said you would explain.
- Ahhhhhhhhhh yes, that's right, answered Ruri with malice. Let's say that, in fact, if you had been more attentive to his behavior, you would have understood by yourself. And you need a little logic too. Look at him. It's huge, powerful. This kind of animal rarely meets stronger than he is, as you can imagine.
- It makes sense.
- Also, you should know that animals don't usually fight "for the sake" of fighting. They avoid unnecessary injury. They fight to defend themselves or others. Why do you think he attacked you?
- ... to defend his herd?
- Exactly. But it turns out that you were able to resist him and without effort. He felt that you were also very strong because you stopped him with your bare hands. And moreover, I told you to stay still, not to react to his attacks. So he saw that despite your superiority, you did not attack his females. So, he started to doubt. Did you see it?
- ... yes, at one point he seemed ...
- Perplexed. He was hesitating about what to do. And that's where the poles come in.
- ... yes, I didn't understand...
- Observation 17, observation. For hours he'd been running into those poles without managing to pull them out. And you, in front of him, lifted them up in an instant. Hahaha, he must have thought you were pretty strong !
- ...
- And so, to him, you became another dominant male, but one that was not a threat to his herd. So what's the point of risking injury or death by confronting you? There is no point. That's why he calmed down. Basically, you made him respect you!
- ... it is ... as simple as that?
- Yes. That simple.
- But what about you ? Why didn't he attack you?
- Because of your scarf.
- ... ?
- Observation. How does this dear deer live? With whom ?
- ... females.
- That's it. So he has a thought pattern. And me, when I entered the pen, he sniffed me. He smelled that I was a female...
- Animals can smell that?
- Yes. And because of your scarf, I had some of your scent on me. So to him, I am "your" female.
- ... my what?
- Your female. I am in your herd. And you don't hurt the female of a dominant. A bit like in real life actually hahaha! So thank you, your scarf kept me from getting trampled
- ... you deduced all this just by looking at him ?
- I'm cheating a bit, because I know more about animals than you do. But yes, basically. And I went on a bit of a hunch too...it's important for a zoologist, hunch.
17 turned away from the cable barrier and faced Ruri. "Really impressive," he thought. She had been right, her method had indeed allowed her to approach the deer without using force, just with her intelligence. Suddenly, a thought came to him:
- But ! wait, how would you have done it if I had not been there ?
- What do you mean?
- Earlier you said you didn't need my help. So how would you have done it if I hadn't offered to help you?
- What time is it?
- ... sorry?
- The time.
- ... 5:36 PM, replied 17, looking at his watch.
- So that means it took you 44 minutes to figure it out, it's not very good !
- You...
- I would have put him to sleep. With this.
Ruri then took out of her grey backpack some huge syringes.
In front of 17's stunned look, she continued:
- I know what you are going to say. To put him to sleep or to knock him out, what's the difference? In fact, there is a difference, because by putting him to sleep I am sure that I will not hurt him. But in the end, it's quite the same.
- So why ...
- I wanted to test you. To test your strength.
Her eyes had become very serious. The tone of her voice too. 17 sensed the seriousness in her words, although there was a hint of hesitation. Normally, he would have been annoyed at having wasted his time. But Ruri didn't seem to want to manipulate him or play with him. He looked her straight in the eyes, and asked:
- And can I ask why?
- Actually ... I have a project. A big project. And potentially very dangerous. I've been looking for someone to go with me for months. Surprise: nobody wants to. When I saw you ... Listen... you're so strong... Actually... alone, it's almost impossible. But if...you... come with me,then...
- No.
- Hey! Earlier, you promised me that you would consider my request!
- ... did I say that?
- Yes !
- ... What kind of project?
- It's an expedition to study some very special animals. 5 animals to be exact. Very rare, and very dangerous. I want to... observe them... study them... and write articles about them.
- How much dangerous are they ?
- To give you an idea, the last animal has never been approached by humans. More exactly, 3 expeditions took place in the history of humanity to try to study it.
- And?
- No member of these expeditions came back... alive.
- ... If I refuse, will you still do it, your expedition?
- Yes, I will.
- Is it that important?
- Yes.
She seemed perfectly serious. About the danger of this expedition, and about her determination to do it. 17 could tell just by her posture. Her look too. She was telling the truth. If the animals she wanted to study were really so deadly, then he understood why she wanted to assess the extent of his strength and ask him to come with her. So he wasn't angry against her. But he had no intention of going with her at all.
Unusually for him, he said to himself that he would be careful not to hurt her by refusing. He was thinking of the best way to show her his refusal again. But she didn't give him the time.
- You don't believe me, do you?
- Mmmmm?
- You don't take me seriously when I say I'm going anyway? It's always the same with you.
- You?
- Men. I'm a woman, and I'm young and I'm a student. So I'm a fool who will run away after 5 minutes in front of danger. You are all the same.
17 did not expect this. To be compared to humans in his attitude seemed inconceivable to him. He didn't really know what to say. But Ruri's eyes were definitely expressive. She looked... Hurt. "Really, you are impossible ! " he thought then. He had mobilize all the empathy of which he was capable of to answer her without worsening the situation.
- ... I never thought you weren't ... serious. I have seen you in action... and ... I know what you are worth. I ... respect you.
- It's true ? exclaimed Ruri. DO YOU REALLY MEAN IT? OH MY GOD THIS IS ADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORABLE !
- Trust me, replied 17, amused by his sudden change of attitude, I've never said that to another hum... person before.
- So why do you refuse?
- ... I don't want to.
- You have better things to do, right? Yet... Ryo told me that... you don't necessarily do much... of your days...
"That stupid kid ! "17 thought immediately. Ruri continued:
- What do you actually do? In life?
- ... I ... nothing of ... I travel.
- Is that true? Where did you go? I'm an idiot. You can fly, my god you're lucky, you must have circled the earth at least 15 times. Raaaaaaaaah if I could fly, there are a million places I'd like to go. Tell me more, where do you travel? Have you been to the Immortal Mountains? Ohhhhh no wait, wait, wait, wait you must have seen so much ! So ?
- ... uh... I...
- You don't want to tell me ?
- No I... Don't... It's...
- You haven't really gone very far, have you?
Suddenly, Ruri had just returned to her serious look. She was changing her mood so fast that it was hard to follow. But she had understood the situation perfectly. The truth is that 17 didn't know what to do since his resurrection. He was wandering around aimlessly, but couldn't really name any particular place he had been.
- You know, Ruri said immediately, I'm not judging you, and I'm not looking for information. I can pay you for your help ...
- I don't need that much money...
- Oh great, I'm on a tight budget ! ... But... I can promise you one thing.
- What?
- If you come with me, you won't be bored for a day. With me, you will NEVER be bored (on this point, 17 tended to believe her), and ... I will make you see places you don't even know exist. You will be amazed, I guarantee it. I... will teach you everything I know. And you and I will go where no one has gone before.
- ... are you done?
- ... yes.
- My answer is always ...
- Wait a minute. You promised me to think about it. I deserve you to keep your promise, right?
- ...
- Listen. I'm gonna be here for three days. I have some things to finish before I leave. I'm staying in room 405, 4th floor, in the local hotel. There's only one, it's not hard to find.
- ... and ?
- Nothing. Promise me you'll think about it. And if ... you change your mind... I'll leave in three days,in the morning.
- ... I ...
- Just promise. And I promise I won't bother you with this anymore.
17 looked at her intensely. She did not look away. He had promised to consider her proposal, and then... He had a good time with her.
"I promise," he finally replied.