Learning the Ropes
"Come here," the Tallest insisted as he pointed at the floor in front of him.
He'd just gotten a fun idea, and he was hoping Sevai would go with it without asking his usual barrage of questions.
The Invader had become less defensive in the last couple of days, but Sevai was still very tense and he seemed to react to any small show of force with fear and dread.
Like now for example... even though he hadn't raised his voice or made any recent threats, the Invader was approaching with his hands held close to his chest and his head lowered.
So far none of his followers who'd been in contact with Sevai were displaying any signs of their PAKs being altered... he was beginning to wonder exactly how much time was needed for these changes to manifest. How long did they need to be near an Invader for it to occur?
"Have I done something displeasing... ?" Sevai asked as he stood in front of him.
"Have you?" Red raised and antennae and squinted an eye as he placed a hand on his hip.
"I'm not sure..." Sevai began, keeping his gaze fixated on the floor. "Irken laws and policies are still new to me. I'm afraid I haven't learned them all."
"If you'd let me attach a PAK to you then you wouldn't have that problem."
Sevai hugged himself and shivered. "I cannot stop you from doing so.."
"Weren't you guys testing them on us so you could wear them yourselves anyway?"
At least that's what one of the disks he watched seemed to indicate, though he hadn't been completely focused on watching it.
"Yes... but it was a failed project, so the counsel decided against it..."
"We'll talk about that more later.. Right now I want you to wear something else," the Tallest continued, and he held out a hover-belt.
This one had been Purple's... he'd removed it before placing the other Tallest in stasis.
"Attach it around your waist. I'll show you how it works."
Sevai raised his eyes a little, though the Invader still refused to meet his gaze.
"May I place it higher on my person...?" Sevai asked.
"Yeah sure. Just tighten it so it doesn't move around."
He watched Sevai do what he'd been instructed.
Then Red pressed the center of the belt and the Invader let out a small gasp as he was lifted off the ground.
He clung to the Tallest's arm to keep himself steady.
"What is this...?" Sevai asked.
"It's a hover-belt," Red told him. He was too amused by the Invader's surprised reaction to care very much about his arm being grabbed. "It'll keep you floating a little above the ground. It takes a while to learn how to balance, but with practice you'll eventually get the hang of it."
"Why are you having me wear this device...?" Sevai questioned as he continued to hang on to the Tallest's arm for support.
Red shrugged. "I want to see if you can use it properly." His eyes narrowed when he realized the Invader was holding onto him rather than floating on his own. "No cheating. You have to do it yourself."
He took a step back and wrenched his arm away.
Sevai was only able to stay upright for a moment before his body swung forward.
This triggered the belts automatic shut off and the Invader collapsed face down on the ground.
Red covered his mouth to muffle a chuckle. Then he cleared his throat and crossed his arms.
"That was pretty bad," he stated, trying to sound serious. "Try it again."
The Invader slowly picked himself up off the ground. He grasped one of his arms, wincing in pain.
"May I take a moment to collect my thoughts...?" Sevai requested in a quiet unsure voice.
"Nope," Red responded as the hover belt automatically activated.
Sevai didn't even try to stay balanced this time, and he quickly ended up slamming into the floor again.
"You're not even trying," Red spoke with a scowl as he looked down at him. "It shouldn't be that difficult. You have wings to help you balance."
Sevai carefully moved to his hands and knees. "I apologize..." the Invader spoke, keeping his face lowered.
Red rolled his eyes. Then he drifted a bit closer and bent down, offering his hand to Sevai.
"I'll help you, so get up and try it again."
The Invader looked up at him startled.
"I..." he lowered his head again. "I don't wish to cause you any problems..."
"I had trouble learning how to do it too," Red remarked, smirking a bit at the memory.
Fortunately it only took hitting the floor a couple times, and smashing into a desk, before he figured it out.
"I might not be able to remember this information..." Sevai admitted. "My people made sure I wouldn't be able to relearn the information they took from me... because of this, there will likely be damage to my regular memory as well."
"Believe me, you'll remember this."
Muscle memory tended to happen whether or not the brain was working or focusing properly... his many years of military training had taught him that.
Red reached down and grasped Sevai by his upper arm.
The Invader whimpered and made a very weak attempt to pull away as he was hauled to his feet.
Did that last fall mess up the guy's arm somehow?
"Hey, what's wrong with your arm?" he decided to ask while adjusting his hold so it was closer to the Invader's elbow.
"A... tattoo..." Sevai responded.
Red squinted an eye. "Your people have tattoos?"
"Only those who are shamed..."
"Can I see it?"
The Tallest didn't wait for an answer. Instead he pulled the Invader's sleeve up to his shoulder.
There was a large black tattoo on the guy's upper arm. It was some kind of unfamiliar symbol.
"What does it mean?" he asked, glancing down at Sevai who was pulling away a little.
"Translated... it means 'traitor," Sevai answered.
Traitor...? Like a rebellion traitor?
"Why do you have that label?" the Tallest questioned him curiously.
"Have you not finished watching the disks?"
Was there actually interesting information about the Invaders on those disks? He should finish watching them then...
The hover-belt activated, and the Invader squeezed his eyes shut and clung to him.
"You're not even that far from the ground," Red remarked as he used his free hand to pull Sevai off.
He held the guy in place.
"Learning how to move is a part of this. And why aren't you using your wings yet? That's why you keep falling."
"I don't know how..." Sevai muttered.
"Then learn."
"I've never used them for this purpose... I-I don't know how."
Red shoved him away but continued to hold onto his arm. "Spread them out."
Sevai stretched out his wings and wobbled unsteadily.
"Good," the Tallest gave a quick nod. "Now feel how to keep yourself steady."
"I don't understand..." Sevai murmured.
"Stop using your brain and start using your reflexes," Red insisted.
"Why are you having me do this?" Sevai questioned more strongly than before. "It should already be apparent that I can't operate this device."
Red released him and watched impassively as the Invader crashed onto the floor again.
"You'll never be able to do it with that attitude," Red stated, his antennae flattening. "Forget it. I've learned everything I wanted to know anyway," he turned away and started drifting towards the door, muttering under his breath.
"What have you learned...?" Sevai asked, sounding curious now.
Red glanced back and saw that the Invader was again on his hands and knees.
"That you lack the motivation to keep trying when things get tough," he answered.
He could have said a lot more, but there was no point. Sevai had probably heard a bunch of negative stuff from his former superiors already.
In Irken society is was normal to be yelled at, berated, and publicly shamed for making mistakes.
He rubbed his temples and let out a sigh.
Purple used to tease him mercilessly, though he always dished it right back.
Sevai wasn't Purple though.
"You give up too easily," he added. "But whatever. It's not like this is something you have to do. You can just forget about it."
"I don't understand how this task is necessary..." Sevai told him, lifting his gaze. "You receive no benefit, and I have no issues with walking."
"Like I said, it was an experiment," Red shrugged. "I thought I could find something for your wings to do besides hang there uselessly. Floating and flying shouldn't be that different, but whatever."
That wasn't the truth at all... he just wanted to keep something of Purple's around without his followers silently questioning him about it. They'd never openly question him, but their inner thoughts could become annoying if it started impacting their work.
Sevai' eyes widened, and he drew his wings closer to his body.
"Then... since I failed... you will remove them...?" He questioned with some hesitation.
Red squinted an eye at him. "Do you want me to?"
Sevai squeezed his eyes shut. "Please don't..."
Red smirked. He hadn't thought much about threatening the guy, but maybe that would work better than everything else he'd tried so far.
"Then keep practicing," he insisted.
Sevai knelt in front of him.
It was kind of annoying since he was lounging in his chair trying to watch one of the disks.
Unfortunately this one was incredibly boring... tests and figures, statistics... he wanted to fall asleep.
Were the rest of them like this? Hopefully not. Otherwise he'd never finish watching them.
He finished chewing one of his snacks, then he spoke, "what do you want?"
"I have failed my assignment..." Sevai quietly admitted. "I'm prepared to accept the consequences for my failure..."
Red let out a sigh as he fished around his chair for more snacks.
"It's only been two days. I never gave you a time limit."
"Yes but... there has been no improvement..."
Red looked the Invader up and down; he was covered in bruises. There were very noticeable dark circles under Sevai's eyes, and his antennae were drooping. He was also swaying a little as he knelt, yet despite this he was still wearing the hover-belt.
He smirked. "You figured out how to turn it off didn't you?"
"Yes... it was the same process as turning it on." Sevai admitted.
The Invader was speaking so softly it was difficult to hear him.
Red's antennae flicked forward as he continued smirking at the trembling Invader.
"That's an improvement," he noted, and he leaned forward in his chair. "Also, I was joking about the whole removing your wings thing, so you can forget about that."
Sevai's gaze met his. The Invaders eyes widened a little and his mouth parted in surprise.
"You're not going to punish me then...?" He questioned after a brief moment of silence.
Red dragged a hand down the side of his face, barely managing to suppress a sigh.
"Believe me, when I'm angry enough to do that you'll know about it..." he said just loud enough for Sevai to hear.
Then he cleared his throat and pushed himself out of his seat.
"You haven't slept at all since you got here, have you?" Red frowned. "Come to think of it... you haven't eaten either..."
"I haven't been able..." Sevai admitted.
Red moved past him towards the door.
"Come on then. Follow me."
He led Sevai through a few different hallways. Then they took a platform down to the next level.
Sevai remained very quiet. The Invader moved slowly, shuffling his feet and dragging his wings.
Red brought him into a room that had a few light sources, tables, and twisty metal things. This was the room he kept the "universes most comfortable couch" which looked like a regular couch but was much more comfortable.
He pointed at the couch. "Go lie down," he said.
The Invader hesitated, so he added: "that's an order."
Sevai obeyed without asking any of his usual questions. He curled up on his side and tucked his wings close to his body.
Then he closed his eyes.
The Invader's body relaxed, and soon he was breathing softly fast asleep.
Tallest: When he can't mess with the Jackers, Sevai is the next best thing! But what about those strategies though?