Disclaimer: Kirby belongs to Nintendo and HAL Laboratory.
The two scientists grabbed chairs and sat across from Vesa.
"Hello, Miss Krasniki," the tall scientist greeted, "I'm Dr. Baldwin, and we would like to ask for some…assistance in further testing with Specimen ID-F86. We'll actually pay you for the help, and that money can be sent to your family."
Vesa stared in awe for a brief moment.
"A-Are you serious?" she blurted, "this isn't what I expected, yet…"
Vesa let out a sigh.
"For what purpose?" Vesa pried.
"Specimen ID-F86 seems to react positively to your presence," Dr. Baldwin explained, "we'd like to research this more and discover possible methods of calming the creature, not to mention you'd make more hands-on experimentation possible should you agree to it."
"Oh," was all Vesa could say.
Vesa's mind immediately flashed back to when she first met the creature yesterday.
"I guess they must've taken notice of me because," Vesa mentioned, "they were scared."
The scientists gave her puzzled looks.
"Unsurprising," the other scientist commented, "we…understand what we're doing isn't exactly ethical. However, our research led us to the huge advancement in our technology. It wasn't with just human ingenuity alone that we managed that."
Vesa fiddled with the button of her cardigan. Part of her wanted to call them out for the treatment they put Elfilis through, but if she did, would she never be allowed to see them again? Not wanting to risk losing her chance to develop their friendship, she held her tongue.
"Should you agree," Dr. Baldwin continued, "you'll be allowed to stay in close proximity to it, and access the empty rooms of the building. You'll be followed by lab personnel carrying a weapon, to neutralize you should it decide to assimilate you. You'll be monitored at all times during your interactions with Specimen ID-F86."
Vesa lowered her head.
"Please understand, this is in the safety of the staff and other patients," he insisted, "if there was any way that we could incapacitate you before the assimilation were to occur, we would do so."
Vesa shuddered upon thinking upon the implication of what they meant by neutralizing her. Was that what Elfilis was trying to warn her about? Still, another part of her remembered her family back at home. Maybe with some additional funds, her younger sister can study abroad…something she was looking forward to. Still, she vowed to herself to remain vigilant for any distress Elfilis might be in for the foreseeable future.
"All right," Vesa answered, "I accept your offer."
"Very well, we will begin testing shortly. Yesterday was stressful for the creature, so I expect future testing with you will be…fruitful."
The scientists stood from their seats and stepped over to the corner of the room.
"Come," the taller scientist beckoned, "we'll go visit it soon."
After lunch, the scientists escorted Vesa to the elevator. In one arm, she held her crutches and with her other hand, she clutched the jigsaw puzzle box to her chest. As the elevator descended, she could hear whispers from Elfilis in her mind with a tone of worry. She wondered if the alien had yet to improvise with some sort of plan in case something went wrong. Well, she could hope that one day, just maybe…the researchers would listen to her. She could convince them there was more to Elfilis than anyone working in Lab Discovera could realize. Maybe they would understand how Elfilis felt.
Was it really desperation of some kind that brought Elfilis into taking interest in her in the first place?
Vesa snapped out of her thoughts when the elevator reached its destination. Dr. Baldwin gestured to her to follow them out into the hall. They soon stepped inside the lab, where she could see Elfilis floating in the tank. She watched as the scientists near the control panel drained the fluid. Vesa made a brief glance at the tall scientist next to her.
"You may approach."
Vesa nodded as she stepped closer to the tank, wary of the security guard following her close behind. Stopping just at the steps to the tank as a scientist pulled a lever, opening the capsule. She sat down and waited. Moments later, Elfilis fluttered their eyes open.
"Y-you shouldn't have done this," Elfilis spoke into her head, "now they might kill you. Don't respond to me, they can't hear me and might suspect something."
Vesa tried keeping her breath steady, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she shifted so she could show Elfilis the box of jigsaw puzzles in her hands. The alien took notice of the star-shaped planet on the image of the lid and their feelers perked up. Vesa simply smiled back at them. Elfilis tried standing, but their legs felt wobbly. They gave up and fell over.
Frowning, Vesa placed her hand next to theirs. Elfilis swayed their tail a little. The scientists muttered among themselves with some of them taking notes. Vesa scanned her surroundings in search of a dry surface.
"Hey," she whispered to Elfilis, "you want me to show you how to…do a puzzle?"
Elfilis made another glance at the box.
"I…wouldn't mind that," Elfilis answered, "we…should probably leave and head somewhere else in the building. From what I understand, they intend to leave us mostly alone…with a few exceptions. We should have sound on one side."
"Ok," Vesa nodded.
Vesa grabbed her crutches and stood to her feet. Elfilis tried to get back up, catching her attention.
"Uh," Vesa stammered, "do you need help there?"
Elfilis blushed a little. That didn't seem to deter Vesa as she offered her hand. Elfilis hesitated in a moment of silence before they placed their arm over her shoulder. Much to her surprise, Elfilis felt rather lightweight despite being much taller than she was. Her eyes wandered and locked onto a door leading to an empty break room.
"It's ok," she whispered to Elfilis, "it's ok."
A stray tear welled up in their eye. Elfilis let out a soft whimper.
"T-Thank you," they keened, "I appreciate it."
With Elfilis in tow, Vesa trudged over to the entrance to the empty break room. Once they were inside, she set down the box and put aside her crutches. Kneeling to the floor, she removed the lid. The security guard lurked outside the door while keeping an eye on the two. Still, Elfilis examined the image on the lid.
"That one," they pointed to the star-shaped planet, "is Popstar. It was my original destination before I came here. Though, I had nothing but a vague direction originally. Maybe one day, I hope to learn of its exact location."
Vesa blinked twice at Elfilis before focusing her eyes on the star-shaped planet on the lid.
"That's…pretty cool," she commented.
She scooped out some puzzle pieces and plopped them into two equal piles.
"I've been doing these puzzles," Vesa added, "ever since I was six. I remember going to The Rolling Bowl Emporium with my father, where he bought me my first jigsaw puzzle."
"I see," Elfilis mused, "I'm not entirely sure what you mean, but it does sound interesting."
Elfilis closed their eyes.
"But you should be more careful with your words," they added, speaking into her mind, "specifically your comment towards what I said. The last thing I want is for them to think we can communicate after all."
"Is it…that bad?" Vesa whispered.
"I fear they would subject you to the same experiments like mine if they found out," Elfilis clarified.
Frowning, Vesa held up her hand. Elfilis studied it for a moment before they brought their hand towards hers, their fingers merely touching at the tips. The moment got ruined for Elfilis the instant they saw the security guard aiming his gun at their friend. They quickly retreated their hand so as to not trigger a negative outcome. Vesa returned her focus to the puzzle pieces. The sooner she lowered others' suspicions, the better. It seemed to work as the security guard lowered his gun.
"A technique I learned when I did these puzzles," Vesa said, "is starting at the edges first."
To demonstrate, she picked out an edge piece from her pile.
"I see," Elfilis replied.
Elfilis began to understand the concept of jigsaw puzzles and why the humans here would enjoy them. Really, Elfilis relished in the companionship with Vesa. They would check their pile for edge pieces and hand them to their friend, allowing her to figure out which edge pieces locked together. Soon enough, the ultimate life-form joined in with helping assemble the puzzle pieces.
The star traveler tilted their head, eyes fixating on their new companion.
"If I may ask," Elfilis continued, "what will you do when you manage to heal and leave this place?"
Vesa paused as she thought over the question. In a long moment of silence, her fingers held onto a single puzzle piece.
"I guess," she shrugged, "I'd probably find some fulfilling purpose in my own life."
Vesa paused again as a thought popped into her head.
"Now that I think about it," she added, "I didn't think much about my future growing up."
Vesa remembered her many trips to the hospital. She remembered the occasions when her own father would drive her to the emergency room whenever she had sepsis episodes. She could remember the terror she felt when she had her first sepsis episode at the age of 5. She remembered not being allowed to enroll in any gym classes at school. She tried fighting back her tears when she thought of the other kids at school who simply avoided her, with only a few exceptions…
"The friends I did end up making at school had the same illness as I did," Vesa blurted, "but most of them died one by one as I grew up…"
Elfilis, noticing the tears streaming down her cheeks, folded their feelers back.
"I…may be able to heal you," Elfilis reminded her, using telepathy to communicate into her mind, "no, I'm sure of it. However, I would have to assimilate you, even if you'd be shot before I could even try. If you're lucky, I could modify your body and remove the ailment before I release you in much better shape. With our circumstances, unfortunately, it's possible we might not have that choice. If I was stronger, this wouldn't be an issue. If I hadn't let my guard down, if I hadn't let them take advantage…"
Elfilis drooped their ears a little more. Vesa sniffed and wiped her eyes with her arm.
"I-I'll think about it, ok?" she whispered.
For now, they went back to the puzzle.
"Maybe I'll show you some of my own past next time you dream," Elfilis offered.
Vesa nodded silently. A few hours passed before Vesa and Elfilis finished the puzzle.
"So, what do you think?" Vesa chirped.
"I…I want to see it again," Elfilis spoke telepathically, a hint of sadness in their voice, "one day."
Vesa didn't say much, but she nodded at them. Before long, she spotted the scientists stepping into the room.
"All right," the lead scientist announced, "we're done with testing for the day. It's almost 8:00 now and dinner should be awaiting you. We'll be taking Specimen ID-F86 back to its capsule now."
Upon cue, Vesa stashed all the puzzle pieces back into its box. She stood to her feet and grabbed her crutches. She approached Dr. Baldwin as he led her through the door. She could only watch as the researchers nudged Elfilis back into their tank. Stepping out into the hallway, she followed the two scientists back into the elevator. While the elevator climbed up the lower floors, she rested her back on the wall. The scientists in front of her didn't bother to make a single glance at her.
Once she returned to the oblong room, she put away the jigsaw puzzle onto the shelf of her guest room. Sitting on the bed, she could simply wait for the staff to roll in the carts of food. During that time, she reflected on everything she learned from her close encounter with Fecto Elfilis.
Granted, she had been weighing on the risks that would come with the interactions they had. But at the same time, she had the grain of confidence she could learn to advocate for them. She wasn't sure if either Elfilis or the medical research team would successfully treat her illness first, though she was starting to have faith in her new friend.
Vesa stepped out the door and got into the line. When she got her tray, she served herself some tavë kosi for the entree and a ballokume for dessert before sitting at a table in the oblong room to eat.
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