Thade was silent as Attar carried Ulysses over to the exam table and gently laid him on it. He was looking pretty rough around the edges and Thade couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the human. He probably shouldn't have hit him so hard. He was just so mad that he didn't have answers and without them he couldn't protect the human, meaning he couldn't protect Attar. Thade was pulled out of his thoughts by Attar's quiet mumblings. 'He always did talk out loud' Thade thought fondly to himself. Despite their difference in rank and interests Attar really was his best friend and Thade would do anything to help him. "How's he doing?" Thade inquired softly. Attar didn't answer right away and Thade was worried something was wrong. Maybe he had seriously damaged the fragile human when he hit him. Sometimes Thade forgot about how strong he was.
"He's fine. He actually should come around pretty soon. He must have stood up to fast after too much oxygen deprivation. He shouldn't suffer any lasting harm though." Attar grabbed a blanket off the shelf and gently wrapped Ulysses up while he answered, carefully not looking at Thade.
"Attar, talk to me. I know you're mad but please understand I did this for you." Attar finished wrapping up the human and turned to look at Thade. The room was silent as they looked at each other. Attar's face was neutral as he looked into Thade's pleading eyes. Finally he sighed and rubbed a hand over his tired eyes and walked over to sit heavily on his desk.
"I do understand Thade. I just… couldn't you have figured out a different way to get the answers you needed? Or talked to me first? Did you really have to hurt him? What if he never trusts us again and we have to force him to talk every time?" He turned around and slammed his fists on his desk. "I just…damn it Thade you should have told me! Instead you go behind my back and beat it out of a defenseless and fragile creature that already mistrusts us!" Taking a deep breath Attar tried to control his anger. He knew that Thade was just doing what was best for him and for Ulysses.
Whatever Thade was going to say in response was forgotten when they heard a quiet groan from the human. Attar quickly hurried over to him while Thade hovered in the back round. He knew that the human would not appreciate him looming over him after their little encounter. Slowly they watched him come awake. He seemed confused at first and then alarmed at the confines of the blanket. Attar had wrapped him a little too tightly, too caught up in his maelstrom of emotions to pay close attention. Attar quickly stepped forward to help him unwind from the blanket but then he stepped back and waited for the human to act first.
Leo was uncomfortably aware of the close scrutiny of the two apes as they waited for him to say something. What was he supposed to say though? Should he tell them the truth? Or would that lead to weird science experiments? Maybe he should just say he is an exceptionally well-trained human, or that he was raised as an ape. "Umm, I guess I should start with my name. Leo Davidson. Captain Leo Davidson actually" The two apes just stood there looking dumbfounded. This was the first time he had ever spoken so of course they were surprised Leo reasoned. Still they should say something. Attar was the first to recover.
"You're name…is Leo Davidson. A human being just told me his name. Holy shit." Attar's legs seemed to give out and he sat down abruptly on the nearest chair. "Okay, okay. Let's think this through. We have a highly intelligent human being…who can talk. A human being who can talk. A talking human being. A talking human being who said his name is Leo Davidson" All of the sudden Attar jumped to his feet. "THADE WE HAVE A HUMAN BEING WHO CAN TALK! IN OUR LAB! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? HE CAN TALK! HE'S THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN APES AND HUMANS! THE HUMAN BEING WHO CAN TALK! REASON!" Thade smiled at his friends shouting. Sometimes it took a little while for things to process in Attar's mind. Attar rushed over to the human…to Leo and would have picked him up and hugged him except that Leo suddenly recoiled, a look of terror on his face.
Leo couldn't help but flinch when Attar started shouting and jumping around. He forced himself to sit still and calm his heart. But when Attar suddenly leapt towards him, arms outstretched he had to pull back. His pulse was racing and adrenaline surge through his body. He just couldn't see an ape rushing towards him as anything but a threat. Thankfully Attar slowed his rush and stopped a few feet from where he still lay on the exam table, tangled in the blanket. God his body hurt too much to fight or run if that situation arose. Leo fought the panic running through his body. Sure he couldn't get away but he didn't need to. Attar wouldn't hurt him. Logically he knew that but his body didn't seem to. Shaking he tried to pull himself together. 'Attar won't hurt me, Attar won't hurt me' he repeated to himself.
Attar just stood there, a look of such sadness in his eyes as Leo tried to get it together. Attar had tried so hard to befriend him, make him feel safe and cared for. Leo hated that look on Attar's face.
"Just don't…don't rush me, you know? I do trust you Attar; I want you to know that. I've just had a tough time around apes lately and I need some space." Leo couldn't help but laugh at the look on Attar's face after his little speech. Still seemed like he was processing the whole talking thing. He was feeling more relaxed but tensed when Thade stepped closer, next to Attar. He couldn't help but wonder what other tactics he would use to get the answers he thought he needed.
"What did you mean by 'Captain'? Where are you from? Why were you flying that spaceship? Why did it crash?" Leo squirmed. He had to decide. Should he tell the truth, or make up a cover story. Looking up into Attar's trusting face he decided to just tell the truth. He must have wanted to do that subconsciously or else he wouldn't have tacked on the whole 'Captain' thing.
"Well, it's kind of a long story but I'll make it short for now. Basically I come from an alternate universe where humans are the dominant species and apes are the animals. We have achieved some fairly sophisticated levels of technology and space flight but I was serving a mission in an unknown area of space and while out scouting I was sucked into some kind of wormhole. I crashed on an ape ruled planet, escaped and ended up here. That's the bare bones anyway."
There was silence after Leo finished speaking, broken when Thade whirled and stalked over to the phone on Attar's desk. "What are you doing Thade?" Attar looked nervous that Thade seemed about to call somebody.
"We need to call my press guy. This is big Attar. Really big. Bigger than you or me. This human needs to be questioned, needs to talk with our scientists and NASA and whoever else. He's from an alternate dimension Attar. He's not just an ordinary human with extra training. Once this hits the press he can't just 'disappear', we've made sure of that, but the higher-ups need to know about this." Attar looked shocked.
"WHAT? After all we've done you want me to give him away? Besides, physically he's not up to the strain of undergoing a battery of tests and life in the spotlight. Thade, give me a day or two to get him fixed up a little. Just a day or two, please." Lowering his voice Attar stepped closer to Thade. "Please Thade. A day or two will also give me a chance to bond more with him. I have to stay with him then because he won't trust anybody else." Thade looked deep into Attar's eyes. Could he deny his friend his lifelong dream? No, he couldn't. Sighing he hung up the phone.
"Just two days Attar. Tomorrow I'm going to set up meetings with my press guy and my bosses. Until then, keep him safe." Already half regretting his decision Thade walked out. They had better bond quickly or Attar was out of luck. This human was too much of a find to ignore.
With Thade gone that left Leo and Attar alone. Leo actually felt better with Thade gone but Attar looked a little apprehensive. "So Ulysses…uh, Leo, How are you feeling." When in doubt, fall back into doctor mode.
"Truthfully, like shit. Thade certainly packs a punch. Not too mention that huge ape the other day. But I think I'll survive. With a little sleep and maybe some food?" Leo hinted. Man he was starving. Attar grinned.
"Sure I can feed you. How about we take a walk down to the cafeteria. You can meet my friends Zira and Ari. You have to act like a normal human though. No talking at least. The rest I can pass off as well trained. There's actually a human in China that can eat with silverware." Leo quirked an eyebrow at Attar's excitement.
"Silverware, huh? I think your human can do that just as good as any china guy's human." Leo paused and looked down at himself. "Ummm, can I have some clothes first though?"