Today, Kirchoff had to attend a meeting being delivered by Dr. Gavin, the current Research Director of the Bernard Research Facility to his high-level staff, including Dr. Nigel. Normally these meetings this wouldn't be too bad, since it gave him a rare opportunity to leave the ABRF and come back up to the normal levels for a change, although it didn't escape his notice that he was being monitored at all times by two heavily armed guards doing their best to stay just out of sight. No, what was really bothering him was Dr. Gavin himself.

He was always awkward around him, not only because of his position, but also because the man was so damn attractive. It was hard to focus on presenting when he was in the room, what with his chiseled features, dark hair, and piercing blue eyes. If being a doctor hadn't worked out so well for him, he could easily see him being a model. He rarely ever saw the man outside of the conferences, but he had been the subject of more than one of Kirchoff's sexual fantasies to date. It got lonely in his lab with only Valen for company.

It was while he was zoning out that Dr. Gavin addressed him directly. "And of course, we are all impressed at the amount of progress that has been made by Dr. Kirchoff these past few months. The hypothesis that Xenomorphs are capable of expressing empathy sounds so odd to us, but I must say you make a convincing case."

"Thank you sir," Kirchoff did his best not to flush beet red as he muttered his thanks.

There were some murmurs of approval, and some congratulations were directed his way, but no one's mind was really on the meeting. They were all consumed by their own thoughts, daydreams, or rumbling stomachs.

"Excellent," Dr. Gavin stood up and clapped his hands together. "Alright everyone, I know how much you want to be here, but I have several other appointments today, so you're all free to go."

While everyone filed out of the room, Kirchoff spotted Dr. Nigel sitting at her place at the table, where she was still gathering up her mountain of papers that she seemed to take everywhere she went. He started to walk over to her, but a strong hand pulled him aside.

He was spun around and met face to chest with Dr. Gavin. His cheeks flushed and he quickly took a few steps back. "Dr. Kirchoff, do you have a few minutes to talk," Dr. Gavin asked.

He didn't have much of a choice in the matter as he was unceremoniously pulled out of the crowd of scientists shuffling out of the conference room.

Dr. Gavin practically towered over him as he spoke. "Dr. Kirchoff, I really am impressed at your work, I truly am. I just think that maybe you could use your talents to generate more results… useful to other scientists working outside of your current project. Fear, for example."

He shifted uncomfortably, both from the awkward contact and the implications of what he was asking. "Yes sir."

"Good man. Now if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to today. My work is never done." He patted his shoulder one last time and waltzed gracefully out of the room.

Kirchoff stood where he was for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. He cast his gaze around the room and saw that Dr. Nigel was still struggling to gather her mound of paper. He took a deep breath and walked over to where she was sitting.

"Hey."

"Hello Dr. Kirchoff," she looked up at him from her paper gathering. "What did Dr. Gavin want?"

"Same old, same old. He's pretty insistent about weaponizing your experiments, isn't he?"

"You have no idea. He's tried to do it before, but remember, you work for me, not him, no matter what he tells you." Dr. Gavin may have been the Director of Research at the Bernard Research Station, but he also happened to have a deep rooted hatred of Xenomorphs. His mother had been killed by a Xeno when she was on a tour of duty, and ever since then he had dedicated his life to eradicating the Xenomorph threat. At least according to the abundant rumors that were a part of daily life at the station.

"I'll keep that in mind," He said.

"I do have to agree with him though. You're doing a remarkable job Kirchoff. It's almost unbelievable how insightful your research is. It's like you can get inside his head and figure out exactly what he's feeling…"

Almost Doc, he thought. Just turn that around and you've hit the nail on the head.

"...And the fact that you've managed to keep using Valen to produce results for the past two months makes it all the more amazing," She had finished gathering her papers and was standing up to leave. "Whatever it is you're doing, keep it up."

"I'll do my best," he replied. "Um, about my request for a private conversation..."

Dr. Nigel waved her hand at him to cut the question off. "I've told you Kirchoff, when I have time. I'm very busy right now."

"Valen, for the love of all that is holy, can you please give me a straight answer for once?"

Nope, not happening. You have to work for your dinner.

"I can have dinner anytime I want to, thank you very much. What I want is for you to tell me is how you feel when you've have your dinner." All Valen had to do was say he was content or satisfied or something, then he could go to bed.

What are you, a psychiatrist? That was Valen's new favorite word as of late and he used it at every opportunity. He flopped down on his side and looked over at him with what he assumed was a pitiful look. Doctor, I think I might be in love with my mother! Oh, what should I do?

"Please Valen," He begged. "Don't pull some Freudian bullshit on me!"

Freudian, what's that? Valen asked. Some kind of mental disease?

Oh dear god. "No, it's just a phrase."

A phrase about what?

"Can we please get back on track?" Kirchoff rubbed his temples. "I have other things to do today, you know."

No you don't, Valen made a raspy sound that Kirchoff assumed was laughter. I'm not saying another word until you tell me what Freudian means.

Conversations like the one he was having now had been his daily fare for the past two months. Kirchoff kept his word and hadn't tried to torture Valen, but that didn't mean he wasn't sorely tempted. He had found that the easiest way for him to get information out of Valen was to ask questions, but even then he rarely ever gave him a straight answer. Instead he answered in riddles or brain teasers that frustrated Kirchoff to no end. No one ever visited his lab, so he didn't have to worry about unexpected visitors. Probably a good thing because if anyone walked in on him trying to get Valen to talk they'd assume that he was nuts. Trying to get Valen to talk about anything relevant to his research was harder than trying to eat a plate of bricks, but it was still a much more efficient method than trying to torture information out of him.

The one thing Valen never discussed under any circumstances was how he did his telekinesis trick. Whenever Kirchoff raised the subject, he deliberately avoided talking about it or simply said that he didn't know how it worked. When Kirchoff pressured him all he got was unbearably sassy remarks about his personal hygiene.

It wasn't all business in the lab though. Valen was very curious about everything, often sidetracking entire conversations out of the desire to learn the details behind something he had said. He was fascinated by things Kirchoff didn't even put any thought into, the various phrases and intricacies of the English language being one of them. On rare occasions it was kind of entertaining to explain what various phrases and words meant, but most of the time it was mind numbingly grating.

"Okay Valen, do you get it now?" After his little Freud joke, Kirchoff had spent two hours explaining as much about Sigmund Freud as he knew, and then making up stuff to try and satisfy Valen.

I think so, but would you mind explaining…

"Yes, I would mind very much!" Valen could see that Kirchoff was getting impatient. "I just spent the last two hours explaining the life and times of Sigmund Freud to you! I had to go to the library database to find a book on Freud to get information on Freud to tell you about him! What more could you possibly need me to explain to you?"

Um… He trailed off. He'd tormented the idiot for long enough. Well I just thought I'd tell you that as much as I love eating the rotten carcasses of cows, I'd love to do some real hunting sometime.

"You like hunting?"

That's what I just said, you moronic oaf.

"Have you ever actually hunted before?"

No, but I would like to someday. Even though he had never been hunting, he could imagine the thrill of hunting live prey, the satisfaction of catching it in his claws and the rush of delivering the killing blow.

"Can you describe how you feel about hunting?" He was excited. Another report to write, another boring piece of paper to hand in to his superiors. This man needed to get his priorities straight. He was currently in the presence of a spectacular specimen of a Xenomorph and all he could think about was his work.

Give it a rest will you, Valen snorted. You know, what I would like to have one decent conversation with you without your stupid research getting in the way.

Kirchoff seemed taken aback. It seemed that he had never thought of actually talking with him for the sake of talking.

"Okay." He put down his notepad on his desk and folded his hands in his lap. "So...What would you like to talk about?"

I don't know, I was hoping you had something to talk about.

They sat there in awkward silence for some time. Kirchoff twiddled his thumbs and Valen made a detailed inspection of his claws. Kirchoff spun around in his chair and Valen thought about taking a nap. Kirchoff made a detailed inspection of his stubby little claws and he decided to go ahead with that nap. He curled up onto the floor, wrapped his tail around himself and was just about to doze off when Kirchoff spoke, "How old are you?"

According to your calendar, I am three years old. Might I ask how old you are?

"Twenty four."

Kirchoff was not good at small talk, that was certain. In an attempt to find a topic of conversation, he extended further into his mind and began to search around his thoughts. It was an odd feeling, reaching out into someone's mind. It felt as though random thoughts and feelings were being dropped into his head unprompted. But he knew that they were not random. They were thoughts and feelings of Kirchoff. All Kirchhoff's intimate, private thoughts and emotions were available for his viewing pleasure.

He waited for Kirchoff to think of something interesting, something that could start a decent conversation. The terrible toast he made for breakfast. A large table, surrounded by people. Dr. Nigel's apparent indifference to his questions about a meeting. A tall, muscular man in a white lab coat. What would happen if he took him and...

Oh… That was unexpected. Oh my… oh yes!

It had been a long day for Kirchoff and his mind had begun to lose interest as he waited for Valen to say something. He put his legs up on the control panel, careful to avoid hitting any of the buttons or dials and let his mind wander. He thought about the horrid attempt at making breakfast he had made, his weekly conference, talking with Dr. Nigel, the way Dr. Gavin looked in his white collared lab coat and… No, he couldn't fantasize now, not when he was talking to Valen. He secretly hoped Valen hadn't heard his thoughts.

Kirchoff, why are you thinking about naked females? Valen asked.

Oh god, too late, he thought. He stayed silent, hoping that Valen would drop it. It didn't work.

Are you ashamed? Don't worry, it's only natural for a boy your age, he mocked.

"Shut up Valen, I'm not thinking about that!" he said indignantly. His face turned hot and he heard the sound of raspy laughter.

Oh, you are right, silly me! I must have been mistaken, Valen said.

"Really?" he asked dubiously.

Yes. You're thinking about naked males, not females, Valen said with a mental smirk.

"Shut up!" He yelled.

I don't hear a denial! Valen taunted. He walked over to the fake wall and pressed his head against it. It was a rather poor attempt to get in his face, but it did the trick.

"I said shut up Valen!"

Oh my! I was just teasing you, he mocked in an amused tone. Do you really like other males?

"Why should I tell you?" Kirchhoff asked defiantly.

Because I know what you're thinking, he said. It's hard to keep a secret from somebody who can read your mind.

He let out a sigh of defeat. "Yes Valen, if you must know, I am attracted to other males." His face went red again and he looked away from Valen's elongated head pressed against the wall.

Why are you ashamed? he asked.

"I'm not ashamed, it's just… well… most of the people in my life... or should I say were in my life, weren't very… accepting of my… sexual preference." He squared his shoulders. "But I'm comfortable like this. I don't have to think about it, and it stops it from getting in the way of my work."

That has to be the most pathetic excuse I've heard. Which is saying something knowing what kinds of excuses you've given me. Valen shook his head and stared at Kirchoff.

"What do you mean pathetic?" he asked indignantly. "I'm fine with the way things are."

Like hell you are! Valen was glaring at him from the other side of the glass.

'What do you mean?"

Look at you! You're so uncomfortable with the subject you can't even talk to me about it!

"And why on earth would I ever want to speak to you about my sexuality? I talk to you because I need to!" Kirchoff spat back. Valen was really pissing him off. He didn't want to think about this at all, let alone share it.

Hah ! Valen snorted. That's rich! If I recall correctly, the only reason I've been talking to you is because I need you . I'm trusting you with my life, so why don't you trust me a little?

"Why would I trust you?" Stupid Xenomorph.

A sudden spike of pain wracked through Kirchoff's head and sent him tumbling to his knees. It felt like a bullet had just lodged itself in his brain and was burning a hole in his head.

Just… a... stupid… Xenomorph... am I? Valen seethed.

"N-n-no, I meant that…"

Meant what, exactly? Valen was furious, pacing his cell and lashing out at the walls, leaving long scratch marks on the white floor. That I'm just another dumb animal that can't tell his head from his tail? WHAT?

Kirchoff's head felt like it was going to explode. The sheer fury that Valen was projecting was burning into his mind like a hot iron.

Valen, he thought through the pain searing in his head, Calm down.

Calm down? CALM DOWN? Why would I calm down?! Valen fumed. You can't even trust me with the most simple details of your life, even after I trusted you with mine! Remember that little agreement we had? The one where I would tell you what you wanted and you kept me alive for as long as possible. That one!

I remember, he thought.

Really? It seems like you forgot that the only reason that you are here right now is that we agreed to help each other! To trust each other! Valen stalked over to a corner of his room and curled up, facing away from the wall and Kirchoff.

Kirchoff knelt on the floor for what seemed like an eternity. His head ached and his mind was reeling. But the worst thing about it was that he had no reasonable defense. Valen was completely right. Up until now, he had merely seen Valen as another specimen, a lab rat to examine. Sure he was a sarcastic, sassy asshole about it, but the only thing he ever talked to him about was his research. And he knew that Valen was intelligent, that was obvious by now, but he had underestimated the level of trust and hope that Valen must have put in him. Without his cooperation, he might already be dead or worse, and he'd probably get assigned to another person, who would probably resort to torturing him for information.

What was Valen to him anyways? It's not like he talked much to anyone else, least of all about a topic as personal as this. Was he… his friend? He hadn't even considered that possibility at all.

He knew that if he and Valen were going to cooperate in the future, he had to mend this wound now. He brought himself up and into his chair and turned on the microphone.

"Listen, Valen.." he began, "I'm sorry for what I said. I was upset and…"

And?

"And you were right, I am pathetic." He looked down at his feet in shame, both for insulting Valen and for being such a wuss. "I didn't really understand where we stood until just now.

There was a long period of silence before Valen broke the silence.

You don't need to feel ashamed of yourself, Kirchoff, he said gently. Kirchoff looked up. It was the first time he had heard Valen use his name. I might not be able to totally understand your emotions or your justifications, but we're not all that different. I should know, I'm also… Valen broke off his sentence quickly. Nevermind. Now, what were you saying about being a pathetic wreck?

"Wait a minute, what was that last part?" Kirchoff asked.

The part about you being a pathetic wreck? Valen asked, a bit too quickly.

"No, before that."

I didn't say anything before that, he said nervously.

"Yes you did. You said I'm also… oh... Oh!" Kirchoff looked over at Valen, who was examining the pointed end of his tail with a great deal of interest. "You?"

Me? Me what?

"You? Really?" Kirchoff was astounded. "You're gay?"

I didn't say that, Valen said

"You were about to!" Kirchoff laughed. It started out as a little giggle but quickly turned into full on, rolling on the floor, eye watering laughter.

What's so funny? he asked.

"You… you… it's just… you… Ahahahaha!" he wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up. "Sorry, it's just that I never would have suspected that you were gay until you slipped up."

I didn't slip up, I did it intentionally, Valen said haughtily.

"Like hell you did!" he shot back.

Of course I did. I never make mistakes.

"Of course you don't."

They were silent for a time. Kirchoff sat back in his chair and put his legs back up on the control panel.

Kirchoff , Valen said.

"Yes?" he asked.

Do you find this… Valen turned around and raised his tail, attractive?

"Find what attractive? What are you talking…" Kirchoff looked over at Valen and nearly fell out of his chair. "Oh my god!"

Valen let out a raspy hiss that Kirchoff could have sworn was laughter.

Dr. Nigel was sitting at her desk trying to sort through all of her papers, as usual. They had gotten all messed up from the meeting and she had been spending the past several hours putting them back together in the proper order.

I really need another filing cabinet, She thought to herself. Of course she could always get a proper server like Dr. Gavin kept pushing her to do, but she didn't trust either the electronics or the man. As of late, Dr. Gavin had been trying to involve himself in her projects far more than she was comfortable with. His continuous attempts to influence Kirchoff had made it all the more obvious. Aggravating though it was, she couldn't do anything about it. If he wanted to, Gavin could terminate her entire operation in the blink of an eye.

A loud knock on her door roused her from her musings. Speak of the devil...

Dr. Gavin opened the door and squeezed his hulking frame through the doorway. "Do you have a moment Ursula?"

"Yes, Julius. I'm just sorting through some documents."

"Good," he said. "And speaking of documents, I have one for you to read."

"Gavin, please. I don't want to read another one of your propositions."

"Tsk, tsk. You haven't even read it yet." He handed her a small pile of papers held together with a paperclip.

She took it and skimmed over the document he handed her. The first page made her skin crawl, she read the second page twice to make sure she wasn't reading it wrong, and when she read the contents of the third she threw the papers back at Dr. Gavin violently.

"Well?" He asked unfazed. "Will you do it?"

"No Gavin! I refuse to go ahead with this! It's barbaric!" She shouted. The idea of what he was suggesting disgusted her.

"I don't like the term barbaric. I prefer to think of it as a necessary sacrifice."

"I won't do it," She yelled. "I've learned more from Kirchoff than anyone else before him. He's a valuable asset!"

"And he'll be even more valuable if he is used in my experiment. Tell me, exactly how much have you learned from him recently."

"A lot," she muttered, casting her gaze down to her desk.

"A lot hmm…?" Dr. Gavin leaned forwards in her desk, making it creak slightly. "How much is a lot? Enough to continue your experiment for another year or two?"

Her silence was her answer.

"Ursula, if you want to keep your career intact, I highly recommend that you give my proposition serious consideration," He picked up the sheath of papers from off the floor and placed them neatly on top of her desk. "I shouldn't have to explain all of the potential… consequences." A stony silence fell over the room. He had called her bluff. As much data as they had gathered from using Kirchoff, she was still missing a certain type of data, data which was not easy to obtain.

Dr. Nigel shot Gavin a cold look, but he didn't even react. He just turned on his heels and stalked out of her office. When he was halfway out of the door, he paused and said, "I'll give you another two months to mull it over. If I don't see the results I want, then I'll have to step in." And without another word, he left.

Even after he left, Dr. Nigel remained stony, silent and still, wondering how the hell this had turned south so fast.