Breakfast started out silent and awkward. Maybe it was because this was the first time the crew had sat down for a meeting since the time Red was exposed, or because nobody had acknowledged the elephant in the room, or something else entirely. Whatever it was, it'd hardly been going on for a minute when Yellow was sic of it. It was messing with her ability to enjoy her food, and anything that did that was clearly the spawn of Satan.
"So, uh, captain?" she begins, her mouth dry even though she'd just taken a drink. She'd told her vent buddy the night before that it'd be okay, that she could keep them together and safe (maybe not those exact words but still), but now that the time had actually come to discuss it, she was nervous as all heck. "You said we were going to have a meeting."
"What?" The captain seemed startled, as if he had wanted the crew to forget. "Oh, yes. Of course. As you know, our mission is coming to a close. You all did very well. But this will be no ordinary report to MIRA."
"Because of the impostor." Green blurts, earning himself a scowl from Yellow, and odd looks from everyone else.
"Because of Red, yes." Yellow doesn't know whether to be upset with White for not reprimanding Green, or happy that he didn't just agree with him.
"Couldn't we just act like Red's just another human crewmate like all of us?" Blue asks.
"That won't work," purple replies. "MIRA already knows there's an impostor onboard."
"But couldn't we just say the message was a false alarm?"
"There are no false alarms." Green says, sounding quite ominous. Which made yellow snort because the crewman just so happened to have a milk mustache at the moment. "That just doesn't happen."
"Well, we can't just go to MIRA and say 'Hey, we befriended a murderous alien. Can we keep it?'"
Green bursted out laughing, while Red muttered, "…What?" With a blank expression.
"Red's not murderous," Yellow defends, but no one paid her any attention. Not that they would have taken her seriously, since she was trying to hold down a fit of giggles and not choke on her toast.
"Unfortunately, I'm inclined to think Blue is right." The captain informed grimly once they had all calmed down. "I doubt MIRA would understand if we tried to explain this to them. I don't even know if I fully understand."
"Even if we do try to keep this under the radar," Purple cuts in. "What will happen if they split us up?"
"Red doesn't know much about tasks, they'll be exposed for sure." Yellow really didn't want to say it out loud, as that would make it more real. But what choice did she have? Her crew needed to know how serious this really is.
The six of them sat in grim silence for a few moments. Well, all of them except Green, who just looked constipated.
White sighed as he idly stirred his coffee. "This isn't an easy situation."
"You're telling me." Green mutters.
"I think the best thing we can do for now is simply do our best not to call attention to Red, and deal with problems as they arise."
"Oh, look at this!" Yellow squealed as she gawked at a display. She and Red were hanging out in the little shop for MIRA employees they had in the spaceport the mission report would be taking place in. It was perched precariously on a little asteroid in the middle of nowhere, but Red supposed that was for the best. It wasn't likely for any impostors to stumble upon it, or actively search for it.
Currently, the two were in the cosmetics department, browsing the various odds and ends that could be added to a crewmate's spacesuit. "I used to wear overalls all the time when I was little! I can't believe I didn't know about this before!"
"Um, are those grease stains?"
"Doesn't matter, it builds character!" And before Red can get in another word, Yellow has already snatched a pair of greasy blue overalls from the shelf and is practically shoving them into the face of the woman standing behind the checkout counter. "Hey! I wanna buy these, how much?"
"Twenty credits," The woman mutters as she takes the clothes and eyes them, along with Yellow herself.
"HOLY CRAPSICKLES!" Red's vent buddy hollers, causing them to feel second-hand embarrassment, as everyone in the room is now staring at the scene. Yellow either doesn't notice or just doesn't care, because she just keeps shouting. "You've gotta be kidding me! Lucky I've got my heart set on this outfit, or there'd be no way I'd pay this much. Seriously, MIRA, you're killing me, man!"
The cashier stares. Her eyes slowly widen as she looks the girl over. "…Aurie?"
"W-wha?" Yellow gawks, and Red can't help but let out a little gasp at hearing this stranger say their friend's real name. Well, nickname, but still.
"D-do I know you?" Yellow stammers, looking absolutely bewildered.
At this, the cashier looks crestfallen. "You don't recognize me, Aurelia? It's me! Rose!"
Who? The impostor wonders, still baffled. Yellow, on the other hand, has an entirely different reaction.
"Rose!" She squeals, jumping up and down and waving her arms. "I can't believe it! Wow! It really is you!"
"Same, girl!" The cashier, whose name is apparently Rose, puts the overalls on the counter so she can come out from behind it and give Yellow a hug. "You did it! You're working for MIRA!"
"You too! Man, I wish you were on our crew, we've had all sorts of amazing stuff happen so far. Oh!" Just then, Yellow seems to remember Red's presence, and she whirls to face them. "Rose, I'd like you to meet my best friend from the crew: Red! Or Rowen, if you'd prefer. They've helped so much with my adjustment to life in space, and I definitely wouldn't have had as easy, or as good of a time without them."
"Is that so? Well…" Rose meets Red's gaze, and they freeze. Something in her expression, her posture changes slightly as she reaches out a hand to shake. Is it their imagination, or did she squeeze a little harder than necessary when they shook?
Or, am I just being paranoid? I mean, I've been nervous lately, and Yellow trusts her. Then again she trusted me at first, could she…
"It's a pleasure to meet you, and I'm thrilled little Aurie had someone like you along for the ride." Rose smiles, and it looks totally genuine. But before Any of them could say anything else, a stern voice cuts them off.
"Ms. Parker, please get back to work."
"Oh boy," Rose mutters as she steps back behind the counter. "These guys don't mess around." She picks up the overalls, and the girls resume the odd process of buying something. It has multiple steps: scanning a card, placing an iMira into a strange machine, among other things. Red doesn't understand why it needs to be so complicated.
"There ya go, they're all yours, Aurie!" Rose says cheerfully as she tosses the clothes to their new owner, much to her delight. "By the way, are you here for the mission report?"
"Yup," Yellow replies. "And honestly? We're both pretty nervous about it. We're scared they'll split us up."
"Awww, they won't do that. And if they do, just give me a ring. I'll fix it right up for you. Or if you have any other problems as well. I'm always ready to help a friend."
"Thanks, Ro! Oh my gosh, these are soooo awesome! I wanna put 'em on right now!"
Rose, who before seemed a bit put out, seems to be catching some of Aurelia's enthusiasm. She smiles in a sort of wistful way as she motions towards a small, nearby door. "You can. There's a dressing room right over there. I wouldn't mind keeping your friend company while you go change."
"Yes! Thank you! I'll be right back, guys!"
As Yellow skips away to put on her new outfit, Red starts to realize something that makes their stomach drop. They actually don't know that much about their vent buddy. They knew some things: she was raised by her uncle, her mother was killed by their people, she'd always loved the idea of the supernatural. But even though it felt like a lot, even though they felt like they knew her really well, there were still a lot more things to discover.
Rose was the proof of that. She and Yellow interacted like they were old friends, yet Red hadn't even heard of her before this.
There were things Yellow didn't know about them, but the impostor didn't want her to know. There was no reason to, and it would only make her sad. Red hates it when Yellow is sad.
"So, Red." Rose's voice jogs them from their musings. "Have you worked for MIRA long?"
"Huh?" Oh, come on! Why a question like this now? Quick, Rowen! Come up with something on the fly! Make it casual and natural, like the Academy taught you—oh, why didn't I make a backstory before? I knew I'd forgotten to do something—well, better fix that quick! "Oh, not really. I'm actually not that much newer than Yellow. Heh. One of the reasons we get along so well, maybe."
"Mmm-hmm…" For a split second, Rose's eyes seem to narrow, but Red soon realizes that her gaze is directed towards the display of the machine she'd had Yellow put her phone into. "We seem to be having an influx of new employees lately. Luckily, the new addition to your crew is not a newbie; they're supposedly a veteran. Survived through countless impostor attacks; definitely what you need during these hectic times…"
'New addition to your crew' was pretty much the only words Red registered before their brain almost blue-screened. "A new crewmate?"
Rose gasps, her face flushing the color of her name. "Ugh, I wasn't supposed to tell you that… forget I said anything."
Red wants to pry, but they also don't want to get Yellow's friend in trouble. In the end, they decide to ask something else they would like to know. "So, uh, how long have you known Yellow for?"
Rose is very eager to move past her embarrassment, and the answer comes easily. "Oh, me and Aurelia? We go way back! We actually met in first grade. Aurie wanted to sit on the R on the carpet because 'the letter's in my name!' We got into a fight over it and both started crying, but then we bonded during recess because neither of us had anyone to play with, and the rest is history."
Red gapes. They have no idea what the cashier is talking about.
Yellow twirled in front of the mirror. She wasn't sure what exactly it was about overalls, but she just couldn't get enough of them. Maybe it was because she wore them a lot as a kid, and they made her feel safe? Maybe it was because they had a lot of pockets? Or maybe they were just super comfortable? Whatever it was, she was in heaven, and the grease stains really did give the outfit character. Red will think so too, once they see them on me! She thinks gleefully and bounces out the door.
"Excuse me, miss?"
"GAHHHH!" Yellow jumps at the unexpected voice right behind and slightly to the left of her. She whirls around to see a stranger eying her, and her stomach lurches in a funny way. "W-where did you come from?"
The stranger takes a few steps back. "Oh, my apologies." They say, in a slightly quieter tone. "I simply wish to know if I am in the right place."
Dang, a little on the fancy and formal side, aren't ya bud? Yellow thinks to herself once her heart returns to a normal rhythm. "That depends," She begins, putting her hands in the pockets of her new overalls. "Tell me where you wanna be, and I'll let you know the best I can."
"Wonderful." The stranger is smiling now, but at the same time, they're eying Yellow as though she's an ancient scripture written in a long forgotten dialect that they were trying to puzzle out. "I'm here for the post-mission report for Crew 456. I am answering my summons from MIRA to join them on a follow-up task."
At those words, Yellow's anxiety melts almost completely. They weren't getting split after all! They were getting a new member. "Oh, no way!" She squeals, jumping up and down. "That's my crew! The meeting isn't starting just yet, but it will be super soon. How about we go join my friend, and we'll all go."
"Perfect."
"Yay! Come on!" Yellow reaches out to take her soon-to-be new crewmate's hand, decides it's too soon, and instead uses it to motion for them to follow her. "I'm the yellow crewmate." She says excitedly as she trots along, the new person following along at a slower pace. "But you probably knew that because, y'know I'm… wearing a yellow suit—what about you? I've seen that color before, but I don't remember what it's called."
"Ah." Suddenly, they're right next to Yellow, even though they're not really going any faster. "You may call me Cyan."