In the jungle, the quiet jungle [Closed]

[goddamnwingman]

To say Nightwing was unhappy with his orders was an understatement. He absolutely didn't agree that protective custody was the best way to handle this. Yes, the kid and the Yeerk needed to be protected because there were far too many people on the crew that had been affected and still weren't dealing with it well. He just wasn't convinced that this was the way to do it.

Of course, in order to get him into protective custody, Dick had to find the kid, first. Not the easiest of feats in Hydroponics, but he figured the boy might not be anywhere near the beer tree. Too many people were around there on a daily basis. So he went the opposite direction, looking for places that would be good to hide in or provided good cover.

And was still a little surprised when he stumbled into the right area. "Tom?" he asked, straightening slightly. "Tom Berenson?"

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[goddamnwingman]

He quirked a smile at that. "Older brother instincts." They were also, in some way, leader instincts. It had worked for Nightwing, at least. "It's understandable to humans. Possibly to some other species here on the ship, mostly ones that depend on strong community units for survival. It's an instinct some of us develop to...keep others safe. That's one reason why some people in my world wear the technicolor pyjamas."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"Oh really? Can you explain that reaction to me then? Because it's still a one that puzzles me. If, as you said, humans value autonomy, then why should the autonomy of another matter more than your own?"

He could feel Tom's focus. Not hero worship, not anymore. Just intent interest in what Nightwing might say.

[goddamnwingman]

Nightwing looked over at him, eyebrow raised. "Why shouldn't it?" he turned back, then shook his head. "Because...sometimes, people can't protect themselves. They become victims through no real fault of their own, just caught up in what's happening in the lives of others. Wrong place, wrong time. Or sometimes they're targeted. Singled out for reasons...it's hard to understand. Maybe the people behind it don't really understand it either.

"They've already lost their autonomy. Some of them lose their lives before we even find out and try to stop it. So why are their lives less important than my own? And why should I just sit back and do nothing when I might be able to stop it?"

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Iniss stopped, just studying Nightwing for a long moment.

He didn't understand. He didn't understand humans and their raw passion and their bonds.

It was so strange. So alien. Beyond a Hork-Bajir's simple understanding of the world. Beyond a Gedd's acceptance of servitude. Beyond a Taxxon's raw and needy hunger, blinding in it's intensity.

Humans felt.

Everything.

"So you protect the weak. Because they are incapable of protecting themselves?" He paused, thinking for a moment of Dani.

Dani who had come to save him, despite everything. Despite that fact that he was a yeerk, a hostile alien. Because he was her friend.

Something in his face relaxed, something odd. He felt strange and off balance for a long moment. "There is no limit to human..." Foolishness, that was the word he wanted. But what came out... "Kindness."

[goddamnwingman]

Nightwing had to smile at that and shake his head. "When it comes to individuals, there are always lines and limits," he pointed out. "And group limits tend to be set by the person with the lowest limit. But...we try. And we keep trying."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"Lines and limits...." He huffed, shaking off the strange emotion. "You're a strange species. I don't think I will ever fully understand you."

He ignored the irritating sensation that said he wanted to.

"So, where do the group lines lie on the ship, Nightwing? Is it the entire crew, or the tiny subgroups that spring up among people from the same world, the same background or just strong friendships made by those who have no one else on the ship?"

Tom was strangely silent, not commenting on anything. Keeping his mind still and clear of any thoughts.

[goddamnwingman]

Nightwing shook his head. "I've been studying humans for most of my life. My mentor has been studying them...probably longer than I've been alive. And I'd lay odds that neither of us even come close to fully understanding humans."

It was the truth. Though Nightwing at least could admit that he wanted to.

He hummed softly at that, considering. "For the most part, the ship seems to be coming together pretty well. Yes, people from the same world and background will tend toward each other more than with others, but that's to be expected. And, of course, the real lone wolves who don't seem to want anything to do with anybody else."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Oh that was a comforting thought. Even the humans didn't understand each other. "I've studied your wars, and the people you regard as both heroes and villains. It seems to tell a great deal about a species, or at least it has worked for me in the past. I still feel I have only scratched the surface."

Humans were such complex and confusing things, to understand them truly would mean going native.

And they were at war, going native meant betraying the empire....even though here, on this ship, the empire was dust and only a few fragments remained of it. Only himself and the yeerk hiding in the little girl and one pathetic moron in stasis.

A rather poor showing for the master's of the universe.

At least he could take an odd, twisted comfort from the fact that the Andalites had been similarly decimated, or he could have easily blamed them. "Every ship has it's holdouts, I suppose. It sounds as though there have been many things that have driven you together. I heard about the yeerks, though everyone seems to tell that story different, and very very briefly about something called The Nightmare King." He paused, thoughtful. "It seems almost planned, if you have a ship full of heroes from countless worlds...then you need to force them together somehow, don't you? What better way than to give them a common enemy?"

[goddamnwingman]

Nightwing nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty convenient." He'd been trained by Batman. He knew better than to take anything at face value. "The Nightmare King...I honestly would have thought that would bring everybody together, but there was a lot of bickering after it as well. I suppose it's just something we'll have to get used to, as long as people manage to work together when the time comes."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't strike you as odd? Or is it just par for course, on a ship full of heroes, bad things come to find you?"

He sighed, rubbing his face. "So tell me about your boss. I find myself curious to know what I might be facing. Is he a hero, like you? Something else?"

[goddamnwingman]

"Oh, I'm pretty used to it, actually. Bad things do seem to come hunting for us even back home." Which was likely in Tom's memories. Seriously, most of the 80s run of the Teen Titans was things coming looking for them.

"Kennedy?" That made Nightwing grin. "He's a good guy. Regular human, near as I can tell. Not a hero in the way that we normally define it back in my world." No spandex pajamas for him. "But he's got a good head on his shoulders and so far seems committed to keeping the ship and crew safe. Near as I can tell, he's just a cop."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"Sounds depressing and stressful." He shook his head, reading some of Tom's thoughts on the matter. "Great power draws great evil to knock it from it's pedestal."

He listened to Nightwing describe his boss, head tilted to the side. "A regular human in charge of super heroes? Why place a cop in charge when you have someone like Superman on the ship?"