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[prettycoolguy]

Hydroponics is the Chief's favorite part of the ship. This isn't because of any special function it serves, but because it's usually quiet and mostly empty. He can get away from the rest of the crew in here, for a little while. It's space to think.

He has a lot of thinking to do.

He has no particular set goal in mind, just pacing some of the usual paths. However, something seems to be following him. A whiteish bug of some kind roughly the size of a german shepherd. It scuttles along behind the Spartan as he goes, and he seems to be ignoring it.

Has he even noticed it? It's impossible to tell.

Comments

[prettycoolguy]

"I'm sure," he replies, nodding. It antennae-waves some more, not moving from where it stands.

"I think it likes my armor, or something," the Chief continues, looking back down at it. The bug doesn't offer any answer.

"Did you need me?" he asks, looking back to Sherry. She might have just been in here on her own, but she could also possibly have come looking for him.

[in-venting.livejournal.com]

Sherry shook her head, and her very short braids quivered. "No, I... was only saying hello." She looked up at Chief, and was thankful that looking up meant she would not have to look down at the terrifying bug.

"Have you seen Vega anywhere? I have to give him some notes." Ah, Vega. Never before had you been such a wonderfully valid excuse.

[prettycoolguy]

"Most likely? The hangar," the Chief replies.

"Are you going to push him off any buildings?"

It's a joke. Really, it is. It's just extremely hard to tell from his relaxed tone, as if commenting on a day to day occurrence.

[in-venting.livejournal.com]

"Only if Vega sprouts feathers," Sherry replied calmly. Chief is in good hands, one need only look as far as her father for linefacing through voice. She peered at him through his helmet, looking for his eyes and seeing only her reflection. Creepy.

[prettycoolguy]

Chief has only met a few people besides other Spartans who can pick out his eyes through the visor. It's an uncommon skill.

"Unlikely," he remarks. "And if he did, it's not your place to make those decisions for him."

Or for timid bird nephew type people, but that goes unsaid.

[in-venting.livejournal.com]

"I know," Sherry replied, having thoroughly learned her lesson the last time she tried forcing others to fly. "Luckily, Vega doesn't have wings, so he doesn't need to worry." Ah, child logic. Infallible.

Sherry's eyes fell towards the bug again and she shuddered before looking back at Chief. Dr. Sera was probably going to tease her if these things ever came up in biology class. She just knew it.

[prettycoolguy]

"Luckily."

Satisfied that Sherry has been chastised enough, he lets it drop.

"I don't think it could eat you if it wanted to," he offers. "It's some kind of giant pillbug."

It's actually nibbling at some grass stalks right now docilely. It's still a giant, freakish bug though.

[in-venting.livejournal.com]

"...I just... I really hate bugs." Where was her dad when she needed him.

Oh, right. Being captain. Sherry rubbed her arms briskly to banish the goosebumps that had formed there. "At home? There were big, terrible roaches in the vents I hid in, and..." Well, does she really need to say more?

[prettycoolguy]

"About this long?"

He makes a pretty precisely roach-sized gap with his fingers.

[in-venting.livejournal.com]

Sherry shook her head vehemently, "No, no." She made a rather disturbing wide gap with her hands, about a foot and a half long. "Huge." If there was one thing a person could say about the Redfield-Kennedy child, she was not prone to exaggeration.

[prettycoolguy]

"You're not the only one who's had to vent crawl," he says, though not without a hint of amusement.

"You stay out of trouble, hmm?" He'll let her go. It'll be better for the kid's nerves if he leads the bug away, he figures. It doesn't really bother him, it's mostly just odd.

[in-venting.livejournal.com]

Sherry nodded and glanced at the bug again. "I will." Well, she'll try, how about that?