As soon as Bedra was through the door to the deluxe residential housing unit, she kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag on the floor.

The apartment was standard-issue, with a few more common luxuries than the standard simple issue unit. For the most, part Bedra Tae was a neat person; there were a few unwashed dishes on the dining room table, and her socks from the day before were crumpled up and discarded beside her desktop terminal work space, but the atmosphere was clean, and the place had a lavender-like smell, crisp and fresh.

Lining the walls of the main living area were a complex network of carpeted walkways that rose to chest level on Bedra. The moment she stepped foot in the living room area, Degu hopped onto her outstretched palm and was set beside the complex walk way.

“Dinner will be in an hour, and clean yourself off — we’re meeting our new roommates soon!” Bedra said, as Degu ran off towards a sheltered that was hidden from sight. He spoke not a word, but waved dismissively to Bedra with a bit of a grunt.

Bedra took the carrier in her hand and quickly moved to the dining room table. She cleared off some room and set the human carrier down, looking at it with interest.

Tapp had been quite obedient when given orders. Surly, and sour as a lemon, bit obedient. The platinum-haired ghost of a woman was entirely silent the whole trip home, and made not a peep, a sound or a fuss while being transported.

Bedra was against the use of the carrier in general, but had allowed herself to be convinced, based off Tapp’s history of behavior.

There was a nervous energy to Bedra’s movements as she reached out to open the carrier. She had passed the psychological profile assessment, and she had met the ministry income requirements for multiple ownership – though of course, those requirements which were more of a formality than anything, and generally only enforced when adopting from an HOS facility.

Bedra even managed to impress the HOS staff with her patience and level-headedness in the face of a barrage of insults and demands thrown at her from her new ward.

But she was alone now, and to say she wasn’t a little anxious would be a flat out lie. She had made the decision to adopt the challenged undesirable human so quickly, and she truthfully had not even a good reason as to why. She liked a challenge, sure, and she enjoyed a good strong-willed human who could make her life all the more interesting. But most of all she felt sorry for Tapp. The little one looked as if she didn’t want to be in that adoption depot, while the others seemed content staying there as long as could be.

Bedra slowly opened the carrier and pulled her hand back, she bit her bottom lip as the tiny, powdery figure emerged slowly, with confidence and a bit of a regal air to her.

Tapp’s nose was lifted high and her posture straight, she looked around her surroundings carefully, taking note of everything around her. Her expression gave nothing away, she spoke not a word,she simply scanned the area before looking to Bedra sharply.

“You there! Have you taken us to a compost depot? Why are we surrounded by garbage?” Tapp spoke softly, but her voice was dripping with disdain.

Bedra sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. She was prepared for a fair bit of sass, so she wasn’t at all taken off guard.

“I admit it’s a bit messy, but actually this is rather clean considering I’ve been away for a few days.” Bedra said with a smile, her tone calm and civil. “And my name is not ‘you there!’ it’s Bedra.”

Tapp looked around, taking a few confident paces. The petite human side-stepped a crumpled up food wrapper and balled her fists in a disgusted, displeased manner.

“Is this your whole dwelling?” Tapp said, annoyance in her voice.

“This is the dining room. There is a living room, two bedrooms and a common bathroom, a kitchen and a balcony.” Bedra spoke with a smile.

“Which room will be mine?” Tapp asked with an assured tone.

Bedra blinked and set her hands down on the table, crossing them politely. “Neither, but I can show you where you’ll be staying, would you like a tour?” Bedra offered Tapp a open palm.

Tapp looked at the offered hand with reservation, she seemed to look it over meticulously, scanning it intently before sighing and stepping aboard. She had a displeased look, as if she were sitting in a pile of trash. “I suppose….”

Bedra stood carefully and made her way through the dining room. Tapp looked around with reserved interest. She didn’t appear at all pleased, and she made sure to let Bedra know with as many groans and scoffs as she could.

Degu watched intently from the relitive seclusion and safety of his walkway, and followed Bedra through the living room from his high vantage. He scurried about, trying to keep out of sight, his eyes never leaving the platinum haired beauty, but hers did not land on him even once.

“I assume this is your parlor? Where you entertain?” Tapp asked, almost sounding civil…almost.

“Here we call it a living room.” Bedra motioned to the carpeted walkway which wrapped around a good portion of the living room, it had multiple dome-like hiding holes with windows, and a few tube like structures with ladders and rope bridges. There were multiple levels to it, and it fit seamlessly in with the room’s decor, which was a modern and pet friendly atmosphere.

“Have you ever seen one of these?” Bedra asked, looking down to Tapp.

Tapp scoffed and folded her arms. “Of course I have! What do you take me for? A simpleton? It…it is clearly a…well anyone can plainly see it is a….well it doesn’t matter what it is, it looks tacky!” Tapp let loose with a most annoyed groan.

Bedra chuckled softly and withheld her smile. “It is for you, to climb, explore and enjoy. There are living spaces. Degu doesn’t use them all so you are free to claim one for your own. There is even a modern little hygiene area! A place to wash, do your business, even fresh running water!” Bedra smiled, it was the latest in human care, which was catching attention and gaining in popularity over archaic litter boxes and food trays.

“Oh how quaint, I can wash myself with the local riff raff…well I suppose it’s better than that hole I was left in before!” Tapp spoke dismissively and rolled her eyes.

Bedra took a long breath and forced a smile, she continued walking down the hall towards the bedrooms.

Tapp caught sight of Degu on the way, who was quick to make a sour face at her. Not one to be outdone, Tapp stuck her tongue out in return and made a sour face right back.

“These are the bedrooms, this one is mine, and the one to the left belongs to….” Bedra stopped as the miniature diva cut her off.

“Is this where my servant will be staying? I should let you know now I’ve always had one and I will not do very well without!” Tapp spoke with confidence and absolute assurance.

Bedra grinned and gritted her teeth together. She had to remind herself what she had been told. This one was quite unlike any other human she had met, she was used to having everything. It stood to reason, then, that it would take her some time to adapt.

“This is where my housemate will stay. I haven’t met her yet…but she should be here sometime today.” Bedra took a calming breath and continued walking down the hall.

Tapp crossed her arms tighter and huffed. “Just how many of you are crammed in this hovel anyhow?” Tapp grumbled.

Bedra took a long breath and slowly let her lips curl into a very forced but cordial smile. It was much more trying than she had imagined dealing with the spoiled little human, but she was still confident she had made a good decision in adopting her. Bedra, after all, enjoyed a good challenge.

“I could return you to the shelter if you preferred?” Bedra was still holding Tapp in her open outstretched palm, her arm was growing sore from extending it in such an awkward position and she soon had to transfer Tapp to her other hand.

Tapp let out a most undignified grumbling howl and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “That would be just like one of ‘you’ to do now wouldn’t it!” Tapp spat, with venom seething from her voice.

Bedra’s heart sunk. She had never met a human who had such disdain for Titans before. She immediately regretted her idle threat. The harsh reaction it had drawn was as clear as daylight.

“Oh…I didn’t mean…just if you wanted is all….” Bedra tried to backpedal, her voice went soft and she brought her hand a little closer to her face.

“I know what you meant!” Tapp snapped, her eyes narrowed and she tightened her arms across her chest.

Bedra was at a loss for words. She examined the insulted human’s mannerisms for a moment, before speaking in a soft voice. “What did I mean then exactly?”

Tapp clearly didn’t expect the conversation to go on for as long as it had, and seemed unprepared to answer. She looked the Titaness back eye to eye for a while and huffed dismissively. “I don’t have to explain myself to you!” Tapp turned her neck quickly and faced away from Bedra. “Of course I don’t want to go back to that abhorrent place!” The tone the annoyed human took was softer but still quite guarded. The shelter was the last place Tapp wanted to ever see again.

“I really didn’t mean it like that. I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry.” Bedra spoke simply, her tone genuine.

Tapp looked back to Bedra, a look of surprise flashed across her face for a brief millisecond before hardening once again. “Yes well it’s not like this is ‘that much’ of an improvement…but…it will ‘have’ to do!” Titans were in charge, they were bigger, stronger and held all the cards. They could be nice, mean, even cruel…but one thing they didn’t do was admit to a fault. Titans didn’t apologize…did they?

“I’m glad you approve. Would you like to explore on your own for a while?” Bedra stifled a laugh and transferred Tapp to her shoulder, holding hands up like that made her arm sore.

“Where is that…thing….” Tapp asked with reserved disdain.

“Beg pardon?” Bedra narrowed her brow as she made her way down the hall and to the living room.

“Your little…man pet…where will it be staying?” Tapp spoke, looking as if she had stepped in a puddle of mud.

Bedra narrowed her eyes but kept her tone civil. “He is likely in his room…why did you want to meet ‘him’?” Bedra made sure to stress ‘he’ and ‘him’ as much as she could.

“No!” Tapp spoke quickly and with purpose.

“Why not? Not in the mood to make a friend? He’s a bit of a grump, like you so I bet you both have a lot in common!” Bedra teased, snorting a laugh.

“I do not fraternize with…them!” Tapp said in a haughty tone.

“Them?” Bedra responded dryly.

“You know! Them….animals…pets!” Tapp shivered a little and hugged herself.

Bedra’s expression was a mix between confused and amused, she hadn’t yet met a human with such a low and degrading view of their own species.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news hon, but last time I checked, you were in fact a human as well.” Bedra tried to keep her amusement in check.

“It pleases me that your sight remains intact and reliable!” Tapp shot back acerbically.

“Also, who said you were an animal?” Bedra asked, peeking over at the amusing little human on her shoulder.

“I didn’t say I was! I said they were…those kind…the ignorant, repulsive pets! I am not like them!” Tapp spoke with the utmost pride.

Bedra stopped near a chest level segment of the carpeted human walkway and set her hand on her shoulder for Tapp to board. The Titaness said nothing until Tapp was aboard and set down on the walkway. “Listen darling, I don’t have the most liberal views in the system, but I hardly think it fair to refer to your own kind as animals. Humans may not be the same as Titans, but they are hardly animals. And…wow, I can’t believe I’m having this discussion from this angle ‘with’ a human….’ Bedra gave her head a shake.

Tapp gave Bedra a sour look and threw her arms to her side in a fit. “I don’t care what you think is fair! I didn’t ask to come here! I didn’t ask for you to take me! I didn’t ask to belong to you!” Tapp spat, her voice pouty.

“No, no you didn’t, but I figured it was better than a lifetime in that shelter, you didn’t exactly look like you enjoyed it there.” Bedra kept her tone soft and controlled.

“I didn’t, there were too many of them…and the masters teased me and called me ‘princess’ and thought I talked funny.” Tapp said with a softer voice. In reality the tiny human had impeccable grammar and pronunciation, especially for a pet.

“I think you talk just fine, what’s wrong with it?” Bedra asked tilting her head.

Tapp looked pensive, for a moment it looked as if she might just answer Bedra’s question, but that moment passed and the sour look returned to her face. “Oh, why am I telling you this! You’re no different than them you know! Don’t you think I don’t see it! You’re all the same! You’ll get bored, you’ll meet someone and then you’ll forget about me! You…you…you Titans can’t be relied upon for anything! Just leave me alone!” Tapp grumbled and stormed off along the carpeted walkway until she vanished into an alcove.

“Well…that went better than I thought it would….” Bedra sighed and rolled her eyes as she watched Tapp storm off.

***

“I’m sure it’s this one….” Eyrn spoke as she walked down the long floral hallway. There were many units to choose from, finding the one that belonged to her was the hard part!

“All ya gotta do, twat is match the number on yer pad to the number on yer door!” Darren narrowed his eyes as Eyrn walked past door after door. The numbers looked funny, and all the words looked funny. “Ah still dun get how’n the hell ah can unnerstan’ a language’n speak it but ah can’t read a damn thing!”

Eyrn looked to her traveling companion, who was leaning precariously off her shoulder, using her hair as a make shift saftey cable, much to her annoyance. “It makes total sense! It’s not like the translator makes you learn the language…it just…makes you think you know it…that’s all!” Eyrn spoke with false confidence.

“That don’t make no sense at all!” Darren laughed.

“It does too! Think about it…it just plays with your brain and makes you understand whatever language you need…it doesn’t actually teach you the language!” Eyrn hummed over it, understanding it better than she was able to articulate.

“Then make it play wit the part what lets me see words an’ numbers! ‘Sides you should be able t’speak this! Yer uncle’s journals say you spoke gibberish when they found ya!” Darren asserted with confidence.

“That doesn’t mean I remember it, or that I should be able to read!” Eyrn defended.

“Well, why not!?” Darren argued.

“How many three year olds do you know who can read!?” Eyrn grinned.

“Yeah, but you was older than that! Three fer you is like 18!” Darren grinned.

Eyrn sighed and gave her head a shake. “I don’t think you understand how this works, Sarge….”

“I think ya passed it, twat!” Darren leaned back and would have fallen from his perch, if not for Eyrn’s fast reflexes. Rather than a hard floor, he landed in a soft palm.

“Careful!” Eyrn spoke, with a surprisingly worried tone.

Darren composed himself and sat up. He was taken aback by Eyrn’s sudden tone, but released not to have fallen. “You worry too much! Ah wuz just testin’ yer reflexes!” Darren covered his mistake with sarcasm, rubbing the back of his neck with a dopey grin.

“Well don’t, okay! You might get hurt…that’s a long way to fall!” Eyrn’s voice calmed a little.

“Not as far as back home….” Darren asserted.

“What? It’s the same height! I didn’t suddenly get smaller…everything else just got bigger!” Eyrn looked around as she spoke.

“Well the gravity ain’t the same so it ain’t as far a fall….” Darren shrugged.

Eyrn sighed. “It’s the same distance…it just isn’t as dangerous…you’d still break a few bones is the point, so be careful!” Eyrn rolled her eyes.

“That’s what ah meant! Gravity en all….”

“But it’s still the same hei…you know what forget it…fine you’re right!” Eyrn grumbled.

“Ah think this is the one.’ Darren squeezed through Eyrn’s cage of fingers to better see the numbers on the door. To his frustration another palm covered his view as she ‘guarded’ him from falling. “Bah…cut it out twat! Ah can’t see wit’ you man-handling me!” Darren swatted at her fingers.

“Then stop acting like a blind man on a tightrope!” Eyrn tilted her hand back a bit sending Darren tumbling against the fingers of her other hand. She had both hands together so that there was a protective cage of fingers on both sides.

“Are ya done?” Darren stopped struggling and looked up at her with a sore and frustrated look.

“Sorry…just stop moving around and leaning off alright!” Eyrn spoke with a bit of a pout.

“Ah’m fine. Haven’t survived around you fer this long just’t fall off’n clock out now! Gimmie a lil bit of credit ok?” Darren spoke calmly, attempting to lighten the mood a bit.

“Fine, but next time I’m not catching you!” Eyrn released him from her protective hold and set him on her shoulder carefully. She wasn’t sure why she had reacted that way, he had come much closer to falling off her a dozen times before, under much harsher conditions. Something about this time made her anxious, and uncomfortable. She was worried, and that actually shocked her.

“Check yer pad…this is it ah think.” Darren spoke after a bit of an awkward pause between them. He had picked up on her sudden protectiveness too, but let it go.

Eyrn looked at the simple knob free door, and the strange looking symbols on it. They matched the symbols on her pad. “I guess you’re right.” Eyrn bit her lip, behind this door lay the unknown. A roommate, the first one she would ever have, and it was somebody just like her. Would they get along? Would she be fun?

“Well? We gonna stand out here all day, er….” Darren grinned.

“Give me a moment.” Eyrn spoke, annoyed.

“Nervous?” Darren asked, unfazed by her moodiness.

“A little.” Eyrn admitted. She never had trouble talking to Darren. He was easy to talk to, and listened more than anything else. He rarely offered advice or tried to ‘fix’ what was wrong. He’d just take a puff from his cigar and mumble ‘heh’ or ‘ah see’.

“Heh…ah see….” Or both.

“I’ve never had a roommate…I’ve never had to share anything with anyone…let alone living quarters….” Eyrn shrugged, forgetting Darren was there for a second.

Darren scrambled to regain his footing after being shaken by her shrug. “It’ll be a lot bigger’n yer used to. Likely have all the room ya need.” Darren eyed the door. It had a card reader and looked like it slid open from the side.

“Everything is happening so fast…I mean I’m used to things happening fast but this is too fast. I mean…Darren this is another ‘planet’!” Eyrn swung around and leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until she was sitting. She hugged her knees and rested her head on her knees.

Darren struggled to keep his footing with the sudden movement and altitude change. It made his stomach lurch, but he was used to it. After she had stopped moving he crawled back to a sitting position and braced himself against her neck in case she decided to move again.

“Well ah mean….”

“I haven’t ever been on my own…let alone in outer space! Everything is so big, I feel lost…I can’t read anything, everything is all spacey and there are flying cars…big people keep little people as pets…it’s just so strange!” Eyrn almost seemed amused, and there was sarcasm in her voice, but Darren knew her better than that. She wasn’t happy, not at all.

“Well….”

“How am I ready for this…why would they just send me on my way…was that smart of them to do? You never let me go anywhere on my own! Why are they just shooing me out the door!?” Eyrn asked, not really listening for an answer.

Darren was silent, waiting to see if she was finished.

“Are you even listening? Arn’t you going to even try to say something!?” Eyrn asked quickly, almost offended.

“Well, they obviously assumed you was ready. But twat, you really don’t think we hid ya away cuz we didn’t trust ya…do you?” Darren asked, seriously.

“Well why else….” Eyrn sulked.

“That ain’t it at all Twat.” Darren laughed, standing he walked down her shoulder, slid down her arm and hopped onto her knee. He was close to her face and she backed up a little so she could see him better.

“Then why?” Eyrn asked meekly.

“It’s everyone else we didn’t trust. You’ve been about as mean as a kitten since day one. Everyone fell in love wit’ ya soon as they met ya. Ah mean you ain’t never given anyone no reason not to trust ya. We jus’ didn’t trust everyone else to handle you.” Darren grinned and slapped her cheek a bit with his hand.

“That’s sweet…but….”

“But nothing. Them folk on the station set this up cuz they trust ya…ah mean ya didn’t go on no killing spree when yer uncle and dad woke ya up…and ya didn’t ever stomp around when a bunch of people smaller than yer finger waved their guns at ya and ordered ya about…yer a good kid is what I’m saying, alright? Give yerself some credit!” Darren sighed, he wasn’t good at this sort of thing.

Eyrn half smiled and sat up a little. “I suppose I am kind of awesome!” Eyrn looked down to her companion with a grin.

“Yea…don’t let it get to yer head….” Darren groaned. “Now, are we gonna sit here all dang day? Or we gonna go inside?”

Eyrn scooped the sarge up into her hand and stood, setting him on her shoulder once more. She eyed the door and took a deep breath. “Okay…here goes nothing!” Eyrn cringed and went to knock on the door.

As soon as her hand moved in front of the door, a chime rang, startling her and causing her to back up. “What was that, what’d I do!?” Eyrn eyed the door.

“It’s a doorbell…calm down.” Darren laughed.

“I didn’t push anything!” Eyrn responded cautiously.

“They got flyin’ cars but yer shocked at the touch-less doorbell?” Darren narrowed his brow.

Before Eyrn could reply, the door slid open. Standing on the other side was a tall, dark red haired woman with mocha skin and a bright welcoming smile. She wore a gold necklace around her neck, a short sleeveless sun dress with a strap around her neck, and she was barefoot.

“Hello?” The Titaness had a friendly yet reserved expression on her face.

Eyrn froze, she eyed the woman much like she had the Titan on the street who they had asked for directions. There was an awkward moment, before Eyrn spat out a stutter and meek reply.

“Um…hi….” Eyrn tried to smile, but looked more stunn than anything else.

Bedra leaned against the door frame, eyeing the petite woman for a moment, she was no taller than a child, but was quite obviously not a child at all, despite her shy and meek disposition.

“Can…I help you?” Bedra took notice to the human sitting on the woman’s shoulder. The tan-skinned, dark-haired human was dressed in detailed clothes. He was alert and confident-looking, and was making eye contact with Bedra as she looked back at him. He didn’t look chipper, but he wasn’t surly and grumpy-looking either.

“Ma’am.” Darren nodded cordially.

“Yes….” Eyrn eventually answered, albeit a little delayed.

“You must be Eyrn? Eyrn Fitzgerald?” Bedra asked, standing up straight.

Eyrn nodded.

“And who might you be?” Bedra asked looking to Darren.

“Master Sergeant Darren Avery, nice’t meetcha.” Darren grinned, he had a confident and winning smile that was easy to warm up to. He spoke without hesitation, and seemed to be more comfortable than the Titan he rode on.

“I’m Bedra. Its nice to meet you both.” Bedra smiled and extended her hand with her palm up, as if she was waiting for Eyrn to give her something.

Eyrn looked at her hand and then back to her, her baffled look said it all.

Bedra laughed a little but kept her hand out. “It’s a greeting…you really aren’t from around here are you?” Bedra looked to Darren then back to Eyrn.

Eyrn looked embarrassed and gave her head a shake.

“Here…put your hand out like this…only face your palm down.” Bedra spoke cheerfully.

After a moment, Eyrn complied.

Quickly Bedra took hold of Eyrn’s wrist with her hand firm but not tightly. Eyrn resisted the urge to pull back, mostly because of how strange it felt that somebody was able to fit their fingers around her wrist.

“You do the same….” Bedra spoke patiently.

Eyrn complied, her fingers were hardly able to wrap around Bedra’s wrist; in fact only her thumb and middle finger touched.

Bedra grinned, squeezing a little she held Eyrn’s wrist and gave her hand a bit of a shake. “This is how you greet someone…it is a polite way to compliment a greeting….gripping wrists.” Bedra nodded.

“Oh….” Eyrn stammered as she watched Bedra, wide eyed and alert.

“Firm, quick and release….” Bedra let go, and took a step back, as a way of signing Eyrn to step in.

Eyrn was fascinated, but mostly because of how tight the taller woman had gripped her wrist.

“Ah! Shaking hands! We got something like that back home!” Darren spoke up; he was not nearly as shy as Eyrn.

Bedra turned to Darren, looking interested. “Oh?”

“Yea…show’er Twat….” Darren nudged Eyrn on.

“Oh…um…like this….” Eyrn extended her hand forward, her palm sideways to initiate a hand shake.

Bedra watched, then reached out and gripped Eyrn’s wrist, as she had before only this time their hands were sideways.

“Oh…no actually you grip hands…not my wrist.” Eyrn spoke, still muttering softly, shyly.

“Oh?” Bedra was the one confused now.

Eyrn wiggled her wrist free, then gripped her tiny hand around Bedra’s much larger hand, and shock hands.

Bedra resisted at first, but then went with it, smiling in return. “Oh…this is different!”

Eyrn caught herself smiling a little, and spoke a tiny bit louder. “Actually this is a first for me too.”

Bedra tilted her head in confusion.

“Never met anyone big enough back home to shake hands with.” Eyrn chuckled a little bashfully.

Bedra looked surprised herself, she had only heard the bare minimum about Eyrn from the Berator. From the sounds of it, they had a lot to discuss!

“Would you like to come in?” Bedra asked, noticing Eyrn hadn’t stepped in after she backed up.

“Oh…thank you.” Eyrn stepped forward, entering the apartment. The door slid shut behind her.