Standing outside of the clinically white room, Minerva crossed one arm around her waist, while the other bent so she could rub at her chin thoughtfully. Before her, through the large window on the wall, she could spy her father going through medical. By now several months had passed since the project to find humankind's creators had first got initiated. If anything, in those several months, his health had deteriorated, and rapidly at that. Minerva had watched as the middle aged man had slowly shrunk, and withered before her. He now walked almost permanently stooped, a cane in hand for support as he shuffled about with slow methodical steps. Don't get her wrong, her father may now look much older than he was, but he was still very much with it. Sharp minded as ever, and not one to miss a beat. He had declined her invite to come with him for this medical checkup, but no, she wasn't having it.

She knew full well that whatever the results of the tests they were giving him, he'd lie about them. She wouldn't get the real results, the real answers. Sure, she wasn't allowed physically in the room with him while they checked his heart rate, his mobility, such as it was, and all of the other things which went hand in hand with preparing and seeing if the man was able for space travel. But, she could be present when it came to presenting the results to him.

"You know, even if he fails, he's still secreting himself onboard? This is all rather counterproductive, don't you think? What's the point of going through this farce, when he can just pay medical staff to be silent? Not only that, I am half inclined to say that the staff present shall be onboard too. This is...pointless, isn't it? Even more so because it is wasting time, everyone's time, that is."

Minerva stood silent, hand now resting against her chin. Her eyes slowly slid upwards to where David stood looking at her. He wasn't interested in what was happening in the room, though he had glanced that way briefly before turning and facing her fully. His whole attention was on her. Lowering her hand, she sighed. "Still need to know he isn't likely to just keel over and die as soon as we get to our destination." Minerva said, hearing the sound of clicking heels, Minerva looked around David to see Meredith making her way towards them. "Great," she muttered under her breath. David turned and tried to look mildly surprised by seeing the blonde drawing close to a stop nearby.

Meredith's eyes flicked to the side, eventually she seemed to grow bored because she looked at them. Her arms stayed crossed behind her back, her grey suit immaculate looking as ever as she looked them up and down. "I take it you know?" She scoffed, "Of course you do, you're probably more clued in than I ever could be."

"Jealousy isn't very becoming." David tilted his head with a small smile, Meredith's eyes turned into icy shards as she glared towards him. Seeing as how both were of a similar height, she didn't have to look upwards to glare sharply at him.

"You taught him sarcasm." Meredith said with a sly smile, especially considering the look of smugness slipping from David's face. The expression on his face was now a blank mask as he stared hollowly at Meredith. "You know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, right?"

Minerva frowned, David was completely overlooked as Meredith just stared hard at her. "I didn't teach him, David is more than capable to learn on his own." Minerva wished to state firstly, David didn't need to be sat down and taught things. It irked her a little to think that Meredith believed he wasn't smart enough to do things on his own. "Why are you here?"

"Probably the same reason as you. To watch him fail, and then go against everything everyone tells him, even though it'll be for his own safety." Meredith tilted her head, her eyes looking sidelong into the room. She sighed quietly and looked back at them, "I presume you're going through the facade of seeing if you're fit and able to come along too?"

Minerva looked to David, he seemed to have shut down all outward responses and functions. He seemed to have given up on blinking, and breathing. He just stood there motionless. Seeing as how he was of no help right now, Minerva looked back at her supposed sister. She didn't even register David having his moment. "How can I?"

"Hm, I suppose it would be suspicious. Even more so when it came to blood tests to make sure you're not carrying anything, and they find out your blood is what? Motor oil?"

"Silver."

"That's nice," Meredith shrugged lifelessly at Minerva's response. She didn't care. Not one bit. "You'll ace the tests given, whereas a human is likely to have slight blips on each one. Would look odd, and be awkward for you. Especially when they call in the psychiatrists, got to make sure you're mentally able." Meredith said, "Turin Test, remember?"

Minerva narrowed her eyes, "They're not going to ask me questions like that..." She said while fidgeting from foot to foot. They wouldn't would they? She looked back at David, still nothing, before looking back at Meredith, she just smirked. The small ounce of doubt seemed to make her satisfied.

"The others will be here soon, for their turns." Meredith picked up talking again, deciding to change the topic. "I presume you are going to do the meeting and greeting?"

"Well I-"

"I have meetings, I cannot be with you. And I am sure, more than sure actually that he has already asked you. It's just the case of bringing them here, and then...well, I don't know. I'm not involved in that part of this so called mission, that's probably the same for you. Your shadow here however, is probably more than switched on and involved. Ask him what to do afterwards with the crew, he's bound to know." Meredith said while casually walking past them, she glanced once more into the room. She simply looked away when she made eye contact with her father, facing forwards again she walked steadily off leaving Minerva with an inactive David.

Watching her disappear, she looked back to him. He was standing straight, staring off unblinkingly. She looked slowly downwards, his hands were clenched at his sides. Minerva was worried, she'd never seen David like this before. He had the odd moment of being annoyed, slightly angry even. But never had he ever reacted like this. Suddenly a sigh came from him, Minerva raised her eyebrows. He sighed, and turned to look at her. A smile appeared on his face, "I couldn't stand to listen to her. So I stopped listening."

Minerva looked at him blankly, pointing a finger at him she slowly curled it back against her palm with the rest of her fingers. Creating a small fist she shot her arm forwards and punched David on the shoulder. He looked affronted, positively shocked as he looked to where her fist still lodged against his shoulder. Minerva just glared at him, she didn't say anything, she just snatched her hand back and turned sharply on her heels. She was angry. Mainly at him for shutting down every output because he didn't want to listen to Meredith being Meredith. That woman was a handful at the best of times, but he left her to try and counter her sharply spoken words...and she failed mostly. No, she did fail.

David walked quickly after her, he rolled his arm and straightened out his uniform where she ruffled it slightly. He didn't hurt, though there was a bit of pain which came from the fact that she had hit him. Not just hit him, punched. He was confused, tilting his head he reached out and clutched onto her shoulder. Minerva let out a startled noise as she shifted backwards. He managed to take advantage of her being off balance and pulled her into a nearby empty treatment room.

"David, move."

He looked down at her with a frown. "No."

Minerva crossed her arms and turned away. Shaking her head she looked over her shoulder at him, "Move."

He tilted his head, "No."

"I will make you move, David."

A smirk appeared on his face then, "Really now?"

Minerva turned back to look at him, her hands now by her sides. "I'm not apologising."

David shook his head, even tutting quietly as he did so. "It is not nice to hit someone for no reason. Were you not taught manners?"

"Weren't you?" Was her reply, David's head tilted again. "It isn't polite to stop listening when someone is talking to you."

David smiled, he leaned back against the door. "It was only Meredith."

"And it was only you."

David's smile slipped, he pushed away from the door then and walked slowly over. "You're angry."

"I thought we were sticking all of this out together?"

"You're annoyed that I left you to deal with her, on your own." David looked around with clarity then. His eyes flicked down at her, "What did she say to you?"

Minerva shook her head, she turned and walked over to the stretcher bed in the room. Jumping up to sit she leaned against her knees. David hesitantly walked over, she didn't seem inclined to try and get out anymore. Nor did she seem inclined to try and hit him anymore. He leaned down to look up at her face, she just stared at him before shutting her eyes. He sighed and crouched down fully, he balanced himself with his hands on the white cotton cover underneath her. He could wait, he was patient.

"Or, was it more what didn't she say?" David asked quietly.

"It doesn't matter."

David leaned up a bit, he lifted a hand up and gently pulled her face from her hands. He looked at her worriedly, "It matters to me if you're upset."

"It matters to you because you want to get to the answer as to why I punched you."

"My motives for asking may be slightly selfish. But if something is bothering you, then it bothers me."

"You were the root of the problem, David." Minerva frowned down at him. "You just shut off, I could've done with your help, and you were deaf, blind, and apparently dumb." She shooed him out of her way and stood. "Next time you want to shut off, can you give me some warning?" She walked towards the door and opened it, "And I'm still not saying sorry for punching you." She glanced over her shoulder and left the room. David stood and turned to follow after her, he peered each way in the corridor, just to see her enter the room where her father was still going through medical.

David picked up walking, he peered into the room as he drew near to the window. He saw her help steady Weyland, even though he tried to shoo her away. David couldn't hear what they were saying, but she was discussing something with one of the medical staff. By the way her face went slack and she looked uncertain didn't bode with him. He didn't like seeing her look borderline scared. Whatever had been said, had snapped Weyland into action. The old man seemed to be proper going off on one as he looked darkly at the poor doctor, the man looked like he didn't know what had hit him.

——

(Edited: 14/June/2021)