"That is incorrect, David. Try again."

David didn't even bother looking up at the sound of the voice. Naturally, as part of his lessons, David had been set the task to learn languages which would probably, maybe, help with making contact with these possible other entities. If any were around, that is. Honestly, there was only so many times he could read, and then reread the thesis which had been left with him; it seemed to make sense if these things, these creatures created humans, then they would speak a language similar. David could speak English fine enough, that was an automatic given. However, other languages, or rather old languages, was something which wasn't already programmed into him.

David stayed leaning against the palm of his hand. His other hand was tentatively reaching out to stroke at the petals of the flower before him. He had looked after the little plant with the utmost care. He was very vigilant over what it needed to survive. It didn't do too well with coming out of storage. At one point David did think it was going to perish; but no, the warmth of a high energy light managed to bring it back around and he watched with a small smile as it grew and opened up more. Storage had made it shrink into itself, but now it stood open and almost proud looking. The yellow within the engineered tampered petals really stood out now, and he didn't know how bright the colour actually was until now. He never put too much attention in them back on Earth.

It was a damn sight more interesting than taking lessons on a language he didn't even really want to learn. He was basically, pretty much, ordered to learn it. Not saying there was an agenda of things David had to get through while everyone slept, but Weyland purposely made an itinerary up. He knew, more than anyone, how easy it was for David to get bored and divert and find something else to amuse himself. David didn't like to think that even in sleep the man was overruling his life, but he was. And right now, there wasn't a whole lot David could do about it.

Flicking his eyes up to the holoscreen in front of him, he sighed. The doctor looking back at him had been set the task to teach him. David liked to think he was quite a good student, but right now...no. Each day he would sit here and have an hour or a couple of hours worth of lessons. He was under no illusion, learning the earliest form of language would be hard. The doctor was very patient with him, he encouraged him even when things went right. That's not to say many things went wrong. Begrudgingly enough to admit it, Weyland had made him to be 'perfect', therefore he was quick enough, and clever enough to pick things up easily.

"Try again." The doctor implored, David sighed and moved so that his cheek leaned against his palm instead of his chin. Other than making it seem like he was getting more comfortable, he didn't move. Proto-Indo-European language was by all purposes the parent language of modern languages, and what everyone basically spoke now. There was some derivations of course, but that was something which could be overlooked.

Stroking at the petal again, David opened his mouth, only to shut it again. He wasn't feeling this, he was usually enthusiastic to learn, he liked learning. It kept his mind busy, and David needed anything and everything to keep his mind busy seems he was alone. "Do you believe that this will work?" David asked, there wasn't ever really a question and answer moment in his lessons, but he had been musing recently. What if they spoke something else entirely? "It is easy to presume that if they are connected to humans, that they will speak something of a similar vein. Yet, they are a different entity completely, alien if you will...are we not clutching at straws?" David asked while finally resting his hand on the table, the plant was being forgotten about briefly for the sake of getting answers.

The doctor sighed, the reception between him and David made the picture flicker a little. "If it does not work, then there must be another way to make contact. Now, shall we continue?"

David just stared up at the screen, "By all means." He placed his hands in his lap and straightened up as his lessons picked back up and went back on track. It lasted another hour, or two, before David was allowed to be let go. Although, that was a loose term for shutting down the terminal and sitting stroking the petals of the flower again.

He was happy the small flower was flourishing, honestly, and he wished really that the person who gave him this, could see that it was doing so well. Alas, that was not possible, it wasn't even possible to tell her how well it was doing. Telling Minerva, as she laid shut down in her capsule, was not the same as physically telling her, or even plugging in and communicating like he did with Weyland. David's eyes flickered upwards in a bored manner, he supposed he better check in with him soon. He hadn't as yet, actually he had avoided checking in with him for the past two days.

In all honesty though, talking to him wasn't really what David wanted to do right now. He slid down from the stool he was in and picked up the plant. Keeping the pot cradled in his palm, he pottered down the corridor; doors quietly swished open in front of him, and shut as silently behind him as he went. He turned the corner and walked in amongst the sleeping crew. He may have to admit, though he wasn't too sure who too, he did dabble in watching what dreams were coming from the minds of the sleeping occupants. They varied, they interested David. Having literally nothing really to do, other than lessons and whatever he wanted to do in his spare time, these cut up boredom quite well. He found he could learn a lot about someone from what came from their subconscious.

Learning was engrained in David, he never stopped, literally. Looking down at Minerva, David's eyes narrowed slightly. Was he envious? A little. He couldn't deny that. He understood though, he was designed for this...whatever this was, this life, these sorts of missions; just like Minerva was designed to dupe everyone. David's mouth slowly turned up, he did wonder how everyone would react upon realising she isn't as human as them all. That was something for a later date, David was certain of that. That's not to say he wanted her downfall, and her secret to be made public knowledge. He just had conflicting feelings, she looked so peaceful laying there, and here he was pacing around an empty ship winding down the hours each and every day with different, sometimes, mundane tasks.

"The flower is growing well. It has perked up quite nicely, I must say. I am surprised, it did look like it was going to keel over at one point, or it looked like it was going to wilt, should I say." He mused while putting the plant pot down on the lid of Minerva's capsule. Not that he could misplace or lose the little thing, but he kept it near her most times and only took it away when it came to watering it. The lighting in here was so bright that it actually made quite a good substitute for the sun. "My lessons are going well, I should be able to make contact with whoever it is we are likely to meet." David said while pulling a stool over and sitting down. He rested his arms against the lid, leaning his head against his forearms, he shut his eyes with a quiet sigh. Unlike anyone else, if he placed his hand to the top, no sensors flagged up. Even if he kept his hand there, there was no heartbeat, no readouts whatsoever. He slipped his hand away and tucked it back under his head and sighed again.

He was envious, his earlier thoughts returned. He wished he could shut down and lay and just be ignorant to someone else doing what he essentially did each day. This was his life, her life right now was to see how synthetics could deal with hypersleep to be undercover. He let out a quiet huff, almost a scoff. She seemed to be doing well. Frowning, he let out another short sigh, he was just making himself feel frustrated which wasn't good. Inhaling deeply, he shut his eyes. Exhaling just as slow, his eyes opened again and he looked down at her. "I miss you," he admitted quietly, which he did. He missed her greatly. A small part of him was seriously missing, he couldn't wait to wake her up really. Yes, he could rightly do it now. But he wasn't going to. David didn't really care about possibly going against orders. What was someone going to do? Let alone considering he was nowhere near an authority figure right now. Slap his wrist and give him a telling off? As if he cared, genuine cared. No...no.

Shutting his eyes again, he just leaned there, silent and unmoving while around him the quiet thrum of machinery echoed in the distance. Everything was so still, David honestly couldn't even imagine what the rest of the universe was doing while he sat in this mute bubble. He presumed people still got on with the daily grind they found themselves in, people never seemed to stop. The world kept turning, the satellite stations above still rotated around in its gravity. The sun still rose, shone, and then went down. David's eyes slowly opened, flicking to the side he looked at the pot, plants still grew, and died, people still died, life had its down points while they flew in space towards some distant planet no one had ever heard of until a small while ago. Will it be remembered? David wasn't sure, were they likely to make some historical impact, like when a great explorer of old; take Columbus for example, discovered America in 1492. Look what happened henceforth from that. Or, David's eyes narrowed, James Cook? David's eyes shut again, the man, like any Captain, was held in high regards; he discovered and charted New Zealand and the Great Barrier Reef, amazing feats for 1770...didn't stop him being murdered by Hawaiian natives did it?

David frowned slightly, he didn't move though, and from an outside perspective if there was anyone around, it would look like he was asleep. From his thoughts, David couldn't help but muster up how history often repeats itself. Yet, people didn't seem to ever really learn, did they? In a rather cat like manner, David's eyes slowly opened and looked straight ahead, stretching his back, he pushed himself up from the lid and looked down at Minerva, he smiled. There's always survivors though, how else do other people hear of what's happened?

——

David tilted his head, amusement was low to nonexistent. Leaning back against the counter behind him, he stuck his hands in his pockets. He watched the little bag behind the glass rotate slowly, the low hum of machinery signalled to him that the microwave was working away and that the bag of popcorn within was being heated. Even as he stood here, he could see the bag slowly expand. The quiet popping could be heard too, which caused David's eyes to narrow slowly. Eating popcorn, and snacks in general, on his own didn't have the same enjoyment.

The same went for watching things. It just wasn't the same, they were more or less halfway through their journey. The sooner everyone else was awake the better. Minerva more than anyone else, they were give or take. David was under no illusions that they would treat him like, well, like a servant. Sure, androids and synthetics like him were packaged up to serve, like he actually thought his life was going to amount to running after people all the time...no. Scrunching his nose up, David had found that when left alone, his thoughts often turned rather bleak. Being alone wasn't healthy for him. It affected him in ways that honestly, he didn't expect, and to be honest; he didn't expect anyone who had a part in making him saw this affect coming either. They didn't exactly design him to be social did they? Polite mannerisms at best were programmed in. No one ever taught him, or told him about loneliness and the affect it had physically and mentally. More mentally for David at this point in time.

With a ding, the microwave stopped. He pushed away from the counter and opened it, he already had a bowl sitting nearby in preparation. Watching the small white puffed corn fall and tumble into the bowl quietly, David's eyes dimmed at any sight of corn which hadn't expanded. Reaching down, he picked up a piece which had darkened, it had split too and actually appeared to have tried to pop, but failed. Picking a few more pieces out, David looked at his palm with a frown. Turning on his heels, he opened the compartment which was designed to be the kitchen bin, and tipped his hand slowly. With quiet impact sounds, the imperfect popcorn pieces fell and got shut away when he closed the bin again.

Picking up the bowl, David walked past the counter and made his way throughout the ship. His bare feet padded quietly against the tiled flooring, he had rather quickly ditched formality. No one else was around, he might as well be comfortable; so he spent most of his days pottering around in a standard white or grey t-shirt, with the ships name embroidered on it. His light coloured trousers remained, there was more comfortable looking trousers supplied for the rest of the crew, but David didn't quite like how they looked, they looked ridiculous. Anyway, if he decided to wear his full uniform again, he wouldn't need a costume change. Less hassle.

Putting the bowl down on the small table, David sat down with a quiet sigh. The lighting around the room was slightly yellowed thanks to the low power bulbs. But even still, David's sight wasn't affected as he picked up another bowl and took to pouring a mixture within it. Looking up, he stirred with one hand, while the other picked up the remote for the large screen in the room. He had already preloaded what he wanted to watch, he had sorted out everything before having to return back here. He looked at the screen as the opening scene began to play. Watching a movie without company wasn't the same, all in all, so far on this journey David had learned something rather major about himself; he didn't like being alone. He was bored, he got bored, he struggled to find something to do that didn't take more than one person; his thoughts weren't pleasant, and often took a dark turn, there was no one to talk to about said thoughts, or just about anything that came to mind. David didn't like loneliness.

But here he now sat, watching as Lawrence of Arabia played, he turned the volume up. It wasn't like anyone could complain about how loud it was. He might as well make this room into a home cinema, which he effectively had done. It took about until the end of the first week of their voyage for him to do that...but he sat, popping in pieces of popcorn into his mouth and chewing them thoughtfully before swallowing and picking up the other bowl. He gave it another half bothered stir before turning to the mirror, he combed his fingers through his hair and raised an eyebrow. He looked at the reflection, well, mainly the hairline. His natural hair was coming back. Although he was certain that Minerva would somewhat appreciate him going back to his natural hair colour, he quite liked being blonde. So, he chose to remain blonde, hence why he was now applying the paste to his hairline.

Using the end of the brush, he parted his hair and continued on until all of his brunette roots were hiding behind thick, white paste, gloop was perhaps more apt. This stuff was proper stodgy, David didn't have this trouble last time, mainly because he didn't do it. Frowning he pushed the bowl away from himself and picked the popcorn one up before turning and looking to the screen. He had seen this film so many times that really, not watching didn't mean David didn't know what was happening. Leaning against his palm, he casually ate popcorn every so often before remembering to blink and then commencing eating again. When half hour or so had passed, David paused the film and went off to wash the dye out. Returning back once that was done, he finished off by styling his hair and watching the rest of the movie with his popcorn.

This was basically how his days were going. He had finished his lessons. There was nothing else for him to learn. He had substantial enough information to go on, and base whatever they would find on whatever knowledge he had. He was confident that he had this pinned down. As for rereading a thesis, he had read it too many times to count and couldn't do it anymore. Creationism and evolution was all interesting and all...for the first few times he read it and kept discovering more things, but now, it was a boring, dull, unfulfilling need. After all, David knew where he came from. These humans finding out where they came from really didn't bring too much to his life. Or at least, his life at the moment. He was certain if and when the time came that they discovered something his intentions and opinions would change.

Looking upwards when an alert came over the intercom, David dragged himself away from where he was now sitting on the sofa. He was comfortable, sure, mentally he was disengaged, but he was comfortable sitting here, with his popcorn and a different movie. Yet, he stood and grabbed his shirt as he went, he pulled his arms into it before pushing his hair out his eyes and moving towards the bridge. Standing at the main console, he pushed at buttons and looked upwards when the shields went back down. He stargazed, he couldn't help it. When the entertainment ran dry in here, which, well, it already had, he liked to sit and watch the stars.

Some of the star clusters they passed were beautiful, varying in colours and shapes. Yet, like everything else, it wasn't as enjoyable as if he was with someone else. They were closing in on what seemed to be an asteroid field. The last thing they needed were those smashing against the windows. The rest of the ship was designed to take punishment which came from space, the windows though? Not so much. They needed protection, and the light which was coming in from out there was slowly shut off and David soon stood in silence, and in darkness. The only light which was around him was whatever was coming off the consoles surrounding him, and the light from the doorway behind him.

Straightening up, he turned on his heels and padded quietly across the floor and back down the corridor. He took to buttoning up his shirt before finding wherever it was that he ditched his shoes. Slipping them on, he looked downwards, he spent most times sitting looking in at Minerva. When he had got bored of watching people's dreams, he just sat looking at her. The more time passed, the more David became very acutely aware over how much he truly missed her. Distance made the heart grow fonder, and all that. The time to wake her was slowly drawing ever closer, and he couldn't wait. He slipped his feet into his shoes and moved away from her pod. Maybe he'd finish the movie another time, he went off in search of something else which would kill some time.

——

Edited: 15/June/2021)