"The red wires connected to the blue wire. The blue wires connected to the sensor. The sensors connected to that thing, and let my legs work!" David looked up, removing the tools in his hands away from the inside of Minerva's legs as she sung.

"Dem Bones," David frowned, the tools in his hands clinked quietly against the table as he looked at her. "Why are you singing that, but with different lyrics?"

"I don't have bones." Minerva said with a shrug as she sat looking down at her legs. They had conversed with Weyland, both in turn. Of course there were different things which he would wish to say to either of them. He had mainly told David how to possibly solve the issue of Minerva's legs. Whereas with Minerva, she was told how much he had missed the sound of her voice, and how she was fairing; other than the leg issue, that is.

He leaned his chin against his hand and looked at her with a small frown. It was mainly as he suspected; the body she lived in, was old. Stopping working, had made everything cease. It was why she took so long to wake up. David hated to muse it, but she was old. Yet he inwardly knew that was something no one ever, ever, ever tells a lady. Even if that lady was technically immortal...that was a minor issue, he knew Minerva would still dislike being called old.

He shook his head and looked back at her legs. They had set up in the med-bay. Minerva sat on a table, despite being comfy in her clean clothes, David had to state the obvious that she'd need to remove her trousers. She sat on the table and just watched him as he cut open the synthetic skin and peeled it aside to try and find the issue. Weyland had, in so many words, stated that sensors may be blocked, or may need to get woken up. He needed to get in, to get them sorted. Honestly, David didn't want to cut her open. He really didn't, but what use was Minerva going to be if she couldn't walk? The last thing he expected was for her to start singing. Let alone sounding so cheery while doing so. To be honest, David quite liked the sound of her voice singing, no matter how childish the song was. The tone was light and flowing, and really, in general, David had missed the sound of her voice, period.

"You do have bones." He voiced at last, returning to his task. Pressing against a sensor he watched as her leg twitched. He smiled, "You shall soon be on your feet again."

"I'm like a Terminator in here," David yet again found himself pausing to look at her with a bemused look. She frowned and pouted his way, "Metallic. My skeleton is metallic."

"So is mine, but you don't see me bragging about it." David looked back down, her leg suddenly bent at the knee when he pressed against another sensor and moved a wire away from blocking another wires path.

"Hm," Minerva hummed and narrowed her eyes. David didn't even look up, he did look up though when he felt a hand in his hair. Rolling his eyes to the side, David watched her as she ruffled his hair. "You've dyed it again." Her eyes narrowed again suspiciously.

"How can you tell?"

"Your roots...well, David, you might be a little two-toned at the moment is all." Minerva giggled gently. David sighed, he pushed against the table and wheeled around to the other side. He looked down at her other leg and pretty much commenced doing the same thing. He presumed it was the same problem with them both. "Is this how you've passed your time, David? Dying your hair and just...reading?"

"I have had lessons," he decided to point out firmly. "I've not just been here doing my own thing all this time, Minerva." She raised an eyebrow and watched him, she could tell she may have annoyed him a little there; only because he actually used her full name. As of late he had decided to shorten it, which she didn't mind. But suddenly being called by her full name reminded her of being a naughty child, and being caught doing something she shouldn't have.

"It's been hard for you, hasn't it?" Minerva asked in a gentle tone, David looked up at her. His hands lowered and the tools were placed on the table again. He looked at her with an honest expression and nodded his head slowly. "I'm sorry, David." She reached out and cupped his face, "It seems like I've had a cop out, hm?" She looked around the med-bay, it was brightly lit and clinical, of course, it wouldn't be much of a medical facility if it wasn't that. "I've had such an easy run...while you've...you've been the one doing all the work. I regret not being able to stay with you, you know this, right?"

"Of course I do." David said while leaning his face more against her hand. Minerva smiled, "Now, if you think you've had a cop out, then I suggest we fix your legs and then, if you want to, I can share the wealth of knowledge that I have learned." David smirked and returned back to fixing her other leg.

Minerva laughed, "David, the fountain of knowledge! Like what though?"

David's eyes slid sidelong to look at her, he smiled slowly. "How would you like to learn another language?"

"Eh?" Minerva's head cocked to the side, she looked very confused.

David smiled and shook his head. "It is a dead language-"

"Like Latin?"

David smirked and let out a quiet laugh. "In a way, I suppose." He watched as her leg bent suddenly. Tapping her knee, he looked at her, "Your skeleton seems to be on show."

"Oh, how indecent of me!" Minerva said while clasping her hands against her cheeks.

David smiled widely, yet looked at her seriously so suddenly she looked worried. "Can you straighten them on your own?" He asked, his eyes flickered from hers to her legs again. Minerva frowned, inhaling deeply, she gave a sure nod before narrowing her eyes in concentration. David sat with his hands in his lap, he hoped he had done what was needed. Her eyes brightened up and his widened when her legs stretched out on the table.

"You did it!" Minerva called while throwing her arms in the air before alternating bending and straightening her legs. David smiled, he stopped her and picked up another tool which would effectively seal her skin back up. Staples would be unsightly and a hindrance, so this little tool would fuse her skin back together as he slowly trailed it up her leg. He had to pinch the skin together gently as he went, from the arch of her foot, right up to the middle of her thigh, David fixed her up before sitting back with a sure nod.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, swinging her legs she looked about before watching as David stood. He moved over to where he folded her trousers up and then handed them back to her. Minerva leaned down and pulled them over her feet before slipping off and standing up. Looking at David with a smile, he nodded his head to the side and led the way out the room. Minerva walked after him, her bare feet padding quietly against the white tiling of the floor. He tucked his arms behind his back as he led her towards the bridge. There was an adjoining room which he sat and did the majority of his lessons in.

"Am I allowed to partake in being in the know?"

David sat down and tapped on the slimline keys before him. He didn't even look up as the slightly yellow tinted holoscreen slid into use. "Does it matter?" He questioned back, his eyes briefly flicking to the side as Minerva sat next to him. She looked at him with a frown, "Sure, yes. There are some things which I cannot share with you." David said, Minerva's eyes narrowed at that. "But for the most part? I do not see the harm in more people knowing just what exactly is going on. You can be helpful, Minnie. I do not know what role you're meant to have onboard. But, I do know that someone else knowing this makeshift language other than me would be helpful." David said while smiling kindly at her, he just continued on completely casual.

Minerva's mind was stuck on the fact that there were parts of this mission which David was keeping secret. Not that she was wholly surprised. He was technically her father's synthetic, as if he hadn't programmed and or talked secretly to David about certain aspects. "What are you keeping secret, David?" Minerva asked quietly, watching as he stopped typing and looked back at her.

He slowly smiled, "Trust me, it's nothing to worry about." David just continued to smile at her as she frowned uncertainly, somehow she didn't quite believe him there. Not that she was going to openly tell him this, because all that would lead to is him possibly having a strop. And really, Minerva wasn't missing David's slight temper tantrum moments at all. He perked up after having stared at each other for a few moments. Sitting a bit straighter, his eyes brightened and he turned back to the holoscreen. He seemed intent in sharing some information with her, although what was being kept secret from her, would stay secret; for now at least, Minerva wasn't one for being kept in the dark, that didn't sit well with her. She wanted to know what David could know, but she couldn't. Surely it couldn't be that bad, right?

— —

Minerva stood rhythmically bouncing the ball in her hand, to the basketball court below her. Her eyes flicked upwards slowly as she looked to the hoop, she was about halfway down the court. Catching the ball in one hand while the other tucked hair behind her ear, she lifted her arm up and with very little effort, threw the ball. She simply lowered her arm and watched as the ball sunk through the hoop, ricochet bouncing as it landed on the floor. She watched it bouncing for a few times before it stilled and rolled forwards.

David had gone to do checks of some description. She hadn't followed suit, it wasn't that she wasn't curious over the tasks he was set to do; it was more, well, she couldn't really be bothered. So, that's how she found herself in the basketball court. She couldn't help it, but her mind was still dwelling on what David could possibly be keeping from her, where this mission was involved. She wasn't surprised, honestly she wasn't, but she had hoped that through all they had been through together, that they had got to the point where secrets didn't exist.

But he was seemingly keeping a massive secret, and she didn't like it. Unless specifically told to keep quiet, Minerva saw no other way around why David would be so silent and sneaky. She frowned and picked the ball up, David had always had the capability to be silent and sneaky, she had figured that out a while ago. There was always something not quite right with him. She didn't mean it in an offensive way, just...he always seemed to be on the edge between complete, rational sanity, and silent, contemplative watcher.

Yes, she could just go straight to Weyland and ask him. But would he tell her the truth? Unlikely. Bouncing the ball again she lifted her foot off the cold floor, stepping forward she soon took up running down the rest of the court before jumping and throwing the ball into the hoop. Dangling there for a moment she looked downwards at the bouncing ball and then dropped. Leaning down to pick it up, she was acutely aware to approaching footsteps. She stood up, pushing hair out of her face as she did so.

She held the ball to her chest while looking at David. The court was in low lighting, which made his shadow stretch long and dark across the floor, even reaching the wall as it crept upwards with each step closer he took. The backlight of the corridor behind him kept his front in shadow, yet even with that she could still see his eyes staring her way. Minerva highly doubted there would ever be a time where David's bright blue eyes wouldn't be perhaps the most prominent thing she'd always notice. Like his demeanour they could look light and happy, kind, yet in a turn...cold, harsh and untrusting.

"I wondered where you went." David said, stopping and untucking his arms from behind his back. He looked around the court, his eyes settling on the bicycles in the corner before smiling and looking at her. "Would you like a race?" He offered, he had ridden around the ship on one of those before, and though it killed time, it wasn't entertaining. Maybe if he was with someone it would provide more happiness from the action? He didn't know, but by the look on Minerva's face, David's smile slipped. She looked at him with a frown, everything about her body language right now was rather defensive. He didn't understand, nothing had happened. He tilted his head and looked at her worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"Why won't you be honest with me?"

"I don't understand." Which he didn't, he didn't understand where that question even came from. She sighed, bounced the ball and then threw it at him. David easily caught it, and though the impact was hard and echoed in the room, it didn't harm him in anyway. Instead, he frowned at the action. Yet, played her own game; he bounced the ball and looked down at it with a simple expression. His eyes looked sidelong at her when she finally spoke though, his hair slightly obscuring his vision as his eyes seemingly darkened when he listened to her.

"What part of the mission aren't you telling me? Is it really that bad that you won't share with me, David? I thought we were on the same page?"

"As long as we are on this ship, we will never be on the same page, Minerva. I thought you knew that by now?" David said, his voice dipping lowly as he threw the ball. She side stepped and caught it when it came through the hoop. "I am a servant. You are the daughter of a prestigious man. That's a rift, that won't change. I am not telling you things, because they don't concern you. After all, unfortunately, you don't actually have a role here. You're just...here. By all means, if you had a similar role to Meredith's, I'd share. But you don't, so I won't."

Minerva just looked at him, slightly hurt over how honestly spoken he was, and with what it was he actually said. "I'm surplus."

David tilted his head and looked around thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed before he looked at her. "I'd say more inconsequential." Her mouth fell open a little at that, eyes widening and even a stabbing pain went through her over hearing that. "You're here because Weyland couldn't leave you on Earth through fear of someone finding out what you are. Likewise, he couldn't allow you to continue working, through more or less the same reason, so yes-" David said while shrugging, only to get cut off when the ball sailed speedily through the air. He was too busy talking and looking elsewhere, so when he looked back at her, the ball impacted against his face. It was the desired affect which Minerva wanted, even if it didn't hurt him it made her feel better. "How childish," David said while the ball now rolled along the floor. He watched it go while pushing his hair back into place. "I am merely telling you what you already know. I don't know why you're being so touchy. Maybe more wires came loose in you, do I need to take a look again?" David looked at her blankly while tilting his head.

"All I wanted to know was what you were keeping secret from me, David. If the part of the mission you're keeping silent about is dangerous, if it will endanger people, my sister, my father. That's all. There was no need to call me useless."

"Inconsequential."

"It's more or less the same thing!" Minerva shouted at him while wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Why have you got to be so mean for?" She asked while sniffling slightly. He had really hurt her, whether it fully registered she didn't know. But she stormed past him, he didn't try and stop her, but he did turn and watch her rush off as she quietly sobbed against a hand. She didn't want to be stuck on this ship with him alone, yet no one else was scheduled to wake up until tomorrow. She was more than sure that everyone would be able to sense the awkwardness between them, hopefully they would just mistake that for a suspicion of synthetics. It did feel a little wrong to think of it like that, to be suspicious of her own kind. But then, humans did and do that on a regular basis so why would it be any different for those of a synthetic nature?

Minerva went into her room, tugging off her cardigan to slip on a hooded jumper with the ships emblem on it. She pulled her trousers off and swapped them for snug leggings. Pulling out socks she jumped about pulling them on before shoving her feet into a pair of boots. She pulled the hood up after she had tied her hair up loosely and exited the room. She was honestly surprised David wasn't lurking about, but she had hoped he wouldn't be so stupid as to even try and talk to her yet.

Wiping her eyes again, she inhaled deeply and walked down the corridor. Sticking her hands in her pockets she turned the corner and continued onwards. She didn't actually care what David went and did with his time, just as long as he was away from her. She turned into the blue lit room, making sure to lock the door behind herself. She even went one-up and changed the passcode. Minerva knew that if he went in search of her, he'd come here secondly after her room. She didn't care if it was childish going to her father, but she just wanted to hear someone's voice. Someone's voice who, overall, wasn't too patronising towards her.

Sitting on the stool, she pushed her hood down and pulled the visor down over her face. The yellow hurt her eyes a little as she squinted and waited for the equipment to kick in. She looked downwards, she could just about see her hands. "I did not think we were scheduled another meeting, David."

"It's not him." Even the thought of saying his name made Minerva's mouth turn downwards. She was angry, and hurt, but mostly upset that he saw her as useless. She meant, 'inconsequential', however could she get the two confused?

"You sound upset. Has something happened?" For the most part, there was always a hardness to Weyland's tone. He didn't ever really sound kind, or happy, it was usually always so businesslike. Yet, as he heard her tone, his tone mirrored hers a little, but tinged with more confusion. He didn't know why she was contacting him, nor why she sounded so disheartened.

"Am I pointless?" Minerva asked, she could already feel her eyes pricking with tears again. She thought she could possibly be many things, a little annoying maybe, childish too. Too thoughtful, and sometimes a little too sarcastic. But pointless?

"Whatever has made you think that?" Even he sounded a little confused, very confused over that. Clearly not was he was expecting to hear.

"David called me inconsequential. That...I'm only here because you didn't want to leave me on Earth, which I knew. Father, what part of this mission am I not allowed to know? If it endangers you or Meredith, surely I must know?"

"Is that the cause for this disagreement?"

"Yeah, mainly...that and he was so infuriating!" Minerva exclaimed and even stomped a foot against the stand on the stool.

"Reconnaissance, Minerva. Yes, we are going to meet our makers. There may be a way for them to prolong human life, likewise, there may be technology which could provide further expansion for us. It is something that I have set out for David, and him alone. It is not that I do not trust you to do an equally adequate job, it's just when I wake, I will need you close. Until then, you help where and when you're needed onboard, just like everyone else, chip in, Minerva. You will find your place."

She looked darkly up at the pod in front of her. Licking her bottom lip she tilted her head and looked to the side. "Sure, I'll 'chip in', where I can, father." She air quoted him as she stood up slowly. So, essentially, she was being looked at like a servant too and Weyland was just as patronising to her as he could be towards Meredith and David. He really didn't look too fondly on his children at all. She said a quiet bye, taking the visor off and unlocking the door, she set the code back to the original and then left.

She had never felt so low. Not only had Weyland not disagreed with David, he had pretty much just fobbed her off with some crock and bull. Her pace slowed down to the point of where she was dragging her feet. There was nowhere to go on here, nowhere where David wouldn't eventually find her. She stuffed her hands into her pockets and just hung her head. So this was depression. She didn't really like it. Pausing, she could hear the rather monotone voice of someone narrating. Minerva was well aware this was an attempt by David to get her attention. He had got that as she walked slowly onwards, she paused near the main room and looked at the large screen.

The black and white imagery showed a map which was accompanied by the same dull narration before shifting to the scenes of a market. People bustled about, voices raised as it showed a place and a time which was so very long, and far away. Even as she stood, hands still in her pockets, she could see the back of David's head as he sat on the sofa. Considering she could hear rustling, it was clear he had snacks of some description too.

Shaking her head, Minerva turned away. No matter how much she liked the film Casablanca, she'd rather not rewatch it again with him. "You're leaving so soon?" She was half turned, yet her eyes flicked to the side, David had turned and was kneeling on the sofa. His arms crossed against the back as he looked to her, the movie still played in the background. They both had their little...obsessions when it came to films, David had his Lawrence thing going on, and Minerva was a sucker for an old romance film. He knew this was one of her favourites, hence why he put it on, let alone put it on loud.

"I'm not interested." Minerva said while turning her back and walking away. She wasn't. Well, she was, just not with him. Hearing scuffling, she looked upwards when she heard him quickly walking after her. Being suddenly clutched onto, she stopped walking.

"We can watch something else, if you want?" David offered, watching her turn with a bored expression and looked at him blankly. He looked hopefully at her, she rolled her eyes and tugged herself free from him. David's hand just hung back by his side as he looked at her.

"No." Minerva answered while looking over his shoulder. She waved a hand, "You go and enjoy your little movie time. I am not interested." Minerva said while glancing back at him. David frowned gently and looked at the floor. He nodded, seemingly getting it. "Go put something on that you enjoy." Turning away she commenced walking again, only to stop when she heard him following. "No, David. No." She pointed over his shoulder, "You totter on back to your movie time. I don't want you near me. Do you understand?"

"Can we not talk?"

"No." Minerva scoffed, David looked at her with wide, sad eyes. "Why would I want to talk to you? Or rather, why would you want to talk to someone who's inconsequential? Surely you have other things more worthy of your time?"

"I didn't-"

"If it makes you feel any better, my father didn't disagree with you. So, really, thank you to you both. It is really nice to see what people really think of me. It only took leaving a planet and being in space to get the truth, but I got there eventually didn't I? And you know what? People aren't lying when they say the truth hurts. Because I hurt, and it will take a lot more than putting on some film, making popcorn and whatever else you've done to make up for what you said."

"You hit me in the face with a ball." David stated blankly.

"Because you upset me!" Minerva shouted at him. "I would never call you useless, David. You've always been the one to call me names...you've always picked on me in some way or another. I don't like being bullied, so yes, I threw a ball at your face. Isn't like it hurt you, was it? So why are you moaning? I could've been worse and chosen to call you names too. But I didn't because name calling hurts." Minerva said while wiping her eyes again and stepping back from him, he tried to reach for her. She didn't want him touching her. "I suggest we just do the roles we're meant to do. You play begrudging servant and do reconnaissance for my father, and the company. And I'll 'chip in' where and when I'm needed, hm? After all, I've fulfilled my role of being the lab rat, I've got no other point here other than to just walk about and lend a hand if I'm needed. We can be civil, if we must, but other than that? No...no." She shook her head and tucked stray hair behind her ear as she looked to him. David looked hurt, his expression slightly distant as he looked at her with a slightly desperate look in his eyes. "My father didn't want us spending too much time together anyway, did he really? So he gets his wish. It's fine. You don't need to be obligated to be my so called companion anymore, David. I'm used to them going, you're just another to add to the list."

He shook his head and took a step forward, she took a large step back. "But I don't want that."

"Well, you can't always have what you want, can you? Because then that'll make you spoilt."

David looked around with an upset look before moving towards her again. "Stop retreating. I'm not going to hurt you." He said, sounding desperate. Minerva gave him a look, bit late for that. "I spoke out of turn, and without thinking. For that I am sorry. I realised what I said was wrong as soon as I said it. I see no reason why we'd need to avoid each other, Minnie. I understand why you threw the ball at me, and I forgive you for it. I deserved it really, considering. But there's no reason to shut off from me." Honestly, she was the only person he had things in common with, in more ways than one. If he lost her, he basically lost himself. And he couldn't have that. He needed her, whether she realised it or not, but he did. He was fond of her, really, very fond of her. It would be like her going to sleep all over again, only this would be worse seems she'd purposely be distant. It would be like a piece of him was physically missing. That pain was bad enough once, he couldn't go through it again.

Minerva merely shrugged, she had nothing else to say. She just turned and commenced walking off again. David watched her go before frowning and moving quickly after her. She yelped and wiggled about when he easily picked her up by the collar. He could easily hold her up high enough that she couldn't touch the ground. She squirmed about shouting his name before finding herself placed back down, only against a wall and him leaning close. She did try and sidestep, only for his arms to act as barriers either side of her. She looked slightly scared up at him as David just looked unhappily back at her.

"You are everything that I couldn't be, Minerva. Do you get that? You are the freest synthetic that possibly will exist, do you understand? You are not tied to anything really. You don't have orders to follow. I do not know what that feeling is like, not all the while we are here. I do apologise that I resent you slightly there, and I am sorry for calling you names; but no matter all of those conflicting feelings I know for certain that above everything else, I care for you. Secluding yourself will do nothing but hurt you more than me. I don't want to see you unnecessarily hurt yourself, and I don't think you'd do that because you know it will hurt me to see." David said while looking at her with unblinking eyes.

"So...you called me useless...because you're jealous?"

David frowned, he didn't like how that was worded yet just sighed. "Your life seems easy."

"It isn't." Minerva said quietly, "But then yours does seem harder." David just nodded, she had no idea. Looking down at the ground she stood silent, "You care for me?"

David looked at her with slightly watery eyes. "It doesn't feel right, if you're not near. If you shut me out, it'll be like when you were asleep; days, months, years I watched over you, Minerva. Each second dragging, each minute dragging even more, all I wanted was to hear your voice, see you smile, talk to you and listen to you...but I couldn't, and it hurt. I don't want to feel that pain again."

Minerva reached up and combed her hands through his hair, he shut his eyes at the feeling before opening his eyes slowly when he felt her hands rest against his cheeks. "You can't keep acting out, David."

"I know."

"I forgive you, but don't ever call me names again." Minerva said while looking at him intently. She could practically hear the gears working in his head as he looked at her, his head slowly nodding but not too much as to make her hands slip away. "Kiss and make up?"

That had his eyes widening a little. David's arms were still either side of her, she pushed away from the wall and tiptoed up to close the distance between them. David didn't think she'd literally kiss him, he thought she was joking in a way of making up. But no, her lips pressed softly against his and he felt himself tensing a little before pushing back. Maybe with a little more force than what she showed because she let out a startled noise when she found herself pressed back against the wall. Her hands remained on his cheeks, gently stroking the soft skin under her fingertips while David's arms slipped away from the wall and he took to cupping her cheeks with his hands. He was pulling her closer, or trying to while still kissing her, he thought he had got the hang of this action.

Minerva let out a surprised noise when they dipped to the side, the ship had taken to leaning harshly. David pulled away from her and even steadied her as he looked up confused. The red lights which suddenly flashed on and the sounds of an alarm did nothing but make him look around suspiciously. Minerva's hands took to holding tightly onto his arms, "What's happening?"

He looked down at her before pulling away and holding onto her hand to steady her. "I'm not sure." Minerva frowned, "I don't know everything." He said while rolling his eyes and leading her back down the corridor. Passing the movie, he switched it off and continued on. They walked out and down the corridor, turning and pausing when they caught sight of one pod being open.

Minerva looked up at him, "I didn't think anyone was meant to be up yet?"

"They're not." David replied quietly. He let go of her hand and walked over, he looked at the watery footsteps before following the trail and standing. He nodded back at Minerva as he took to walking, she pottered quickly after him as they walked to a nearby room. The door opened quietly and they walked in, they stopped and looked downwards as Meredith seemed to be doing press-ups. She seemed too intent on doing them to properly pay attention to the two of them just standing there watching her.

——

Edited: 15/June/2021)