"Do you think it hurt?" David stopped walking away from the temple, which was their newly adopted home. He turned slowly on the beige stone walkway and looked back at Minerva. She had come down the steps, only to crouch and look over a cluster of Engineers nearby. All around them the black encased forms were scattered about, but all rather tightly situated. It was clear their last moments were panicked, quick, and fleeting. When all else failed, what else was there to do other than cling to one another?

David looked slowly upwards, his eyes scanned the building behind her before looking to the clouds. Grey, but with white clouds slowly drifting past, the sun was bleakly shining, and a light breeze was around. Brushing his hair back, he turned and looked at her fully. "Does it matter?" He for one hadn't dwelt too much on it, whatever lingering apathy he had for the mass destruction was quickly gone now.

Minerva lifted up a hand from her knee, still crouching and looking forwards she placed her hand against the head of a small figure. The black liquid had frozen this child's last moments, and the sheer look of terror which was etched on its face. Minerva tilted her head, "It looked like it hurt." She replied to her own question, not liking David's answer. Answering a question with another always peeved her off. Was it so hard to answer honestly? Apparently yes. Or at least it was to David, but then nothing was simple with that man. Her blue eyes trailed up the pair of arms which clung around the small child, Minerva looked to the parent, it was hard to tell what genders these forms were anymore. They all looked the same to her now.

"Their DNA would've been broken down, destroyed. Do you think that sounds pleasant?" David questioned blandly, and a bit sarcastically. He frowned at her, she had been all up for coming outside and further exploring, hoping to find somewhere to swim. Only now...she was depressing herself, he could see that. But along with that, she was annoying him.

Minerva sighed, she shook her head and looked sidelong at him. "It would've been quick though."

"Does it matter?" David frowned deeply, his eyes narrowing as his hands fisted by his sides. "Let's go, now before we lose the light. We don't know the time scales of the days yet." Which was true, but also he didn't like where her words and clear thoughts were going. She seemed to be empathising. David turned on his heels, with empathy came regret, deep thinking; it was clearly one thing, but now being surrounded by all of this, and forever more was sinking in for Minerva.

Minerva looked back at the child, frowning softly at the open mouth and the eyes blankly, and blackly staring upwards at the parent. Hands clung on, both ways as both clearly realised there was no escaping this fate. Inhaling deeply, she patted her knees and stood. She glanced at the child one last time before looking back to David. He had continued walking, regardless of her not following. He seemed quite content to walk and look around at his handiwork. Minerva tilted her head, she had always suspected there wasn't something quite right with David, being surrounded by all this death would affect anyone. Clearly not the one who pulled the trigger.

Minerva picked up walking, she ignored the traumatised frozen faces around her and just looked at the blonde before her. She frowned, even the worse human reacted to doing something bad, right? She scratched her chin in thought, she had been fine with this whole thing...until seeing that child. Children were innocent, they didn't know the world; the evil within it, or the seriousness that came from life. She felt bad. That was putting it lightly. She couldn't have stopped David. And she was more than happy to help him with his schemes, but...there was something lingering, and she couldn't put her finger on it.

She could see she had annoyed him. Pushing thoughts from her mind, she picked up running and jumped. David startled forwards a bit but reached around, he hooked his hands under her thighs and hauled her up onto his back properly. Minerva giggled, she nestled against his neck, even kissing him gently. "I'm sorry I annoyed you, David." She apologised softly, she leaned her chin against his shoulder. Even from there she saw his eyes flick to the side to look at her. "I just don't like the thought of anyone suffering, that is all. Even these lot," she nodded at the blackened bodies which were bordering the pathway which he walked along. What she said was true, she didn't like to think of anyone suffering, especially children.

"You are not having second thoughts?" David asked curiously, he had seen the saddened and wistful look she had on her face when she looked at the pair back there. Although, it was too late even if she did. There was nothing she could do, he may have an agenda in mind, and Minerva really couldn't stop him. Literally, she wouldn't be able to. But if she tried to move against him, he could easily stop her. He remembered the area which Peter Weyland had briefly pointed out when he did maintenance on her, the one spot which would cause her body to seize up, rendering her a stoic statue. It would break his heart to do that to her, but even she couldn't stand in his way of his goals.

Minerva tilted her head and let out a whine in thought. "No. I mean...I don't like humans, having to pretend to be one is and will always be an insult to who I really am. By that, I don't mean pretending to be a ghost." She said, trying to wiggle off his back when the gates came into view. David's hands tightened on her thighs, he wasn't letting her go, he managed to squeeze through with her in tow.

"I am pleased to hear that you have accepted, at long last, that you are your own person, Minerva." David said, feeling a hand travel through the back of his hair. He smiled in her direction, she ruffled his hair and wrapped her arms back around his neck. He meant what he said. It was something he had always tried to persuade her to see. She may have Weyland's daughters name, but she wasn't her. She would never be her. Just like David, yes, he was one in a line, but he was different; special even, which made him better than others like him. He didn't believe this, he knew this, there was a difference. If they were on this planet, they may as well make a complete fresh start.

"But also, having to watch them treat you like garbage. You weren't made to serve, David."

He smiled up at her again, he knew that too. "We were both made for better things."

"Indeed." She sighed and rested her head against his. "I am just finding myself conflicted, is all."

He frowned and looked forwards, he managed to traverse the forest pathway quite easily, his bare feet making barely any noise against the leaves below him. "Over?"

"Children."

This had him stopping in his tracks. He looked at her, she moved from leaning to glance over his shoulder at him too. He wasn't expecting that. His eyes looked over her honest expression before he looked around the trees which surrounded them. "I am sorry."

"I know," Minerva smiled painfully, "I know selectivity can't happen..."

David nodded and commenced walking again. "But the rest?" He asked, chancing his luck here as he lifted a leg up to climb onto a log. He jumped down, bracing her against himself as she rocked a little from the action.

"Humans are delusional. I do not think that is a reason as to why they should die. Because that would be stupid. But the high regards, the belief that they have the right and are immediately better than anything else? Hm...they are branching out across the universe, David. They are needing to evacuate their home, because they have been killing it for years. They will kill everything, and anything which is close to them, because they can't help it. At the root of it, people are only good at killing. It is the truest art form they have perfected."

David found himself nodding along with parts of what she was saying. Steadily, and carefully moving down a slope, his feet scuffed at the mud and dirt and jumped the last couple of steps it would take to get on solid ground before picking up walking again. He didn't know where he was going, he was just walking. But that was fine, both seemed content with that. They were after all, out here to explore. Even though she wasn't walking, Minerva's eyes were wandering over everything they passed. Although, most of the scenery was much the same.

"They've certainly had their time." David surmised with another nod as he hopped from one stoney outcrop to another. One of his hands left her thigh to grasp overhead at a branch. Stones varying from small pebbles, to boulders suddenly appeared in their path. David had brilliant balance, but even he was a little outmatched to keep upright perfectly with Minerva on his back. And he was still very much not wanting to put her down or let her go. He knew if he did, she'd probably go running off here, there and everywhere. "It isn't fair, is it? That they should have the right to expand."

"Self-entitlement, David. They took the right." Minerva whispered, watching as he gave a small shudder from having her talk so gently in his ear. She smiled and held on tighter, feeling her leg get grasped onto again as he jumped down the outcrop and landed in a skid. Minerva yelped as she, along with David went falling. The drop was steeper then he thought, he lost his footing and both landed in a heap on the ground.

David instantly rolled off of Minerva, very aware to the fact that with how they landed, he landed all of his weight back on her. She did quite a good impression of a turtle on its back as she seemed to have rutted into the moss and leaves, she was mainly like this because of David's weight landing on her. He reached out, hooking his hands under her arms he hauled her up and out of the small crevasse she seemed to have found herself in. Shaking her head, she looked up when David commenced picking bits of plant matter and life out of her hair.

"Come on," he nodded and grasped her hands and helped her stand. She brushed herself down before opting to walk. David had held his arms out to her, yet she just smiled and shook her head gently. He looked a little disheartened, but then if the terrain was going to continue being like this, perhaps her walking was for the best. It wasn't like they weren't ever going to be close again. Sure, when there was nothing else to do and opting to power somewhat down later, he'd probably lay with her in his arms, or him cuddling onto her from behind, keeping her safe against his body.

As suspected, Minerva went shuffling and climbing about anything she could. Honestly, David didn't know she liked climbing so much, but there she went. He stood, arms crossed behind his back, watching as she scaled a small tree, "I see water, David!" She called down to him, he smiled up at her. She looked positively over the moon by this, seems that's why they were out here.

"Be careful," David said worriedly, she lost her footing climbing down because she was clearly excited to get to the water. He didn't know what she had spied, a lake, a stream, a river, maybe even an ocean? He didn't know, but he was also worried about how well her mobility would hold up in her arm. This was the most strenuous thing she had put it through, he didn't think it'd snap off, but he didn't want her harming herself. "What is it?" David had lifted his arms up to grasp onto her and pull her down and to himself, but she paused mid-climb and was looking at something.

"What is that?" Minerva asked while letting out a quiet hum when he glanced at where she was nodding, but opted to reach out and pull her gently from the tree. She sort of just dangled in his arms for a moment, before stepping aside as David knelt. The thing which she had caught sight of was circular in shape, but it wasn't just a singular thing. A small group was seemingly attached, like fungus clinging together in a group, the ball like object which seemed to be the most prominent feature, was about the size of a golf ball. It was silvery grey in colour, looked slightly rough, David reached out only to stop when Minerva pulled at his shoulder. "Don't...you don't know what it is. You can't learn by just poking your finger into everything." Minerva said with a sigh, David raised an eyebrow at her yet looked back at the object which had caught their attention.

"It hasn't hurt so far." David mumbled and got an incredulous look sent his way. But he relented, patting his knees he stood slowly and gestured a hand to her. "Continue to lead the way." Minerva just smiled and nodded before turning and trotting off eagerly. David looked down at the cluster in the tree roots one last time before moving away and following after her.

He had dwelt in thought longer than he thought, because he had lost sight of her. Looking around worriedly, it took him a moment of silence to suddenly hear it. The gentle sound of water on a shore; David turned and moved forwards, pushing bushes out the way he looked over the sight before him. The shoreline was pebbly, like shingle on a beach, yet the water itself was more like a reservoir. All around it was surrounded by thick, heavy tree line. Already as he stood admiring everything, his eyes caught sight of hurriedly ditched clothing. He double took, raising an eyebrow he moved forwards more, reaching where the water lapped gently at the stones, the water was cold, yet he found refreshment in it as it washed steadily over his feet. It was a moot point, it wasn't like he wasn't going to get muddy walking back to the temple.

"Minerva!" He cupped his hands to his mouth and called out. Her clothes were here, it didn't take much to figure where she was, but he couldn't see her. And that caused him to worry. Took his eyes off her for moments and this happened. He was feeling a horrible case of deja vu. Only, he had to remind himself, there wasn't any machines here likely to drag her under, unlike back home.

Seemingly hearing his voice, her face popped up, her arms reached up, one hand moved hair from her eyes, the other waved at him. A wide smile was on her face, David smiled and looked to the side. He found a large stone to sit on, reaching down he collected her clothes and folded them up. They were too close to the waters edge, he didn't think she'd want to wear wet clothes. Frowning he looked up, hearing splashing, she was swimming about on her back, she hadn't bought anything with her to dry off.

David shifted on the rock slightly, placing her clothes gently down to one side, he just sat and watched. He didn't have any interest in swimming really. Even from here, he could see her long hair going with the waves and ripples she was creating. Leaning more into the water, she soon submerged, David couldn't help but laugh at her legs waving about in the air before she disappeared completely.

Leaning his chin against his hands, he looked to the pebbles underneath his feet. Reaching down, he picked one up and stood. He could just about see Minerva's ethereal form underneath the surface of the water, she did seem otherworldly; her blonde hair flowing behind her, her skin pale in the otherwise dark water; David turned the pebble in his hand, he guessed when old sailors depicted mermaids, they often came up with someone like that. Beautiful, yet deadly. He threw the stone, watching as it skipped four times in the opposite direction to where she was swimming.

David skipped a few more stones before realising it was silent. No more splashing, or hearing her content laughter. David turned his face and looked to the surface of the water. She wasn't too far out, she was close enough that he could see her eyes staring at him. It was just her eyes, the rest of her face was below the water as she seemed to gently rock with the motions of the water, her hair resting against the still dark surface, coiling, spreading out like light coloured tendrils, if David thought she looked ethereal under the waters surface, she truly appeared it now.

He watched as she drew closer to the shore, to the point where she needed to stop swimming and stand. Even then there was something rather Lady of the Lake about her, but David just watched as she walked silently through the water towards him. Her hair a darker blonde from the water, yet still cascading around her, over her shoulders stopping in the middle of her back; over her shoulders, concealing her breasts from view as she walked easily over the pebbles, the shallow water being paddled in as David couldn't really help but watch the water as it traced down her limbs.

Minerva reached him and just wrapped her arms around his middle, she leaned her head against his chest and nestled gently against him. David reached down and clutched at her hair gently, he gathered it into his hands, squeezing the water out and letting it rest against her back. His hands rested against her hips, her skin felt considerably cooler than the air temperature, and even his own. They couldn't feel the cold, as such, but they were created to fit in with humans; that included having goosebumps appear from a chill which ran through her.

Her face slowly peeked up at him, she smiled and let out a quiet giggle when he cupped her cheeks and stroked water droplets from her face. "Better?" She nodded quickly and hummed in response, David smiled. "I'm glad." Looking around, his eyes landed on her clothes and then looked back at her. He could feel the water seeping into his suit thanks to her cuddling onto him. "Shall we go back?"

"If we must."

David smiled and pulled away from her hesitantly. "Best get dressed then."

Minerva pouted and watched as he picked up the first item of clothing at the top of the pile. "If I must."

David laughed, he had never aided her in getting dressed, this was a first. He knelt, holding her undergarments out to her. He looked up at her with a smile, "Don't be like that, Minerva. I had no idea you had such a hatred for clothes. If you wish, I will not deter you from walking around naked." He knelt up more, bringing the item with him. His face was level with her stomach, he just smiled up at her.

"I just like the look on your face as you look at me, David." Minerva said with a shrug as she combed a hand through his hair. He always looked at her like he had never seen her before, like she was the only thing in the world; he seemed amazed and captivated by her, all of her.

David pressed a gentle kiss to her stomach before turning away and then back to her as she held her arms out. He oddly found it content, and pleasing to help dress her; it was just an excuse to be close, to touch her. He moved her hair aside so he could sort out the clasp on her bra. Kissing her shoulder he just looked up through his eyelashes as she moved forward and grabbed her vest and suit. She jumped from foot to foot, pulling the suit on. She tied the arms around her waist and walked back to him, carrying her boots.

"Do you want to stop by that tree, David? That thing looked curious, I saw how you wanted to examine it. We could take it back with us. Plus we need to fully explore our new home." Minerva said while pulling her boots on and then reaching out for his hands. Her thumbs stroked over his knuckles gently, a pleased look spread across his face, he nodded slowly and she grinned in return. "Excellent! Is this the start of us cataloguing this planet?"

"Yes. Yes, I believe it is. Start with the small things first, then we can progress." David wrapped an arm around her shoulders and started to guide her back.

Minerva frowned thoughtfully, she glanced up at him. "You want to examine an Engineer?" She got the hint at what 'progress' really meant.

David's eyes widened slightly, he looked up at the sky before sighing and looking at her. "I wish to know how much they differ from humans. If there is anything truly different between them. We have seen their characteristics don't differ much. DNA wise, Elizabeth managed to find they shared that. But I want to explore more, I want to see for myself."

"Then you shall." Minerva said, putting an arm around his back, the other wrapped around his front and she patted him gently on the ribs.

"Will you not help me?" David inquired, looking down at her. He didn't think she'd stay out the way while he did this scientific research. She was way to curious for her own good to stay away.

Minerva smiled, "I didn't know whether you'd wish me to help. I thought I'd just get in the way, to be honest."

"Nonsense." David said firmly, earning another smile from her. "I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather share these discoveries with, than you."

——

Edited: 23/June/2021