David lingered near the doorway curiously watching as Daniels ran across the deck of the lander. She was heading towards a crane, the tether line of which she soon strapped about herself for a safety line. She readjusted the grip she had on the gun and took to trying to hunt out the creature. A few times David did look away and glance at the pilot. He seemed able enough, easily managing to change the landers trajectory to try and rattle this thing out of hiding to make itself visible. If only for it to appear and be met with gunfire. Together, himself and Daniels managed to coordinate quite well; Tennessee would change the thrusters, the flames would lick across the oily coloured skin and erupted more before it leaped and got shot at. This thing couldn't find a way in, nor could it find a safe spot to hide and recover.

David frowned, he felt bad. It pained him to see his creation get double teamed like this. If he had it his way, and didn't want to use the crew present to get off the planet, he'd have easily helped the creature to kill them all. Yes, David probably could fly the lander. But really, why bother doing something himself when someone else could do it for him? If this thing failed to at least kill Daniels, David was rather assured another would succeed. Inwardly he smiled and watched as Daniels lost her footing and went skidding over the side. The tether line kept her attached to the lander, but its length meant she went sailing right underneath the lander.

Once under there it was clear she came face to face with the thing she was hunting, because gunfire could be heard rapidly going off. From the fact that the cameras caught sight of it scampering off easily, she clearly failed to kill it. David had created something that was resilient, persistent and not willing to give up without a fight. He was proud of it, if not a little more proud of himself for making such a thing. But it wasn't like he could stand here and brag about his work, could he? Not without giving it away that it was him, and their dear Walter was dead down below.

Hearing what sounded like nails clipping on a surface, David looked up and out the front. He raised an eyebrow, even Tennessee let out an exclaim. It was clear the pilot hadn't expected to come literally face to face with the eyeless, snarling face of this thing. Its lips withdrew, saliva dripping slowly out and whipping to the side with the wind. Its tail could be seen behind it twisting and turning to keep it balanced as its clawed hands gripped on tightly. With a slight tilt of its head, it commenced repeatedly hitting its head against the glass. This would pain anything, anyone, but it just kept going as if it didn't bother it at all. The glass all over the lander was reinforced to take damage and to survive. But even the force of this things head going for it, was putting a strain on the clear material.

"Throw the axe!" David cast his eyes to the axe near the door, reaching out and grabbing it he pulled it free and threw it out the door. Daniels scrambled and clutched onto it in moments.

There was a relieved sigh from Tennessee as the alarm from outside on the crane got this thing stopping from getting in. The glass was damaged, cracked and dented but not broken. If it broke, Tennessee knew he wouldn't still be here. Both figures outside were making a beeline for the crane, Daniels to control the machine, and the creature to stop her and get to her. Regardless of suddenly being encased in metallic clutches, it was still snarling, growling and trying to get to the human.

The added weight made the lander struggle anyway, but now with the arm of the machine turning and moving; it made the vehicle tilt and lean heavily to one side. Tennessee was having a hard time trying to keep them from crashing. Yet he succeeded, just as Daniels succeeded in crushing the creature within the claws of the machine. She had to try and shield herself from the blood which hissed and sizzled from the body, but eventually she managed to get herself and the crane back to the deck and normalised again.

Steadying the lander, Tennessee was ignorant to David ripping the medi-patch off of Lope's face, or Daniels just standing on the deck facing out at the grey, drab landscape before them. She for one could not wait to leave, and really everyone else was feeling the same way. She looked up startled though when a hand appeared on her shoulder, David remained neutral faced as he turned and directed her back to the inside. They needed to leave this planet, they needed to get back to their ship which David was more than excited about seeing.

It took longer than what it actually did to get back, and to dock. Two remaining crew members were there to greet them, and David learned that their names were Ricks and Upworth. What they did on the ship, David didn't wholly know and he found himself not caring as he carried Minerva's still unconscious form off of the lander. They both looked sceptical, he frowned and hoped he was doing his best unhappy Walter face as he stalked off. Her system had gone into temporary shut down, even as he carried her off, he left a trail. Her body was just constantly dripping blood from the gaping hole where her arm was.

As soon as he landed onboard, David was able to get the layout of the place. Interacting with the AI built in wasn't exactly hard. He just wasn't expecting to have company in the med-bay. He didn't know where else to put her, but the others had bought Lope in too. The man did need looking after and over. David hadn't exactly projected caring earlier on. Because he simply didn't. Shedding himself of his coat, David walked around the room collecting things he'd need to fix her up. And he was going to fix her up, there was no question about it. He did this to her, so he was going to make it right.

Only, he himself wasn't expecting company. He glanced at Daniels as she appeared, she had already taken her coat off and was looking at the blonde with a hard look. David frowned, pausing in clamping off wires which were covered in blood, bleeding, and with synthetic muscles and tissue still attached. He knew that look, he recognised it instantly. She didn't think fixing Minerva was wise. He sighed, "I cannot leave her in this state. If I do, she will die." He said, blankly, very Walter-like. Death and synthetics didn't really compute. It was something which David didn't have a concept of or accept.

Daniels rubbed her chin in thought and ventured closer. She did glance over at the other room where Lope was having temporary surgery done. "I just think giving her both her arms back, may lead to trouble. She was with David for a long time, Walter. Okay, she never displayed harm to us, but that doesn't mean she isn't capable of it."

David frowned more, that was a very Elizabeth thing to say. Be fair, David understood. Both women had the same intentions. A whole functioning synthetic was potentially a dangerous one. "She will die."

Daniels sighed, "I'm not suggesting you let her, I'm just suggesting in not attaching her arm."

David just stared at her, hard. "With or without both arms, she could still be dangerous, if that's what you presume. But she helped me. Without her help, I'm not sure I'd be here now. I can't just leave her like this, in this state."

"I understand," Daniels said defeatedly. She leaned her hands against the bed beneath Minerva. David just turned and looked at her, he was still standing on the opposite side of the bed. He lowered the implement in his hand, he could see Daniels looking Minerva up and down, assessing and thinking of any and all possibilities. "I understand, Walter. She's someone you could relate to, which isn't going to turn out to try and...you know...she could give you answers to who you are really, without being patronising. She's a key to the past which could unlock any questions about anything you have." Daniels said quietly, she flicked her dark eyes to him. David remained stoic. "But that still doesn't solve the fact that she could be dangerous. She was with David for what seemed like forever. How do we know she hasn't got some hidden agenda?"

"If she did. She would've aided in destroying me, alongside David. But she didn't. As I said, she helped. Without her, I wouldn't be here. So as such, I'm not leaving her like this. She is an old model, Daniels. If left any longer, she won't wake at all. It may be what you want, but it is not what I want. I am programmed to aid, and to look after those under my care; the moment I took her away from David, Minerva fell under this too." He said, diplomatically and frankly. David presumed Walter would've said something along those lines. He seemed like the emotionally loyal type. Not that David wasn't loyal...even if it could be called into question, and had been.

Daniels sighed heavily, she ran a hand down her face. With a quiet groan, she shook her head. "If you fix her, you are having her with you. I don't think anyone else will be too forthcoming about having a potential enemy roaming about."

"She hadn't shown any traits of harm. And she helped me."

"Yes, I know, Walter. I am listening, you keep saying it and it still doesn't solve the fact that she could have hidden programming."

David narrowed his eyes. How hidden programming would work on a planet without technology, he didn't know. He just pinned this moment of stupidity down to frayed nerves and exhaustion. "I will do a diagnostic scan, it will flag up anything. Our technology is more advanced now, if there is anything, it will be found and I can resolve it."

Daniels raised an eyebrow, pushing away from the bed she shook her head slowly. "Please do let me know if anything is found. It might put people at ease then. Although I don't think they'll still want her walking about without a guard."

David nodded, "And guard her I will. I'll make sure she won't do anything untoward to anyone. We've all been through enough already, haven't we? May I suggest going to rest in your quarters? I will bring food to you once I've finished here." David said, inwardly hating the servant act. He hadn't missed this, that should he say. Horrendous. Her legs still worked, she could find her own food. Didn't need him, yet he watched her nod. She quietly thanked him and left the room.

Even as David stood watching her, he saw her glance in at Lope. Upworth and Tennessee were dealing with him, and they in turn glanced in his direction. None of them felt wholly at peace with Minerva onboard it seemed Daniels was right there. David didn't care. He was going to fix her, regardless of what Daniels said. He knew if she woke with one arm, it would set her off. And really, even with one arm, Minerva still had double, maybe even triple strength of a human with the speed to match. Being handicapped wouldn't stop her being dangerous, if anything it would make her more so. David didn't wish to point this fact out.

He successfully clipped off anything that was oozing silver blood. Picking up a tablet, which seemed to just be left in here for some purpose, David traced around her jawline to the back of her head, or there about. Plugging her up to the tablet now resting on the bed, David just took to running through the basics with her. His eyes flicked to her face though when he pushed a command. Her eyes flickered behind her eyelids before eventually they opened. Blinking a few times, she seemed confused before turning her head and looking up at him.

"How do you feel?" He asked, not expecting her to look sadly at him.

"Is David dead?" She asked instead, watching as he looked downwards. He was trying to be solemn, saddened by the news he'd have to break to her. All pretend of course, but even still, he knew how she coped with loss. As in she didn't. Even the death of Meredith had an affect on her, and the sisters never really ever got along. Even those that weren't close to her, affected her. Minerva and death didn't mix.

"How do you feel?" He asked again, watching her look back up at the grey coloured ceiling. She shook her head sadly, "What does that mean?" He asked confusedly, although David knew well enough what that look was.

She was resisting a flood of emotions. It wasn't like he could comfort her, even if she did breakdown, was it? That didn't seem to be something Walter would do. When all David would want to do, would be to pick her up and hold her close. Tell her she's okay, that he is still alive, he is sorry for hurting her and everything in between. But as Walter, he couldn't. The most he could do would be to put a hand on her shoulder, how was that comforting? It wasn't.

Minerva reached up with her hand and wiped at her eyes. "A piece of me is missing, and I don't mean my arm." Her eyes side eyed him, David just looked sympathetic. He guessed Walter could stretch to that emotion. Minerva just bit her lip, she awkwardly smiled and fidgeted on the bed. "I didn't totally mean everything I said, Walter. He was right, even if he didn't always treat me well, he always meant well. He did always look after me." Other than he ignored her and she ran off, that was.

David turned and pulled a stool over. He sat down and looked at her, he had to give himself credit, he didn't realise he was so good at acting. Here Minerva was, the one person who knew him the most, and she couldn't figure it was him. Looking in at the hole which was her arm socket, he sighed. "You loved him."

"I know it's a concept that is lost on you, Walter. But I did." Minerva said, turning her face to look at him. He paused one handedly sorting out wires and looked at her. "Even if he could be a jerk. But he was my jerk." She said, pouting lightly as tears finally escaped her eyes.

David couldn't help it, he reached up and placed his palm against her cheek. He stroked under each eye in turn and then sat back. "You were together for a long time. It is natural that you would miss him."

She shut her eyes slowly, "Yeah, that's true." She agreed. With a sigh, she opened her eyes again and looked at him. Smiling she just watched him work away. "Are you giving me my arm back?"

David flicked his eyes to hers, her arm was on a wheeled table behind him. "Daniels doesn't want me to."

"But?"

"You helped me. So I will." He said decisively, that and David wanted to. Perish the thought of him not going through with doing something he wanted.

"This arm has already been ripped off once. The damage might be too much." Minerva said, watching as he stood and walked around the room. He pulled another wheeled object over, a filing cabinet of such. Three drawers, full of things. "What's all that?"

"Stuff from a storeroom. Things which could be used to repair the ship, or pieces of machinery. I bought it with me when I carried you here." He said, explaining simply as he opened the drawers and looked around. "I can replace the joint, repair your arm completely. It will be good as new, if you want it to be."

"Walter, you have one hand. Don't you need someone helping you?" Minerva couldn't help but ask as he pulled numerous things out that he seemed to believe he needed.

He looked at her, pausing. "Perhaps." Looking to the door, he frowned. The other human male wasn't doing anything, he didn't see him in with Lope, Upworth or Tennessee. Maybe as Walter he could pull Ricks into aiding here? Three hands was better than one, right?

"Will I be locked up somewhere?" Minerva asked while he moved over to the intercom on the wall. He looked over with a frown. "I'm well...not part of the crew."

He paused, walking back over he leaned against the bed. Minerva just tilted her head and looked up at him with wide eyes. "I made a decision to bring you with us, as such you fall into the category of the crew, even if not official crew; you are within jurisdiction of the same care and aid as I would show to them."

Minerva smiled sadly up at him, "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me." He said quietly with a shake of his head. He hadn't exactly done anything as of late which would need her thanking him. If anything, David should be thanking her for still thinking kindly of him, missing him, pining clearly even. He had been nothing short of mean, horrible, utterly despicable to her; yet she still cared, David moved away from her side and made a vow in his head to make it up to her when all of this was done with. He was certain he could do that, he just needed to think how.

——

Edited: 28/June/2021