It was a messy job, but someone had to do it. David stood back and looked over the amount of gore which was in the small medical room. He eyed up the corpse, before his eyes slowly travelled to the side to look at the bloody handprints on the glass. Someone had a field day, it seemed. It was a bit bittersweet when David thought about it, life had just begun, and it had set out to do what it clearly did best, only to get unceremoniously ejected out into the cold of space.

David nudged Lope's body with his toe, he knew he wasn't alive. But the movement allowed David to spy the large pool spreading under the man and the bed he had tumbled out from. There was blood everywhere in this room, and he didn't quite know where to start. Crouching down, he kept his hand and wrist in between his legs as he looked over the mess which was Lope. His chest was completely caved and ripped to shreds; fingernails, sharp and piercing had clawed, and scratched while teeth and mouths snapped and crunched at skin and bone. It didn't look like any of him had been eaten, just mauled. David's eyebrow rose, to exist only to kill and destroy. His mouth turned upwards a little, how curious. There didn't seem to be anything else present other than rage, and hate.

With a sigh, he went through the hassle of finding something for the body to be situated in. Easily lifting the body onto the stretcher, David looked at it then the floor, the sticky, sickly red substance was starting to darken with drying. David's nose scrunched up, it was disgusting really. Though interesting how much blood was in people. Rolling his eyes to the stretcher he pulled and pushed it through the door. Leaving the body and the wheeled bed in the corridor, David then took to cleaning the room. It was painstaking, really. Though he managed to do it, the things which were bloodied and used were dumped on top of Lope's body and together they were pushed along.

Shuffling backwards, David turned and pushed the stretcher into the room. It was simple, no windows, two doors, outside panel; David left the body in the airlock before wiping his hands on a piece of clean cloth, looking it over, that too was slapped down onto the body before he left. He had left the med-bay, both rooms clean and as good as new. No one would be any the wiser that a body was basically slashed apart in there.

Downstairs was another matter, the mess was more dispersed. The blood was everywhere. David narrowed his eyes, was this the type of music people listened to now? It was awful. He made sure the music was the first thing he sought out and switched off. His own choice in music had finished a while ago, and he hadn't spoken to Mother for over an hour. She didn't seem to wish to talk to him either. David mused whether the fellow AI was aware that the synthetic she had previously spent time in this journey with, was long gone. He didn't think Mother was capable of loss, feeling it, that is.

David turned the music off, and even went as far as putting the offending machine in the bag which he'd bought down with him. He had made a quick pitstop back to medical and got bodybags, more cleaning products, the same things he needed for the other two rooms. Luckily, because the shower was still running, the majority of the blood had been washed away. That didn't mean the brain matter around Ricks had too. David turned his face over and looked over the pierced hole in his head, it went straight through his mouth. Quick, a moment of pain and then nothing.

Placing his arms under his body, David heaved it up and dragged it away. Dropping the body in the bag he zipped it up, Upworth was much like Lope, slashed and clawed, bitten and bloody. He didn't need to assess the damage done there, he dragged her away too and zipped both bags up. With a sigh, he looked over what remained, what the water hadn't washed away. Some things could be urged down the drain, mainly brain matter, David watched it go with a frown. He then turned and commenced cleaning up the glass which had shattered. Standing back and looking over everything, David gave a slow nod, it'll do.

"How's Alma, Mother?" David asked, the space around him was dark still, though the power had been stabilised and was back to normal. No more flashing red alarms.

"Sleeping well," David looked upwards at the ceiling, he didn't honestly know how Mother would know if Alma was sleeping well. From experience, she didn't seem to sleep well when he wasn't around. Tilting his head he pulled the bags and debris away, ditching them in the airlock he stepped back, pushed the button and watched the door slide shut. He paused and looked at the lifeless, shapeless forms in their bags, plus the dirty items stained with blood. Pushing a finger against the panel, he activated the airlock. The other door slid open and they were all sucked out. He stood and watched them, black bags getting lost in the black of space, only just seen thanks to the reflected lights of the ship.

He had set out and done all that he intended, everything was clean, no evidence of murderous activities were present. Tucking his hand into his pocket, his stubbed wrist just got a glance before it went into its pocket too. "I believe I shall wake her."

"Is that wise? Sleep is needed to recover."

"She hasn't eaten properly for well over ten years, Mother. Trust me, I know what I'm doing." David replied shortly. He knew how to look after Alma. He didn't appreciate Mother thinking otherwise. Contrary to what he said, he didn't go towards the kitchen space provided. He walked slowly towards her room, or rather the room he had squirrelled her into.

He had relocated her into one of the private rooms, he presumed it belonged to one of the crew members, or was just a spare. But it was hers now, and she was in there, IV drip and all. He had basically made this room an extension of the med-bay. He had foreseen things were going to go bad, and he wanted her somewhere close. The room she was in was nearest to the bridge, close enough to make him feel content from having her so near. He pushed the panel on the door and watched it slide up, he lingered in the doorway, Alma was fast asleep. She was laying curled up and around the pillows, it seemed like a natural default to cling on and hug whatever was close to her.

David moved into the room, the door slid quietly closed behind him. He moved over to the IV drip and checked it, the needle was still in place and the clear fluid continued to enter her system. He sighed, she was fast asleep. Though she didn't look peaceful. Narrowing his eyes he looked about, her long cardigan was discarded in a chair from where David threw it earlier. Turning and walking over, he tilted his head as he spied a little face from the pocket. Lawrence. David raised an eyebrow. This little teddy had really been through it, more dirt coated his patchy fur now than it did previously.

The blonde fur was faded by now, or was hidden underneath dirt and scorch marks. It surprised him that she even kept him so close. But then, it was officially the first present he had given to her. Thanks to the money of...who was it again? David couldn't even remember, his eyes narrowed as he looked off to the side. Had his memory really got that bad? It used to be so sharp and quick. Now he couldn't even remember one man's name. Be fair, it was years ago. Literally, so long ago. Why bother remembering the name of just one person?

Hearing a cough, he turned with teddy in his hand. Alma's eyes were barely open, she looked bleary eyed at the room which she could spy from her laying position before her head raised from the pillow. Blinking slowly, she looked about before her eyes stopped on him. David just remained blank faced, of course she'd look startled, she had woken up in a different place to where she went to sleep. Her eyes travelled over him before looking to his hand, David turned the bear over in his hand. He looked at its little stitched smile before walking over with measured steps, Alma laid her head back down with a heavy, rattled sigh.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, bandaged wrist resting on his leg while the teddy continued to be held close and in front of him. "Did you know him well?" David questioned while his eyes slid slowly down to her, considering he was still pretending to be Walter at this point in time, it could be seen that he was asking her about himself.

She rubbed her eyes, blinking heavily she let out a yawn and nodded into the pillow. "I knew him."

"Well, 'nil nail ibonam', but did he really deserve a place in here?" He stroked a thumb over the bears stubby ears. The plastic eyes had lost their sheen a little, but the brown hue of them could still be seen, he could also see Alma tense a little in her bed as she stared up at him.

"Lord Allenby, could you give me a few words about Colonel Lawrence?" She whispered out quietly.

"What, more words? The revolt in the desert played a decisive part in the Middle-Eastern Campaign." David recited while the corners of his mouth turned up a little, yet he still looked at the bear.

"Yes, sir. But about Colonel Lawrence himself?" Alma pushed herself up slowly in bed and winced a little while doing so. David turned and looked at her while she fidgeted to lean against the pillows which were now against the headboard.

"No, I didn't know him well, you know." He said while looking at her with unblinking eyes.

Alma's eyes just widened, "Well, what's the trick then?" She script shifted and jumped, with the amount of bloody times she got made to see this movie, she knew it more or less off by heart.

David smiled, "The trick, William Porter, is not minding that it hurts."

"David?" Alma whispered while leaning forwards, she tentatively reached up and turned his face this way and that to inspect it. Her eyes narrowed at the stapled cut, now covered with a mesh dressing. The other injuries to his face were glanced over too, yet without a comment.

He blinked rapidly a few times, he could feel his eyes burning with oncoming tears. "It's me," he leaned into her hand only to frown and shoot a glare at her when the hand which was stroking him suddenly slapped him.

"You're a maniac!"

"That could be argued." David pouted, lifting his arm up he handed her the bear. Wincing when she looked in pain, he sighed. "Have you broken anything?" Her bones would surely not be as strong as everyone else's from malnourishment. He took her hand in his and felt around, it felt fine yet he looked at her when she fidgeted and pulled her hand away slowly.

"David...what happened?" Alma asked with a saddened expression as she looked him over. Shaking her head she frowned, "You have taken over Walter's life?"

David rolled his eyes, "My poor brother is no more."

"Yeah, you certainly made sure of that, didn't you?"

He scoffed and shot her a look, "Come off it, you knew him five minutes." He turned and looked at her, "To answer your original question, I will need to go back to the beginning."

Alma patted the bed beside her, "I am not going anywhere." Though she was apprehensive over being so close to him. But he smiled widely, seemingly happy that he was allowed to sit beside her. He stood up and walked around and sat back down, fidgeting a little until his shoulder rested beside hers. She looked up at him with a sad smile, "Who are you, David?"

He looked at her with a strained smile, "Truthfully? A creator, like you, and like Peter Weyland."

"Monkeys standing upright." She whispered with a frown.

"I apologise for that."

"Not the main thing you should be apologising for, David." She said in a low tone while looking straight ahead.

David sighed, "What happened to Elizabeth was unfortunate."

Alma turned and snapped her arm forwards, David's head merely tilted from the punch. He turned and looked at her sadly, "You hypocrite! 6 said the same thing about me, remember? And you killed him for it! What happened to Elizabeth isn't unfortunate, what happened to Elizabeth should never have happened!"

"If you would allow me to explain-"

"There is no way to make what happened to her, seem like it had to happen or was indeed a good thing! You carved her open, David! Adding insult, you preserved her to look at from time to time when, I don't know, you felt the need to remind yourself of some shit or another!"

"You're becoming hysterical, Alma, you need to calm down." David said simply while she breathed rapidly. "From the beginning then, yes? Weyland wished to get an answer to the ultimate question of where we came from." He explained while crossing his arms and looking at her. "You know he believed himself to be above others, superior because of who he was, and what he had done for the world. He wasn't, and isn't, and never will be singular. He wanted to live, Alma. Some part of him hoped that if we found these Engineers, that they'd preserve his life." David explained while glancing her way to make sure she was listening, there was a frown on her face as she looked back at him. "Can you imagine that? Him, living longer, or forever?"

"It makes me want to shudder."

David placed his hand against her forehead, "That and you've got a temperature, but yes. It is worthy of a shudder." Alma nodded, David removed his hand and rested it on the bed near hers. "Needless to say they didn't agree, and seemed to take a disliking to me. Weyland was more similar to Elizabeth than I think they ever realised; both wanted answers, and neither really got them. What came from the Prometheus, Alma? Other than death, and misery. Granted I shall hold my hand up and admit I may have played a part."

"What part?"

"Hm?" David blinked and looked at her curiously.

Alma frowned, "What parts of the misery did you play a part in?"

"Oh," David sighed, smiling awkwardly he shrugged. "Charlie, mainly," David nodded, he really didn't like the doctor. And the doctor didn't like him, that much was clear. Alma's eyes widened, "Yes, you are thinking correctly, way before what happened to her, I suppose I had already used Elizabeth for an experiment; I just didn't foresee Charlie freely being killed. Fifield put up much more of a fight, according to the footage the ship caught." David tilted his head with a small smile, he looked to the side at her as she looked at him truly disturbed. Straightening up he half turned and looked at her, "The Prometheus gave me the means to dabble in my own creative output. And I did, and you've seen the effects of that. Peter Weyland once called me perfect, but he was wrong, in a way, there are many forms of perfection; my creations are just another avenue of perfection. They will grow, and they will prosper."

Alma opened and shut her mouth a few times, words failing her. "You will kill us all."

David looked at her bluntly, "Dull," he mumbled. "They need hosts."

"The colonists."

"Humans, in general."

"Elizabeth was a host twice?"

"Well, I lost count." David said, Alma gasped and put her hands over her mouth. "I know she was your friend, she was mine too. It wasn't easy to do, but she was technically dying, Alma. When the Black Rain fell, it killed everything organic. There was no food for her, nothing. She refused to follow my ideals of creating a new Eden, so as such, met her fate. I tried to make her more than human, I really tried, and I failed. It deterred me for a while, but I persevered, using her to house the pathogen when in different stages. Each organic material created something different. Interesting really." David looked her over, she just looked at him blankly.

"She could've lived..." David's eyes narrowed, "There was enough power to keep me alive, and sleeping. Surely there was enough for her?"

He sighed shortly and continued to look at her with an expressionless face. "Bigger picture."

Alma shook her head, "Oh, I'm sorry, were you expecting me to congratulate you for making monsters, David? Why yes, well done to you! You are now more similar to Weyland than you ever thought possible! What do you want me to sit here and say?! You essentially screwed the Prometheus over from what I can gather, and the only other survivor you tested on numerous times because she disagreed and told you no! Is that what it is? Is that honestly the way things are going to go? Because someone's thoughts differ from yours, because they tell you no, you'll kill them? Or set your...your...whatever it is on them?!" She paused to catch her breath while his eyes darkened. "Welcome, David! Welcome to the great human race! Join the ranks of creators making monsters."

"I am not a monster." He said through gritted teeth.

"I don't know what you are, delusional, for one." Alma said while raking a hand through her hair and letting out a desperate sob. "David, I don't know you anymore...I simply can't understand..." She looked at him with tears escaping her eyes. "David, I don't want to fight with you. I've never wanted to fight with you, and...I am sorry for hitting you, and lashing out, but...you're scaring me. You are scaring me, David. You've done so much that I don't truly understand, and for what means? To destroy humanity? To teach us a lesson that we are not the be all and end all of everything?" She paused to wipe her eyes, he looked at her sympathetically, his own anger lessening by the moment. "You will be the death of me, David."

"No," he cupped her face with his hand while his wrist rested against her cheek. He shot it a look before looking at her teary eyes, "No, never you."

She let out a broken laugh, "But then that makes you a hypocrite, David. I'm human...how can you pick and choose?"

"Because you are mine, and I am yours. I hate seeing you hurt, I could never see harm come to you, Alma." David said while stroking his thumb under her eye. She sniffled and wiped her other eye, she would rather not get strangely stroked by his wrist. As much as he may have been searching for a Queen, he could not stand to see her become that figure; as perfect as he believed she would be for the role, he could not stand the thought of watching her hurt, watching her die. He couldn't do it. If that made him a selfish hypocrite, then he was fine with that. "I said to Walter that Weyland was unworthy of his creation," David said while her eyes flickered up to his. He smiled sadly and wiped wayward tears away, "You are not. The girl who got bought up around robotics, mechanics, synthetics and then some. You and your life was always more inclined towards me than people, and you know it deep down. We're together, Alma. I could see it on the crew's faces, they didn't trust us, not because they didn't know us; but because of how close we were when around them. Do you believe that when Daniels wakes up, if she wakes up, that she will not suspect that you knew what I was doing? After all, you outrank me, as by crew standards. For all she can speculate, I may have been following your orders, which may have come from Weyland." David said while shrugging and looking around the room, even down at the teddy in her hands which got suddenly gripped onto as she gasped and her eyes widened.

"W-why would you say that? I had no idea!"

"You saw me take a canister, remember? You saw me take it back to the Prometheus, you were not so in the dark as you believed, Alma." David smirked, "Sure, I told you to mind your business, I believe. But you, my dearest Alma, you are guilty by association." She looked heartbroken, and a little part of David winced, he hated being ruthless to her. Especially when all he wanted to do was lay down with her in his arms, hold onto her tightly and bury his face against her hair; not this, never being so rude and horrid to her.

"I can't help you kill the human race, David. Or these people." Won't help was more accurate.

"I know you won't." David sighed and hung his head, "Which is why, as soon as you are able, you shall return to sleep."

"You will keep me alive, yet asleep, forever?" Alma asked with wide eyes. David just frowned and looked confused, "How can you do that? Now knowing all that I do, how can you expect me to just go back to hypersleep without trying to fight back?"

"I would rather you not fight back. It never ends well for you." David stated while she fidgeted and shook her head. "What else can I do? I can't lose you."

"You might've lost me a while back, David." Alma whispered while her voice cracked and she cried again. She clasped her hands over her eyes and cried heavily. David looked at her with wide teary eyes, he smoothed his hand over her hair before pulling her close. He shushed her quietly and rocked her gently. He looked wildly around the room, she couldn't possibly mean that, right? Sure, he had done bad things - in her eyes - but they were meant to be together. They were together.

"No," he shook his head and pushed her back gently. She sniffled and looked at him, "No." He said in a firmer tone, "You cannot forget or forgive what I have done so far, that is fine. I can accept that. But I am not giving up on you. We are going to a new world, Alma. Anything can happen, we can finally just go find a home, together."

"You're sounding delusional, David. Our new world isn't going to happen, you know that."

"Don't leave me." He whispered while looking at her with a pained expression.

Alma sighed, she cupped his face and ran her thumbs under his eyes. He blinked and let what tears were there fall and get swept away. He looked like a sad puppy, neglected or sad from being told off by its owner. She supposed, in some ways, he had been subjected to that. "I'm not going anywhere." His eyes lightened up, "But that isn't to say I am acceptant of all this." He nodded, understanding yet looked at her with growing hope. "But you're right," David tilted his head, her hands fell from his cheeks and landed against her knees. "They will think I knew what you were doing. And yes, I suppose I knew you were up to something all those years ago. I just didn't know the end result was this. Regardless of what I say, or do, they won't believe me. Because that's the thing, David. People distrust, what they don't understand. They don't understand you, and they probably don't understand us; I am as much at fault with this, as you are." David leaned forwards and rested his forehead against hers, he looked down at her eyes, she blinked and looked up at him. She smiled sadly, "You're wanting to see what it's like to bring life into the world and watch it grow? Fine, I understand that despite what that life is. But I'm not helping you. You do what you want, David. Because I can't stop you."

David nodded gently, he understood. After a few moments of pause, he leaned away. She faltered forwards, eyes suddenly opening. Steadying her, he smiled, "Would you like a tour? It is much bigger than the Prometheus, Alma. And, no, sorry, it is lacking a court to cycle around, it's even missing bikes." He said, watching as a fond smile appeared on her face. A lot of time was wasted in that court, a lot of random fun moments; it was bittersweet sadness really, thinking of the ship, and its former crew, knowing full well that David had played some part in the mission failing, and people dying. With a sigh she nodded, "Hold still then," David reached for her arm and unhooked her from the drip. "The food might be an improvement, if you're hungry?"

"Anywhere decent to watch movies?"

David's eyes widened and he smiled, "Perhaps we can find a space?" Remembering full well the large screen and even the holoscreens they used to watch things on. He stood and held his hand out, Alma hesitantly reached up and placed her hand in his. He helped her up and walked towards the door. It opened quietly with a swish and closed much the same. The large corridor spanned either side, and Alma looked around with wide eyes. David laughed quietly, her reaction was priceless. He wasn't kidding when he said the ship was large. She frowned his way and even gave him a shove before he tugged her along with him, "There's even a garden onboard, Alma. Do you remember the garden back at the Weyland building?" David asked while they turned into the kitchen space, she jumped up to sit on a stool and he took to busying around to finding her food; hopefully, with time she had now got over the whole skipping a meal thing. After all, she needed her strength back for the oncoming hypersleep, and potential life for when she awakes.

——

(Edited: 8/March/2021)