Kent/Feldspar

[videointhenoise]

"Just once more," they had said when Ellie's team petitioned for it. She was busy with Palmer, falling in love with science while he fell in love with God, and Kent was left to pick up the pieces. He wanted another damn go at it. The Machine had a pricetag in the billions; it was begging to be used again.

But they wouldn't let Ellie go. They wouldn't let just anyone go. They wanted someone who knew how it worked, who had been there from the beginning, but someone who isn't completely taken in by Ellie's words.

That leads them to a dozen people and they end up with Kent. He's blind, but that's not what decides it. They claim that he wouldn't hallucinate the way Ellie did. That he has a unique perspective.

And, he's already proven himself steady and loyal.

He experiences it all the way that Ellie does, but something goes wrong on the other end. Maybe another terrorist attack. Maybe not. All he knows is that he's in the sphere and then, suddenly, he's floating, unable to find his footing until a great crash and he slams into the bottom of the machine.

He groans, pulling his helmet on with a grunt and a wince.

"Fuck this," he mutters, finding the edge of the sphere with his hands. There was a door there somewhere. He just - has to find it.

Comments

[videointhenoise]

Kent chuckles low.

"You don't want to know," he says, leaning forward.

[getfeldsparred]

“That great, huh?” They laugh quietly and snuggle down into their pilot’s chair, the radio tucking against their shoulder so he hear Kent’s voice in their ear.

“Tell me anyway. Or tell me nothing. I just want to hear your voice.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent chuckles. "They're hatching," Kent tells them softly, then waits for the inevitable reaction to it.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar turns and stares up at the roof of the ship, blinking softly and fondly and with no small amount of homesickness. “Already? I thought I’d have some more time.”

[videointhenoise]

"I know," he tells them a bit sadly. "We thought they'd hold out, but they're ready. Even the small one," he adds quietly.

[getfeldsparred]

Even the small one. They hope that they’ll get to meet them all when they come back - and that the little one will be thriving. Gneiss and Spinel were worried about that egg.

They try to force a smile on their face and into their voice. “Your first hatching! You’re going to love it. Have you talked names at the campfire yet?”

[videointhenoise]

"I did, but then they asked about the different names on Earth, so I had to go into that," he chuckles.

He's worried about that little egg, too. But he's not going to let that deter him from enjoying this ceremony. "Apparently they really like the name Gregory."

[getfeldsparred]

“Gregory? It’s weird, but I like it.” They laugh quietly to themselves. “Let me guess, Riebeck is obsessing about the name.”

[videointhenoise]

"Mm, exactly," he laughs. "But - I offered another name and the elders liked it enough that it might go to one of them."

[getfeldsparred]

“Another name! What did you suggest? You gotta tell me.”

[videointhenoise]

"Nope. It's a surprise," he says with a chuckle.

[getfeldsparred]

“Awh, you’re no fun! How about the other names? Did someone suggest Moraine? I’ve always liked that one.”

[videointhenoise]

"They didn't, but I'll bring it up with them later," he assures him.

"You need to sleep."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar sighs quietly at Kent’s insistence that they sleep. “I will, I will. Just…tell me more about your day.”

[videointhenoise]

"I worked on the soundscope a little. Thats the name we're going with."

He sits back. "Slate and I are going to try and put it on the ship."

[getfeldsparred]

“Sound-scope,” they repeat, laughing to themselves. “Says exactly what it is, nice. It’d be useful on the ship if there’s a couple of us flying out here. Help me locate Esker and Gossan.”

And for them to find Feldspar, which would be more useful but they’re not thinking like that.

[videointhenoise]

"Exactly," he laughs. "I'm working on range now."

He smiles. "But I've mostly been putting together furniture."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar sits up sharply, radio floating off their shoulder and hanging out in front of them. Putting together furniture can only mean one thing.

“Are you going to house one of the new-hatched?”

[videointhenoise]

"I thought I would."

He hesitates. "Makes the cabin seem a little less lonely, I guess."

[getfeldsparred]

Oh.

It makes sense. Kent spends a lot of time alone when they’re up in space, so why wouldn’t he take in one of the little ones?

Feldspar grimaces to themselves and then picks up the radio. “That sounds like a great idea. You’d be amazing with them. Gneiss and Rutile would appreciate the help.”

[videointhenoise]

"That alright?"

He laughs. "I didn't ask you first, but I knew you wouldn't mind. Softie."

[getfeldsparred]

“Of course it’s alright! And it means I get to see the hatchlings as soon as I land, so really, you’re doing me a favor.”

They smile a little more genuinely and sit back in the chair again. “You’ll be good with them. It’s really amazing how well you’ve just blended in with all of us. You’re more Hearthian than me sometimes.”

[videointhenoise]

"Thats not true. I'm just Kent. You are all better than that."

He tilts his head. "Alright. My time is up. I'll talk to you tomorrow night," he tells them softly, and while he can't say that he loves them, he hopes they can hear it.

[getfeldsparred]

They go quiet for a couple of seconds, just thinking to themselves. "You're not just Kent, you know. Not to me."

As much as they'd like to keep Kent on the radio with them all night, they know Gossan's also up on a run to Giant's Deep. Best free up the line.

"Goodnight, Kent."

[videointhenoise]

"Night, Felds."

And he signs off, letting Slate take the radio to check on Gossan. He heads back to his cabin, whistling all the while.