It turns out the compact takes claims of Floret abuse very seriously. Within 5 minutes, I had been moved to a private room, with a councillor and veterinarian being called in to oversee me. Tests were taken, and I was asked to give a statement under the effects of a Class-D, a truth serum. Cereus was also asked to provide an account, which was shortly added to Ratio’s and Miss’s, who arrived 15 minutes later.

 

That was the highlight of my improvised plan. The Affini quickly shifted their tones from worried to condescending, and I realised I would likely be leaving with Miss.

 

"Oh, sweetie, we're so sorry that this situation has brought you such distress. Don't worry; we’ll make sure to give your owner a talking to so that she knows how to mess with your head properly next time,” the vet had said.

 

Mess with my head properly? How could they justify her behaviour! Worse! It was encouraged! The only issue they had was that she was using slightly outdated techniques! The audacity!

 

The investigation was over in 30 minutes, and I was sent out the door with smiles and headpats. “Don’t be a stranger~,” they sang.

 

They could all burn in hell!

 

Seeing as I couldn’t be trusted, I was drugged up and left cuddled up to Miss during the duration back to my prison. A brief conversation ensued between Cereus and Miss before I was put down, hit with a counter agent, and interrogated a second time.

 

I created as much distance as possible and steadied myself against the wall, using my spare hand to pinch the brow of my nose in a failed attempt to release pressure. This wasn’t supposed to happen. None of this was supposed to have happened.

 

“Honestly, what were you expecting?” Miss asked from across the room.

 

I didn’t register it; my mind was occupied with where I had gone wrong. Had I not sold the abuse enough? Did they even see it as abuse? Was I in the wrong? No! Of course, I wasn’t! What a stupid line of thought, brain. They obviously didn’t understand. Unless –

 

“Zeitha, I asked you a question.”

 

My line of thought ran short as I pulled my gaze upwards with red hot eyes. “Go and wilt you overgrown weed. I’m under no obligation to answer your questions,” I spat.

 

Miss sighed in response, retrieved Ratio and handed her off to Cereus. “Dear, would you kindly take Ratio out for ice cream? I have a feeling this may be a while.”

 

Cereus acknowledged her request and left almost instantly, Ratio in tow. I held their exchange with passive eyes, a stark contrast to the pair who looked at me with only pity. The door opened and closed, signalled by a whoosh of air before it firmly engaged the locks.

 

“It’s just you and me now, flower; you can drop the act,” Miss said, stocking her most recent pile of paperwork.

 

Act? What act? What was she talking about?

 

I kept my distance and bit my tongue. I knew asking what she meant would mean I was playing her game. No more; I was getting out of here one way or another.

 

Miss took a step towards me. “Flower…”

 

I took two steps back, ensuring the table was between us.

 

“Flower, this isn’t going to work. I am fully capable of moving the table, and then where will you go?”

 

She absolutely was, and she was absolutely right. I wasn’t entirely sure what it was I was planning; I just knew I had to keep as much distance as possible. It wasn’t logical. I knew if she wanted to, I’d be in her vines within seconds. And yet, I stayed behind the table anyway.

 

She took another step.

 

“Don’t get any closer!” I screamed. My posture was low, rigid, akin in every way to a cornered animal.

 

Miss halted, and I could see the cogs working behind her eyes. Be forceful, don’t be forceful. She was conflicted. Good! Conflicted people make mistakes.

 

“Flower… What I have done was in your best interest. It will always be in your best interest, even if you can’t see it. You’re allowed to be scared, allowed to be confused. But this…” She pointed towards the various piles of paperwork. “This has to stop. I have tried to be understanding. I tried to emphasise with you, but if you continue down this path, it will only result in my having to be more forceful. Stop this. Come back to me and tell me you’re sorry. I’ll embrace you with full vines. We can go back to how we were, back to being happy together. Wouldn’t you like that?”

 

“Hmm, let me think about that,” I retorted. “Stay where I am and keep defying you, or go back to your arms and become your willing puppet. That’s not exactly a difficult choice, Miss.”

 

“Flower, final chance. Come back to me. Please,” she implored.

 

I snarled. “I am never willingly going to those vines ever again! I’d rather die!” I meant every word of it. “I trusted you! I showed you sides of myself even Lucia hasn’t seen! And you betrayed me! I told you not to do it! I begged you not to! You know how much it meant to me, and you did it anyway! You manipulated me the same way I have been manipulated my entire life. You’re as bad as he was!” I took a breath. “No… You’re worse. At least he had the decency not to hide his true colours.”

 

That hit a nerve. Miss recoiled, tears starting to form in her eyes. “Sometimes, you say the most hurtful things… Okay, Zeitha, if you want to play, we can play.”

 

She moved the table effortlessly with one brush of her vine, leaving me fully exposed. I immediately broke into action, attempting to dive between her legs and make my way to the bedroom. Of course, that didn’t go to plan, and I was scooped up mid-motion.

 

“Get off me!” I screamed, thrashing about in her vines. I stopped only at the sight of a needle.

 

“Flower, you have a choice. Calm yourself enough so we can have a conversation, or continue to lash out and prove you’re a risk I need to take care of. What will it be?” Miss asked.

 

I was conflicted. On the one hand, surrendering here would almost certainly seal my fate; on the other, not doing so would see me being drugged up again, and stars knows what she’d put into me this time. No matter how you looked at it, it was a lose-lose situation. I willed the energy within my body to cease, and while it was difficult, I managed to restrict myself. The needle was removed, and I was brought to the sofa.

 

Miss sat down first, placing me in her lap and cocooning me so only my head was free to move.

 

“It was never going work,” Miss sighed. “Floret abuse doesn’t happen, Zeitha, and whether you like it or not, you belong to me. I have tried to explain my reasoning to you and tried to emphasise with you, but you continue to run under false assumptions. There are only so many times I can sit you down and talk before I have to start thinking about more drastic measures. Is that what you want? To force my vine into a position where neither of us benefits?”

 

“I’d rather have neither of us benefit than just you,” I replied coldly.

 

Another sigh.

 

“Flower, you are benefiting from this. Think about all the progress we have made in 4 days. You were on your way to making new friends, finding your place in life and finally being in a position to address your past. You were… happy. Truly happy. I can’t understand why you’re throwing that all away for something so small.”

 

Small? Small! Error we are not working with the same compass.

 

“Look, I trusted you,” I announced hotly. “Nearly as much as I’ve trusted anyone. I thought you understood me. I thought you would protect me. But you didn’t. The first sign of a conflict you couldn’t control, and you came barrelling in to change the rules. Do you know why I hate you so much? Why I’m so affected by this? It’s because you didn’t trust me.”

 

Her vines twitched, and a glance revealed that the mood had shifted behind her eyes.

 

“I agree with what you said,” I continued, a little calmer. “I don’t know if that’s because you forced me to feel that way or if that’s how I felt originally, and unfortunately for me, I’ll never know. But yes, I agree with what you said. My guilt was lacking; sure, it probably was more blown up than fair. But I would have realised that given time. There was no reason you had to go fixing it in the manner that you did. I realise conflict is a foreign concept to you, what with your cushy empire and thought obliterating drugs, but for my kind that didn’t grow up with those comforts, conflict was the innovation for progress and redemption. You took that away from me and, in doing so, broke the very first fear I shared with you. What is the point in having sentient beings as pets if you’re going to reprogram them on a whim? I mean error. Just get a dog or a cat or something. Or better yet, a robot, a genuine honest-to-stars robot. Don’t pull me into your games and pass it off as love…” I took another breath and let it out. “If you truly loved me as much as you say you do, you’d have let me work through that guilt myself.”

 

It wasn’t a lie; those truly were my feelings. There was obviously more, and yes, I hated how easily Miss could warp my mind, but if I’m being ultimately honest with myself, my anger probably stems from the fact that she felt like she had to.

 

It was my turn to sigh in this game we so frequently played. I stared blankly forwards and awaited her response.

 

“Why haven’t you told me this?” Miss asked with a tender voice after a slight pause.

 

I scoffed. “You’re supposed to know my mind better than me. Besides. Why would I give a tyrant ammunition to use against me?”

 

“Flower... Flower, I do trust you.”

 

I gave an audible huff.

 

“I mean it. You were hurting, and I didn’t want to see you like that. You’re my floret, my family. If you saw Ratio in pain, wouldn’t you do everything you could to ease it for her? I am sorry that you had to grow up in a system that incentivised betrayal, conflict and misery as a means of progression; I really am. However, that is not how we do things here.”

 

“Yeah? Do you want to explain to me how that’s any different from what you and I are doing with the trials?” I challenged.

 

“They’re entirely different!” Miss said with a raised voice. “The Accord operated on knocking people down and climbing over them. I am building you up and giving you the tools you need to overcome your own trauma and move past it. I sit there with you and guide you through it, comfort you when you’re sad and encourage and praise you when you strive forward. Surely you see the difference?”

 

I rolled my eyes. “Sure, when you word it so sweetly. But consider my perspective. Accord, Compact, OCNI or you. You’re all trying to force a change into something that benefits you. Be that at the cost of enforced labour or the alteration of my state of mind.” I paused for a moment and then continued. “I feel like we’re running around in circles… Why are you investing so much time in me? I’m obviously not worth the trouble. Hell, I couldn’t even get a transfer request sorted; I’m clearly not wanted.”

 

“Don’t even put yourself down like that,” Miss said sternly. “Even if you can be troublesome, you’re worth every breath I take.”

 

“And why’s that?” I asked.

 

“Because you’re worth it,” she repeated without delay. “You make me want to give you everything I can. Love, stability, a place of belonging. Safety, comfort, and so, so much more. And you’re wrong; you’re wanted, and not just by me.” She placed me down and retrieved some paperwork, bringing it to view. “Go ahead, read.”

 

I flexed my newly released joints and took the papers. They seemed to be a document of a sort, a report if you would, that was created at the time of my capture. It specified a series of negative traits tied to my character, along with several recommendations on how to proceed with my domestication. It was… not great. My portfolio had been flagged as high risk, and the recommended actions delved far past my consent barrier. Worst yet, behind the report was a list of potential owners who had expressed interest in me. Most had a reputation for making happy dumb, docile pets and prided themselves in breaking problematic individuals. It was worded a lot nicer, but that’s what it translated to in Terran.

 

“You’re atrocious at pep talks,” I said, slightly amused. “What exactly am I supposed to be looking at?”

 

Miss reaffirmed my gaze to the list of Affini. “This list is outdated and, from what I understand, has doubled in size since this report was formed. The fact is, there are plenty of Affini who want to take you as their own. If I can’t give you what you need, if I’m truly such a negative influence in your life, we can look at getting you transferred officially.”

 

I stared at the Alien in awe. “You’re willing to let me go just like that?”

 

“If it’s what you need, then yes. You’ve probably realised by now that I’m inexperienced, and while I don’t regret what I did, I’d be blind if I didn’t recognise how much it’s hurt you. I can have our compatibility re-evaluated, and if it’s changed, we can take the next steps.”

 

Hope swelled in my stomach. “That’s… That’s wonderful!” It was quickly squashed. “What about Ratio?” I asked.

 

“That’s up to her and something I haven’t planned for. There’s a genuine risk you might lose her,” Miss said sombrely.

 

My head started to swell with pain.

 

“I… I need time to think,” I said.

 

Miss nodded and removed herself from the sofa. “Would you like something to drink?”

 

“Water, please,” I said absentmindedly. She left without another word.

 

What was the right choice here? Did I stick with the alien that had already broken my trust and try to repair that damage? Or did I insist on getting a new owner, rolling the dice and maybe losing Ratio? Not to mention there was a possibility I’d end up with one of the Affini who would take more pointed efforts to my reformation.

 

I looked at the paperwork one final time and checked the page accredited to prized florets. There was an image of a girl lying on her back, paws in the air and belly exposed. She was drooling, and her eyes were utterly unfocused. She looked happy. That was until you compared her to her before image and realised she was a leading CEO for one of the biggest Megacorporations on Terra. Two days it had taken to break her. Two days and a whole bunch of drugs.

 

By the compacts standard that was a successful reformation, I was beginning to realise Miss’s methods were vastly tamer than this worst-case scenario. I put the report back down, sick to my stomach.

 

The reality of my situation dawned on me. Something needed to change.

 

Let’s start with the preferred options;

 

Escape; not happening. Independence; without the agreement, not likely. Transfer; worst case scenario? Death; denied. Rebellion; fat chance. Pleading; practical, but doesn’t help the current situation. Make a bomb; where are you going to get the resources for that Zei!?

 

Ugh…

 

Was I stuck? Did I even have a choice here? I can’t lose Ratio; that’s just not an option. Does that mean I’ve already made my choice?

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

I’m so off-centre it’s not even funny!

 

I don’t know what’s right or wrong anymore!!!

 

I collapsed backwards, pressing both hands to my face and let out an enormous exhale of air.

 

Let’s presume I stayed. Is that a decision I could come to accept? I hate her, I truly honestly hate her, but, like, she’s probably the best of the lot so far. Error, if that isn’t telling, I don’t know what is. Stars! Why am I like this?!

 

Evaluatively speaking, I am better off than I was ten weeks ago... Maybe.

 

Error, decisions hard…

 

“Yes, they’re flower,” Miss said, returning from the kitchen.

 

“So you’re invading my thoughts now, are you?” I asked with creeping hostility.

 

“I promise I did not. I am merely making an educated guess on what you were thinking,” she replied, handing my water to me, which I took with both hands.

 

I drank a large amount and then passed it off to Miss, who placed it on the side on account of the table still being upturned.

 

Internal sigh. Time to make a decision.

 

“Miss?” I asked.

 

“Yes, flower?”

 

“You can’t tell a lie. You promised, right?”

 

“I did,” she agreed.

 

“Then tell me, do I have any way out of this mess?”

 

She pulled me sideways, so my head was resting against her arm. “Only one. You keep working towards the goal that we share. You keep working towards your bloom.”

 

I sighed. “And our agreement?”

 

“Still in effect until I say otherwise,” Miss replied.

 

Oh good. A light at the end of the tunnel.

 

I let the tension in my shoulders die, closed my eyes and toyed with the ends of my tails. “I don’t regret what I did,” I said with a stoic resolve. “I wouldn’t do it again, but I don’t regret it.”

 

“I know, flower.” The hand on my shoulder pulled me a little tighter.

 

“I still hate you,” I added. “I think some of me will always hate you for what you did. But I recognise that my concept of morality is so diverted from the new norm that… Ugh... What I mean to say is that given a choice between being your pet with sentience and being someone else’s with none. I’d choose you every time. All I ask is that you try to hold my feelings into account going forward and have more trust in my ability to work on myself.”

 

“Zeitha, look at me.” I opened my eyes and cast them upwards, finding her own staring back at me. “I promise. No more tampering until we’ve at least first discussed your options. I’ll also hold higher weight on your wants, provided I find the risk manageable.”

 

“Good, I suppose that’s the best I can hope for,” I said, a small downcast smile escaping my lips. I shuffled forward, closed my eyes and collapsed onto her lap. I was tired, and anger was far more exhausting than I remember. “I promise that there’ll be no more repeats of today and that I’ll attempt to repair our relationship on my part, to the best of my ability,” I added begrudgingly.

 

“I’m glad to hear it flower.”

 

This was the right decision. The only decision. I didn’t have to like it, but hopefully, in time, I’d come to.