Luminea Lobelia, First Bloom, looked at the little sophont lying down in the bed. She was called urgently to the vet to take on guardianship of her first Terran. Things were quite hectic on the Integrifolia lately. As the Terran Pacification efforts were underway, every Affini able to do so was tasked to take on florets or wards under their care. Luminea did not feel ready yet to take on a floret. She wanted to be sure she could provide the best care an owner should before she did so. Being a Guardian, however, was within her capabilities. She knew that. She expected she would be called upon to do so sooner or later. What she did not expect was for her first Ward to be this little one who fell down from a vent in the Office of Transitional Neoxenoveterinary Archeobureaucracy’s archives. The Office had just been built the week before, therefore the security systems were not all tweaked to our new reality yet. This cutie’s story remained a mystery and Luminea hoped this flower would soon bloom awake to provide answers.

So, here in this room, she was having a conversation with the vet on duty, Florelle Abelia, Fourth Bloom, about the current state of her new ward. Her right leg was broken, she was likely to go through caffeine withdrawal from her test results as well. She had significant chemical imbalances in her brain along with a few indications of poor health maintenance routines.

Angela’s eyes fluttered, only to close abruptly afterwards. Luminea could tell that this silly flower was pretending to still be asleep.

“She also seems to suffer from severe malnutrition, likely surviving off of these sad excuses for meal replacements the Terrans call rations.” In response, Angela mumbled under her breath a silent protest.

Noticing the sophont’s reaction, Florelle decided to pretend the cutie was still asleep. She knew full well Luminea had noticed it too, so she decided to speak in the Affini dialect. “Lumi, I know you will do wonderfully with this ward. But I want you to know you have my full support if there is anything you need during your wardship of this adorable one.”

Angela, realizing she could no longer understand her captors’ dialogue, attempted to silently break free from the restraints keeping her down on the bed. “Thank you, dear! Maybe we should talk to her, before she hurts herself more than she already has.”

Luminea and Florelle moved next to the biobed where Angela was pretending to sleep still. The two large Affini looming over her, Angela didn’t see much use in pretending anymore.

“You do realize it’s rude to stare… right?” Angela glared angrily up at the two women. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” She made an active attempt to try to move her arm. “Now get me out of this thing, you damn weeds!”

“How adorable! Florelle, dear, see how this little cutie believes she’s in a position to threaten us?” Luminea grinned at her friend, knowing full well her comment would only infuriate the Terran further. She could not help but be amused by the situation.

“She is so cute, trying to wiggle out! Little one, you might want to be careful or you will hurt yourself and none of us want harm to come to you. You are safe, but you have a broken leg and a bruised rib.”

“First of all, I am not adorable or cute. Second, fuck you. And third, I’ll be the judge on whether or not it’s broken, thank you very much.” Again, Angela tried to move.

“If you continue to struggle this way, I will have no choice but to use a sedative on you. I don’t want you to hurt yourself anymore than you already have. I do not know what gave you the silly idea of crawling through those vents, but that was reckless and dangerous.” said Florelle with a strict tone to her voice.

“I don’t need you to question my motives, plant.” Angela eyed the medical equipment around her before she stopped her struggle. “And I don’t need those xenodrugs or whatever other mind control drugs in my system! Keep your flowers to yourself.” 

“Florelle, is this sophont well enough for me to explain her present situation?”

“By all means, Luminea! I will be in the room next door” Florelle exited the room with her pad in hand and went to another patient’s side.

“Now, let’s start again from the beginning. My name is Luminea Lobelia, First Bloom, She/Her. And from this moment, I will act as your guardian until the conditions of your release undergo review by this ship’s Assessment Board.”

“Yeah I’ve got places to be so I'm not sure that’s going to work out.” Angela turned away defiantly.

“Well, Angela, let me explain what happens from now. Your behavior, as it currently stands, shows us that you are a danger to yourself, and possibly to others. My role is to help you change that while the Assessment Board determines the safety of allowing you to remain an independent sophont.”

“You can’t just decide things for me without my consent! I am a free Terran and I will be given the respect I deserve.'' She turned to face Luminea.

“As per the Human Domestication Treaty, I can, and will, decide for your own well-being and protection. And you, little one, will not have a say in this. You can decide how things will proceed from here, with regards to your remaining an independent sophont, or becoming a cute and adorable little pet to a very lucky owner!”

Angela’s face flushed, but Luminea couldn’t decide if it was from anger or perhaps something else. “I am NOT a pet! Let me get that out of the way right now. Understand, parasite? Or do I have to spell it out for you? I. Am. Not. A. Pet.” her face was almost as red as a Chrysanthemum. “Now, can we please go?,” Luminea could sense a slight twinge of anxiety for a second before Angela masked it again.

“Keep going like this, cutie, and you’ll be a pet by tomorrow!” smirked Luminea. “Now, I will go ask Florelle if you are well enough to be taken home. If you behave, we can stop for ice cream on the way.” Luminea did not give time to Angela to respond, and instead went to the next room to discuss with her fellow Affini.

She could hear Angela’s sounds of indignation as she left the room. Angela could not let that happen, and if she’d have to twist this affini’s… vine? She would do it to avoid becoming a mindless pet. She put her head back onto the pillow, as her verdict was decided in a room she couldn’t hear. 

“Is the cutie behaving a bit better?” Florelle asked as she noticed Luminea enter the room.

“She seems to have a lot of energy for one who was just badly injured. And she is being very resistant to the idea of being cared for by an Affini.”

Florelle seemed to think for a moment. “If it becomes a problem, let me know. I know this is your first charge, Lumi, but I believe in you. I will do my best to help you with this little one. But don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

“I won’t, dear. I appreciate your support! Would it be alright if I took her back to my hab?”

“Of course! But I’ll need you to file the usual forms first.” said Florelle, taking out a stack of what must have been at least 400 pages of documents. Luminea immediately, and excitedly, got to work on them. Her first charge, finally. She had the chance to help a sophont, and quite an adorable one too!