Collab by Draken and Heat
Eden, 10 minutes into the Devastator Ambush

After around five minutes wandering around the outskirts of the Hub, looking for her room, Karen decided that it was too slow and she could justify to an authority being located at her work- Eden. She couldn't dash, not for so large a distance, but her feet moved swiftly back to the center of it all. The guards seemed to assume that, despite not being in uniform, she had an important place to be. After all, why else would she have such apparent determination while moving against the instructed flow. 

Upon arrival, Karen took a solid thirty seconds to catch her breath, before giving a cursory check of the treeline. With a final deep breath, she began her walk into the woods, looking about at the sycamore trees. She had chosen them for the speed at which they could grow, and grown they had. The little bits of carnage worried her- she hadn't anticipated large amounts of detrius so early in her little ecosystem. What surprised her, though, was the young man leaning against one of the trees. He seemed handsome, though his face was down and chest slowly heaving from irregular breath. Crying, and generally having the physiological symptoms of an emotional breakdown. Both her understanding of human emotions and ship policy demanded she comfort him and help him along.
    
"Hey." She spoke softly, hoping to ease him out of his thoughts. "Mind if I keep you company?"

Michael's eyes were downwards even as he heard the sounds of footsteps approaching him. Then he heard words spoken to him, a female. He looked up from the grassy floor to find a brown haired woman in an orange frock standing near him, her eyes on him as the final soft words escaped her lips. As soon as he had a line of sight on her his internal database dug through for any profiles matching the woman. 

One returned positive, Karen Anderson, 34, biologist with experience in xenobiology. A brief biography of her was in his files, which his internal scanners went through quickly for any relevant information.

"If you wish to, I seem to have wandered into here and was overtaken by the sights and sounds of it all." Michael replied as he rose a sleeve to wipe the artificial tears from his face.

"I'm surprised I haven't met more people in tears, to be honest." She replied. "Everybody loved someone, and I'm sure almost all of us wish we could have brought along more than two people." Karen had no idea who this man was, but she could at least appeal to what she thought were common sympathies. She was no therapist, though, and even in conditions where her assumptions were correct, this likely would not have improved the situation. 

"Would you like to walk with me for a bit? I surpervise Eden, here, and need to make a round of it before I return to my room." Her lie was simple, but a lie nonetheless. Michael's databases informed him that no such rounds were required in a military emergency.

Michael listened to her words as they were spoken, each one processed so that he could return a proper response. She did not know of his true origin, assuming that he was crying over losing family and friends. He detected her lie, internally confused at her reasoning for it. Yet he did not speak against it as his lips moved.

"That sounds interesting, but I would not feel right if I did not introduce myself properly beforehand. You can call me Michael, I work with Dr. Phillips and the other scientists as an assistant. It is nice to meet you." Michael said as a charming smile appeared on his face, his usual manners on display. He then extended a hand for her to shake. His files noted this as a key part in proper human interaction.

Karen, however, noted it as very slightly peculiar. She wondered what this man was used to to be able to nearly turn on a time and put on a nice face so quickly. She took his hand nevertheless. "I'm Karen. I've already told you what I do, but I'm also here for my understanding of xenobiology." She also took the chance to help him up while their hands were already locked. 

The two walked off slowly towards the center of Eden, with Karen being moderately confiden that quiet company was what Michael needed, and Michael not entirely being sure what to do in this social situation, and following her lead of silence. While not absolute, the insects were infrequent and the wind's whistling through the branches was the only sound thing to regularly pierce the nothingness.