((Collab Post between [@Letter Bee] and [@Neozeon0083]))

[b][i]Flashback, Part One[/i][/b]

The Red-Star Floating Supercarrier [i]Kuei-Ren[/i] floated above the South China Sea, carrying with it both Drones and NCs, as well as living facilities for both 'Comrades' and 'Slave-Pilots'. Currently, there were more of the latter than the former, and Alexander Sky planned to take advantage of that in the Darwin Expedition. But first, he needed to seek an excuse to see Hibiki Laplace, the pilot he was concerned for the most. Thankfully, Red-Star wasn't entirely blind to the need for its pilots to know each other, and Alexander had given no indication that he was any less loyal after a public flogging and the loss of his parents. So as long as Osamu Akiyama, the Political Officer of the ship, allowed it, then he can go wherever he wanted.

It was a shame that he had to pander to that perverted young man's wishes to get said permission. Nevertheless, Alexander was heading towards where Hibiki was kept in the Supercarrier's miniature laboratory, with just the proper pretext in mind. Here was hoping his trip was uneventful.

Approaching the lab, Alexander hears a struggle. Follow by the cries of guards yelling, "Stop!". He could hear on the cold metal floor the slapping of flesh in a rhythm. Soon, a young man in hospital gown bounds around the hallway. The boy makes a sharp turn towards Alexander, then passes him soon after. Moments later,  the guards arrive unsure of where he ran off to and consequently run off the wrong direction.

That was good; it seemed Hibiki still had some independence of spirit. Alexander can use this. And so he walked off to where Hibiki was running, knowing that the young man would soon be tired.

Alexander, upon pursuing Hibiki, hears a commotion coming from the mess hall. He enters the now rowdy room, the soldiers are producing a spectrum of reactions. Ranging from laughter, confusion, and interest. Alexander happens to eye the cook, and he gestures to the food storage.

The Slave-Pilot walks over to the food storage, figuring out what Hibiki was doing; hungry boys needed food. So he comes in, saying: "Hibiki-[i]kun[/i], are you inside? Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you."

Those were actually truthful words.

Hibiki, a bit startled, sees the man, but it's not the guards so he calms down. Then Turns back to the porthole, looking at the world go by. The boy stays silent, as he eats an apple. After finishing the apple, Hibiki turns to Alexander and with a big smile, "Hello, you know my name? Are you like me? How many painful experiments have they done to you?"

Alexander sits beside Hibiki and says, "I do, I am like you, and plenty. My name is Alexander Sky, fellow Slave-Pilot of Red-Star."

A pause as he checks the food storage for cameras and other surveillance equipment; none were pointed at his exact spot, thus emboldening him to say, "You know, the guards will come here eventually; they will catch you. But if you're with me, I can tell them that our Political Officer assigned me to be your mentor. Which I could be. So what do you say? Be my pupil and be allowed out of the lab for some hours each day?"

With an inquisitive head tilt Hibiki asks, "What's a slave?". He then readjusts his head and smiles again, " what you say does sound nice...but..." he trails off. Gaining some composure the boy continues, " I don't think my father would allow that, I'm... I'm never supposed to leave the labs, he says the outside will contaminate his work" he says smiling but with his eyes welling up.

Alexander says, "A Slave is a human who is owned by another human as property. That's who we are, Hibiki. As for your father, he is a Master, but there are people above him who can make him do what they want because they [i]pay[/i] him and give him lab equipment to do experiments with."

A pause. "I'll go to their superior right now, one Political Officer Osamu Akiyama. I'll do whatever it takes to get you outside of your lab for a few hours. Will you come with me?"

The Pilot was earnest.

Hibiki jumps up into Alexander's face with a hopeful expression, but clearly seen in his eyes are surgical scars, Hibiki says, " You really can do that!". Hibiki is ecstatic and now uncomfortably close to Alexander. " Let's go tell them right now!" The boy tugs at Alexander's uniform gesturing him out the door.

The Pilot smiles at his fellow Corporate Slave, and goes out the window, where the cook and a circle of guards were waiting. Alexander waves them aside, saying, "I and this boy have business with the Political Officer; touch him and you will be punished."

This threat works and the guards part to allow Alexander and Hibiki to move across the ship, going through the corridors to where Osamu Akiyama waited in his office. The redhead, who looked only eighteen years old, smirked at Alexander, saying: "You requested to see me, Slave-Pilot Alexander. It's about the boy you have with you, correct?"