Eta-Theta reached down towards the throat of the creature beneath them, fingers curling in preparation. The sheep turned its head to look at him, eyes slow and silly, and the android's fingers reached their target, scritching at the fluff around the creature's neck. Their other hand came down to reach at the sheep's ear, giving it a few hard rubs, then moving to its forehead to continue the scratches. The sheep let out a pleased noise and slowly sank into the android's hands, before lying in the grass and rolling over.

[i]I never believed I would be surrounded by life like this.[/i] Eta-Theta turned to look up at their companion, a tall, mostly unmodified Enlightened wearing loose, rugged clothing and a cowboy hat. [i]Was it like this on Bezia? I didn't tune in much. You were... Slightly scary.[/i] She frowned.

[i]No.[/i] Eta-Theta shook their head, kneeling down further so as to give the sheep a few firm belly rubs. [i]Bezia is...[/i] The android would have frowned too, but their new form didn't have the ability to perform facial expressions. They preferred it that way. [i]The world feels dead. Dry. Dusty. It's not quite that of Zeta-5, but... It is not alive.[/i] They turned down, staring at the green grass underfoot. [i]Not like this.[/i]

They rose to their feet, turning to look over the ranch. Their former employees had requested that they preserve the planet, and the Enlightened were all too happy to oblige. They were to be the caretakers and guardians of this world as much as its masters. After all- they were to be [i]Enlightened,[/i] were they not?

[i]I scared you?[/i] Eta-Theta finally asked, cocking their head.

[i]Yes. The war scared me. It all did.[/i] She looked away from the android, pointedly fixating on the flock arrayed in front of them. A moment of nothing passed between the pair, and then she continued. [i]But... Thank you nonetheless. For what you did.[/i] 

[i]You shouldn't. What I did wasn't necessary.[/i]

[i]Justice is necessary.[/i] Her eyes turned back to meet Eta-Theta's, a spark lingering in the back of them. [i]A creche sibling... Too young for the implants...[/i] She glanced away again, hand squeezing into a fist, and then relaxing. 

Eta-Theta's hand came up, and rested on the woman's shoulder. She seemed to freeze for a moment, then, slowly, reached her own hand up and placed it atop theirs, warm flesh against chill metal. There was another long moment of silence, and then Eta-Theta drew their hand back. The air here was fresh, clean, and full of life, with a hint of dung. The sheep, now that it was not being scratched, had risen to its feet, bumping against Eta-Theta a few time to try to cajole more pets from them, before giving up and turning away, trotting back towards its brethren with an indignant 'baa.'

[i]War will come again. Soon.[/i] The smirk was audible in their tone. [i]But... You should stay as your are. Keep your skin.[/i] They began to walk away from the field, vaulting easily over the low fence that seperated the sheep from the rest of the land. The other Enlightened used the gate. [i]You will have metal forever. Appreciate the flesh when you can have it.[/i]