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Reyes walked on to the Tempest and looked around. Everything looked as it usually did. It didn't make sense. He had received an email from Vetra yesterday telling him something was all his fault but not elaborating further. He'd taken enough blame for things his love had done without any influence from him. He wanted to know what he was being blamed for this time. So he finished up his immediate business and flew to where Scott had emailed him they were heading after leaving Meridian. Voeld. Why did it have to be Voeld?
Noticing Gil come out from under the nomad, he walked over.
"Gil, do you know-?"
"Pathfinders quarters."
"What?"
"The reason Vetra emailed you. The thing that's your fault. It's in there. The Pathfinder is taking a vid meeting with the council right now but what we're all blaming you for is in there." That cleared nothing up.
"Why am I to blame?"
"I'm sure you'll figure it out. I'm busy. Go away." Well, fine then. He'd never had such a cold reception before. At least not since his first couple of visits, he thought, walking to his room. What could Scott have possibly done now?
He walked in, headed towards the bed and sat down, looking around. Nothing looked any-. He glanced down as a bunny hopped out from around the bed, stopping at his feet.
"Um, hello." Was this what they were talking about? How could he possibly be at fault for this cream and white creature? Which was currently sniffing his boot. "When did you get here?"
"I was about to ask you the same question." He turned to see Scott standing in front of the closed door. "You didn't tell me you were coming. And you hate Voeld."
"Strongly dislike." No, he was right. Hate. Definitely hate. "I wasn't planning on it. Until I got an email from one of your crew blaming me for something. I'm assuming the thing sniffing me is the reason.
"She's not a thing. Come here, girl. Don't eat that." He walked over and scooped the bunny up, pulling his boot lace from its mouth. He hadn't even noticed she was doing that. "Remember the rules? Laces are not food." He set her on his bed then turned to face him.
"She's Daisy. About six months old. Um, what else?"
"Daisy?" How had he come up with that?
"Preschoolers on Eos got to name the litter when they were born. They had just done a unit on Earth plants. Be glad I didn't end up with the one named Stinkweed. He is cute though."
"And how did you end up with her? And why am I to blame?"
"That I do not know." Bunny jumped up on the bed and started to lick the bunny. "The rest of my zoo loves her already. Don't you, Bunny?"
"Aren't rabbits usually in cages?"
"She has one. By the couch. But she only sleeps in it. She's free roaming and litter trained. Not that she's been outside this room yet. Think you can help me convince my crew to let her roam further?"
"Probably not since they blame me for her being here. Though why they-." Lily walked over, brushing her head against his leg, demanding pets. "Oh." He leaned over, obliging her. "That's why."
"What?"
"I brought you most of your zoo." And had been the one to come up with that particular nickname for Scott's menagerie after his first try had been absolutely mangled by the translators.
"You brought half. Gizmo came from the scientists on the Nexus and I found Shady."
"And I added to it the most. Made you want more." Which hadn't been his intention.
"I love animals. Always have. That's not your fault."
"Tell that to your crew."
"I will. They'll come to love her. Just like the rest of them."
"Just don't add any more." And now he wouldn't meet his gaze. Oh boy. "You can't possibly be thinking of adding more. You're going to need to get rid of crew members to make room."
"Just that planetary display I never use. Could fit a fish tank there."
"Fish?"
"Yeah. Commander Shepard has some on her ship. Or did, I suppose. Why can't I?"
"Fish aren't cute."
"Depends on the fish."
"Maybe don't mention that to them quite yet."
"They already know." He sat down, picking up Daisy and putting her in his lap as Bunny leapt off the bed. "I asked Gil and Kallo if it could be done before we reached Meridian. Gil came to tell me it was doable right after we left and saw her. I'm assuming you got the email from him shortly after."
"Wasn't him." His queen had a seemingly endless capacity for love and affection. Anyone who knew him saw that. It didn't surprise him that he had added to his zoo. He just didn't like being blamed for it.
"I'll be right back."
"Okay. We'll be here. No blood."
"Promise."
He didn't have to go far as they were all in the galley.
"Yes, I saw her. No, I had no idea. And in no way is it my fault. Or yours, as much as I want to blame you." But he couldn't. Because he knew they were as innocent as he was.
"Us", Vetra asked. "How is it our-?"
"No one heard about bunnies on Meridian and thought to keep him away from them? One job. Well, multiple actually. But one of them is keeping him away from small, able to live on the Tempest, creatures."
"Says the man who-."
"Don't bring Lily into this. She's his support animal. As is Bunny to some extent. All of them, actually. Including Daisy now. Without them and you, do you really think he'd be able to do this job still?"
"No", Lexi says. "Definitely not. You're right. And we don't really have a problem with him bringing her onboard. Do we?" She glanced around the room, as if daring anyone to contradict her.
"Think we were all just surprised", Drack said. "Thought there were no more animals he could find that could live on a ship. He already agreed to no bugs."
"I think Daisy will be the last. Besides the fish he wants to renovate his room for."
"Fish", Cora sighed. "On a ship."
"Commander-."
"Don't start. He already used that argument with me. It is a simple fix. We just have to add a couple girders under engineering to balance the extra weight."
"Might help him sleep", Suvi said.
"How do you figure?"
"He faces the window when you're not here. Likes to watch the stars. The tank will be in his line of sight. Watching them might help."
"Maybe. So we're in agreement that I'm not to blame?"
"Yes", Peebee said. "But no breaking quarantine for it yet. Her. I'm not done bunny proofing my room. She's cute but I've read how destructive they can be." She was cute.
"I'll tell him. But I would go do that now. He's already complaining about her being stuck in his room." He left them to their bunny proofing. He had a new member of his family to get acquainted with.