Matter wasn't too confident navigating the deserts of Issiq, and honestly was entirely unsure why she had decided to come back at all. She had followed Gideon and Empress after hearing them discuss going to Ochre Dockyard to see the library there, but as she slithered around the busy streets she definitely had some second thoughts.

 

She had been before, of course, when she had gotten to be Quetzalcoatl's assistant during that one surgery, ages ago. At the mention of the dockyard, she had been excited to tag along, and to tell Quetzalcoatl on the medical centre they had built but every minute spent in the hot afternoon sun made her regret her decisions more.

 

"Should be around here, right Matter?" Gideon called out, following after her. Matter had promised to lead the way as she still remembered, at least vaguely, where Quetzalcoatl's clinic was located.

 

Matter nodded, taking another corner while Empress complained behind her "Hey! Wait up!" She didn't pay it too much mind though, being sure that the other two were following closely behind anyways.

 

She eventually stopped in front of the seemingly small clinic. As her fellow colonist caught up, Empress was the first to speak "Ah, I suppose we're here then?" and as Matter nodded, the black Tsabhua stepped forward to push the doors open and squeeze trough. 

 

As the three piled into the small reception, they got some strange looks from the receptionist. "Ah- do you three have an appointment?"

"well, no we do not but-" Gideon was cut off by the receptionist.

"If you don't have an appointment please come back later. We're very busy people and don't have time for walk-ins, so-"

midway trough the receptionist's ramble, a different voice cut them off. "Ah! Matter, was it? I remember you and your friend." as Matter, Empress, and Gideon turned around they saw Quetzalcoatl standing in a doorway. "I was about to go on break, if you wanted to chat?" Matter nodded happily, and gestured at her friends to follow.

 

Empress and Gideon quickly introduced themselves, and the four happily started conversing.

 

"Matter's been wanting to tell you about the medical centre she set up!" Empress said, with Gideon happy to add "She did together with Scale, of course, but Scale didn't want to leave it unattended."

 

Quetzalcoatl looked a bit surprised at first, but then gave Matter a pat on the back. "I knew you guys were going to do great things." suddenly distracted, she walked over to a desk in the corner, shuffling around some papers. "Actually, since you guys have an actual setup now you might be able to help me with something."

 

Matter made a curious noise, with her two friends seeming surprised too. Empress especially frowned a bit, not quite liking where this was going. 

 

"I've been helping with some genetic research," Quetzalcoatl started "nothing important or anything, just helping someone out." she smiled kindly. "I could really use some more DNA samples though."

 

Matter looked at her a bit unsure. "Again, nothing important, but it'd help out a ton if you could ask your colony for some samples, I'm sure they won't mind helping science-"

 

Empress interrupted Quetzalcoatl's rambling "That's up to them to decide, though."

 

Quetzalcoatl seemed surprised at the sudden outburst, but laughed it off anyways. "Of course, of course. But if you want to help, Matter, I'd be more than happy to have some supplies ready when you guys head back."

 

Matter looked between her friend and her mentor, feeling torn. Empress quite clearly didn't like the idea, but also what harm could it do? She cautiously nodded at Quetzalcoatl, hoping Empress and Gideon wouldn't be too upset.

 

As she looked back to them, neither seemed to pleased. But the equipment would likely go a long way in other scenarios too, and Matter would never perform anything on her fellow Xunari without explicit consent unless in case of emergency. She really hoped her friends would understand that.

 

---

 

As they set foot back in L'hatzif, Fawn helped them unload the equipment. Joining Gideon and Empress in their suspicion, she at first scolded Matter for agreeing to such a deal. As she had already explained her intentions to Gideon and Empress, the two had been quick to shut that down, though. The goal was to send a few samples back to Quetzalcoatl, and then simply pocket the equipment.

 

Fawn hummed. "Well, I suppose I can't really be upset with that." she sighed. "But we won't be happy if you start doing anything shady, Matter." Fawn looked at the equipment for a bit "If anything, this stuff looks- really fancy." Fawned hummed to herself, looking everything over. "We'll have to make sure to double check everything you've brought over. No offence- I just don't think anyone wants anything shady happening. Especially in regards to the medical, or research centres." Matter nodded, not really wanting to argue, and honestly not feeling like there could be an argument either. 

 

Gideon and Empress also nodded. "Credit where credit is due, this equipment would be really useful to us, too." Empress said, sighing. "Although to be fair- I'd rather have gotten them from more trusted sources." Matter made a less than happy grumble, not really wanting to go with the narrative of Quetzalcoatl being a bad person or having ulterior motives. Still she couldn't blame the others for being suspicious, after all, when she was too.