"Okay. Help me search."
"May I ask you a question?"
"Theress, it's not your fault. We'll clean up this mess, and I won't tell Rainbow. Deal?"
"That's fine, but I was going to ask why are you here so early?"
"I'm here for you of course."
"No."
"...For all the Animals."
"No."
"To help clean up the mess you made."
"No.
"...….To avoid the mess that I made."
"Want to talk about it?"
"No.
Got one. Come here you little bugger. Can't hop yourself away this time."
"Can I listen?"
"It's Apple. You know I can't talk about this place."
"Yeah."
"Moe knows I can't talk about this place."
"Sure."
"And Rainbow definitely knows we can't tell anyone about this place."
"I see; but do you know?"
"That's the thing. I know, but I don't want to know."
"Apple asking?"
"If I don't tell him, I'm afraid he will get others to ask for him.
Then if I don't answer their questions, he will further distance himself between me and them."
"That's what you're afraid of?
Come out here, you."
"Should I not be?"
"Do you wanna be?"
"No."
"Then tell him just enough, but not where we are at currently."
"I know, but he'll want to know where we are currently.
Everyone has seen you in person, but no one has seen you...in person."
"Oh. So that's what you're afraid of. You don't want him or anyone else following you back here and taking injections for themselves."
"These are all, 'Test tubes' not final projects. I don't want anybody stealing them, for that would hurt Ruby and void her right that none can be trusted; but I don't even trust myself even if I were to give them out.
They're unstable, unmarked, and still specifically tailored. That will help us with distributing them amongst the new kids once school starts up, but now...no."
"Then tell him that."
"Tell him what?"
"That we are helping gauge the future."
"But he'll want to know how."
"He doesn't need to know how, nor does anybody else.
He'll have to accept what you tell him."
"I don't know. You don't know Apple like I do."
"No, I do not; but I do know you. And I know that you're a kid. You went from walking aimlessly, to making friends; to talking to strangers; and now helping strangers like me."
"I just followed a Book, and adapted."
"So too will Apple. No one stays concrete forever. The only thing about them is their beliefs; besides that, if they're not built like a ship tossing to and froo in the waves, then they'll sink.
Sad reality, but reality."
"Just like this. If we don't change here; then one day we might wake up and all the animals will be gone."
"I said I was sorry. Can't you forgive me?"
"Just testing a scenario in my head.
Bunnies..…cage....*Lock*
"What's the scenario?"
"If I told you that, it would no longer be in my head."
"The tip of your tongue isn't any better.
Too shy I see."
"I'm not shy. Just..."
"Making up enough excuses to act like you're doing something?"
"I'm doing something. I'm helping you. See."
"No. You're avoiding 'M.E.'
You helped give me my shot, refillied it, and look; I have it in my pocket right now. I'll be fine."
"Actually."
"Hey, that's mine."
"Let me put it in your room so you never forget it again.
It's filled so you should have four shots in before you need me again."
"Then put it away and go. I'll hold down the fort, and if anyone comes; I'll defend."
"Uhhhhhh….."
"Go.
I'll pick up the remaining animals. You pick up your friend. Deal?"
"......Fine."