“That’s really bizarre… I don’t know any Erulanite who personally who checks on the welfare of their Praetorian Guard.” Dawkins scratched his blonde head confusedly. “I wonder what that’s like?”

Joseph chewed the inside of his cheek. There was an annoying heat in his brain brought on by this inane conversation--he wanted to ignore it and keep battling--but he found that the annoyance was dueling with the sensation of being curious, and his curiosity won out. “Yours doesn’t?” Joseph briefly peeked around a parapet, and found that his curiosity was weighing down his reflexes. He didn’t move out of the way in time as a bullet blazed his way and grazed his cheek. He didn’t even grunt in pain, but he did quickly dip behind the safety of the parapet again. 

“No. Once we know our schedules, we’re expected to leave and return home at a certain time, and that’s it. Maybe the daughter has a crush on you.” Dawkins teased. 

Joseph’s eye twitched in irritation, but he outwardly showed no other emotion. “She told me that I was pricey to commission. I’m sure she just doesn’t want to lose me for those reasons.”

Dawkins whistled. “An expensive weapon. Of course, we’re all incredibly expensive, but I guess they do have to pay extra in order to wash away any personality you might have otherwise have. Strange that these aliens pay more for a less stylish tool.” Dawkins examined Joseph’s face and the streak of blood cause by the bullet. He blinked. “Yo. It’s creepy that you don’t even react to that. Anyway… I know plenty of Guards who were commissioned to have dulled emotions, and their masters don’t check in on them, either. Maybe she actually does care about you for some reason.” he snorted. “Hopefully not romantically.”

Joseph made no answer. He concentrated on the battle from then on. He liked simplicity and normalcy, and finding out that one of his masters cared more about his well-being than the masters of his brothers cared about theirs somehow complicated a simple life. 

The battle raged on for two more hours, and Joseph and Dawkins were sweating due to the sun beating down upon them and due to having to consistently shoot to their feet, aim a heavy gun, and then quickly duck behind the parapet again. 

Not only that, but he had to constantly scan the top of the wall for enemy Erulanites. Many kept teleporting up on the wall, and some had even managed to seize him with their telekinesis. He did not enjoy the feeling of his body constricitng and being lifted without his permission. It made him feel boneless and weightless--like he were merely an object. Others who teleported on top wormed their way into his brain, trying to control his mind. When this occurred, he would hear a sharp clink, like a shard of glass falling on another piece of glass, and then he would feel something akin to an alien worm snaking into his brain--pushing aside his own thoughts and filling it with thoughts that were not his own. It was even less comfortable than being lifted against his will. Luckily, whenever this happened, Dawkins or one of the ally Erulanites would come to his rescue, firing upon the enemy before they took complete control over him. 

The sun was lowering in the sky by the time the battle had finally come to a close, and Dawkins and Joseph were covered in blankets of sweat when the last enemy Erulanites finally gave up and teleported away from the battleground. Once they did, Dawkins favored his brother with a grin. “We did great work. I swear, I feel like I need to drag you out to go drinking tonight to celebrate.

Joseph shook his head. “I think I’ll go right to bed so I’m well-rested for tomorrow.” 

Dawkins groaned. “You’re the worst. One of these days, I’ll make a human of you, yet.” 

“I am human.” Joseph said simply, not understanding his meaning. 

Dawkins sighed, shaking his head. “Oh, Joseph. You look like one, talk like one, and even think a bit like one, but you simply don’t have the emotions or self-preservation of one, which is why the Erulanites like you so much.” Dawkins nudged him playfully. Joseph cocked his head to the side, trying to comprehend his brother’s words, but then gave up.

The Erulanite captain who was atop the wall with them approached them, his tentacles pushing him along as if he were on the seafloor. He was an orange-skinned Erulanite denoted as a captain due to the diamond blue sash looping around his shoulder and torso. He smiled at Joseph and Dawkins when he was close enough and clasped his hands behind his back. “You two did well today. We lost a few of the other Praetorian Guard, but you two kept up well despite not having the capabilities of your enemies. The only problem is, we don’t know who the spy is who drew the map of the inside of the city. That’s why we would like to ask you two to work together to sniff the spy out so this doesn’t happen again. We will be speaking to your Houses to ask them to loan you out to us for this assignment, and they will be compensated appropriately if they decide to do so. In the meantime, why don’t you two take an early day? The rest of the Guard can take care of the petty crimes for the night. Why don’t you two tell your respective Houses about the assignment?”