Summary: Tommy has been on the ship for a week now, and his relationship with the other crewmates have settled on steady ground. There were some rocky moments in between some days where he'd startle one of the crew members about something humans do.

But now he finds himself staring at Techno, who seemed to be training?

Maybe he could get stronger too!

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Edited by 6/23/22 and uploaded at 8:48 AM Texas time cause i am not figuring out what letters are my time XD

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The marvel of being on an alien ship and outside of containment has officially worn off. Sure the paintings and various knicknacks scattered around the ship were cool and had kept his attention for a while. But while the floating crystals in Tubbo's room, and the painting of a swirling star-like world in Ranboo's were fascinating, there were only so many times Tommy could look at the exact same thing without getting bored with it. As if to contradict his thoughts his eye was once again caught by a strange painting in the hall that showed a planet with rings of floating crystal shards orbiting about it, pillar like structures rising from its surface of 'too blue to be water' liquid and its landmasses of vibrant electric green. Unlike earth the landmasses spiraled instead of remaining solid chunks giving the world a sort of ethereal fee, and the pillars sharpened to points from its surface making it seem as if the shards that orbited the world had merely broken off from them. He did have to admit that the things on the ship were still fascinating just...less so then before. He remembered the first time he'd seen this frankly stunning picture, Phil had passed him in the hall and had puffed himself up, wings floofing outward, and the feathers around his ears fluttering happily, in what could only be pride. It reminded Tommy of a bird showing off, which was...

Fitting.

Still wonderous paintings aside this ship was getting boring, true there were technically some rooms he still hadn't fully explored yet, but that was mostly because they were locked and the crew wouldn't let him look inside them. He'd been in all of the other rooms though, his crewmates rooms, the living room, all the main areas, everywhere really and he was BORED!

As he internally pouts he walks into the living room and immediately spots Tubbo and Ranboo talking on the couch. Tubbo is animatedly telling Ranboo something, his arms waving about as he talks, antennae twitching, wings flicking up and down, and his hooves kicking against the couch every few seconds. Tommy walks toward them and dramatically collapses atop them, careful to keep his weight from actually crushing them as he groans atop them. "Can anyone open any of the doors for me? I'm bored as hell and the high of being in an alien spaceship died down 2 days ago"

He lets out his annoyed tyraid all in one long moaning note, but he gets in response is a curious glance from the two aliens before they return to their own conversation only this time talking over his head.

He glances up at them balefully from his position in their laps before he rolls on to the floor with an annoyed huff and then once he was spread out on the floor in a suitably dramatic position he once again glances up at them. Then though he doesn't know what made him do it, he 'tch's at them. The sound one would make to get a pet's attention, he repeats it and it immediately gets their attention, their heads swiveling to him confused.

It startles him for a moment, staring back at them quietly before taking this as a win.

"Don't ignore me or I'll start pspspspsing at you"

He will, they may be sentient but if necessary he will turn them into furry children who don't follow their parents.

He recalls one of his foster families that had a father who whistled loudly to summon his children to him. Maybe he should do that, teach them to come to him whenever he whistles for them.... Is that ethical?

Shaking off the idea for now he jerks his head towards the hall he just came from, there's this one room he wants to see and he doesn't have access to enter, so he's hoping one of them could get him in. The door isn't particularly special or anything but he's hoping whatever is behind it is at least new, he'll take anything at this point just so long as it isn't a secret testing lab.

Tubbo gets up and walks over to him confused. Humming and 'talking' to him.

"Kid, I don't know what the hell you're saying, BUT! I do need your help with something so let's fucking go"

He grabs Tubbo and lifts him up like one would a small child and starts walking away, Ranboo gawking after them for a moment before quickly getting up to follow.

Tommy struggles with a squirming Tubbo, he's trying really hard to not place his hand on Tubbo's wings or to squish him accidentally, but Tubbo is not making it an easy task. He's pretty sure Tubbo is making at least a half hearted attempt to get Tommy to let go, but he had learned early on that Tubbo is indeed very strong and if he genuinely wanted to, could wreck Tommys shit. He 100% believes Tubbo could destroy him.

So the fact he isn't struggling harder means he doesn't mind this. Still Tubbo's constant squirming is making Tommy nervous so he tries to calm down his hyperactive friend by running his fingers through Tubbos hair, going super slow and careful around his horns. Tommy smiles when it earns him a pleased hum and he continues walking, ignoring the extra pair of ridiculously long legs trailing behind them.

He passes Wilbur who makes way for them to walk past but Tommy doesn't even glance at him, with the amount of time he's been on the ship he's pretty much confirmed that Wilbur and the others won't do anything to him. He figures that, much like Ranboo's initial reaction to him, they are only wary of him, not afraid, or...cruel. He doesn't think they're "bad aliens" at the very least. He still hasn't decided if that makes them "decent" or "good" aliens yet, but baby steps and all that shit.

So yeah he's not really scared of them any more, still he doesn't exactly trust them either and after a few more steps down the hall, he does look back to make sure Ranboo is still following them.

As he turns back he ponders his feelings, he feels...uneasy around the adult aliens. Or at least the three he assumes are adults. They just give off that vibe, while Ranboo and Tubbo just feel so much younger to him. Like he knows Tubbo isn't really a child, but he still sees him as a kid or at least someone to defend like one. Maybe it's the fact that he's so small, but Tubbo just wakes up to something innately vicious and protective with him, a strong contrast to his dull existence prior to meeting them. He actually feels something other than, well, numb.

And honestly, he preferred this feeling to his terror and numbness. He'd rather that this be his drive forever if it means he's actually doing something now. Tubbo is the drive that kept him going, kept him from wanting to waste away before they delivered him to whatever new experiment lab he was heading to.

At first it was just Tubbo, then later, Tall Bitch joined the picture. Tommy really didn't know how to feel about him at first, he had kidnapped Tubbo from behind him which was a dick move, but turned out to be a friend of Tubbo.

He had realized, back on the planet, that both Tubbo and Ranboo are absolutely shit at surviving. Without him they would have genuinely died. Ranboo from lack of meat and Tubbo from lack of heat. But since Tommy is the biggest and greatest man ever, he had simply refused to let them starve. And in a way, Ranboo had helped him learn how to provide, once he got outside of his cell he was hoping that whatever nearby planet they happen to land on he could have Tubbo just eat plants, but Ranboo joined the mix and man's only ate meat!

He hadn't wanted to be responsible for Tubbos' friend dying in front of them, Tommy had seen enough death to last him for the rest of his life, So he did his best to get them both food. He was more of a forager back home but he needed actual meat if Ranboo was going to eat anything to live. It's a miracle he found out really. The only reason it clicked to him was because Ranboo only ate the weird meat rations. Tommy had curiously (Threatened really) poked his mouth with a small portion of the plant ration and Ranboo had simply refused to open his mouth.

He didn't even realize he had reached the locked door, so lost in his thoughts that he jumped when Ranboo nudged his shoulder to jolt him back to reality. Tubbo had placed a hand on his cheek, obviously concerned about why he had stopped in front of the door and just... stared at it. Tommy lets out a tired chuckle and leans his head into the hand for a second before looking back at the door and points at the weird button scanner thing.

It looked like a hand scanner but it had buttons on it, and he sure as hell did not know how to operate that thing.

He points at the thing and makes direct eye contact with Ranboo.

"Open it"

Ranboo tilts his head forward and says... something. Some kinda noise at the back of his throat. Tommy warbles it back, His throat getting itchy from the action. But it's worth it to see the reaction he got, Ranboos eyes widened like a cats. His tail wagging behind him in such an adorable fashion that it makes Tommy want to punch something.

What was that called again? Cuteness aggression? Where something is too cute for a person to handle so they have the urge to squeeze, or protect the thing that's causing it with unnecessary and extreme violence.

Yea that.

Quickly looking away so he didn't accidentally squeeze Tubbo in an attempt to satisfy his extremely unhealthy urge, he points at the door.

"Open"

"Open?"

Tommy tries to repeat it.

"O-Open"

Tubbo buzzes excitedly, and while it's great to see them always get fascinated by anything Tommy did, he really wanted to get inside that room.

He points at the door and makes an opening sign with just one hand, careful to not drop Tubbo.

"Open! Open!"

Tubbo beat Ranboo to the panel and punched in what he could only assume were alien numbers. Tommy made sure to memorize it, repeating it through his head multiple times as the door clicks and slides open for them.

It looks like a gym, a very extravagant and kinda small gym, but it's got familiar looking equipment.

Tommy walks in and looks around at both familiar and unfamiliar equipment. There are things that look like a treadmill, punching bag, lifts, and a weird... is... is that a wallboard? Those things you run towards really fast then reach the top with that momentum to lift yourself up. He only says that cause it looks like something you'd run towards and jump up to climb. Ninja warrior shit.

Curiously he walks towards the treadmill. He could really use some exercise, when was the last time he was able to even do simple shit like Yoga? Sure he previously had a cell that was big enough for jumping jacks, but at the time he just wanted to fade away into oblivion, fall asleep and hope the next day he didn't wake up.

With no drive or reason, what was the point?

But now he's got a drive, and sure human strength is dope as fuck, but there's always those stories about the hero that wasn't stronger than his enemy but instead smarter than his enemy and all those other stories about being able to win without needing to be physically stronger than the big guy.

Work smarter, not harder and all that.

Imagine how much stronger he could be if he built up muscle? If he got faster, stronger. He doesn't know how to fight really, but he can be like One Punch Man! Just start super strength punching aliens!

He sets Tubbo down and messes with the treadmill look alike. Just pressing buttons at random really until Ranboo came over and pressed a button on the side. Hidden from view. Who designed that? Bullshit.

He's never been on an actual treadmill, he'd go outside and do his walks and running, go to the park and jog a little. But here in space he doesn't really have that luxury, and he knows he needs to gain his strength back, his real strength, not whatever strength humans have at a basic exercise deprived level.

The treadmill runs on its own, the little platform moving at a slow walking pace. Eagerly he gets on it, Ranboo and Tubbo watching him curiously as they talk to each other, pointing at the machine as he looks for a way to speed it up.

"Where the fuck are the arrows? There's always arrows" Tommy mutters to himself as he just starts pressing some buttons at random, one raised the side arms, one beeped at him and he has no idea what the fuck it means, another said something he didn't understand until FINALLY he found a button that speed up the machine.

Now he was at a good jogging pace. He's not dumb to immediately start on a full sprint or to even raise it. Especially with the lack of exercise he's done in the past god knows how long. If he even tries to push himself he will collapse before he hits the 5 minute mark.

He levels his breathing, sets his pace, and relaxes himself, he curiously looks over at the others and Tubbo's talking to Ranboo, pointing at the treadmill and lifting up his hand as if counting something.

He shrugs and continues his run, he knows he won't last long, maybe 10 minutes max? Probably less, but it's a good start to know where he's at physically. Only issue is he doesn't have a timer.

Oh well, maybe the other two will make him stop once it's been too long.

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"He's been running for 8 minutes and he hasn't even stopped for a break!"

Ranboo stares in slight concern as he watches Tommy run- well maybe not run, but he's... walk running? Running but slowly. He assumed Tommy was curious and turned the machine on to jump on. But he hasn't stopped since getting on and he has a worrying amount of liquid seeping from his head and hair.

The only reason he noticed was because he had moved to sit down with Tubbo and saw a strange sheen on Tommy's forehead, and only then did he notice a small amount of water on his face, did he splash himself with water? Where did he get the water? Is it even water?

Ranboo pales. Oh void, does Tommy emit water from his skin? Could he have burned Ranboo!?

But that makes no sense! What kind of being is really warm but also can make themselves wet? Huh?!

Not even aquatic creatures or aliens can just make themselves wet! It's why they carry around extra water with them.

But Tommy just, miraculously, seemed to have splashed water on his face and was unbothered by it as he continued to walk-run at a steady speed. Although his breathing did start to pick up, Ranboo couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Does he even know how to stop that thing? Maybe we should get him off now" Ranboo goes to potentially turn the machine off when the door opens and Techno walks in, looking at some leather-like gloves on his paws before stopping and staring at Tommy, who looks back at him curiously.

Techno glances at them, confused.

"Uhh.. why is he on the runner machine?"

Tubbo shrugs, his ears flicking.

"Dunno, he wanted to turn it on and run so we turned it on"

Techno looks back at Tommy who is still 'running' but looks a bit tired. Techno frowns.

"He doesn't seem to be going very fast, I thought humans were fast?"

He receives a glare from Tubbo

"To be fair, it's not like he had access to proper exercising equipment while being shipped around and shoved in various cells. He's not going to be ready to run across any planets anytime soon. But sure, let's expect him to be in top shape"

"You know that's not what I meant. It just... slipped my mind"

Techno sees Tommy looking at his feet before stopping and hopping off the runner.

Ranboo checks on Tommy, who is breathing more deeply and isn't staying still, walking around even when he seems tired.

"Why aren't you- oh"

Techno was going to ask why Ranboo wasn't willing to touch Tommy, but then he saw the faint sheen of what appears to be water on him? Some type of invisible liquid on his head.

Tubbo pats Tommy's arm and recoils his hand away in disgust when he feels that Tommy's skin is all hot and sticky. Slightly wet too, not like how his head is, but it's definitely changed from his time on the runner.

"Yea... we aren't sure what the hell happened but he seems fine, he could have stopped at any time really"

Tommy glances at Techno, saying something at him before crossing his arms against his chest and stares him down.

Techno glances between the companions of Tommy, confused.

Ranboo gets in front of Tommy, Tilting his head curiously in a silent question.

Tommy points to Techno then around the room.

"I.."

Ranboo huffs out a confused noise before hazarding a guess.

"I think he's wondering why you're in here? I could be completely wrong but it's the only thing I can think of"

Techno looks on at them, confused.

"How would I even answer that?"

Tubbo flies up

"Easy! Just do what you came here to do!"

He dramatically flings his arms around for emphasis. A huge grin on his face, obviously seeing no problem with this. Tommy glances at Tubbo before staring back at Techno.

Techno gives out a huff at Tommy, but still walks forwards to a hitter bag and pointing at it, making sure to maintain eye contact with Tommy.

Tommy tilts his head at him, muttering a word and walks towards the hitter alongside Techno. Techno lifts a paw and hits the hitter with a moderate amount of force, the bag swings and Tommy has to dodge to the side to avoid getting hit by the bag swinging back.

Tommy talks, looks excitedly at the bag. He grabs it, forcing it to a stop and then brings back his own arm and hits it, with significantly more force than Techno had for his demonstration.

The hitter flew back and hit the ceiling with a loud BANG!

It quickly came down and Tommy yelped as it collided with him. Tommy quickly turned to his side so it hit him on his right shoulder. The bag thudded against him and was stopped.

Techno looks back at Tommy, Techno would be surprised that the human managed to hit it towards the ceiling until he looked at Tommy and saw him holding his hand in what appeared to be pain. Wincing at his arm that he cradled.

Please tell him he didn't break his arm.

He raises a paw and beckons Tommy to give him his hand. Tommy said something and shook his head.

"Don't give me that attitude, I just need to check on it"

While Techno knew talking to Tommy was pointless, he's started picking up on it from the boys talking to Tommy often, they said so they do it so that he's included even if they can't understand each other vocally.

Heck, He's half convinced they talked telepathically, it sure seems like it at times.

He jerks his hand again at Tommy once again for emphasis and Tommy snaps at him with a displeased look before rolling his eyes and giving him his hand.

He doesn't know much, but basics? Sure, common sense exists. There's no blood, there is a pink discoloration compared to the rest of his arm at the back of his hand, from the hitter most likely. Some old scars are littered across the knuckles and various bony protrusions on his oddly slender and multi jointed hand and fingers. He gently moves the hand, forcing Tommy to flex his fingers and stops when Tommy makes a grimace sort of face.

He doesn't know if it's broken, but he doesn't think so or Tommy would be acting in a lot more pain. He'd thought at first that humans had a high level of pain tolerance, but that went out the window when he saw Tommy walk into a room and proceed to shout to the high heavens when his leg collided against the kitchen island.

While Tommy dealt with his own injuries pretty well with plenty of rest (thanks to the two teens) he knows the human does have a higher level of pain tolerance, but it seems that in the brief moments when he initially gets an injury his pain is very obvious until it fades away from his nerves.

That's what he thinks anyways, that's all in Wilburs department. But Tommy has made clear his hesitancy to be anywhere near Wilbur much less let him poke at the human even if it's to help the darned brat. So neither of them has had the chance to really get comfortable with each other.

Techno releases Tommy's hand and the human snatches it away from him, growling warningly under his breath.

"Either humans are more physically fragile than I thought, or he's been weakened and needs to build his strength back up"

Which is probably why Tommy had gone on the Runner, in an attempt to build his speed up. Techno gives a rumble of approval, approving that Tommy saw a chance to make himself stronger and took it.

Techno has half a mind to ask Tommy himself if he would like to have Techno possibly train him.

It's a very appealing thought, one he will have to stew and think about more, but before he can speak his thoughts out loud the intercom goes off, announcing dinner.

How long have they been here? Couldn't have been that long.

"Oh hell yea! Race you fuckers to the kitchen!"

Tubbo dashed out the door, ignoring Ranboos shout for him as he's already turned the corner and out of sight. Techno can pick out Tubbo and Wilbur yelling as he hears what could only be two bodies colliding and shouts of pain and cursing.

Ranboo lets out a wheeze.

"I keep telling him to not fly so fast around corners"

"L"

Ranboo nods sagely in agreement.

Ranboo holds out his hand for Tommy to hold. Tommy talks to him, looking back and forth between Ranboo and Techno, and then specifically the Hitter. Techno files that information for later, seeing the interest that Tommy seems to be displaying.

Techno stays in the room as they leave, spotting Tommy giving a glance at him before following Ranboo.

Techno thinks about telling this to Philza. Maybe allowing a routine for Tommy to enter so he could build up his strength again. Techno doesn't have to worry about Tommy's loyalties, considering they've already seen how he acts around the teens and with the rest of the crew. Besides, it's healthy.

Techno turns to the corner of the room where there's a small storage area and mentally takes note of any possible new hitters or items in general that are worn out, old, or broken.

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Later that night, while everyone was asleep. Techno had entered the room once more and started to practice on the hitter. His years of fighting had built up a fair amount of strength that he is not willing to lose anytime soon.

He hits the bag full force and it swings back and forth to him again and again.

It tends to get lonely sometimes, with him being the only one awake and active. But he doesn't mind. He'd rather everyone get some rest and not walk by the room while hearing his loud aggressive hits.

He zones in on his workout, hitting the hitter for an unknown amount of time. He had just fully entered into the zone when he heard the familiar sound of the door opening. Pausing, he looks over and is more than surprised when he sees Tommy frozen at the entrance. Tommy stares at him in what Techno can assume is also surprise. Guess neither of them expected the other to be in the room.

Techno hums thoughtfully and curiously. What's Tommy doing here? This late no less.

Tommy glances at the Hitter and back to Techno, hesitant before saying something to him. It kind of sounded like a question. Techno is no expert, but from his earlier interest and the glances he can take a pretty solid guess on what Tommy wanted.

He could leave and let Tommy have the room.

But... well, he's not against the idea of mentoring the kid. He's strong and resourceful, Techno can give him that. But from how Tubbo recounted their 'adventure', he has no form, it's random, unpredictable. And while it's not a bad strategy to be unpredictable, it's bad if he'll end up hurting himself.

He huffs and gestures to him to move closer. Hesitantly, Tommy walks over, his steps light until he is right next to Techno. He gives him a confused noise, along with talking sharply at him. Glancing around the room to see if anyone else is with them.

"It's just us two... do you-"

Techno cuts himself off, sighing before gently pushing Tommy towards the Hitter and gets behind him. Tommy doesn't get a chance to tense himself up before Techno is moving Tommy's legs in a firm stance, one that feels stable to Tommy, if just a little off.

Tommy doesn't break the stance but he does look over Techno, confused.

"Techno?"

was the only word he could say to him but it has Technos ears flopping down slightly in embarrassment.

Techno, without saying anything, copies the stance he gave Tommy, and hits the hitter.

Tommy smiles brightly and excitedly at him once he realizes what's going on.

He's starting to understand why Ranboo and Tubbo hang around the human so much.

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Notes:

Hi it's CyberGeist I have hijacked the notes on this chapter via my editing round. Yes I realize that I am a bit behind on editing and yes I realize we are both behind on chapter updates....I can promise we have a valid reason that several of you will probably really enjoy. After it's finished we should go back to our preprogrammed posting, but between my work and Ender's studies we've been finding it a bit tricky to work out the kinks on the chapters.

Anyways hope y'all enjoy the edits, I spent a lot of time fixing some of the more major errors in this chapter despite my severely sleep deprived brain (Ender is worried about me, but do not worry I am of the firm belief that sleep is for the weak and that it shall not stop me) Also thank you Ender for all the compliments I really do appreciate it (guys she is so flippity flapping amazing I cannot even!).

Anyways here y'all go here is chapter 24 full edited version. You're welcome.