InterNutter, you're right, this would make a good prompt.
Chains, still in therapy and being monitored by security, constantly hid behind the security officer any time someone raised their voice or appeared angry for some reason. It was obvious the security was seen as a comfort. Rather than protecting others from Chains, protecting Chains from their constant fear.
https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-03754-j101-broken-free#@internutter/re-bkf-rszafq -- DaniAndShali
One would think that Security Officers would be wearing full battle-rated livesuits, whilst being armed to the teeth. Such an idea is completely wrong. If your security teams are trained for battle, to shoot first and ask questions later, you're doing it wrong.
Security personnel, done right are dressed in soft cloth and see to it that things never escalate to the point where battle-rated livesuits become necessary.
That was the first thing that Chain truly learned.
They learned to look for the purple suits with the orange highlights. The uniform of someone whose job it was to maintain safety and security. They learned that they could rely on anyone wearing those colours, even when they were in their soft, off-duty footwear[1].
They were there to help. The same with the people in variations of black and red. Therapists were there to help with the emotional issues. Security was there for the more physically-oriented fears.
Security was the first thing Chain sought whenever they saw anyone in a livesuit during their first weeks of relative freedom. As Chain learned to distinguish regular livesuits from the heavily armoured ones, they also learned to relax.
Little by little.
Some days were worse than others.
Security Officer Pix instinctively moved Chain between herself and whatever they were running from, automatically on guard and ready to defend them. The fact that Chain was half a foot taller than her and significantly heavier didn't matter. She had training to deal with anything.
Pix did not see any immediate hostiles. Perhaps this was a false alarm. "Anything you wish to report, Cogniscent Chain?"
"There was... there was a really big dog. I was s'posed'a meet... uh... therapist assistant, but... the big dog looked mean."
Several creatures could look like dogs, including dogs. "How big is this dog?" asked Pix.
Chain gestured above their head. "They were standing on two legs and staring at me. They looked like a wolf..." Chain made a whimpering noise, pointing.
They did look like a wolf. The upright stance and the clothing was not horrendously unusual. It was the hands and the look in their eyes that told the rest of the story.
This was an Uplift. One of the gengineered refugees from the wreckage that was Nufurria. One of the more capable ones, it seemed. They were wearing red and black, and the orange of station services. They put their hands up and kept their distance. "My sincere apologies," said the Uplift. "My name is Threemoon Gudboi, and I am a trained live-in assistant. The agency picked me for my profile's amenability. Cogniscent Chain? If you would check your comms, there should be a photo?"
Pix kept them separated until Chain found the message. "Uh. You're my therapist assistant?"
"You did say you didn't mind genetically altered companions," said Threemoon. "I presume you were thinking of Augments. Unfortunately, your case managers didn't think an Augment could be made to supply the adaptive help you need. If it helps... my primary genetic background is that of a Husky. Not a wolf."
At that point, Chain's regular therapist arrived. Out of breath and disheveled. "Sorry! Sorry. There was a thing with a herd of Cleaners and some knomira Dereggers and a kid with a lollipop... and... an accordion..." ze trailed off. "Oh. We're going to need tea and smooth carob and the big soft room.
Well. At least there was a forseeable moment in which they would all laugh about it later.
[1] Coded clothing is very important in Spacer places. Colours tell observers what skills a person has, and hard footwear also declares that they are on duty.
[Photo by Madison Oren on Unsplash]
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