[WP] “My other captives boast about escaping. This one just curls up silently in the corner, only moving to eat. I think this human is broken.”

Thessi watched his hired help intently, not sure if there were actually human experts out there that were well-versed in how to repair broken ones. There were plenty of instances of how to deal with one ranting or raving online, but catatonic was something new.

Behind the viewing glass, the square white room surrounding his previously favorite human, Jim, hummed quietly from the lights above. A soothing noise to Thessi, and he had no doubt that the constant buzzing was one of the few joys that the human had. It had ample room, about 10 meters by ten meters and plenty of blocks on the floor to play with. He used to make the tallest towers. Now he did nothing.

Ossyn frowned, poking at the glass in interest. “First time you’re seeing this? Have you been messing with his diet?”

“I haven’t touched it in months! He’s had nothing but beans and corn for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No spices. Nothing aggressive in the meals.” Thessi indicated to an open can of corn, only half eaten in the corner of the room.

“So we can scratch that being an issue.” Ossyn shook his head. “You been pushing it hard in teaching it new tricks?”

“No! Ever since it started showing these symptoms, I’ve given him ample time to rest. But it’s been weeks of laying around. I don’t think that’s normal.”

“Certainly not. They’re really only supposed to be lazy for about 8 hours during a 24 hour cycle.”

“I know about the Earth cycle, obviously!” Thessi said, feeling patronized. “You think I get 30 humans without figuring out how their cycles work!?”

“No need to get snippy. We’re both trying to find a cure for your human.”

“Jim.”

“Sure. You've been giving it plenty of simulated sunlight?” Ossyn pointed up to the fluorescent lights.

“There isn’t a minute they aren’t on.” Thessi folded tentacles confidently.

Ossyn nodded his approval, shaking his head in confusion.

“Maybe it needs some motivation.”

“I told him to stop being sad!” Thessi exclaimed confidently. “I told him every day the past week.”

“It isn’t adding up. Sounds like you’re doing everything right. You know your humans well.”

Thessi placed a limb on the window separating them. “So Jim is truly broken? Nothing can be done?”

“I didn’t say that!” Ossyn flopped rigidly, straightening his cylindrical spine. “We just have to get a bit drastic.”

Pulling from the folds of his translucent skin, Ossyn held up a metal stick.

“You’re going to hurt him!?” Thessi snapped, standing in his way immediately.

“No, nothing so extreme. But I don’t know if this will work.”

Accessing the door by means of DNA-reader, they slid inside and stood looming over the human curled in the corner, breathing steadily.

“Blarn?” Ossyn asked quietly.

“His name’s Jim,” Thessi corrected, annoyed.

“Sorry, the humans all have confusing names. Jim? You wanna get up, little guy?”

As usual, Jim didn’t so much as squirm. Exchanging a glance with Thessi, Ossyn raised the stick slowly and breathed deeply, extending it gradually.

Slowly, Ossyn tapped the side of Jim.

Thessi gasped in delight as Jim shrugged it off. “Did you see that? He moved!”

“Try it yourself,” Ossyn passed him the stick.

Excited, Thessi tapped him a little harder. Jim groaned lightly, rolled tighter in his ball.

“How wonderful! This is the most movement I’ve seen in days!” he poked three times in succession.

“Hey!” Jim grumbled, swatting it away angrily. “Cut it out!”

Both Ossyn and Thessi stepped away, beaming at one another.

“I’d say your human looks to be in perfect operation!” Ossyn said proudly.

“Oh yes!” Thessi clapped tentacles together. “This is just perfect. Talking and movement! What more could I ask for?”

“Can you let me go home now?” Jim asked desperately. “Or, at least, let me see another human. I know you have more! Just let me see one. We don’t even have to talk, I just need to…”

“What a chatterbox!” Ossyn laughed. “Interesting one you’ve got there.”

“Oh yes! Jim has had much information to share between meals,” Thessi led the way out of the box, closing it tight behind them as Jim screamed another ignored plea. “I look forward to more such conversation now that he’s fixed.”

“Let me know if he ever goes bad again, and we can give another kick or two, eh?” Ossyn asked.

Thessi laughed, waving as he left the building, turning around in pleasure at his favorite human’s sanctuary once more. Pleased, he poked at the glass as Jim buried his face in his hands.

Such an energetic, lively specimen.