Set didn't know exactly how to process what they just heard. Anybody who wasn't blind knew about the Grand Devotion, but a species-wide exodus was something only discussed in rumours and petitions to the queen. Now that it was all but confirmed that Ytti would soon be abandoned, a whirlwind of emotions stirred within Set. There was the hope and relief of finally escaping DT-Breach, and the sorrow and grief of leaving the home planet they cherished so dearly.

It'd been years since Breach first ravaged their species, and the feeling of normalcy resuming in society was strange. If Zetomerxy's walls failed at any point, genofexians would simply be gone, yet everyone lived as though it was a normal day.

Set held their face in their hands. It was too much to take in first thing in the morning before their bath. Instead, they focused on carrying out their morning routine so they'd be mentally equipped to deal with whatever came to pass. Finding that emotional fortitude would be challenging, but it was either that or curl up in despair – which wasn't an option.

Their living quarters inside the housing spire were simple and slightly cramped, but it was still a comfortable place to call home. Curved, pale blue walls surrounded Set, with several pictures, posters, and Midsiroxy guild memorabilia filling the walls' blank spaces. Each suite had cupboards and cabinets in the singular oval-shaped rooms, but there was still ample space to move around. A cocoon bed, closet, toilet, sink, bright ceiling lamp, and a computer screen were all staples of the spire homes.

While the interior wasn't especially spacious, the 18th storey balcony helped alleviate that; the spire featured enormous plants and trees growing from suites dedicated solely to raising beautiful displays of flora for the inhabitants to enjoy. Not only that, but Set had their own small assortment of potted plants on the rail of their balcony, some of which were herbs they liked using in carapace moisturizers.

Ytti's star shone down on the planet's surface, giving everything a gorgeous, pale orange glow. Taking it all in with the queen's announcement in mind, Set almost felt grief-stricken.

Before going downstairs to begin their day, they took a moment to look over their pictures:

Set relaxing in a bathhouse with one of their closest friends, Kavise.

Set standing with a happy tantuvaw – a long-necked beetle-like beast of burden.

Set obtaining their Midsiroxy acceptance medal for demonstrating skill in ranching, which hung on the wall next to their pictures.

All treasured memories. Despite their troubled mood, the pictures reminded them that not everything would be lost after leaving their home world.

After slipping on one of their sleeveless burgundy and yellow-trimmed robes – complimenting their dark cyan carapace and vivid purple hair – Set opened their suite's door and stepped into the spire's main shaft. Both above and below, a symmetrical array of stairs, floors, and suite entrances circled the spire's light blue interior, with eight small, grey elevators forming a pillar in the centre of the shaft.

Normally, Set didn't see too many people going about their day when they left their home. Today was an exception – the news seemed to have shaken a lot of other genofexians in the spire, several of whom were joined by friends and relatives signing to each other to express thoughts and concerns.

Their best friend, Kavise, lived down on the 4th floor in the same spire. Set decided to head to the bathhouse on the ground floor, where the two would routinely visit each morning for a revitalizing soak.

Set called up an empty elevator and rode down the chute to the ground level. The spire's public amenities lined the walls all around the circular floor, labeled with bright signs along the ceiling above each service. Just to the left of Set's elevator was the bathhouse, next to the spire's main entrance.

An endearing handmade sign next to the bathhouse's doorway read, “ clean soul, healthy soul!” with a simplified figure of a happy genofex in a pool drawn beneath it. The spire overseers who put the sign there many cycles ago certainly knew how to cheer up the inhabitants with friendly gestures, and in times like these, Set appreciated it more than ever.

Stepping inside the bright and bubbly pool room, one such overseer clad in iconic black robes was standing watch just to the right of the entrance.

“Awoken again,” Set signed their usual greeting to the overseer as they passed by.

“We rise together,” the overseer replied.

Set's usual routine was to pick a body wash and moisturizer from the spire's vendor just a few steps from the entrance, but they were more interested in looking for Kavise first. The bathhouse had about seven or eight genofexians of all carapace colours – white to black to cyan – hanging their clothes, scrubbing their exoskeletons in one of the many circular hot tubs, or drying themselves off. Kavise was not among them.

She should arrive soon, Set told themself. As such, they briefly perused the vendor's selection of hygiene goods; along with body wash, hair wash, lotion, soap, and polish all contained in personal-sized capsules, other supplies like brushes, files, and specialized clippers for dealing with irritating molts were freely available to the spire's inhabitants.

The genofex working behind the booth was bright white, and their eyes usually had an iconic cheery glow to them. However, Set could clearly see they were forcing an optimistic face, and they assumed the cause for the emotional struggle was mutual. Opting not to mention it, Set asked for a pair of brushes and a capsule of both body wash and lotion, which the vendor provided.

Walking over to the clothes racks on the other side of the room, Set stripped down and hung their robe on one of the hooks. Dipping their pointed toes into one of the vacant hot tubs, they slowly lowered themself in, placing their hygiene goodies just next to the edge of the tub.

Every time they submerged into the steamy pools of water for a morning soak, they just wanted to lie there forever – it was far too cozy. The temptation to dunk themself underwater was strong, but it was in poor etiquette; the toxins from genofexian hair would leak into the pools, and despite the water filtration systems, it was still considered bad manners.

Set decided to draw out their bath to make sure they didn't miss Kavise, but even so, they had tantuvaws to take care of. They couldn't relax too long.

Puncturing the film on the body wash capsule, Set let the contents drip across the carapace brush before beginning their hygiene routine. They started with their chest plates and arms, working their way down.

Busy scrubbing away, they almost missed the tall, dark grey genofex walking into the bathhouse. Set eagerly waved their brush in the air; Kavise replied by signing, “awoken again.” She followed a similar routine, taking hygiene supplies from the vendor, disrobing at the clothes rack, and proceeding to the same pool as Set. There was just enough room for the two to comfortably bathe together.

Set used their lower two arms to continue scrubbing, keeping their upper arms and hands available for signing.

“We rise together. Did you hear the news?” Set asked.

“Yes,” Kavise answered. She didn't exactly look gloomy, but her unfocused gaze gave off a confused aura, as if she didn't know how to feel.

“What do you think? How are you handling it?” Set continued.

Kavise hesitated before answering. “I don't know. I think I'm excited... we might be able to live without the threat of extinction looming over us. But it's bittersweet, leaving Ytti.” She began washing herself in the same manner as Set.

“I understand. I... think I'm scared. What will the tantuvaws do? What if the ship doesn't work?”

“You could ask the queen's council if you have concerns about the tantuvaws. But I understand you. Vraxi seems very confident about this plan, though, don't you agree?”

“That's true.” Set was hard-pressed to think of a time when they'd been genuinely let down by the queen's actions. They vowed to take as many pictures of Ytti as they could before the great genofexian exodus.

“If you need help getting through this, I'm here for you,” Kavise reassured Set with gentle eye contact.

“Thank you... I'm so glad you're here.”

The two continued washing from head to toe, finishing with their faces; Set finished washing before Kavise, and decided to wait for her to finish before getting out of the tub.

“Going to the ranch today?” Kavise signed, still scrubbing the ridges on the bottom of her face.

“Yes, the grubbies need to be taken care of!” Set quickly perked up thinking about the tantuvaws.

“I'll have to visit again before we leave!”

“Please do! At least one more time.”

Together, they rose out of the tub and shook off some excess water before walking over to the blow-drying booths. At the press of a button, streams of warm air would shoot out from the walls and ceiling, drying one off in a matter of minutes.

They went into separate booths and activated the jets. The rush of air felt cool compared to the heat of the pool water, but it was far from uncomfortable. Set shut their eyes and enjoyed the process, spreading their arms out to dry as much of themself as possible. They spent a bit longer than Kavise in the drier – opening their eyes every once in a while, they noticed their friend leave to go get dressed. Set decided a little bit longer in the warm air wouldn't hurt.

That is until Kavise returned, tapping Set on the shoulder, who jumped to attention.

“Set! I have to go early this morning. Lots of work today. We can talk more this evening.”

“Okay. See you tonight.” Set took that as their cue to leave the drier. It was super comfy, but they were already dry.

...But it was really comfy.

Set forced themself out of the drier. Their schedule was somewhat flexible due to the nature of their work, but Kavise wasn't so lucky. As a member of the Vezdetesr guild, her specialization in machinery made her a great asset to the Grand Devotion's construction. Set was curious about what exactly she did; maybe they could chat about it that evening.

In a way, Kavise's job made Set feel inadequate. Instead of building the mothership to save their species, Set merely watched over some animals.

But the tantuvaws love me, and that makes it worthwhile... right? It was an endless debate, ever without a winning side.

Dressed back up in their robe and boots, Set returned their brushes to the vendor and exited the bathhouse. The spire's main entrance was just a few steps away, leading them to the beautiful outdoors.