The idea of eating something that thing had carried was just plain gross. Chika ignored the whispered conversation, since it clearly had nothing to do with them, and studied the creature. It certainly resembled an illegal zombie in some ways.

Elloran had said that the creatures could be programmed to mimic any emotion, for plays if Chika understood him properly. Which meant he couldn't be sure that anyone on this world wasn't a zombie, but he could at least be sure this one was.

The problem was, he couldn't tell if it had a soul without killing it and trying to send the soul on. He wasn't Michiru, with her ability to see the black rings of death on people's necks. He wondered idly what she would make of this thing.

He glanced at Shito, a question clear in his eyes. Trade hands now and kill the thing while they weren't expecting it? Or wait?