"Fair enough," Gen agreed, and sorted through all the information he knew for the most concise story. His lips quirked. "Petrification kept us from aging. It healed wounds we had before we were turned to stone."

It even brought people back from death, but that's not something he'd share with a stranger, 'friend' he's just made or not. "It was immortality, in the eyes of the aliens. They thought we could be smart enough, that by thinking hard enough - thinking burns a sort of energy - we could break free from the stone whenever we wanted. In return, they would use us and our supposed smarts to help keep their technology going. They're parasites."

He shrugged again. "They have no idea how terrifying immortality is, or how it'd destroy society as we know it. Because, aliens."

Gen had to laugh softly, and playfully asked, "That depends. Have you eaten a healthy meal today, Gokudera-chan?"