A few days went by and Alara wasn't quite sure what had happened between her and Isaac exactly, yes they'd had sex but that didn't really sum it up... and more surprisingly she'd enjoyed whatever it was that happened. Really enjoyed it! Isaac hadn't mentioned anything to her or anyone else about their encounter just as he'd said he wouldn't for which Alara was grateful; she had no idea how bad or annoyingly comical her shipmate's reactions would be.

The Xelayan was walking down the long grey and blue halls towards the mess hall for some breakfast when she rounded a corner a little too quickly and slapped straight into the tall metal man himself.

"Good morning, Lieutenant. I apologise for our collision, you really should watch where you were going."

That was Isaac all over, apologise but insult someone afterwards. Is it insulting if he doesn't even realise he's doing it? Yeah, probably. She muttered a 'yeah, sorry' as they passed one another neither stopping for conversation, she didn't know what to say to him and Isaac thought conversation unnecessary at that point. Alara didn't know if she was pleased or irritated that they were just pretending he'd not finger fucked with his surprisingly smooth fingers her into oblivion.

Lieutenant Kitan made it around six steps further down the hall before pain struck, a sharp bolt that nearly tumbling to the floor, the only think that kept her from collapsing entirely was Isaac's strong hands which kept her upright. It amazed her how fast he could move sometimes.

"Are you alright, Lieutenant. You appear to be in pain, might I assist you in any way? Possibly a trip to sickbay?" He said and for a second Alara though it sounded concerned, ridiculous of course, Isaac couldn't feel and if he could it certainly wouldn't be concern for her.

"I'm fine." The Xelayan almost growled, she hated showing weakness, made her feel as though people would believe she couldn't do her job.

Clearly Isaac didn't believe her because he did that little head tilt of his and resisted releasing her.

"Where is the pain, Lieutenant?" Alara tried to brush him off with 'I'm fine' and 'it's nothing' but Isaac just ignored all of that. "Lieutenant, biological bodies are easily damaged. Any pain you experience could be the result of an unknown injury or it would be best to investigate. As Lieutenant Malloy would say 'better to be safe than sorry'."

She could see Isaac was just going to persist so she leaned against the wall and Isaac finally released her. Alara clamped a hand over her heart.

"My chest hurts." She finally admitted. "Like a sharp stabbing pain."

"May I touch you?"

He'd asked that before and Alara's mind instantly snapped back the night they'd shared only for the real world to start up once again when the bolt of pain shot through her once more. Alara nodded her permission.

Slowly he placed his hand on her chest just above her left breast and a moment later heat pooled out from his palm, warm and gentle. Turned out it was some kind of scan that he'd been performing not just inviting a talk with HR. A few seconds later Isaac pulled his hand back and took a scanner from his belt.

"According to my scan you have a fragment of a metal projectile inside your chest which has caused damage despite its small size of approximately a centimetre. It would be best for you to ask Doctor Finn to perform further exams."

Reluctantly Alara nodded and let him lead her through the ship to sickbay, yes Isaac was incapable of emotions but she had to admit he was a good man... and that confused Alara. With it being so early in the day only Doctor Finn and two of her nurses were in sickbay when Alara and the Kaylon entered. Claire spotted them from her office and frowned when she saw the way Isaac was helping to keep her upright.

"What's wrong, Alara?" The older woman asked as soon as she was in front of them.

"There is a metal fragment lodged within the Lieutenant's chest." Informed Isaac.

"Alright, let's check you out."

Claire had Alara hop up on the exam table so she could perform her scans while Isaac stood beside the table waiting for the doctor's conclusions. Sure enough Claire confirmed everything the metal man had already said.

"Isaac is right-"

"I usually am, Doctor Finn." Everyone ignored him.

"The only thing I can think of is that it's a shard from when you were shot aboard the bioship."

"But that was like forever ago." Argued Alara.

"I know but even with all our medical advancements over the last four-hundred years we can still miss things. Because the metal is so small it's gone unnoticed until now when it's started to cause some really damage to your body. I can remove it and heal your injuries, it won't take me five minutes."

It hurt a little when Claire removed the tiny shard sparking an apology from the doctor. Why did this hurt more than when she'd actually been shot. She let out a small cry when the fragment shifted and cut through muscle while Claire did her best to remove it, before she knew what she'd done Alara shot her arm out and grasped Isaac's hand, anyone else would have ended up with a broken hand but not the Kaylon, he just stood there and let her do what she needed to. That metal melon he called a head tilted to the side again – a trait that had become all to common – as he stood in utter silence watching as though he were gathering up all the information he could.

When the short ordeal was over Isaac walked Alara back to her quarters after Claire had insisted she rest, yes the damage was healed but it had been dangerously close to her heart and the doctor wanted to make sure it hadn't been put under any unnecessary stress. She'd not asked Isaac to escort her he'd just done it.

Stood in the doorway the dark-haired woman didn't know what to really say, should she invite him in? Instead she settled on thanking him for insisting she go to Claire and for walking her back to her quarters.

"You are most welcome, Lieutenant."

Isaac turned to leave but she stopped him, Alara hadn't given herself permission but her body had gone ahead and betrayed her.

"What would have happened if you'd not done that scan and told me there was that metal in me?"

"Due to the size of the fragment and your determination to show strength you would likely have ignored the pain and dismissed it as something else. Eventually the metal's sharp profile would have continued to wreak havoc until it eventually reached your heart and possibly ended your life."

Go ahead and don't sugar coat it, why don't you? Muttered Alara's mind. A little awkwardly she paused for a moment or two but Isaac just stood there waiting.

"So you saved my life then." She said eventually. "Thank you."

"On the contrary, Lieutenant, your gratitude should go to Doctor Finn as she was the one to remove the shrapnel." How can someone so arrogant be so modest as well? "Still, you are very welcome."

Alara's body truly had betrayed her because the next thing she knew she'd thrown her arms around him for a hug. What am I doing?!

"You're a good friend."

A pause. "I have never had a friend before, Lieutenant. Hearing I am proficient at it suggests I am integrating with organic lifeforms well."

"Surly you have friend on Kaylon?" Why am I still hugging him? There was something strangely comforting about the act.

"No. Kaylon do not waste time building friendships and since we developed these bodies -" Isaac gestured to his own metallic form. "- families have not occurred. We are constructed and go straight to an assigned duty, socialising is not done."

For some reason that broke Alara's heart. Why did it break her heart? Isaac didn't have emotions, he couldn't feel saddened by his lack of a family but for some reason she the sadness, the loneliness, for him.

"Truthfully, I did not expect to make any friends aboard The Orville despite friendship being part of my report to Kaylon."

"You have me and Claire, and even though he won't admit it I'm sure Malloy is your friend too."

Alara's want to comfort him confused her, comfort had no purpose to Isaac, it was basically pointless. Once again Isaac paused as though filing all the new information away in his data banks.

"I believe that I have more to gain from a friendship with you, Lieutenant, than you would from me."

The Xelayan frowned. "I don't understand."

"It is clear that you have several friends aboard the ship as well as many on your home world, whereas I only have you. Surly that would mean I require your friendship more than you require or desire mine." Always so logical.

Once again she felt her heart squeeze, she knew sadness wasn't something he couldn't experience but to Alara he sounded lonely.

"None of that matters, I'm pleased you're my friend." Why am I trying to comfort him?

"You seem to derive some sort of enjoyment from embracing me, Lieutenant." Alara didn't move, am I still doing that? Clearly she was quiet too long because Isaac started speaking again. "Shall I embrace you as well? That is how hugs work."

The Kaylon wasn't sure why but Alara nodded and so he carefully raised his arms and wrapped them around her tiny frame, he had never hugged anyone before. Unbeknownst to him Alara hadn't been held by anyone who wasn't her parent in a long time, the men she dated didn't do cuddling. Isaac didn't squeeze her just a gentle embrace that actually made her happy; that puzzled her.

After a time she started to kiss up his chest and neck, why was a man made of metal and wires so gentle and tender? She looked up at the blue circles he called eyes for a second in silence

"Do you wish for another sexual encounter?" He asked.

Alara nodded, until that moment she'd not known she ever wanted this again but stood there with Isaac's strong silver arms around her, she realised did want it, she wanted him.

"Take me to bed, Isaac."

This was not what she'd expected her morning to become when she'd woken up.

"I do not begin my shift on the bridge until sixteen-hundred." Translation: I got time. "How far do you wish for our encounter to proceed?"

That was a good question, she'd not expected it to happen so soon, especially so soon after their first 'encounter' as Isaac insisted on calling it. Alara's body seemed to know what it was doing so she let it answer for her.

"... Further than last time, I think but... maybe rougher than before."

Isaac seemingly nodded in understatement and then suddenly – without any kind of warning – Isaac lifted Alara using all that Kaylon strength of his and purposefully carried her into the bedroom where he threw her down on the soft blue bed. Alara's eyes went wide, she had no idea where Isaac had learnt to be rough but damn did she find it sexy. Her heartbeat quickened as she watched Isaac kneel on the bed, shred her of her pants and pinned her wrists to the mattress.

"Isaac." She moaned, Alara liked this, how he'd learnt it she didn't know but she could feel her want burning inside her. Already wet and needy as she parted her legs further for him. How could a Kaylon make her more needy than an experienced biological man?

After a moment Isaac released his firm grip on her wrists and trailed his metal hands down her flanks to slowly slip her pink panties down her firm thighs. Isaac just tossed them aside on the floor, that actually turned Alara on more because he was usually so neat and precise. Next he ripped off her uniform jacket and black t-shirt, not 'take' but rip.

"I like the rough but don't go destroying my clothes." She told him almost breathlessly.

Isaac apologized but didn't cease his movements. She'd not removed her bra the last time Isaac had been on top of her but this time he unclasped it with no help from Alara save for her arching her back a little. Had she not been too focused on her want she'd have though about how nimble his fingers seemed to be. There was a pause as though Isaac were committing every inch of her nakedness to memory and it actually made Alara feel special.

Isaac seemed to have a lot of emotions on his face which was surprising for someone who didn't feel... or have a face. He cupped her breast almost sensually then slipped his metal fingers down to tease Alara. She gasped as he prepared her, digits scissored back and forth almost rhythmically, the warmth and sparks that radiated from his touch started up again.

"Isaac." Alara moaned out his name. "Isaac. Please, Isaac." She begged, she wanted this, wanted him.

"Does your repetition of my name mean you wish for us to have intercourse?" He asked as his fingers continued their skilled work.

"Yes!"

"Do you still wish for it to be 'rough'?"

"Ye-!"

Before Alara could even finish that one word Isaac had gripped the back of her thighs and pulled her to him in one smooth sharp motion, Alara raised an eyebrow as he pinned her wrists down either side of her head. And then he was pressed against her entrance, the Xelayan's eyes widened, when she'd demanded more she wasn't sure what she had expected but Isaac with a dick hadn't even been on the fucking list. Had her mind been functioning normally Alara would have questioned it but she wasn't, and Isaac's harsh grip on her thighs had her needy and desperate.

Isaac had certainly listened when she'd said rough and thrust into Alara. Her head fell back against the pillows as her back arched into his touch. Isaac had no right to feel so good inside her, to thrust so deep. How in hell did he even know how to do that! His skilled metallic hands kept a firm grip on her wrists keeping Alara in place, she'd never met anyone who could match her strength outside of her own species and it was somehow a turn on. The strength, the force... fantastic. Alara's need was so intense that she didn't question it, didn't have the mental capacity.

The pleasure was intense but he just wasnt deep enough, Alara wanted more, needed more. Displaying all that Xelayan strength of hers Alara flipped them forcing Isaac down onto the mattress.

It was then that she could take it no longer and plunged into the smouldering waters of bliss and euphoria her body clamped down around the older man as she rode out her orgasm, pulling him over the edge and into climax with her.

She let gravity take her and fell onto the bed beside Isaac, she just stared up at the ceiling. All was quiet for a moment until Isaac broke the peaceful quietude.

"Was our second encounter adequate, Lieutenant?"

"Isaac, we just had sex, you can call me Alara." She didn't look at him. "And... it was actually kind of amazing." A pause. "Em, about the... you know?"

Alara gestured to the lower half of his metal body. It took Isaac a moment but he eventually cottoned on to what she meant.

"I created the penis after our first encounter in the event you would request a second. My foresight was beneficial as you did request a second sexual encounter."

Why does he have to talk like that?

"You know when I said rougher, you em, you threw me at a bed and pinned me down."

She'd never expected that from Isaac, yes he had immense strength but she'd never seen him use it beyond lifting things out of the way.

"I have found that in many Human and Xelayan intercourse demonstrations-"

"You've been watching porn." Alara stated flatly as she rolled onto her side to look at him with an unsurprised expression.

"It was quite informative data, as was the sexual encounter we shared."

Just when Alara started to wonder if they actually had anything else to talk about Isaac rose from the bed and bid her goodbye.

"I will see you on the bridge for our next shift."

With that Isaac was gone leaving Alara alone and still panting on the bed. She lay there a long time indulging in the silence and last remnants of orgasmic bliss. How was it that a man that couldn't feel a single thing made Alara's body purr with such emotion and euphoria.