Fiona
I had spent my last night outside. When Solidus came and got me today I noticed a cell was fashioned in the corner of the lab just for me.
I heard Solidus's mocking tone from behind me, "Now don't go thinking your getting spoiled okay, Fi."
"That will be hard, I mean look, I got my own five by five cell block complete with cot and bars, wow, what else could I ask for?
We both slightly chuckled. It was kinda weird. We weren't even the same species, but we shared similar taste in humor.
Humor was lost on the doctor. He dryly stated, "Were given permission to house you here provided we follow all of the conditions."
"Nothing too terrible, Fi" Solidus said in a comforting manner.
"I'm okay with it, after all what say have I in the matter. I'm the prisoner. You on the other hand, you're the one that sounds worried." I crossed my arms defensively as if it would shield me from the bad news.
"It seems as though a Commander is now assigned to our project to over see security and he has asked to be able to use you for any purpose he seems would benefit the military, no questions asked."
"Oh… I see. Should we be concerned? Do you know the commander?"
"My brother."
"Fan-tactic." I dropped my arms, rolled my eyes to the ceiling and entered the new cell as if to inspect it.
As I sat down on the cot the door across the room opened. I saw Saren slip in and stand arms folded back against the wall and he viewed the lab.
"Dr. Kesler, it seems as though your laboratory has developed a foul smell."
I laugh loudly at the comment. I knew full well he meant me. It was a weak insult. I hadn't had a bath in sometime. I could smell the sweat and grim that had built up over the past weeks.
Unfazed by my reaction, probably because he chose to ignore me, Commander Arterius continued. "Well doctor, what are you going to do about it?"
The doctor seemed a bit frazzled by the current question aimed at him. He stammered as if to make a plea in my defense, but probably hadn't enough information on the subject or didn't want to offend me in any way.
Solidus jumped in instead, "Brother, please."
I came to my own defense, "I know I smell. It's not an insult. If you were trying to upset me you failed. I'm just in need of a bath."
Now the doctor approached me somewhat excited. "A bath. You'll have to describe what it is your talking about."
Omni-tool at full glow I started to elaborate, "A bath… it's like a cleansing process for humans, also called a shower. The difference is baths are taken in tubs and showers are taken with running water."
"We can accommodate you in this activity. If you would like to demonstrate the process."
"Okay… that's not weird or anything, but sure you can watch. I'll need some supplies though."
The doctor was eager to help out. We talked of chemistry and I described shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Items found when the turians took over the building. Simply set aside until they were identified.
In another room in the building one of the emergency showers was sought out. I laid the now identified chemicals on a near by table. I was excited about the shower. It would feel nice to be clean again. I was a little nervous about Dr. Kesler watching, however he kept our conversation going witch had a calming effect.
The Arterius brothers had gone in pursuit of clean clothes that I had asked for. I had no clue what they would find or when they would return or even if they would return with anything.
I took a deep breath and slowly undressed. Once I no longer had a single article of clothing on I pulled the emergency cord to activate the shower.
The water poured onto my head and ran down my body. It wasn't warm, but not to cold enough to be uncomfortable. After a moment of relaxing bliss I realized the doctor was still in the room. While grabbing the shampoo I turned to look at him.
He silently gazed into his omni-tool and then back at me. As he collected data I came to the realization he was no more interested in my than a dog would be.
Chuckling to myself I prompted the conversation again. "I'm surprised the pluming was still working for this building."
"This building became the primary base of operations partly because it was the least damaged."
I rinsed and grabbed for the conditioner. "That makes sense."
After answering some of the doctor's questions pertaining to exfoliation the door opened to reveal our missing turians.
I flushed as they walked in. I probably didn't have to feel embarrassed, they wouldn't think anymore of me than the doctor.
After grapping the soap I was surprised to see Solidus coming towards me for a closer look. I could feel his eye staring at me. I didn't look at him, but instead look to see where Saren had gone.
As I found him with my eyes he made eye contact with me for a brief moment then tossed the bundle of cloth on the table and turned and left.
I was left with Solidus staring, probably curiosity I told myself. I tried to keep a straight face so as to not embarrass him, "Penny for your thoughts?"
"What's a penny?"
Dr. Kesler chimed in, "Do your people often exchange currency for information?"
"Forget it. It's just an expression… to know what's on your mind."
"Oh…umm nothing." Solidus sounded overly defensive. So I went ahead and told him what was on my mind to put him at ease.
"I guess I would be staring too if I were looking at you. I mean you've never seen a human until now and now you can say you've seen the full anatomy. Come to think of it. I don't know what you look like without armor. It seems every turian here wears their armor at all times."
I turned the water off after I finished rinsing. I stepped toward my turian friend. I was still dripping with water and he handed me the bundle of fabrics that Saren had laid on the table. He gave me one more look then said, "I have to go."
After Solidus rushed out of the room I turned to the doctor still scanning the events and said, "Why do I have the feeling I don't quite understand what just happened."
A large smile was now present on the Salarian's face as he put down his omni-tool. "How can I put this…?"
The doctor began to pace as I dried and dressed.
"It seems as though they were quite taken with you."
"What…no I don't think that's it."
"No. Hormone levels indicate presents of breeding female, Heart rate was elevated, breaths per second increased. I believe I adequately assessed the situation."
I was speechless, I had approached the situation too innocently and now my mouth was hanging open in shock.
"Not unfounded really. Human female anatomy very similar to asari physiology. Such as breast, presents of belly-button, most unique. Cross-species relations numerous between these two races."
I had finally found my voice just in time to stop the doctor before he progressed any further. "Whoa, Whoa…Whoa. Are you saying that humans and tuians could have cross-species relationships?"
"Not enough data to answer that question appropriately. Still many factors to rule out such as dextro verse levo- amino acid..."
I shouted as the doctor seemed lost in though, "Quick answer, not the complicated one!"
Kesler's black eye blinked as he chose his next words carefully, "As of now, it's not a no."
"Thank you, doctor. And one more thing what about Salarians?"
The once quizzical face of the doctor vanished as he may have even held back a laugh. "No, my species lay eggs. Quite impossible."
"Lay eggs…I mean what about asari."
"Asari are unisex and depend on other species to randomize their genes so it is possible to have a human asari relationship."
"That wasn't what I was ask… wait what…okay I think you answered the question anyway. Ya know how 'bout we drop this conversation altogether."
"As you wish."
When we made it back to the lab Solidus and Saren were still not to be found. I didn't see them for the rest of the day. On the plus side however, I felt that the entire one on one time with the doctor had strengthened our familiarity with one another.
As it came closer to quitting time. The doctor put me in the new cell.
"What do you think the other humans will think when I never return?"
"I believe they will think you have been abducted by aliens."
I laughed out loud, "Unbelievable, Dr. Kesler has made a joke."
"You get rest now."
As the doctor closed the door I pleaded, "Please don't lock it."
"I have to."
"No you don't. Just pull it to. Where am I going to go?"
There was a pause as I saw the doctor mulling over the decision. "Just this once, okay."
I nodded in approval and curled up on my cot. I knew I was still a prisoner, but I felt like I was making good friends and maybe there was a way out of my current situation.
Saren
I was checking the status of well everything. Trying to get away from my own thoughts and work was a good way of ignoring them. I had been avoiding my office on the chance Solidus would look for me there. It was inevitable that he would seek me out to talk about the events of today. I couldn't understand why he couldn't just let things be.
As counted and checked the number of supply crates that had been shipped to the planet I happened to see him in the distance. Solidus had already seen me and was heading my way.
As he came within hearing distance I heard him say, "Did you see my human?"
I made no reply, but it didn't keep him from advancing. "Your idea you know. Complaining about the smell. So answer me, what do you think?"
My brother knew me well enough to have probably guessed my thoughts. "Were missing a shipment of rations. The humans are making it difficult to get provisions to the planet."
"Avoiding the topic all together. That's definitely a new tactic for you."
"It's a serious problem."
"I don't doubt that it is. But it's not what I asked you."
"Why do you want to know?" I finally growled angrily at him.
"I've never seen anything eat at you so badly. It's the first thing I can think of that has really gotten under you plates. I can't believe you would fall under the spell of a pink asari." Solidus purred the words out of his mouth as if to goat me.
Hearing him verbalize the situation made it feel more real. Especially after I had worked hard to forget it. I hadn't words to express my anger. I turned from my work to give him an intimidating look and barely kept my growl in check.
"So you were thinking it too." Solidus murmured with a slight smile.
I knew then my brother didn't really know how I was thinking and the conversation to goat me was merely a bluff.
I composed my self and explained, "We are at war with them. Numerous turians are being killed by humans and your playing around with one like it's a toy. I don't want you getting attached. It would be a terrible career-ender. I'm here to make sure you don't do anything that could embarrass the family name and going around spouting nonsense dribble like the kind you spoke to me just now will be heard if you keep it up."
"Oh Spirits, Saren, you take things so seriously sometimes. And yes, I figured that father sent you here so I wouldn't embarrass you or him. I just wanted to tease you a little like we did when we were young. I didn't think you take it so badly."
Solidus turned to walk away and in his familiar joking way said, "It's been a long times since I was able to trick you into telling me things. I hope you're not going soft. Are you sure you're not the one we should be watching?"
I immediately felt as if I had been accused of wrong doing. There had to be an explanation for this. Of course it was just stress, "My specter application is under review."
Solidus smiled, "Don't worry, I wont cause trouble. You know you don't have to worry about it."
As Solidus finally turned and left. I felt relived that my brother was here to discuss things with again. I was never as positive has he was. His whole dispositions seemed to complement mine. It was nice to have my friend back.
