A/N: Got another entry from Joey, as inspiration struck him twice in short order. I really like this one, since it focuses on the neat subject of how Annette's and Asaru's relationship evolved. Something that, as with many things, simply did not warrant screentime in RU, but something that deserves to be looked at nonetheless.
Enjoy.
Title: Food For Thought
Author: Joey
Question.
Annette paused as the familiar voice in her mind spoke up, fork halfway between her plate and her mouth. It wasn't strange that Asaru was using their psionic link to speak to her mind, she had gotten used to that a while ago. He often gave her commands and instructions while in the heat of combat, urging her to move or letting her know when to strike and when to defend. But what was strange was that he was talking to her while she was sitting at a table in the mess hall of the Avenger instead of a battlefield, while she was in a loose-fitting tank top instead of her armor, and while she was eating breakfast instead of fighting for her life.
Curious about the change in circumstance, Annette shot a reply back through their mental link.
What's on your mind, Asaru?
The friendly Ethereal was quiet for a moment, as if he wasn't expecting an open-ended response. Annette briefly wondered if her invisible friend was even capable of speaking in multi-word phrases, or if he was learning how to do so just now. She waited patiently for Asaru, fork hovering in limbo all the while. Annette wasn't about to shoot down an attempt of growth on Asaru's part, but she was hoping it could be done before her omelet went cold.
...why...eat?
Annette almost laughed. She could scarcely believe it. All the things Asaru's first question to her could have been about - all the things he could have asked in his first attempt to communicate beyond just one word commands - and he chose food?
The entire situation amused her greatly, and she allowed a smile to slip out, shaking her head in disbelief. Still, Asaru had asked her a genuine question, and it would be rude not to answer. Especially if she wanted to encourage this behavior.
Well...she replied, there's energy in the food. We humans eat the food and digest it to absorb that energy, and then we use that energy to do all sorts of stuff. We also eat because the food tastes good, or because other people are -
Taste?
Annette hummed, trying to find a way to explain a physical sensation to a non-corporeal entity who'd never experienced it. If she remembered right from Vahlen's autopsies during the Long War, Ethereals didn't even have a mouth under their faceplate. It felt like trying to describe color to a creature with no eyes - what could she say to communicate a sense of taste to an alien partner without even a body?
Then again...maybe she wouldn't have to say anything.
We can share senses, right?
Yes.
Then share your sensations with mine as I eat this. I think that might answer your questions. Ready?
...yes.
With a smile, Annette popped the piece of omelet into her mouth, chewed it slowly…
And almost jumped right out of her seat.
The omelet wasn't anything special - it was warm and fluffy and slightly crispy, with just a bit of a spicy kick from the green pepper and garnished with a few specks of basil and a pinch of salt. But you'd swear she'd just eaten manna from heaven itself by the way her entire face just lit up. She did her best to keep herself calm and composed, to ignore the odd looks the other operatives were given her. Her mind, on the other hand, was entirely focused on trying to keep her brain from melting out of her ears as an assault of strange, confused, and overall exuberant feelings surged out of Asaru like waves of solar fire escaping a star going supernova.
Asaru! Asaru! Calm! Calm down! She thought desperately, scowling on the inside. If she and her partner ended up killing each other over a bite of an omelet, she was never gonna hear the end of it from the other ghosts. She could see her entry on the wall in that moment - Major Annette Durand. Cause of death: breakfast.
Fortunately, being the laughingstock of the afterlife would be a concern for later. Asaru finally managed to calm down, and Annette released the fist she didn't even realize had clenched up. She let out a slow, patient breath, and though she knew it was impossible, she could almost imagine Asaru resting on all four of his hands, panting exhaustedly.
She didn't hear anything else from her other half for a moment, but she could feel his energy pulsing. It was safe to say that whatever answer Asaru wanted, he'd found it. So after a moment of mental silence she shrugged, cut off another chunk of omelet, and speared it with her fork.
The next piece made it halfway to her mouth before she heard the voice again.
...more please?
The next few hours found Annette and Asaru talking a bit more, their conversation options opening as the Ethereal's communication skills opened up more and more. The Major had to admit, she was surprised at how quickly Asaru learned to speak, forming sentences longer than one or two words and even managing to ask coherent questions. Then again, she suspected that her alien counterpart had always had the knowledge and ability to do that - he had just never really had a reason to do so until he found something interesting enough to engage with her over.
More surprising was that, during the entire morning, Asaru's questions largely revolved around food.
When did humanity discover farming? He had asked her. What kinds of meat are most commonly used? Why do you use rocks for flavor? If all mammals can lactate, why is cow milk the most commonly consumed? And are tomatoes fruits or vegetables?
Annette answered the questions as best she could, but there were still gaps in what she knew. So when she wasn't talking to Asaru, she was watching documentaries over the CCT network with her alien friend. It amused her to no end the extent to which Asaru hungered for knowledge about something that humanity always hungered for.
At lunchtime, the onslaught of questions continued. Every time she took a bite of the BLT the mess hall was serving, she answered another question Asaru had about the ingredients. When he asked for a taste, she hesitantly allowed it on the condition that he wouldn't try to fry out her brain again. He handled the unfamiliar sensation much better than he did at breakfast.
That one, over there...why is her food different?
Annette smiled as she looked over at the long-haired gray-eyed Scout eating a slightly-different BLT with a happy smile. Because Gillian's allergic to tomatoes.
...allergic?
It means her body can't handle the chemicals found in certain foods. If she eats something she's allergic to, she'll get sick and could possibly die without proper treatment.
...you do not sound alarmed.
That's because food allergies are pretty common, explained Annette. People can be allergic to all sorts of food - nuts, yeast, dairy, fruit, vegetables, even sugar. And it's not just food either, some people are allergic to pollen or dust, or even fur from cats and dogs.
That seems...inefficient.
Annette mentally shrugged. It is, she agreed. But that's just how humans are sometimes. What are you gonna do, genetically modify us so that we basically become machines?
...I would not, but other Ethereals would.
Right. Annette almost forgot who she was talking to for a moment. Looking for a distraction, she turned her gaze over to a rather infamous engineer, who was currently fixing himself a quadruple-decker sandwich made almost entirely of bacon and mayonnaise.
And what about him? Is he also allergic to tomatoes, as well as lettuce?
The Major smirked. Nope. That's just because MacAuley's fucking weird.
By the time supper was done, Annette had a feeling she and Asaru were fully on speaking terms. His speech became more eloquent and comprehensive, his answers were more substantive and meaningful, and his questions were about more than just food. He even started speaking French! (Badly, but it was a start.)
And that's the key to a perfect souffle, finished Annette as she spread out the blanket on her bunk, climbing in and kicking off her boots and shedding her coat.
Fascinating. Who taught you such an advanced technique?
My mama did, thought Annette proudly with a smile. She is a mastermind in the kitchen. Always talked about how the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
Wouldn't a knife be quicker?
Metaphorical heart, Asaru.
Ah.
The two were silent for a while, as Annette pulled a blanket up around her bare shoulders to help with the cold. Then she spoke in her mind again.
I have a question for you now, Asaru.
Speak.
You've asked a lot of questions about food. So now you've got me curious. How do Ethereals nourish themselves?
Asaru was quiet for a bit, and for a moment, Annette was worried she had somehow breached his privacy. Her fear was unfounded, however, as his voice floated back into her mind after a thoughtful pause.
The Ethereals are not alive in the sense that humans are. Our bodies are mostly vestigial, and our true form comes from our psionic…"essence", if you will. This essence is what keeps our bodies functioning, providing it with energy and sealing wounds. When this essence is low, we merely siphon the psionic energies from those nearby to sustain ourselves.
Annette frowned. That...was a scary thought. She knew there were times during the Long War when Ethereals drained their allies of life energy to heal their own wounds, but she always assumed that it was just something done out of desperation, and Ethereals just lived off of that same alien goo that all the aliens ate. To think that they were that callous and cruel to regularly feed off of their servants...that they viewed their own empire as nothing more than disposable meals...she knew that the Ethereals were awful, but this piece of information just reinforced that.
...you don't do that though, right? Annette asked cautiously.
No. Asaru's voice was firm. Our symbiosis provides me all the nourishment I ever need. Your energy is my energy. Feed yourself, and you feed me as well.
Well that was reassuring. Annette smiled.
Then I'll make sure to eat right for the both of us. Maybe I'll even sneak you a bite every now and then.
Asaru's gratitude was evident, despite not having a face attached to it.
I would appreciate that greatly, Navigator.
Navigator? That was a new word. Annette didn't know what it meant exactly, but she could sense a great deal of respect from the title. Maybe she'd ask later, when she was less tired. For the moment, she decided it was time to call it a day, and laid flat on her bed and snuggled into her pillow.
Good night, Asaru, she thought, like she did every night.
For the first time since she began the nightly ritual, Asaru spoke back.
Good night, Annette. I shall safeguard your dreams.
