(I had added a new ending to the chapter. I needed to give myself a little more opening for the next chapter. Yes I am still working and typing this story and I am really sorry. No excuses. I will complete this.)
Melody flicked through her data pad while sitting in her desk chair. Almost relaxed and emotionless, she sorted through files effortlessly. Organizing them by time, date, and species. Smiling when she grabbed a familiar file. Organized by its own folder, it read Kig-Yar. The only one in the colony to be a Jackal. Melody broke the silence with a soft whisper.
"The only one to live a happy life and face scrutiny all day long. Without a care in the world." She smiled as she imagined Michelle and Siv constantly going out in the public eye. People giving a look of disgust and hate. All while Michelle wore the biggest grin and Siv talking in his broken English. "Absolutely perfect sometimes."
"What is absolutely perfect Miss Vovel?" Melody's artificial intelligence rose from her desk, letting her hologram form take shape. The A.I took a tint of a light silver with the appearance of a Roman goddess. Her figure was thick and busty. Hair waving slightly in the imaginary breeze. Her private areas were covered with a white tunic.
"Just my thoughts Milla." Melody sighed as she continued organizing the files. Milla looked unamused as her answer was unsatisfactory. Waving her hand in once slow and smooth motion. All the files that Melody was organizing became filed away appropriately.
"Miss Vovel. As your personal A.I and appointed therapist. I must say that opening up your thoughts to me will help your healing process. Sure it may have been a four years ago, but events such as those still have lingering effects." Milla's voice was sturn and smooth. Forcing Melody to sink into the chair in defeat.
"Milla. I had some thoughts about Michelle and way they look at each other and spend time together .Even with all the hate and discrimination around them. They still turn and show happiness and kindness to all. Ever since we left the UNSC, we have changed. Our lives had changed. Watching Brandon sacrifice his life to save Shi'rune and I hit me hard. But to sit and watch Shi'rune vanish behind doors I couldn't pass through. To know the last time I saw him, he was unconscious and bleeding out. Really made me feel weak. Like I couldn't do anything to save his life. And I was a god damn medic." Melody did not cry, her eyes did not tear up, and her body posture did not shake; but her lips quivered in rapid succession and faced tension with grief. Her face lied to her body and Milla saw this. She did not press the subject but noted it for a few topics.
"Miss Vovel, you need to take better care of yourself. You need to talk about it more. But you also need to focus on the now. Leave the past in the past and let it create a better you. Don't let it destroy who you are." Milla gave a calm speech about mental health, which in returned bolster Melody's mental health.
Once again, Melody found herself losing the track of time. Watching it go from mid-noon to late evening. Milla helped Melody organize her to do list while aiding Melody with a restocking order. Melody packed up her things that she will need to look over and threw on her grey civilian coat. Just to hear Milla speak out.
"Miss Vovel, I do believe that you are forgetting one more thing." Milla pointed over to the corner of the desk. "Siv would appreciate the bottle of antibiotics."Milla small hologram smiled.
"Oh that would be best." Melody laughed as she raced back to her desk and grabbed the orange bottle. "Thank Milla. What would I do without you." Melody made her way to the door and right when she opened it. Milla chirmed a little melody while all the lights in the room turned off. When Melody exited, the door behind her closed. The sound of mechanical gears turned and locked the door shut.
Melody felt the cold breeze brush against her face. The quiet of the night with small distant chatter. She looked right and noticed the dirt road leading down to the new construction zone. She turned to her left and saw the dirt road slowly rise with the hill, Multiple complexes were built. Using the smooth steel grey building materials that is common now with Human's worlds. Some of the complexes went up to three stories tall, most were one story. Storage building, UNSC building, and communication building were all located on one side while the local bar, recreational center, and living quarters all shared the same side. Melody swiftly followed the dirt road towards the living quarters. Hoping to get in before the sun truly hides behind the mountain.
Melody makes it to the housing complex just as the sun is gone. The dirt road lit up with street light. Beaming a bright neo white light onto the ground. Melody took a few more steps and ended in front of the sensor of the door. It slid open with a whining sound and the silence of the night started to now fill with loud chatter and comotion. Melody found that once she entered, a few eyes fell on her. A few people looked away to continue with their conversation and others stared at disgust. The lobby was filled with different sorts of groups. You found humans conversing with other humans, sangheili talking to other small groups of sangheili, and a few diverse groups which held both. Melody just kept away from the other groups. Hoping to not have anymore unwanted attention.
Melody just kept walking. Making her way through the groups, Finding her way to another pair of sliding doors. Which she entered, embracing the quiet once again. She pressed on for a few more moments, before stopping at a room with the number one hundred and seventeen. Knocked three times, and waited for a response. She heard some shuffling before the door slid open.
"Melody!" Yelled a toweled Michelle. She briefly hugged Melody before beckoning for her to come in. Melody entered with Michelle closing a door with a data pad. "I'm caught me right when I was getting out of the shower." Melody smiled awkwardly before turning around to examine the room. Standard studio living quarters. Stainless steel desk in the corner of the room. Queen size bed in another corner. Leaving just enough room to get off on each side. A bathroom next to her desk. To Melody's immediate right was the kitchen. Electric stove, refrigerator built in like a cabinet, a few extra cabinets, and a sink. No table, just some countertop with four stools. Two on each side.
"So where is the sick little guy?" Melody asked as Michelle removed her towel. Exposing her back to Melody. Melody could gawk over Michelle's frame, almost jealous, except for a few war scars and one small plasma burn from the splash of a plasma pistol. She never told Melody how she got that. Her eyes slowly lowered. Watching her plump rear stick out as she tried to get her olive green panties on. Before the panties covered her rump. Melody did notice a few new scratches and gouge marks covering the soft skin on her posterior. Almost like.
"He is in bed. He got so tuckered out after today. He was busy with his last mission before taking his PTO." Melody lost her train of thought after listening to Michelle comment and giggles afterward. Melody watched as Michelle got dressed with a tank-top on.
"Well Michelle. I got his antibiotics right here. Three times a day for one week. Since he likes raw fish." Melody placed the orange medicine bottle on the counter.
"Thanks Melody!" Michelle was excited. " Oh I also made you dinner." Michelle skipped over to the refrigerator and pulled out a metal dish with tin foil covering it. "It's your favorite. Seared fish from Earth." Melody smiled as she grabbed the plate from Michelle and unraveled the foil just a bit to get a whiff.
"Geez have to stop spoiling me." Melody said with a grin before heading out the door. " Oh by the way Michelle, before I go. Your hair isn't wet or damp. It's still dry." Melody's face grinned slyly before walking her way out into the hallway. Michelle turned cherry red when she heard those words. Melody laughed and quickly disappeared into the hallway. The door slid back into place as she made her way down the hall. Her giggles echoed in the hall. The smile she wore all disappeared when she rounded the corner. Her eyes met up with something familiar. The figure turned around to see Melody, revealing the Sangheili form. It wore armor too bulky to resemble any armor she ever saw. Its head was covered with a helmet and visor. When they made what seemed like eye contact it ran. It ripped something off the wall. Melody chased it down and yelled for the Sangheili to stop. When she rounded the corner, it was gone. It vanished with no trail to follow. The only thing that was left was a broken panel to her left. It still fizzled and sparked. She looked back down the hall seeing humans and Sangheilis checking out the commotion. She looked back at the panel and knew only one thing. She was not gonna get sleep because of this.