Chapter 5 – Memory, Research, and Avoidance
"You are one of ten Titans that survived the operation," The loud voice said. "Congratulations." After this last statement, I was able to hear the offset of the steps of a very heavy man walking away. Then I noticed the pain that has set into my body and bones. It still feels like my skin has been peeled from my body then replaced again to have the whole process repeated for a couple of times. However, the one location that provides throbbing pain is in my eyes and head. I have a huge pounding headache that feels like I have Chief Gonza stomping his boot onto my head. Though my eyes feel like they are splitting from within then being roasted over an open fire with the last portion being stabbed with needles constantly. This is an ongoing pain that I have woken up with today. I know that there are only ten out of the forty individuals who came into the procedure. I wonder what will become of the ten of us. I heard shuffling around to my right and a grunt. Before I could realize what is happening my bed started to roll away.
I sat up with a slight scream on my lips as I woke up to Orion calling out to me. He noticed that I was still freaking out and contacted whomever he did through these periods. I could not see. My vision seemed blocked and I knew that it was because of the sheer remembrance of blind pain that I felt there. I heard my door open quickly and sounded like three heavy-set people walked in.
"Do not touch her Master Chief." Orion called out quickly after I felt the bed dip. "Talk to her and calm her down." Orion sounded to be in a bit of anxiety in his voice for me. I tapped around my bed to feel what was around. I felt the thick wool blanket and semi-soft sheets around me. The pillow was stuck against my lower back and the wall. I placed my hand on the wall to my right. It was sturdy and made me feel a bit more secure about my surroundings.
"Val, you are safe." John's deep thick voice stated slowly, as if he was talking to a frighten child. "You are in your room onboard the UNSC Lightspear. I am sitting on your bed, Thel is standing right behind me, and Eton is standing at the foot of your bed. We will not allow anything to happen to you. Neither will Orion." I heard all the people in my room, and I started to hyperventilate a bit. I felt movement at the foot of my bed dip down and something touch my leg. I gathered myself and tackled the individual back onto the ground with a heavy thud. I placed the person into a chock hold in between my thighs. I grabbed the bed frame with one hand and pulled me and the individual closer to the frame. I felt two hands with four fingers on each grip my legs and try to pry them apart. I could not hear what was going on around me due to the white noise that was happening in my ears at the time. The noise started to go away, and I heard chocking sounds, someone tell the person to be calm and then another person to stay out of the room.
My vision slowly came back to me and I looked down at my legs. I saw black skin with dark blue eyes staring at me with hope. I released my hold on the alien's neck from in between my legs. I scrambled back from him. Eton panted and just turned over to open his airway while staying close to me. I felt a pain spread in my chest, which felt like a suffocation feeling spreading through my chest. I felt so ashamed of what I did.
"I am sorry," I called out as I tried to push myself into the corner, "Orion warned you not to touch me. Therefore, this is the result." I crawled onto the bed away from the now breathing Sangheili. He does not look ashy anymore. John moved towards me with his hands up to show that he means no harm. Thel helped his man to get back onto his feet. Eton stood up on steady legs and looked at me.
"Eil Cheenoh Deedah, I am well. You did not cause me any injury." Eton spoke his language for the first words. I was complexed about the translation. However, how Thel reacted to the words means that they are very intimate and important. I noticed that John got even closer. I sighed and realized that I have calmed down now. I moved to the edge of the bed and stood up without a faulter.
"I hope that there will not be further injury that I have cause out of this result," I swept my hand into the direction of my bed. "Thank you three for coming to help me. I am fine now, and I would like to start my day without changing in front of you." I smiled at them as well as I can. "Well I can. It is not like I have not changed in front of men before." I mumbled under my breath. I heard a growl from Eton. I would love to smack my forehead lightly due to forgetting that all three could still hear me perfectly fine. All three nodded and walked out with a backward glance to me. I sighed as the door closed.
"Orion, please say that I have not done anything else to make the relations between out species in a backward spiral." I asked as I walked into the bathroom and continues with my morning routine. I made my mind up that I will try to avoid all three while I gather more information about the connection and feeling that I have.
After avoiding all three on the way to the galley and back. I hid in my room as I continued to do further research on it. Many times, I have gotten frustrated and had to put down the data pad, ask Orion where all three are located then head to the gym to relieve some excess stress that I have obtained from the failed research.
At this time of 1900, I left the gym for the third time today. I heard a chuckle to my left. I got into a fighting stance and saw that it was Eton. I stood back up and backed away from him.
"I know you are avoiding me." Eton stated as he matched each step that I took backwards. I saw John and Thel walk around the corner and saw the two of us here.
"Come join us for dinner." Requested Thel. "There will be no refusals." I nodded my head at the command that was giving.
"Let me freshen up then I will meet you there." I said as I waked in the direction of my room. All three followed me, I knew that I lost a losing battle between the three. They joined me in my walk to my room. They even walked in and sat down about the chairs and desk I had in there. I resigned myself to the shame and gather the clothing that I need to change into after I get out of the shower. I brought everything into the bathroom and started my shower. I heard the two Sangheili talking and could not understand what they are saying.
20 minutes later and in the line for food…
I grabbed my tray and moved further down the line with Eton behind me and Thel in front of me. Both were making sure that I did not leave before gathering food and sitting down with them. I felt Eton's eyes on my as I moved to the seating that they choose. I observed how John kept brushing again Thel. I remember from yesterday morning of seeing the soul mark. I am still not sure what a soul mark or soulmate was. I will have to do further research on it and ask Orion to tell me what he might know.
I took small bites of the steak that I have in front of me as I listen to the three talk about the up coming mission. They were stating that having me be the first to land would be too risky. I chuckled and that gathered their attention to me.
"It is not about it is too risky. Rather it is about," I paused for effect and all three leaned a bit forward to listen. "I will break the craft before we even land due to the amount of weight that I will be even after I step into my suit. Just myself outside of the suit I am less than six hundred pounds. All thanks to the dense muscle and metal bones that I obtain. My suit adds nearly three hundred pounds to my weight and that does not include my weapons. That is why I will jump out of the aircraft as quickly as I can from take-off." I noticed all their slacked jaws. They seemed astonished that I would be that heavy and that is usually everyone's first thoughts.
"You?" Thel waved his hand up and down towards my body. I nodded my head. "What else did the General not say that might be important for this mission?" I felt a hand brush my thigh. I jumped looked at Eton and scooted further away.
"Yes, there are something that might help." I stated as I took a sip of my water. "I can see into the dark, see through walls, and see heat temperatures given what I need them for. My eyes will change color depending on what I need to use." I set my cup down as I slowly stood up. "Thank you, gentlemen, for being excellent dinner guest. I need to head back to my room to gather the needed things for the mission." I walked away and gave the tray to the window as normal. I headed towards my room with a shake of my head. My name was called behind me, I turned and saw that Eton walked up to me.
"Let me walk you to your room." Eton said as he stepped up beside me. I felt the weird feeling again in my chest. It feels so right but it just confuses me so much. I am not sure of what this feeling is. I felt Eton's hand move to press again my lower back. I felt kind of intimidated from his shear height. Though I cannot get the though of how good looking he is from this angle. There were some thoughts that I never had before presented themselves. Just makes it even more curious. We continued towards my room; I noticed many people made a path for us to walk through. Either it was from him with his sheer height or just a different species.
We reached my door after a slightly uncomfortable silence. Eton slide his hand across my back, down my arm to my hand. He brought my hand up to he mandibles and gave a Sangheili equivalent to a kiss on the back of my hand.
"You are beautiful, Val." He stated as he pulled away from my hand. I felt heat upon my face, and I backed up into my door. "Good night." He bowed lightly and turned and walked away. I turned as the door opened and ran in. The kiss felt so good, but I am not sure if I want to pursue this good feeling or not.
"Orion, make a note for when we come back to research soul marks and soulmates." Orion acknowledged my request. I went about getting everything together for the mission.