Melody rubbed her eyes with strain with one hand while lost in thought. Her gaze fell deep into her coffee mug. Swirling the black liquid before bringing it up to her lips. She placed the mug back down on the stainless steel desk. The contents within the cup are completely gone. She scooted the chair closer to the desk before laying her head on the cool metal. She let out a sigh of relief.
"God, who knew that they would 'talk to me' like I committed the crime?" Melody forced her words out as sarcastically as she could giving her welcoming audience a disbelief chuckle.
"I could have told you that." Michelle chuckled. Melody raised her eyes from the desk to Michelle. She wore a standard military grey jumpsuit. It had little to no stain except for the cuff and knees. She rested her back against the wall with her arms folded.
"They told me they saw him before he camouflaged. They have video, they just wanted me to match up the story and have someone to blame. Apparently repeating that you live near the area makes you more of a suspect." Melody's seethed with frustration. Huffing breath like a child when pouting.
"I don't know. That does sound kinda suspicious?" Michelle's condescending and teasing tone caused Melody to shoot her with the most intense one eye stare of annoyance. She quickly picked up a pen that resided next to her hand and pathetically launched it at Michelle. Completely off its intended mark. It ended up past Michelle and towards the corner of the room. "Jeez Mel, you are bad!" Melody scoffed at Michelle's response before laughing into the desk.
"Yeah. That was bad." Melody words wavered with laughter as they both laughed.
"Remember that training grenade incident back at boot camp. Oh my god, you had the drill Sergeant rolling." Michelle's words strained as she continued. " You tossed the grenade and it nailed Rodriguez in the head. And he was behind you." Melody started lifting her head a bit and tapped the desk with her forehead.
"And I managed to pull the pin. And it landed in between my legs." Melody quickly stood up, making light of the embarrassing situations. "He got in my face and said, 'Private Vovel. You not just incapacitaded Rodriguez, but you're dead!'" Melody shouted in her manly voice as they both died of laughter. The stressed moment grew colorful with fond memories of basic. Michelle interjected her own funny moment.
"Remember that day when I left for pilot training and Rodriguez came running out of his room." Melody looked at Michelle before falling to her knees laughing.
"He came out and said 'I am so dead,' before running headlong into someone's rifle. Didn't he break his nose on that?" Melody almost lost it now, her laugh becoming almost annoying.
"Yup. And he chipped his tooth." Michelle added. Melody and Michelle looked at each grinning like maniacs. They shouted in unison.
"Thus giving him the name Sunshine!" Michelle lost it and had to sit. Her sides hurt from the laughter. She took the moment to relax and breathe as her laugh fits slowed down. She lifted her sleeve and checked her watch. Tapping on the little screen, she glanced at the time.
"Well, it looks like it's time for me to catch the new imports. See you Melody." Michelle rose from his seat and made her way towards the door. Melody waved with a brighter mood on her face.
"See you tonight Michelle. I got the movie Phantom Fragment." Michelle's eyes widened and mouthed "nice" when she heard Melody's words. Melody's face lit up with a cheeky smile as Michelle vanished behind the door.
Silence filled as Melody rose from the ground. She dusted herself off and proceeded to roam her office. Stretching her legs and back, she went back into professionalism. She grabbed her tablet and pecked at it. She sent emails to her clients and moved files. She went through the many duties that she had to do until her concentration was interrupted by a blimp. A monotone beep and a flash of light came from her holopad on her desk. She walked over to it and spoke.
"Milla, would you please open the message?" melody waited for a moment and received a confirmation.
"Yes. The message is from Doctor Brain Matthew." Milla's voice seemed unprofessional than the other day. " His message states that he is intrigued by Siv's condition and would like a sample of his mucus either analyzed or sent to him, preferable sent to him if you could?"
"Well he is in luck. Tell him we can send him a sample. Milla. Please request a courier for pick up on sensitive and hazardous material. " Milla chimed a tone. Melody walked into the other room, grabbing gloves from the near dispenser. She smiled as she pulled the gloves tight to her hands. "Milla, play Blue Moon symphony of 2489."
The music played in a slow and waltz manner, allowing Melody to think and daydream as she worked. She imagined dancing, in a dress. Twirling around and feeling pretty. She imagined seeing her ex, Brandon. He reached out and offered a hand out and she took it. His short, clean cut hair, and black suit made him attractive as ever. They danced and bobbed between the crowd. Showing off as the strut with meaning. He guided her through elegance and spun her and when her vision became blurry. He slowed her spin. Behind Brandon stood a tall and welcoming figure. It was an elite, one that seemed all too familiar to her. It was Shi'rune. He wore a custom made black suit. She imagined seeing Shi'rune, a sangheili, in a black dress suit. She blushed and laughed. It was almost ridiculous to the point of laughter and she found it cute. Brandon stood aside and bowed, allowing Shi'rune to take his place as Brandon vanished into the darkness. Shi'rune pulled Melody close and stepped side to side almost awkwardly due to height issues. He did basic spins and simple moves. She danced with him for what felt like hours and when the song came down to an end, he leaned forward and whispered. Shi'rune may have moved his mandibles but nothing came out. His voice silent as he backed away and vanished with the ending.
Melody found herself at her lab counter. In her right hand held a vile of a mucus like substance. Her left hand rested upon a metal cube with a cylinder like hatch. She pushed the hatch down getting a clicking noise as it rose higher and protruded out of the cube. The cylinder hatch exposed a hollowed out opening. Which she placed the vile in. Then she lowered the hatch again. Pushing the object back into the cube. CLICK! She grinned a winner's expression only to lose it for a simple thought. One that will now plague her for a long time. She had forgotten Shi'rune's voice. She quickly packed Siv's mucus sample and left it sitting on the counter. She ripped the gloves off. Making them snap violently. Her pace quickened towards the nearest sink and washed them in hot water. She took her foot off the pedal forcing the water to stop. The sink emptied the water only to be met with droplets. Some from the faucet. Some from Melody's eyes. Tears welled up and began to form trails down her cheeks. Her face held no expression but her teas expressed sadness and pain.
"Milla." Melody choked back. " Would you please let the courier have access to the lab to pick up the package. I believe I need some time to refocus my mind."
"Yes Miss Vovel. I will let you know if you are needed and if anything pops up." Milla's voice shared sympathy with Melody's mood. Allowing her to grieve in silence as she walked outside.