PURGATORY

CHAPTER SIX

The Grand Tour

A/N: I won't go into detail about what the place looks like yet. That requires a great deal of premediated work. I will describe them as I go. Thanks for understanding.

Very little small talk occurred between Huntress Shiala and Liara as the matron showed her around the prison. Not that the curious maiden didn't try starting a conversation, it was more that the hunter did not want to engage with the blue beauty. Nearly dragging her feet like she had given the tour a thousand times too many, Shiala showed Liara the General Public Area, better known as the GPA, Mess Hall and

The General Public Area was a long rectangular space that included a small room off to the side where twenty people, or five krogans, could sit comfortably. It was the place where one could watch vids from nearby planets or from the paid program stations like Netvids. Inside the metallic colored walls were a few tables and chairs for those who wanted to play cards or board games. The maiden's escort was quick to add, "That is if they want to brave the noise."

"I don't understand."

Leaning against the door jam, Shiala remarked, "It's typically one of the loudest places in the prison. It is also where the majority of the humans lounge about." Suddenly lifting off the wall, the huntress announced like the complete opposite of an excited man giving tours at a chocolate factory, "Time to go, much to see." Liara simply rolled her eyes and followed behind her blasé tour guide.

Moving to the far side of the GPA, they soon came to another small room, but it was a little bigger than the vid compartment. However unlike the vid room, this one was painted with two tones; a neutral cream color from the waist down and a soft white which also encompassed the ceiling. The senior asari explained that the open space with collapsible tables and chairs was used for asari meditation and yoga classes. She also said that this was the where the asari mostly hung out.

Scanning the area, Liara could already sense the soothing feel of the room and would perhaps enjoy spending time in there. Allowing the maiden to soak in the atmosphere, Shiala waited before she spoke again. "The space was intended for quiet times, so if an occasional human wanted to read or send messages on their comm, it is permitted. That is with Aria's permission." The huntress chuckled heartedly as if she remembered some joke from the past. Once she was done with her own amusement, the light green asari added, "But primarily it's a game room. We even play Kepesh-Yakshi here.

The prothean expert was surprised by the mention of the asari game, Blade in the Night Wind. It was typically a highly sophisticated game that ultimately delivered a biotic shock to the looser. Knowing how difficult the space-chess was, the prothean expert wondered how many different asari had actually ended up on the floor because of the side affect of loosing the electronic board game.

Included in the grand tour was a visit to a surprisingly clean bathroom in which Shiala remarked, "What were you expecting? Some nasty infested place. Hell no, we are women and luckily the warden also has a high standard of cleanness." Slowly pacing in front of the stainless steel sinks, the deadly huntress commented, "The jury still out if it's to keep us busy or she really believes in it." Leaning against the sink counter, the matron finished, "Regardless, we have immaculate restrooms and showers. There shouldn't be any foot rot here."

Exiting the restrooms, Shiala briefly point down another corridor to where the berthing was. At first, Liara was curious to know where she would be sleeping, but after realizing she would be sleeping there for the next thirty five years, the maiden was suddenly not in any rush to see it.

"Next I'll show you where the gym and library are, follow me."

The maiden's mind glazed over the words gym but when she processed the word library, the Prothean Expert absentmindedly reach out and grabbed the huntress' arm halting her forward progress. "There is a library here?"

Glancing down at her inhibited arm, Shiala answered when Liara quickly pulled back her arm not aware of the dangerous waters she was treading on. "Yes we have a library. We are criminals; not idiots." The asari continued on her way as she muttered, "Well some of us aren't at least."

A moment later, the asari approached a room with a plague over it that matched all the other labels. 'Library'

To the asari matron, she could have sworn it was love at first site as Liara pressed her face against the large glass window the best she could admiring all the old – real pages books.

Leaning against the glass next to the girl, Shiala said, "I should have pegged you for a book worm."

As the younger asari drooled over the physical books, the matron chimed to herself. I had been wondering how Aria was going to put this one to 'good use' but I think, we may have lost her to this library. Never before had the matron seen anyone go so crazy over the ancient books still clinging to life like the leather and fabric bindings that held them together.

"There are so many."

Smiling at the baby blue asari, the green tinted matron disclosed with a hint of humor in her tone, "Yeah every once in a while, you'll catch the warden down here sneaking a book out." Peering into the library, Shiala continued, "She occasionally reads when she gets the time, I guess. Although it makes since, you don't get to be as smart as that one by looking at picture books."

"Alright kiddo, let's get a move on. We are almost done."

The asari slowly approached a door where the lights were turned off. Above it was a white plaque with black letters engraved in it. 'Gym'.

This is the gym, the asari matron glanced up at the sign stating the obvious. "It's closed today but we don't really use it unless we want to spy on someone. We asari don't need to work as hard as some of the other species to stay in shape. To this day, I can't remember seeing Aria do a single lap in the track ring."

Without much thought, the naïve asari questioned, "Then how does she stay in shape?"

The older asari nearly busted up laughing as an erotically sexual mental image appeared in her head. Avoiding the subject, the matron returned, "Oh she has her ways" as she quickly pushed on.

Beginning to open the door to the dark room, the skilled hunter added, "Have you ever seen how easily humans get fatigued?"

Flicking on the switch, the two asari entered the workout room. Not expecting anyone to be in the space, their eyes were suddenly drawn to two women huddled in one of the corners of the small compartment. It didn't take long, even for the maiden, to figure out what was going on. The humans were completely naked and going at it on a pile of workout pads. Despite the fact that the light had unexpectedly illuminated, the one on the bottom, whom Liara recognized as the red head who was flirting with her earlier, continued her lustful moans while the woman on top, didn't even slow her vigorous thrusting between the red head's thighs.

A quick tilt of her head caused the asari matron to chuckle, "Yep she's a natural red head alright." However as the two continued, it bothered the elite killer to be ignored, even under the current circumstances.

Arrogantly crossing her arms, as if she gave a damn, Huntress Shiala cleared her throat and called out to busy lovers. "Don't stop on our account."

Barely turning her head to see who was behind them, the brunette on top, still fully engaging in her extra curriculum panted, "I wasn't going to, sugar."

Grabbing the cushions above her head even harder as she grunted and moaned, the red head huffed, "You better not. I'm almost there."

Continuing her feverish pace, the brunette with a set of plump breast quipped, peering back at the two standing invaders, "Enjoying the show?"

Annoyingly shifting her weight between her feet, Shiala gasped, "Between you two? Hardly."

Meanwhile the naïve asari, who had little contact with humans, went through several stages of blue from blushing. There was a mixture of embarrassment and arousal. She couldn't make up her mind which was more prominent. Was it that two women were having sex in front of them – right here, or that they didn't stop once they had entered? She had never seen humans that intimate before. The visual and audio display was almost more that the secluded professor could handle as the red head's moaning increased in intensity filling the empty space.

Glancing over to the maiden, the matron saw how roused the newbie was becoming. The very idea that the maiden might actually be enjoying the show was too much for the Huntress and she decided to imposed her will to get her out of there.

Gently touching the maiden forearm's the huntress suggested loudly, "Let's go. I'm getting board," emphasizing the word board.

Once the door was closed behind them, Shiala shook like she was shaking off excess rain after being outside in a thunder storm. "Goddess humans. How they get on I will never know. I guess everyone gets lonely eventually huh?"

Taking the matron by surprise, Liara asked, "Do you ever get lonely?"

Spinning around faster than the Prothean Expert expected, the deadly huntress growled, "I'm not talking about that." Shiala had already started to spin back around when she looked back over her shoulder and warned, "And it's none of your business by the way."

If the huntress had turned around once more, she would have seen the bluest eyes apologizing their guts out, but she didn't. Acting as if the sexual encounter had never happened, the green asari continued her tour. "Down this hall is the geedunk store."

The young professor was about to ask what a 'geedunk' store was when Shiala made an unexpected and loud whistle to the guard station which made the door surprisingly open for the Huntress and her guest. "The hours are regulated, as are the items purchased here."

When the huntress saw an intrigued yet confused expression on the maiden's face, she added, "Aria gets a cut of the profits."

Understanding the matron's meaning, Liara nodded.

"Aria gets her share while she ensures a healthy supply of goods at a discount."

"Wait, what is a geedunk store?"

"It's an old Naval term meaning a store that sells junk food, snacks or what nots."

Just then a beautiful asari pushed her way between the two. "They also sell moisturizing cream." Winking at the senior matron, the alluring matron dragged a provocative hand across Shiala's thigh as she passed. "Don't forget that Huntress Shiala."

Once the curvaceous asari was out of earshot the young maiden inquired, "Who was that?"

Without amusement, in fact nearly irritated, Shiala answered, "That's Sha'ira."

Bright eyed, Liara responded, "She seems to like you."

Huffing, "She likes everyone. But she especially likes to tease me because people are always confusing us by our names."

Puzzled, Liara tilted her head.

"Sha'ira and Shiala."

"I see."

"I try telling everyone, I'm the Huntress and she's the …" The skilled hunter decided to reframe from continuing her statement. "…well, I'll let you figure that one out on your own kiddo."

Heading back to the GPA, the green matron mentioned, "On Wing B, there is laundry, the factory and a tool shop." She paused and quickly scanned the asari up and down before going on. "But in reality, if you ever need anything, you see Aria first, got it?"

Not sure why, she replied, "Got it."