Lexi was practically vibrating with excitement as she approached the cryo bay aboard the Hyperion. She had studied human psychological conditions of course, and had spent the last few days refreshing her knowledge - but she had never actually met anyone with autism. Then again, from what she had learnt from Scott's descriptions Sarah was not obviously autistic, so she was sure it'd be fine. As long as she remembered not to touch her and not approach or address her until Scott gave the go-ahead. It would not do to frighten Sarah into an anxiety attack the first time she met her.
The cryo bay was surprisingly active, with several people lying on the beds and the nursing staff checking their vital signs as they awoke from their six hundred years long sleep. But Lexi was not interested in them: on one of the beds sat a young woman with long dark hair, dressed in a black and red suit. She had her arms wrapped around herself in a comforting manner, but the way her knuckles were white and her fingers tightly clenched Lexi knew it was a sign of distress. She was crooning, Lexi realized - a song that she had never heard before.
"...In Lahaina, the sugar-cane grows, in Lahaina, living is slow.."
"Ah hell" Scott muttered as he saw her. "I broke my promise." Lexi stared at him confused, but cott ignored him and slowly began approaching the woman that had to be Sarah. And as he approached, he sang.
"in Lahaina, the mangoes are sweet, But the centipede he crawls all over your feet…"
The song went on, a silly little ditty about a centipede -some sort of earth creature, Lexi thought-, and finally Scott stood about two feet away from his sister.
"I'm sorry, zsa-zsa" he said gently as he crouched down to be on the same eye level as her. "I promised I'd be there when you woke up and I wasn't. Will you look at me?"
There was silence, then the woman's head slowly turned.
"I was scared" she whispered in a soft voice. "You promised me."
"Yes, yes I did. I'm sorry, zsa-zsa. It was a promise I wanted to keep, but couldn't. Remember when mum talked about that?"
Lexi was momentarily confused - she knew the pathfinder's sister's name was Sarah. But he was calling her zsa-zsa. Then she remembered that Scott had told them it was a favourite nickname from childhood and worked well to calm Sarah when she was distressed.
Scott held out his hand, palm up, but made no attempt to touch his sister.
"You're my ohana" he said, gently, and finally she laid her hand in his.
"And ohana means" she replied,
"That no one gets left behind." Scott finished, smiling gently, and with a sob that was half joy, half terror, Sarah threw herself into her brother's arms.
"Oh, Sarah" Scott cried into his sister's hair, "I missed you. I missed you so much." The twins held each other close, and for several moments Lexi just watched the touching reunion with a lump in her throat. At last, Scott stood up slowly pulling Sarah with him, wiping at his wet eyes.
"I brought my friend, zsa-zsa" Scott said with the same gentle tone of voice, and Sarah slowly turned her head to look around, giving Lexi the chance to see her face. It was a bit of a surprise; Scott was tall and broad, with angular features and an unfortunate nose, but Sarah was dark and delicate. She had big brown eyes and a lush mouth that seemed to beg to be kissed, and her skin was darker than her brother's. But the nose and jawline was the same and she had his air of gentleness and caring. In conclusion, she was a very pretty human female and if Lexi had been inclined that way she would have been very interested in pursuing her. As it was, she just hoped that she'd be able to make friends with her.
"Would you like to meet her?" Scotty asked, and the woman nodded her head slowly. Lexi immediately straightened her stance, doing her best to come off as professional but friendly.
"Hello Sarah" she said, keeping her voice carefully neutral. My name is Lexi. I work with Scott on the Tempest. I'm the medical officer."
Sarah Ryder, who stood barefoot about two inches shorter than Lexi in heels, gave her a very sharp look. Then she smiled, and it was like the sun over Thessia.
"Hello Lexi" she said, her voice sweet as she held out her slim hand. "It's nice to meet you."
Lexi smiled back, helplessly, and held out her own hand. Sarah Ryder was not at all what she had expected.
The song quoted is "Lahaina" sung by Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina. There is also a reference to Disney's Lilo & Stitch, which honestly has inspired most of this. Apart from the autism bit, that's all me.