Border of Insanity

The soldier's body was aching. It just wasn't the back, groin, thigh, and abdomen, the pain extended to the calf and chest. Her tender breasts were still swelling, and the skin around the nipples was darkening, and the human claimed her ribs were hurting. What the asari found most endearing, were the patches of skin on the face, but they weren't darkening, they were lighten.

Then, there was the joint inflammation and the constant itches that, coupled with the numb and tingling hands left the young woman in fits. What wasn't normal, were the spontaneous bouts of dizziness, and the alone talks that she had with herself; the first time the cerulean creature witnessed the event, she became afraid that her friend had finally managed to lose her sanity.

FlashBack

"No, I need some water, not sun or air . . . ." She was pacing around one of the rooms; they had moved again, this time, Samara had left to do her search, and had come back to take the pregnant woman somewhere else. "But, the fresh air will do me good, but I need fresh water, not air . . ."

"Hannah, are you okay?" This only got a scowl from the female.

"Why is she asking me if I'm okay?" The usual clear blue eyes appeared to have a thin, barely noticeable layer. "Oh, it's probably 'cause I'm talking to myself . . . . Wait, since when do I think out loud . . ? Is thinking out loud the same as talking to myself . . ?"

FlashForward

It had been the first time the asari had been truly afraid, and felt the urge to get the human back with her own kind, never mind the dangers of first contact. Besides that the problem was, her own kind had been the one to make a mess out of her, not that Samara had helped . . . . At least the dizziness wasn't nausea, but it was still worrisome.

"Samara, could you help me rub this on myself?" It was a sensible request that shouldn't be made, or at least use different words to phrase. "What is the question that you should ask Samara? Oh, shoot! Samara, could you rub my joints and hands, please?"

"I have the ointment," the cerulean face rounded the corner just to be greeted with the sight of the human trying to scratch herself; she was twisted upon herself, tongue sticking out from the corner of her mouth as she tried to scratch her back. The justicar sighed; it was like dealing with a kid sometimes. "What are other things you can ask Samara to do for you?"

"Huh?" It actually helped talking to her as if it was herself with whom she spoke. "Oh! Samara, could you scratch my back, please? My hands have gone numb again . . . ."

"What a surprise, they are numb," the soldier had a wounded look on her face that changed to pleasure as soon as her lower back was being scratched. "So, did you plan to get some butter from the fridge to use on your joints?"

"Wow, even in my madness you know me well . . . ." The eyelids began to flutter, and the blue creature smiled tenderly. "Samara . . . ."

"I'll give you a foot rub as soon as I'm done covering you in ointment," she leaned down and gave the young woman a soft peck on the lips, "now, you be good and let Samara work."

The caramel face smiled in pleasure. It felt good to have someone who understood her so well, especially someone like the warrior. They began by the neck, rubbing it gently, easing the vertebrae burden, then the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles. If only the female human wouldn't contort in such ways, maybe the cartilage wouldn't swell so badly. At least the swelling was the normal amount, and there was no extreme reddening.

Also, the corporal was regaining weight (finally?) at a normal pace, and was right then quite fit, enough that she was now the one preparing their morning meals. There was a slight problem to it, and it was that her sense of taste was being modified, such as her cravings dictating ketchup with her something-akin-to strawberry flapjacks. Quite a unique combination, in the asari's logic; her suspicion was confirmed that even by human standards it was weird by her companion's monologue.

"I prepared you a smoothie," the creature at her mercy made a humming noise, enjoying the ministrations, "no ketchup."

"Strawberry and mango?" It had been the latest combination. At least it wasn't weird.

"With some pineapple," the justicar confirmed, now massaging the ribs of the woman beneath her, eliciting a moan, "but I think I'll have mine now . . . ."

"Oh, which flavor?" Those blue eyes had a gone look in them. "Can I have some?"

Samara smirked, and approached to whisper, "its caramel, and it would be hard for you to get some . . . ." She was already making purée out of the young woman.

After the first time, the older life form took to just reading her companion's recent memories, mostly in order to enhance the pleasure, and soon, through this method, figured out a use to those silly things in their heads used for hearing. Ears. They had always seemed like a useless mutation, but then again, the skin surrounding it was so sensitive, that it was fun to play with. Like at that precise instant. Already being near the odd development, she took a careful bite of the lobe, and she felt her partner's mind exploding with gratification. Being biotic definitely had its uses. Asari weren't promiscuous creatures, but they were certainly created for pleasure . . . .

It took the bite for Hannah to understand what her lover meant. Already five months pregnant and her belly was slightly big. It would seem though, that the justicar found her appealing during the pregnancy, but she wasn't one to complain. Her own hormones were in chaos.

"Samara, I feel like I betrayed you," yes, the blonde still had spells of sanity, though they were strange and rather infrequent, "all the training you gave me, I passed the knowledge on, although the program don't include swordplay as part of the requisite courses, it is offered."

"Have they seen the omni-tool?"

"Well, considering our technicians would take it from me and demand answers," she activated the holographic device, "and I refuse to part with it, then no. Human Special Forces will have to deal without it; if they won't take the help, I won't force it."

"A military special force that you help set up?" She was impressed, but sad that the creature had ended up being — what was that expression again? — burned by her own people for the knowledge she had to offer. "Well, even if you should be capable of doing better and help further, I can see your kin isn't that kind to females, to be foolish enough to disregard all the help they could get . . . . You should have used your omni-tool to show them why you're a good candidate —"

"And increase the rumors about my close encounter of the third kind?" An unseemingly and indelicate snort later, the petite creature snuggled closer; truth was, she had, but although others thought they had seen a flash, it was in fact the blade of the tool in a self-defense motion she had perfected. It had been a reaction, and so fun was made of her whole abduction, even though it had been horrible until she had found the warrior, and then they had to go ahead and make remarks about probes and what-not, then towards her preferring aliens' over humans — they hadn't been wrong, she had fallen for Samara long before realizing, but then taking it personal, things had scaled out of hand. For all her training, she couldn't handle five grown men, and afterwards, with all her bruises and still not talking, they bound her up and set watch. So no, Hannah would be excused for wanting to keep quiet about anything else, even if the aliens bit them in their rears, it would be well deserved. "They'll understand in due time. What's the point of waiting for the surprise when it's spoiled?"

"So being prepared doesn't factor into it?" She began caressing the golden locks, trying to ease her mate and regulate her breathing; she knew what had happened, yet walked right into it.

"I've already helped them," Hannah hid her face, "but being there led to this — mess! If they won't listen, I don't have to expose myself; I shouldn't have been exposed in such a manner in the first place! Although it hadn't been Alliance approved, hence why they got away. I don't need to needlessly make myself vulnerable, it feels like being the chicken with a red spot, and having the others peck at it.

"I don't need to — I don't!"

"You don't." She held the trembling girl closer. "You certainly don't."

So much for an enlightened mood, it was ruined, and there was nothing she could do to make it better. Sometimes, when basic needed weren't involved, complexities shine through that make for a possibly complex situation. Most of the times though, simply holding the one ailing and suffering, made the whole difference. So in a sense, every creature held the similar need for comfort, it just takes a while to learn the subtleties to the amount and the right kind to offer. Even if Samara hadn't been in touch with others for a long time, she still had three daughters and had once had a partner; she knew enough. It didn't take the pain, didn't lessen it, but there was comfort in knowing someone else was there, and she was. She wouldn't be later on, but she would try her best to show her support.