Jaal P.O.V
"Sir Jaal, I require your assistance." I heard S.A.M ask politely like he always does.
"Yes, How can I be of assistance?" I put down my spotless sniper rifle very carefully. I turn to the sound of S.A.M's voice.
"Sara has been unresponsive for 30 minuets. My protocol requires if a team member of the pathfinder's team goes unresponsive after a period of time they need to found. I need assistance to find her, since you and her a close relationship you would logically be best suited to help find her." I nod, but it nice to know I'm seen as her 'besty' as PeeBee calls it.
"Of course, where was she seen last?" I ask putting on my 'poncho' but it's a tunic, it whirls in a floating circle as I Put it around my neck, floating gracefully around my body.
"Her cabin was where Sara was last seen." It stated and groaned under my breath, this may be a challenge.
"But I don't have access-"
"I can override the lock in cases of emergency, and will I grant you entry upon arrival." I nodded at the computer making my way to my door.
"Thank you, I hope she is okay" I say a bit louder than I was hoping.
I stood in her cabin and it is huge. I now see why Cora was upset if these are the perks for being the 'pathfinder'. I immediately noticed some clothes scattered along the floor and a few other things I didn't recognise, like the strappy thing with two shallow cups attacked with3 different straps (a bra), or the piece of material that was two triangles joined together with soft silky material (girly underwear). The trail leads to a door that is locked; I consider it for a moment.
"S.A.M, can you unlock this door?" I ask putting my hand on the door cautiously.
"Affirmative" I hear S.A.M explain. Within less than a second the door is open.
"Sara, are you in here?" I ask nervously feeling like I shouldn't be here. I can't shake the feeling. I inhale and smell a humid atmosphere and even more concerning, burning. I turn around and feel shock and fear. The smell came from some tiny wax things burning away to themselves. I saw her passed out in a plastic container full of hot water and a white foamy substance floating on the surface of the hot water! I will admit at this point I'm panicking. Is this suicide? Is she trying to cook herself? Is the foamy stuff a human substance? Does she only have a few minutes to live? Is she alive? Should I get Dr. Lexi? I know our mission is a difficult one but surely its not 'that' bad. I realise I've been holding my breath and exhale, calming my nervous state.
She moves to her side, away from myself so she is facing the wall. I sigh in relive that she's alive. I can see part of her hip and it's the same colour as her face, but her face is rather pink. Her hair is down to her shoulders and floating on the bubbles. That point I realise hair is many, many strands that grow from her head.
I decide it is too dangerous to leave her like this as she will drown or be cooked. So I pick her up, as best as I can. I hold her tops half against my chest using one arm to support her and the other arm under her 'knee joint' in her legs, I then realise this is what a human looks like without clothes. She has strange chest 'lumps' but I remember what Dr. Lexi said about humans get easily upset if others see them naked without permission. We Angaran don't get this insecure feeling about not wearing clothes, so I look away and take her to her bed. I feel her move her outside arm closer to me, it reassures me. I very gently place her on her bed being very careful with her fragile frame.
I watch her move as her breathing picks up and her eyes shut half way a few times then expand open looking terrified and makes a high pitch, loud, piercing noise. I stare at her in shock as she sits up.
"JAAL! WH- what are you doing in here? How? Why?" She shouts not in anger, but in panic then looks down at herself and covers up her chest lumps and glares at me.
"What was that noise you made?" I asked curiously and maybe a bit enthusiastically.
"Oh, you can cover up with this," I say happily giving her my tunic 'poncho' as she calls it. For half a second she looks confused then takes it and uses it to immediately cover herself.
"My apologies Ms. Ryder. Due to system code 328, I asked Sir Jaal to assist me to find your location as you went off line, I predicted he would be the best option to help find you due to your close friendship and the fact you have an attract-"
"S.A.M! Stop! Please?" Ryder shouted then spoke and followed with a bit of a plea. It didn't take much to realise she obviously felt exposed and it made her nervous.
"I, I fell asleep in the bath. I'm sorry for worrying you both" She admitted with her face going red, and attempting to cover herself up as much as she could. I had no idea what she was talking about but will ask her about the loud noise she made and this 'bath' thing later. I stared at her in her eyes and her blue one looked back nervous and worriedly at me like an animal under the gaze of a predator. With that I turned around and heard a deep sigh.
"Do you want me to leave, Sara?" I ask turning my head so she can see me but keeping a focus on the floor, I couldn't help the 'gut feeling' like I had done something wrong.
"No!" She replied very quickly, which made me smile. "And I'm sorry for screaming at you earlier." She said very softly and apologetically. If she knows she shouldn't talk with that amount of softness, in our culture that's only said that way between mates.
"Was that the high pitched, loud noise you made?" I asked still looking at the floor as I could hear her rumbling around her room.
"Yes, we call it a scream." She said again softly, I should really to let her know she shouldn't talk like this or my curiosity may get the better of me, and I'm not like that.
"It's safe you can turn around now Jaal." She giggled. Why? Why act so sweet and adorable because if I fall for you it will be unfair on you. I could hurt you or crush you or…. Not allowing myself to think about that last part, she's your commander Jaal! I scolded myself then turned round.
She was stood there with a sleeveless top and shorts, she sat on the bed handing me back my beloved tunic, smiling at me and her eyes sparkled.
"So what is this 'bath' you spoke of earlier?" I asked trying to change the topic from the thoughts that were very 'taboo' and over playing in my head of how I would love to take her to that bed she was sat on and claim her my- NO!
"Well… A bath is when you have a large 'tub' and fill it with warm to hot water, you can wash in them but I like to relax in mine. There are some in the main bathrooms for you guys to use but they are a lot bigger than mine, they are more like a Jacuzzi. Which is a bubbly bath like thing for relaxing in." She explained a bit too softly for my concentration levels and it was sending my hormones crazy.
I noticed that her sink was pinkish in places liker cheeks, nose, shoulders, knees, hands and feet. She had odd feet, all human have strange feet I thought. I noticed her 'hair' was draped over her shoulders and it stuck to her neck and in front of her chest. It almost for a moment made her look slightly Angaran. I wish I had paid more attention to what she was saying but I reached out to touch her now darker brown 'hair' and it felt wet. Not like last time when it felt soft and fluffy.
"Your, Hair? Why isn't it pulled back like normal?" I asked curiously and slightly mesmerised by it. Then I caught her eye contact and the big smile on her face.
"It's because I usually 'tie' my hair 'up' in a 'ponytail' as we call it. And this is how it looks naturally, or we call describe it as being 'down'. Well, other than the fact it's still wet through." She laughed. I pulled a bit behind her ear and her facial expression changed as she closed her eyes and her whole frame relaxed allowing me to tough her hair and move it out of her face, and human ears are strange looking things, our ears are internal not external, however human ears work well for keeping their hair behind. Sara opened her eyes and I froze my hand stayed by her face I just wanted to touch her skin properly to find out how soft it is.
I brought my hand back down and looked at her hair again.
"It looks almost Angaran, the shape." I thought out loud causing her to smile. Obviously she heard I sighed looking away hoping she didn't notice.
"Okay my turn!" She said eagerly, so I turned to look at her. "So when your people are 'naked', clothe less, um, do they feel exposed or intimidated like what some humans do?" She asked almost nervously. I sighed and smiled her way, she had brought me back from my deep thoughts.
"No" I replied shaking my head, well I'm assuming it means no. "We have no need to feel intimidated nervous sometimes but never any reason that's bad." I said as she nodded and smiled.
"Well I, and many other humans on this ship, fall into the nervous and intimidated category," She giggled. She doesn't need to explain about her outburst earlier.
"Well now you are okay, would you like me to leave you?" I asked carefully because I can feel my curious thoughts returning, and I don't want to end up doing something stupid with out doing some research first, I may ask Liam or Dr. Lexi? Or both?
"Your welcome to stay as long as you like, but if you want go then I wont keep you," she speaks softly, I want to warn her but I just cant. Yes I'm going to see Dr. Lexi and Liam now. I get up to leave, and smile at her with a nod.
"Thank you, Jaal." She says in the gentlest voice I have ever heard in my life. I don't dare turn around or I will end up ripping her clothes off her so instead I reply softly back.
"I'm glad you are safe."