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Marked Effect (AFF Edition)	By : unrealuniverse Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 22185 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Mass Effect characters, species, locations and the universal setting are owned by Bioware and not myself. Any other brand names mentioned are property of their respective owners. This work is and always will be free for anyone to read.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Chapter 22 - Check-up
Thursday 19th January 2017
-----
"I wonder who that could be?" Kate mumbled to herself as she dragged herself out of bed and to the door of her room. Opening the door she finds a rather miserable looking Asari with dark blue markings looking at her. "Come in Fosanta," Kate rubbing her eyes as she walks back to the bed.
"I am extremely sorry if I woke you." Kate sits down on the side of the bed before yawning.
"You did but I do not mind. What do you want to talk about in the middle of the night?"
"I am just missing Shiala. I know it sounds a little silly but I have not slept."
"Get in if you would be happier." Kate motioning to the bed.
"Kate. I hope you do not think that is what I came for. I only came for a talk to settle my mind."
"You can leave my offer if you wish but I would like to get some more sleep before morning." Fosanta smiles to Kate and gets in into bed next to her.
"I appreciate this Kate." Kate wondered if what she had just done was a good idea but was too tired to dwell on it. She lies down and pulls the sheets over herself. It was not long before the two of them were fast asleep.
-----
Adastra had awoken after yet another twenty minute power nap. Frustrated at getting no quality sleep she quietly inches out of the bed and turns on the console. She was careful to turn the brightness down on the screen so as not to awaken Sam. Out of habit the first thing she did was check her messages even though she knew it was very early morning and that no one would be awake yet. There was however a message from Seliha which intrigued Adastra.
Adastra,
I am grateful for your words of thanks and appreciation but you did not need to send them. I understand how difficult it must be to get items that match your markings. I must apologise for yesterday asking for you to take your clothes off, I realise that I was not thinking when I asked that and you did not know. I have been given permission by the Armali Council to meet you on your ship tomorrow if that would be convenient. Please send a reply saying if this is ok.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Seliha
Adastra quickly typed out a reply on the holographic keyboard saying that she is welcome to come whenever and they will stay on Thessia until she wants to depart. After Adastra had sent the message she wondered why she was so keen to see her again so soon.
"I see you could not sleep." Sam shouted into his pillow so it came out barely audible his eyes still shut. Adastra turned around on the chair to look at Sam.
"I did a little but it is like an annoying itch you cannot get rid of so I have barely slept. I did however get a reply back to my message that I sent last night."
"You mean from Seliha?"
"Yes. She wishes to meet us here sometime today so Illium is going to have to wait until she has left."
"I call first use of the shower." Sam knowing it will take Adastra longer now given she has to wash and dry around the holder. He jumps out of the bed and walks to the shower yawning as he goes.
-----
Kate and Fosanta stirred at roughly the same time.
"Morning Kate. I must thank you for the offer."
"I thought you coming to my door and me letting you get into the bed was a dream." Kate looking a little confused through the not-quite-awake-yet daze.
"No Kate it was not a dream. We best be getting up if we are travelling to Illium this morning." With that Fosanta jumps out of bed as if someone had just flicked the on switch. She walked around the room to the small set of shelves and pulled out a towel before throwing it at Kate still in the bed. "If we are quick we should be able to get a shower before the commandos get up." Kate dragged herself out of the bed and stretched before picking up the towel.
"That sounds like a good idea." Kate still sounding half asleep but looking more alert.
The two leave the room at the same time Adastra and Sam are leaving. Sam and Adastra having smiles on their faces at what they saw happen even if Adastra's was showing her tiredness.
"Morning you two. Kate, I hope you have not contracted the blue disease." Adastra laughs at that.
"Blue disease?" Kate asking quizzically, still seemingly oblivious as to what this was.
"I am not explaining if you do not know." Adastra knowing all too well what happens. "There is a small change of plans for today. There will be a guest arriving sometime, so until they have been we are not going to Illium."
"Who is coming?" Fosanta seemed awake enough and reasonably well slept even if it was only half of the night.
"The engineer who we met yesterday at Armali Council."
"I am guessing you must be wearing the device now given you look tired."
"Yes, I did not sleep well."
"We were about to go for a shower before the commandos awoke."
"We will be having breakfast," Sam added as he and Adastra left to get something to eat as Kate and Fosanta went to the showers.
-----
"I fear Kate has caught the blue disease." Sam idly making conversation while shovelling in the crap breakfast for yet another day.
"The disease chooses you not the other way around Sam."
"So why have I got it when I am not the person you are to be looking for." Sam remembering Sha'ira's advice. Adastra looks a little pained at that revelation.
"You are really annoying when you are right." Sam smiles just as Adastra receives a notification of a new message on her Omni-tool.
"Seliha is going to be arriving in five minutes." Sam and Adastra had barely had time to put their breakfast stuff away and get up to the airlock before Seliha arrived.
"Adastra, Sam. It is a pleasure to be able to meet you both again." Both Sam and Adastra nod.
"So what brought you here today?" Sam not knowing what was in the messages.
"I came to see how Adastra was coping and for a talk Sam. I know that look well Adastra. I usually look the same after the first night as well."
"How long does it take to get used to it?" Adastra trying to gleam some information from the more experienced person.
"Exhaustion will get you reasonable sleep after the second bad night. It is about a week usually before you really start sleeping well."
"Wonderful information." Adastra getting a little cranky.
"Are we alone up here?" Both Adastra and Sam look a little puzzled at that question.
"If what you want to say does not last long then yes as people will be waking up shortly."
"The real reason I am here I tried to hint in my message but I feel that you were too tired to pick up on it. Adastra I understand how difficult having markings on your body is as I have the same condition." Both Sam and Adastra suddenly felt shock overwhelm them.
"I could do with a sit down." Adastra walking to a nearby chair and taking a seat.
"I tend to try and keep it quiet for obvious reasons. I will happily show you my markings if you wish since you should understand."
"Do you know of any more people with this condition?" Sam seemingly not quite as shocked as Adastra who still seemed to be trying to process the information.
"I used to know a Matriarch who had the condition until she died fifty four years ago. Apart from that unfortunately not Sam."
"While Adastra gets over the shock could I ask what it is like to work for Armali Council as both Adastra and myself have been given jobs in the Illium facility."
"I like that facility; it is one of the better ones. The management treat their workers well and although there is quite a lot of form filling to do, it is simple to fill out on the whole. I should be at the Illium facility in a about a weeks time for three months so I am sure we will probably see each other fairly often."
"I am guessing they must do biotics at Illium then?"
"That is what Armali Council primarily makes and works with so yes. They also have a propulsion facility on the same site. That is about all that is made in Illium and it is a tiny complex compared to the one here on Thessia."
"I think Sam and myself are going to be in the propulsion facility."
"I will make sure to keep an eye out in the corridors. You seem to be getting over the shock a little now Adastra. Sorry about dropping that on you after a bad night."
"It is ok. I just thought I would never meet anyone who had the same condition."
"I know it is an inappropriate time but I also come with a request from the development team at Armali Council. Would you be willing to get upgrades to your amp to test the newest Pulsar designs that are produced? Armali have difficulties in finding suitable volunteers who have the same biotic system as yourself."
"Could I at least have a play with this one first before deciding?"
"Of course, I do not wish to pressurise you. You are free to say no if you wish."
"Speaking of play people should be up and about downstairs. I am sure at least Aumarva would be interested in speaking to you." the three of them head down a deck.
-----
"I wonder where Adastra and Sam are." Kate added as she walked out of the showers, five minutes after Fosanta had.
"I am guessing their guest may have arrived." Kate sat next to Fosanta and picked up the plate that was on the floor.
"... amusing when a guest walks in on people eating." Sam shouts just as the lift doors opened as if he had been talking before the doors opened and that was a continuation of the message.
"Kate and Fosanta meet Seliha who was the person who manufactured my amp yesterday."
"I am pleased to meet you both. This is a remarkably spacious ship."
"I am surprised to see you here Seliha." Aumarva said from down the hallway. Seliha turned around.
"It is good to see you again Aumarva. You look well rested."
"I had a good night after getting used to the smaller size, thank you again for the upgrade. Why are you here today though?"
"I came to ask if Adastra would be part of our Pulsar technology testing team." Seliha not willing to say what her true motive was.
"Could I ask why you gave us upgrades on something that is meant to be to a strict specification?"
"On your device the upgrade I gave does not remove, bypass or reduce the effectiveness of the limiter, hence it was deemed as a valid option on your design."
"What about my upgrade"
"Your upgrade Adastra caused us many headaches. The pulsar amplifier really does not like being paired with a passive limiter. We stretched the rules a little and we think we have got the amplifier to eliminate the effect of the limiter entirely. You would have learnt your way around it eventually anyway."
"So I have no limiter?" Adastra being a little surprised at that news as was Aumarva seemingly.
"No the limiter is there as it is mandated in your specification. The specification does not say however that it has to have an effect so it does not in your case. The downside is the boost you get from the amplifier has suffered. Our estimates show that a ten percent increase for field strength and seventy five percent for control is about all you will get."
"Why did you think removing the effect of the limiter was a better solution?"
"We have an idea for a design which would remove the effect of the limiter entirely, for pulse control biotics such as yourself, inside the limiter itself. That would free up the amplifier to do what it does best. That design would only be accessible if you chose to accept our offer to become a part of the pulsar testing team though unfortunately."
"All this is making my head spin." Kate clearly not having a technical head.
"That is ok Kate, it gave me headaches yesterday as well."
"What is all this about headaches." Swathana announces as she walks with Yasmari down the corridor.
"Swathana, Yasmari. This is Seliha, we met her yesterday when I went to be tested at Armali's labs." Both of them bow their head to Seliha.
"Actually I have got bored of waiting for everyone to get up. I would like to test this device out. If anyone wants to come with me to the shuttle deck them they are free to." Sam, Seliha, Adastra and Aumarva are the only ones to take up the offer.
-----
The four of them walk into the shuttle bay out of the lift.
"This is a nice space for testing. Who would like to test their device first?"
"How would I go about testing my new limiter?"
"That is simple Aumarva, just try and create biotic fields as quickly as you can." Aumarva stands facing a wall and creates three pushes with four seconds between each.
"I like that addition Seliha. My previous best was six seconds. That will be very handy for me, Thank you." Seliha nods with a warm smile on her face.
"It will take about one hour, after five rapid discharges, for the device to recover. I am just warning you just in case you start relying on it too much."
"I will heed the warning."
"I can see you are itching to test your device Adastra. How comfortable were you with an eight way split the other day?"
"I was ok but I am much more tired today. I would not like to try it to be honest."
"Aumarva could you send one push into the wall as before. Adastra try to split it in to eight. Remember you have the amp now to it should be easier." Adastra nods and Aumarva sends a push towards the wall which quickly splits into eight and each individual piece goes on a lap around the room before deliberately flying into a wall.
"That was a little strange. I could feel both the limiter and the amplifier."
"It is a little interesting that you can feel the limiter. Do you think it is affecting your performance?"
"No but I feel as if it is making creating and maintaining fields more difficult."
"That is valuable advice Adastra. It sounds like the simulator was incorrect. We have so little data from testers for the pulsar amp it is a bit of a guessing game at times. Would you feel happy with a sixteen way split?"
"No, I think ten perhaps twelve would be about my absolute limit on a good day given how I just felt." Seliha nodded
"Would you mind if we could have a talk in private Adastra?"
"Of course not Seliha, my room is upstairs." All four get back in the lift and go up a deck.
-----
The four of them walk out of the lift, everyone finally being awake, half of them wondering who this strange person is walking around. "If you need me I will be out here." Adastra seemed a little less spiteful at Sam saying that which Seliha did not miss.
"Actually Sam, I could do with someone else to help me." Adastra seemingly happier at that which made Seliha a little happier. The three of them walked together down the hallway to Adastra's room and entered.
"Aumarva. I tried that old limiter of yours on last night. How did you put up with it making your biotics useless and killing your back in the process?"
"You get used to the discomfort when you are forced to wear it Imphaya. The weak biotics you just have to accept. I have got an awful lot better in hand to hand combat since I got the limiter though. Did no one else try it?" Aumarva looks around at everyone shaking their heads.
"Everyone really should as it is an experience. I think if the design was smaller I would be happy wearing an amp."
"My new limiter is only 10mm not 15mm Imphaya. It would be comfortable and it is Armali Council's standard size now."
"I may well in the near future look into them then as I am certainly not the best biotic individual."
-----
The three of them sit down on Adastra's bed. "Sorry about trying to leave you out of this Sam. I see you mean a lot to Adastra."
"I understand but I think it is that she finds having me around makes things more comfortable." Seliha nods.
"I said earlier I would show you my markings but I have a question first. Does anyone have a full memory of your markings Adastra?"
"You have to promise to say nothing to anyone." Seliha nods "Sam is the only person who has an intact memory."
"I just needed to know if I could trust you Sam. I apologise for any offense I may have caused but I also do not like spreading around my markings. I hope you understand."
"I do Seliha and I will not tell anyone." Seliha nods and stands up from the bed and starts removing her clothing. "I have something I really must point out after this."
"I will happily let you leave if you are uncomfortable Sam?" Seliha pausing just as she is about to remove her top.
"I think it is the embarrassment from how I first saw Adastra that still eats away at my head Seliha. If you are happy to do so do not let my slight nervousness get in the way." She nods with a smile as she pulls off her top to reveal two purple garlands of markings going from her armpits, just catching the bottom of her ample breasts before crossing each over each other a couple of inches above her belly button. Seliha removes everything on her bottom half in one fluid motion before stepping to one side. "You seem more nervous than I am Seliha."
"I would just like to hear what you think." She turned around to show that the garlands start between the shoulders just below the neck and after traversing her body seem to support her bum before delicately spiralling down both legs to stop at her ankle.
"I am massively disappointed I do not have markings like yours Seliha as they are discrete and yet very pretty. I am most surprised as to how regular and well defined they are. It is as if they were deliberately painted on with care and precision." Adastra sounding a little disappointed with her modern art inspired markings.
"You look a little happier and you need not think that I would dislike your markings either Seliha as they are remarkably elegant as they flow down your body. If I saw a normal Asari after having the opportunity to see you both I would probably be rather disappointed at the blandness." Seliha's face was making a good attempt at becoming another marking with all the praise. "How someone could say anything bad about them I have no idea. Both of you have something special and I still feel greatly honoured that I have been able to see both of you, even if I do find it a little uncomfortable still."
"I have grown so used to hearing comments such as `can you not get them removed` that I was set to hear the same from you two. I feel happy in my own body for once, thank you, both of you, for the kind words. This means so much to me." She proceeds to hug Sam and Adastra before sitting back on the bed with a smile on her face.
"Do you mind if I ask how old you are Seliha?"
"I am four hundred and ninety two years old Sam. Since we are getting ages how old are you?"
"I am twenty seven."
"I am three hundred and sixty one, three hundred and sixty two in a few days." Sam makes a mental note of this.
"Twenty seven Sam?"
"Yes Seliha, my species rarely live one hundred years, unlike the Asari."
"I apologise again Sam. I did not know."
"I did not expect you to. Myself and Kate are the only two of our species not on or orbiting our home planet. We are a bit new to everyone out here. I still remember the councillor when she first saw us; she just seemed to freeze and could not say anything." All three of them laughed a little at that.
"It would be inappropriate of me not to show you my markings now you have shown us yours Seliha." Adastra stands up from the bed.
"You do not have to Adastra." Sam was thinking the same but also thinking it was probably better for her to get a bit more comfortable in her own skin, even if he was finding the experience rather surreal.
"No, I would also like to show you what you made looks like as well. I am sorry in advance for the flaky skin but at least the colour looks about right now." With that she removes the clothing that covered her markings putting them on the chair as she proceeds.
"Your markings are remarkably amazing in their chaos Adastra. I think I have marking envy as they are brilliant and no one should be able to say otherwise." Adastra seemed to be almost as purple as when Sam had accidently seen her. "I can now see why you did not wish to have a coloured holder and went for a transparent one; it really would have looked out of place."
"It did not look too bad, just odd. Both of us had large smiles on our faces when we saw the text colour on the amp last night. I must thank you again for that as it matches nearly perfectly so it looks like it was designed just for me."
"It was no problem. I like to decorate my amps to match my markings. I thought you might like that idea as well, even if it was just the text colour. All the other employees think I am a little mad when I decorate them but they have no concept of markings on the body."
"If I join the testing group can I keep this design for the testing devices too, including the text?"
"The text on the second tube would have to change to `Developmental Pulsar Design` instead of `Advanced Pulsar Technology`. If you are happy with that small change then yes, I can see no reason why all new devices for you can not be blue, with the writing the same colour as your markings."
"I can live with that wording change. I will join the testing group, if it is not too inconvenient from the security standpoint of having to regularly register new devices."
"I have had an idea, but I will have to get confirmation on it so I will not say yet. I will inform you in a message."
"ok. Thank you Seliha. I think we could do with getting our clothes back on before leaving." Seliha nods and the two do just that before the three of them leave the room.
-----
"What is it you two do when people come to talk to you?" Kate really starting to wonder what happens.
"Thank you again Adastra for the testing information you have given me and I will be in contact about the testing process later. I hope I will get to see you all again soon. Kate, melding properly takes time." Sam and Adastra laugh as Seliha leaves the ship with a smile on her face.
"Did you tell her to say that Sam?"
"No Kate but she is in a good mood and we were the ones to put it there. It is up to you to form your own opinion on what happened as I am unwilling to say anything else." Sam just about managed not to laugh at how well Seliha had played that.
"There are a lot of things you say you cannot talk about."
"I really am sorry Kate. It is either I do not say or if I do then you will probably get your memory wiped. I guess you would rather not know."
"Definitely Sam."
"Are we ok to depart for Illium now Adastra?" Adastra nods to Fosanta and they both move to the lift to go up a deck.
"Who has your old limiter Aumarva? I am bored and curiosity has got the better of me."
"I have got it Kalawa." Imphaya heads off down the hallway to get it. Sam suddenly remembers that Adastra still has the 15mm sample holders from Armali.
"If you wait a second I have something which may help." He goes to his room where the box is on the floor. Taking out the design that Adastra picked he reclosed the box and brought it back to where everyone was. "In here are three holders for the device, you all do not look too different in body shape from Adastra so they should fit." Kalawa looks through the samples picking the soft plastic and leather strapped sample out.
"So if I put this on then I can just slide it in and out?" Kalawa looking at Aumarva who nods.
"If anyone fancies a go and likes either of the two samples left then putting them on now would save time." Yasmari gets up and looks at the other two samples picking the design that looks like a fabric mesh. Yasmari then follows Kalawa into the shower room. "Any more takers, I would but I am not biotic." Lianta stands up "Catch." Sam throws the last sample, a soft plastic and bungee cord design, which she just about manages to keep hold of before going to join the other two.
"This is going to be amusing." Imphaya wobbling the device in the air while waiting for the three of them to return. Kalawa was the first to appear.
"This is actually rather comfortable."
"See what you say when you put this in." Imphaya holds the device out, "it goes in that way around." Kalawa nods as she takes the limiter and slides it in.
"Ok, that is not that comfortable. Did you say these holders were Adastra's Sam?"
"Yes why?"
"Do these accept smaller devices or is this the same size as what Adastra has?"
"It is the same, so she will feel like you are at the moment." Kalawa says nothing, Yasmari and Lianta reappear from the shower room as Fosanta and Adastra reappear from the lift after setting the ship to auto pilot.
"Are these the designs you did not pick Adastra?" Adastra looked at the box and then at Sam with a smile.
"Yes Lianta. I am guessing you can see why."
"It was a pain to put on and mine is not comfortable is yours Yasmari?"
"It is not too bad but it is rubbing a little. So who has the limiter?"
"I have it on; it really is not comfortable, just to warn you. I feel sorry for you Adastra."
"It is more a dull, annoying ache than uncomfortable now. I just hope I can get some better sleep tonight. Anyway if you want to do the testing up here, I will split the pulse into two and neutralise the field so no damage is done." Selayla looks confused.
"I thought you had a limiter Adastra?"
"I do but I can still manage a two way split even with it on." Adastra knew this was a slight understatement but thought it best not to say the limiter did not make any difference. "Kalawa I know that the device is uncomfortable so whenever you are ready." Kalawa nods and releases the strongest push she can manage with the limiter which Adastra splits and slams the parts into each other.
"That was pathetic Kalawa." Yasmari joked not realising it would be her turn next.
"I know Yasmari. I could probably remain standing if hit by that. It is really weird as you feel as if it is going to be as powerful as normal."
"I found that too last night. It just does not feel right." Imphaya adding her input in as Kalawa reaches behind her to remove the device.
"No it does not feel right. I am so glad to get that removed though, your turn Yasmari." Yasmari takes the limiter and slides it into the holder she has on. After releasing a push she cannot quite believe the weakness and so tries again giving the same result.
"I really hope I never have to wear one of these again." Yasmari reaches around and pulls it out before handing it to Lianta. "It is just mean making you feel as if it is going to be a powerful push and then when it is released, it appears as nothing more than a pathetic prod." Lianta puts the limiter into her holder before trying to produce a push but giving nothing more than a poke. Adastra does not even bother attempting to split it as it was so weak. Lianta tries again and gets a much more sizeable push than either Kalawa or Yasmari managed.
"This is making me feel strange as if I have an excessive static charge in my body." She tries yet another push and gets something fairly pathetic again but not as bad as the first. "This is making my biotics unstable." Lianta removes the limiter and looks relieved to have done so. "I do not want to experience that again. That was unpleasant." Lianta looking a little displeased
"I will ask Seliha what might have caused that to happen next time I see her." Lianta nods to Adastra.
"When are we going to land on Illium?" Kate asking out of curiosity as if she was the annoying kid in the back of the car asking 'are we there yet?'
"I estimate about seven and a half hours if we do not get in a queue with all the freight ships at the mass relays." Fosanta giving all the information Kate needs.
"Our Armali Council representative will not be meeting us until tomorrow morning and as we will be docking late evening. I think it will be best to get an early night once we have docked as it could be a longer day tomorrow." Adastra seemingly keen to get that sleep.
------
Adastra had got sick of watching autopilot and decided to fly the Enlighten herself. Fosanta as soon as they got into radio range to Illium control wanted to get a berth as they tended to fill quickly in an evening.
"Illium control, this is ASL Enlighten requesting a dock."
"ASL Enlighten, You have been reserved dock six two. We also wish to welcome you back to Illium from your successful mission."
"We all appreciate that Illium control. ASL Enlighten out." Fosanta turned to Adastra to her left. "It is nice that they remembered us."
"It was less five years ago and I did try a silly stunt as we left. I would have been disappointed had not remembered." Adastra remembering back to the maiden voyage thinking it seems like it was decades ago.
-----
The Enlighten entered easily into the dock and the docking clamps engaged which let Adastra shut down the drive systems.
"Adastra. Could you give me our Armali contact's details as I need to start looking for jobs? She may be able to help me with where to start looking."
"Sure, her name is Usarta. I will send a message to you with all her details on." Adastra opens her Omni-tool and forwards her details on to Fosanta. "I must now get some sleep. I will talk in the morning."
"Sleep well Adastra and thank you for the details." Adastra nods to Fosanta who seemed to be staying for a while longer. Adastra appears on deck two, from the lift, to see Kate and Sam but a lack of commandos.
"Where has everyone gone?"
"For a shower." Adastra looks confused. "Yes everyone at once. I am not going to think what happens in there." Adastra and Kate laugh a little. "Are you ready for bed?"
"Yes given I had no decent sleep last night. Kate, Fosanta is on the top deck if you want to find her. I gave her the details of our contact at Armali Council. Fosanta may be able to sort out a job for you as well at the same time."
"That would be nice; I will go and see her. Have a good night." Kate left in the lift as Sam and Adastra walked down the corridor to Sam's room.
-----
Sam had quickly finished his shower and walked out to see Adastra had already got her clothes off to save time once she was in the shower. Adastra puts her hand over her shoulder and pulls out the amplifier.
"That feels so much better. Why did I ever agree to 15mm?"
"Seliha said you will be ok soon. Go and get a shower and then some much needed sleep." Adastra just nods and goes in the shower. Sam hoping she gets used to it soon as it seems to be making her unhappy. Not long later Adastra emerges looking a little fresher.
"Do I have to put it back on Sam?" Adastra looking at the blue device on the bed.
"Yes. If you want me to put it in for you then I will do so as you are on a time limit." Adastra just gives a resigned sigh, picks up the amp and pushes it back into the holder, giving her a shiver again as it enables itself, before getting into bed.
"You said you had something to say earlier but you never did. Can I ask what it was?" Sam quickly tries to remember back, soon remembering what it was.
"I was just going to say that I felt uncomfortable earlier because you two seemed so comfortable with me just sat there watching. It just felt a little wrong in some way."
"Seliha seemed genuinely interested in having your opinion Sam and you were asked if you wished to leave."
"I will be honest and say I was a little excited at the opportunity which may have made me not think too logically."
"I know what Sha'ira said Sam but unfortunately we cannot change how we look. If you are that interested all you need to do is ask."
"That is like tying a drug addict to a wall and dangling the drugs just out of arms reach in front of them. Please do not do this as it makes my mind hurt."
"I best get some sleep." Sam nods in agreement before turning over, half appreciating that she did not hug him to be extra mean.
-----
"Adastra said you were looking for jobs." Kate walking into the cockpit area and sitting in the pilot's chair.
"Yes. I do not know where there are any jobs at the moment so I am using our contact to help me."
"I still have not settled on one yet. Could you ask if Armali Council need anyone for an office job on Illium?"
"That will be no problem Kate. I will just send this message off and then I will get to bed since I only had half a nights sleep last night. I hope tonight will be better." Kate could hear the despair in Fosanta's voice.
"If you wish you could sleep with me again." Fosanta smiled as Kate's mind was wondering why she had just offered that. She put it quickly down to being caring and wanting to help.
"I prefer to sleep with nothing on. Is that sill ok with you?" Kate's mind was spinning with `Why are you even thinking of saying yes?`. Every fibre in her body was screaming that this was not her. She nods her head without conscious input. "Thank you Kate." Fosanta's smile calmed her a little but that question of `why did I just do that?` kept going around and around as if it was on a roundabout with no exits. At this point she remembered back to what Sam had said that morning, `Kate, I hope you have not contracted the blue disease`. She now understood exactly what Sam meant. "Is everything ok, Kate?"
"I was just thinking back to what Sam said this morning." Fosanta looked puzzled at first.
"That was not just as we came out of your room this morning was it?" A knowing smile appeared on her face.
"Yes. I was trying to understand why I had to ask you to sleep with me." Kate quickly read back that statement in her head and felt highly embarrassed. "Why did I just say that and why did I agree to let you sleep naked next to me tonight? This just feels so strange, this is not me." Fosanta got up off her chair and gave Kate a hug.
"I am deeply sorry but Sam was correct." Kate's mind was trying to find the sense in all this but coming up with nothing. "I can sleep in my own room if you are having second thoughts."
"No." Kate rapidly replied before her brain could think, she sighs at the situation. "I just need to get to bed before this drives me insane." Fosanta nodded and the pair made their way down a deck to Kate's room.
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Kate got in to bed as Fosanta got undressed. She just about managed to resist the urge to look before Fosanta climbed in to the other side.
"It is ok to look now." Fosanta smiling as Kate turns over to look at her.
"Can you not tease me please Fosanta. I just want to sleep." Fosanta nods a little and turns over. Kate does the same and the two of them try and go to sleep.
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Notes
A few interesting points in this chapter. Seliha has markings and while a bit of a long stretch they would have eventually met each other given she works at Armali and was about to go on a centre relocation because of a machinery refit. Call any impossibly long odds in this story a bit of artistic licence.
It also seems as if Fosanta and Kate are finally warming to each others company even if Kate does not feel too comfortable with the idea.
Next chapter will be moving into their provided accommodation on Illium.
- 21
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- 23
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Marked Effect (AFF Edition)