Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

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
- 22
- 23
- 24
Chapter 23 - Illium
Friday 20th January 2017
-----
Sam awoke to a sea of light streaming in through the small window and creating a light patch in the room which was getting ever nearer to the sleeping Asari. Sam just watched the light inch its way closer until it got close to Adastra's face. He carefully shuffles across the bed and gives Adastra a hug from behind, misjudging where his arms are under the bed and so grabbing her tits at the same time.
"Goddess." Adastra quickly turns over and moves a little out of the light to see Sam with a slight nervous smile on his face. Adastra laughs a little to herself as a smile grows on her face.
"I would say morning but..."
"There is no need for any excuses or apologies Sam. It was at least an exciting way to be awoken, blinded and being touched."
"I am curious as to where Asari draw the line between friendship and something more serious. Can you explain?"
"There is no real line Sam but I personally draw the line at melding for pleasure."
"I am glad to hear that. I guess you had an ok night given you look fairly awake?"
"I woke several times but soon got back to sleep."
"Fair enough. I will go for a shower first since I forgot about the flakes." Sam gets out of the bed to find a light scattering over his body. Adastra just seemed content to watch from the warmth of the bed as he takes a towel from the shelves and walks to the shower.
-----
"That was quick." Sam remarking at the speed of Adastra having a shower.
"I am getting used to drying around this holder." Adastra looked at the blue amp on the desk. "I still feel resentment in having to put it on but I think I am getting used to it." She picks it up and slides it in shivering a little as usual.
"I am glad to hear that as you practically hated the thing last night." Sam waits for Adastra to put on her clothes and the two of them leave to get breakfast.
-----
Fosanta had awoken several minutes ago but decided not to wake Kate. She had turned over in the night to face Fosanta and the vulnerable softness to her face made Fosanta a little soft inside. Her opportunity to quietly admire did not last too long before Kate stirred and Fosanta saw her opportunity to get up.
"Morning Kate." Fosanta's cheery tone with a smile seemed to be not quite what Kate wanted to hear.
"erh," was Kate's attempt at a response as she wiped her eyes and yawned. She looks over to see Fosanta standing in the middle of the room just about to get dressed. All she could do is laugh to herself as the warm morning light cast a pleasing glow over her blue skin. "It is an interesting way to start the day." Fosanta turned around out of confusion before realising and smiling.
"It is usually better if you get out of bed to start the day." Kate nods and gets out of bed to put her normal clothes on, Fosanta taking a quick peek every now and then. Once the pair were ready they left Kate's room and walked down the corridor.
"I feared as much yesterday." Sam said to Adastra as the pair approached the two of them, who were currently about half way through their breakfast. "Morning you two." Sam greeted getting a nod from Fosanta.
"Morning Sam. You look more rested this morning Adastra." Kate seemed to sound in a slightly happy mood this morning.
"Yes I had a better nights sleep, thank you for asking. Fosanta?" Adastra did not need to ask the question in full to get the required answer.
"I also had a good nights sleep." A smile to go along with that statement was all Adastra needed.
"Could I get some answers from everyone as my mind is a bit of a mess this morning?"
"Of course Kate. I bet I can guess what you are going to ask, but go on."
"I now understand what you meant yesterday morning Sam. How did you know though?"
"Experience Kate. It is easy to see the symptoms if you already have the problem."
"Right. Why do I feel as if I have no option when there are two answers?" Adastra looks at Fosanta who nods.
"We subconsciously manipulate others to like us Kate. This is basically what the disease is and is well hidden until the individual realises, usually after prolonged or tense contact with an individual Asari. Once that happens the person must consciously decide whether to listen to us or not." Sam finishes the last of his bland breakfast.
"I am guessing that Sam decided to." Kate still not knowing what to do.
"Kate, I think Sam would have willingly but I did deliberately make it difficult for him not to. Sorry about that Sam." Adastra hoping Sam would not hate her for that.
"I will be honest and say I perhaps needed the push Adastra and I also understand why you did so." Adastra gives Sam a smile.
"Kate, I will not sway your decision as I feel it should be your choice." Fosanta trying to keep Kate calm as Adastra gets a message. Sam shuffles closer to Adastra to peer over her shoulder at the message.
"Usarta will be here in twenty minutes. Does our security not know about this mornings activities?" Sam gets up and walks down the corridor banging on each closed door as he goes then walks back.
"That should fix the problem." It was only a few seconds after Sam sat back down before the doors opened and there was a stream of bleary eyed commandos walking down the hallway.
"Good morning everyone. Our Armali Council contact will be here in less than twenty minutes."
"Did you have to bang on the door?"
"I did not bang on the door Imphaya, Sam did. It did wake you all up however." Sam just tried to look innocent but it seemingly wasn't working given the looks he got.
-----
All the commandos had eaten their food by the time Usarta had arrived at the Enlighten. Everyone on-board had grouped on the top deck to meet her.
"It is good to meet everyone, my name is Usarta. I hope you do not mind if I get to know you all better later. Fosanta, I will talk over all the options that I have for you after you have settled." Fosanta nods. "Kate, I believe that you wished to know what jobs we had available at our Illium facility?" She nods with a little enthusiasm. "We would after a quick trial welcome you to be a client verifier. We are currently building a small team on Illium as we currently select all our clients at our Thessian facility. This however is a little inconvenient for our potential propulsion clients."
"What would that job need me to do?"
"Basically you just need to be friendly, verify the person is who they say they are, see if they have a criminal record and find out why they want our products over someone else's. We will tell you what you need to do anyway. I also noticed that Adastra and Sam have got some perks with their contracts. We cannot offer the same perks with that job although we will offer you flexible time around appointments and ten percent extra pay."
"I would gladly accept." Kate hoping inside that her shyness doesn't rear its head as those perks are good. Usarta nods.
"You will not need to sign anything until you have seen the facility and seen where you will be working. I think that is everything for the moment. Would everyone like to follow me to the shuttle?" The twelve of them follow Usarta to the shuttle which was in the next docking bay.
-----
All on-board watched out of the windows as the skyscrapers of the city turned into more industrialised buildings and warehouses. Sam was sure that he saw the Armali Council facility as there was a cluster of buildings in the distance with more rounded edges. They continued to travel further out of the city until they got to the outer edge where there were single large houses surrounded by walls to separate the land boundaries. Each house usually had enough land for two shuttle landing zones as well as a large garden. The shuttle descended towards a plot which was more than twice the usual size but had two houses on it. The houses did not look too large and elaborate with their white, painted concrete walls, and sand coloured roofs. Each looked exact duplicates of each other as if they were prefabricated or made from a template. The shuttle touched down next to four others which were already on the ground.
"These are your homes. You are welcome to separate yourselves however you wish. Please follow me." With that they all got out of the shuttle to see a garden with a few small trees in and a number of shrubs. The pond in the middle of the garden caught Fosanta's eye as they walked down the pathway under some trees towards the left house.
"Usarta, does the pond have fish in it?"
"Yes Fosanta, there are some rather odd ones in there too. I personally do not know their kind but I am sure I could find out if you wanted?"
"No that is fine as I was just interested." They continued until they got to the front door which was painted blue. Usarta held the door open and gestured everyone inside. The front door entered into a hallway, with the staircase up to the first floor immediately ahead. "Do have a look around the house to get a feel for it. I will wait on the seats here when you have finished." Usarta points to the open living area on the right with a large table, three sofas, a couple of chairs and a few plants in pots.
Through a door on the left as you enter there was a dining room with a large table and a good view over the garden. At the end of the hallway to the left of the staircase was a door to the kitchen which was large and looked a little clinical with the amount of white but did have a small table. To the right as you enter there was a door back around to the seating area. Under the staircase is a door leading to an open basement with the same footprint as the house.
The stairs to the first floor split into two near the top with two steps either side leading to two open walkways, each of which had two double bedrooms with a small bathroom between them. Each room has an internal door near the corner into the bathroom to make it into a shared en-suite. Walking around the corner at the end of the walkway there is a second staircase up to the second floor which again splits like the first with one large room on each side, each of which has office space and a small seating area.
Everyone after looking around congregated in the seating area downstairs where Usarta had patiently waited.
"I hope you like the house. You are free to make cosmetic changes if you feel that it needs any. Both of the properties are identical and each kitchen is stocked with some basic food."
"I think the first decision is how everyone would like to split?" Fosanta trying to make a start.
"Well Fosanta, we assumed that you may wish to have security in one property and yourselves in the second." Usarta seemingly got the brief from the Councillor.
"Does anyone have any objections to that?" Everyone stays quiet or shakes their head as Fosanta looks around. "Ok then, we will take next door."
"Fosanta, I will come with you to discuss the jobs I found. I will be back shortly to make sure you are all settling in ok." Fosanta nods and Adastra, Fosanta, Kate, Sam and Usarta leave to go next door.
-----
The house was exactly identical to the other one, just as Usarta had said it would be. Fosanta and Usarta had sat down on the seats in the living area as Adastra, Kate and Sam went upstairs.
"Which side of the house would you like Kate?"
"I have absolutely no preference Sam, so you choose."
"Ok left it is for us. Adastra left or right hand room?" Kate just laughed as she went in the one closest to the top of the stairs.
"The one away from the stairs." With that Sam and Adastra walk into the room to the left of the bathroom.
"Well this is a little bigger than what we had on the Enlighten. It also seems to have plenty of storage space." Sam noting the large amount of shelving down one wall.
"Like we have a lot of clothes between us Sam." Both of them laugh at that. "We could always fill the shelves with junk though."
"I think there is plenty of junk space between upstairs and in the basement. I feel as if we need to get said junk from the Enlighten though." Adastra nods and the pair of them leave the room and go downstairs.
-----
"Fosanta, I found a couple of jobs for you but it depends upon how close you wish to stay to your speciality. The first is where you thought might be a good idea in Illium space control. This would be a non-technical role and the pay reflects this. The second is with ourselves as we have real problems getting data from our development pulsar amplifiers and need someone with solid experience in data communications."
"I really thought Illium control was where I wanted to be but your problem sounds more interesting. What will the pay be like?"
"We will offer a competitive wage and the same perks as Sam and Adastra are to get. Which are twenty percent paid time to do what you want and flexible hours just to remind you. I can keep looking for more for you if you wish."
"As long as I can have a talk with some people who are having the problems before I agree then your offer sounds like a good choice."
"Of course Fosanta." Usarta looked up to see Adastra and Sam coming down the stairs. "Are you two wanting to get some stuff from your ship?" The pair walk over to the seats.
"Yes, I was wondering how you wanted to go about this."
"You can use your shuttle if you wish as I need to see how the commandos are settling in. They are in alphabetical order from the left as you walk towards them so yours Adastra will be the left most one." Adastra nods. "Sam yours will eventually be the right most but you need to learn how to fly one first so it is locked out for now." Usarta turns to Fosanta, "Your shuttle will be the second from the left in case you need to leave before I get back."
"Fosanta, Kate has claimed the right side of the house for you so you know where to find her." Fosanta nods and gets up to see Kate. Adastra and Sam leave to get some stuff taking Imphaya and Lianta with them. Usarta leaves to see how the others are settling in.
Fosanta walks in to the first room on the right to find Kate looking at the storage space. "Could I ask if you have decided yet Kate?"
"Decided on what?" Kate turned away from looking in the wardrobe to give a puzzled look.
"What we were discussing with Adastra and Sam this morning."
"Oh." Kate sits down on the side of the bed. "I am not sure if you are going to get a job at Illium control it might be a bit difficult."
"Kate, I have been offered an interesting sounding job at Armali Council in their Biotics facility. I have also been given the same perks as Adastra and Sam so it would not be difficult for me to match your timetable."
"There is just a little piece of me saying yes, the rest of me is just saying this is wrong. But this whole situation is wrong. I should not be thousands of light years away from my home planet. I am wondering if I am still in denial about this whole thing." Kate lies down on the bed looking to see if the white ceiling has any more inspiration.
"I do not wish to say anything to influence your decision Kate. If you are to be too much longer then I will have to ask you again after I have got my belongings from the Enlighten." Kate knew she had time to make her mind up but this question was just going to keep coming around. She could not put off the inevitable forever; a decision was going to have to be made one way or another. Kate wondered if this is what Sha'ira meant by `you have already found what you are looking for, you just do not know it yet`.
"I hope that this is the right decision. Ok, you and I will share a room." Fosanta jumped onto the bed with a rather uncharacteristic enthusiasm to gave Kate a hug. "You seem awfully happy. I have not just said I will be with you for ever and ever have I?" Fosanta lets Kate go but does not move too far away.
"No Kate. It has just been so long since I have had a stable life that I am a little overwhelmed that you said ok. I must warn you now though that this is like best friends if you wish. It can get more serious later if you want that."
"That makes sense, and yes I do see you as a best friend. Why did you not explain it like that before?"
"Kate, the term best friends is the best I can think of that you will understand, but it is not quite right. You might think of it as more intimate friends but without melding." Kate shuffles a little. "You seem a little uncomfortable at that thought."
"I am. It is not exactly classed as socially normal for our species to have a same gender partner. I hope you can understand why it is difficult for me to be comfortable with that notion."
"Kate, you may well feel as if things are not normal for years. All that matters is what you think and that you are happy with the choice. Do you think the decision was right?" Fosanta secretly hoped that it was but was trying to prepare for disappointment.
"Well, I think it is the right decision, it is just that I need to get used to the idea."
"Take all the time you need and if you need any outside advice I am sure Sam would help. We should go to the ship to collect our belongings." Kate nods and the two of them leave the house meeting Swathana and Selayla on the way to the shuttle before heading to the Enlighten.
-----
Sam and Adastra had already loaded all of their personal items from engineering and were in their rooms boxing things up. Lianta and Imphaya had got all their stuff loaded as well and were just hanging around waiting when Kate, Swathana, Fosanta and Selayla walked on to the deck.
"Could you two help us get our things together?" Selayla asking the two loitering commandos.
"Sure as we have nothing else to do for a while." Lianta added and Imphaya nodded before the six of them walked down the corridor. Sam and Adastra each had their doors open whilst packing and Adastra spotted Kate and Fosanta just as they were about to walk past.
"Are you two sharing a room as well?" Fosanta looked at Kate to confirm the decision.
"Yes Adastra." Adastra smiled and walked to her doorway. "Do you mind if I had a talk in private?" Adastra looked at Fosanta, who nodded and went to her room.
"Of course not." Adastra gesturing Kate into her room before shutting the door. Kate sat down on the edge of the bed, evidently having something on her mind. "What is it you wish to talk about Kate?"
"I am unsure as to whether I made the right decision." Adastra sat on the bed next to her but respected her personal space.
"Sam and I were having a discussion while packing things in engineering earlier. He said you might have more of a problem because of Fosanta being of the same gender as yourself. I asked him why so he explained which made it sound as if your species sees this as something not considered normal. Was Sam right in his assumption?"
"Yes. Your species are hard for me to get my head around given you are mono-gendered, sorry."
"Kate, do you appreciate Fosanta?"
"I do Adastra as I am not quite sure how I would cope without such a reliable individual who I can turn to for help."
"It sounds like that is a yes then. You therefore have nothing to be worry about." Adastra thinks for a few moments. "I have an idea for both of you to do. Would you trust Fosanta enough to say yes or no to it on your behalf?" Kate looks a little unsure.
"I think it would depend what it is."
"It will probably be out of your comfort zone, but not unpleasant, just between the two of you. I know you can easily do what I am thinking of."
"Ok, I trust Fosanta."
"Wait here while I speak to Fosanta about this idea. I will get her to come back in here to give her answer. I will not force her one way or the other, ok?" Kate reluctantly nods and Adastra leaves and walks into Sam's room before going to a drawer Adastra had claimed and pulls out a bottle of what looks like shower gel.
"Sam can you swap Kate's shower gel for this?" Adastra holds out the bottle with Sam looking puzzled.
"It is not acid or glue or something that smells really bad or anything like that is it?" Sam clearly knowing Adastra all too well.
"It is just shower gel Sam. Can you do this for me?"
"Why do you need me to do it?"
"I need to speak to Fosanta Sam." Sam opens the lid and has a smell before closing it again.
"Ok. I was just making sure it was not anything obviously nasty."
"Thank you Sam. I will explain why I wanted you to do this later." Sam nods and goes into Kate's room as Adastra goes into Fosanta's.
"It seems Kate needs a bit of a push Fosanta and I have had an idea which may help." Fosanta just sighs.
"There was a reason why I told Kate ask Sam and not yourself. I may as well hear the idea while you are here though. What is it?"
"I want you to have a shower together." Fosanta seemed to lighten up a little at the idea. "I did ask Kate if she would be willing to let you answer for her and she said yes. I said that you would give your answer in front of her in my room."
"I was expecting you to say meld with her so this is rather reasonable. It will still be a lot to take for Kate though."
"If she is like Sam was then I am aware of the issue Fosanta. Could you at least come to see her in my room?" Fosanta nods and they both head to Adastra's room, Kate still in the same place on the bed looking up as they enter.
"Kate my idea was for you two to have a shower together." Kate suddenly feels a touch of fear. Fosanta sits down on the side of the bed next to Kate putting an arm around her.
"I know that you said you would trust me to answer for you. I also need a shower when we get back. Could you do this if you really tried?" Kate reluctantly nods and Fosanta looks at Adastra. "We will do it when we get back."
"I know you hate me now but I hope it helps Kate as Sam needed a similar push. I need to get back to packing though." Fosanta nods and helps Kate up off the bed and the pair walk out. Adastra having a smile on her face.
------
Adastra and Sam have just taken the last of their personal items into the house and are sat in the sitting area downstairs alone waiting for Kate and Fosanta.
"Why did you have me swap Kate's shower gel?"
"Well as you said in engineering she is a bit conflicted. I therefore made the suggestion that Fosanta and Kate should have a shower together."
"That is a bit mean but still does not explain why you needed me."
"Well I am going to assume that they will agree to just not go ahead with it and just tell me they have. The shower gel you swapped makes normal Asari skin purple. If they have showered together Kate will be red and Fosanta will be purple, if only Kate is red then we know they have not showered together."
"How do you know what colour Kate will be?" Sam curious as to how she can be so sure.
"Do you remember the first shower you had on the Enlighten when we got hot water?" Adastra having a smile on her face as Sam instantly remembered how red his skin had been.
"I hate you." Sam saying with a smile on his face. "Why do you even have it anyway?"
"It is funny to use as a joke. I prefer the one which makes my skin green with lime green markings, it looks interesting." Adastra deftly avoiding the question, Kate and Fosanta walking in through the front door ends all possibility of further questioning. Sam and Adastra get up and help them unload their shuttle which did not take too long.
-----
"Kate I know you are not comfortable about this, but if we get it over with, Adastra will not keep asking us."
"I am just a little afraid of touching you."
"Kate, I have no problems with that at all, at least give it a try. If you do not wish me to touch you then that is fine."
"You could wash my hair if you wish Fosanta but I am a little unsure about what else."
"We all have to start somewhere; you could help wash my folds if you wish Kate as they can be a bit of a pain."
"I think I can manage that." Fosanta smiles before grabbing two towels from the pile and throwing one at Kate. Kate picks up the shower gel and the two of them walk into the bathroom.
-----
Adastra gets a message on her Omni-tool which she immediately reads.
Adastra,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been successfully entered in to the testing system. You will be given a new prototype at the start of the third week in each month and will be required to participate in testing on the first and second Saturdays in each month. There may be extra testing sessions and you will of course be paid for any time spent testing. The idea I had was approved and the prototype systems will have alternate wear tracking to what is in your current system. This means you will be limited to 2 hours per day but removals will not be limited in duration or number.
I have also heard that you have a large property near the Armali Council complex. I hate to be intrusive upon you but could I ask if there is any spare room for me to stay for three months. I will be arriving on the twenty second to begin work on the twenty third, which will be the day you get your first test device. I usually stay in a hotel until I rent an apartment but I would rather have people to talk to, the shorter commute and less hassle.
I hope to hear back soon.
Seliha
"I cannot see an issue to Seliha staying with us given there is at least one free room."
"It would be a good use of a wasted room and I am sure you would appreciate her company Adastra. Why do you say only one room free though?"
"I am waiting to see what will happen after the shower." Adastra creates a message back to Seliha saying she is welcome to stay with them.
-----
"I did not hurt you did I?" Kate seeing that Fosanta's head and shoulders were going purple as well as her hands.
"No Kate rather the opposite, why do you think that?" Fosanta a little confused as to why Kate's skin is going red.
"You are going purple where I touched you or you touched me." Fosanta looks down at her hands which had a purple tint. "What is wrong?"
"You are not going to be pleased when you find out, look at yourself." Fosanta gestures to the mirror. Kate walks over and is shocked at what she sees.
"I am going red!" Kate looks at her arms and legs which are also changing colour. "Would you like to tell me what has happened?"
"I think Adastra should tell you as I am too embarrassed about the subject to do so. I think we should get dressed and go down to see her; at least the colour will hide any embarrassment we have." The two of them laugh.
-----
Adastra gets a message on her Omni-tool. "Oh, Seliha says thank you for the house to stay in. She will be here in just under two days from now."
"That is good as I think we are going to need someone to defend us." Sam looking at the two well coloured people approaching.
"Very funny Adastra." Kate clearly none too pleased that her skin colour matches her hair colour reasonably well. Adastra just sat there as Sam tried to stifle a laugh.
"I feel highly embarrassed about this Adastra. I thought Kriana made you get rid of it after we had a brown Salarian walking around." Adastra couldn't help but laugh now.
"I could not throw it away, even though Kriana did give me a lecture on it being at least highly inappropriate, bordering on offensive. It is ok the colour change should only last about four hours as it is weaker than normal."
"What is it anyway as Fosanta did not wish to say."
"Shower gel Kate." Sam laughs as Adastra gets a stare from the two coloured ones. "Ok, it is something that is only socially considered acceptable for use between bondmates. It is quite difficult to get hold of even if you are bondmates so that children cannot use it for jokes. It is easy enough to obtain even if you have no partner if you know where to go. At least if you feel embarrassed at the fact it is a little inappropriate we cannot notice." Adastra still having a massive grin on her face as Sam goes a little red at the thought he helped in this.
"I am surprised you have not swapped out Sam's yet." Fosanta trying to take some of the awkwardness off her shoulders.
"I did mix some in to a bottle and swapped it for his normal shower gel for the first shower he had on-board the Enlighten. Surely you remember that morning?"
"Actually I do now, but why did you have a need to do that Adastra."
"I was interested to see what colour humans went when they used it." Fosanta and Kate just looked at Adastra. "I guess you mean today. I needed to see that you had actually interacted in the shower and not just said you had. I see by the fact Fosanta's face, folds and hands are purple that there was at least some. While I am also curious where else is purple, I will not ask."
"Good, promise me that you will not do that again." Fosanta setting the rules now.
"I will not as you are welcome to keep the rest of it for later, or dispose of it. I still have some left for some other time." Adastra grins as she has a new idea. "Will you trust me not to use it on you again?"
"You are going to have to say what your idea is otherwise I am going to find where you are keeping it and then dispose of it." Kate having enough of the practical jokes. Sam makes a mental note to see if they sell clear plastic wrap anywhere sometime.
"Kate, Seliha has asked if she can stay with us for her time at the Illium facility. Since we are sharing rooms there is spare space so I thought it would be nice to have another face around. I hope that both of you are ok with that arrangement?" The pair nod but before they speak Adastra continues. "I would find it extremely interesting to see her purple."
"That is totally inappropriate Adastra, especially for someone you barely know."
"If I agree to shower at the same time as the shower gel is to be used will you agree?" Kate and Fosanta laugh at that notion; Sam joins in as he knows this is not a massive stretch. Adastra just has a serious look on her face.
"I doubt that will happen Adastra." Fosanta clearly still stuck in the illusion that Adastra has only ever allowed one person to keep the memory of seeing her body.
"Adastra can I have a quick talk with you before you say anything else?" Sam asking Adastra who nods. "We will be right back." The two of them go to the basement to get a bit of privacy.
-----
"Adastra. Are you sure about doing this as you will have to show Fosanta and Kate your markings."
"As long as you can make sure that Kate and Fosanta will not say anything negative then I am sure that between Seliha and myself, we can cover any fallout."
"I approve of you getting more confident Adastra and offering others the chance to win your trust. Did you say that she was arriving in two days?"
"Yes Sam. Are you thinking of me doing it that evening?"
"Well it would give enough time before work the following day for the colour to wear off. I am not sure Armali would approve of the colour if they saw it." Adastra smiles.
"No they probably would not. We should get back to Fosanta and Kate."
-----
"We are back." Sam announcing their arrival from the basement doorway as they make their way back to the seats. "I have something to ask though. Would you ever insult any Asari about markings on their body?"
"No Sam as I have only seen one Asari and one is not enough to form a broad opinion."
"I am open minded at the concept but I highly doubt I will ever see one, given they are so rare and Adastra has a bit of a reputation for being defensive on the situation." Sam smiles and looks at Adastra next to him.
"Ok. If Seliha is up for it I will shower with her and use the gel without telling her. We will show you all the proof afterwards, markings and all. If you tell anyone about this there will be problems."
"You are really going to show us?" Kate obviously grasping the possibility from the threat at the end.
"Yes Kate. As I said, Seliha will also have to agree to this but the current plan is on the evening of the day she arrives."
"I will not tell anyone either, but I do not believe that this is going to happen."
"It will happen if Adastra says it will Fosanta. You of all people here should know that after what happened with Kriana." Sam looked back at Adastra who seemed to be writing a message right now.
Seliha,
We have already started a bit of a battle in the house and it is only our first day. I hate to ask you this but I had my hand forced. Would you be willing to have a shower together and show the other two your markings. I know it sounds mad and petty and it is, but I really need to show at least Fosanta that we are not shy, insecure and broken people.
Also would there be a chance of getting my development amp a day earlier than the testing stipulates as to pull this off I would need more than twenty minutes.
Hope to hear back shortly.
Adastra
"I seriously hope she comes through." Adastra wondering how she will take the request.
-----
After a bit of light teasing about the colour of Fosanta and Kate along with something to eat, Adastra gets a message.
Adastra,
This sounds like it is just mad enough to make be forget how risky it is. As long as you can trust both of them not to say anything about this afterwards then that is ok for me. I was going to bring your test device when I came anyway so that is no problem. Ask Sam if he wants to join in.
Seliha
"You people who did not believe me. It has been confirmed, she also asks if you wish to join in too Sam." Adastra having a bit of a cocky grin on her face as Kate, Sam and Fosanta all have a 'you have got to be joking' expression.
"She said yes?" Adastra just nodded to Fosanta as Usarta walked into the house to see the four of them on the seating area, two of them coloured.
"I see you are settling in ok." Usarta seemingly did not know quite how to react to the two oddly coloured individuals given her expression.
"It is ok Usarta; it was my practical joke so do not need to tell anyone."
"Right," She did not sound too convinced. "All I am going to say is that we would like to see you at the Illium facility tomorrow morning at nine for a tour around." With a nod from everyone she started walking out taking a second look at the coloured pair and sighing before exiting the house.
"Well that was not embarrassing at all. Speaking of embarrassing are you going to join Seliha and Adastra Sam?"
"Thanks for that Fosanta. It is usually Adastra who is the one making me feel slightly uncomfortable. I will decide nearer the time as I do not want to steal Adastra's limelight."
"I doubt you will manage that Sam. Anyway I am going to get an early night." All of them being in agreement they decide it would be better to feel fresh for tomorrow's tour.
----------
Notes.
A practical joke is certainly a good way to settle in to a new home.
Some of you may ask for more detailed interaction in the showers. There are more than 400 more words in this chapter than the fanfiction variant and all of them were added to bolster that part of the chapter. There is plenty more to come and a tame beginning is never a bad thing :)
The next chapter will have the tour of Armali's Illium facility.
- 22
- 23
- 24
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Marked Effect (AFF Edition)