Somnolent Days

C5: The Voice From The Sky

"Welcome back, Nic."

A voice spoke from above. It was calm and soft, with just a touch of briskness. Nic turned their attention to the ceiling and waved at something up above. Thiri followed their gaze and squinted at the little thing jutting out from the ceiling- it emitted a tiny dot of light. Perhaps it was a camera up there, just like back at BISF.

"Oh? Is this the child?" the strange new voice mused.

Nic nodded.

"Thiri May, is it?"

The little girl nodded shyly.

"Come this way now, child." The metal door across the room slid open with a faint fssh.

"Um..excuse me..ma'am? S-sir? Um..."

"My name is Skye. But "ma'am" will do just fine."

"Um..Skye..ma'am? Can I take this suit off now ?" Thiri said, "It's stuffy and it stinks."

"Oh, right. Just slip it off and hand it over to Nic."

"But I can't undo it."

A sigh from the lady preceded her words. "Nic, help the child with her suit, will you ?"

" :-/ "

Nic helps her out of the suit, albeit in a rushed and careless manner.  Thiri was still wearing her sleepwear from when she was still in the room at the B.I.S.F. There was a drying patch of moisture on the white cotton pants and the fabric clung onto her skin with sweat. Short strands dark hair stuck to her face.

"I suppose our first priority is to get you a new change of clothes," said Skye, "They should be in your new room."

"Can I get a bath first?"

"I suppose I could turn the sprinklers back on."

"Um.. I mean like...in a shower! With soap!"

"Ah. Yes. Organic skin, almost forgot about that," Skye replied,"Nic, can you lead Thiri to -"

Nic signed at the camera and gestured at a door left of the room.

"-Oh. I see. You still need to report to Twenty-one."

Skye opened the door on the left.

"Does it really need to be in person?"

Nic nodded.

"Thiri, can you find your own way without Nic? I will be providing directions, of course."

"Uh.. I guess?" Thiri shot a worried glance back at Nic. They gave her a thumbs up and a ":-)". What was that even supposed to mean? That they trusted her? Or that they were happy she was no longer tailing them ?

"Good," Skye continued,"Just do as I say and you should be fine."

"G-gotcha," Thiri forced a nervous smile and waved a goodbye at the android that had guided her all the way here. Nic waved back.

From what she said, this Skye person seemed to mean well. The promise of a new change of clothes and a bath was a alluring as well. But faced with an unfamiliar situation, Thiri wished Nic did not have to leave. Still hesitant, the girl headed through the doorway before her. 

What laid before her was a hall way with many bends along the way. She slumped forwards and groaned. She did not know what else she was expecting anyways.