In The Blazing Heat

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The next morning, Kellen promptly downloaded a translator program. While Talia had seemingly picked up a bit of basic, it was not enough for them to properly translate. That being said, he'd been unable to get a straight answer out of her as to why she felt like sleeping with her arms and legs around him all night.

His back was still cramped from that particular experience, though thank goodness she didn't seem to expect much else out of him.
When morning came around, and it came time to use the refresher unit, Kellen's decision had been pretty clear. He did want anything more embarrassing than last night to happen. He just couldn't be sure enough.

Hello. I am D-12C, protocol AI, trial version," the computerized voice came from his holopad as the holographic image of a protocol droid popped up from the screen. "To purchase the full program, simply selec-"

"How many languages do you speak?" Kellen interrupted the program's sales pitch.

"I am fluent in over 5,000,000 forms of communication, however, for this trial version, you may select only three from my list. For more, you'll have to purchase the full package."

"Hmm..." Kellen mused, accessing one of his pirating programs. "We'll see about that..."

All the while, Talia watched in fascination as he worked, the holographic head of a protocol droid floating in the air above his holopad.

After messing with a few knobs and whistles, he restarted the program.

"Thanks you for purchasing the D-12C full version. If you could, please take the time to fill out our customer satisfaction surv-"

"Do you speak Twi'leki?" Kellen interrupted.

"Certainly, sir. I am fluent in over 5,000,000-"

"I've got a Twi'lek princess here who knows about three words in basic," Kellen said, throwing a look at Talia, who just smiled back. "She needs to use the refresher. Ask her if she's capable of using one on her own."

The holographic head turned toward Talia and spoke a few words in gibberish that

Talia seemed startled at first to hear, but then after a few exchanges, the holo-droid turned back to Kellen.

"Gracious me..." the holo-droid exclaimed.

"I thought you said she was a princess! This girl claims to be a slave!"

"Yeah, well, treat her like a princess,"

Kellen said, grumpily. He was not a morning person. "Explain to her that as long as she lives here, she won't be treated like a slave. She's going to get the respect that any normal person gets, but she's also going to have to pull her own weight, and needs to learn a few basic manners and customs. Like bathing herself – I'm not about to go in there and wash her back for her."

The holo-droid conveyed this. Talia seemed startled at first, then astonished, then confused, and then finally began to look away shyly as she spoke.

"Goodness," the holo-droid exclaimed. "She says that while she's sure she could figure it out, that particular task always fell to someone else. She requests, sir, that you do her the honor of bathing her."

Kellen's ears lit up. He looked away, bashfully. "If she can bathe herself, then that's what she should do!"

The holo-droid translated and Talia looked crestfallen.

Kellen sighed. "Can you tell her that I'm sorry, but I just don't feel comfortable with doing something like that with someone as...attractive as her?"