She pulls a cap off the end of the little metal stick. If not for the clear tube attached to it, it reminds me of a sewing needle, though much finer. "Remember, it's going to pinch and please don't pull your arm away…or zap me with your electricity."
I don't want to pull away while she's touching me. I can't remember the last woman to touch me. It was probably my mother. And our relationship was tense for the last year before I took my place as a banished warrior. I don't blame her. Why would I? It's not as though she chose to have a fourth son. But if she could make that choice, perhaps I would never have been born? Would she have chosen to birth a girl instead?
The metal stick slides into my vein and my blood shoots up into the clear tube. When it fills, she replaces it with another, and then another. It's only then she removes the stick from my arm.
"Shit, I don't think there's anything to cover the wound with."
I lick my thumb again and press it to the dot that could be an insect bite. I'm pretty sure I have had worse insect bites. I've had worse injuries, some of them were caused by my actual brothers, and others by my banished brothers when training. "It's fine." I pull my thumb away and show her it's stopped bleeding.
Her gaze dances between the wound and my face. "If you're sure…"
"I am, but I want to see the pictures of my blood up close. I want to learn what you learn. After all, it is my body you are studying, so I have the right to know." I doubt her leaders would agree, but she nods.
"I would also like some hair and some skin."
"What will my hair tell you?"
"I don't know yet. Can you pluck a couple of strands?"
I do as she asks and hand them over, and watch as she puts them in a bag. She's making a little collection of my body parts on the table over the cupboards.
"Why do you have so many braids and bits in your hair?" Chloe asks.
"Because I do? They are mementoes of battle and people and warriors I have traded with. Of my family. Why do you not have any beads or braids? How do you carry your memories?"
"My memories are in my head. My parents died on the voyage from Earth. They weren't allowed to bring very much. And jewelry serves no purpose when we are trying to build a colony."
"Even though you are scraping by to survive, that doesn't mean they can't be beauty in your life." Perhaps more so. We all take pride in our beads and braids, and while our clothes are patched, we do not let them become shabby. We take care of our things and of each other. And there is always time to tell a story and laugh around a campfire. Without those things, life becomes unlivable. The months I spent alone were the worst of my life. I close my eyes, trying to push away the fear of what I will do when my brothers return home, and I am stuck here, alone, except for the humans.
"If you have time to waste, making something beautiful, you have time to waste, making something functional." Her voicetakes on a different tone, as if she was mimicking someone else. I already dislike that person. "Can I take a skin sample? A little scraping. And a little scraping from where you have the markings, or will that damage them?"
I turn so she can see my other shoulder. "There is already a scar through this one. Another one will not matter." And since I can't see it, I don't care if it is not as pretty as the others. "How will you take the skin sample? I would offer you my knife, but they took it."
"I have a scalpel. A small, sharp knife. It might hurt."
"You said that last time."
"Can you lean up against the bars so I can…"
As soon as I do, her hand touches my shoulders as if to keep me steady. As if her tiny form could support me. If I fell, I would squash her, assuming the bars weren't between us.
The blade scrapes over my skin, leaving a warm raw spot.
"That was the unmarked bit. I'll just do the other bit, though I might have to press a bit deeper. Dammit. I wish I had a bandage. I'll make sure to bring something tomorrow, and some antiseptic. I don't want you to get sick." It's a little too easy to imagine that she cares what happens to me.
Her touch is gentle and warm. And I want to feel it all over me. I will her to take her time, not caring about the pain.
Too soon, her hand pulls away and all I'm left with is the stinging of my skin. "Is that everything you need?"
My blood is too hot as I turn to face her.
It's foolish, but given the way her sister has chosen Edilk, I cannot help but wonder if perhaps Chloe finds me appealing.
She is silent for several seconds. Her teeth rake over her lower lip, as though she isn't quite sure what to say.
I don't know what else I have to give her, but I offer anyway. "Do you want a claw?"
She shakes her head, the hair on her forehead covering her eyes, before she swipes it out of the way. "I would like… but…"
