After 4 years on hiatus, here is Chapter 6, finally! I have already started chapter 7 and that one wont take me 4 years haha...anyways, thanks to TheTomFox for helping me out with this. and a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who still reads this story and for everyone who has followed and Favorited this story. I hope you enjoy this
Caius and Emily had practiced her turian every day, all day for the past few months and she had greatly improved. She could talk to Caius without a translator and even though she didn't have the sub-vocals to be able to speak perfectly, he could understand her. Sometimes she still needed Caius to use his translator when he spoke too fast or was teaching her something new. She picked up on words fast after the first few lessons they had. The hardest thing for her to learn was the days of the week because those words were mostly spoken with sub-harmonics. One of the first full sentences that Emily had learned was, Kava havarti gensak riqik Nara rahdit, which meant: I don't know what you said.
During the first few weeks they had developed a daily routine, they both woke up around the same time in the morning and ate breakfast together. Then they would go outside and Caius would teach her turian history, from pre-space flight times up to the reunification wars. She learned about their culture, how every civilian works at public service or the military. He told her that every turian joins when they turn 15 and must serve for at least one year. He taught her what he knew about the government, different planets in Hierarchy space and also about the other species in the Galaxy. He taught her about asari, salarians, krogan and her favorite, the quarians. What Caius loved the most about teaching her was that she asked questions and she was genuinely interested in all the subjects. It also helped that they didn't have any neighbors, there was a vacant house down the road but other than that they were the only ones around.
After spending half the day outside she would get hungry and they would go inside to eat. She wanted to learn how to cook her own food and turian food as well, Caius had to make sure that she knew the difference between levo and dextro food. When Emily had first arrived, he had both types of food in different color containers, blue for dextro and red for levo. She helped him cook both turian and asari dishes. Her favorite meal to make and to eat was an asari stew called, Talatari. It consisted of either pyjak or space cow meat and vegetables from the asari home world. Emily also enjoyed making Caius' meals for him, he showed her how to make his favorite, Xahrtil fish, which is only found on Taetrus. Emily also took it upon herself to clean up the kitchen after each meal.
After she ate, they worked on her reading and writing, which she picked up on both quickly because she never knew how to do either in human; at least that's what Caius believed. She had no problem learning how to read but writing was a different matter, she struggled with words that were said using sub harmonics. Nevertheless, she tried her hardest to understand everything. Caius had to admit, he was very impressed with how fast she was learning, he thought it would have taken her a few years to learn everything that she has already. He feared that she would be behind in her schooling and that would cause her to fall behind in military training. Caius was wrong and he didn't want to say it but she could start school soon.
What would I do with my time?
Tomorrow he would go into town and register her for school. She had worked extremely hard to learn everything she has already. He decided that he would give her the translator back in case she needed it; and to teach her how to turn it on and off.
Their evenings were spent just to relax, they either watched vids or sat and talked with each other about various things. Sometimes she would talk about her life on Arcturus or sometimes about her mother. She never stayed in her room other than to sleep.
XXXXX
The next morning Caius awoke to find Emily already up, she was in the living room reading data-pads. He could hear her soft voice reading her almost perfect turian. He walked into the kitchen to make their morning meal before he went to the local school to register her. Once he was done cooking, Emily joined Caius in the kitchen, when she sat down at the table he spoke to her. "I need to go into town today, which means you will be home by yourself until I get back, is that okay?"
She looked up from her plate and asked him. "Why are you going? Can't I go with you?"
Caius had thought about taking her with him to show her around the small colony that they lived in, but he would have to go to the capitol city to restock on food supplies for the both of them. Not to mention that Emily would need some new clothes for school, she had grown fast in the months she had been here. Her hair had grown a few inches and her feet were getting bigger.
Asari clothes should fit her.
Taking her to the capitol city probably wouldn't be the best idea, sure Taetrus wasn't a backwater planet but not many people would be comfortable with a human around, even if she is child. "I'm going to the Capitol for most of the day doing boring errands, not to mention I need to register you for school," when he said school, her face lit up and she grinned from ear to ear, she was about to say something but he went on. "And that will take some time, you might not be able to eat until we get home. You can stay home and practice your reading or watch a vid, you can also cook for yourself. Just as long as you don't use the stove. And don't go outside either,"
She thought about the options he had laid out for her. "Hmm, I guess I can stay here. Just don't be gone to long okay?"
"I'll try not to, I should only be about 5 hours. That's only two vids if you think about it like that," he spread his mandibles into a grin.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, when are you leaving?" Emily asked with a mouthful of food.
Caius spoke firmly. "Do not talk with your mouth full," he sighed continuing. "I'll be leaving here in a bit, I just wanted to make sure you were all right with everything,"
Emily swallowed her food before she spoke again. "I will be, like you said, it's only two vids."
Once they were both done eating Emily cleared the table then went back into the living room to read more. Caius had never left her alone before, but he knew she would be safe and follow his few orders.
XXXXXX
As Caius drove to the colony he recalled memories of former classmates that he had not seen in years. At that moment, he realized that he had not to run into anyone that he had known when he lived on Taetrus. He arrived at the local school only after a 15-minute drive, as he got out of the sky car he recognized the building. It had not changed in the years that Caius had been gone. It was still a two story, all metal, white building with a garden in the front. Behind the school was the playground where the children played after they ate their lunches. Caius walked in the front doors of the building and he was greeted by a female receptionist. She was younger, with dark facial plating and her colony markings were from Taetrus. "Hello welcome to, Rocam, Can I help you?"
Her mandibles flared into a grin as he answered her. "Yes, I need to enroll my, uh...daughter," he had never said that word out loud before.
My daughter, I like that.
"Alright, are you aware that she would be starting half way through the year already?" She handed him a data pad to fill out, Caius took it and answered her. "Yes, we just moved here not too long ago and she wants to start school," He knew she would be starting halfway through the year but he didn't think she would mind.
"Where did you move from?" Her sub harmonics hummed with curiosity.
"I am from Taetrus but I've been in the military and I have moved back with my daughter," Caius flatly replied.
"Oh, you and your mate must be happy to be together now!"
Caius chuckled when she finished. "No, I don't have a mate, it's just me and Emily," he continued to fill out the information on the data pad hoping she wouldn't ask to many question, but of course he could only be so lucky.
The receptionist asked, "Emily? That's quite an interesting name, how did you come up with it?"
He answered her question while vocalizing his discontent through his sub-harmonics. "I didn't; Emily is a human name,"
She trilled with confusion and even more curiosity, "I'm sorry sir but I don't understand why you would name your daughter a human name?"
Spirits! Why does she keep asking questions? I just want to fill out this information!
Caius didn't want to be rude to her so he simply answered. "A human name is fitting for a human is it not?" Caius didn't want to outright say he had adopted Emily but it's not like she wouldn't figure out that she was a human when she first saw her.
He went back to filling out the information on the data pad, he didn't look up when the women interrupted him. "Your daughter is a human?"
Caius' mandibles twitched in irritation at the female. "Yes, she is,"
He only decided to look up at her when she said. "I don't think registering her to go to school is a good idea," as soon as the words left her mouth, Caius abruptly stood up and angrily bellowed. "And why wouldn't that be such a good idea, Miss?"
The women's mandibles clamped tight against her mouth she hummed apologetically while saying, "Sir it's just that the war has only ended a couple of years ago, people aren't exactly comfortable with humans just yet. I'm not saying that I personally will hold anything against your daughter, Emily for being human but the other children might, not to mention their parents. They could have served in the war, or even died. All I'm saying is that maybe it's...safer for her to no go to school,"
All these things were true, Caius had thought about them when Emily had asked him months ago, this was the conclusion that he had come to. He was completely aware of the danger that came with sending her to school, but he believed that the staff would treat her the same as any other student. "Need I remind you Miss, I served in the war as well? I have killed my fair share of humans, I've sent plenty of good turians to their deaths but look; here I am raising a human child like my own. She needs to go to school with children her age, learn to be a turian," Caius was outraged that the woman had the nerve to say that to him, his sub-vocals crooned with rage.
"I'm sorry Sir, I don't mean to offend you," before she said anymore Caius silenced her.
"Are you stating that the faculty of this school will not treat her the same as everyone else?"
The woman's sub harmonics trilled with nervousness and a bit a fear. "No Sir! All of the staff should be as professional as possible,"
"Alright then, she should be fine. Now if you'll excuse me I have information that needs to be filled out," Caius sat back down to finish the data pad. That was a conversation that he had never wanted to have. He knew it was going to eventually come up with someone but he didn't want it to be with her school. As he was finishing the information the receptionist chirped at him to get his attention. He sighed as he spoke. "Yes?"
She trilled with curiosity. "I'm sorry but if you don't mind me asking, how did you come across adopting a human?"
Spirits, this woman is giving me a headache.
"I'm sorry but I cannot disclose that information to you," he continued to fill out his information all the while ignoring the curious hums coming from the secretary.
Once he was finished, Caius stood and handed her the data pad. "Is there anything else I need to do to register her?"
The woman quickly read over the information. "You'll just need to send her medical information over and she will be able to come to school at the beginning of next week,"
"Alright then, I'll go over to the hospital and get that information sent. Thank you," Caius was half way out the door when the receptionist called out. "Mr. Callrix, I look forward to meeting your Emily,"
Caius didn't say anything back at her, he just walked back to his car to get on with the rest of his day.
XXXXXX
Caius had never talked to the doctor that was specifically placed on Taetrus for Emily, he was regretting that decision now. As he walked into the bright white waiting room another receptionist greeted him. Caius approached the front desk hoping that this woman wouldn't ask as many questions as the one at the school. "Welcome to Haemona Medical Center, how can I help you?"
"Hello, I'm here to see," at that moment he realized he didn't even know the doctors name. "The asari doctor, I'm sorry, I've forgotten her name," Caius hummed with embarrassment.
The receptionist's own sub-harmonics trilled with amusement while she spoke. "That's quite all right. Dr. Al'tlera is available for you to see right now, can I have your name please?"
"Caius Callrix,"
"If you'll follow me please Mr. Callrix," The woman walked out from behind the counter and Caius followed behind her. As they walked Caius got a good look at the turian in front of him. She had light grey plating with white colony markings he didn't recognize, she had a slim waist that Caius couldn't keep his eyes off. She came to an abrupt stop at a door. "You can have a seat in this room, Dr. Al'tlera will be in shortly,"
All Caius could say was. "Thank you," he waited in the room for what seemed like an hour before the door opened. He stood up and greeted the doctor as she walked in. "Hello, I'm Caius thank you for seeing me,"
The asari looked him up and down before saying. "Ah yes, General Callrix. I was wondering when you would be coming by. Is everything all right with the human?"
"Yes, everything is fine, she will be starting school and we need her medical files to send over."
The asari seemed surprised. "School? She's only been here for about half a year and you think she's ready for that?"
Caius was a bit taken back from her statement but said to her. "Yes, I do think she is ready, she hardly uses a translator anymore,"
The doctor sighed before continuing. "Alright then, you'll just need to bring her back here so we can get medical records started for her. The Alliance didn't send over much, just your typical vaccination list, family history but her most current medical record was never sent over."
"I still have errands to run in town, is it all right that I bring her back tomorrow?"
"That sounds great, is there anything else I can help you with?" As she was walking out the door Caius spoke up. "Oh yes, there is one thing. Emily would like her own colony markings, is there any special paint that you know that would work for her skin?"
"That's interesting, so she is adjusting well to living on Taetrus and with you?" She walked back in the room as she pulled out a data pad.
"Yes, we spend a lot of time outside although I've never taken her into town or to meet anyone else," as Caius spoke the doctor typed what he said.
"Well I'm not surprised she has developed a bond with you so soon. Humans are very social creatures and can adapt to a new environment very quickly."
Caius thought about how fast Emily picked up on turian and how much she enjoys living on Taetrus. "Yes, I can see that."
The doctor stopped writing and looked up at Caius, "You haven't taken her out into the town to see other turians or to meet them, or them to meet her?"
Caius answered her, "No I haven't." Now that he knew humans were social creatures Caius felt bad for keeping her under a close eye. Thinking back maybe he should have taken her into town so other people can see that there is a human living in the colony.
"This could hinder her ability to socially adapt the right way with turians." The doctor spoke as she continued to write.
She sure is writing a lot down. I hope I didn't do anything wrong.
She stood up as she spoke, "I won't know anything until you bring her in tomorrow."
Caius stood up and followed the asari out the door, "Alright, I will see you then doctor." He walked down the hall towards the reception area.
"Mr. Callrix!" The receptionist called out to him as he walked towards the door. Caius stopped and turned to look at her, "You'll need to make another appointment for tomorrow." He walked back over to her and they agreed on a later afternoon time. He left the hospital going into the town to get his supplies.
XXXXXX
When Caius arrived back at home he was greeted by Emily who was impatiently waiting for him in the doorway. She was very excited to see him. "Caius! Where have you been? You've been gone for so long!" She ran out to help him bring in the bags from the sky car.
As they walked into the house her answered her, "You are now registered to go to school, starting next week," he heard an excited gasp come from her, "But we need to take you to the doctor's office tomorrow."
Caius didn't need to see her face to know she was excited, he could hear it all in her voice, "Yay! Caius I'm so excited! I can't wait to start school!"
Caius chuckled to himself as he put the supplies he bought in town away, "I'm excited for you as well, but first let's get through your appointment tomorrow."