???

Reds stare at her solemnly and don't say anything.

Okay she's sorry for bothering them she's just going to. Go now.

"Do you need anything else?" asks the one who showed her there.

"No. Thank you."

She goes back into her building.

The twins fly south again. Illia emails that one theologian mentioning that she accidentally touched one, do you think burning off and regrowing the relevant skin would be an acceptable substitute for a five-hour shower.

She should be more generous than she thinks in determining what skin is relevant but yes that works here is a paper on the cleansing properties of fire!

Even replacing all her skin would not take five hours so thank you!

Odette burns and replaces generously relevant bits of skin and then they get back.

Illia emails Peka an update.

I think that went as well as could be expected, she adds at the end.

Do you want me to ask them when they need food and stuff delivered and what they get?

Can you ask the government if you can hire me as a cultural translator doing this while doing army work is getting ridiculous

That seems like a good idea.

Hey, government, she has these reds she took off Orvara for experimental purposes, can she hire this one red for cultural translation purposes.

Why that one?

Because she will actually talk to Illia instead of just being sort of confused and scared.

Did they meet on the internet?

...Yes.

Yeah, okay, they'll discharge her.

Awesome.

It worked! she tells Peka brightly.

Yay!

Oh, if anyone asks, we met on the internet.

Yeah, that's probably the best story.

Also they asked if it was the case and I panicked slightly and said yes.

Well, where else would you have met a random Tapai red? Obviously the internet.

Yeah.

I mean the real story wouldn't be too incriminating, probably, it's not like I touched you, oh the horror, but better to err on the side of assuming people'll be stupid about this.