Once Sam returned to the lab it was ti for the usual examination. On the surface the three were clean without a single injury, aning they didn't run into a calamity like they did the other day. An initial scan had already been perford to make sure there had been contamination. The process itself was nothing but a routine check up just in case they missed sothing and to send the report the Resistance HQ requested.
"Alright." Sam said as he put his extra large coffee cup on a nearby table. "Sorry for the wait. Let's get this done with."
"Tsk…"
For so reason Zero Three clicked her tongue, prompting everyone to look at her. She turned away looking annoyed but said nothing which was rather unusual.
Normally she would berate for wasting their ti…
Sam guessed it had sothing to do with the argunt she had with Nine. He was curious about what the blond Valkyrie said that made the young one seal her sharp tongue, but he chose to leave it for another ti.
Those two are in a bad mood so… he thought, glancing at the three one by one while working the tablet in his hands. Guess that leaves Zero five.
"Everything is ready. You can go in now."
With Sam giving them the go, the three Valkyries went to the next room and each entered the device they usually use. As they floated inside them the transparent containers closed and once they were sealed the viscous green liquid began to fill the interior. Their legs were subrged first then soon their torsos and once it got to their necks the Valkyries closed their eyes and entered a state of slumber.
Well, two of them did, at least.
"Um… Doctor, is there so problem?" Zero five asked, turning left and right after noticing that she is the only one whose container had yet to close.
"Ah, don't worry, Zero five." Sam said, looking at her from behind the one sided glass wall. "There is sothing I wanted to discuss with you first. Do you mind coming here?"
Although confused, the Valkyrie with the long ponytail went back to where the Doctor was. She stood in her usual spot and asked the obvious question.
"Doctor, wouldn't it be more efficient if you asked earlier?" She said, glancing at the two in the other room, floating in the green liquid with their eyes closed. "Or you could have waited until after the examination."
Sam looked at her for a few seconds then averted his gaze. While she wasn't exactly wrong, Sam had a reason for going through things in the order he did. Coughing into his fist a few tis, he turned to the Valkyrie with a serious look and answered her question.
"The reason I did this is because I don't want anyone to know about it." He turned to glance at the two in the next room then went on. "For the ti being it would be for the better if the only ones who aware of it are you and , Zero Five."
The Valkyrie was silent for a mont, unable to guess what it is that required such secrecy. Only one thing ca to mind, and what Sam said next was the confirmation she needed.
"It's about the ti you asked if I saw you as a human." Sam said.
Hearing that only seed to to further confuse Zero Five. The Doctor had told her to never ntion the topic again yet here he was bringing it up. She wondered if she was in so kind of trouble, regretting the ti she had asked that question.
"I have been thinking about it for a while now." Sam said. "It is a big philosophical question. What makes us human? Why can't you, soone who looks like us and has cognitive abilities on a similar level, be considered human?"
Zero Five could only stare blankly at Sam, after all he seed to have misunderstood her question even though she had already explained herself. She wanted to know if people sotis mistook them for humans, and if she could blend in normal society without anyone noticing.
That question was born from the way Sam treated the three of them. The Valkyries only interacted with a few other humans but compared to them Sam was the only one who acted the sa way as he would when interacting with people, which led to her wondering if he is unable to see the difference.
Zero Five had no desire to be recognized as a human. In fact her programming prevented her from cultivating such desires. However it seems that didn't stop humans from doing so, whether it was out of moral obligation or fear.
"After letting it bother for the past two days I ca to the conclusion that I didn't know enough to completely dismiss the idea." Sam said. "That's why I want to do a little experint."
"An… experint?" The Valkyrie tilted her head as she repeated the word.
"Yes." Sam said with a nod. "In order to make up my mind, I need to gather more information, and to do so I need your help in this experint."
Zero Five stayed silent for a few seconds before nodding. She didn't see any problem with her assisting him so she was quick to agree.
"If it is sothing within my power then I don't mind." She said, showing a rare smile Sam had never seen before.
It made him hesitate a little, but he didn't co this far just to stop now.
"Then let's start with sothing simple." He said, pausing for a few seconds. "At the mont all I have is sound and visual information. In order to get a more accurate image what i need are those gathered through my other senses, such as touch, sll and taste."
"I… see…" the Valkyrie replied, sounding as confused as before.
"To do that I need… I need to make physical contact with you." Getting over the first hurdle, Sam went on. "Are you okay with that?"
It was then when Zero Five realized for the first ti that she had never touched any human before. It wasn't sothing out of the ordinary but the fact that it didn't happen seed rather strange.
For reasons she didn't understand she started to feel nervous, however logic told her that there was no problem with her agreeing to his request. And so she did.
Sam watched as the Valkyrie started fidgeting nervously, giving him shy glances before nodding.
Odin, you really are a genius. Sam thought, carefully observing the cute way Zero Five acted, which was programd into her for this kind of situation.
San slowly walked over to her until only one step separated them. The Valkyrie lowered her head, unable to look him in the eyes. She didn't know it herself but her face was already red. The artificial heart in her chest was beating at a pace far quicker than what she was used to making her feel a bit scared.
As she waited for the mont his hand would fall on her skin, Sam went behind her and began running his fingers through her long ponytail.
"Hm… though it's far silkier, this feels no different from normal hair." He said.
It felt no different from normal hair. Obviously it's not, however Sam could tell it's not the sa as the synthetic hair used in wigs. He couldn't believe Odin went to so much rouble just for the details.
Glancing behind her to see what he was doing, Zero Five saw Sam take a few strands and bring them closer to his face.
"This scent… it's no different from normal shampoo." Sam said after taking a few whiffs.
Turning around quickly, the Valkyrie answered in a flustered voice.
"Well, we use the sa product as other soldiers… I think…"
"I see…"
She didn't know why but seeing him sniff her like that made her feel wierd, although she didn't really mind it. What bothered her the most was how hot her face was getting and her rising heart rate. The only ti she had experienced such phenona was when fighting the calamities, however unlike those ti she didn't feel uncomfortable.
For a mont Sam had all his focus on the silky black hair in his hand. He knew the Valkyrie were offered the sa stuff as other female soldiers, but he thought that they'd at the very least get so special care products just for them, since they aren't exactly normal soldiers.
Letting go of the long ponytail, Sam decided to move to the next step. He had already crossed the line so he had nothing to worry about, but that didn't prevent his hands from shaking.
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