“You humans like making love.”, Kylara suddenly says unprompted, “It's a very pleasurable experience, that can lead to creating new life. Many species find reproduction satisfactory, as evolution rewards behavior that ensures survival. It is a high, comparable to various drugs, but with a far lower risk of long-term negative effects. Instead, it can even strengthen a group's dynamic, make them more caring and protective of each other. It's very interesting. We like sharing that with you.”
She looks back at Shepard, who got a bit red in the face, but still listens attentive, while she informs him: “It's not necessary for our reproduction. In fact, we wouldn't need to engage actively in any kind of personal contact to plant our seed in another's body.” Now he perks up alert, yet she closes: “But my strand found it most beneficial to actually ask consent of our hosts and reward them with sexual climaxes, to protect our offspring.” She rests her eyes on him, and so after a few seconds of awkward silence, he half sits on his bedside table opposite to her, and tries to conclude: “Uhm, so, you want to... uh, give me a good time, and make me pregnant? Is that it?”
She chuckles amused, then turns serious again, putting it straight: “A pregnancy is when a foreign organism feeds on a body, growing inside it, to burst out of it in a rather painful way, once it is big enough to live on its own. We don't do that.” He calms down a bit, and she reaches out to touch his forehead, pointing between his eyes: “If I put my seed inside you, it would sit here. Learning your customs, your speech, motor functions, reflexes... Understand your character enough to mimic it, feel emotions, form memories. It would learn to be human, as that is your species.” He gulps fearful again, but she takes her hand back, closing: “And when you die, it will grow into your form, consume what is left to build a new body, that resembles yours. And be the new “Shepard”. The way I am Kylara. Even though she has died 17 Darian suns ago.”
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Now he stares at her surprised, and half asks: “But that's been ages! You look so young.” “I felt most comfortable in this period of Kylara's existence, so it is the form I prefer to stay in. It is after all just a shell for my being.”, she trails off a bit, “I still carry some memories of my strand, so if need be, I could alter my appearance to another. But it would be less complete. I would make mistakes that might reveal my identity to others. Kylara has been my home since I was a seed. I knew her inside out. I am her! If I was to play a different persona, a different shell, I would be more vulnerable.”
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Shepard tries to put his thoughts in order. All this information is challenging the impression he had of his friend, the things they've been through, their daily life, and the rather pleasant time he's had with her right up until a few minutes ago. So trying to sort his emotions, he keeps pressing: “But aren't you vulnerable right now? That you've revealed yourself to me? Aren't you...” He wanted to ask her if she's scared, but then remembers what she said at the beginning. So instead he assures her: “I mean, not that I'll try and harm you, I believe you!” She gazes at him hopeful and he adds: “If you say you're not gonna eat anyone, I guess that checks out. I'm not gonna put you in a holding cell or have the medics vivisect you.” She flashes him a shy smile. He closes: “But still. I mean, now what? What are you expecting of me?”
She sits up straight, to reveal: “Well, sure, I've exposed myself to you. But I had high hopes, that you would not be recoiled so much. I guess I did wrong in showing you my alternate shapes. It's just, your species so tends to 'see to believe', and you've stated so yourself several times, that I found it most promising to convince you that way.” Shepard has to nod a little, remembering how he had joked with the crew just at lunch about the federations new plans, saying: “I'll believe it, when I see it!” Yet she shoves his memory aside, as she adds: “But you have such a way with people! You're a leader, and a diplomat, cunning, yet kind, and so curious! I have been drawn to you for quiet some time now. And I would gladly give you a satisfying sexual experience.” Shepard has to blush again, and look aside, so she closes a bit quieter: “If you consent to host my seed.”
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