The Last Search For Arlow Tsai In The Multiverse

Case File: First Appearance #5

They entered the area Security/Diplomatic Chief's office.

This alien was lovely, playful and congenial.

He considered the extensive collection of systems built into her and pondered whether it indicated an emotionless artificiality.

He made a request and kept his face away while asking. Facing away would allow her to consider the question without having to suppress any emotional response.

Chief: "This room has recording capabilities, and I expect you can also transmit. It is just the two of us, I think we are both familiar with alien negotiations, and have training for rare requests. I would like to perform a touch sensuality test with you."

He would accept any cause for refusal.

She stood looking forward, smiling with her hands down and slightly facing forward. That is a very open body language, one that I would hope to attain in a similar situation.

Chief: "I ask that you react in a manner representative of a normal Lan. This will be a sensitivity test, not an intimacy response test"

The chief walked behind the elLan. He placed both hands on her shoulders, moved one hand to stroke down the arm and other in a kneading motion down the spine musculature. Back along the arm to the shoulder, and further down the back. Bringing both hands gentle and kneading back muscles, both hands can to rest on each side of the hips. One hand stroked the front of one leg and the back of the other. He noticed the elLan unlocked knees. The hands then swap rear leg to fore leg to move upward. Then kneading back muscles to the neck. He stroked the other arm, and with his other hand gently drew along the neck, ending with fingers hovering away from her lips. He composed his expression and stepped around to face her.

Chief: "What is my current emotional state?"

elLan: "Same as always, the wroug are emotionally stoic. Just like the Lan"

The chief turns at once away and thinks, "Well there's that. We might need to keep that a secret."

Chief: "I notice that you unlocked your knees."

elLan: "Yes, is that an issue?"

Chief: "For a Wroug, weak knees are considered a flaw, unless the person is sick. Is there any request on your part?"

elLan: "Let's talk about our primary request. Lan culture is open to all sentient beings, in any bodily form or construct they have. We have practiced this openness for a very long time. There are alien beings in relationships with many Lans, at the belonging level. I think Wroug call this marriage. When someone that belongs to the Lan, there are levels and forms, it grants diplomatic equality. We treat those beings fully as Lan. When the Lan travel, we want others to respect this. Particularly, travelers would not want a belonging being ttaken away based on treaties meant to secure a favor from the Lan. We do not apply this in cases where the Lan find there to be a credible accusation of crimes that the Lan recognize. This is an extradition issue."

Chief: "That is an issue we could codify. I do not recall it being a specific issue, even in historical reports. Let me consider its viability while we consider another matter. I would like to show you a video. This is the Lan on Wroung yesterday. How would you describe the mental state of the Wroug on the street?"

elLan: "With alien cultures, the Lan are methodical and do not take short cuts. We would have enough information to predict the mental state."

Chief: "This is a wide, distressful condition. See, people are running away."

elLan: "Well, the crowds were growing, so some of those running away may have been going to tell others to come see us. Your perspective will rate very highly, we will adjust towards your view. Though, here let me move that video, because we have a question. It is what caught the attention of the Lan."