“We won't find it relaxing!” The second avian woman said angrily. “Our people require access to large spaces!”

“That's exactly why they gave you isolation.” I said and turned to The Order member behind us. “Which direction am I going?”

“To the right and down the stairs.” He said and I went that way and led the three avian women with me.

“What in the...” The guard at the security door said when he saw us shuffling in without an escort. “Where's...”

“Behind us.” I said and walked over to him. “I have a quick question. Will we be allowed to shower?”

“No.” He said.

“That's not very sanitary.”

“It's isolation. No contact for a week.”

“That's a lie.” I said when the Presence wavered. “How are you going to feed us without contact?”

The guard closed his mouth and didn't respond.

“Open it up.” The Order member said and the guard turned and took out an electronic key. Of course, I immediately obscured my actions as I took out my electronics kit and recorded the signal.

“This way.” The guard said and took us inside.

“You're not going to search us or anything?” I asked.

“What for?” The guard asked. “You'll be completely alone in individual cells that are over ten feet apart. You couldn't do anything with whatever you're smuggling in anyway.”

I smiled and followed him in and he opened the door to the first cell and pointed to Val.

“I don't want to go.” Val said.

“Be brave.” I said, then spoke for her ears using Presence. “Trust me. I will be right there with you.”

Val took a deep breath, then stepped into the six foot by six foot cell and the guard closed the door. We walked sixteen feet to the next cell door and the guard opened it. Surprisingly, it had the same frequency lock as the first one. He pointed to the first avian woman and she stopped walking.

I turned and looked at her, then spoke only for her using Presence. “Honored matron, please enter your private chambers.”

Her body shivered for a moment and she gave me wide eyes.

“I will be there with you.”

“Do you swear on the lives of your hatchlings?”

“I do.”

She nodded slightly and walked into the cell with her head held high. The guard closed the door and we walked on to the next one. The second avian woman started to panic a little and I shared a calming technique with her.

“Your secured private space is ready for you.” I said for her ears only. “I will be there with you.”

“I don't need your company...” She responded and the Presence started to waver. “...that badly.” She finished and the Presence only wavered slightly.

“I will be there anyway, just in case.” I said and she stepped into the cell and stayed facing the back wall. We walked on and I was put into the fourth cell. There was a crackling sound and the intercom turned on.

“This is Administrator Sussex.” A feminine voice said. “You are to be held in isolation for one week. One meal of basic rations will be provided every day. The cells are constantly monitored, so if you think of trying to escape, you will be caught immediately.”

The Presence wavered slightly at the partial lie and I chuckled. I assumed it was because we wouldn't be caught immediately. Seen? Yes. Caught? Probably only when the guard got around to opening the large security door.

“Your crime was horrendous...”

“Only in certain people's eyes.” I said and used Presence to let everyone in the building hear me.

“...and you will be completely isolated. No one will talk to you, so if you have any complaints, you can keep them to yourself.”

“I have an important question.” I said. “Where do we go to the bathroom?”

“A panel will open at the same time three times a day.” She said.

“You're isolating us from a lot of sanitary requirements, you know.” I said.

“Someone tried to escape through the... we've had to adjust prisoner access to the facilities.”

I chuckled. “You should adjust it for the occupants, not for everyone in the same fashion.”

She was quiet for a moment. “We usually don't have to tell prisoners to be quiet, since the cells are soundproof.”

“Ha, you're funny.” I said.

The administrator sighed. “Please don't make trouble. If you do, I'll extend your isolation.”

“Ooo, for how long?” I asked, eagerly. “The last time I was in isolation for a week, the guard kept interrupting me with meals. That reminds me, just give my rations to the big alien. He's been very slowly losing weight over the last ten years.” I said with a laugh. “Tell him they're from me and tell him why.”

“You are making this punishment very difficult.”

“Only because I'm going to enjoy it.” I said. “I'd be as quiet as possible if I didn't.”

“Are you going to keep talking?” She asked, a little perturbed.

“Oh, sorry. I thought we were having a conversation.” I said. “Please continue your unnecessary monologue about how we should repent for our crimes and that we should feel guilty over the people we've killed.”

The administrator was quiet for almost a full minute, then sighed. “Close it up.”

“You really shouldn't piss her off.” Another female voice said from the intercom.

“What? I was telling the truth.” I said. “If I was going to piss her off, I'd tell her that I can solve all of her logistics problems in about six months and then tell her by the facility's established rules, I'm a prisoner and I'm not allowed to help her.”

The voice gasped, because the Presence didn't waver, then she sighed as well. “Turn off the lights, too.”

I laughed. “Whatever makes you feel better about it.”

The guard and our escort left and the lights went out, both inside the cells and out in the hallway. I quickly generated three Presence Hands, one for each avian woman, and took their hands. This startled them almost as much as being in the dark. Their eyes would allow them some sight; but with no other ambient light, it was pitch black and there was nothing for their eyes to pick up.

“Please be calm.” I said to the three of them. “I am right here with you.”

“It's just a hand.” Val said. “I thought you said you would be in here with me.”

“Don't worry, I will be.” I said and disconnected all the cameras in the solitary section to block all sight, then I took out a plasma cutter and cut into the wall that led to the next cell. I took the entire wall, from floor to ceiling, then I took out six digging tools and used Presence to hold them in two rows of three, then started digging. When the loose dirt became too much for the little cell, I opened the cell door and pushed all the dirt out into the hallway and shoved it up against the security door.

I dug through the fifteen feet to the next cell and stopped just as I reached the wall. I took the plasma cutter out and cut out the wall, then stored it. The glow of the plasma cutter showed me the shock on the second avian woman's face that I could already feel.

“Excuse me.” I said and stepped by her and started to cut out the next wall, stored it, then moved the digging machines around her and kept digging as I funnelled the dirt back to my cell and out the door. I was tempted to open the cell's door I just passed and use that; but, I didn't want the second avian woman thinking I was making an escape.

I reached the first avian woman's cell and cut the wall away and stored it. “Honored matron.” I said and bowed to her. She didn't look surprised and stepped back out of the way as I crossed her cell and cut the wall away and stored it, then the second avian woman was there with her and they chirped and tweeted at each other furiously. I ignored them and started digging again. I made it across the last fifteen feet and cut away the last wall that was between me and Val, then I stored it and the digging tools.

“See? I told you I would...” I started to say I'd be there with her and she jumped on me and kissed me, hard.

“I really, really wish you were a male of my species.” Val said as she hugged me and kissed me again.

“I don't think we could be together even if I was.” I said and turned my head to look at the first avian woman. “I believe I would have been claimed long before either of you could have reached me.”

“Yes, False Tiercel. I would have claimed you as soon as we met, as is my right.” The first avian woman said. “You continue to prove that you are formidable, and yet... you are not of our people.”

“I know.” I said and smiled. “I can be a great substitute, though.”

The first one gave me a sharp look for a moment, then she nodded slightly.

The second avian woman squawked in surprise. “You acknowledge him?”

“No, only that he can be a fitting stand-in for a male.” The first one said. “Even you must admit that.”

“Never.” The second one said. “He could never satisfy my needs as completely as a true male can.”

“That's true.” I said and all three of them looked at me. “Val would already be gestating if I could.”

Val closed her eyes and sighed.

“There is the sadness already.” The first one said. “Didn't you say it could take years?”

“I'm not sad about not gestating.” Val said. “I'm sad that I can't give him an appropriate child for all he's done.”

“A child is not a fitting price for the things he's done.” The second one said.

“No, a full nest would be.” Val said and the other two avian women let out surprised chirps. “He's not treating us like women. He's treating us like Aviatoma.” She looked at me. “No one else has done that.”

“Well, I've got some time on my hands, so why wouldn't I try to be friends with your notorious species?” I asked. “I told you why.”

“Yes, as an example.” Val said and gave me another kiss and then let me out of the hug. “How is that working out for you?”

I chuckled. “Most of them tolerate me, some hate that I do so much, and some don't want me around.”

“That's their loss.” Val said. “Now, what are we going to do?”

“Wait here.” I said and walked to a spot between the second and third cells, took out the digging tools, then made a 'T' section and dug back into the wall and made a twenty foot wide circle, just like the one I did for Val, then I put the digging tools away and used Presence to clear out and smooth everything. After funnelling the dirt out into the hallway through my cell, I shut and locked the door, then I went back and took out the nest and bath.

I placed the nest in the very center and the bath off to the side and walked back over to where the avian women waited for me. “Ladies, if you would.” I said and led the three of them to the new place for them to relax.

“HUNTER!” Val yelled and ran over to the nest and knelt by it. “It's not disturbed or anything!”

“The bath is still viable, too. I can add some more hot water when necessary.”

“This is... incredible.” The first avian woman said. “You did this in only a short time.”

“Yeah, and I've got years yet to go on my sentence.” I said with a smile. “What do you think I'm going to do next?”

“I have been astonished each time, so I cannot predict what you will do.”

“I'm going to make dessert.” I said with a grin and left them to go to the last cell. My digging had unearthed the power cable running to the lights and to the cameras and intercom system, so I popped the power from the lights and took out a crate as a makeshift table, then I took out the working appliance I had repaired. I quickly adapted the power attachment to let power flow into the appliance, then took out one of the hundreds of desserts I had purchased.

I prepared the dessert properly and went back to the nest. All three women were in it and I bowed. “May I approach? I bring delicious food.”

The first avian woman nodded.

I stepped into the nest and held up the dessert as I sat down.

“What is it?” The first one asked.

“The most delicious thing you'll ever taste.” I said and popped it open. The smell filled the space and all three women started to salivate. I dipped my finger into the luscious creme inside and held my finger out to the first avian woman. She was repulsed at first, then she saw the slight glow of my hand.

“You...”

“Claws are appropriate in this situation.” I said and wiggled my finger as I made sure my sweat passed through the Presence Claws. “Please.”

She sighed and took a taste... then she warbled in pleasure. It took her a moment before she realized what she had done and she gasped.

“You think that reaction was strong?” I chuckled. “Watch this.” I said and dipped my second finger into the dessert and held it out to the second avian woman. “You would honor me if you would but taste my offering.” I said in their native language.

“Damn you.” The second one said as the formal request couldn't be denied, and she took a taste...

...and fainted.

“Well, damn. She really hates me a lot.” I said with a laugh.