Bankor

Cole stepped out of the climate-controlled Medical Facilities and into the humid air, it wasn’t a feeling he was accustomed to, and the air seemed thick in his lungs.even though it was cooler than the desert, the sweat and humidity clung to his skin like a disgusting blanket. He’d dropped a message for the droid to meet him, and he ran his hand through his hair as he waited.

The unit approached the Doctor, not as bothered by the air conditions as everyone else might. It sat down before Cole, offering a slight wag of it's tail.

It offered a synthetic bark, as it's eyes shaded blue and an emission displayed from it's eyes.

The holo recording played to confirm it had received the request.

Despite himself, Cole smiled lopsidedly at the droid’s actions, there was something charming about the behaviour that he couldn’t resist. “Thank you for meeting with me, I have a task that I need assistance with.” Cole dropped to one knee so he could speak with the droid face-to-face, “your briefing would have included information on a pervasive disease in the area, I’d like to study it.”

The Droid bobbed it's head in response, before speaking.

"Briefing acknowledged. Unit designated GB-PK9 is optimal to assist, given known parameters. Further mission detail required."

The droid's eyes returned to their normal white tone. A small synthetic bark again emitting.

“There is a region referred to as the Blight.” Cole produced a number of specimen jars, each large enough to hold a rodent or bird, “I require specimens of infected animals, and a water sample from the region. The specimens do not need to be recovered alive, but they should be as fresh as possible.” He stopped just short of ordering the droid to kill small animals for his research, they’re already sick, he tried to justify. He needed more information first.

The Droid responded with a slight head bob and yawned slightly. Or mimicked it anyway.

"This unit will need a time frame definition of fresh. Parameter not found."

It then mimicked nipping at it's own paw, to break any unsettling eye contact.

Cole resisted the urge to scratch the droid behind the ear, instead he pushed his spectacles up and rubbed his eyes, “right, right, of course.” He fished out his datapad, “I’ll transfer you some biometrics to use,” the standards would provide a rough guide for corpses of small animals that had been deceased no more than 48 hours, adjusted for the tropical climate. It wasn’t pin-point accurate, but he hoped it was close enough.

“If possible, I’ll need specimens in the following priority: simian or aboreal mammal, top priority; avian, amphibian, and reptilian. You can ignore any fish for the time being.”

The droid's eyes glaze over as the biometrics are input into it's task data base. It's jaw hangs a moment, again in a simulated yawn loop.

"Affirmative. Time frame for requested return?"

“ASAP, but instructions from Command have priority.” Cole pushed a hand through his hair.

"Affirmative. This unit will do it's best!"

It wagged it's tail, awaiting any final commands before heading off on it's excursion.

"Very good, dismissed," it was a real struggle not the pat the unit on the head, but Cole instead put his hand on his thigh and stood up.