Three hours later

“N-Vorl! Can you come here a minute?” Teresa calls to the large yautja. “I need to pick your brain!”

The yautja warrior scowls, his mandibles opening and closing rapidly. An agitated chitter escapes from deep within his throat. Teresa sighs and swivels her chair to face him.

“I don’t mean your actual brain. I need your expertise,” Dr. Boyd clarifies. "Probably couldn't find your brain if I wanted to."

The second part, Teresa says under her breath. She impatiently waves N-Vorl over with a hand.

"Please," Teresa insists. "There’s some answers I’m looking for and you may be able to help me with them.”

N-Vorl steps before the desk and glances down at Dr. Boyd’s screen. Teresa points a finger at the computer and brings his attention to a large graphic.

“Your cloaking…It uses some sort of fancy yautja technology to bend the light? Am I correct? I mean, you guys aren't really going invisible man every time you disappear...Right?” Teresa inquires.

“It is much more complex than your kind will ever be capable of comprehending. But you are on the right track,” N-Vorl says condescendingly.

“Uh...Okay. Well. Anyway—,” Teresa says, returning N-Vorl’s ire. “It appears the Judases are using a specialized form of harmonic resonance to mimic your cloaking. It involves a rapid vibration of their wing cases. In this way, they're able to project the same illusion. Here watch…”

Dr. Boyd leans forward and draws her touchscreen tablet across the desk. She presses a small green icon on the tablet’s screen. The revived Judas in holding tank seven begins to pace. The insect climbs onto the wall and its wings open a fraction. Then, it begins to vibrate. Slowly, and then faster. There is a barely audible high-pitched hum, and then the Judas winks out. Only a nearly indistinguishable amorphous blob hovers where the juvenile once clung to the wall.

“See?” Teresa says proudly. “What did I say?”

N-Vorl leans over, pressing down on the back of Dr. Boyd’s chair, and stares at the image on the desktop screen. Teresa is studying the same image on her tablet. When she looks up, the side of N-Vorl’s face is so close that she draws back in surprise. N-Vorl turns his head and their faces are mere inches apart. The unfriendly yautja’s angry eyes boring into those of the human scientist.

“How is this possible?” N-Vorl growls. He does not bother to alter his proximity to the ooman female.

“Insects are very adaptable creatures,” Dr. Boyd says. “Constantly evolving to stay ahead of the curve. The Judas which bred this particular specimen must have encountered one of your hunters somewhere on the ship. It passed on that knowledge of adaptability to its offspring. The original Judases evolved in a sewer…Feeding off of sewer people. Somewhere along the way, they determined humans to be their greatest threat…And evolved to mimic us. My guess is, they view your kind as an even bigger threat. They’ve gotten a taste of yautja blood. And they like it.”

“You find this amusing?" N-Vorl hisses.

“I’m a scientist,” Teresa says. “It isn’t about amusement. It’s about the benefits to my work. Believe me. Anything which threatens you…Threatens me. You forget…I’m the only ooman alive on this ship.”

N-Vorl sneers cruelly, his eyes burning into Teresa’s.

“Yes…You are,” N-Vorl says. He finally stands to his full height.

It is as if a great weight is lifted from Dr. Boyd’s chest and she is able to breathe easily again. Teresa watches N-Vorl warily. She climbs slowly to her feet.

“I’m going to the lounge for some coffee,” Teresa says with a weak smile. “You’re more than welcome to continue your sentry duties in there.”

Much to Dr. Boyd’s chagrin, N-Vorl does indeed follow her into the lounge. Heading to the counter, where the coffee machine and food replicator are recessed in the wall, Teresa inputs commands for a cup of decaffeinated coffee and a blueberry muffin. While the food is reconstituted, and tastes nothing like homemade, the thought of sunny afternoons eating blueberry corn muffins warms Dr. Boyd’s heart.

A shadow covers one side of the counter, and Teresa turns to find N-Vorl standing close beside her. The yautja stares at her with an expression which can only be disgust.

“Whatever your plans are…Whatever you intend to do…Know I will uncover it,” the yautja hisses.

N-Vorl's mandibles click furiously and he glares at her through narrowed eyes. Teresa studies his mouthparts with both interest and fear. His mandibles are slightly bigger than P'taal's and the points of his tusks appear to have been sharpened at some point. What kind of damage could they do?

“I don’t know what you mean,” Teresa mutters softly. “I have no plans. I am doing my best to cooperate. Dammit, I saved your life out there. Doesn’t that count for something? If I wanted you dead…Wouldn’t I have let that Judas kill you?”

Teresa’s hand unconsciously moves across the counter, seeking anything she might use as a weapon. A rack of clean coffee mugs is all that is within reach. The large yautja grins and takes a backward step. He crosses both arms over his chest. His smug grin transforms into an angry scowl.

“I would not hurt you, ooman,” N-Vorl says, reading her intentions. “My elder wishes you alive. For now. As for saving my life…I am grateful to you. But should you double-cross us…That will not prevent me from doing my duty.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything different,” Teresa replies coolly.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

N-Vorl gives Teresa a final hard look before spinning on his heels and exiting the lounge. Trembling beyond control, Dr. Boyd grips the edge of the counter. A small cry of fear and shock escapes her lips and she presses a hand against them to suppress it. Maybe it would have been better to allow the angry yautja to kill her when they had first met? It appears she is doomed to die whether she cooperates or not.

Only P'taal's kind words of reassurance help to lessen Teresa's growing anxiety. The brave warrior will not allow any harm to come to her. As long as it is Elder Glandis' wish. In that case, she had better stay on Glandis' good side.

-

-

When Teresa returns to the lab, N-Vorl is once again leaning against the far wall. He follows Dr. Boyd's movements with his eyes. Setting her plate and coffee mug on the table, Teresa pulls her chair out further and sits down. She pretends not to see N-Vorl at all.

Dr. Boyd opens her most current file on the Judases and skims over it. She uses a finger to follow along with the text. Soon, a jumbled mix of words tumbles from her mouth.

"This doesn't make any sense," Dr. Boyd utters to herself. "The Judas wearing Theo's face...Was pretty old. Possibly even a specimen from the original group. This change must have occurred while it was in molt... Getting larger. But how are they doing it? I'm going to need another sample."

With a sigh, Teresa drops her stylus onto the desk and leans back in her chair. N-Vorl's enormous bulk enters her field of vision. With another exasperated sigh, Teresa turns to him.

"What have you uncovered?" N-Vorl inquires.

The yautja's question comes across as accusatory. Teresa rolls her eyes and turns away from him. Taking up her stylus again, she taps on the screen of her tablet. Several images of biological samples fill the computer's display. Inlaid in each image is a small circular area containing a larger magnification of the same cells.

Dr. Boyd pretends not to notice N-Vorl standing only feet away. She also chooses to ignore his question. Not one to be ignored, N-Vorl simply repositions himself and leans on Teresa's desk.

"What have you learned?" N-Vorl reiterates.

Teresa finally meets his gaze. Her expression says she is anything but thrilled.

"Nothing I can verify...Without gathering more samples," Teresa replies. "We're going to have to go back out there."

N-Vorl shakes his head in a negative fashion.

"It is Elder Glandis' wish that you remain here...In the labs," N-Vorl says. "You are only to leave if he gives you a direct command."

"What?" Teresa exclaims in astonishment and disbelief. "Why?"

N-Vorl's face twists into an unfriendly smile. He releases the edge of the table and stands to his full height. He crosses both arms over his chest in a haughty gesture.

"I was able to convince our leader that having the only ooman on the ship...Wandering around at her own leisure...Would not be a great idea," N-Vorl says.

Teresa's mouth tightens into a firm line and her breathing accelerates. Who was this yautja to effectively make her a prisoner in her own lab? Teresa slams down the stylus. Another yautja warrior, some distance off, briefly glances in their direction before returning to his guard duties.

"What's the matter, N-Vorl?" Teresa challenges him angrily. "Afraid I'll do something crazy? Like blow up the ship?!"

N-Vorl lowers his upper body so that he is staring straight into Dr. Boyd's eyes. His brow knits as he catches a hint of something new in Teresa's usual scent. At the same time, the scientist's body grows rigid.

"Would you blow up the ship?" N-Vorl asks plainly.

Teresa leans her upper body closer to N-Vorl as well. She matches his ire without thought for the consequences.

"What do you think?" Teresa says.

N-Vorl studies Teresa a moment more, before standing erect. The unfriendly smile returns to his face.

"I think Elder Glandis is wise to keep an eye on you," N-Vorl says. "As I stated...You will only leave the labs when ordered. We have others who can gather your samples."

N-Vorl turns to leave without another word. Teresa angrily glares at his back. What does he mean: 'others'? Not just anyone can gather a useful sample.

Teresa's hope deflates. She glances around her. The lab, which had once brought her so much joy and prestige, has now become her prison. How can fate be so cruel?

-

-

At intervals, while perusing her growing collection of files on the Judas insects, Teresa glances over her shoulder at N-Vorl. Each time she does, the belligerent yautja is staring directly at her. At one point, Teresa shoots him an angry scowl and bunches up her face. Letting the alien hunter know he is as much a pain as he believes her to be.

N-Vorl is not fazed. His expression remains blank. However, he does heave a great sigh.

"Not so unaffected after all," Teresa mutters to herself.

Dr. Boyd turns fully to face her computer. She bites down on her lower lip and stifles a chuckle.

"Good. Imprison me in my own lab, will ya? I'll have to work on him some more. Really get on his nerves. Maybe he'll turn that stupid overpowered shoulder gun on hi--."

Teresa is so enthused in her mental musing that she is unaware of N-Vorl's approach. A startled gasp escapes her lips as the large hunter reaches out and touches her shoulder. Teresa climbs to her feet and does her best to stare N-Vorl down.

"Seriously, I'm going to need you to stop touching me," Teresa exclaims in a strained voice.

Near the Judas holding tanks, a wide yautja with a broken tusk turns to see what the commotion is about. He watches N-Vorl and Teresa for a brief moment and then goes back to observing the Judas inside the tank.

"If you do not wish me to touch you," N-Vorl says, "Do not carry on as if you have something you wish to hide."

Teresa nearly laughs in the big dumb yautja's face.

"Something to hide?" Teresa laughs. "I doubt you could even understand a word of my research. You look like all you know how to do is kill, kill, and kill some more. What, with all those fancy weapons and doodads hanging all over your body. Doesn't take brains to kill."

For once, N-Vorl has no comeback, his green eyes flashing with anger. Teresa tilts her head in a haughty manner and offers N-Vorl a slow wink.

"Now, if you'll excuse me? I have to go to the ladies room," Teresa says. "Don't wait up."

Teresa turns to leave, but N-Vorl firmly grips her forearm with a strong hand. Teresa whirls on him and her left hand bunches into a fist.

"I told you not to touch me!" Teresa cries.

"I have been instructed...By my Elder...To monitor your activities," N-Vorl replies. "Where you go...I go."

"No...You don't," Teresa hisses. "I can see we need to lay down some ground rules. I distinctly remember everyone here agreeing that we would all work as a team. It's enough that you've practically imprisoned me here in the labs. I will not allow you to invade my privacy whenever you wish. So...One...You will stop touching me. Two...You will not enter the shower room while I am in there. Period. And three...You are never to step foot in my quarters! Do you understand? Anything outside of this and I stop cooperating. Good luck finding another...Ooman...To help you with your precious beast seeding project. I'm sure Elder Glandis would be happy to know....It was all because of you."

N-Vorl takes a step closer to Dr. Boyd and she tenses. The large yautja looks down at her with a curious expression, his jaw working furiously. At first, Teresa is worried that the enormous yautja will attack her. Her eyes wander to his sharpened tusks. She is surprised when N-Vorl nods and then turns away.

"That's it?" Teresa whispers to herself.

She watches N-Vorl as he drops down on the edge of her desk, one leg swinging slightly. In that pose, he reminds her of Richard. Richard was always perching on her desk like that. Mostly, so that he could lean over and touch her chin with a finger. Before kissing her tenderly.

Teresa rips herself from her sad memories. She heads for the lounge, and it's adjoining restroom facilities. The bathroom calls to her more than ever. She needs a good cry.