The sliding door hissed as Snikers entered the briefing chamber. High-ranking Minboa staff encircled the central holo-projector, including Kaz, Agozi, and Zelana. Silence filled the tense room. Snikers's tail swished as he joined them, both curious and concerned.

“I trust this gathering warrants the interruption of my valuable time,” he said, his cultured accent dripping with condescension. His nose jerked sharply when he received only uncomfortable glances and averted gazes. “Perhaps someone would care to explain why my precious schedule has been so rudely disrupted?”

The atmosphere in the room hung thick as smog, and Kaz, looking even sterner than usual, took a deliberate moment before responding, probably to emphasize the serious nature of their business.

“Our current risk assessment may require significant revision,” Kaz said eventually with cold formality.

“Ain’t that the understatement of the cycle…” Agozi scoffed, her eyes narrowing and whiskers bristling.

Not appreciating vagueness, Snikers promptly inquired about the specifics while ignoring Agozi's usual childishness, which he'd grown accustomed to through repeated exposure to her behavior.

Kaz detailed the havoc caused by the Terran specimens. Snikers interrupted repeatedly, his disbelief mounting with each revelation. Agozi's fur bristled more with each interruption, her irritation intensifying, but he ignored her.

“While your apprehension is noted, surely you've overlooked some crucial detail in your rather limited analysis,” Snikers said, sounding skeptical. “Perhaps a cultural misinterpretation? Some vital subtlety that has escaped our notice?”

“Although one might earnestly wish it were so, there is currently little evidence for such a hypothesis,” Kaz replied.

Snikers's nose jerked in a cringe These primitive minds, always struggling to grasp the subtleties of civilized discourse… he mused. “You may believe so... however, I would vastly prefer the insights of someone with proper academic credentials in this matter, such as—”

Agozi suddenly snapped; she thrust herself forward with swift force, surprising both himself and Kaz.

“To hell with your credentials!” she barked at him, her voice carrying a sharp tone of accusation. “That psychopath put two of our people in medical! What more proof do you need?!”

Snikers's nose wrinkled in distaste, his tail giving an irritated flick. “I see our passionate Lieutenant simply couldn't resist sharing her colorful perspective as usual.” His lips curled into a sardonic smile. “How predictably tiresome.”

The argument now escalated rapidly, with Agozi bringing up Snikers's earlier dismissal of security concerns and how his supposed negligence had directly led to the current crisis. Though Snikers maintained his composure, his snout twitched rapidly while his tail coiled and uncoiled in agitation, betraying his growing irritation.

“My dear child, let's endeavor to keep this discussion within the realm of reason rather than hysterical conjecture.”

His civilized words proved ineffective against the simple Mevik who, with her ears now pinned flat against her head, responded by lunging forward several aggressive steps. The sudden movement made himself, Kaz, and even several nearby onlookers flinch in surprise. Snikers stumbled backward instinctively, his self-assured facade cracking for a moment.

“"Hysterical?!” Agozi snarled, her voice raw with outraged vexation. “You weren't anywhere near when it happened! You have no right to stand there and act like you understand! You weren't there when they were bleeding on the—”

“That's enough!” Kaz's harsh command made them both wince visibly, though it achieved its likely intended effect as both stopped arguing. “This situation is unprecedented and difficult enough without internal squabbling.” He fixed them with a stern look. “We need to approach this calmly and logically.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

From his position to the upper-left of the holo-projector, Xeno-Biologist Okens straightened his posture and signaled to Kaz for permission to speak.

“If I may…” Kaz’s body language suggested approval, and Okens continued speaking. “Scans revealed significant physical disparities between our species…” He summarized his medical findings. “… dense skeleton and muscle... far beyond our own. Grasp their potential for causing harm, they might not."

After taking in the information, Snikers slowly turned towards Xeno-Psychiatrist Zelana, who likewise stood across the holo-projector, opposite Okens. He made his tone more polite than usual, speaking slowly and softly; after all, on this occasion, he was finally addressing someone civilized.

“My dear Doctor Zelana, given your distinguished expertise in comprehending exotic minds… perhaps Okens's perspective deserves consideration?”

Zelana's ears twitched back slightly, her tiny wing membranes drawing closer to her body as she considered the question.

“The biological evidence supports this possibility...” She paused, her features tightening with uncertainty. “However, there are significant gaps in our cultural understanding. Furthermore, this hypothesis, even if proven true, fails to explain the unprovoked violence displayed by the specimen Ross during the simulator assessment.”

Snikers refused to abandon this opportunity to support his position and pressed on despite Zelana's counterargument.

However, he wasn't entirely honest; behind his outward confidence that all was well, he harbored private doubts, though he wouldn't voice them and risk legitimizing the Lieutenant's concerns. His worries mainly centered on the specimen Ross, but with that troublesome individual now removed from the equation, he felt less concerned. Moreover, Agozi's tendency toward emotional responses suggested she was likely exaggerating the stadium incident.

“But surely… you must concede that such a possibility warrants consideration?” Snikers asked, keen to support Okens's theory.

Zelana once again hesitated, her body language reflecting uncertainty about the question. “If we consider it purely hypothetically... yes, though—”

“Then why resort to primitive suspicions when a more enlightened view is available?” Snikers cut in before she could finish. “As civilized beings… we must extend to him, and indeed his entire species, the courtesy of our trust.”

The debate raged on for several more minutes. Eventually, Snikers proposed maintaining Ross's containment while pardoning Andreas's actions as likely unintentional - a suggestion that immediately drew Agozi's ire.

“Have you completely lost it?!” Agozi exclaimed, her voice dripping with disbelief. “I saw everything firsthand! He knew exactly what he was doing and didn't show a shred of remorse!”

After several more minutes of heated discussion, Kaz raised his hand for silence. “We'll maintain Ross's containment,” he said firmly. “As for Andreas... we'll continue to monitor him closely, but for now, we'll accept the possibility that the injuries were unintentional.” His stern gaze fell on Agozi, silencing her protest before it began. “However, at the first sign of truly deliberate violence, we'll take appropriate action.”

One of the Mevik security guards shifted his weight, his ears laying flat against his head.

“Captain, forgive my directness…” the guard said, sounding hesitant and drawing the room's attention. “As someone who helped sedate the confined specimen, I must agree with the Lieutenant.” The guard paused, his face shifting between concern and doubt. “Even in its sedated state, the specimen showed unexpected strength and was hard to control. If the other specimen becomes hostile, I fear our usual protocols won't be enough to control it.”

The guard's comments ignited fresh arguments, but Snikers's position prevailed as usual, the latter dismissing Agozi's protests with smug satisfaction.

*****

What absolute morons! Andreas mused to himself inside his quarters before laughing aloud.

After the incident at the stadium, Andreas had been confined to a pseudo-house arrest within his assigned living space. In hindsight, he’d been needlessly reckless, but in his defense, it wasn’t his fault that the Mevik supposedly had bones as brittle as toothpicks.

Fortunately, that annoying situation had lasted only through the night; they’d come to him early in the morning, informed him they ‘understood’ his condition, and accepted his explanation that the whole thing had been a freak accident. Once again a free man, Andreas enjoyed the same liberties as previously. Better yet, he was no longer burdened with dealing with that fool Ross, who had apparently embarrassed himself enough to land in his own form of confinement.

A sadistic grin spread across his face as he left his quarters and turned down the corridor. His confident, determined stride drew the attention of some passing aliens, who glanced at him and briefly paused in their tracks.

Andreas hadn't requested a guide. He didn't need one - the PDA they'd given him provided a map of the ship and clearance for his authorized areas. His destination was the hangar housing his shuttle. He had no means of re-activating it; even these dim-witted aliens wouldn't leave that possibility open. But that wasn't why he was going there.

As he neared the hangar, he grinned again. He had no more time for this nonsense. The final act of this drama was about to begin.