Dr Elune knocked gently on the door, "Busy?"

After a great deal of crashing and banging, a flushed face peared through the door, "Oh, hello doctor. This... May not be a good time."

Smirking, Dr Elune raised an eyebrow, "Dare I ask?"

Sighing, Jolana stood up a little straighter, still hiding behind the door, "Well, I was playing with this new fuel that might benifit our Transports... It singed my clothes."

The doctor shrugged, "I can wait. Let me know when you are ready."

Jolana coughed quietly, "... That will be hard."

"... Why?"

"... I was sorting my wardrobe before I got distracted. So, I repeat... The fuel singed my clothes."

Laughing, the doctor reached up to their 'communicator', a habit from the repeated interviews, "Alex... Can you please assist miss Jolana with some clothes? I am sure she does not wish to be confined to her room."

Frantically waving an arm through the door, scraps of burnt cloth still dangling from it, Jolana groaned, "No, I am fine. I already called someone I know in the spire, they have a set of clothes on the way."

Dr Elune giggled, "The spire? And how long ago was this call?"

"... A few minutes."

"Alex, focus on just comfortable clothes for now."

Sighing, Jolana retreated into her room, "Fine. Alex can... Wait, I never asked, but, um..."

"Alex's gender?"

Giggling, a floomp signalled Jolana sitting back down on her bed, rustling through her clothes, "Yeah. Sh-He... Uh... Alex is rather, ambigious I guess?"

Dr Elune nodded, "They are a special case. Ambigous is a good word for them." Grinning as they try not to laugh, the doctor continued, "Up to you if you want to let them in."

Jolana coughed quietly, "They... Can pop in briefly to hand me clothes. That should be fine."

The doctor nodded and grinned, before remembering there was a door in the way, "Sure. Alex should be here soon."

Just on time, Alex appeard around the corner, a set of clothes in hand... And a bandage around their head. The doctor raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as they approached, simply knocking quietly on the door.

Popping her head out, Jolana smiled, "Thank you, Alex. I did not realise you had been injured, my appologies." She shot a glance at the doctor subtly.

Alex smiled and shook their head, stepping just inside the door to hand over the clothes, "Ah, this? I was just getting treated for my ears. Still a bit... Out of sorts, from the accident."

"Ohhh. Right, I had heard about that. Been meaning to look over any footage you have, that shield sounds fascinating."

Leaning against the wall as Alex stepped back out, the doctor chuckled, "Funny you should mention that. We do have some cleaned up footage... And we are here to discuss that very shield with you."

A slight pause followed, followed by the rustle of cloth and a mumbled sigh, "Well, I won't be of much help yet. I haven't figured that thing out fully for years... All I know is it uses vibrations of some sort."

Glancing at Alex, the doctor shrugged, "Laura would know more. The shield from the incident was actually hers, a prototype replica. She has figured out how to replicate it... But we are more asking about practical application."

Poking her head back out, shoulders shifting as she smoothed out her outfit, Jolana's eyes twinkled with excitement, "That part had been conveniently left out. You are saying she can make more?"

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The doctor nodded, and raised a subtle eyebrow at Alex at the wardrobe choice, "In mass. Not quickly, mind... And not quite as effective. But, good enough for our purposes."

Alex shifted their feet, smiling shyly, "Sorry, miss Jolana. I was in a rush, and... This was the most comfortable thing nearby, short of just a labcoat."

Laughing softly, Jolana waved them in, "Fair enough. As much as I would feel at home in the coat, the dress was a better choice." Adjusting the strap on the slim black one peice, she smiled awkwardly, "Sorry about the mess. Haven't had a chance to clean up yet."

Whislting at the scene of fiery destruction, the doctor pointed at a nearby curtain, "Alex... Please help her out a bit."

Wandering over to pat out the feeble little ember that was still smoldering, Alex wove a path through the debris. Jolana leant closer, whispering, "You could do it yourself..." Alex paused for a moment, before coninuing to work, Dr ELune thanking silently that they didn't react. Jolana did not know about Alex's connection to the sensors, after all.

Smiling softly, Dr Elune found a chair still intact, brushing off the ash on top, "Alex has been my assistant for years. They don't mind." Looking back at Jolana, the doctor peered curiously, thinking quietly.

"... Yes, doctor?"

"You aren't burnt. I find this fascintating. Fortuitus as well, but I have to wonder..."

Jolana blinked, laughing softly, "Oh, that. This isn't the first time blowing up my room. I learnt a few things over the years." Pointing at a faintly battered metal desk, still glowing hot, she grinned, "First... If it reacts wierdly, hide. That desk is my best investment."

The doctor laughed along with her, "I can see that. I got into the habit of using drones for anything volatile... And engineers for the rest."

"Not everyone has those luxuries... Or that patience." Holding up a small bottle, Jolana nodded, "I also invested in this stuff... Skin sealant. Adapts to look like skin, heals to leave no scar, and is much cheaper than that cell-spray."

Humming as they looked at the bottle, the doctor glanced at Alex, "Do you know if Laura has anything like this?"

Alex nodded, "Similar. Not so good on the scars... But, we also use drones more."

Jolana put the bottle away in a little cabinet, "Must be some older stuff. This is still in late stages of testing, though... Allergic reactions have been a concern." Holding up her arm, she lightly rubbed over a patch, "I didn;t need much, this time. I was mostly protected by my last investment... A good skin suit."

Alex looked up from their cleaning, then glanced down at their own uniform, "Ah, similar to ours. Perhaps we should swap designs, see where they can both be improved?"

Jolana shook her head, "I prefer old suits... With my own modifications. No vacuum protection, more heat resistance, less reactive to acids... That kind of thing. More of those will arrive in a few days." She looked at the doctor, glancing up and down, "How come you don't sport the same outfit?"

The doctor grinned, "Because it's more of a pain to wear. Also doesn't suit the labcoat as well." As Alex rolled their eyes, the doctor leant forwards, "Now... Let's talk about that shield."