An alert sounded on the bridge.

Naka was the first to react. She pressed the comm button.

"Officer Mbatha here, What's happening?"

"It's the Captain, Ma'am! Something has happened to him!"

She felt a cold chill in her spine. An unfamiliar feeling of dread threatened to overcome her.

"What's his status?"

"Unresponsive, Ma'am, just like..."

Lula, one of the ethologists from the science deck, had been found comatose on the zoology lab floor. She was a healthy girl, and the medical staff that examined her was puzzled has to what had happened. Apart from the bruises, she sustained when falling, the only physical anomalies was a strange V-shaped burn on her back.

She couldn't hear what the ensign was saying anymore. Bahram was already at the lift door. The rest of the crew was shooting her worried looks.

She had to be strong, the crew depended on her.

The captain was brought to the med bay.

Naka left the bridge, still in shock. As she made her way to the lift, she heard some hushed conversation from a group of crewmembers.

"It's just like Lula."

"What are we gonna do without a captain?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

In the lift, she had a few seconds to herself. As Chief Officer, she had to take command of the Trezence. But first, she had to see the captain.

In the med bay, Bahram was listening to the doctor. His face was pale, and he was standing very straight. Naka know that posture well, it was the one she adopted when trying to look strong in the face of uncertainty.

"How is he?" She asked Bahram.

The doctor answered.

"His brain scan shows normal activity, but he's not responding to external stimuli."

"Just like science officer Lula," said Bahram. "He has the same mark on his back."

"What does it means, doctor?"

"Beats me."

Barham shot a dark look at the doctor.

"I mean, we don't know. For now."

Naka had to sit down. This was too much. Yet she knew, instinctively, that this was just the beginning. Two people don't just collapse without reason. The medical team and the science team had joined forces to try to wake Lula up. They were the best this quadrant had to offer, and yet...yet they hadn't succeeded.

"I'm going back to the bridge," said Barham. "You should come too, you are in command for now."

"Until Hugh wakes up" was left unsaid. Maybe for fear of tempting fate.

In the mysterious place where Hugh was, a voice surged from the darkness.

"Hi. Can you understand me?" said a tiny, very anxious voice.

"Where am I? Who are you?" asked Hugh. He could barely make out a shape at the opposite of what seemed to be a hay-filled room.

"Holy shit, you can speak!" said the shape.

"Yes? Who are you?"

"I'm Lula! Oh, I'm so glad one of you can understand me."

Hugh felt like a black hole had opened it his feet. He was pulled by a strong, unknow force right into perilous territory.

"Lula. I just had a report that you were still in a coma. And this isn't med bay."

Or anywhere else he recognised for the matter.

"I...Oh, no. No. Not you too!"

Hugh's vision was getting better. The shape, Lula, he corrected himself, was getting closer.

"Captain, I'm so sorry."

It was a giant white mouse with Lula's voice.

He could make out the animal's features in the darkness: a long nose, two round eyes, and two great front teeth.

"Lula."

"I'm so, so sorry."

He realised with a shock what had bothered him since he woke up.

He had a tail.