Jasmine stood from the table and crossed the near empty room, leaving the doctor to sit there quietly. She was worried, he seemed genuinely freaked out at the apparent long life span of a human being. Of all the marvels she had witnessed aboard the station and the few nightmares she remembered from her abductors, why was something like a slightly extended life span a concern to him? Had they simply not thought to do so? Was it not important to them? Jasmine had so many questions of her own she wanted to ask the aliens, but she didn’t have anywhere to go, if Xant needed time to process that ‘overwhelming’ discovery she would give him space. She flicked her hand over the doors sensor, a small square of plastic that gave off a pale blue light when activated and waited for the slider to open.

A guard stood outside, Private Suk she had been told, an Arvas, a tall insectoid warrior. Six eyes, each pair a different colour, red, green and blue, snapped to her position, he stared her down, saying nothing.

“Ummm,” She looked up at the guard, and then back down to the futuristic sword at its hip. “I would like to go back to my hab room, please.”

“And the doctor?” The guard’s voice came over the translator, flat and professional. Jasmine jumped a little, having only understood clicks and whistles before, to hear him speak was exciting and terrifying.

“He- Dr. Xant wishes to be left alone for the moment,” she answered.

The guard nodded his head and turned down the large empty hall, expecting her to follow.

Jasmine followed suit behind the silent guard, a little scared to ask any further questions.

Xant allowed the human to wander into the care of Private Suk, while he desperately tried to calm his nerves. She shifted from one emotion to another with such shocking ease and ferocity.

The amount of information she could broadcast was simply astounding, even after he had calibrated it as much as he could to diffuse the more harmful Frequencies. This was something he would have to bring up with the director. He retrieved a small depressor chem vial from his coat pocket, a supplement for his medipen to help cool his nerves. A small, measured dose would be needed when speaking with the human, and perhaps, a few lessons in controlling her emotions. It was a pleasant realization, that if the human had the capacity for Zenthi communication with the translator then there was an opening for more, personal methods of conveyance. Xant measured out a 1/5th of a vial, before administering the blue liquid directly into his wrist. A calming sensation flowed over his nerves, and the doctor could once again think clearly. He had learned much from their short interview, enough to prepare for the upcoming board meeting, but first, it was prudent he had himself examined in the medical wing. Just to be sure.

-*-

Silence fell over the room as Xant entered the director's office, his co-workers one by one had their eyes on him. Laandi however, was the only one smiling.

“Salutations Xant.” She greeted, from the head of the boardroom table, the only one not dressed in utilitarian scrubs. Today she presented herself in a fine green tunic, cape with a single pleat over her right shoulder, black gloves ran up to her elbows hiding as much of her grey skin as she could. She gestured for the researcher to sit down, with the graceful flair that was taught to Qzetllian politicians.

“Salutations Laandi.” Xant returned, immediately taking his place to her left. The usual scornful Marsen Duuarn did not attempt a snide comment, the young geneticist seemed even more smug than usual. Xant then noticed that Kyda Jess had returned from her scheduled rotation, making Marsen’s mood all the more obvious.

“Now then, we’re all here,” Laandi announced.

“Finally...” The ancient Dr. Kydron muttered under his breath. The old Sulin surgeon had been busier than usual with the new specimen arrivals, he didn’t like his schedule interrupted.

“I trust you have your quarterly reports ready?” Laandi asked rhetorically, black eyes narrowing as she took her seat. “Isk, if you would start the session recording?”

Isk stood to her right, a man of integrity but very little in the way of patience. He activated the boardroom’s holo-display and Laandi took a deep breath to begin the recording announcements.

Transcripts of ED Salhor Laandi: Department Head Second Quarter Meeting.

[These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.]

ED Laandi: It is 2130 [hours] the 25th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation Dynasty. I, Executive Director Salhor Laandi will be conducting today's meeting with my department heads.

DH Xant: Dr. Uru’Nav Xant, Head of Research.

DH Duuarn: Dr. Marsen Duuarn, Head of Bio Engineering.

DH Jess: Dr. Kyda Jess, Head of Behavioral Studies.

CMO Krydon: Dr. Tend Krydon, Chief Medical Officer.

OM Isk: () Dr. Au Isk, Operations Manager.

ED Laandi: The topic of today's agenda is the shipment of exotic fauna from an unidentified planetoid. In total 15 different species were recovered from 6 stasis pods found in the remnants of a destroyed Rajava Vessel. Of those 15 species, 11 were non-sentient, 3 of User level intelligence and 1of Creator level intelligence. Dr. Xant you have the floor.

OM Isk: () ...

DH Xant: Thank You ED Laandi.

[Note: DH Xant transferred the visual findings of Subject ‘Jasmine Howe’ to the holoscreen.]

DH Xant: Subject was removed from the Rajava stasis pod on the 84th [day] of the first quarter. CMO Krydon and I scanned for vital organ stability and environmental conditioning. Respiratory, circulation and filtering systems all functional, Subject’s environmental needs were lower than galactic standard and the enclosure was adapted to suit. Subject had been heavily sedated during her abduction, her surface fur completely removed and the glyph ‘F17’ imprinted upon the side of her cranium. No other alterations were found. I sent the initial scans to Dr. Duuarn, and had my observation team record their findings of the Subject in her new environment. Subject was unresponsive during the first week of observation, possibly due to stress, shock and the adjusting to the new enclosure--

OM Isk: () I’m sorry but is this really necessary? Reciting your entire report ad nauseam?

ED Laandi: Isk-

DH Xant: Dr. Jess had been absent at the early stages of the project, I was merely bringing her up to speed-

OM Isk: () Then Dr. Jess should have read the reports I gave her upon her re-entry of the station.

DH Jess: I’m sorry Isk, but if recall correctly, you stormed into my office and demanded I finish the report on the Selpharin before I was even allowed to take a sniff of the Rajava casefiles.

OM Isk: () The Selpharin case was a 6 hour job tops, what in Akira’s name were you doing for the remaining 53 hours?!

CMO Krydon: [Snicker]

ED Laandi: I will have order.

[Long pause]

ED Laandi: Since Dr. Jess has admitted to being ignorant of the case files I’ll allow you to continue Dr. Xant.

DH Jess: Thank you ED-

ED Laandi: Do not thank me Dr. Jess, your poor performance has been duly noted, if it does not improve you will be up for revision, am I understood?

DH Jess: Yes ED Laandi…

OM Isk: () ...

ED Laandi: Xant, if you would continue.

DH Xant: Thank you Laandi. I proposed a personal inspection of the Subject. She had no claws or spines and her jaw was not large enough to pose any sort of safety concern. Subject was timid, trembling as I approached, her body mass had decreased and her pupils dilated, I concluded that her diet was insufficient and the environmental levels contained too much oxygen. After the corrections were made, Subject became increasingly energetic and constantly vocal. On the 2nd of the Second Quarter, Subject began fashioning tools, weaving flora for crude clothing, and discovered the observation camera. On the 3rd she began clearing the area in front of the camera of flora for what we suspected to be farming. Subject instead spent the entire day depicting the internal organs of her own body in the dirt in front of the observational camera. On the 4th, Subject cleared the diagram and began to demonstrate simple mathematics, what was of particular interest was she had also drawn a key, a total of dots drawn next to the corresponding symbol-.

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

DH Jess: So she was aware of our observation from the start?! And had the foresight to try and communicate with math?!

ED Laandi: Dr. Jess I would advise you not to interrupt again.

[Long pause]

ED Laandi: Xant please continue.

DH Xant: Thank you Laandi, the 5th and 6th day were more mathematics, progressing from arithmetic to basic algebra, some of the equations were incorrect but the understanding of the concept was advanced enough. At 0910 [hours] on the 7th [day] second quarter I conducted the first Sentience Test.The Subject was escorted to an interview room and I produced an illustrative dataslate. I had planned to spend the next [12 hours] in an attempt to communicate with the Subject, but after only a brief demonstration of the simple illustration tool the Subject proceeded to produce 6,789 separate illustrations-

[Note: Dr. Kyda Jess stood from her chair in shock but did not interrupt Dr. Xant's report.]

DH Xant: -Including but not limited to, Biology, ecology, genetics, mathematics, chemistry, biospheres, astronomy, geology, simple engineering and segments of her own culture. Subject then attempted to communicate with me, with the following.

[Note: DH Xant then transferred a presentation of corresponding images.]

DH Xant: 1. Subject and 3 others were assembled around a fire at nightfall, clothed and consuming protein.

2. Subject separated from the group, no reason was given as to why.

3. A depiction of a Rajava scout ship using its kinetic tow to haul the Subject on board.

4. Subject indicates that she was unconscious.

5. Subject awoke on a organic scanner, attended by 3 Original Strain Qzetillian.

6. Subject was placed into the stasis pod.

7. Subject awoken naked in the temperate inclosure.

8. The day of my inspection.

As of 2200 [hours] on the 7th [day] of the Second Quarter, I declared the Subject sentient Creator level. Subject was then provided with living quarters and amenities in accordance with the Sentience Accommodation Protocols. On the 12th [day], Subject underwent major cerebrum surgery to have a subdermal translator implanted, the translator failed on the 14th [day]. Translator was inspected and found to be overloaded, I then decided to conduct a direct neural link-

OM Isk:() Against EVERY safety protocol ever published-

ED Laandi: Isk…

DH Xant: Laandi, permission to continue after every interruption?

ED Laandi: Permission granted.

DH Xant: Thank you Laandi, I initiated a direct neural link, and was overwhelmed by the amount of information she was projecting. I put in an application for a Zenthi grade translator and had CMO Krydon conduct the operation himself, surgery was completed on the 19th. I began comprehensive interviews on the the 22nd. I also suspect that we will need to secure funds for an engineering team to commission a translator capable of filtering out the harmful emotion emissions-

OM Isk: () Xant you can't commission a brand new translator because another being has a personality and you don’t-

DH Duuarn:- Aaaand that's where I'm going to have to stop you both, I'm sorry Dr. Xant but Isk is right on this one-

DH Jess: Marsen!

CMO Krydon: I assure you Dr. Duuarn, the effects of VEFS were very real, I treated Xant myself-

DH Duuarn: I wasn't talking about the VEFS, so if we are all done judging each other? I was agreeing with Dr. Isk over budget concerns. Dr. Xant has already drained the entire Research Division funds for this quarter, which means other departments are going to have their resources drained before we can even get to them. Which I reaaallllyyyy can't let you do on the account I’ve requested an extra three bioengineers to do some consulting with me. ()

OM Isk: () I didn't see any Fund Requests cross my dataslate.

ED Laandi: Nor mine, care to explain Dr. Duuarn?

DH Duuarn: Well since everyone else here was so focused on the Creator level being, I was left with the three Users.

[DH Duuarn transferred three scans to the holoscreen.]

DH Duuarn: The specimens were opened on the same day as Subject Jasmine, identified as three separate species and transferred to enclosures for further study. When the specimens’ medical scans came across my terminal, I first thought they maybe had the same distant genetic relative; they exhibited the same behavioral conduct and organic structure. One of them, the larger male in the corner there, also had a microprocessor embedded in his skin under the fur line, we haven't decrypted it on the account the script isn't anything our instruments will respond to. What really intrigued me was that the three specimens only had a 0.2% variation in DNA, every difference you see on the holo, fur colour, build size, ear shape, is due to manipulation of phenotype without extensive restructuring of the DNA strand itself-

ED Laandi: Dr. Duuarn… () What are you saying?

DH Duuarn: What I’m saying ED Laandi, is that if I read Dr. Xant’s latest transcript correctly, our little creator species is dabbling in genetic engineering and they've already started extending their own life spans. We all know how well THAT’S going to go if they’re not... Discouraged.

DH Jess: How far have they extended their lives?

DH Duuarn: Doubled by galactic standards, but I think they’re a bit more cautious than the Qzetillians of old were, using these mammalian quadrupeds as test subjects before modifying their own genes.

ED Laandi: It always starts small, hubris is achieved over time.

OM Isk: ()That still doesn’t explain why you need an extra three bioengineers on site, sounds like you’ve figured it out already.

DH Duuarn: That’s because, Isk, one of the females is pregnant… ()

[Long pause]

ED Laandi: What? ()

CMO Krydon: I can confirm Laandi, the smaller female is indeed pregnant, possibly 15 [days] along. I will be monitoring her development with Dr. Duuarn.

DH Duuarn: The reports I sent to Headquarters have enough promising data to secure the extra help, but I'll need a 10% increase for next quarter to keep the extra hands on board.

OM Isk: () Well it's coming out of your own rotten pay Duuarn!

DH Duuarn: Calm yourself Isk, we wouldn't want you to send Xant into VEFS shock-

OM Isk: () You arrogant preener! You can't go over the Director's head for your own personal glory!

ED Laandi: That is enough! () I understand that the last few weeks have been... incredible, but that isn't an excuse to start behaving like government interns. I will see to it that everyone's contributions are well documented and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't secure the funding needed for this facility. Now, CMO Krydon, do you have anything to add?

CMO Krydon: Actually ED Laandi, I’ve been kept busy running between Xant and Duuarn, so I don’t have anything that isn’t already covered in the report I filed. Perception tests and Physical exams are scheduled during the next 4 [days] I'll have the results sent to Dr. Isk’s terminal once completed.

ED Laandi: Thank you CMO Krydon, Dr. Jess, I trust you weren’t doing nothing during the [50 hours] you’ve been back on shift.

DH Jess: Actually, I’ve been reviewing the Observational video and recordings of the Creator Subject and I’ve made a discovery! Dr. Xant, you said the Subject was very vocal after the environment changes? Well I ran the vocalisations through the external translator and…

[Note: DH Jess began playing a sound file from her personal Dataslate]

Subject Jasmine:Today is gonna be the day, that they're gonna throw it back to you. By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do. I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do, about you now-

DH Jess: She’s singing! And I have to say ED Laandi, she has memorised a LOT of songs, the audio recordings are a bliss to listen to, I wonder if her entire species sings as a means of communication?

ED Laandi: That would be the sort of questions you’ve been hired to answer Dr. Jess. If you’ve been observing the video and audio feed, why was it such a shock the Subject began communicating after only 3 [days]?

DH Jess: Ah well you know ED Laandi, there’s 6 [days] worth of audio so…

OM Isk: () The subject’s sleep cycle is almost [10 hours] long, the software cuts out any long silences. By the report there was [46 hours] worth of audio and you should have reached the 3rd [day] by the [18 hour] mark...

DH Jess: Well Dr. Isk, I-I am the Head of Behavioral Studies! The cultural significance of the singing could be vital in our communication with her civilization!

OM Isk: () Are you saying you spent more than [50 hours] listening to less than [18 hours] of audio recording?

DH Jess: The complexity and emotions woven into the songs the subject was singing were-

ED Laandi: Enough! I have heard enough, () I expect you all to maintain the level of professionalism the Esaander Corporation is known for. Dr. Jess, if you do not provide me with a report of a substantial finding by the 30th, I won’t even bother with a revision. Now then, if there isn't anything else-

OM Isk: () Finally! Director-

ED Laandi: () Yes, Isk?

OM Isk: () Akira weeps for the universe! You've all been entirely focused on the prey, you’ve all missed the herd! Did any of you even think for a moment about the Rajava ship the specimens were found on?!!

[Long pause]

OM Isk:() I didn't think so. The Rajava ship the cloaked stasis pods were found on was a troop transport. An advanced stealth transport!

DH Duuarn: So the gene harvesters had a big ship, what’s your point Isk? ()

OM Isk: () My point is that Raiders attacked an elite Rajava troop transport without knowing what was on board. If those savages are arrogant enough to take that as a target, then a research facility with less than 40 staff members would be easier than a Sulin in heat. Which is why I'm taking a quarter of all your remaining budgets and funneling it into security. You ungrateful, spoilt egg sacks are so lucky I have integrity of a Primarch Prince or you’d all have no idea how high your tails are in the air!

() Director, I will have a report of all the expenses sent to your terminal and your appointments with HQ scheduled, the rest of you better get your heads out of your digestive tracts. Petty bloody specialists…

[Note: DH Isk exited the boardroom]

[Long pause]

DH Xant: Dr. Krydon and I have a Perceptions test with Subject Jasmine at [23:15], I will have the report signed off by Isk.

ED Laandi: Thank you Xant. Meeting adjourned.

[Session Ended]