Answers were partially found. With various machines, Nicole was able to run a few simple tests. However, she itched to have access to a proper lab and better samples. She had managed to get internal imaging of the creature; most of its body was made out of the same kind of tissue beneath its outer layer. It had no bones, something she assumed it possessed something similar to cartilage, though its composition would have to allow for greater flexibility.

  She considered taking a tissue sample but decided against it. Perhaps that point could be reassessed when she had a proper laboratory.

  The creature seemed to tolerate her. She was not inclined to needlessly upset it. And… the idea of injuring it made her feel somewhat bad.

  It was perhaps growing on her. A certain charm in its jiggly body, as slimy as it might have been.

  One thing did additionally strike her as odd. The creature was doing seemingly fine. It had been about a week since it had been… out of its host. A parasite should have been suffering. Though it was bigger than any parasite she had any knowledge of, and she had been oddly taking care of it. She could only gain so many answers without cutting the creature open.

  And as much as it provided her with an excellent distraction, she found a certain level of anger directed at it. It still carried a piece of Elsy in it. And that knowledge brought an inescapable emotional weight.

  As shuttle three began the last stretch of its journey back to N7, communications to the planet were restored.

  Despite her squishy friend. Nicole was quickly distracted by more pressing matters. Not that she cared, obviously, it was just… the expedition was what was left. It still didn’t feel the same.

  Maybe she did care. Maybe somewhere beneath her grief and anger, she cared for the people venturing into the unknown under her supervision. Maybe not. Grief made everything so muddled.

  Humans went through neurological withdrawal. A social bonding so intense that it could destroy them when it all fell apart.

  Nicole lacked such chemistry.

  It didn’t stop her from forgetting, for the briefest of moments, wanting to mention something to Elsy, only to remember. She didn’t need the chemistry to hurt. Only for anyone to take her seriously.

  No one was dead on N7. She supposed that was the bare minimum of good news. Better than she had expected anyway. Nicole did not even have anyone with whom to share her resentment.

  It was strange to hear Tobias’ voice again. Nicole did not know the last time she had been so blessedly free of his presence. Not once did anyone say a word about Elsy.

  How dare they forget her so easily? How dare they?

  It quickly became apparent why, even though it did not lessen Nicole’s resentment.

  Xenos. Aliens.

  Oh, the irony of the biologicals using such a term for the native inhabitants of N7. Previously, they had encountered a handful of species. But several days ago, a tall grey bipedal humanoid had been spotted watching the encampment from afar. It had fled the moment it had been noticed.

  Most recently, a pack had been spotted standing by the jungle tree line. Much taller than a human and apparently with a second set of arms. Again, the expedition had been observed.

  From the chatter Nicole overheard, paranoia was running rampant. As far as they had been aware when beginning this expedition, there was no intelligent life on N7.

  Despite this, several sightings now pointed to the contrary.

  Perhaps it would be for the best. A common enemy might prevent a mutiny. The only problem was that it would require hostility with a presumably intelligent species, which again presumably had extensive knowledge on how best to survive in the environment.

  Nicole already had a bad feeling about it. The Imperium was… anthropocentric to say the least.

  N7 grew bigger and bigger in the distance. It wouldn’t be long now until they arrived.

  Shuttles one, four, and six were additionally on their way when the caravan last heard from them. The salvage mission was coming to a close, a massive success, yet the freezer Nicole paused at every time she saw it spoke differently. Never had something, someone, so unimportant mattered so much to her.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Reentry was as smooth as could be, though the occasional box went sliding and bouncing around as they broke through the atmosphere. She held the first aid kit firmly in her lap, hoping to avoid injuring the creature as much as possible.

  As the blackened clouds parted, revealing the violet seas, it all felt wrong. Everything was different. Nicole was alone. Alone, except for a new pet/science experiment to investigate. She had something to occupy her mind, even if it was inadequate.

  The shuttle began to skid to a stop along the water. Nicole cracked the first aid kit open to check on the creature. It flailed rapidly, trying to escape from the first aid kit, its tentacles in the air searching. Obviously, it would be scared; humans were scared of space flight, and they had the ability to understand what was going on.

  She used her hand to nudge it back inside, and its arms quickly wrapped around her. Being able to hold onto something it seemingly relaxed, at least it stilled.

  That almost broke her heart all over again. It wasn’t the first to do that. Elsy had always held her hand when she had been scared, seeking it out like some kind of salvation. Anger bubbled up. This thing superimposed itself where it did not belong.

  Oh, not anger. Her eyes were leaking again.

  By the time the shuttle reached the shore, she had composed herself. She almost felt bad tucking the creature back in the first aid kit and slipping that inside her repair pod. But until she had her own space, her own lab, hidden it would have to remain. She would not have the biologicals sticking their noses where they did not belong.

  She and the crew of shuttle three disembarked to the sound of cheers. All of those who had remained behind had gathered, whistling and shouting. Joy. It radiated off them all. Nicole resisted a sneer.

  Several more makeshift cabins had been constructed. Now the camp seemed more like a small village. Additionally, Nicole noticed what looked to be the beginnings of a fence being constructed. Not one particularly effective, with a near lack of tools, the biologicals had been almost impressively busy.

  Tobias pushed his way through the crowd as the crews from the other shuttles disembarked. Nicole stepped onto solid ground. Nothing felt particularly different to her. But the biologicals were strapping on masks, reuniting with friends and families. One man was even kissing the ground dramatically.

  “Nicole,” Tobias called, an odd twinge of uncertainty in his voice. It took her a moment to remember why. “What in the world have you done with yourself?” He frowned.

  Tobias’ appearance had also changed. The man, always so particular about his appearance, was now becoming more scraggly, less put together.

  “White is not an effective colour for… current circumstances,” she offered dryly.

  He just stared at her. “You look like some kind of… emo lesbian. Go back to the white. It flatters you far more.”

  Nicole simply nodded. Being clean-shaven suits you better. She held her tongue. It was one of many things she wanted to tell him; one of many things she wouldn't say just to keep the peace.

  “Where is my wife?” He asked after a moment.

  That sucked the fight right out of her. “Frozen. We retrieved a functioning freezer aboard the Euphorion. I placed her in it to preserve her body,” she replied, robotically. Answering his question with the simplest of processes to avoid an emotional impact. “Would you like to see her?”

  “You would like that, wouldn’t you?” Tobias sneered. “To see me distraught over the loss of my wife and the death of my son?!”

  “I am sorry for your loss, Lord—,” she attempted to reply.

  “Are you?” He frowned, tapping his index fingers against her temple painfully. “Do you have any idea what loss feels like? Who can possibly know what goes on in that tin can head of yours?”

  Nicole did not flinch. “I was merely—“

  “I know the two of you were all buddy-buddy,” he continued. “The way she started looking to you instead of me. But while you might have made yourself a little friend, she was my wife, and you let her die!”

  “I did everything I could to save her,” Nicole replied. “But we were not equipped to handle a hemorrhage. Labour carries such risks.”

  ”I spent millions of credits on her, and you’re sorry you fucked up,” Tobias huffed. “Your use is quickly dwindling, Nicole. Without the Euphorion, you don’t seem to know anything, and now this, consider it your second strike.”

  By now, his anger was beginning to draw attention. Tobias must have been aware of this as he took a breath to compose himself. He leaned close, “since you two were so close. Grab a shovel and go bury her. Maybe you’ll get a sense for what grief feels like somewhere in that metallic heart of yours.”

  With an incredulous shake of his head, he walked off.

  Nicole found herself oddly pleased with the outcome. Elsy deserved a proper burial. Nicole would do everything she could to provide that.

  Tobias quickly turned on the charm, jumping up onto a thick log as he began some speech about perseverance and strength. Nicole might have shot him.

  Instead, she joined those helping to unload the shuttles. She spotted Lieutenant Ryant, Stephan, as Elsy had known him, amongst a group unloading a rolled-up robotics platform. She also might have shot him.

  That wouldn’t do either. Apparently, she was too angry for this. Being around biologicals made her want to enact violence.

  Changing plans again, she hurried back to shuttle three. She would keep a careful eye on things until she was able to unload her precious cargo, lest anyone try to interfere.

  She felt... prickly and territorial. That freezer was hers, the repair pod was hers, and that small first aid kit was hers.

  They were hers, and she wouldn’t let anyone else take them.