Wait and observe, counseled one neural nexus. Pause and see, concurred a thousand others.

Commander Parquit and the two scientists entered the hastily constructed central control area. All observation and experiments to be performed on the creature would be supervised from this room. The center was buried even deeper than most of the AAnn station. A good nine or so fathoms beneath the low-tide point, it rested in water a deep blue. Tridee after tridee gave views of the interior of the special holding room, the halcyon surface, and a respectable portion of gray sky. Just now the center was a hive of frenzied activity. Technicians and mechanics predominated, making last-minute inspections, wirings, installation, and equipment checks. Engineers and an occasional scientist argued quietly over the performance or placement of various bits of exposed instrumentation.

The xenobiologist gestured towards one of the larger screens. It displayed a view of what seemed to be a large rectangular hole in the sea, surrounded by pecces, the Replerian coral-equivalent. Most of the small reef was the metal and plastic product of AAnn camouflage experts.

“The cage is located at the bottom of that shaft,” Arris informed Carmot. “It rests at the same level as this control center and is actually only verrs away, beyond this very wall. The paneling is undergoing final wiring, so I can’t pull them off the glass yet. When that is done we shall be able to observe directly everything the creature does. Or that we do to the creature. There will be no temperature or pressure difficulties, I am assured. The sides of that ‘hole’ are quite strong. They are also easily removed, as is the ‘reef.’ The walls of the shaft will be towed away as soon as the creature is safely ensconced in its new home. If the thing accepts water as a barrier, it will be barred from the surface by a good forty teverrs of ocean. And the restraining walls, of course.

“The most difficult problem was one that you and the spatial corps solved for us. Whether or not we would be forced to maintain an artificial atmosphere similar to the one of the planet from which the creature was removed. Fortunately, the thing appears extremely adaptable.”

“Insofar as our very cursory testings indicated,” Carmot reminded.

“True. A fortunate bit of luck for us, since our experimenters and handlers will be able to operate without the bother of special equipment and protective suits. Its sole requirement seems to be a certain minimal amount of oxygen. From tests it appears that the creature can break down any of a great number of substances and remove the required element. If nothing else, it proves itself a remarkably efficient combustion engine.”

“Perhaps a noteworthy fact already,” said Parquit. “Ah, here they come now.” He indicated a smaller console screen, and the two scientists moved closer for a better look.

Three rapidly moving blips, set close together, showed on the screen. As they descended further, they gradually resolved into two Aphon shuttles sandwiched around a massive, featureless ellipsoid.