“You’re in luck if you consider such things fortunate. I was preparing to rehome the Cril when you arrived. Perhaps you’d care to accompany me? Axel doesn’t enjoy taking the subaquatic pod out of the facility.”

“Indeed, I do not,” the droid said briskly. “Just imagine what the smallest leak would do to my circuits and processors.”

Surzahn churred. “It wouldn’t do me any good either, old friend. The Barathi cannot breathe underwater.”

“Nor can the Tiralan.” Such ominous topics made her nervous, but presumably, if there had been failed attempts to release prototype creations before, it signified that Surzahn had survived prior excursions with no ill effects. “But I’d be honored to witness a potentially historic moment nonetheless.”

“You flatter me.” But Surzahn churred, seeming pleased at the prospect.

The Barathi bustled around the lab, transferring the Cril into a capsule filled with water from the tank. It flashed blue and red in rapid succession, and the patterns repeated. Intrigued, she asked, “Is it trying to communicate?”

“Axel and I disagree on the subject. He alleges that it’s possible. Certainly, some beings do so in that manner, but the Cril lacks a brainstem entirely. Rather, it has multiple nervous systems instead, and I theorize that the colors are instinctive responses to stimuli.”

“That makes sense.”

Soon, they were ready to depart and she followed Surzahn deeper into the science warren, passing multiple labs doing interesting experiments. I could spend a whole cycle here, asking questions like Praxys. That softened her a bit to the resistance captain. I should be flattered by his interest in my work, take it in stride like Surzahn.

She was about to board the subaquatic pod when suddenly, Helix was there, radiating dissatisfaction from his head tendrils to his lower limbs. “Where are you going?” he demanded.

It required a fair amount of restraint not to snap at him. After all, he’d made it clear that her organic nature made it impossible for her to grasp certain aspects of his psyche. And while that was true, it didn’t render his impartation of the truth less hurtful.

“On a brief excursion. Would you care to join us? Is it all right?” The latter query she directed to the Barathi scientist currently studying Helix with bemusement as if he had popped out of a wall.

“There should be room, but it will be a tight fit. Don’t get in my way.” It was a friendly warning, one Helix visibly took exception to.

Helix made a sound in his throat, normally reserved for Tiralan who were about to fight. Why is he so angry? Is it because I left before we finished talking? Frankly, that was a petty reaction when he’d made it so clear that he didn’t welcome her commentary.

Quickly Qalu said, “We’ll observe, that’s all.”