🐚🐚🐚

The creature called Eyeless Jack had smelled the blood before seeing the man who limped around the corner. The heavy scent of it lingered in the air as the stranger gave a call for help. Jack's reply was mostly sarcasm: he definitely didn't LOOK like a doctor, but he had enough know-how to stitch up a gash like that.

Assuming the now-retreating man would even let him. Jack followed the other at an amble.

Even if he didn't intend to let Jack do so, following Shelley in this state wasn't exactly hard. The scientist could pick up his pace all he wanted and he'd still leave a trail of blood behind him. He wasn't all that good at running long distances in the first place anyways.

".....you don't look like...I can trust you at all." Eyes stayed trained on the hands in their pockets.

I may not be able to show you those, but maybe I can take you down to the planet someday. If my boss could survive that place, anyone can! You could finally see all of these incredible creatures for yourself...

Is he really offering tours of the Distant Planet like it's some sort of petting zoo? He would never forgive himself if Shelley were to take him up on the offer and find himself injured. Or worse.

Then again, Olimar successfully led both Louie and Sacho-- neither of whom he would describe as particularly capable-- day after day through dangerous caverns. With all of his experience, surely he could ensure his friend's safety on a short visit in the name of science?

He can't help but feel disappointed when he reads Shelley's next response. Olimar has freely shared his every note regarding a planet that has become deeply important to him, and his penpal won't even give one measly hint about what he's working on? Olimar of all people understands adhering to "company policy," but still. It's not like these messages are being monitored. Right?

I see.

Well, that's something, at least.

I would love to see a photo! I'm sorry you've had such bad luck with them.

Losing so many as children... that must be taking a toll on the poor man.

What do you mean by a new variant?

The captain has some experience with creatures of various forms, including those that match the temperature and conditions of their surroundings. He'd like to be able to help, if he can, but he knows it would be nothing more than arrogant wishful thinking to imagine he could succeed where a real scientist has failed.

Still...

He wasn't all that worried about whatever possible danger might be on the Distant Planet. He could probably handle it somehow. This sure was unearned confidence from a guy who mostly spent his time in the more sterile sections of his station.

But you know how it can be with higher-ups. They might lift the NDA for it eventually and then I'll let you in on the details.

Well, not all the details. NDA or not he couldn't just tell his penpal everything. Even if the other might not pick up on it, there was a lot of blatant disregard for common regulations that really shouldn't be admitted out loud. They weren't doing anything wrong, in Shelley's opinion, but it wasn't exactly legal.

It was all safe though, allegedly, according to himself.

We haven't really decided if it could be considered it's own species but the we have a few litters of S. explosa that are not like the others. Smaller. A little pallid. But that could be because I'm raising them wrong....

They weren't children to him, they were more like livestock. And considering how much trail and error it takes to breed something new and keep it in captivity, Shelley had already grown numb to such loss.

Also, they leave a stickier residue after explosion.

Exploding was the creature's trademark feature. Where Shelley was they were largely used as living explosives - a little hard to transport but easily trained to maneuver into tight spaces.

Since you have been working more intensively with alien creatures in their native environment, I thought I might as well ask for advice.

ᯓ🧸˖° Darlynne’s brow shot up in time with the crack of her canned tea. “When’s the last time you shoved yer foot in yer’ mouth, boy?” She rolled her eyes and took a hefty gulp before sighing. 

Then, a chuckle, as she let the nerve of this guy roll off her like water on a duck’s back.

“Like I said: Don’t usually get guests. All that stuff tends to take a back-seat, I guess.” Darlynne shrugged. Organization, routine, all that stuff never came natural. Easier to shove it all in a corner when it’s just you and yourself.

She plopped down on some built-in futon tucked away in a nook of the ship—coulda been a couch, coulda been a bed—but on a shelf overhead was a cassette player. Tunes played, didn’t matter what, as long as it filled the silence outside of the storm.

"That's understandable... I guess." Still, he didn't approve of the mess. Mostly because he knew how infuriating it was to find stuff when things get this messy. He would never let his own living space get this cluttered. He has before though.

"I didn't say I was leaving.......I guess I should thank you for inviting me inside."

"By the way, can he come in too?" Triton nodded towards the side hatch of the ship where a pair of moist footsteps were pressed into her doormat. The light bent weird at the edges of a humanoid silhouette.