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knowledge and to ensure it wasn’t misused or exploited. And there was no one more qualified to do so than her. Steele was a geneticist, but he’d stepped away from his own research 15 years ago when he accepted his position as Chief. The field had changed dramatically since then. Steele would want to manage everything, but he needed her for the details. She smiled and quickly walked to his office.  
    Once arrived, she saluted and stood before her commanding officer. Steele glanced up at her, but didn’t ask her to sit. Steele’s thin frame and narrow face, along with his age, gave him a gaunt, mean appearance.  
    “Because of Eshel’s knowledge and the risks that come with it,” he began, “I am to oversee protection of Eshel’s genetic knowledge and provide the Captain and the Alliance with guidance on how to proceed with this challenge in the future.”  
    “Yes, Sir.”
    “As such, I will need you to furnish any and all analyses, scans, or any other work you’ve conducted regarding Eshel. I will also need the file with his genetic information, as well as any and all emails or other exchanges you’ve had with Eshel. Once you give me this information, you must permanently remove it from your network and VirNet. That’s an order.”
    Catherine blinked a few times. “You don’t… Sir, you don’t want me to help with this?”
    “Did I request your help?”
    “No, Sir.”
    “Then address my requests.”
    Catherine, speechless for a moment, tried to recall what he’d asked for. “I have no analyses or scans, Sir. I didn’t save those I conducted while Eshel was in stasis. I don’t have Eshel’s genetic file either, but Dr. Vargas probably does. And I’ve had no contact with him since talking with him in sick bay.”  
    Steele gave her a hard look. “You are aware that withholding such information could end your career with the Space Corps.”  
    Catherine felt anger spread through her. “Yes, Sir.” She knew he expected her to elaborate or to rephrase her answer in order to sound more reassuring. But she had no intention of doing either.  
    “Don’t make me repeat myself, Lieutenant.”
    “I am withholding nothing, Sir.”  
    “You are the head of your lab. No one shall discuss genetics with Eshel, question Eshel in any way, or pursue any of the information you found when you examined Eshel. You are responsible for ensuring that you and your subordinates obey this order. If you violate any of it, you will be finished here and sent back to Earth. Is that understood?”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    Steele turned away. “Dismissed.”

CHAPTER 4

    Eshel descended the aft stairwell to the second deck and proceeded to the living quarters that Ov’Raa’s administration had assigned him. All non-commissioned crew shared their quarters, anywhere from two to four per room, depending on rank. Eshel’s bunkmates included one human, Private Suzuki, and two Derovians, Private Coran Mel’Ri and his brother Dorel.
    Ov’Raa had told Eshel he’d chosen his bunkmates intentionally; Derovians, with their highly forgiving natures, would be least bothered by Eshel’s aloofness. Ov’Raa had warned him that his communication style seemed “quite unfriendly” at times. Eshel didn’t understand the purpose of being “friendly,” even after Ov’Raa explained what the word meant. He only knew that sleeping in such tight quarters with others, particularly otherworlders, was going to be difficult.
    Nonetheless, Eshel did as his father taught him and prepared himself to greet his bunkmates according to their native traditions. He would shake hands with the human and perform the meron with the two Derovians. The meron was similar to the handshake, but with both hands and without the shake, where one clasps the other’s hands for a longer duration. Eshel took a deep, long breath in preparation, a small discomfort beginning to spread through his long fingers.  
    As Eshel approached the door of his quarters, he heard