Eyuy expected Ppnlak to be more shaken up and upset at the death of his companion, but the alien told how the situation went without a sliver of emotion in his voice. Eyuy learned about how the thing crept upon them in the forest, chasing them back to Ppnlak's pod. How Ppnlak thought he was going to die, but his bioluminescence seemed to hurt it. However, the thing was determined to eat, so it grabbed Isiuta despite the pain.

Eyuy knew that he should be comforting Ppnlak right now, but it was hard to think about anyone else in the face of his mounting panic. There was something in the woods that was hunting them and would stop at nothing to satiate its hunger. The thought chilled Eyuy down to his bones. 

Eyuy said, "Are you okay?" It was the only thing he could think to say. What else could one say to their coworker after their pet died?

I'll live, Ppnlak shrugged.

"Are you sure?"

Do we have the time for me being not sure?

Eyuy sighed, "That’s a good point. That thing and the paper I found point to something being quite amiss on this planet."

Ppnlak nodded and stood outside the door, staring at Eyuy. He had a feeling the tenlaupian wanted him to invite him inside, but that was clearly against ICC policy. Eyuy had broken so many policies and codes that he wasn’t up to breaking more. However, Eyuy didn’t feel comfortable letting Ppnlak stay in his doorless pod while the thing roamed around. 

I can hear you thinking, Ppnlak said.

While Eyuy may have taken that phrase with a grain of salt from somebody else, Ppnlak was able to hear his thoughts, and Eyuy hesitated to let Ppnlak know how much it bothered him to extend the common courtesy of inviting the alien inside the spaceship. Eyuy replied, "I hope you mean that figuratively."

Perhaps. Perhaps not. 

Ppnlak's non-answer confirmed that he heard Eyuy's actual thoughts. "I can't change the rules."

You can decide whether you follow them. You've broken more stringent ones before, but letting me inside is too much. I understand.

"No, you don't. If you did, you wouldn't be upset."

Eyuy hated how Ppnlak's laughter echoed through his mind. The mocking sound was amplified by their link. Ppnlak said, I'm not upset, Eyuy. I'm merely surprised at your diligence.

"It's Eyuy-yinh to you," Eyuy snapped.

Ppnlak must have been shocked because no reply came. As the seconds ticked, Eyuy became more and more embarrassed by the tone of his response. And, when he thought about it, that was the first time Ppnlak had ever referred to him in a familiar way. It was either explorer this or Eyuy Aeum-yinh that or a combination of both. In his irritated state, the informal expression of his name frayed his nerves. However, Eyuy realized that there was no way for Ppnlak to have known this. The alien couldn’t read, so he was unable to learn on his own, and the pirates on the Architeuthis were unlikely to have cared for the formalities of Anmlonh and the yeolbaun. 

I'm sorry, explorer. I won't make that mistake again.

The detached response and dimming of Ppnlak's glow to a dull green confirmed his worries. To salvage what he had done, Eyuy said, "My deepest regrets. I didn’t mean to come across as angry, but please do call me Eyuy-yinh. Eyuy is too informal for me at the moment."

I told you. I understand.

Eyuy turned, looking into the tiny space that made up his spaceship. There was enough room for two. Eyuy opened the door further and said, "Come in."

I wouldn't want to make you break your precious rules.

Eyuy sighed, "Please, come in."

Eyuy couldn’t see Ppnlak's eyes, but he felt those eyes scanning him. Whatever he found must have satisfied him because he walked past Eyuy into the spaceship. The tenlaupian's tentacles grazed over the walls and various equipment. Eyuy hurried past him into the control chair. 

LOIUY's voice startled the both of them, [EXPLORER AEUM-YINH, INVITING AN UNKNOWN TENLAUPIAN INTO THE SPACESHIP WITHOUT EXPRESSION PERMISSION FROM SUPERVISOR SBLANNU IS AGAINST REGULATION.]

"LOIUY, if you would stop reminding me of the rules I'm breaking?"

[UNFORTUNATELY, I AM UNABLE TO EXECUTE YOUR REQUEST.]

Ppnlak laughed, It was worth a try.

Eyuy spun around in his chair. "We have to go back."

To the city?

"We need to know more about the Metamorphosis project."

I don't know about this 'we' you're talking about. 'We' don't need to know more. You do.

Eyuy's frustration mounted. The Metamorphosis project was the culmination of everything Eyuy had been sent to do. Ppnlak agreed to help him, and he wasn’t taking the alien anywhere if he didn’t fulfil his end of the bargain. Eyuy replied, "Actually, it is we. Without me, you have no way of leaving."

Ppnlak leaned against the far wall of the control room. You would leave me here to be killed?

Eyuy levelled a stare at Ppnlak. "No, but we're not leaving until you help me."

A bright blue glow illuminated Eyuy's face. Restless tentacles relaxed behind Ppnlak, and he said, I was allowed to take leave when I was on the Architeuthis, but I never did because it seemed useless. 

"How is this relevant?" Eyuy asked.

However, one time I couldn't contain my curiosity, so I left with some crewmates. Zavadia was known for its exotic beauty, yet all I saw was destruction. When asked what happened, the Zavadans only said, 'Our protector has forsaken us.' 

Eyuy cleared his throat, knowing where Ppnlak was taking the story. But he couldn’t force himself to believe it. He knew Zavadia and Zavadans well. The planet and its people were staunch supporters of the ICC and were one of the first species to join the organization. Officers from all sectors learned about their contributions. Although they didn’t have military or economic might, their continued support and offers of labor led to them being one of the pillars of the ICC. But Eyuy had noticed that fewer and fewer Zavadans were joining the ICC. Before, entire sectors could be filled with them. Now, sectors were lucky to have one. 

Officially, it was because the planet was experiencing a population decline. Murmurs of the real reason floated around the main station. Eyuy paid them no attention at the time because they seemed so baseless. There was no way the ICC would have done something so despicable to its main supporter. There was no way the ICC would have stooped down to the level of the Sijex Federation. There was no way the ICC would go against their own rules.

Ppnlak continued, It didn't take long for us to figure out that the protector they were talking about was the illustrious ICC. 

"No," Eyuy whispered. His mind was still in disbelief, but he had to force himself to believe. 

It's the truth, and it's not the first time. Across the galaxies, planets are telling the same story. Their protector cast them away, destroying everything in the process. That's whose rules you're following. 

Eyuy couldn’t understand how Ppnlak was calm while he told him this. Eyuy's hands were trembling, and his tail was thrashing behind him. What was there to say? However, despite Eyuy's unease and uncertainty, he felt something within him strengthen. He was able to still his hands and tail. He wouldn’t sit here and do nothing. 

Eyuy said, "We will go into the city tomorrow."

Why? Ppnlak shook his head. Do you not believe me?

"I do." Eyuy turned his head to one of LOIUY's intercoms, "LOIUY, how much progress do you have on the translation?"

LOIUY said, [I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE 70% OF THE TRANSLATION WITH THE GIVEN DOCUMENTS, EXCEEDING MY PREVIOUS ESTIMATE.]

"So, you only need a few more documents to complete the translation?"

[THAT IS CORRECT.]

"Excellent." Eyuy spun to face Ppnlak again. "We will find out what the ICC has done here."

And when you find out, what will you do?

"Ask me again when we're finished."

Ppnlak sighed, You won't let this go. I'm sure you've figured out that the thing probably lives in the city.

"Yes." It was no hardship. Ppnlak had been on the planet for six months without any encounters with the thing. Yet as soon as they open the city, he had one. Eyuy had no idea how long the thing had been down there, but it had been far too long. "We'll deal with that when the time comes."

Once you find this out, will we leave?

"You have my word."