Cambridge Stellar Research, Surveillance Mission #3, Goddess Geode, Baffin

[Malaclypse 666]

Mal paused for several moments, collecting his thoughts from those many years ago when he "discovered" the Geode.

At first he had considered the discovery as a series of accidents. Now, he realized that the grubby Hand of Eris had guided him here.

"Many years ago, during a transitional period for the the Faction currently known as TAZ, I decided to explore the Barrier Nebula. I had just come from a pleasant week of fishing on Curacao.

"As I entered Baffin, I noticed a warning light on my console. One of the docking clamps on the "Fishing.Fool" had not completely retracted. Something had jammed the external mechanism, and I was forced to do an "EVA" to investigate the malfunction.

"I still remember my amazement as I reached the extended docking clamp. A number of unfamiliar lifeforms had attached themselves to the clamp, and were busily consuming whatever gunk or flotsam had covered it. I watched as the organisms rapidly turned the docking clamp into a shining, pristne surface, as if it had been just made and installed.

"Now, I have hauled my share of alien organisms in the past. These unknown lifeforms were huge in comparison, ranging in size from my thumbnail to the width of my hand. And, they seemed curious, and playful, flying in circles about me as I returned to the Fishing.Fool's open airlock.

"These 'Scrubbies', as I eventually dubbed them, continued to cavort playfully around my ship as I retracted the docking clamp; but eventually, as one, they "flew" away to join a larger 'school', which was moving purposely towards a small planetoid in the distance.

"The planetoid seemed unremarkable and desolate as I approached and made orbit. The school of lifeforms had continued towards the surface, and under maximum magnification I could see that the creatures were actually entering the apparently lifeless sphere below.

"Within minutes, I had donned my EVA suit again, and was being gently pulled towards the surface by the planetoid's weak gravity.

"The lifeforms soon led me to a small crevasse in the surface, barely large enough to negotiate in the bulky EVA suit. After a few wrong turns, and some misgivings over my foolhardy quest, the crevasse became a larger tunnel. Its' sides were polished, apparently smoothed by the comings and goings of the small creatures.

Mal paused again, and noticed the wide-eyed, attractive face of the Xenobiologist, reflecting her curiousity and excitement.

"Before I continue with a recount of the Geode itself, it appears we could use refills. And, it appears that Vii is about to burst a blood vessel over our little 'proto-nommies'.. Doctor, what more would you like to know about my little friends?"

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