Chapter 15 - Questions
980 Words
The food bay was quiet except for the soft hum of the preparation machines.
Mira sat at the curved table, slowly eating the unfamiliar nutrient mixture. The more she tried it, the less strange it tasted. It was smooth and faintly sweet, almost like a cross between yogurt and oatmeal.
She still eyed the small nutrient cubes suspiciously.
Across from her, Seyrin had taken a seat.
A thin projection panel floated above the table in front of him, glowing softly with pale blue light. Lines of symbols and data moved slowly across it as he activated a recording interface.
Mira noticed immediately.
“…Are you taking notes?”
“Yes.”
Her spoon paused halfway to her mouth.
“About me?”
“Yes.”
She slowly lowered the spoon.
“That’s… slightly intimidating.”
Seyrin’s expression remained calm.
“It is for research purposes.”
“What kind of research?”
“Human behavioral and biological data.”
Mira leaned back slightly in the chair.
“So I’m basically a science project.”
“That is not the intention.”
“It feels like the intention.”
Seyrin tilted his head slightly, considering her words.
“You are a unique opportunity to study human physiology in deep space.”
“That’s not helping.”
She took another bite of the nutrient mixture.
Seyrin glanced at the floating display and began speaking again.
“I would like to ask you several questions.”
“Of course you would.”
“Your responses will help improve your care and nutritional planning.”
Mira sighed lightly.
“…Fine.”
She gestured vaguely with her spoon.
“Ask your alien science questions.”
Seyrin tapped a symbol on the floating display.
“What region of Earth did you originate from?”
She blinked.
“…Originate from?”
“Yes.”
“You mean where I live?”
“Yes.”
“Texas.”
He paused slightly.
“Explain.”
“It’s a state.”
“Within a larger governing territory?”
“The United States.”
He typed something into the display.
“Population?”
“Of Texas or the U.S.?”
“Both.”
Mira raised an eyebrow.
“You’re really thorough.”
“Yes.”
She thought for a moment while scooping another bite of the nutrient mixture.
“Texas has around thirty million people, I think. The United States is… over three hundred million.”
Seyrin typed rapidly into the panel.
“That is a large concentration for one planetary region.”
“You should see the traffic.”
He looked up.
“Traffic?”
“Cars.”
“Explain.”
Mira stared at him.
“You don’t know what cars are?”
“We have transportation systems. I am unfamiliar with your species’ terminology.”
She swallowed another bite of the strange breakfast.
“Cars are like… small vehicles humans use to travel.”
“For personal transportation?”
“Exactly.”
Seyrin recorded the information carefully.
“Energy source?”
“Gasoline.”
“Define.”
Mira blinked.
“You’re really starting from zero here, huh?”
“Yes.”
She rubbed the back of her neck.
“Gasoline is… a fuel made from oil.”
“Combustion engine based?”
“Yeah.”
More notes appeared on the display.
Mira watched him for a moment.
“You’re really interested in Earth, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Seyrin looked up from the panel.
“Human civilization developed rapidly despite technological limitations.”
“That sounds like a polite way of saying we’re primitive.”
“Your species is adaptable.”
Mira snorted quietly.
“That’s also a polite way of saying chaotic.”
He did not disagree.
She took another bite of the nutrient mixture.
Then glanced at the strange cubes again.
Still suspicious.
Seyrin noticed.
“You have not consumed the mineral cubes.”
“I’m building emotional strength first.”
“They are beneficial.”
“I believe you.”
“Yet you hesitate.”
“Look at them.”
“They contain essential nutrients.”
“They look like space jello.”
Seyrin paused as if processing that comparison.
“I will record that description.”
“Please don’t.”
He did anyway.
Mira sighed and finally picked up one of the cubes.
She examined it carefully.
“You’re sure this won’t kill me.”
“Yes.”
“Positive.”
“Yes.”
She popped it into her mouth.
Her expression froze.
“…Oh.”
Seyrin looked up.
“Unpleasant?”
She chewed slowly.
“…No.”
Another chew.
“…It tastes like fruit.”
“That was intentional.”
She swallowed and blinked.
“Okay, that’s weird.”
“Why?”
“Because it looks terrifying but tastes like candy.”
“It is nutritionally efficient.”
Mira leaned back slightly.
“You guys are way too good at designing food.”
Seyrin nodded once.
“It is necessary for long-duration travel.”
He tapped another note into the panel.
Then looked up again.
“What was your occupation on Earth?”
Mira blinked.
“You mean my job?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated slightly before answering.
“I worked at a bookstore.”
Seyrin tilted his head.
“a*****e that sells books?”
“Yes.”
“For knowledge acquisition?”
“Sometimes. Mostly for entertainment.”
He typed again.
“Humans allocate significant resources toward fictional storytelling.”
“Guilty.”
Seyrin studied her for a moment.
“Do you enjoy stories?”
“Yeah.”
“What type?”
She thought for a moment.
“Adventure. Sci-fi. Fantasy.”
He nodded slowly.
“You are now living one of those scenarios.”
Mira stared at him.
“…That’s not comforting.”
Seyrin returned to his notes calmly.
“I will record that observation.”
- Writer
