And open the door.

The inside was incredibly strange already. It looked like the entire place was a single piece of steel, carefully shaped into a room. At the other end, not more than 30 feet, sat a Novaxan male typing at a computer that looked just s strange. It was circular, and had no metal backing. An odd cube with different images on each side sat where a monitor would. Plugged into the desk itself. James wouldn't have recognized it as a computer if not for the keyboard. As he moved closer he saw that even that was odd. Compacted into a perfect square, not a single human letter on it. He cleared his throat.

A sharp voice hummed from the blue man. "Yes? How can I assist?"

"I'm uh...here to meet someone. I can't pronounce her name, but she was brought back here from the Placement Program several days ago."

White and blue flickered across his face. James turned on his blue lights. The Novaxan smiled, matching his shade.

"You must be that human...all she talks about, you know. I wasn't aware anyone had given clearance for her to see anyone."

James shifted in place. Why did he feel uncomfortable lying to this man? He grabbed his controller, remembering the chart Archie had shown him.

"Look...they didn't. I won't lie to you, but..." How could he put it? "I'm worried.", he said while he flickered his lights orange.

The Nova met his eyes with a wide gaze. In a moment, he smiled. Still, his body flickered with orange of his own. "I see...let me see if I can put your worry to rest. If this can be peaceful...I will not expose you."

James nodded. "Thank you..."

He watched the Nova type again, and send something across the cube. A tone came from the desk, and a room came into view. His spots flashed yellow, and a look of panic shot across his face. "Stars on fire...she's drying herself out..."

James looked around the room quickly. The Novaxan man flickered too many colors for James to recognize them all. He knew he saw red and grey in there. He turned his jacket blue. "She called me today, saying things I know she wouldn't say...let me talk to her, please."

He fidgeted with the keyboard before letting out a mix between a groan and a growl. "Aaaaagh...follow me!", he announced and stood quickly. Two taps on the keys and a door opened behind him. He took off running, James followed closely and kept the blue lights turned on. The Novaxan smiled at that. "Good thinking...you're a clever one."