Tour the science level

After Onyx and Lily finished their meals, they headed back to their room at the other end of this level. Meanwhile, you decided to continue your tour with a visit to the science level. MPAD-24 activated the elevator and when the door opened, it announced, "This is the fourth level which is the Science level. It contains the medical bay and research labs."

"I've been in the medical bay. Let's see one of the research labs," you requested.

In response, MPAD-24 floated down a corridor and said, "There are eight research labs on this level. Four of these are dedicated to probe research. Two labs are currently being used for Feeler research. One lab is being used for chemical analysis of recently visited worlds. The other lab is currently unused."

It seemed absurd that so many of their labs were devoted to probe research, especially if there were apparently more pressing needs like solving the lack of semen sources on board. Since the Feelers were one of the only sources, it would probably be best to start there. "Show me the Feeler lab," you said.

MPAD-24 floated down a corridor and turned. Once there, the robot moved toward the wall, and a section of it became transparent, allowing a view of what was inside the lab. It appeared similar to some greenhouses you'd toured with a variety of exotic plants in different parts of the room. In the center was a large clump of thick vines which would be easy to overlook in a natural setting, but here in the lab it stood out enough to be relatively obvious. At the moment, it looked benign, but from what you'd read in the ship's database about Alien Species Details, you knew Feelers could be dangerous.

"Has this Feeler been pruned?" you asked.

"Yes," answered the MPAD-24. "It currently has 5 tentacles, and it is docile and safe to handle. It was milked and had its seeds harvested earlier today. Would you like to enter the lab to see it up close?"

Your initial reaction was to say 'No', but given that it was docile and had already been milked and harvested, this was probably the best time to get a closer look. "As long as it won't try to have its way with me, I guess I can take a look at it," you responded.

In response, a door slid open to the side, and MPAD-24 floated into the lab. You followed it and immediately noticed that the air felt somewhat warmer and much more humid than elsewhere on the ship. Before you got much further, you noticed the nearest tentacle began the quiver and shake slightly. Soon, you noticed it starting to move toward you, and you instinctively retreated back toward the door.

"I thought you said it was safe. Why is it moving toward me?" you asked.

"This is normal behavior," the robot explained. "When a Feeler senses someone in range, an unpruned Feeler would try to grab them, but ones that are pruned like this will instead just try to touch them. It's believed that this is how Feelers learn to recognize those they meet, and possibly to assess the threat they pose or their compatibility for future sexual engagement."

Fearfully, you stopped retreating and braced yourself for whatever the tentacle might do. Closer and closer it approached until finally it was just a few feet from you. However, instead of lunging out and grabbing you, it slowly moved along the ground until it touched your foot. At that point it stopped, as if it were trying to decide what to do next. The sensation was strange, and it seemed to cause a slight tickling sensation. Then it resumed its advance, slowly sliding further up your foot and ankle and eventually your lower calf. By now the tickling was even worse, and it was becoming hard not to pull away. As it tried to continue sliding up higher, you finally reached your limit, but instead of pulling away, you reach down with your hand and intercepted the tip of the tentacle. For a moment, the tentacle stopped and even seemed to retreat slightly. You decided to try something, and fluttered your fingers across the end of the tentacle. The tentacle quivered somewhat and then it responded by shaking against your palm. The vibrations were fast but they seemed to be irregular, some stronger than others, and the timing was not uniform. Perhaps it was trying to communicate through these vibrations?

"MPAD-24, it acts like it's trying to tell me something. Can you record the pattern it's making?"

"Recording vibrations from Feeler. Data will be stored with similar recordings from other research sessions," stated MPAD-24.

If there was other data available, it should help trying to analyze the vibrations for specific patterns, and maybe it could even be translated.