“Ah, selah my child. What brings you to us today?” Gentia welcomed Veera into the temple warmly, looking over the tall Cauthan. Between the contented waving of her feathers and her substantial weight gain over the last cycle, she was looking better than she had in years. It made the elderly priestess’ heart rest at ease.

“Good morning Gentia.” Veera bowed politely. “I’m here to trade, as it were. We need more vegetables, grain, and salt. I have plenty to exchange.” She held up a basket laden with useful herbs, mushrooms, and a few pieces of smoked fish. For the time being she and Winters had decided to stockpile the dato in hopes of more favorable exchanges later in the winter. Gentia nodded and beckoned her to follow.

“Of course dear, I’ll be happy to take care of you. Shall we?” She motioned with her walking stick.

“You don’t have to Gentia, I can just ask one of the acolytes or priestesses.” Veera tried.

“Nonsense child! I see you so rarely as it is these days; now come. Aldora would haunt me if I didn’t mother you when I get the chance,” Gentia insisted. Veera relented easily, figuring that she could ask Gentia a couple of questions if they found some alone time in the granary. As they walked towards the altar, one of the younger temple maidens emerged from the chambers on the right side of the structure. Upon seeing Veera, she walked up to the two of them.

“H-hello there Veera, how are you? What brings you here today?” She asked nervously, feathers fluttering. Veera shot a confused look at Gentia. She didn’t even know the acolyte by name.

“Uh…hello? I’m just here to trade. Can I do anything for you?” Veera replied politely.

“Oh uh…if Gentia is already helping you then…I guess…”

“Oh come now you two, this is more than an old woman can take. Centille, if you’re so curious about Veera’s mate, just ask. I get the feeling she wouldn’t mind boasting a little.” Gentia insisted sweetly, causing Veera to grin wolfishly. Centille looked at the ground, feathers waving violently.

“You want to know what he’s like?” Veera asked, receiving a silent movement of feathers in affirmation. “He’s my savior,” she said simply, taking satisfaction not only in the wide eyed look from Centille, but in Gentia’s reaction as well. The priestess had stopped mid-stride, cane hovering in the air. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d turned the tables on Gentia like that. With a smirk, she looked back to Centille. “Why don’t you walk with us?” With a nod, the young one followed Veera and Gentia into the back of the temple. Surrounded by baskets and crates of produce and other goods, Centille requested clarification.

“You said he’s your…savior?” She squeaked.

“He is,” Veera replied happily. “I would never have admitted it back then, but I was dying. Slowly, over years, but I was dying.”

“Because you’re a foolish little cub!” Gentia insisted angrily. Veera smiled warmly at the elder.

“I know Gentia…but even with enough food to fill my stomach, life was beginning to get to me. He brought me back.”

“I’m sure your mother and father will rest easier then,” Gentia sighed, resolving to be glad for Veera despite her sorrow at her inability to do more for the young Cauthan. Turning back to Centille, Veera wagged her tail playfully.

“Probably…but maybe not if they knew what we’ve been getting up to at night,” Veera remarked conspiratorially, allowing the bait to dangle for a moment and loving how Centille took it hook, line, and sinker. “Turns out there’s so much more in this world than mating and bearing a male’s cub.”

“Meylith save us.” Gentia muttered sarcastically. “Just what has he been doing with you? Nothing dangerous I hope!”

“No Gentia, you don’t have to worry about that. His species is…hedonistic, I guess? Not to the exclusion of everything else though. All you have to do is look at him to see that he’s a very serious man when it comes to survival, morality, and his service as a soldier. That being said, he’s very sensual as well. I don’t know if it’s a trait of all human males, but he seems to derive just as much satisfaction from giving pleasure as he does when it’s given. He…he uses his teeth.” Veera whispered, causing Centille to gasp and Gentia to shake her head in disbelief and move further into the granary.

“W-where?” The young priestess managed, barely able to control her feathers.

“My ears, my neck, my shoulder. It feels incredible. I can barely control the shivers.” Veera recounted as she looked over a few kina and other vegetables, pausing to swap them out as Gentia pointed to what she wanted from her basket. As they moved along, Veera continued. “So…where was I? Oh right! So yeah, he bites me. And he let me do the same to him. He could barely keep himself upright when I got into it, it was so cute!” Veera smiled, clutching her basket happily and ignoring the looks on the faces of the other two women. They clearly didn’t share her opinion that “cute” was the operative word. Centille had clearly reached her limit and thanked Veera for her time, allowing the other two women to continue their work. She retreated back to the main area of the temple with feathers aflutter. When Gentia was sure they were alone, she spoke again.

“So, now that the young one has sated her curiosity, why don’t you tell me what’s really going on with the two of you, hmm?” Veera dropped her shoulders at Gentia’s question, looking up in thought.

“I presume you’re referring to things outside of bed? I won’t say that things are difficult, because they aren’t really. He has been the mature and kind mate that I’ve always imagined being with when I allowed myself to dream. That said…he’s not Cauthan, Gentia. I suppose in some ways I may come to regret that one day, but I do not ever think those regrets will outweigh the joy of a man who loves me. We talk easily and often, even about uncomfortable things. I think we will be alright,” Veera explained.

“Is that true, child?” Gentia asked hopefully

“Every word.”

“Good. While I will not speak good or ill of what the two of you decide to do to grow your intimacy, I heartily approve of the way you are caring for one another. What will you do when he leaves for the hunt?” Gentia inquired, preparing satchels of salt and grain in exchange for fish and mushrooms.

“What do you mean? I…” Veera paused, realizing that she actually didn’t know what she would do. When the snows came she would be unable to forage, even if Winters did manage to secure a suitable number of pelts to create some sort of winter garment for her. “Ok…I guess you have a point.” She admitted. Gentia nodded, unsurprised. Aldora had died too young to teach Veera what it meant to be a mated woman. Now that, miraculously, that moment had come, Gentia figured that she had one final lesson to teach the young one. She reached up and placed a comforting arm on Veera’s back.

“Don’t worry child. It’s not so difficult. In fact, I don’t think you’ll have any troubles at all.”

“Why?”

“Well, from the sound of it, the two of you have begun an exploration of one another in the…physical sense. I am sure this has coincided with a proper discovery of each other in other ways, yes?” Gentia asked, shedding her usual manner of lighthearted jokes and subtle jabs in favor of a direct lesson. Veera nodded. “When the snows come and you’re left at home it will feel lonely and unfulfilling child, at first. I’m sure you can understand why. But it doesn’t have to remain that way. I cannot speak for the human, but I learned more about my mate during the winter than any other season. For that reason, I am grateful for the time of Kel. There was nothing quite like seeing him come home from his apprenticeship and duties at the temple to a warm fire and meal. Thantis has never been a man to hide his gratitude. I am sure your human is similar in that. The two of them get along far too well.” Gentia chuckled, grabbing a handful of vegetables and dumping them into Veera’s basket with a wink. “For the tall, dark, and handsome one.”

“Thank you Gentia, for your advice too. I think I understand what you mean. I should try to complement him? To ensure we understand one another better?”

“I believe that sums it up my child. The two of you have committed to share the burdens of life going forward, even if you have not done so with the goddess as witness. You have everything you need to become the fine young woman I know you are. I am sure you will see it in your mate. He will become more because of you…and you will become more because of him. Now go in the light of the goddess Veera, I am sure you and he have much to do in the next cycle,” Gentia dismissed Veera kindly.

“You’re sure? No awkward jokes you want to get in first?” Veera asked, laughing softly as Gentia brandished her cane.

“Be careful what you wish for young one! But no, not today. Today I will pray to the goddess that your mother may rest in peace.” Veera stood still for a moment, holding back an errant tear as she understood the depth of friendship that Gentia and her mother must have shared.

“Thank you Gentia, for everything. I’ll bring him by sometime soon.” She promised quietly before bowing and heading back out into the streets. The elderly priestess had given her much to think on.

-----

Veera pulled back the leather door cover and entered her abode, looking around with a contented sigh before leisurely sorting the goods she’d acquired that day. As she finished, she decided the next point of order would be a fire. The cloud cover had not passed, rendering the light inside her apartment dull and diffuse. Desiring warmer light and a bit of heat, she figured she could dry some more of their wood as well, not to mention preparing more tea for her human. As she gathered wood she remembered the smile on his face when she’d presented that first homemade cup to him. That must be what Gentia meant. I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing that again, Veera decided, knowing it would only be better received after a long day spent on the hunt or in the snow. She couldn’t help but laugh into the empty space, relishing the idea of being something that he looked forward to after braving the elements. Once the fire was roaring at a comfortable pitch and logs had been set to dry, Veera sat on the edge of her bed and began to think. Gentia’s words played over and again in her head, but she wanted to do something more. She didn’t just want to be the woman he came home to. She wanted to be the woman who stood next to him. She remembered something from that morning. She wasn’t alone.

“Io?” She called into the empty space.

‘Hello Veera, how are you?’ The VI’s crisp voice replied in her ear.

“I’m good Io. I’m not disturbing you, am I? How are you doing that, by the way?”

‘No Veera. I have enough computing hardware here that I can spare the processing power. As for knowing you were here, I am connected to your translator. I noticed when you arrived, but based on the tune you were humming to yourself, you appeared busy. May I be of assistance?’

“Yes.” Veera asserted, steeling herself.

‘Oh? I see. What did I miss while sitting here in the Lieutenant’s pants?’ Io asked curiously, drawing a laugh from the Cauthan.

“What is it with you and his pants? It’s nothing too much to be honest, but I had hoped you might assist me in becoming a better mate for Russell. Will you teach me about humanity?” She requested.

‘Veera, while I would be happy to assist…I’m not sure that’s necessary after last night? That was…I’ve never seen him like that before.’ Io replied, a certain awe in her voice. ‘Even without the detailed data I would have been able to obtain from the Aegis, the effects that each of you wrought upon the other…oh mein gott…is it hot in here Veera?’

“Well, I did light a fire just now but I think that’s got little to do with it!” Veera giggled. “I was serious Io.”

‘Oh…I see now…yes I suppose if you only wanted to understand how to bring the Lieutenant pleasure you would have asked me about him specifically. But you asked about humanity…to be a better mate…you’re very serious about his offer, aren’t you?’ Io asked seriously, wishing she had access to the B-MASS so that she and Veera could have a real heart to heart.

“More than anything Io. I’m sure you know I was prepared to be with him even if it meant being left alone in the end. I never thought I would have the chance to choose, you know? I mean, if your people never find you…I guess I get the best of both worlds? I get to remain among my people and a familiar way of life and keep Russell with me…grow old together with him. But I knew there was that other possibility; that I would remain here. Now he’s offered a third way for us. It’s easier for me to say I’d go with him now, knowing the day is far off, but I think even in the final moment I’d choose to follow him, if he’d have me. I’m happy here among my people now, but much of that is because of him, because I no longer have to live my life alone. I know that. Will you help me?” Veera pleaded earnestly. Io felt her processors buzzing with the emotion Veera was displaying.

‘Of course Veera, I would love to! I was just refining some sensor data anyway…oh but where to begin?! Can you read?’ Io asked eagerly.

“No…I can’t.” Veera hung her head, immediately feeling silly as no one was actually there to see her.

‘But, the plaque on your father’s shrine?’

“Carved by Thantis. He told me what it said afterward. I’ve not forgotten it.”

‘I see. Do not be ashamed Veera; that is not something one would expect of you. It was only a hundred years ago that more than half of humanity was literate and our society was much more advanced at that time than yours. Without the Lieutenant’s armor I cannot do much, but I believe that our first course of action should be to ensure your fluency in English, both written and spoken.’

“Is that the language Russell speaks?”

‘Yes Veera. There are other languages that are spoken more broadly amongst humanity, but English has long been the primary language of international business and diplomacy. It is the language of humanity’s extra-terrestrial armed forces, and the language of Earth’s most powerful nations.’

“Wow…that sounds like a useful thing to know then!” Veera agreed. “When do we start?!”

‘Right now.’

“Uh…Io, did this thing break? I can’t understand you anymore?” Veera asked worriedly, gently poking her translator with a claw.

‘I was speaking English Veera, untranslated. It is a nuanced and complicated language, full of exceptions and quirks that cannot be conveyed through rules and norms. The best way for you to master it will be through immersion. I had hoped to begin that right now, but without the ability to point or gesture…I suppose that won’t be possible. Very well, I suppose we will have to make do.’

“What is it with humans, Io? Russell’s way of measuring distance and height is full of peculiarities, and now you’re telling me his language is too?”

‘Indeed Veera. I cannot justify it one way or another, but the truth is that the English speaking people of Earth dominated most of the planet at one point. Their systems of economics, measurement, morality, and government dominate human culture to various extents.’ Io explained, condensing an extraordinary amount of history and politics into a couple of sentences. Veera’s mouth was hanging open.

“The whole planet?!”

‘It was an exaggeration Veera, though I suppose it was only a mild one. By and large humanity has ceased its petty squabbles, but the legacy of the Lieutenant’s people remains. I simply hoped to convey why these archaic and odd quirks of human culture exist.’

“Thank you Io. I remember the stories Russell told me about your global wars. Maybe someday I will understand that aspect of humanity better. For now though I suppose we should stick to English and its system of runes. What’s so funny?” Veera asked defensively as Io chuckled in her ear.

‘I apologize Veera. I suppose that would only be funny on Earth. We call the English system of runes letters. These days most humans use the word rune to indicate writing in a fantasy setting, or to describe the writings of ancient humans who wrote using pictograms or other arcane sets of symbols. I would be happy to teach you. Perhaps we can begin with that?’

“How can we do that if you can’t see what I’m doing?”

‘I will describe them as best I can. You should draw them out somewhere. I suppose your floor will do? When the Lieutenant comes back he can check them.’ Io proposed. Veera felt embarrassment well up within her.

“What if I get it wrong?” She asked meekly.

‘I believe we both know him well enough to know he’d be thrilled you’re trying. Are you ready Veera?’

“Yes.” She affirmed, drawing her knife from her side, grabbing a small snack, and crouching on the floor.

‘Fabulous. There are twenty six letters in all. Know these symbols and you will be able to understand all of English and many other human languages, if you choose to learn their words. They come in two varieties, capital letters and lowercase letters.’

“So…there are…fifty two in all. It’s like the atoms you two taught me about!” Veera ventured.

‘Exactly Veera. Now then, the first letter of the alphabet is A. Begin at a point and draw a line down and to your left. Then do the same thing to your right, stopping at the same distance. Then connect the two halfway with another horizontal line…’

-----

“Man, I hope Veera isn’t upset with me. Between printing a new spare part and this arrow clip…oh well, what’s done is done.” Winters worried to himself as he walked along the now familiar avenue to the home he and Veera shared. He hadn’t been too fortunate in fishing, only landing five. He was concerned that he was fishing the river dry, at least locally. It was either that or the fish were beginning to exhibit some sort of migratory or hibernation behavior in preparation for winter. Either eventuality was not a good sign for him, so he had spent the extra time needed at his pod to ensure that he could go hunting the next day if he wanted to, albeit with only two arrows at his disposal. As he reached the right doorway, he was set at ease by the faint glow and smell of a fire burning inside. Pushing the tattered leather flap aside, he entered. “I’m back you two! How’s it-”

‘Halt!’ Io commanded, immediately showing herself on his HUD in an MP’s uniform. Winters obeyed, halting midstride, holding his right foot off the ground. Following Io’s finger, he looked down at what he was about to step on. There was something carved into the floor of the room, but he couldn’t make any sense of it. Nodding, he side-stepped it all in order to remove his gear, ensuring Veera’s back was turned before stripping off his undersuit. Once he was clothed again, he walked over to the fire and knelt next to Veera.

“Sorry I’m late. I had a few things to do.” He gestured over his shoulder at his armor. Veera looked over, seeing that he’d brought home the bow, wrapped with a bowstring of some dark material. There was also some sort of small plastic clip attached to the armor that covered his left upper arm. It was holding two very imposing arrows, simple in design but clearly made of modern material. “By the way Io, nice little tweak you made to the arrow design. I suppose one hundred percent carbon fiber was a bad idea?”

‘Yes sir, there was the potential for shattering and carbon splinters in the original design. The rubberized weave should allow for much less catastrophic force transfer along the shaft of the arrow,’ Io explained.

“I assume that’s not actually rubber though?”

‘No sir, it is a modified plastic with similar properties but more robust overall. I hope you enjoy it.’

“I intend to put them to the test soon,” Winters affirmed, looking back at Veera who had been lightly snacking on cured meat, roasted mushrooms, and sliced vegetables. She offered him a share, receiving an eskimo kiss from her partner in return. “Thank you love.”

“You’re welcome darling, but did you really have to stay out so late?” Veera asked, concern apparent in her voice.

“I think so,” Winters replied seriously. “I’m not catching as many fish as I used to. I don’t know if that’s because I’ve fished too much or because they’re preparing for winter. Either scenario isn’t good for us. I still have a couple of arrows in the works, but I wanted to rebuild a new replacement part, get a couple of arrows, and have some way of attaching them to my armor.”

‘I suppose that was a bit of a mistake, wasn’t it?’ Io mused. ‘We probably should have just designed your vest to be compatible with your sword instead of arrows. I think we’re all in agreement that hunting in the Aegis is a preferable course of action.’

“That’s the only course of action!” Veera insisted, looking at Io and then her mate. “I’ll not have you going out there into an unfamiliar forest in just your clothing,” she insisted, making sure they both understood there would be no argument on the subject. There was none. Instead, Winters ate quickly while Io returned to her tasks. Once his hunger was sated, Winters turned his attention again to the scribbles on the floor, wondering why no one had breached the topic yet except to prevent him from stepping on them. He squatted down to get a better look, seeing some familiar shapes now that he was viewing them with the proper orientation.

“Veera…is this what I think it is?” He asked, squinting slightly and turning his head to the side. He definitely recognized certain letters now. O, T, H, I, E, and other letters that involved easy combinations of straight lines. He turned and found Veera standing behind him, hands behind her back.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tell you or not just yet. I…feel like a cub again,” she said. “I just thought that mayb-” Winters silenced her mid-sentence, standing quickly and placing a tender kiss on her lips, one that she immediately responded to, wrapping her arms around his back and grabbing his shoulders. His kiss was light and seemingly uninterested in a clash of tongues, but the way he held her to him and the feathery brushes of his mouth on hers were every bit as wonderful of the heavier moments they had shared.

“You’re learning English,” he said. It was a statement, not a question. She nodded in affirmation.

“Io agreed to help me. We couldn’t do too much without your armor and Io’s ability to project herself, so she tried to describe your system of runes…I mean letters,” Veera corrected herself.

‘Now that I can see a bit better, I think you have done pretty well for yourself Veera.’ Io informed her. ‘Sir, I had thought we might simply start with language immersion, but without the B-MASS I had no other way to interact with her, so we stuck to this for now. What do you think?’

Winters paused to consider Io’s question, thinking that Veera’s initiative deserved more than a ‘good or bad’ type of response. Sitting on the bed against the wall, he beckoned to her. Once they were curled up and comfortable, he spoke again.

“You want to be ready, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Even if there’s the possibility that I’m never rescued?”

“Then we have a way to communicate with each other that no one else understands. That in and of itself is useful darling, even if it’s only to talk about what we do alone,” she purred, running a claw down his sternum. He responded by running his fingers lightly along the shell of her ears.

“I suppose you’re right. It’s much better to be prepared for any eventuality,” Winters agreed, looking over at Io. “That said Io, given the events of yesterday; I think we should start with something other than full scale immersion. Veera, I want you to be able to understand us and what we’re saying to you, especially if we’re talking about something like the blood sample you gave Io.” She nodded.

“I would appreciate that Russell. Even in my own tongue sometimes the two of you lose me,” she admitted.

‘I believe I see your point sir. In that case, perhaps Veera and I can devote some time to lessons in the coming days and weeks. Once she is comfortable, we can then begin immersion. I do believe it is the only way she will achieve mastery of a language like English.’

“Agreed Io. Veera, does that sound like a good plan to you?” He asked, moving his hand to her shoulder and absently stroking her with his thumb.

“It does, thank you both.”

“Actually, now that I think of it,” Winters said, moving off the bed with apologies to Veera. “Io, why don’t we do a little blood test of my own?”

‘Of course sir, for what reason?’ She asked as Winters cleaned out the B-MASS and prepared his own finger.

“I want to make sure that I’m eating a balanced enough diet down here. I feel fine, but deficiencies of trace elements can take a while to show up.”

‘Of course sir. Please proceed,’ Io requested as Winters pricked his finger and allowed a couple drops of blood to fall into the B-MASS main analysis compartment. Before he could reach for a bandage, Veera had crawled over to the foot of the bed and grabbed his hand gently in hers. Winters couldn’t help a smile as Veera began tenderly licking his finger. Once the wound was cleared to her satisfaction, she allowed him to bandage it.

“Thanks love,” Winters kissed her nose as he rejoined her, waiting on Io’s analysis. Veera’s tail waved happily behind her as she reclaimed her spot against him.

“I got more questions about you today,” she informed him proudly.

“Oh? Who was it this time?”

“One of the priestesses of Meylith. I went to trade and speak with Gentia, but she came up to me and Gentia teased out that she wanted to know what you were like almost immediately.”

“Is that so? What am I like?”

“I told them you’re a dominant brute and that you thoroughly ravish me nightly,” Veera replied confidently, laughing heartily at the horrified look on Winters’ face. “I’m just kidding darling, I told them how you’ve been wonderful to me and a bit of the mischief we get up to. I think I even managed to give Gentia pause, which is an achievement in and of itself.”

“I can’t disagree there,” Winters replied, rubbing his neck with his free hand. “You’re alright with spreading that sort of thing around?”

“I wouldn’t speak about mating, but so far our play has been harmless and quite fun. I wanted to show off a little, you know?” Veera explained, her feathers fluttering as she hoped she’d not overstepped a boundary. The look he gave her set her at ease.

“Good to know I can give Zolta a few more pointers then!” Winters concluded as Io popped into view again. “You got everything Io?”

‘Yes sir. Your nutritional profile has held up remarkably well, though I am detecting a small drop in your Selenium levels. From the various foodstuffs I’ve scanned on Mara, I believe eating a couple more kina each day should even you out. Veera, if you wouldn’t mind?’ Io requested. The Cauthan immediately got up and retrieved one of the vegetables from their stores and handed it to Winters, motioning that he should eat up.

“I guess I should be thankful I like the taste,” he reasoned, biting into the kina and enjoying the combination of spice on the outside and crisp, cool flesh on the inside. “So Io, with Veera’s permission, should we talk a little about what you’ve learned?” He looked at his girlfriend who gave him a nod of affirmation and looped her arms around his right, holding him tightly to her. He rested his left palm on her knee, establishing another comforting point of contact. Those preparations complete, Winters nodded to Io who was practically bursting with anticipation, having yet again clothed herself in a white lab coat complete with a pair of wire frame glasses and clipboard.

‘Veera, I will do everything I can to explain each point as we go. I thought tonight we might focus on your genetic material, if that’s alright?’

“My what?” Veera asked, looking instead to Winters for an explanation. He sighed and grabbed his gauntlet off the edge of the bed, allowing Io to rest in his lap.

“Do you think you can throw up a few visual aids on the fly?” He asked.

‘Of course sir, I believe a background lesson is called for here. Let us begin.’ Io’s avatar was replaced by the spinning moon as she awaited his verbal cues.

“So…where to start?” Winters wondered, looking up at the ceiling and scratching his chin. “As far as humans know, life began as a kind of stew really. When our planet was young and hot, all sorts of things were happening to it. Rocks striking the surface from space, seeding the planet with all sorts of raw material, volcanic and tectonic activity, water…I guess that doesn’t paint a very clear picture, but by necessity it was a chaotic time. As that chaos died down just a bit, the Earth was left covered in a stew of the things that would eventually make up life.” Veera poked his side with a claw. “Yes?”

“You mean there was a big soup of atoms?” She ventured.

“Yes, that’s right. And under those nice and toasty conditions, those atoms began combining with one another to form what’s called a molecule, just simple ones at first,” Winters continued, noticing Io’s display change to show stylized methane, carbon dioxide, and a benzene ring. He pointed to them. “Each of those balls is an atom. The lines connecting them are the bonds that hold them together into a stable molecule. All life is made of molecules, though ours are decidedly more complex. You with me so far?”

“I think so. I’ll interrupt if I need any clarification,” Veera assured him.

“Sure. So for many, many years these molecules just bumped into one another, forming new combinations essentially at random and steadily increasing in complexity. Io, can you show us a phospho-lipid and a short RNA molecule?” Winters requested, laughing as Veera practically stuck her nose into the projection. “We think that these sorts of molecules are the precursors to life. See the one on the left?” He pointed to the RNA, thankful that Io had modeled it in such a way that the potential for copying itself was readily apparent. “It can replicate itself.”

“Really?” Veera asked, seemingly awestruck. “You mean like it can have offspring?” Io and Winters looked at one another before Io re-established the projection, showing the RNA molecule serving as a template for the complementary strand before breaking into two individual strands again.

‘That is not too far off actually Veera,’ Io replied, keeping the demonstration running so that the Cauthan could better internalize the concept. ‘While this was happening, another separate molecule exhibited other properties that would be essential to life.’ The phospho-lipid appeared again, this time attached to two identical partners. Veera watched with rapt attention as Io zoomed out, showing a large number of the molecules forming a bubble of sorts. Winters took over.

“As you can see Veera, these molecules developed the ability to isolate a small area, keeping it secure and controlling what could go in or out.”

“Like our house?”

“Exactly. And at some point, the inevitable and also completely improbable happened. One of them got stuck inside the other.” Io moved a representation of RNA inside of the primitive cell wall. “This structure right here is the progenitor of all living things, though it’s not alive itself yet,” Winters explained. “We have the ability to regulate an internal environment, and the ability to pass on traits to a new generation. When you throw in a few more bits and bobs, you get what’s known as a cell. It’s the smallest thing that we can truly say is alive.” Io expanded her cellular model, expanding it into a simplified bacterium. Veera looked very confused.

“Is…all that other stuff important?” She asked worriedly, noticing some sort of tail like structure as well as various blobs and balls of different shapes and channels inside the walls of the ‘cell’, as Winters had called it. Winters moved his right hand from her shoulder to her ears, comforting her.

“No, not really. Io, can you show us a eukaryotic cell please?” Veera let out a small groan as the cell became much more complicated with the addition of the nucleus and other organelles. “This is what we’re made of. Billions of these little individual entities. In nature they can exist like this, alone and unspecialized. Inside our bodies, they’ve changed to take on different roles. Some of them form our muscles and organs, others our bones. Some convey signals from our brains to the rest of our limbs, or purge your body of ingested toxins. But no matter what they are, they all have this,” he pointed at the nucleus of the model cell. “This is called the nucleus of the cell, and it contains all of your genetic material. Remember the molecule that could replicate itself?”

“Mhm!” Veera nodded, feeling that typical overwhelming sensation that assaulted her whenever Io and Winters gave her a science lesson. She remained attentive though, sensing that they were getting to the crux of the matter.

“Those molecules are present in every single one of our cells because they can do two things: replicate themselves and store information,” he explained as Io zoomed into the nucleus to show a strand of DNA, color coding the different nucleotides so that Veera could understand that there was indeed a sequence. “See how there’s a pattern?”

“I do.”

“If you extend that pattern long enough, you can store enough information to tell a group of cells how to become an animal, like me or you. Inside every one of my cells is all of the information necessary to create Russell Winters. The same is true of you, right Io?”

‘Yes sir, though Veera’s code is potentially vastly different from yours,’ Io claimed, standing next to two floating DNA molecules that spun slowly at her side. One was labeled ‘human’, the other ‘Cauthan’. Unlike her prior examples, these ones displayed each atom in the molecule, preventing a reading of the code, but allowing a more detailed examination of the structure.

“So…this spinning thing stores my…information?” Veera asked incredulously. “It looks different.”

“That’s right. The one we showed you before was only one strand. This one uses two, see the backbone here?” Winters pointed to the phosphate backbone of the human strand. “When you have two of them it makes the construct more stable, less prone to error.”

“I see. I guess it would be bad if the instructions were changed?” Veera ventured.

“Yes, almost always that’s true. On rare occasions a change will result in an improvement to the animal and that new code will survive and be passed down. But by and large, yes, you don’t want your instructions changing.”

“Alright. So to sum up, I’m made of a bunch of tiny…things…called cells?”

“Yes.”

“And each of those cells contains a lot of this stuff,” she pointed at the DNA. “And this stuff tells the cells how to make me?”

“Yes.” Winters affirmed, watching as Veera drew close to the B-MASS again. Her attention seemed to have run out, as she was looking at the lettering above each strand.

“Io, did I learn these today?” She pointed at the word ‘human’.

‘Yes Veera, you did. At some point we will have to refine your knowledge so that you can draw them accurately. For now though, the word that you are pointing at is the word for the Lieutenant’s species. It says human.’ Veera’s eyes lit up at that pronouncement, her lips forming a silent ‘oh’. ‘The other word, just to the left, is the word for your species.’

“Well then these must be different somehow…right?” Veera asked, peering at the two strands. She found it unlikely that Io would have gotten so excited if she and Winters had shared the exact same type of molecule. After a long moment of inspection she drew back and held up her fingers, roughly taking a measurement of the width of each. Winters saw what she was doing, his eyes growing wide as he watched her narrow and widen the gap between her fingers as she moved back and forth. “Mine is…wider?” Veera murmured, unsure of herself. Io beamed at her, a look that usually would have set her at ease. In the moment though, she found it unsettling. She knew she was about to learn one of the ways that she was ‘different’.

‘Yes Veera. Your genetic molecule is wider than that of a human. We refer to humanity’s as DNA.’ Io threw up those three letters under the human strand.

“And mine?” Veera asked nervously, exhaling a deep breath as Winters hugged her close.

‘Sir,’ Io looked up at him. ‘Veera’s genetic material is xDNA.’