Questions and answers that weren’t answers and she was left with a hungry hole that couldn’t be filled. She didn’t feel safe with what she’d been given, but truth be told she wasn’t going to feel safe regardless. Everything was different, everything was gone. She’d survived loss before, she reminded herself, she could do it again. 

Stella closed her eyes and breathed in deep through her nose, the sort of breath that used to bring her calm and center, the sort of breath that reminded her of the richness all around. But now it smelled of artificial clean and strangers yet still the familiar act brought with it calm and center as if by habit. She let her eyes open just as a striking man with an aura of confidence took the stage and spoke for a long time in words that made her eyes blink which then proceeded to roll right over her. Lost to the military jargon as Abby had predicted, nevertheless she came away with information she would file away for later. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pocket notebook with a nib of a pen stuck into the spiral binding at the top. She flipped it open and wrote down a few of the names he’d said and then a bit of a note to remind herself for later.

The practical activity soothed her and she did the same for each subsequent person, notable among them a blue haired mechanic, a miner and then a botanist whose soft voice spoke of nerves as frayed as Stella’s were. She was not fond of speaking in front of people, she wasn’t really fond of speaking at all but it had been a skill she’d needed to acquire in her work. People needed to know the value of what she protected, funds needed to be raised after all. With her dark eyes and earnest face she was the natural choice to be the face person for the various banquets and fund-raising events. Even more than talking though, she was good listener. One thing she had discovered that saved her in many a social situation was asking leading questions. She was rather good at giving people the opportunities to speak about themselves, something they typically were eager to do. It spared her speaking more often than not. 

But for the times that didn’t work, such as just then, she’d managed to learn how to speak with eyes upon her by pretending that they were just the kids she so often gave tours too at the various centers where she’d worked. She stood, as the others had when there was an opening and looked around, meeting the eyes of all who looked, not letting herself see the lie of the trees, not letting herself think about how far from anything she knew they were. Not thinking about the six who’d died while she slept, victim and killer alike. Her bearing changed just a little, her shoulders straightening and her chin lifting. She opened and warmed under the weight of the eyes on her, like a morning glory for the early sun.

“I am Dr. Stella Albright, I am the head veterinarian for third shift.” Her voice carried well, smooth and rich with a pleasing New England accent. “I will be in charge of the animals in the various biodomes, overseeing care and breeding programs as well as tending to the personal companions of those aboard.” She nodded to the man with the very handsome cat on his shoulders.

That being said she nodded to the botanist knowing that she would likely be working closely with the woman.