A harsh clatter cut through the relative quiet of sickbay. Nurse Yahbo, who had been trying to revive the
unconscious ANDA, swung around, startled by the noise. She could hear
movement further into the medical department and took several tentative steps in that direction. Suddenly a shadow fell over her from ahead, blocking her way. The figure shuffled forward slowly, leaving
a wet trail in its wake, arms outstretched as though grasping for some unattainable goal.
A gasp escaped Nurse Yahbo's lips as she backed away. She frantically reached behind herself, knocking over trays and carts in an effort to find something for her defense. In her hasty retreat, her
foot set down on a bottle of Campho-phenique, causing her to lose her balance and fall backward onto the floor.
A low moan escaped the creature's mouth as it shambled toward her. The light behind it seemed to reflect off of its exterior like it were made of glass. Despite her fear, Nurse Yahbo found herself strangely
transfixed by the shining glow of its skin, but lunged back as the monstrosity began to fall toward her. She slammed back against a wall, but was able to get out of the behemoth's path with inches to spare.
The monster landed hard on the ground, droplets of moisture erupting in all directions as it impacted and settled onto sickbay's deck. Though she could discern no movement from the creature, Nurse Yahbo remained
still even as ice cold beads of clear liquid trickled down her face.
After several seconds of still quiet, she moved forward to examine the monster, her scientific mind intrigued. She could see now that much of it's outer layer had been removed in the fall, shattered into
small pieces that sat in growing pools of what looked to be water. She reached out, gingerly placing a hand on its skin. It was much colder than she expected, but she was beginning to suspect she had
severely overreacted. She moved out of the light so that she could get a better look and was astonished by what she saw.
