"I suppose the idea is fascinating," Shiala allows, but she crosses her arms over her chest. "It's certainly fascinating enough that a group of scientists allowed the colonists of Zhu's Hope to be infected with the Thorian's spores so they could study the effects."

She's grown close to the colonists in the last two years, and more than a little protective.

"Human scientists," she clarifies. "Human colonists. Scientific fascination should have a limit."