‘Yes, indeed. Fascinating this. Your dimension’s science has developed a level much greater in advancement than ours. Now while you work on that, I wish to explore this treasure trove of alien technology.’ Spiral wandered the hexagonal chamber, periodically glancing at the vats to make sure they hadn’t stirred. The room was clean of dust and noticeably less rusted than the previous. On the violet floor were strips of yellow light running across it at sharp angles. No walls were visible, as the entire exterior was covered by cylindrical vats. The ceiling glowed orange, like the sun, and featured a system of ventilation with pipes and grates.

She examined various instruments and monitors, tubes, and switches. Blue beakers, microscopes with a single large lens, and all manner of cybernetic tools. They were laid out on floating green tables in the center, triangular like everything else. Silence slunk eerily over the chamber, and a faint chemical odor followed.

Meticulously Spiral studied the amazing alien world but an inclination grew in the back of her mind. Facing the bubbling blue gel, her slit pupils opened wide and round. The desire blossomed to the point of distraction and she had to ask, ‘Would it be permissible to dip my tail in the liquid?’

‘Why?’ Sayth asked.

‘If one wants to get a feel for the water, there’s truly no substitute for dipping one’s tail,’ Spiral explained.

‘I wouldn’t,’ Sayth replied, to which Spiral’s elf-like ears drooped. ‘Azalyske indicates this facility is run on suspiciously abundant geothermal energy.’

‘Do you suppose it is to the touch warm?’ Spiral mused.

‘The source isn’t the core but can be pinpointed,’ he continued, entranced inside his glasses’ display.

‘I do wonder if it’s viscous and would cling to my tail. As branches break to snow, then no means I would have of cleaning it,’ Spiral thought, glancing at her twitching tail.

‘A mere three meters down and, um … I’ve lost my train of thought,’ Sayth mumbled.

‘The subterranean power source you were locating,’ Spiral offered.

‘Right, it’s almost directly below us. A crystal not more than a few decimeters long. It’s powering the entire base.

‘You know what? Go ahead and dip your tail. This is obviously a failed experiment. Besides, we’re guardian dragons; nothing will happen to us.’ Sayth looked at Spiral fidgeting with her tail.

She smiled and jumped to the top of the vats. From there, she slowly lowered the tip of her tail blade into the thick blue gel.

‘How is it?’ Sayth asked.

‘Warm.’ Spiral shivered with excitement. ‘When a cub I was, my tail went into everything, hollows, streams, lakes. My sisters and brothers would leap in the water without a care, but always, I dipped my tail. Of times I miss them. But do not let me distract from your investigation.’