OPIA

chapter seven

Playing catch-up is never fun, but especially not when I could have avoided doing the catch-up now by completing it last night. Reports never end, assessment and treatment plans never end, and constantly updating myself on the latest relevant research never ends. It's my own fault, since I couldn't bring myself to put down the files I received on the Rheian natives. My clinical responsibilities were put off as a result.

And here I am now, finishing them first thing in the morning so I can run off and play in the forest without guilt. The second I slam my finger on the key for the last letter of the report and add a full-stop, it's as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Immediately, I lean back and stretch, threading my fingers together and reaching them high above my head. My back pops in a few places, and with a satisfied sigh I let my limbs fall.

Unable to help keep the excitement at bay any longer than a few seconds, I jump up from my chair and pay no attention as it goes spinning backwards.

It's time to go outside.

Everything I need — logbook, tablet and some lunch, of course — are shoved into my bag before I can remember another task I have to do, and I'm out of my office, locking the door behind me.

"Off already are we, Miss Bardot?"

A scream rises in my chest as I jump in fright; I just barely manage to clamp my mouth shut in time to keep it from escaping. Seamus' impassive face greets me as I turn, apparently completely unfazed by the heart attack he nearly gave me.

"Yes," I answer, straightening my shirt. "I was about to head out. Is there something I can help you with, sir?"

Seamus' eyes sweep over my form, taking in the laced boots, black pants and breezy button-up I've donned for the occasion. I don't know whether he approves or not, because he simply lifts his gaze back up to my face.

"I'm sure you've already begun planning which direction your data collection is going to take, however I have a list of topics that I would like you to prioritise when finding more out about the Rheians." He informs me, reaching into a pocket along the inside of his jacket and pulling out a small data chip. "You can find the list on this drive, since you don't exactly get the best reception out there."

"Ah," I say, curling my fingers around the drive once it's placed in my hold. It's small, so small I would barely feel it in my palm were it not for how cool it is to the touch. "I see. Will do, sir."

Seamus says nothing in response for a moment, simply staring at me. Just when I begin to get a bit worried, he breaks it and turns with a huff.

"You better. Be safe out there, by the way. There's still a fair bit of the ecosystem that has yet to be logged. We have only been here a little less than a year, after all."

With that, he gives a lazy wave and then departs, disappearing down the hall before I can blink. Well, that's a warning that is more than a little out of nowhere. Though, I can't help but wonder whether he is being truthful in those words of caution. I was also under the impression until just yesterday that we didn't have any information on the Rheians, when that wasn't the case at all.

But what is probably more perplexing than that, is why he felt the need to warn me in the first place...? Also, why now? He's been sending me out there for weeks! Is there reason for me to be concerned?!

Shaking my head, I slip the drive into an inside pocket of my bag and start on my own way out of the base. It's going to bother me all day anyway, so I may as well just leave it be for now and worry about it later.

The route to the outside of the base is as uncomplicated as ever, the only blip occurring when I couldn't find my identification card in my bag and thought that I had left it in my office, until I found it at the very bottom of my bag. I could have sworn as I was rummaging through the depths of it that I felt someone's gaze on me, but when I looked back there wasn't a single soul besides me in the courtyard.