THE MOON BIRD

The creature was unlike anything I'd ever seen.

The 'bird' part of its title seemed accurate enough at a first glance, what with its long beak, feathered wings and sharp talons.

But Earth birds weren't the size of a blue whale, or had bodies that seemed to be made of the very fabric of the universe, like a solid mass of black void where stars shone bright but distant.

"Dr. Jena?"

I blinked, tearing my eyes from the containment unit in order to look up at the woman next to me. "I'm sorry. Yes?"

Dr. Fletcher frowned, her thin lips pressed tight. "As I was saying, we are currently in the process of extracting the other two crystals."

It was my turn to frown. I glanced back at the creature, laying limp and motionless under all the metal cables that tied it down to the platform. I noted the big, white crystals in its chest, and the gaping hole where the third should've been.

"Why?" I asked. "I thought you said one was more than enough."

"In terms of harnessing energy, yes. A single shard is enough to power the entire space station. But gravity manipulation is only observed with larger pieces."

"Aren't you afraid complete extraction would... kill it?"

"It's a possibility."

I peered up at her cold, unyielding face. When I spoke, my voice came out low and a bit more accusing than I intended.

"And a risk you're willing to take, right?"

Her eyes narrowed as she turned her whole body to face me.

"Don't make me regret adding you to the project, Dr. Jena. We need someone more flexible and..." She trailed off, making a vague gesture with her hands. "Unconventional... on this team."

The sudden glare she shot at the researchers working behind us was intense, and I was just glad I wasn't it's target. "Preferably someone who won't tell me how 'impossible' something is or should be every time they run a goddam test."

"Flexible and unconventional, huh?" I snorted, grinning up at her. "Those are probably the nicest words anyone has used to describe me."

"Can I count on you, Dr. Jena?" she asked, unamused by my little 'joke'.

"Of course."

"Good." She nodded, looking pleased for once. "I wish to discuss some things with you in private, if you don't mind. In my office."

I made a motion to follow her up the stairs, but something made me freeze in my tracks.

A sudden, sharp pain had erupted in my chest, followed by a crushing wave of deep sorrow, threatening to spill over.

With a hand clasped over my mouth, I looked back.

The bird was still there, almost dead-like in its stillness if not for the subtle flutter of its trapped wings, and the flicker of its wide, blinding white eyes.

There was a faint whisper in the back of my head, like a song, calling to me.

Wanting. Pleading.

"Doctor?"

I blinked.

The song stopped.

"Yes, sorry... Lead the way."