Minutes to Burn

"You don't understand the full workings…" Diego's throat was dry, so he paused to lick his lips. He looked down at the larva, lying peace-fully in the grass, its prolegs wide and momentarily unflexed.

"A lot of animals persist because they inspire a foolish protectiveness in others," Rex said.

Diego glared at Rex, his eyes flickering with the light from the fire. "Don't you dare side with her," he growled.

"I'm not siding with anyone," Rex said. "I'm merely attempting to analyze the situation from all sides. We need to be able to discuss this reasonably. Let's start by demystifying the phenomena. The larvae are appealing because of specific, definable attributes-large heads, large eyes, a capacity for attention. They're fascinating. These characteristics conventionally enhance parental investment; here, they serve to increase other species'-most notably humans'-tolerance, favoritism or identi-fication…take your pick. Let's be aware of this and act accordingly. We can't be victim to our softer instincts when dealing with these creatures."

"This isn't about 'softer instincts,'" Diego barked. "Goddamnit, don't you see?! This has nothing to do with sentimentality. The larvae shouldn't be protected because of affinity or compassion, but they also shouldn't be killed because of fear. Who knows what benefits we can derive from studying them?" His eyes moist, he pounded a fist into his open palm. "We need to know more. We need to discover more. We can't stop this amazing process now. We have no idea where this is headed."

"That's exactly my fucking point," Szabla said.

The larva squirmed in the grass. A seam had opened up in its cuticle, just behind the head.

Diego snapped the band from his ponytail, ran his hand through his hair, pulling hard, then banded it again. When he spoke, his voice was shaking. "Do you really want to turn this incredible thing into a dead end?"

"It might be incredible if we had guns and boats and the luxury of a little fucking distance," Szabla said. "But we don't. We're stuck on an island, weaponless, with no extraction set, and people are dying." She raised a hand to scratch her cheek, her arm crossing her chest so her biceps stood out like a tennis ball. "This ain't no science project. It's us versus it. And guess whose side I'm on."

A ripping sound drew their attention back to the larva. It had pulled itself free of its old cuticle, squirming out of the shell of its former self. It rippled forward, its new skin moist and an even more vibrant green.

Taking a deep, sorrowful breath, Tank pulled himself to his feet. He walked slowly over and stood behind Szabla and Savage. Justin looked from them to Diego and Rex.

They all glanced over at Cameron.

"What!?" she said sharply. "Why are you looking at me? Szabla's the AOIC."

Szabla clicked her teeth together, keeping her mouth closed. She squinted, drawing the skin tight across her high, hard cheekbones.

"What would we do to it?" Justin asked, though he didn't really want an answer.

The larva wormed up against Diego's leg and froze. Tank averted his eyes. "Cam?" Tank asked softly. He ran a shaking hand over his head, taking a deep breath.

Cameron felt all their eyes on her, felt the presence of the larva by the fire even though she couldn't bear to look at it. Even Savage was waiting on her response.

With the slightest movement, Cameron shook her head. "We're under orders," she said. "To assist Rex on his mission."

Szabla raised a hand, quivering with rage, and pointed to the large mantid body by the fire. "We are the fucking mission now."

Cameron looked to Rex. "What'll it be?"

Rex took a moment, gathering himself.

"Don't you dare," Diego whispered. "You could be single-handedly forcing a species into extinction."

Rex crouched, pinching the papery shell of the larva's old cuticle between his fingers. "Let's quarantine it," he said. "Keep a close eye on it until we get word back about the virus tomorrow."

"Well, I'm afraid you don't have the luxury," Szabla said. She advanced toward the larva. Diego stepped forward to block her, but she shoved him roughly aside. He stumbled and went down. He looked to Cameron, appealing to her with his eyes. Rex looked furious but held his tongue.

"Szabla," Cameron said. "If you're altering orders, I think we should wait for Derek to-"

"Zip it, Cam," Szabla barked.

Justin stepped forward and helped Diego to his feet.

Cameron pointed to the larva. "That's an entirely new creation," she said. "Something that's never lived before. Ever. I don't think you can just decide unilaterally to kill it."

"I'm the senior officer right now," Szabla said. "I can decide whatever the fuck I want."

"Look, Szabla, I'm only saying-"

"Why are you having such a reaction to this, Cam? To this thing?"

"Back off, Szabla," Justin said. "She's just arguing chain of com-mand."

"Not with that face, she isn't. This ain't her normal stain-in-her-school-dress-following-orders crap. This is different."