[From her view, she already had lost him more than once. That was the lingering thought, the doubt, the one she had kept herself from saying. The very nature of this world itself, the sheer inconsistencies she had come across, even in that short period of time that she had been here, that fear felt legitimate for more than one reason.

And yet here he was here, talking to her with that tone, trying to guide her to less unproductive thoughts like her fears, trying to reassure her that this was real. That she should be doing all she could to understand this reality--and secure their future.]

My research? All right...

[Being here on this side with him, it almost didn't feel like the research was hers. The knowledge was there, though, easily retrieved. ]

I've been looking into a few objectives, of course... this world is different from the others we've seen, and requires a new approach to understanding it. Emotional energy instead of quintessence, for example, is an unreliable source to start with. Once I refine it's possibilities, it will enhance my investigations. The history of the planet is less promising, with it's current condition.