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Magnus and Bruno had headlamps on as they started to clip wires connected to the medical bay from the belly of the ship. Diego ordered them to disconnect the cameras in the room and any that were pointed at the room. He wanted to get power back to the rest of the ship so no one on Earth would think anything suspicious was going on. A short in the circuits ought to keep questions at bay.

Magnus threw the switch to restart the ship's power. Marc's eyes looked up at the lights. He'd taken to sitting at the medical room's door, waiting for Julio to let him in. The kangaroo was doing his best to talk sense into the hyena. However, Julio was all in on his experiment with complete disregard to his own wellbeing. He would not open the door.

23 January 2083

It has been nearly twenty-four hours since Julio injected himself. Marc was anchored to his spot in the hall outside the door. He'd only move to go to the bathroom and eat. Diego was brooding at the front of the ship. The bat had tried breaking into the room with a crowbar, but Julio had activated the quarantine failsafes to seal himself away. Even the strength of him and Magnus wasn't enough to even put a dent in the doorway.

Rasul was keeping to himself. He still felt embarrassed about the situation he was in. He was busy in the front of the ship, making sure all diagnostic checks were under way. Diego had hardly said anything to him, and Errol was minding his business at the pilots console. Rasul could feel the tension growing and finally cracked after several hours.

“Alright, that's enough," the wolverine stood up after turning on the communications scrambler, he startled both Diego and Errol through the silence, “We can't just sit here waiting for him to open up the door. We're on a mission. Let's get back on the Spider, go down, and figure out what got me all puffed up… and… horny…"

“Absolutely not," Diego stood up, towering over Rasul, “You need to rest, and we need to get Julio to open up that fucking door."

“So, what?" Rasul crossed his arms, “We're just going to sit around and wait for a grumpy child to open the door? I expect nothing less from him than experimenting on himself. Let him play his childish game. We have a mission to complete."

Diego was taken aback by the assertiveness from Rasul, “I'm responsible for this ship and those that are on it."

“Then you can stay here, I'll take a team down," Rasul waved a hand at Diego when he went to speak, “And no, don't stop me. I need to know what happened to me. We need to get back down there."

“Dads, can you stop fighting?" Hyperion came in with a cup of coffee in both hands, “Geez, you'll disturb the whole ship."

Both of them glared at the fennec.

“Look Diego," Hyperion sipped on his coffee, “Rasul is right. Yeah, something bad happened, but we've unlocked a mystery out here. We can't just let that rest. We're on a timed schedule. And the more you bicker in the dark, the more we make ourselves suspect at hiding something."

Diego looked exasperated, “Alright, fine. Turn us back on. We'll take a damn venture down. Hyperion, go get the spider ready."

“Can't I have my morning coffee first?" the fennec interjected.

“Take it with you," the bat turned Hyperion out of the room.

“Ugh, fine…" Hyperion grumbled on his way out.

“Go grab Ken, Harvey, and Bruno," Diego told Rasul.

“Bruno?" Rasul asked, “Why not Magnus or Hugo?"

“I need those two here to break Julio's arms if he opens the door," said Diego, “Besides, Bruno and I can run the drill if we need it."

“Alright," Rasul went off to gather the three.

*****

Allen was in a meeting with Abe and Tucker in Tucker's room. Mikhail sent them an encrypted message from Diego about what had happened on the ship. The three of them went over it several times. The three of them were in disbelief.

“That was something…" Abe said, the lion was brushing his hands through his mane, “What do we do Perky?"

Allen shrugged, “I… I don't know. We might be in over our heads on this."

“What the hell have we discovered?" Tucker asked, “This is unlike anything we've ever seen before. This is beyond the bones of Mars."

“Bones?" Abe tilted his head, “I thought it was only the one?"

“No Abe," said Allen, “After the cover up, much more was found."

“They've reconstructed a twelve foot being out of them," said Tucker, “An ancient species gone from time when Mars' atmosphere was blown away. This has been under tight wraps. The investors took over the project and locked down access to the digsite. I've been keeping tabs on them this whole time."

“Which is why you got hired to work here," said Allen.

“Fucking hell," Abe's mind was blown, “We find the skeleton of an ancient race and just keep it under wraps?"

“Not even the team up there knows about it," said Allen, “We couldn't let them know. Not when three of them were present for the discovery of the initial bone. They would have wanted to stop at Mars to get answers."

“And now this," Tucker motioned to the tablet, “This is beyond any discovery."

There was a knock at the door. Tucker sighed and got up. Allen grabbed the tablet and slid it under a couch cushion. Tucker opened the door. Bruce was standing there with four armed guards.

“Gentlemen," Bruce let himself in, “I need you three to come with me."

“Shit…" Tucker breathed out.

Abe was shaking from head to toe as they walked down the hall. Bruce was leading them with the guards trailing behind. The gorilla stopped at an exit door. He turned to them and motioned for one of the guards to come forward.

“Take their phones and watches, we need to have a private conversation," Bruce pushed open the door to go outside.

Allen and Abe passed over their phones and watches. Tucker passed over three phones, a watch, a headset, and a mouthpiece. Bruce shook his head. Bruce told the guards to wait as he led the three of them outside. He walked in silence as he took them about fifty yards from the facility.

He turned to face them, “Did you really think we wouldn't know what's going on?"

Allen poised himself, “What is going on, Bruce?"

“We have our own inside man working here at the ISA," Bruce shot back, “You think Buttons can't keep his mouth shut?"

“Fuck…" Tucker looked furious.

“Fuck is right," the gorilla motioned over to the building, “The investors know every bit about the bacteria, the algae, the fish, the attacks on two of our men. We all have the details on what just happened to Rasul. And if you think Pockets wouldn't talk, we have our own man up there on the ship. You really think we wouldn't have a failsafe in the event they tried to cover anything up?"

“Bruce…" Allen started.

The gorilla stood over him, “Perky. I like you. That is the only reason I'm not throwing your ass to the curb. We have too much history together. But, right now, I need you guys to stop trying to sneak around. Let them do what they want up on that ship. And you owe Morozov an apology. The Russians took him off his station until our mission is resolved. They have their own investor paying for us to explore Europa."

“That's not fair," Tucker furrowed his brow, “It's my fault getting him involved. He shouldn't be punished for it."

“We all make mistakes," Bruce turned to him, “These are your consequences. Stop acting on your own. You get one chance after this to just do your damn job."

“What do we tell Diego?" Allen asked.

“Tell him whatever you want," said Bruce, “Maybe start with the truth."

The gorilla left them in the middle of the field. Abe looked like he was on the verge of tears. Allen and Tucker exchanged looks.

“I'm gonna break Buttons' fingers and make it look like an accident," Tucker shook his head, “I can't believe he snuck under my radar."

“What I want to know," said Allen, “Who the hell is working for them on the Nova?"

*****

Marc helped the crew get down from the spider. Their mission yielded some more core samples and not much from under water. The kangaroo carried the samples to the lab. He glanced at the medical room door. Julio was still locked away.

“Ye think we kin fin' an'thing like thet agin?" Marc asked as he laid out the core samples, “If thar is som'it big in tha wata, we shudda found it, aye?"

“I don't know Marc," said Ken, “There's so much unexplained right now. It felt like everyone had lost some resolve while we were down there."

“Dun worry," Marc patted him on the shoulder, “Oim witta till the end."

“Thanks Marc."

Ken loaded up some samples. Marc helped him pick through them. Kuga was busy picking rocks from the ice for Marc to study. The otter was returning to his spry self. He was the only one unconcerned for Julio next door.

“He's just experimenting," said Kuga, “He'll be fine. Sure it was stupid of him to do it, but he's a scientist. We have to take risks. That's how we've discovered vaccines, cancer treatment, and so much more. Let him be."

“We can't let et be," said Marc, “He dint e'en give it a good study befo' injectin' 'imself."

“He was excited," said Kuga, “We made a miraculous discovery. If I was half as crazy as him I probably would have done the same thing. Besides, Cookie came out just fine from the experience."

The medical room door whizzed open, “Captain! Come here!"

Marc ran from across the lab and grabbed the hyena. The kangaroo shoved Julio into the medical lab and slammed him up against a wall. The hyena's eyes were wide with how angrily aggressive Marc was being.

“You fokin' idiot!" Marc yelled at him, “How dare ye do some'it so stupid?!"

Julio blushed, “I'm so turned on right now."

Marc released him and teared up. The kangaroo left the medical room as Diego came running with Rasul right behind him. The bat towered in the doorway to the medical room. There were several vials with what appeared to be semen. Julio had a towel wrapped around his crotch.

“Captain!" Julio grinned, looking quite satisfied with himself, “I have good news and bad news."

“Julio, you're an asshole," Diego frowned, “Why the fuck did you inject yourself?"

“Don't be a bitch," said Julio, “I was experimenting. And good thing too. You two haven't kissed at all since the incident, have you?"

“Uh…"

“Of course you have!" Julio started laughing, “Alright. We're gonna play a game?"

Diego crossed his arms.

“What does the protein do?"

“It multiplies."

“And spreads," Julio grinned, “And guess what else it does!?"

“Just spit it out."

“It rewrites DNA," Julio beamed, “Any contact whether it be saliva, semen, blood. It transmits that way. Also! The growth is continuous. It keeps coming back."

“What are you on about?" Rasul asked.

“Take your pants off," said Julio, “Since we dejuiced you, have you felt anything weird?"

“N...no…" Rasul shook his head, “I've just felt a bit warmer than usual."

Julio pulled the wolverine's pants down, “Ahah! Just as I suspected."

The three of them were checking out Rasul's crotch. His sheath was swollen and his balls were larger than normal. Rasul blushed and looked between Julio and Diego.

“W...what do I do?" Rasul felt panic rise.

“I've discovered that the proteins expand and grow in only reproductive areas. It drastically increases libido over time, and makes it so you can cum more," Julio was wagging his tail and enjoying this far too much, “Since it's attached itself to your DNA, you're stuck with it for life. And anyone you trade fluids with will also start carrying the protein. I've been working on a cure for it, but anything that can destroy it is nothing short of poisoning our bodies. Curing it would most likely kill us in the process."

“I have to live like this?" Rasul blushed.

Diego squeezed a hand against Rasuls, “We all do. So, what's the next step?"

“I don't know captain," Julio shrugged, “For once, I don't get to be a knowitall. This has me stumped and excited. Can I get some coffee? And biscuits? I'm fucking starved."

The hyena pushed by them to go to the galley. He was leaking fluids all over the floor as he went. Diego hugged Rasul against his chest. The rest of the ship heard the whole conversation as they had flocked around the medical room. Kuga bounced up and down.

“Ohhh, this is exciting. It's going to be such an unusual experience for us all," the otter pointed at the samples Julio left in the room, “Julio! Can we study your samples?"

Julio came back with a handful of bread and coffee in hands, “All yours little buddy. Just don't get any on yourself. We still don't know the long term effects other than it doesn't leave the body."

“You're a mad man," said Ken.

“I wouldn't be a proper hyena then," Julio grinned.

The otter helped the hyena transport his findings to the lab. Magnus had taken Diego and Rasul to the back of the ship to have a quiet conversation. He led them below deck. The three of them sat down on the stairs. Bruno joined them, bringing all of them coffee.

“You ok?" Diego asked Rasul.

“I think so," Rasul took a coffee from Bruno, “I don't know what to think right now."

“What do we do captain?" Magnus asked, “Once we get back to Earth, we'll be undergoing tests. You guys will get locked away in a lab for sure."

“Then we can't let it be for nothing," said Diego, “We continue the mission as normal. We just have to work around what's going on with us. Hopefully Julio can figure something out before we go back."

Rasul sighed, “What if we don't want to get rid of it?"

Diego let out a deep breath, “What? You think we'll be addicted to growing?"

“I must admit," Rasul blushed, “It's kind of a hot thing to think about and experience."

“And because I can't keep my lips off you, I'm going to start experiencing it," Diego sighed as he leaned back against the stairs, “I guess we're in this together."

“Do you think that crazy hyena can actually help us?" Bruno asked, “He's crazy enough to just let this sort of thing go."

“Yeah, I know," Diego leaned up, “We accepted the danger of this mission, and it looks like we're caught in something we didn't even consider. There's no plan for this sort of thing."

A throat cleared from overhead, “We have a message captain," Errol called down.

The four of them got up and joined Errol in engineering. The weasel looked between all of them and pulled Diego down to whisper to him, “Captain, I'm not sure Bruno should come. Magnus should though."

Diego looked confused, “Alright. Bruno, check diagnostics. Magnus, Rasul, let's go."

Bruno saluted and set to work. Errol pulled Diego along. Whatever message the weasel heard, it must have been important. Errol closed the door to the flight deck. It had never been closed before.

“What's so important?" Diego asked.

“Sit," Errol pointed to his chair," Listen."

Diego sat down and played the message, it was Allen, "Hello Nova. I wish this would be a better message for you. It was a difficult decision to come to, but we, myself, Tallmane, and Hacker, were escorted by armed guards today to get a talking to. Apparently the investors know everything. We had someone working for them on the ground here, and they have someone on your ship working for them. I'm telling you this in confidence that you don't do something stupid. They're allowing us to remain on the team for now. I'll continue to provide you with any assistance I can from Earth. Not much good it can do now really. I'm so sorry. I was stupid thinking we could have done anything to keep this all secret. Perky out."

“Captain?" Errol looked up at him, “Who do you think could be betraying us on the ship?"

Diego sighed. Hyperion was hugging his arms around his chair with a look of concern. Rasul and Magnus exchanged looks. The bat stood up and went over to Hyperion. The fennec shrunk back.

“Hyperion, I need you to track every message that has left this ship," the fennec nodded, “Errol, take over the pilot seat." Diego turned to Rasul and Magnus, “You two, keep an ear out for anything from anyone."

“Captain, how do you know you can trust us?" Magnus asked.

“Magnus, you care more about your career than anything," said Diego, “This ship is your baby, and you went out of your way to break it apart just to help us hide anything. You put far too much effort in trying to break the system."

Magnus nodded, “And them?"

“We're all too close to each other," said Diego.

“Yeah," said Hyperion from Diego's hip, “We'd never do anything to jeopardize this mission. It's all the outsiders that got invited on. They're the only ones that haven't been with us since day one."

“I did pick up Hugo and Bruno through luck," said Magnus, “I guess that is something I need to consider."

“I doubt it's either of those two," said Rasul, “I think we need to keep an eye on our scientists."

“Especially Julio," Hyperion crossed his arms.

“Especially Julio," Diego agreed, “That jackass will do anything if the price is right. He's also far too fully involved with everything. He's also running experiments that would not be acceptable on Earth."

“We need to be careful," said Rasul as he held a finger up to his lips, “We can't doubt they're listening to everything now somehow."

Diego sighed. Their mission was now in the hands of the investors. They had no choice but to keep doing their job the way they were supposed to. They didn't have to do it by the book, Julio already proved that. They just had to hope they won't find the kind of life the investors seem keen on finding. For now, they needed to figure out their growth problem.