"Just don't touch the plants." That was the entirety of your guidelines for your latest survey of an abandoned research outpost. You'd asked multiple times for elaboration but command didn't give any. You prayed you and Kris weren't being sent into some den of carnivorous man eating plants. Command seemed to think the mission would be easy so it probably isn't. But then why not tell you more

"Maybe they shoot needles like that one kinda cactus." Kris snickered as you two departed the drop pod and trudged across the planets surface to the station.

You could only roll your eyes and stifle a chuckle. Kris is a good companion. She's been your best friend in the company for a few years now. It was nice being on a team where you actually like your partner. Most teams seem to have a dislike of one another if break room talk is anything to go by.

The air lock hissed loudly as you two stood in it. After various mechanical and electrical sounds its doors slid open with a clunk. The two of you stepped inside. The station was in decent condition. A bit of disarray but it wasn't all destroyed or in pieces. The main thing of note was the titular plants you'd been told to stay away from. Long stalks of yellow and purple that ended in a pod not unlike peas from way back on earth. Long slender roots that extended quite far. Strange looking but not scary in the least.

"Alright just leave the plants alone." You scold Kris in advance as you start to take your scans.

"Yeah yeah, I know." She huffs.

Work is routine for a couple of minutes. The pair of you split up to cover quicker as the station seems quite safe.

By her lonesome, Kris strolls around a bedroom. Carelessly humming a song to herself. After her scan finishes, curiosity starts to bubble up inside her. She steps over to the closest plant near her and absentmindedly gives it a poke. "I don't know what she's so worried about. They don't do anything." She chuckles and pokes it again. However, this time, the plant does do something. It suddenly blasts out a puff of bright purple right into Kris's face. Kris doesn't yell but instead grunts, thinking it's kinda gross. She does take a sniff though and she finds it's actually pretty nice. Carelessly, she sniffs up what she can. Unknowingly letting something into her system.

Kris finally rejoins you and you feel something a little off quickly. She wobbles just a little bit and her eyes seem to be a little hazy.

"You okay?" You cock an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Yeah, all good." She says lowly, voice a little hoarse. "Just... Is it getting hot in here all of a sudden." You then notice she's suddenly panting.

"No? It's kinda chilly actually. Did you do something?" You put a hand on your hip and turn to her as you make the accusation.

"I uh..." She pants. "I might've... Sniffed one of the plants... God damn it's hot in here..." She pants and you watch her swiftly remove her suit even as you protest.

A minute or so passes and Kris thankfully stops complaining about the heat she's feeling but instead you suddenly feel her staring at you. Not in any usual joking way, her eyes are boring into you.

"Can I help you?" You ask sarcastically.

"Yeah... Yeah you can help me..." Her voice is low and rough. You've never quite heard her talk like this before.

Before you can question her further, Kris steps over heavily and puts both her hands on your hips. You yelp in surprise and look at her. Up this close her eyes are a little lidded and a gentle purple color.

"You can sure help me... You're so damned cute..." Kris rasps as she squeezes your hips.

Something is clearly wrong as her taller form leans down close to you.