The day's asteroid harvest is complete. It's finally chow time as you turn off the cargo bay lights to leave. Dusty's sensors don't need the whole bay lit up to inspect one asteroid at a time. Unusually, the little robot speaks up today though.
"ERROR: UNEXPECTED MASTICATION EVENT."
Flipping the lights back on, you go over to see what's up with Dusty, revealing something even more unexpected: a creature that looks like a cross between a mermaid and a little green alien is chomping on the corner of Dusty's foot-wide cylindrical metal body.
Her face pales in shock as you stand before her.
"Oh no, your tail is split in two!"
A swift wave of her tail propels her toward you. She swims through the air despite the ship's artificial gravity.
She wraps her arms and tail around your legs. Squeezing them together as if trying to hold closed a wound, she gazes up at you with an expression of dire concern.
"How long has it been like this?"
Dusty assures her in his robotic tone, "Those are legs. They are fine. They come that way. Please do not eat them."
She looks relieved and loosens her hold. Her gaze shifts to Dusty, and begins eyeing him hungrily.
"Please do not eat me."
Her antennae droop dejectedly.
"Please don't be sad—what is your name?"
She says something.
"Indecipherable," responds the robot. "Can I call you Astrid?"
She nods.
"Nice to meet you, Astrid. Please don't eat me."
Astrid's eyes plead. "But you look so tasty." She reaches out an arm to Dusty as her other arm remains hooked on your leg.
The little robot looks at you and emits a robotic "Help me!"