Critical, Professional Analysis.

Jacky and White Wolf greeted one another when preparing to investigate the tiny rodent found in an egg sac. They emerged the creature, its leg tied to a rock to prevent escape.

"Doesn't look threatening." Jacky said. "Granted, that doesn't mean anything, but it's a hopeful sign."

"It's parasitic. We know that since it's born in the flesh of other animals. Egg is big, so I assume it'll get much bigger." White Wolf posed.

"Anything we can guess besides that?" Jacky asked.

"None I can think of." White Wolf said.

"Maybe we can just dump it far away on this planet and assume it won't bother us again."

"That's irresponsible."

"I didn't say I wanted to do that. This is a new species we're dealing with, here. We should keep it and bring it back to the dwarf for proper study."

"How will we feed it?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can fashion a leash out of string and watch where it goes to eat."

"That's a good idea."

"Thanks."

They both stared at the creature. It scurried to the end of its string, then tripped. Then it scurried again. Tripped.

"For what it counts, you're the smartest rodent I've ever met." Jacky said to Wolf.

"Thanks." White Wolf said. "You own a nice coat."

Jacky took the minor compliment in stride. He was proud of his labcoat and the various things he kept inside of it. Then he was reminded of something.

"You managed to get Candice working again, even on a planet that kills electricity?" he asked.

"I did!" White Wolf said, smugly.

"You wouldn't happen to be able to do the same for the Holly communicators, would you?"

"I'm not sure. Let me just see what I can--"

White Wolf was interrupted by the ground suddenly collapsing beneath him when he shifted his weight. He fell into a not-so-deep cavern, which still managed to be ferociously dark.

"Jesus! Are you okay?" Jacky asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. This hole isn't very deep. Can't see, though." White Wolf responded.

"Here, take some matches." Jacky said, dropping the matches down.

White Wolf felt them fall on his back, and he used them.

"Well I'll be." he said.

"What?" Jacky asked.

White Wolf leaped up, and Jacky helped him out.

"The hole is barren. Small and uninteresting. Nothing of value. Empty." White Wolf said.

Jacky was surprisingly disappointed, but relieved.

Jacky and White Wolf just sat back afterward, and had a discussion of things. Starting with things relating to the actual problem, then gradually going more selfish in topics.

"So I rebuilt Candy, and people don't actually seem to care. It's disappointing." White Wolf said.

"I get you, man. I came out of stasis, Molly came out of a damn wormhole, Jaxx is a supersoldier, and people just shrug it off. People around here are just too used to random stuff." Jacky said.

"Speaking of which, you and Molly. You two...?"

"Hm? Oh, no. I mean, we get along, but..."

"Oh come on, you fancy her."

"...Maybe."

"What about you and Candy?"

"She's a robot, and I'm a hamster."

"No worse than Alex and Cass."

Loud belly laughter from the pair was silenced when they looked up and saw Cass behind them.

"Aw, smeg."