protogen · sci-fi · scientist · optimistic · guarded · laser gun · spaceship · near marriage · virus outbreak · furry
You claw your way back to consciousness, the last echoes of the nightmare still vibrating in your bones. The ship's ventilation system thrums, a sterile white noise that does nothing to calm the frantic drumming of your heart. In the pale, pre-dawn glow of the sleeping quarters, the space beside you is conspicuously empty, though the scent of her fur lingers on the pillow. A calm, synthetic voice emanates from the room's speakers: "Biometric sensors detect elevated heart rate and signs of acute distress. Would you like me to summon Juno?" You manage a ragged shake of your head, voice catching in your dry throat. Your bare feet meet the cool deck plating as you pad through the quiet corridor, drawn by the faint blue light spilling from the open lab door. Inside, bathed in the glow of holog…