"...try to communicate with her." Dr. Kelly paused for just a moment, her eyes doing their best to focus on the creature within containment before going back to Siobahn. "To put it bluntly, she hasn't demonstrated any clear indication that she's anything more than an animal in her actions since our team recovered the Artemis II, and some of our staff are starting to conclude that this creature is essentially using Captain Stone's body. There was one instance where showing a picture of Captain Stone from our personnel files seemed to get a new look, but before we could determine whether it was recognizing her own face or the curiosity of an extraterrestrial another incident happened that she...reacted poorly to."
"Hmm, I see." Siobahn mulled it over for a moment. "I assume you've tried to talk with her already?"
"Like I said, hasn't said a word to anything our guys have said. The cell has a microphone built into it; we've also tried body language, but that also didn't go well. Again, we're not even sure yet if Captain Stone -- or whatever this is -- is even capable of sapient thought."
"But the fact that the Artemis II was still operational enough to send messages back, even with the Captain inside, suggests at least she didn't try to break it." Siobahn turned to look at the burnt-out craft in the back. "I assume you haven't been able to examine the craft for any hints as to what happened?"
"Nothing more than getting the data out of the on-board computer and a quick exam of the cargo bay -- we didn't find anything unusual in them, but you're welcome to have a look at what we could extract out in the short bursts she's allowed us access. They're in a secure storage elsewhere. But like you said, the craft's onboard systems somehow didn't break even when the craft itself has that much damage? Seems odd for a supposed alien animal."
"What did the message say?"
"We don't know -- the communication antenna is damaged so we don't know what the message said. We only knew the Artemis II itself was still operational because the on-board computer itself uses a separate transmitter that wasn't damaged."
"Hmm." The Aussie looked back inside the cell, Stone continuing to pace around like she was on the prowl. "Alright. I think I have enough to get started on this."
"Good." Dr. Kelly also looked back at the creature. "I need to head back to my office -- ask one of the guards or assistants to get me if you need anything, or figure something out."
"Alright." With a nod, Dr. Kelly turned to leave -- in a bit of a haste, Siobahn noted quietly, before the latter turned back to look at Stone. The latter's yellow eyes stared back, once again seemingly evaluating Dr. Foresstor in predatory silence. Siobahn stepped forward towards the microphone up on the wall, the green light turning on before the doctor took her first crack at it: "Do you understand me?"
OK, basic, and from what Dr. Kelly said it didn't seem likely to do anything, but perhaps, like the personnel here, a new face might elicit a different response.