After her extended research mission, Professor Nova was glad to be back home and could catch up with her assistant, Marcy. She had gotten rather fond of the polar bear over the years and she wasn't much of a people person. "So, I was interviewed by your sister the other day," said Nova.
"I saw that," said Marcy, "I watch every episode with Polly in it. And she's become very prominent on the show."
"Well, there's an obvious reason for that," said Nova, "It's quite extraordinary that her second dose caused her to grow to such titanic proportions. But at least she has some of her brother's brains. I do hope that she'll be a scientist someday."
"I don't think Polly's really settled on a career path yet," said Marcy.
"Unlike you. All set to earn your mathematics degree and become an astronaut," said Nova.
"I'd need a few more years to get a master's degree...though that may not be enough," said Marcy.
"Why not? You're quite an intelligent woman," said Nova.
"Education is one thing, experience is another," said Marcy.
"Ah, that age-old conundrum: how is one supposed to acquire experience if they can't get a job first? So hard for young men and woman fresh out of college," said Nova.
"Well, partially that, but NASA requires specific experience to be an astronaut," said Marcy.
"That being?" asked Nova.
"Two years of related personal experience or 1000 hours piloting a jet," said Marcy.
"Ah..." said Nova. As had been explained multiple times, including a recent Animalia Ambassadoria episode, Animalian are unfeasible to add to the military because of how much customization their bodies would require. She could hardly expect the Air Force to spend a million dollars to redesign one of their jets just so Marcy could squeeze into the cockpit, especially if she wasn't planning on fighting in any wars.
"Yeah, kinda wished I had noticed that earlier and wasted so many years," said Marcy.
"Wasted? That's complete nonsense," said Professor Nova, "A master's degree in mathematics can open many doors for you. There's no reason you can't work at NASA anyways, just not as an astronaut. You could easily be an analyst for them. And that doesn't mean you couldn't go into space anyways. They've taken up non-astronauts before and I'm sure you'll pass their fitness exams easily. And if NASA won't take you, I'm sure that SpaceX will."
"I'm not so sure about SpaceX," said Marcy, "They've proven themselves technically capable, but the guy who owns it..."
"Point taken. Still, I don't think your dreams are grounded," said Nova.
"Thank you, professor," said Marcy.
"Oh, just Nova is fine. You've earned it by now," said Nova.
"Well, Nova, enough about me. What about you? How'd your trip to Ao Guang go?" asked Marcy.
Nova sighed and said, "Inconclusive. Those aliens are really like to tease us puny earthlings."
"And none of your specialized equipment worked?" asked Marcy.
"Couldn't turn any of them on once I was inside the bamboo grove. It really is puzzling how anything electronic ceases to work within there," said Nova.
"Perhaps it's just a strong magnetic field," said Marcy.
"Ah, but then why don't the digital devices display any magnetic damage once they've been removed from the grove?" asked Nova, "Data should have been distorted or erased, but they remain functional as they were before."
"Maybe it really is spirits keeping electronic devices from working," said Marcy.
"Oh, come now, Marcy, let's stay within the realm of scientific possibility," said Nova dismissively.
"You know, Nova, there are other things that you could have done on Ao Guang," said Marcy, "I mean, you realize it's a matter of mental health to de-stress, relax, attend to other desires..."
"You think I've been neglecting my own well-being to focus on my research?" asked Nova, "Well, I'll have you know that I have found the tranquility of the grove rather soothing. And just because I haven't been going to those big parties doesn't mean I haven't been socializing."
"Really?" asked Marcy, rather surprised.
Nova pulled out her phone and showed her a picture of herself wearing a one-piece swimsuit under her lab coat doing a selfie with a female cobra Animalian wearing a bikini and a sarong. At least, Marcy thought she was female, but the width of her shoulders cast some doubt on that. "I met Xinxing while I was investigating the grove. Shi wanted to investigate its 'spiritual properties'. We debated our theories for some time before we got a room," said Nova.
"Really?" asked Marcy, more surprised.
"Not often I can find someone who can spar with me verbally. And there are other things shi can do with hir tongue," said Nova with a grin.
"I...had no idea you liked women that way," said Marcy.
"Well, when I was human, I didn't have much sexual appetite one way or the other. So I might as well test my preferences with a hermaphrodite," said Nova.
"Still, a cobra and a mongoose," said Marcy.
"Yes, we make quite the unusual pair," said Nova, "Obviously, we couldn't have children. Not that I think we'll be close enough to consider that level of commitment. It'll probably be nothing more than a one-time thing."
"You liked her enough to keep hir picture," observed Marcy.
"And to keep our little sex tape if you want to watch," said Nova teasingly.
"Professor!" snapped Marcy.
"Oh, don't be a prude. I know what you and Chilly get up to," said Nova.
"Yes, but we don't show it to everyone!" snapped Marcy.
"Not even Polly?"
"PROFESSOR!"