[Pause. Membrane ripples like water.] “Are...”
“What?”
No further communication received.
At 0559, ship sensors detected the creature whispering to itself in the ventilation shaft: “Are... we... real?”
Do not engage. Do not run. Do not scream. Sing a lullaby. Recite a tax form. Think of nothing. The only way to survive v1.52 is to be boring . Creature reaction inside the ship- -v1.52- -Are...
“Are we what?”
“Are... you...”
If the crew stops being afraid, v1.52 becomes confused. Confusion, in v1.52, triggers a defense mechanism: rapid, uncontrolled cellular mitosis. In layman’s terms—it explodes into acidic biomass.