"Cora, how are they?"

Cora turned to find Col. Likhachyova floating up behind her. She nodded over her shoulder at Drew, Consuela, Brenda, and Boner in the quarantine chamber. Beside Cora, Kim kept an eye on the four people in the chamber, both of them secured to the floor by the electromagnets in their feet. McBride floated nearby, staring at the tablet in his hands while his camera hovered near the window.

Cora wouldn't have wanted an audience if she were going to be stuck in there for forty-eight hours, but Timmy's job was to cover the Sagan's maiden voyage for the masses back home, and that included crew members suddenly being bathed in disco lights and mystery gas.

"Dr. Flanagan said there's no sign of any viruses, bacteria, pathogens, and so on."

"That she's been able to identify," Kim added.

"Well, there have been no adverse effects on their biology at all. No apparent illnesses. She did find their brain chemistry was altered slightly, so they were injected with medical nanobots to monitor the changes." Cora held a hand up when Likhachyova's eyes opened wider and her jaw dropped. "The alterations don't appear harmful at the moment. So far, the readings indicate …"

Kim smirked and pointed at something. Cora turned and found the four cuddling. Boner had her arm around Drew and the other two women held hands while Brenda clasped Drew's hand and intertwined her fingers with his.

"Well, that." Cora motioned at them and turned back to Likhachyova. "They trained together, but had no affection for each other beyond everyday camaraderie when we launched."

Kim tossed a grin over her shoulder. "Then half an hour after we arrive, they're head-over-heels in love."

"Seriously?" Likhachyova gaped at her and then Cora. "They got the hots for each other after being hosed down by that device?"

"It emitted a combination of light and gasses that began altering their brain chemistry seconds after contact." Cora turned back to watch them for a moment. "Now, their brain scans match the average human experiencing romantic love. Whether any further changes occur, and whether it interferes with their ability to carry out their duties, and whether the effects are permanent, remain to be seen."

"If it stays this way, I don't see any problems cropping up unless they're suddenly overcome with lust and start humping it out right in front of us." Kim held her right arm up. "I wouldn't have any objection to that, either. It's why I had a 'vibrate' function added to my hand during an upgrade years ago."

"Aw, here I was, thinking you did it for me." Cora pretended to pout.

"Well, my motivations are complex." Kim laughed. "A while ago, Vicki said she was disappointed that she was out of range and won't be able to get in on the action."

"Huh." Likhachyova shook her head quickly as if trying to dislodge some cobwebs. "I suppose it makes sense. I looked at the recordings you made of the symbols on the wall. Some of the Russian text said the device is called 'the Peacemaker' and it was used by warring factions to end their conflicts without any more bloodshed. I didn't know how a single gadget could do that until you filled me in on how these four were affected."

"That matches what I saw of the text from other Earth languages," Cora said. "Aside from those, the rest of the symbols are probably alien, but I'd be surprised if they don't all say the same thing."

"Isn't it weird that they'd have any human languages at all?" Timmy tapped something on the tablet's screen and the camera rotated to aim at Likhachyova. "Unless any of us have been to this planet before?"

Likhachyova shook her head. "It's more likely that someone else visited Earth centuries ago and added the same descriptions in several human languages to the chamber just in case we'd end up needing the device someday."

"We've probably needed it throughout our history," Kim muttered.

"Sadly, that's very true." Likhachyova let out a long sigh. "Ending wars by artificially causing opposing sides to fall in love with each other. I like it as long as those involved are volunteers. I have a serious problem with it being forced on anyone -- which is exactly what happened here."

"Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, so I'd be okay with it regardless. It's a far better solution than both sides wiping each other out."

"Fair enough. But it was done to members of my crew without their consent." Likhachyova pushed off from the wall and drifted closer to the quarantine chamber. "Do they know?"

"Yep." Boner glanced over at her. "Dr. Flanagan kept us informed each time she found something new. And if she hadn't, this would've confused the hell out of me." She motioned at Brenda and Consuela. "I don't even swing that way and I don't know them very well -- Drew, either -- but I can't bear the thought of going through life without them."

The other three nodded.

"Well, at least that thing didn't make you all hate each other." Likhachyova chuckled. "We'll wait and see how things are at the end of the quarantine period. Maybe it'll wear off or we might find a way to reverse it."

Drew stared at her. "Why would we want that?"

"Well, it didn't happen naturally. It was forced on you."

"Sure, but I think we're all happy with it."

"I am, definitely," Brenda said, and the others nodded again. "I know we were 'programmed' to feel this way about each other, but it is what it is. Separating from these guys would break my heart."

"Huh. Well … we'll see how things go. Meanwhile, Cora, Kim, I'd like you to take another look at the device. I don't see how it could have any effect on synthetics, but bring a few other AI crew members along and have them stay out of the device's range just in case it can affect you."

"Sure thing. They can continue exploring the area while we examine the Peacemaker."

"And no humans on your team. We don't need the entire ship turning into a big orgy, as fun as that sounds. We'd never get any work done."

"Hold on." Timmy tapped a button on his tablet and the camera floated back to him. "I should be there to cover the investigation. I'll keep my distance, I promise. This mission is incredibly important and even though it'll be a while before any of this is declassified, it should be documented for posterity."

Likhachyova thought it over and finally nodded. "Alright. Cora, give your team orders not to let our intrepid reporter get anywhere near that device or any other you may find down there."

"Understood." Cora waved Kim and Timmy toward the shuttle bay. "Come on, let's get back to work."