The meeting room was silent.
Through the large windows, Aurora could be seen.
Standing still.
Floating.
The researchers watched her as if she were part of the landscape.
There were psychologists, biologists, and specialists from various fields.
None of them had an answer.
— Perhaps we shouldn't try to figure out what she is just yet.
— And do what?
— Observe.
— That's what we've been doing for days.
— Then we keep going.
One of the biologists opened several reports.
— We haven't found any biological changes consistent with the phenomenon.
— None?
— None.
— Is her body human?
— Everything we've been able to analyze indicates that it is.
— Everything?
He hesitated.
— Everything we can measure.
Another researcher looked at the graphs.
— That's what's bothering me.
— What?
— The data.
He pointed at the screen.
— The amount of radiation detected around her shouldn't be compatible with the existence of a human being.
— Or with the existence of this room.
— Or this city.
Silence.
— The problem is that no one is being contaminated.
— No cellular damage.
— No genetic changes.
— No illnesses.
— No burns.
— Nothing.
A specialist opened another file.
— The radio telescope detected an energy signature we can't explain.
— How strong?
— The intensity is comparable to what we'd expect from a neutron star.
The room fell silent.
— A neutron star?
— In terms of detected intensity.
— That can't be right.
— I know.
— A neutron star has an absurd amount of mass.
— I know.
— And an absurd density.
— I know.
— Then how is a girl producing a similar signature?
No one answered.
Another researcher looked out the window.
Aurora was still there.
— She doesn't even emit light.
— I know.
— Or enough heat to explain this.
— I know.
— Then what exactly are we measuring?
Silence.
A psychologist spoke.
— Perhaps we're making a basic mistake.
Everyone looked at him.
— We're trying to figure out what she's doing.
He pointed at Aurora.
— But maybe she's not doing anything at all.
— What do you mean?
— Maybe this is simply her natural state.
A biologist frowned.
— That would be even worse.
— Why?
— Because it would mean there is no mechanism we could switch off.
Another researcher shook his head.
— Or she's trying to confuse us.
— How?
— I don't know.
— Then that's not a theory.
— Perhaps it is.
— She hasn't done a single thing since she appeared.
— Exactly.
— And that's what's confusing us.
Everyone turned their attention back to Aurora.
She was standing still.
Her hair moved slightly in the wind.
Her face remained calm.
She watched people moving around.
A passing car.
A bird.
A tree.
The researchers themselves, behind the windows.
As if none of it held any particular significance.
— Perhaps she's waiting for something.
— Perhaps.
— Perhaps she's learning.
— Perhaps.
— Perhaps she knows exactly what she's doing.
— Perhaps.
— Perhaps she doesn't even know she's doing anything.
Silence again.
One of the biologists closed his report.
— We have a girl with an energy level that shouldn't exist.
Another researcher corrected him.
— We have a girl with an energy level that shouldn't exist in the physical universe as we know it.
No one responded.
He continued.
— If the data is correct, the Earth shouldn't remain intact in her presence.
He looked at Aurora.
— But it does.
Another researcher added:
— So does she.
Everyone continued staring through the window.
Aurora remained motionless.
No light.
No glow.
No explosions.
No visible emission of energy.
Simply existing.
One of the researchers spoke, almost to himself.
— It's like having a neutron star inside a girl.
No one corrected him.
Because, at that moment, the comparison seemed less absurd than any other explanation.
The only truly absurd thing was that Aurora was there.
Whole.
Alive.
Floating.
And looking out the window.
As if the entire world were nothing more than a landscape.
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