The Terra Debacle: Prisoners at Area 51

He found it amusing that while Greenley was studying him, he was doing likewise, having had limited interactions so far with humans. It interested him tremendously that the man was a fruitarian, subsisting mostly on fruit, which didn't result in the demise of the botanical species that provided it. However, the man's diet resulted in gas emissions about which his assistants frequently complained. The noise factor was no more than an occasional, erratic vibration that was certainly harmless, so he couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

Air entered Thyron's olfactory system through tiny holes in his leaves called stomata. The presence of certain chemicals, such as salicylic acid, could indicate a neighboring plant was under attack and serve as a warning to engage his own defense system. The chemical composition of Greenley's explosive events comprised nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, and a small percentage of hydrogen sulfide gas, the last of which was the primary component of Thyron's own defenses.

He paused, shifting to a pensive stance as he remembered that the Sapphirans off-gassed sulfur when frightened. Could the scientist be afraid of him or his coworkers? The man's aura didn't reflect that, so probably not. Was it possible the odiferous similarity to the pygmies who occupied Thyron's home world facilitated his psi-connection with the man, perhaps giving them all something in common at the DNA level?

His petioles stiffened, leaves on alert, as another notion arose: Could Greenley, like himself, use it defensively?

These were all matters he'd have to investigate.