Singularity, a hypothetical moment in time when artificial intelligence and other technologies have become so advanced that humanity undergoes a dramatic and irreversible change.

----

Onora Price was rather uncertain really how she ever came to be a biologist. She had always presumed that it stemmed back to her parents; her parents who tried to hold onto a past which was long since gone. They were always harping on to her about how important the planet was. The planet, which when Onora was growing up, was more run by machinery than actual mother nature. The air was circulated by power plants which instead of churning out pollution, concentrated on cleaning the air and expelling it back out.

Living things. Onora's parents were always also telling her how important it was to see the best in everyone, and that every living thing had a worth, had a purpose, was able to live a happy life...and all that. Onora didn't wish to point out that the bad people of the world certainly didn't deserve such things. The murderers of the world, really didn't deserve happiness, for example.

It was not a surprise really, considering her parents were gripping tightly onto a slight hippy attitude which had long gone extinct, that Onora would go into something along the lines of either politics, or the sciences. The first caused her head to hurt just thinking about it. Laws were always a bit of a nightmare anyway, even more so if new ones were being bought out, and old ones were forever being shirked. The latter of the two could be anything, it just so happened that the anything option she chose was biology.

Biology. The study of living things. Onora was more interested in plants and animals, their behavioural patterns. There wasn't much else to discover on Earth, as far as new species went. But creating new species...people had been doing it for years, but that didn't mean Onora thought it was a good idea. Sometimes it paid off. But other times...no. The small company that Onora worked for was one of the very few which weren't being bought out by bigger, more well known and famous companies. It made a surprising change, a group of people, the company owners themselves, saying no. No, they were quite happy with working how they were. It had been fine for years, and would probably continue to be fine. What use could a big company be to them? Other than the obvious money point of view, and the publicity if anything good were to generally happen.

So, of course, when one day a suited representative appeared, Onora for one was miffed. She had an identification badge waved her way, before the small glasses wearing male looked her up and down and demanded to know who exactly she was. She was truly confused. He was the one who waltzed in here, yet she was the one who wasn't asking any of the important questions? Of course, what else would she truly expect from someone who worked with Weyland-Yutani? The company on a whole seemed like a corporation Onora would rather not acknowledge, let alone be a part of; that's if this man was here to yet again try and get the owners, and her bosses, to sell out. It wasn't that the company were bad, they in fact did tremendous good for just about everyone; but, that still didn't mean that they weren't slightly shady. Every company, admittedly even the one she worked with, had secrets. It was a natural thing, what place or person didn't have secrets? Sure, these could be used as leverage, but even still. Weyland-Yutani had had their fair share of dodgy publicity and projects.

"Mr Harper, please, seriously, I am really not the person you need to be talking to." Onora said while holding up her hands to silence the man in front of her. They were in a small lab space, the others who worked here had seemingly found it the right time to go for a convenient break. Seeing as how Onora was talking to this man, they left her to it. It was really nice to know who real friends were, in a moment like this. Mr Harper, the small bespeckled man shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, he reminded her somewhat of a little mole who's peeked out and noticed it's still incredibly light outside. The blinding lights of the lab were making him squint from behind his glasses. He was instantly, seems she was apparently listening, which she honestly wasn't because she was just about to leave for the day, on about some research mission. If it was research missions, he needed to speak to someone higher up the ladder than herself. She wasn't remotely important, not really. She could be replaced by any other person.

"I've tried!" He exclaimed shortly while running a hand through his dark hair. He sighed, clearly exasperated by this whole thing. "There's been contact between my people and your people." He said, as if that truly meant anything to her.

Onora opened her mouth, only to shut it again. "What I believe he is trying to say, is that there's been an arrangement." The synthetic with Harper easily spoke up, neutral tone, blank expression, just standing there watching the two humans chatter awkwardly between themselves. Onora shot him a look before looking back to Harper. It still made no difference to her.

"I mean no offence when I say this, you've got your wires crossed somewhere." Onora crossed her arms, not that she got told all the possible commercial projects which could be happening, but something with Weyland-Yutani was certainly something even she would've been told about, surely? Did anyone else here know? She frowned in thought over that. She couldn't be the lone person in the dark here...could she?

"Was that pun an insult?"

"It wasn't meant to be," Onora looked to the synthetic, a small frown was on his face. He was evidently trying to make sense of the words which were sent his way. She didn't mean to be rude, she really didn't. It wasn't his fault that he was accompanying a man who was unfortunate enough to corner and talk to the wrong person. "Listen, I don't know how things are run back where you are. But here, here we're not in each other's pockets, yeah? If Carter has been in contact with you about some joint project thing, then okay, I shall say for the benefit of the doubt that I believe you. But, and this is quite a massive one, but I haven't heard anything of it. I'm actually sure everyone else hasn't either. This research thing that you're on about, total enigma to me." Onora said while looking around the space and then looking back to the two males, one twitching his hands nervously, the other motionless and staring. The not blinking thing was really quite concerning, Onora just stared right back before flinching a little when he did finally blink. He looked mildly confused again, clearly trying to figure out what he had done to warrant such a look to be sent his way. With a sigh, she rolled her eyes and looked back at Harper. "Call Carter," who was technically her boss. "I'm just a biologist, who works here...obviously. I do the work which is asked of me, and that's it." Onora believed that was it, she had said her piece, even tried to hint for this man to go and call someone who would know what he was on about. She had a home calling her, a bed practically screaming her name and all she wanted was to be there. Was that truly too much to ask? Yes, apparently. Because no sooner had she shrugged off her lab coat and gone to the lockers to the side of the room, did she realise that she was being followed.

"The more biologists the better, it is an unknown world-"

"Space travel is terrifying, I am quite happy on Earth." Onora cut Harper off. He seemed to deflate at her instant shooting down. Some people were made out for space travel, she just wasn't one of them. Pausing though in tugging her coat on she frowned in thought, "Why're you asking me?" Something clicked in her head, and she couldn't believe she had only just thought of it. Why, when there were oodles of other people to corner and talk to, did these two make a beeline for her? Onora shifted and looked between them, awaiting an answer of some description. "I was recommended, wasn't I?" She sighed heavily, the guilty look on Harper's face gave it away. It didn't help her, in fact it made her wilt against the locker. Her back against the cold metal, and her face looking up at the ceiling, she couldn't help but groan. If someone had put her name forward, she could decline, yes, but if there was one thing she had learned about Weyland-Yutanti; they weren't ones for giving up. They would keep on, and on, and on until they made her crack and she'd say yes. "Who?"

"Karine Oram." The synthetic said plainly, he tilted his head as the look of recognition flitted onto Onora's face. That would explain it. Crossed paths a few small times, they knew each other, had briefly worked together, of course if Karine wanted backup she would ask for someone she knew, and trusted. Onora was stumped at that, she didn't think Karine thought so highly of her to ask for her directly.

"So, she's already onboard for this little venture?" She pushed away from the lockers and looked between them.

Harper looked almost hopeful that because she knew of someone, that she was going to agree to come with them. There were preparations which needed to be done. Tests, for example. Not everyone was fit and stable for space travel, after all. Psychologists needed to do reviews. Health care teams needed to test for illnesses, and or the likelihood of any possible breakdowns; the last thing anyone needed was a potential psychopath on the ship. Then, of course, there were the armed specialists. It was standard protocol, to learn and know how to handle a weapon. Information about a new world, didn't necessarily give information out about what could be lurking, not without getting into deep rooted scans and what have you. These were all being done as they stood here talking.

"...Are you really sure there's no one else?" Onora regretted asking, because it looked more and more like she was getting to a yes.

"Others have been asked." Harper replied, with the tone of his voice, it was clear they'd been asked and had said no.

She ran a hand through her hair, scratching the back of her neck, she inhaled sharply. "Am I able to back out...if I don't feel comfortable? As long as it is before the launch?"

Harper looked displeased with this, yet looked to the side. As if the synthetic could give a suitable answer to this question. "Agreements and documents are signed upon entry into the base." It was said all so formally that even Harper looked at Onora with a raised eyebrow.

"So...that's a no?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure it's a no?"

"Definitely."

"What you should be asking yourself, is what is keeping you stuck in this little laboratory of yours? Especially when you could be working with others on something much broader, and wider, and effectively substantial to human kind. More substantial than...what is it you're currently doing? Cross species or something?"

Onora frowned, "Enhancing the durability of certain plants."

"See!" Harper exclaimed suddenly, she jumped and the android merely raised an eyebrow from the outburst. "That's the sort of thing which could be useful elsewhere, than here. If you succeed here, who can fund you to go on further?"

"Oh, I really dislike you," Onora pointed a finger at Harper, Harper and his stupid smug face. Money was a vice, of course. She had had many little projects which could've been somewhat successful, if only she had the money. She didn't. Nor did anyone else here really. Mainly because anything along the lines of her work, were ignored unless they had a big company brand behind it.

"So, that's a yes?"

"Fine!" Onora slapped her hand in Harper's and gave it a shake. "Regardless of your little document thing, if I don't like any part, I am going. Sue me, take me to court, whatever, I don't care. I don't have money, so it'll be a pathetic case, if you can even create one from this." She slipped her hand out of Harper's and looked firmly up at the synthetic, as if he was the one who'd personally take her down.

He tilted his head, "Interesting," he merely commented, Onora had no clue which part of what she said was interesting yet she just nodded at him. She didn't know what else to say or do, so she waved her hands at Harper. He got the hint rather quickly and started to turn away and potter off. He even scurried like a little mole trying to get back into its dark den. She couldn't help it, she may have let out a quiet scoff. She got a confused look for it, Onora was half tempted to explain what she found amusing, but even she knew androids nowadays weren't capable of understanding humour; that privilege came and went with the David 8 series, Walter unfortunately would be unable to find the humour in her words, even if she described it in glorious detail.

----

(A/N: And here we are people. I must admit I have no clue what the longevity of this will be. But heck, I am up for finding out.)