Snippet #2816382

Puddles had waited patiently for the semblance of peace to be restored, before those wheels began to churn and carry the probe along the sands. A long, spindly arm then sprout from the roof of the vehicle, a device mounted on the end slowly stretching out to form a boom as it took a water sample of the lapping waves.

On the underside of the large probe, a similar boom extended to take the first, of many, soil samples. Before long though, as Puddles had hoped, he would have visitors. Mounted on the front of the probe was a series of cameras and remote scanners, viewing the world in everything from infrared to visible light and even x-ray. As the large sea lion approached, the probe stopped in its tracks.

As if to test the waters, Puddles took a moment to study the organism, comparing and cataloguing it along with what could easily be thousands, millions even, of similar species that his illusive handlers might have encountered throughout the cosmos.

Then it played a little chirp, perhaps similar in sound that this unknown species might recognize as another - albeit strange looking - pinniped.