Hermann stared, heart still racing but no longer panicked or pained. Slowly, carefully, he sat up, eyes staying on Newton and trying to find him in the biolumniscent mass in front of them.

{ Newton...? }

But far more pressing are the echoing thoughts resonating through the drift. Newton's voice, much stronger than usual. His fiance was nervous, concerned for him, and uneasy.

{ All perfectly logical of course. }

Yes, logic. Newton was cooperating with Kang's instruction to the best of his ability, and already the biologist was getting eager. Hermann reached for his cane, frowning over his fallen laptop, then slowly struggled to his feet.

"Yes.. Yes, he's all right," he announced, clearing his throat a moment. "I can hear his thoughts.. and I don't detect anything malicious."

{ Yes, you pass. }

Hopefully this new amplification worked both ways anyway.