It's an understatement to say that being in the contaminated forward ring shook me up.
I've spent my whole life trying to simulate alien environments, but the first time I found myself actually inside one, I couldn't wait to escape.
I was having a panic attack, a rush of xenophobia, and severe vertigo all at once.
It was like every cell in my body was screaming that I didn't belong there.
As soon as I had some samples bottled up, I rushed to get back into the access tunnels to get the hell out of there.
That was when I saw one of those things...
At a distance, you might mistake it for a big cat: feline, predatory.
But it had strange, feathery spines like a venomous tropical fish, and its gaze was weirdly aware.
I was afraid to break eye contact while I felt desperately for the hatch.
A second and third creature appeared in my peripheral vision as I dove into the tunnel and sealed it tight behind me.