Kirk’s neutral expression and body language remain unchanged as he thinks about how intensely intimate he’s become with Vander after the older man volunteered to be a meal. It was certainly not something either of them expected. So far, neither of them regret it.

“For a while after I transformed, I struggled to handle my new dietary requirements,” Kirk explains. “Compared to that, Etraya’s sources are relatively stable. But even that can change, such as with the last mission.”