X is for Xenolith
Xenolith: a rock fragment foreign to the igneous rock in which it is embedded.
…
Something had changed with the employees of the SPR – one point when Noll wasn't looking; they had all banded together, becoming close friends with solid relationships. Except Lin, of course.
They made a type of formation, close to stone. Then they had stretched out their reach and grasped onto him, securing him into their structure and not letting go.
He stuck out, was something foreign compared to them, but he was attached. And he couldn't seem to disengage himself from them; they had grabbed on and held on so tightly.
But he wasn't sure that he minded so much, anymore.