“What if I do not wish it?”
This made the medic look up. “Everyone is required to scan. The system needs a database starting point.”
“It is unnecessary to add me—” Karuk said.
From behind him, Bardon shoved him forward. “Shut up and get on the platform.”
"Why don't you go?" Karuk countered, stepping toward him.
"You're first," Bardon snapped back.
"Enough," Cher yelled, stepping between them. "Stop being idiots. We're all doing it. Get on the damn platform or--"
"Or what?" Karuk fired back.
"Your magnetic boots will fail," Cher replied.
Karuk cursed as he stepped onto the platform. “I’m here to work,” he muttered. “Not to be a part of a matchmaking machine.”
The medic sighed. “Your data is just being catalogued to make sure everything is connecting right to the central database. Connecting to these Earth people is harder than we initially expected. We need some base information for the system to process.”
"You don't need mine."
The medic nodded. "We're still collecting data. So yes, we need everyone's. Including yours."
He took his place on the panel, grimacing the whole time as the blue light came up from the bottom, ran over him, and back down into the panel again. Just as quick as it started, it was over, and he became part of their database.
No way for him to fake this one, he realized. His arrival details masked him as much as possible, but this time, though, he didn't prepare for the scan, and he couldn't hide his identity.
Stars and Damnation.
What was he going to do now?
“I don’t see any people from the planet here,” Karuk said just as the scan completed.
The medic gestured for him to move off the platform. “We are getting some soon to complete this side of the testing.”
“Makes them sound like test subjects,” Cher muttered as she stepped onto the platform.
“If this sets up and works right, we all will be,” the medic said. “And we’ll have a new pool to dip into for compatibility matches.”
“You are eager,” Bardon said.
“Updating the science is always progress.”
Great.
Not only was Karuk now in a database, but he was part of a much larger one where humanoids were looking for mates, all across the known galaxy.
“Who has access to this database?” Karuk asked.
“Anyone who works in the Intergalactic Dating Agency’s organization.”
Karuk sighed. Exactly where he didn’t want to be.
Karuk headedalong the exterior wall, scanning windows as he walked. The station's major structure was done. However, there were places all across the body that needed minute adjustments.
That's what he and his team did. Make those adjustments as needed all day, every day.
