A Taurean security guard, easily seven feet tall and wearing dark navy body armor, directed the new arrivals to the various queues. His long, dark hair fell down his back in a mass of braids. He spoke in a low voice to the man who had been talking to CJ on the freighter, and Laila noticed a white band around his bicep.
As Laila approached the head of the line, he gestured for her to hold out her wrists, over which he waved a small, hand-held device. A red light lit up and she was waved towards a second queue. The process was like immigration on Earth but, at the same time, utterly alien.
At first glance, everyone seemed human, but if you looked closely, some were very tall, their skin an almost unnatural shade of bronze. Others had pointed ears that moved in ways no human ears could, or too-large eyes with vertical, cat-like pupils. One woman walking past caught Laila staring, and she smiled and winked, Laila quickly dropping her gaze to the tail that the woman swished playfully as she passed. Laila swallowed. She did not want to make a cultural faux pas on her first day.
Realizing the queue had moved, Laila started at her name. Entering a small room, a human doctor greeted her, much to her surprise.
“Captain Laila Storey?” the woman looked up from her clipboard as she pushed back a springy curl of the brightest red hair Laila had ever seen.
“Yes. I didn’t realize there were human doctors here.” She took a step further into the room, the door sliding closed behind her. The doctor smiled and gestured for Laila to lie down on an examination table.
“There aren’t many of us, that’s true. I’m Dr. Amelia O’Malley. I’m based on Zataras, but I came over to the station to help as I’m more familiar with human physiology than the Taureans are.” She smiled as she moved a small, metallic device over Laila’s arms and legs.
“I’m headed for the Zataras, too.” It pleased Laila to meet another human, something she had not expected.
“That’s great! It will be nice to have more of us around,” the doctor smiled, continuing her examination.
“Why another medical? I had one before I left.” Laila asked.
“The Taureans don't want any diseases, pests, or contaminants entering the safe zones.”
That made sense to Laila. New diseases and pests were a problem on Earth, so it was logical it would be a problem on other planets, too.
“That includes sexually transmitted infections.” Amelia looked at the small device that she was currently waving over Laila's abdomen.
Laila's mouth dropped open in surprise. “Yes, though that’s unlikely to be a problem here.”
With a small smirk the doctor turned away, muttering something that Laila thought was “you’d be surprised”.
“Alright, Captain Storey. I just need to insert the language translator and your ID chip, and then you’re all done.” She pointed to Laila's neck with her hand. “It goes behind your ear, here.” She pulled Laila’s braid aside to expose the side of her neck.
She winced at the pinch of the injection, which was followed by an icy feeling that spread through her skull, leaving a mild headache. Laila rubbed her temples.
“The headache won't last long, only a few hours. All Taureans receive the translation implant at birth, as well as the identification and credit chip. If visitors don’t have them, we take care of that. It solves a lot of problems if people can communicate. Now for your ID chip.”
Dr. O’Malley must have performed these procedures many times. Before Laila knew it, a tiny metallic-looking chip had disappeared into an incision smaller than her smallest fingernail. The doctor sprayed the area and waved a second device over her wrist, which beeped quietly, then a flashed with a blue light. Laila watched, amazed as the incision disappeared, replaced by a tiny scar. She hadn’t felt a thing.
“Alright, you're good to go.” Dr. O’Malley smiled and gestured towards the door. “I hope you enjoy your time on the Zataras. I’m sure we will meet up again.”
Thanking the doctor, and with her identification chip in place, Laila quickly passed through the check-in area. CJ was waiting for her, rubbing her temples.
“I feel pretty tired, Laila. I think I’ll have an early night.” The usually vivacious medic looked pale. Reassuring Laila that she just wanted to rest, CJ headed for her quarters.
Laila, in contrast, had only one thing in mind. After the last few days, and that medical exam, she needed a drink.
