Annika stood back from the Council’s round table; it offered her a better view of everyone’s mouths.

Abigail Wright, as always, led the discussion. She was a short and short-haired Englishwoman, blonde and thin and always speaking above a pair of neatly-folded hands.

“It’s foolish to waste any more time discussing this,” she said as Annika followed her lips’ diplomatic dance.

“If we cannot find any concrete grounds on which to base suspicion of this person, then we can only be obligated to help them.”

“For all we know, this is by design,” Nikita Orlov retorted. All he had for hair was a thin jet black beard. He spoke with a great, theatrical sweep of his calloused palm.

“They may be a plant sent to spy on us, analyze our resources and our weaknesses. We should conduct more thorough interviews with this supposed visitor.”

“And what precedent would that set?” Otto Meier leaned on the table, offering all a better look at his wrinkled yet piercing face atop his mountainous shoulders. They were enough to make Annika nearly forget the withered legs on the wheelchair parked beneath the table.

“Roddenberry was supposed to be a fresh start for all of us. If we kneel to superstition at the first sign of new visitors, then we risk making the same mistakes that still torment Earth’s people today.”

“Our ancestors fought among themselves,” Maria Torres said, as tall and imposing as ever. Annika imagined her voice being booming.

“Not with aliens from other worlds. Our first and foremost responsibility should be to our people here.”

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“Does that responsibility not also include setting an example for our people?” Tao Masumi’s black suit, flat hair, and disciplined posture made him seem like a statue of leaderly composure.

“An example demonstrating compassion rather than cruel paranoia?”

“And consider our visitor’s perspective,” Colette Fontaine said with several animated gestures from her blue-gloved hands.

“If we subject them to more harsh treatment than is necessary, we run the risk of antagonizing them. All we may accomplish is creating the very monster some of you already fear.”

“The fact is we know next to nothing about this creature,” Arthur Swade added, his ginger stubble, flopping gray tie and jacket, and his elbows leaned on the table making him seem almost like a tired graduate student; Annika had seen enough of them to know.

“They have a human’s shape but a lizard’s features. We’ve heard them talk, but we can’t know how they think yet. Either way, they’re forcing us to gamble.”

Annika stood up; instantly and habitually, her colleagues turned to face her. She signed her argument, watching their eyes as they followed her hands.

“We’re talking as if we must be married to whatever decision we make here forever. We’ll be able to see our visitor as clearly and regularly as any other Roddenberry citizen. If we discover anything new to give us reason to treat them differently, then we shall. Surely, we still believe in one being innocent until proven guilty.”

She saw seven nods, some enthusiastic, others reluctant.

“Then are we in agreement?” Annika continued. “Our visitor may live on Roddenberry with all the same rights, protections, and expectations as the rest of us, unless they prove undeserving of them.”

Seven hands rose.

“I’ll begin writing out a declaration,” Abigail said. “Until then, who’d like to visit our visitor and let them know their invitation is now all but official?”

“I’ll go,” Otto said. “I’d like to get a closer look at Roddenberry’s newest resident.” With a simple turn of the thumb-sized joystick on his chair’s right armrest, he set off with all the efficiency of a reliable vessel and the determination of a fearless pilot.

Later, Annika would look out the window as she awaited her turn to sign the Council’s agreement. She would see the first stars appearing in Mars’ night sky, once again imagining herself as a line in a history book and the stars as eyes scrutinizing her every move from the far future.

She was sure their gaze was an approving one, but no amount of approval could mask their unyielding judgment.