After the Igris had been cleaned up or arrested Gabriel and Madeline had been quickly escorted to a car, or whatever they called it, he forgot to ask. And Gabriel once again realized he had forgotten to get shoes. He needed to try and remember to ask for some so he wouldn’t have to walk barefoot everywhere. After reaching their location they were shown to a relatively comfortable interrogation room and left waiting for an interrogation officer. They had been left waiting for over an hour and Gabriel had gotten bored quickly and was currently entertaining himself by trying to balance an empty mug of water on a finger. “Uhhh, I’m bored,” He said and caught the mug as it fell.
“So you have been telling me,” Madeline said with a sigh, she was sitting relaxed in the chair with her eyes closed.
“Not much of a date huh?” Gabriel said and put down the mug.
Madeline’s fur ridge stood up followed by a smile. “I’ve had worse”
“Worse than sitting in an interrogation room for well over an hour?” Gabriel raised an eyebrow at her.
“I enjoy your company, and we were stuck with each other for several days, what’s another few hours? but you can tone down the whining a little” She said grinning at him.
“Ouch, my feelings” Gabriel faked a hurt expression that did not convince Madeline in the slightest. “I enjoy your company too, and to be honest I have had worse dates as well. Not many quite so boring though”
“Oh, so I am boring you?” Madeline said and squinting slightly.
“No, I mean” Gabriel started just as the door opened and two officers walked in, “Oh, good, I’m saved from digging myself into a deeper hole”
Madeline chirped and shook her head slightly. Of the two officers that walked in, one stood by the door observing, this one could have been the same one they had talked to earlier but Gabriel had no idea as the officer was not clad in armor. Same three eyes and mandibles, though Gabriel did not remember their eye color. The other officer sat down at the table and pulled up some text on a tablet, the Officer had four blue eyes, was humanoid in shape with four arms. Two smaller under two almost human in shape, three fingers on each hand. Skin a dark purple and what looked like very short almost black fur on her or his head and hands.
“Greetings, I am investigation officer Khrussk,” The officer said. Gabriel placed the voice as a male, but that was from a human point of view so he had no real idea. “We need to go over what happened from the time you woke up from stasis until meeting with the guards at the station.”
“Of course,” Madeline said and Gabriel nodded. “Oh, that head movement means yes for humans, same as Quizeaterans. Shaking means no and shrugging” Madeline shrugged her shoulders, “means not sure”
“Thank you Miss Nioni, I heard that his language is not yet in the records but are on the way. As well as both of your translators are illegal.” Khrussk said.
“Yes, that is correct,” Madeline said and Gabriel nodded along.
“We will have to confiscate them and will, of course, give you legal ones.”
“Of course,” Madeline said.
“Good, now to the matter at hand. Please tell me everything from the beginning.”
“Well, I was born at a very young age” Gabriel started and Madeline put a hand to her mouth to not start chirping. “Madeline this is serious, please tell the nice officer what happened, I’ll fill in any gaps,” Gabriel said and gave Madeline a grin.
The officer was apparently a little unnerved by him showing his teeth but Madeline’s fur ridge stood up and he relaxed slightly. “Sorry, so I woke up about a week ago and...” She continued on, telling the officer what happened while protecting the Quizeaterans somewhat. She said she was told about the Igris and that they were not prisoners even though the room did look like a cell. She changed hers and Gabriel's first meeting to be more professional and less naked confusion.
From the time the Igris attacked to when they reached the station the story was almost the same, apart from the details they had discussed with the Captain and Taurana. Gabriel only had to add details about the second attack and the pirate ship, describing it in as much detail as he could. The officer had taken to nod stiffly to show Gabriel he was following along.
“So the scans on your body are on the ship?” The officer asked after Gabriel finished. He nodded. “Would you mind doing some more testing for us?”
“Not if Alith supervises, oh, that’s the medical officer from the ship,” Gabriel said.
Madeline translated and the Officer looked ready to complain but nodded. “Alright, I will see to it that he is there.”
“Thank you,” Gabriel said, bowing his head like he’d seen the Quizeaterans do. “Madeline is Khrussk a he, she or anything else? and what race? If that’s not too impolite to ask.”
Madeline asked and Khrussk looked over to Gabriel, “Of course, I forgot you don’t know any races apart from the three you’ve met. I am a male Yavichian, the females have lighter fur, and it is often slightly longer.” He gestured to his head.
Gabriel smiled, “Thank you for the clarification, and while we are at it, what about the officer standing at the door?” Madeline translated once again.
“This is officer Kzanti Inokt Andoan, She is one of the Phigos, and the one you met at the ship if I recall correctly” Khrussk said as Kzanti bowed her head slightly.
Gabriel nodded, “Thank you, so when can we get proper translators?” Gabriel asked through Madeline.
“They are on the way here, just a few hours, and your language will be integrated at the same time. And I think I have everything I need for now” He gave them both a long look, “I do not believe you are telling me everything, either that or the Captain is withholding information. But you are clearly the victims in all this. Miss Nioni, a Zilgi emissary works in the neutral embassy that can get you in contact with whomever you want so I suggest you go there with an escort.”
“Do you think anyone is still after me?” Madeline asked.
“No, nothing points to that but it’s better to stay safe” Khrussk said. “But I would like both of you to wait for the translator if you are willing, neither of you are under arrest and you are both free to go about your day. But Gabriel will need to be put into the system and registered as a member of the Union.”
Gabriel nodded and turned to Madeline, “Union?”
“All space-faring races are part of it, sort of, it consists mostly of common laws.” Madeline clarified.
“Alright sounds good to me...so do we just wait around for the translators?” Gabriel asked her.
Madeline, in turn, asked Khrussk who shook his head, “You don't have to wait in here, we have prepared food for you and then I would like to get started on the scans and tests if possible.”
Gabriel shrugged and looked to Madeline, “Fine with me, you?” Madeline’s fur ridge rose once. Gabriel nodded and turned to Khrussk, “Alright lead the way.”
They walked to a cafeteria and Gabriel got more than a few strange looks. Maybe not surprising as he was the only human on the station. Probably the only human is a different solar system as well now that he thought about it. “I wonder if anyone will write a book about me someday,” He said to Madeline as they sat down.
“Whatever for?” She asked in a teasing voice.
He gave her a long look, “I don’t know what’s changed with you but I like it” He said grinning.
She smiled at him with her ridge up “Since I woke up I have been worried or scared, often both. First, it was the Quizeaterans, then you and then the Igris. I am safe now, we both are, that is what has changed” She gave him a rather good smirk, she must have practiced “unlike someone here I don’t get off on jumping headfirst into danger.”
Gabriel laughed probably alerting a few cops in the process. “You make a good point, It was kind of a stupid question, sorry about that.”
Her fur ridge rippled which she emphasized by shaking her head, “It’s perfectly alright, now the book?”
“Right, I am probably the first human in a different solar system from my home planet and will be the first into the Union. That might be something to write about?”
“Maybe, who will write it, you?”
“Nope, I suck at writing, was never my forte.” Gabriel shrugged, “But you can’t deny we have an interesting story to tell, almost movie material”
Madeline rolled her eyes, “It was certainly interesting, but other than the attacks we spent most of the time half-naked with you teaching me how to fight or just talking”
“Oh, right” Gabriel looked over and saw several plates on the way. “Well, maybe that won't pan out then. Unless we go on more adventures?” He grinned at her.
“You have just fought off almost 20 Igris and you want to have more adventures, maybe you do get off on danger.” She chirped softly. “Let’s take a few days off and go from there”
“Deal,” Gabriel said as the food arrived. The food was good but kind of bland, they didn’t use any strong spices and Gabriel missed the fire-root. But he ate without complaints before Kzanti ushered him off to some medical room for scans.
Another Phigos waited in the room, dressed in what looked like scrubs and with a mask on as well as googles. “Ah, the human! A pleasure to meet you, I am doctor Morthri. I will be replacing your translator and conducting the tests” He walked up and looked Gabriel over.
“Great...” Gabriel said and glanced at Madeline. She shrugged at him. “When with Alith get here?” He looked to Madeline for translation.
“He should be on his way,” Kzanti said.
“Yes, the Quizeateran doctor, but in the meantime let’s do the scans,” Morthri said and almost pushed Gabriel over to a similar scan that the ship had but bigger. “Please take off your clothes and lay down”
“Um, all of them?” Gabriel asked and unzipped his coverall a bit.
“Yes, I need a scan without any interference,” Morthri said after Madeline translated, and tapped on the screen at the bed.
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Gabriel looked over to Madeline and Kzanti. “A little privacy?”
Kzanti turned and walked out closing the door behind her, Madeline just turned around. “Still need me to translate right?”
“Probably,” Gabriel said and stripped out of his clothes and laid down on the bed.
“This scan functions the same as the one on the ship” Morthri explained as he powered up the scanner. “Grab the handles and press any button when the glowing dot changes color.”
“Got it,” Gabriel said as the cover closed over him. The test went the same as before, just with more moving parts circling the bed. Gabriel felt a little unnerved laying inside quickly moving machinery but he focused on the test.
It took about as long as the previous one by Gabriel’s best estimate. The machinery slowed down and the cover slid open. “Good, we got a clear scan.”
“Can I dress now?” Gabriel asked with Madeline’s help.
“Yes you can, thank you for your cooperation”
Gabriel dressed and walked around the bed looking at the screen. “Anything interesting?” Madeline walked over and translated while also looking at the screen.
“Yes, many things,” Morthri said and turned almost bumping into both of them. “May I have a little space?” Gabriel and Madeline pulled back and Morthri pulled up the scans on a larger monitor. “You are from a higher gravity planet as the previous scan showed, I’m told the science officer has calculated the approximate gravity?” Gabriel nodded. “I want to compare but I believe I have better equipment here and might be able to get a more precise number.”
“That sounds promising, not that I know what I would need precise numbers for at the moment,” Gabriel said and scratched his beard. “Oh, I want a razor or something to shave with. And I had a suit made of some heavy material, can I have another one?”
Madeline sighed with a smile on her face “One question at the time please” but she translated everything to Morthri.
“We can get you something to cut your hair with yes, the suit you used for weight I don’t have the necessary equipment to make or the materials,” Morthri said and typed on his table. “I have sent a message about it”
“Oh and before I forget again, I need shoes,” Gabriel said and looked to his feet.
“Yes, of course,” Morthri said after Madeline translated. His tablet pinged and he looked down at it. “Ah, doctor Alith is here...and the translators have arrived,” he added after another ping.
Alith was let into the room by Kzanti who walked in behind and handed Morthri a box before leaving the room again. “Alith, how did everything go after we left?” Gabriel asked and patted his shoulder.
“Better than I hoped, but you should really ask the captain as I was only briefly interrogated,” Alith said bowing. “Here, I brought your spare clothes just in case you need them” He handed over a bag.
“Thanks, buddy, Now let’s get these translators fixed. How involved is the procedure?” Gabriel asked.
“Well the translator has two parts, one is the connector which is an implant that sends the signals to your brain, the other is the translator unit. That is the one we have to replace and it will involve making an incision and simply swapping it. The connector is more difficult” Alith explained.
“So, do we get put to sleep?” Gabriel asked
“No, just local numbing, speaking of which” Alith walked over to Morthri and Gabriel overheard them talking about what to use on Gabriel.
Madeline walked over to stand beside him. “Great, so now there are two doctors experimenting with anesthetics,” He said.
“Would you rather be without?” Madeline asked.
“No, but still. We humans have many movies and stories about crazy doctors. One even created life out of body parts from a graveyard. Dr. Frankenstein...actually I don’t think he was a doctor in the book.”
Madeline gave him a disgusted look and shook her head, “Weird”
“We are ready,” Alith said and gestured them over. “We have to take it slow with your anesthetics Gabriel. Madeline, Morthri are ready to change yours”
“Alright, I’m ready as well,” Madeline said and sat down on a bed, Gabriel on another facing her. Her translator was quite quickly changed without any issues. Same for Gabriels except that it took a lot longer as the doctors figured out what anesthetics to use.
Gabriel scratched behind his ear, where the small incision was itching a little. Madeline elbowed him lightly in the side. “Stop poking at it” Morthri walked out and said something to Kzanti closing the door behind him.
“So what now, I heard there were more tests planned?” Gabriel asked Alith.
He shrugged. “I just heard you wanted me here for the translator and some tests, I don’t have any schedule”
“Yeah, thank you, by the way, I trust you more than a doctor I have not met. And I sort of wanted to make sure you guys were not in too much trouble.”
“As far as I know we will receive a heavy fine and mandatory inspections at all docks for a while. All in all, it could be a lot worse” Alith said and bowed to Gabriel. “Thank you for helping us”
“Anytime buddy” Gabriel patted him on the shoulder.
The door opened and Kzanti and Morthri walked in. “The tests have been postponed for tomorrow, we have two rooms at a hotel booked for you,” Kzanti said and gestured towards the door. “And Gabriel, we just need you to give details on clothes to be manufactured. All paid for by the Union.”
“Much appreciated, I have some ideas,” Gabriel said smiling.
Kzanti turned to Madeline, “We can’t offer you any Miss Nioni.”
Madeline nodded “I am aware of the rules, I can get clothes on my own.”
“Good, Gabriel, if you will follow me we can get started right away. Miss Nioni, I suggest you take this time to send your message from the embassy. We will pick you up when Gabriel is ready” Kzanti said and gestured to the door.
Madeline looked to Gabriel and nodded, “See you soon”
“Take care,” Gabriel said and followed Kzanti down to another office. There he was asked a bunch of questions by another Phigos and even had to explain human fashion in broad terms. Luckily many Xenos he has seen was approximately human in proportions so it was mostly the details, size of pockets, belts, buttons, shirts, and underwear. Not to mention he finally would get shoes. Those he spent the most time designing, after all, shopping for new ones was going to be a bit difficult. He was also given a phone or a PCU, a Personal Communication Unit with the designs on so if he found a store that did custom work he could replicate the clothes.
After that was done Kzanti led him out of the station, “Tomorrow you will be picked up for more tests and possibly some more questioning if Officer Khrussk has found anything interrogating the Igris. The clothes I’m told will be here when you return.”
“Alright, and when do I get registered?” Gabriel asked as he sat down in the back seat of the car.
“That will be taken care of at the embassy,” Kzanti said and sat down in front. There was a glass screen separating the back seat from the front, so Gabriel looked out the window as they drove down the street. It looked like most Xenos here were either Phigos or Yavichian, but he saw others as well. A large human-like green humanoid with a crest on their head, another with four legs whose arms split at the elbow into two separate forearms and hands. He saw a smaller one, reaching his waist by his best estimate. This one was a little bat-like with two three-fingered arms with skin stretched under like wings and short dark fur. But that’s where the similarities to a bat ended. Its face had four eyes and its mouth was similar to a race from an old retro game Gabriel played years back. Mass effect he seemed to recall the game was called. And the race was T, something, and he saw no visible nose.
The car stopped a short time later and the screen to the front slid down. “We are here,” Kzanti said and opened the door.
Gabriel stepped out looking up to a tall building reaching the ceiling of the domed station. “Fancy,” Gabriel said as they entered the building. He was led right up to a counter and Kzanti started talking to the receptionist while Gabriel looked around. The architecture reminded him of the Quizeateran ship, with white smooth walls and clean design. It made it feel a little bit like a lab to Gabriel.
Kzanti walked over shortly and directed Gabriel to a small room with a computer and a Yavichian, female if the purple fur was any indication. “Welcome, please have a seat and we will get this registration done.” The voice was higher than Khussk and Gabriel guessed he was right.
Gabriel sat down in the chair, “So how does this work?”
“We have all the necessary information from the scans, no private information, just allergies, what food is safe and base facts,” She said, “I just need your name, age, name of your planet and some other small things.”
“Well alright, My name is Gabriel Issac Walker. Gabriel is my first name, Walker my family name and Issac my middle name, got is from my grandfather. I am...25 If not accounting for the stasis. In human years that is, I don’t know what that would be in your years. Humans live up to around 100 if that is important, and our planet is called Earth” He said while the Yavichian typed away.
“So you are a Human named Gabriel Issac Walker, I have you in the system as Gabriel, is that what you want to be called?”
“Yes,” Gabriel confirmed. “I have not heard many uses of last names, just Miss Nioni”
“Most races in the union use their first name. Zilgi and some others use their last name as showing respect.” She said cheerfully.
“Understood, will I offend anyone by using their first or last name?”
“No, not in neutral space, when visiting home planets it is better to learn the customs but most are understanding...And we are done, welcome to the Union Gabriel Walker.” She took his phone and scanned something on the ‘computer’ she was typing on. “Your identification is now in your PCU and here is your physical copy” She handed him a card. There was no picture and he could not read the letters.
“Thank you” He pocketed the card and phone and walked out with Kzanti.
Madeline was waiting outside and smiled at him. “How did it go?”
“It went well, you are now looking at the first human in the Union...I think” He said grinning.
Madeline chirped. “Congratulations”
“Thank you, If I wasn’t tired I might feel like celebrating.”
Kzanti got their attention and gestured to the door, “Shall we be on our way?”
“Yeah sure, it has been a long day, how did your message go?” He said.
Madeline sighed, “Fine I suppose, my father won't get it for a few days, even messages is limited in speed. Faster than ship FTL though. But as you said it had been a long day and rest seems like a very good idea, we can always celebrate tomorrow and I can tell you more then.” Madeline said. They got back into the car and after a short drive later arrived at a hotel. Kzanti briefly talked to the receptionist and then led them to an elevator and down a corridor.
“You know I’ve forgotten to ask, but unless I missed my guess aren't you a Captain or similar rank Kzanti?” Gabriel asked when they stepped out of the elevator.
“Yes I am” She answered.
“So...why are you escorting us, why not some rookie?”
“You are important witnesses, and Miss Nioni is the Zilgi head emissaries daughter.” She said matter of factly. “It is an important job and there is few I would trust with it”
“So you are here to protect us, not guide?”
“Correct, as Officer Khrussk said, better safe than sorry. Here is your room Miss Nioni” Kzanti handed over a card and gestured to a door with a number Gabriel could not identify. He almost followed Madeline in just by habit but caught himself.
She turned in the door and smiled at him. “Goodnight Gabriel, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight Miss Nioni,” He said back and bowed respectfully.
She huffed and her fur ridge stood up. Then she rolled her eyes smiling and closed the door. Kzanti had walked over to the opposite side of the corridor. “This room is yours” She handed over a card.
“Thank you, Captain, I suppose I will see you tomorrow as well.”
“Most likely” Kzanti bowed her head quickly before turning and heading towards the elevator. Gabriel shut the door and inspected the room. A small combined kitchen and living room with an alcove to a separate bedroom with a double bed and a open door to a bathroom. The toilet looked a bit strange but he felt relatively sure he could make it work. He felt tired, stressing about the Igris and then being interrogated had taken a lot of energy out of him. He just managed to struggle out of his coverall before collapsing on the bed, it was a bit too soft but not uncomfortable. Most Xenos probably weighed less than him so he guessed softer beds made sense he thought sleepily.
Gabriel tossed and turned in the bed for several hours. He was quite comfortable but sleep escaped him, and he had no idea why. His scattergun wound was not hurting anymore, well just a little. He was not overly hungry or thirsty. But it just felt like something was wrong, or missing. He signed and decided to learn to read station standard so he could at least buy a book to read or something.
When he finally fell asleep it was almost morning and he woke up to his PCU playing a monotone tune. He sat up groaning and grabbed it, pressing everything he found until it quieted. Apparently, an alarm had been set, although he didn’t know what time it was he hoped he had time for a shower. The shower turned out to function like he expected, although the water was not hot enough for his liking, but that he would have to live with. He had just dressed in the coverall when someone knocked on the door.
He opened it and Madeline stood on the other side, also looking tired. “We are getting picked up in half an hour, let’s get breakfast”
Gabriel yawned and nodded, “Did you also have trouble sleeping?”
“Yeah, I usually sleep worse in new beds. But not this bad, maybe I am still stressing out over everything that happened.” She said and shrugged.
“Hm, yeah I might be as well” They both managed a quick breakfast before jumping into the car and heading back to the station. “Do you know anywhere I can learn to read?” Gabriel asked as they walked in through the doors. Madeline was about to answer but Khrussk appeared and quickly ushered them into a room. “What’s going on?” Gabriel asked as the door closed.
“We have important news” The Yavishian looked agitated but gestured for them to sit. “The Igris met up with another group in space where they bought you. A large mining ship turned into a hangar from what they have been telling me.”
“Do you know where? and how long ago?” Gabriel interrupted.
Khrussk held up all four hands. “A week or so before you woke up, we don’t know where right now, but that’s not the important part, the ship was not likely close to human space.” Gabriel was about to press but closed his mouth and nodded. “You were not the only human on the ship,” Khrussk continued.
“What!?” Both Gabriel and Madeline said at the same time.
“The Igris who bought you said two humans were for sale, from the same family” Khrussk continued with a grim expression. “A female human with your coloration and hair color”
Gabriel felt stunned, Madeline put a hand on his arm. “That...would be my older sister Victoria...”