have implants,” Dr. Brick reminded her. “I linked to the computer and I’m searching the medical database.” The doctor walked the samples to a machine across the room and kept her back to Darla. “I’m sure you’re going to be fine. Did the Elth give you any drugs? Do any procedures on you? I should run a full body scan.”
“They didn’t. Once I was taken from the same room you were in, I was led to the one next door, where Gnaw was being kept. They did make us eat what looked like grass in water.”
“Did you have any reactions to it? Vomiting? Fever? Hives? Anything along those lines?”
“No. It was just disgusting.”
Dr. Brick chuckled. “That’s good. I mean, not that it was bad tasting but that it didn’t make you sick in any way.”
“What I’d really like is a shower, some real food, and a good night’s sleep. The Elth kept waking Gnaw and I up every few hours.”
“They did that to us, too. I’m exhausted.” Dr. Brick was silent for a few minutes. “The scans of the swabs are completed. I’m not seeing any alien residue. They cleaned your wounds well and doused it with a super-antibiotic that kills about everything we’ve come across, before sealing them.” The doctor turned. “Now for that full body scan.”
“Do we have to do that? I’m fine. Just tired.”
“The fleet is going to want me to run full scans. Then again, it’ll prove you had sex with the Veslor if I do that. Some could twist that, believing what that idiot Barbara was saying.”
“The loudmouth?”
“Yes. God, sometimes I hate other women. She accused me of committing treason when I told the Elth their plan of making us all fuck the Veslor wouldn’t work. You know, rumor has it that she’s sleeping her way through some of the higher-ranking officers to get promotions. After spending time with her, I’m a believer. And I normally ignore rumors.”
“She was unpleasant. Especially to Gnaw.”
“I remember her outburst about him being on the shuttle, when he boarded. I wanted to deck her ignorant ass, but I don’t like to draw attention to myself unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Darla frowned. “Why?”
“I’m the alien specialist for the vessel. Let’s just say, it’s not a job that makes me too many friends on the fleet. Even the other doctors give me shit. It’s not like I picked this field. I was just best suited for it, so fleet made the call.”
“Why is that?”
“I was orphaned after an explosion, along with my sister. I was born on one of the Mars colonies under fleet authority. They have facilities to raise injured kids who need massive medical care, which included me and Anabel, since no relatives came forward to take custody. They probably didn’t want to take on the financial burden.”
She waved at her bright blue eye. “My sister and I were hurt in the explosion. The fleet fed us, educated us, and made us whole again with fancy tech only rich people can afford. The price for that is, they own us until we’re thirty-five. Then the debt is considered worked off. Anyway, they tested us, figured out what we’d be best at, and placed us into careers. I wanted to be a doctor after my parents died. There wasn’t enough medical personnel near the scene of the accident. More people would have lived if there had been. During treatment, I not only received a new eye, but some implants that help me learn faster than normal. The fleet decided I’d be an excellent A.R.S. instead of a trauma surgeon.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“Is your sister an A.R.S., too?”
Dr. Brick’s features turned taut and she turned away. “No. Fleet felt she’d be good for another line of work. We were separated on my tenth birthday, when my medical training began, and I haven’t been able to see her since. Once in a while they allow her to send me messages, though. She’s alive. That’s all I know.”
Darla was stunned. “Did you say tenth birthday?”
“Yes. The fleet doesn’t believe in wasting time.” Dr. Brick sighed again. “We owe them years of service as repayment for healing, raising, and educating us.”
“That eats dirt. No one should keep you away from your sister.”
“Welcome to fleet life. Be thankful you’re a civilian.” Dr. Brick gave her a tense smile. “Now, we should do a full body scan, since the fleet will expect it. But I can fake one.” She reached up and tapped her jaw.