Malparadiso Station 3.17
Episode 38: Close Encounter - Next to Last Episode
Episode 38: Close Encounter
The ride to the ship seemed much longer than Yroi remembered, but she noticed how busy the steward was, answering questions, getting refreshments, and tending to travelers.
Tourists, she thought, were always tired, especially on their way home. She didn’t know how she felt, now that her dream was coming true. It had taken her a lot of work to be able just to stand under the air dome with the airless stars above her head, waiting to suck the air from her lungs if the dome were to break.
*What would sunlight be like? Water everywhere? Would there be inside places when the open air was too much? What would it be like to have no other kleckovans, no one she knew?
She took Myril’s arm. “Are you excited to be going home?”
He patted her hand. “We are going to a new planet, one I’ve never seen before, but I’ve heard of it. It will be fine, and your boss recommended me for a job.”
She sighed. At least they would be alone together.
When they finally reached the terminal, they passed through the Identifier without problems or second glances. They made their way to the gate, as it was nearing time to board when an alarm blared.
“Yroi Ozazal and Myril Jawk report to the Guard station at Gate 2.”
Neither of them moved, as their IDs had different names, keyed to their digit prints and eye scans. Guards started moving among the passengers, scanning their IDs and making pictures of their faces.
On a screen that usually blared adverts and social news, two faces appeared, a kleckovan female and a human male.
Neither Yroi nor Myril wore a disguise other than their documents, but the faces did not match. Yroi looked more like Granny, and Myril was much older. The Guard checked their IDs anyway, giving Yroi a hard look.
“I’ve seen you before,” the Guard said. “You were questioned.”
Yroi stood up to her full height. “I think not.” She glared at the Guard. “Do you think we all look alike?”
The Guard took a step back, not being used to a kleckovan with a glare.
Myril stood up too. He used his chef voice, not loud but with the timbre of command. “Does the Guard generally harass travelers? Leave my companion alone and do your job.”
The drama caught the attention of the other waiting passengers, as well as the steward at the gate.
“Is there a problem here?” the steward said, rushing to keep things under control.
“Have you verified these two?”
“Of course,” She consulted her passenger list. “This is Willae Kea, and that is Kirby Mayo, headed to Enyitham.” She showed the Guard the confirmation of their faces and their digit prints on her comm. “We don’t want any trouble, here, Sentient, just a pleasant journey for all."
The Guard studied the comm, comparing the image he had just taken with the information his com. He shook his head, frowning. But there were other gates to check, and other tasks to do.
“My mistake, Sentient,” the Guard said, his face blank to hide emotion. He walked away with several glances over his shoulder.
While the announcement continued to blare, with only short breaks for arrival and departure times, the steward started the boarding process.
She shepherded the passengers up the ramp and into their compartments.
“I do apologize for the disturbance,” she told Yroi/Willae as they entered their tiny cabin. “I don’t think we have ever had a kleckovan passenger before.”
“It may become a popular thing,” Yroi said. “Why shouldn’t we travel?”