TREATMENT
1529 4D
The attending doctor scribbled furiously on her datasheet. This body was just draining away, as if someone had hit it with a toxgun blast, but there was no wound. What could have done this?
The andro nursing attendant at the alien‘s bedside looked across the body at her and said, “I wish to speak to this world’s governmental officials.”
“Do you have a headache?” the doctor asked. On top of everything else, another failed andro — that would be the third in the last ten days. These bioandroids were as bad as the last batch the hospital had bought. She pressed a call button on the medical datasheet in her hand.
“No. I wish to speak to this world’s governmental officials.”
Two guards arrived. The doctor said, “This is a probable andro upgrade virus failure. Please stat him and take him to Disposal.” One guard tried to shoot the andro with an immobilizer.
“Don’t do that. I am not one of your servants.”
The doctor froze, held up a hand to stop the guard. “Who are you, then?”
“Please examine my throat.”
Maybe a synthesized assassin, a biopuppet. Best be careful. The doctor looked in the andro‘s throat with a long scope. An unusual adenoidal glow made her bend closer, remove the scope and look in.
A large iridescent splatter of liquid erupted from the andro‘s mouth into her face. A warm syrup blocked the doctor’s nose and mouth; blinded by the spray, she jerked backward, gulping, spitting, swallowing. The guards leaped forward, clubbed; the andro collapsed on the stone floor.
A voice spoke inside the doctor’s head, in a feminine tone. Am I not making myself clear? I wish to speak to this world’s governmental officials, and I will do so. Before the doctor could act or speak, a will other than her own gripped her body. She watched as the guards dragged the limp andro away.
Helpless, she felt her body taking tottering steps out of the room.
“Doctor, are you all right?” A hospital aide came up beside her.
Her body kept walking. Her mouth said, “Where is the nearest military office?”
“It’s outside, right, three streets. Are you all right, Doctor? Do you need help?”
Her voice said, “I’m fine.” Little by little, whatever controlled her movements seemed to gain skill; her pace quickened.
At the regional militia office, the proper officials were summoned. The doctor heard her own voice say, “We have come here to trade currency metals and vital chemicals to you in return for certain ores available on this planet. The meeting must be private. Will you arrange the necessary formalities?”
“Can you show us evidence that you are not the human being we see here?”
“Wait a moment.” The doctor’s arm rose and her fingers moved, in some signal she didn’t recognize. A shining green door appeared in the wall of the office, replacing the sensi screen that hung there. The doctor reached up to the door, opened it, reached in, and withdrew a blue gem shimmering like a dark sea imprisoned in a small egg. “This is an anth stone,” the doctor’s voice said. “It cannot exist normally in your world.” In full view of everyone, the stone sank into the doctor’s palm and disappeared.
The officials stared.
“Is that sufficient evidence for now?”
“Yes,” the officials replied, goggling at her. “Meet us here tomorrow at the sunrise time. We will take you to the meeting room.”
“Done.”
“Uh… the body you are using? Will you…?”
“We will take good care of the body for you.” The doctor felt her head nod. She left the militia office, and walked to the newly-made corridor in the understreet wall. Whatever was controlling her turned to look back; the doctor watched in curiosity as the corridor itself disappeared behind her.
It was the last thing she ever saw.
