"Excuse the interruption. Miss Kaya?" He frowns at me, not sure if I'm the one he's looking for.
"Ah, yes?" Right, that's my new name now. At least for the time being.
Luckily Nalea takes over from me. "She's Kaya, daughter of Funami. Was her record added to the Hierarchy database?"
"Yes, First Healer. May I inject her ID?"
"Inject?!" I stand up and take a few steps back from the guy, since I have had some bad experiences with injections recently.
Nalea however motions me to return. "Kaya, this won't hurt. It's a single inert nanite. Everyone gets one."
"Oh....okay."
He smiles as if I'm clueless, which I actually really am. He carefully puts a pen-like device near my neck, and then says "all done, miss. Welcome back."
Wow, that really didn't hurt at all!' Ah...ehank you, sir."
He gives me a warm smile, something humans wouldn't do around strangers, and even winks once. "Have a nice day. If you will excuse me." He simply walks away and leaves me standing there, completely fbbergasted about the casual injection of an ID nanite into my body. These people are truly aliens.
I sit down again and take a moment to process what had just happened.
Oh...I just realized the mistake I made this morning when I talked to that soldier in the Jeep. He wanted to see my ID, but he of course wanted to scan it. So when I reached for it in my pocket.....I was unknowingly showing suspicious behavior. Well, let's not dwell on the past.
"He seemed to like you, Kaya." Nalea said with a smile and a teasing voice.
Yes, the perfect recipe to make me cough."
"Aww....to be young again. Anyway, he probably thought that you were returning from a mission like the other 4 who were cloned. That's why he said 'welcome back'."
"Ahh...okay, that makes sense....I guess. Um...how did he even know where to find me?"
"I put our location in the request form. Don't you remember? When we discussed your name?"
"Yes, of course. Okay, good to know that you don't use magic."
"Ha ha ha....no, we don't. He could have scanned for any unregistered Lantosians, but this was faster."
"Sooo.....Ben? Can I please call my parents?"
"Soon, I promise, but not yet. I think we have finished bombarding you with information for now and you should take some time to process things first. Just remember...don't share any of this with the outside world...or else. Don't give me that look! Nobody is going to kill you! I'll be there when we call them, okay?"
"Okay...." I think I've had it for today already. Man, where did that massive headache come from?
"Are you okay, dear?" Nalea asked.
"Yeah...just a headache."
"I know it's normal for humans, but not for us. Better follow me to the medical bay. It might be the coffee you tasted."
"Em...okay. Wait, one more thing. When the drone talked to me yesterday, it sounded like.. I dunno...Nordic? Did your ancestors nd in Norway perhaps?"
"Nor...way? Not that I know of? But I will pass it along to our scientists. These tiny bits of information might reveal interesting facts one day. Or maybe not." She shrugged.
"Can you disable your transtor for a moment?" Ben asked. "It's a good observation, and I never realized it. You Lantosians mostly use the transtor, so I never really took the time to study your nguage. Like you, we love these bits of information."
She smiles and then pushes a button on her watch. "You mean like this, Ben? I'm just talking so you can hear my nguage. Kaya should learn it soon as well, now she's one of us. A pity you can't understand me now, dear." She then pushes the button again. "Was that enough?"
I blinked a few times. "Eh, Nalea,.....you didn't disable the transtor at all! I could understand each and every word you spoke. It was pin English, right, Ben?"
Now it was Ben's turn to blink. "Eh....no, that definitely wasn't English. And more importantly, it really did sound familiar. Not Norwegian...but...like a mix of a few nguages. It might be interesting to see if a few words match. So tell me....since when do you understand their nguage, Kaya?"
Again that headache. I massaged my forehead for a moment. "I have no freakin' idea! It started this morning when I suddenly was able to read those squiggly lines. So...she really spoke....Lantosian just now?"
"Sure did, sport."
"This is sooooo not my day." I massaged my forehead again....but it's not helping.
"Dear, you better come with me now. It seems your headache is getting worse."
The moment I stood up, ready to follow Nalea, I felt dizzy...like really dizzy."Yeah....oh my god.....I'm dizzy."
Nalea puts her arm around my back and supports me while walking towards the cafeteria's exit... but I didn't get very far. Believe it or not....my legs suddenly stop supporting my body..making me fall down.
No matter how many times I try to stand up, accepting Ben's hand...my legs simply gave up on walking completely. People are looking at me, some standing up, probably ready to rush over to assist.
"This is bad...." Nalea said.
As dizzy as I am, I still saw her push a button on her watch. "This is First Healer Nalea. We have a Kantar Five code in the restaurant! South Building, block A, top floor."
I couldn't understand the rest as the sound of an arm distracted me. A few moments ter I lost consciousness.
[ Next morning ]
When I slowly open my eyelids, I quickly realize that I'm in yet another unfamiliar pce. This time I find myself lying on a table with a soft white pstic mattress. Bright lights are shining in my face, so it's easy to understand that I'm lying in a medical examination room.
When I want to sit up, Nalea pushes me back down while smiling."Welcome back, Kaya. Lie down for a moment. Did you sleep well?"
"Sleep? How long was I out?"
"You spent the night in the medical bay, recovering from yesterday's events. It's still very early in the day, the sun hasn't risen yet."
She smiles, but I can tell that something is wrong, very wrong. "My legs!....I can't move them!"
"I know, dear. Take a moment to rex, your heart rate is too high, you might faint."
"Yes, mom." Oops.....she reminded me of my mother for a second.I must have hurt her feelings, since her smile vanished. "Sorry...Nalea. I didn't mean it like that."
She looked really sad and then rubbed my cheek against hers out of the blue. Man, this takes some time getting used to. This time I remembered that returning the favor is appreciated, so I did the same. Her smile returned instantly!
"It's alright....I was worried about you. Ah, you can sit up now....slowly....just don't try to walk, that won't work now."
I sit up and sure enough...my legs won't work at all......lifeless...as if they were fake. I hope that Ben will return soon, because I don't think that he finished expining things to me.
Nalea then says "someone injected a batch of medical nanites after your cloning process had completed, to deal with exactly this sort of issues, but unfortunately that didn't work as expected. Tell me, did you strain your leg muscles?"
"Eh...I think so, yes? I was in a hurry to leave this morning. Ah, yesterday morning, I meant."
"Aaaah, yes, of course. Well... you should realize that those muscles have never been used before, so they need time to develop a bit more. Now they need some more time to heal.You're not the first to deal with this issue, but the nanites should have prevented it from happening."
She walks over to a wide wall mounted computer screen and studies it for a few minutes. The dispy shows a 3D image of my muscles. At least, I assume that those are mine, who knows how I look on the inside? Another doctor is present in the room, but she seems preoccupied with other screens.
While still studying the screen, Nalea expins what must have happened."Ahhh....the nanites didn't not repair your muscles but...your brain? How strange...ah....I see now. Your Isotara levels in your brain were a bit high, which expins the headache. It's a common issue among my people, usually due to ck of sleep, and it often disappears after an hour of rest.
But for your nanites to focus on that first instead of following the initial orders, which were to prepare your muscles for first time use, is very odd. It probably expins your nguage learning too. They must have sensed your need to survive and adapted to assist. Mmm...this is interesting...." She tapped the screen a few times.
"So...Nalea.....am I okay now?"
"Yes, other than your legs, you're in perfect health. I already injected new nanites into your legs, so give them a few days and you'll be walking again. Don't worry, we'll keep you safe and healthy. Are you feeling better now? No longer dizzy?"
"Um...I'm fine...I guess."
"Good, very good indeed." She then whispered something into my ears. "Kaya, listen carefully. This is very important. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Yeah...what's wrong?" I whispered as well.
"You're fine, but your DNA, as you humans call it, almost perfectly matches that of a partially preserved body, which is currently on dispy in the Lantosian Museum of Antiquity."
"Greeeeat, so I'm a relic now too?"
"No, of course not. It's just......something's going on and we need time to investigate. Your cloning accident might not have been an accident at all. You're basically the daughter of whoever is on dispy in the museum. Such a complicated procedure simply doesn't happen by accident."
"Wow, things sure keep getting better, don't they?"
"This is a serious matter, Kaya!"
"I know..." I took a deep breath. "Trust me, I'm serious. Tell me more. So your people had white hair back then? Or is this a result of inept cloning methods?"
"It's...complicated. Until a few centuries ago, our society was divided into two groups. Your body belongs to one group, while my ancestors belonged to another group...but that can wait for another day. Again, don't share this with anyone.
I don't know why they cloned you, but it's already pretty obvious that those who are responsible for your cloning accident, didn't want to leave without you. I'm not supposed to make assumptions while the investigations are still ongoing....but I have to. Whoever they may be, they will very likely be coming back for you. The video recordings are all the proof you need. I simply had to inform you. Ben is arranging some sort of extra security for you, but please stay safe, Kaya."
"Of course. Wait....there's more, right?"
"Yes...I'm sorry. If someone asks, tell them that you have a difficult to pronounce medical condition and let them contact me. Don't tell anyone that you were cloned, because only very few people know that we possess the technology. Don't tell anyone. Not only is discussing cloning technology forbidden, revealing anything about that or that you have a Taleena body will immediately put you in danger."
"Taleena?"
She closed her eyelids for a moment. "I have said too much already. Don't talk about it."
I nodded when she kept staring into my eyes. "Yes, Nalea. I will be careful."
"Good girl." She rubbed my cheeks yet again, and I reciprocated while hugging her.
It's strange, but I think I can trust her. She's really nice and truly seems to care for me.
Her eyes look a bit moist when she replies "...sorry, you just gave me a most wonderful gift....you may not even be aware...but it was received with gratitude. So... why don't you go explore the pce a bit? It may take a while before the Hierarchy decides your fate. And I assume that the humans will want to think about your situation as well."
"Sure, I can do that. But where do I stay? Do you want me to sleep here?" I look around, but this pce is hardly a hotel.
"No, we're preparing quarters for you. While you were sleeping, the people in charge decided that you should be compensated for saving four of our people. I'm told that it's quite the luxurious pce. You'll see."
"That sounds nice. So.....how am I supposed to go anywhere when I can't walk?" I pointed at my legs.
"With this contraption. It's called a wheeled chair, I believe?" She pushes a regur wheelchair my way. It's one without an electric motor, so I quickly realize that my arm muscles will be sore as well.
"A wheelchair, yes. Don't tell me that Lantosians also use those?"
"No, we have human patients here too, but I have to admit that it proved useful for my people as well. Ah, and Ben said that he'll keep in touch. He made me promise to tell you that he would file an official compint with the Hierarchy for harming a human."
"Wow....he actually said that?" Maybe there's still hope for me. Ben's definitely a human when he does that.
"He did. But for now you should focus on your health and take some time to recover. Will you be fine?"
"Yes, Nalea. But where should I go first? Actually....I'd rather eat first and then rest."
"I'll tell you in a moment. I'm sorry, but I almost forgot to tell you that your counselor will arrive in a few days, onboard a transport ship from the homeworld.
If I'm not mistaken, the counselor is a woman, and the idea is that she'll help you process these recent events.
She's probably waking from suspended animation about now. Trust me, it takes a while before you are properly awake after a 6 month journey in stasis, all the way from the homeworld. For now please try to spend most of your time in your quarters to stay safe. In a few days you and your counselor can go anywhere you wish, knowing that Ben's teams will keep you safe."
"Okay...good to know."
"And back to your question regarding where to go right now, I recommend that you visit the nearby entertainment district. Your quarters should be avaible in a few hours at most, so you can rest as long as you want to."
"Okay...sounds...entertaining." I grinned. "So....will I see you again soon?"
"Of course, we still need to monitor your legs. Oh, wait." She helps me take a seat in the wheelchair and then pushes me forward towards the medical bay's exit.
"So...I'm not expected to do anything but rex for a while, right?" Just checking.
"Exactly. You have no duties whatsoever, except to get well. You are basically free to do what you wish, but if you are able, please try and help us. People may ask to help them so don't look surprised if they offer you a job. We're desperately understaffed and humans can't do all the work...so....just think about it."
"A job? Me? Here?"
"Of course, why not? Whatever you can do is appreciated. Even if it's a small thing, because it's the Lantosian way. In return we'll take excellent care of you."
"Okay, then I'll follow your advice and visit the entertainment district for a few hours, I guess."
"Very good. You must be quite hungry right now, so why don't you visit a restaurant there? Food and drinks are free of charge and you may sit wherever you want. Just watch the other people there and you'll quickly get the hang of our customs and such. If you're unsure what's appropriate or what might cost you credits, simply ask. If you get lost, ask for me. But all will be fine, I promise. So....especially after all that has happened to you...try to have some fun, and more importantly....rex."
"Alright...thank you, doctor."
Her smile reappeared."It's Healer actually, but it's okay. You'll get the hang of our nguage soon enough. Did you realize that we were speaking Lantosian all this time?"
"Oh my god...seriously? I hadn't even noticed!"
"Ha ha ha...yes, ever since you woke up. Now go and have some fun. That's an order!"
"Yes, ma'am!" I saluted, Earth-style, which made her smile.
"We salute like this, Kaya." She touched her forehead with her right hand's index finger and middle finger together, then waved it to her right. A very interesting gesture to see. "But civilians don't need to salute."
When I copied her gesture, she said "well done," winked and then simply walked away.
After this rather interesting conversation, I learned that using a wheelchair with newly cloned arm muscles was a burden. I had to ask for directions multiple times, but in the end it was simple to find the entertainment district. It actually only involved going across the walkway to the next building.
I hope they'll hurry up with my quarters, because I don't know how much longer I can keep my emotions in check. I'm about to burst...explode...scream...crash. It's a real miracle that it hasn't happened yet. But I know for a fact that I will crash....and the clock is ticking.