your first visit to Ryda?”
“Well, I did visit here with my parents when I was twelve.” Thank God she was able to drop that line now. Though the Rydian government had methodically destroyed every database it knew of before the surrender, Eve was worried a spare DNA sample might still be around, not to mention ocular or finger prints. Now it was at least possible such a find could be explained by her fictitious trip.
“I see.”
“You know, before...” Awkwardly pausing, she allowed herself to appear a bit flustered.
“Ah, yes. Before.” Languidly staring up at her, the lieutenant seemed quite unmoved by the long line of people, shifting from one foot to the other, waiting behind Eve. “Well, things are different now, so give me a moment to explain. We wouldn’t want you to get in trouble here, now would we?”
“Oh, no.” Nervously, Eve leaned forward, intent on his every word.
“Good.” The lieutenant became more serious. “As you’re apparently aware, Ryda now enjoys the protection of Gandian Coalition. However, there are criminals, opportunists, who seek to oppose Ryda’s rightful authorities for their own gain.” A dismissive wave of the hand.
“I see.” Rightful authorities indeed! Carefully suppressing her own anger, Eve remained focused on the weasel-faced Gandian storm trooper.
“These undesirables often seek to use outsiders as pawns in their own perverted schemes,” he continued. “So be very wary of strangers who ask for favors, such as delivering a package somewhere, or taking a message back to Kentara. Often they may invite you to meetings, where you would then be subjected to their neurotic rants. In short, these people seek to abuse your good will in order to involve you in their own treasonous behavior.”
“That’s awful!” Eve replied. “I’m not interested in any of that.”
“Good.” The weasel eyes grew narrow. “Because you’re exactly the sort of person they would wish to compromise in this fashion. So I encourage you to be careful.”
The lieutenant held out her documents. Just as Eve was about to take them, though, he pulled his hand back.
“Keep in mind, Ms. Duprie, the Gandian legal system takes a very dim view of such matters. These people are murderers and saboteurs. If you should be caught assisting them in any way, whether knowingly or otherwise, it should go very hard on you.”
Eve solemnly nodded. “I understand.”
“I hope that you do. Keep in mind that all visitors are required to check in with Border and Immigration Control on a weekly basis. If you fail to do so, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.” Now giving her the passport and other papers, the lieutenant nodded curtly. “Enjoy your stay.”
Immediately past the interview official were two more uniformed storm troopers. One held a thick black wand. They methodically scanned her from head to toe, making a particular point of pressing the sensor against every sensitive part of her body. At this point it was within character to show some indignation, especially when the leering male storm trooper made a great show of snatching and examining her jewelry, letting his hands linger far too long as he roughly unclasped her necklace.
After that, a white-coated lab technician took samples of her DNA and ocular prints, along with fresh photographs. Though nerve racking, Eve managed to appear chipper as the information was entered into a small computer, and then cross-referenced, she was sure, with the Vextar, the Gandian secret police. Whatever the result, however, the technician seemed unconcerned.
Thus, it was with sweet relief that she strode past the final checkpoint into the space station proper. The outer ring was crowded with merchants, hawking everything the freshly arrived traveler could want. It was an odd scene, with everyone doing their best to ignore the bored pairs of Gandian troops slowly walking about, rifles casually slung over the shoulder. As a curious student, Eve
“Well, I did visit here with my parents when I was twelve.” Thank God she was able to drop that line now. Though the Rydian government had methodically destroyed every database it knew of before the surrender, Eve was worried a spare DNA sample might still be around, not to mention ocular or finger prints. Now it was at least possible such a find could be explained by her fictitious trip.
“I see.”
“You know, before...” Awkwardly pausing, she allowed herself to appear a bit flustered.
“Ah, yes. Before.” Languidly staring up at her, the lieutenant seemed quite unmoved by the long line of people, shifting from one foot to the other, waiting behind Eve. “Well, things are different now, so give me a moment to explain. We wouldn’t want you to get in trouble here, now would we?”
“Oh, no.” Nervously, Eve leaned forward, intent on his every word.
“Good.” The lieutenant became more serious. “As you’re apparently aware, Ryda now enjoys the protection of Gandian Coalition. However, there are criminals, opportunists, who seek to oppose Ryda’s rightful authorities for their own gain.” A dismissive wave of the hand.
“I see.” Rightful authorities indeed! Carefully suppressing her own anger, Eve remained focused on the weasel-faced Gandian storm trooper.
“These undesirables often seek to use outsiders as pawns in their own perverted schemes,” he continued. “So be very wary of strangers who ask for favors, such as delivering a package somewhere, or taking a message back to Kentara. Often they may invite you to meetings, where you would then be subjected to their neurotic rants. In short, these people seek to abuse your good will in order to involve you in their own treasonous behavior.”
“That’s awful!” Eve replied. “I’m not interested in any of that.”
“Good.” The weasel eyes grew narrow. “Because you’re exactly the sort of person they would wish to compromise in this fashion. So I encourage you to be careful.”
The lieutenant held out her documents. Just as Eve was about to take them, though, he pulled his hand back.
“Keep in mind, Ms. Duprie, the Gandian legal system takes a very dim view of such matters. These people are murderers and saboteurs. If you should be caught assisting them in any way, whether knowingly or otherwise, it should go very hard on you.”
Eve solemnly nodded. “I understand.”
“I hope that you do. Keep in mind that all visitors are required to check in with Border and Immigration Control on a weekly basis. If you fail to do so, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.” Now giving her the passport and other papers, the lieutenant nodded curtly. “Enjoy your stay.”
Immediately past the interview official were two more uniformed storm troopers. One held a thick black wand. They methodically scanned her from head to toe, making a particular point of pressing the sensor against every sensitive part of her body. At this point it was within character to show some indignation, especially when the leering male storm trooper made a great show of snatching and examining her jewelry, letting his hands linger far too long as he roughly unclasped her necklace.
After that, a white-coated lab technician took samples of her DNA and ocular prints, along with fresh photographs. Though nerve racking, Eve managed to appear chipper as the information was entered into a small computer, and then cross-referenced, she was sure, with the Vextar, the Gandian secret police. Whatever the result, however, the technician seemed unconcerned.
Thus, it was with sweet relief that she strode past the final checkpoint into the space station proper. The outer ring was crowded with merchants, hawking everything the freshly arrived traveler could want. It was an odd scene, with everyone doing their best to ignore the bored pairs of Gandian troops slowly walking about, rifles casually slung over the shoulder. As a curious student, Eve
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