Imminent Danger: And How to Fly Straight Into It by Michelle Proulx Page B

and recoil. “Ow!”
    “Aorati do not like to be touched,” Doctor T told her sternly. “And yes, they are invisible. We are studying them to see if we can duplicate this effect. We have tried to obtain more specimens, but as you can imagine, it is difficult to locate invisible creatures.”
    A technician removed their binders. “Don your uniforms,” Doctor T commanded.
    Miguri quickly shucked his brown tunic, pulled on the blue garment, and strapped his lamri belt back on. But Eris hesitated. Do they really expect me to strip in front of all these people? “Do you have somewhere I could change?” she asked.
    Doctor T bobbed close to Eris as if scrutinizing her. “Larita, make a note.” The technician poised a stylus above her clipboard. “The human exhibits the same sense of propriety often seen in Psilosian and Vekrori subjects.”
    “You’re all complete strangers!” Eris protested. “You want me to strip in front of you and are surprised that I object?”
    “I have experiments to conduct. Do not waste any more of my time.”
    “But I don’t even know why I’m here!” Eris exploded.
    Doctor T wobbled closer to her. “Do you not know? Fascinating. According to Tetrarchy records, a Rakorsian task force landed on your planet approximately ten thousand years ago. The team was recalled to Rakor, but several members reportedly became intrigued with the natives and chose to remain on the planet. We believe they intermingled with the terrestrial population.”
    Eris gaped at the Triila. “You mean some humans have Rakorsian ancestors?”
    “Correct.”
    Eris tried to wrap her head around the idea that humanity—or some of it, at least—was distantly related to the duplicitous, back-stabbing Rakorsians. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but from what I’ve seen of Rakorsians, we humans are nothing like them.”
    “Except for your high genetic similarities, your tendency toward confrontation and battle, and your self-righteous attitude? And the fact that I myself have viewed a number of video records proving Rakorsians visited your planet. I could easily describe several off the top of my luminous sphere, but I shall not waste my time doing so.”
    Eris scowled. “Well, I don’t think we’re related,” she mumbled.
    “Larita, make a note: the subject denies historical fact.” Turning back to Eris, Doctor T continued, “So to answer your question, terrestrial, you are here because of your genetic similarity to Rakorsians. Testing drugs on humans will be far more financially and militaristically conservative than trying to abduct Rakorsians for that purpose. Now don your clothing and follow me.”
    Eris looked at the uniform in her hands and then at Miguri. The Claktill shrugged. I guess I have to play by the rules, she thought, at least for now. Very embarrassed, she stripped off her clothing and quickly pulled on the new outfit. Larita took her clothes, and Eris watched as her favorite purple hoodie—her last tie with Earth—was whisked away.
    Now that the captives were suitably attired, Doctor T led them out of the room, down a short hall, and into another, smaller room. Looks like an examination room, Eris thought, noting the metal slab tables and the two aliens wearing green lab coats. Fear shivered up her spine. Oh, God, please don’t probe me.
    As they led her to one of the tables, she caught sight of her reflection in a round mirror mounted on a wall above the sink. With the dark circles under her eyes, stringy hair, and shapeless garment, Eris barely recognized herself. Nice look, Eris, she thought and then mocked herself with a halfhearted wolf whistle.
    Doctor T whirred toward her. “Do that again.”
    Perplexed, Eris whistled again.
    “Your sonic system is very well developed,” the Triila said. “You will be of more use to Dr. Marku. I will keep the Claktill here.”
    As Eris was dragged from the room, she saw Miguri squirming helplessly as the two technicians strapped him to a table.