If you didn't catch Monday's feature, check it out. I'm here to tempt you with a tidbit of the story text, and if you haven't already twigged to the fact that there's more to this story by the 1 in the title... there is! Nothing I like better than knowing I can start a story and keep going if I enjoy it. So what are you waiting for?

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"This will only take half an hour, if you fully cooperate, that is," he said.

"What do you want me to do?" Jeff asked.

"Sit down here and answer my questions," Geldor replied.

"I see that communication is not a problem," Lest said. "I’ll be back in time, Jeff. Just do what Geldor wants you to do. He will also upload your language to the Alliance database. Once you have your implant, you can directly connect with the database and further refine the data."

He turned to Geldor. "Make him Daglon," he said.

Jeff looked at Lest in surprise, but the captain just gave him an encouraging nod and then left the room. Jeff turned his eyes to the alien.

"Are you new to the space community or just in need of an identity change?" Geldor asked.

"I’m a newbie," Jeff replied.

"This makes it a lot easier. I need not find and delete your traces in the system. Wait a minute," Geldor said. He eyed Jeff curiously, then turned back to his console. "Daglon, he said. Okay. I’ll ask you questions and you will reply please, preferably a one word reply only."

"All right," Jeff said, shifting in his chair and wondering what exactly the alien was going to do.

Geldor started his inquiry. He wanted to know Jeff’s name, age, gender and asked at least twenty more questions. Jeff replied truthfully. Finally, Geldor looked up and smirked.

"I’ve created a whole new identity for you," he said. "Now wait a minute. I’ll have the chip produced."

There was a beep. Geldor disappeared under his desk, but reappeared a second later with a tiny chip in his hand.

"Your index finger, please," he said.

Jeff reached out his hand. Geldor took an instrument that looked like a vaccination gun. He put the chip into the gun and shot the chip under Jeff’s skin. It was done in a second and didn’t hurt.

"Let’s test it," Geldor said. He motioned to a desk with several devices. "These are common control devices. Put your index finger on the spots that are marked red. One device after the other, please."

Jeff did what Geldor had told him.

"Everything’s fine," Geldor said. "You should get in and out of most spaceports without any difficulties. Just remember your replies. Someone might want to hear them again."

The door opened and Lest entered.

"We’re done," Geldor said. "Do you want to transfer the credits, Captain Lest?"

"I think I must," Lest replied. "Many thanks, Geldor."

Geldor handed a small box to him, a payment device. Lest looked at the display and raised an eyebrow at the price.

"I must go with the market," Geldor said with a shrug.

Lest pressed the button. Geldor seized the box and handed Lest the device with the language data. He nodded at them, turned back to his console and leaned forward until his forehead touched the screen. Lest motioned to Jeff to follow him. They left the room.

"Thank you, Captain Lest," Jeff said. "I feel I’m obliged to you."

Lest made a dismissive gesture with his hand. "Don’t bother. Just don’t cut off your index finger," he said. "Once you need to get rid of your former identity, visit someone like Geldor. Or help yourself. There are ways to re-program the chip."

"Do you speak from experience?" Jeff asked.

Lest cast him a glance. "The space business can be hard at times. I’ll tell you more some other day. I’ll take you to the medical center now. I have everything arranged already. I’ll come back and get you the day after tomorrow. I hope I will have made a profitable deal by then. If everything works out well, we’ll be back in space in two days."

"I had hoped to see more of this alien world," Jeff said.

"This is not a good place to begin with," Lest said. "Trust me, there are more beautiful places in space. Unfortunately, I need to visit places like Cyrus. It’s one big complex. The medical center is on the sixth floor. We need to take the elevator."

The corridors were long, the air stale and smelly. People hurried up and down the hallways. Jeff didn’t have the time to take a closer look at the aliens, because Lest walked fast and Jeff needed to hurry after him. They finally arrived on the sixth floor. Lest opened a door and they entered the medical center. Lest went to the reception. A young woman with long red hair and full red lips welcomed them.

"This is Cari. She’s a trained nurse," Lest said. "I’ve told her that your language was uploaded earlier, so communication should not be a problem. Just follow her to the waiting room." Lest patted Jeff’s shoulder. "I’ll be back in two days. Everything will work out well. Good luck, Jeff," he said.

 

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