“I would love to hear more about your healing methods.”
“My knowledge of them is very basic. However, Beta can show and explain them to you.”
“Who’s Beta?” Ouellet asked.
“Our ship’s AI system. Beta 690. It can also provide whatever information you seek about our kind.”
“That would be very welcome and helpful, but if you don’t mind, given I was trained to be hands-on, could I conduct my own examination?” Ouellet almost sounded shy.
“Of course. I am ready to assist in any way necessary. Simply advise me as to what you require of me.”
“To start, I’d like to take some images and measurements.”
He held out his arms, and Ouellet uttered a small laugh. “Not here. In my office. If you would follow me.”
“Lead the way.” Cade swept an arm, and the doctor blushed as she got a dose of his blue charm.
As they exited the cell, the four soldiers that Ouellet had called over had their weapons out. Tranquilizer guns for two of them, which proved kind of reassuring. At least they didn’t seem to want Cade dead.
Ouellet walked briskly, tossing questions over her shoulder at Cade.
“How old are you?”
“Beta warned that is a common Earth question and thus calculated it using your planetary rotation at forty-seven.”
Which put him at two years younger than Colette.
“Are you half human?”
“No. I am full Xamian.”
“Which is the name of your people?”
“Yes. Xamian of the planet Xaanda.”
“Which is far from here?”
“Farther than your people are yet able to travel, but, for us, a journey of only about ten Earth days,” Cade replied without hesitation, and Colette listened with interest.
“And are you indictive of your race?”
“In what sense?” he asked as Ouellet led them through a door into a medical lab, the doctor’s version of an office.
“You’re very tall and, judging by your muscle tone, fit.”
“I am average height for my kind. As for my fitness, all active-duty warriors are expected to maintain peak physical condition.”
“Warriors, as in, fighters.”
“When necessary.”
The doctor grabbed her tablet from a stainless-steel counter and began tapping furiously while still firing off questions. “Who do you fight?”
“Threats to our planet. Our services can also be hired.”
Ouellet paused. “Hired to do what?”
“Sometimes a planet will encounter a situation they cannot handle on their own. Or an invading armada will try to take over.” He shrugged. “We provide support to those who can afford it.”
