Shoot for Earth: MedSci Missions 3

A sparkling speck on screen expanded into a sphere of green and orange bands blended with gold patches. Two moons glowing with faint gold, and a swirling nebula of blues and reds completed the human’s first ever look at this mesmerising starscape.

The Ambassador had agreed to let Captain Walsh pilot her, the ten living lisers, Cultural Analyst Dr. Dana Walsh, Linguist Dr. Blake Panther, and two S6 officers, Gamma Three and Gamma Four, down to the planet. As soon as they touched down softly near Hach’s house, the lisers hurried to disembark.

Hach breathed in deeply, and Gish raised his hands to the sky. Croz stood quietly with dazed eyes for a moment. All three turned a euphoric cyan that faded gently to a happy pale blue as they stood.

“We’re actually back home,” Croz said.

“Thankyou!” Gish said.

“Indeed!” Hach said.

The lisers who had woken after the other three were a little wobbly, and with a final thanks, dispersed to get home or to the nearest med center. To the others, Hach said, “Follow me, we’ll go inside. Are

 you coming, Gish? Croz?” They indicated yes.

There was a neat row of asymmetric houses in front of them. Dana nodded, commenting to Karen, “Irregular shapes would look natural and pleasing to the lisers.” The buildings appeared to be formed out of cob, but when Dana reached out to touch the surface, she found it was rock hard. She recorded everything, photographing the architecture and colourful boxed plantings from all angles.

Gamma Three sixer stayed outside near the door, and Four followed them in and stood just inside. There was a beautiful marbled rock floor, and textured white walls with integrated portraits. The proud poses and grand backgrounds looked incongruous to O’Bien with the ugly, crooked subjects, but she reminded herself it was a matter of personal taste and lack of familiarity with the beings. Dana was continuing to make copious records inside, with permission. The next thing that struck Karen was the view out the window. A gently frothing stream wended through backyards. Everyone had easy access to it, and the reason why was clear. They usually ate while standing in the stream! It made so much sense. There was a row of lisers doing it now, standing or sitting on stools in a row and chatting while eating off tables rising out of the water.

Hach was busy clearing objects off a table. Cooking utensils, electronics, and what looked like crafts or maybe decorative plant arrangement materials.

“You will stay for dinner?” Hach asked.

A shock of dread shot through the Ambassador. She could hardly refuse, though. “Yes, please. I’m excited to try eating in your stream.” No way was she eating inside at the table, if she could help it. Not with people who pooed through their pores.

“Oh, really, it’s fine to eat at the table as you’re used to. I have good suits in my closet for when no stream is available.”

“No! You’re the host, so it’s our turn to eat as you usually do. I insist.”

“All right. It will take about twenty minutes to prepare. Using a list of foods safe for humans of course.”

“Great. That should be enough time to contact a Spitter at the Astronomy center as you suggested. How do I use your directory?”

“Gish or Croz can show you,” he said.

“Will they be able to tell I’m calling from a—Smoothy location?”

“Yes, but they’re sensible scientists. They’ll get over it. It’s not like we don’t ever collaborate. We just don’t like to be in the same room as each other. They refuse to eat with us!”

“Oh!” Karen said, glad she’d agreed to stay. Hach was going through a heap of insects, pulling off legs. The Ambassador turned away and got busy with Croz to contact the Spitter scientists, but Dana watched with interest and recorded. After a few minutes the cultural analyst asked if she could help, and Hach was delighted to let her.