Dr. Xant quickly ended the interview as the human’s translator signals bombarded his senses. Waves of Emotional Frequency flowed off the little alien, as freely and as naturally as a Galactic Council native with all the grace and subtlety of an infant. Humans, they had discovered, along with a library of other anomalies, were devoid of the organs needed to send and receive the electronic signals of their brains over distance. The Frequencies (The Physical and Vocal Zenthi Frequency and the Arvas Emotional Frequency respectively) were the primary means of communication. Without this ability, Jasmine was first thought to be nothing more than an animal at worst, and a Rajavan experiment at best. Sentients across the galaxy had this trait in one way or another and now that the human was surgically connected to a translator capable of broadcasting those Frequencies, Xant was getting a rather large pulse.

Jasmine was unaware of the impact she was making from her little outburst, wiping away residual tears of relief.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, “I was preparing for the worst case scenario, it’s nice to know my hosts are gracious ones!”

Xant’s ears quivered to the incoming pulse of relief, he raised a hand and smoothed them down.

“I can only apologise on behalf of the Esaander Corporation that we did not enact protocol sooner.” He began to close the program on his dataslate. “I shall reschedule our interview for next quarter, to give you a proper rest between each interaction-”

“Oh! I’m fine, really!” Jasmine reassured him. “It’s a little overwhelming for sure, but I’d be even more anxious having to wait!”

Xant watched her reaction curiously, her skin swollen around her face, subtly turning the fawn coloured flesh to a crimson hue. The veins in her eyes became visible, a bright and vibrant red. Any royal member of the Arvas species would gladly sacrifice a colony’s worth of contribution credit for such a genetic trait, Xant was thankful none of the employees at Esaander were that superstitious.

“Are you sure you are physically able to continue the interview?”

“Yes I’m sure!” She smiled widely, bearing her teeth as a sign of gratitude, a mannerism the human shared with the more reptilian Sulin. “It’s a natural reaction to stress, or rather the relief of it, it’s how the human body releases toxic chemicals.” She wiped away one last tear of the liquid, drying her hands on the coverings provided to her. Jasmine returned to the upright position she had been in at the beginning of their talk. “I am ready to continue Doctor.”

Xant was impressed with her eagerness, and had noticed the emotional pulses had died down to more tolerable levels.

“If you insist,” Xant replied, giving in to her proposal. “Then I believe I shall have to ask that you  explain this phenomenon in detail for me?”

He restarted the recording program.

Research Transcripts of Dr. Xant: Biology II

[These transcripts are for research purposes only, any opinions expressed therein are not wholly representative of species, governments, organisations or conglomerates mentioned. The release of these documents have been authorised by Executive Director Dr. Salhor Laandi]

[Note: I had cut the previous session short due to a strong distress signal in the Subject. She had reassured me however that the outburst would be short lived as it was a manifestation of stress. In her own words she was ‘preparing for the worst case scenario’ and was relieved by my evaluation of her intelligence class. Her emotional levels did indeed calm down and I noted she was more relaxed after the outburst, I asked her to repeat the explanation of the phenomenon]

Subject: When the human body becomes stressed there are a number of trace chemicals that build up within the body that aren't able to get filtered out through the other organs, so, crying, helps with releasing those chemicals. Sometimes it's from extreme pain, emotional strain, or simply because of dust build up. They did tests and found out there was a different chemical for each reason for crying.

Subject: Oh I also have no idea what those chemicals are specifically, I just saw this kinda cool image that showed the different chemicals after crystallization under a microscope with a description underneath.

[Long pause]

Subject: Are you alright Xant?

Dr Xant: Oh I am perfectly fine Jasmine, simply fascinated is all. The Arvas weep when emotional and the Sulin do have a similar filtration of their ocular receptors, but combining the two is a very novel concept.

[Note: I had witnessed the phenomenon before during the subject's observation whilst in the temperate enclosure. I asked the Subject at a later date to clarify which reason the crying was in response to, she replied emotional strain.]

Subject: And now it’s my turn to ask, ‘Do Zenthi cry Dr. Xant?’ (I’m such a dork.)

Dr Xant: And the answer would be that Zenthi, in fact, do not cry. We have a specialised eye lid for the cleaning of the ocular receptor, and have a vocal call for distress…

[Note: I demonstrated the second eyelid blink for the Subject, she seemed amused]

Subject: Wow, that's so cool! So you can actually speak? I’ve only heard you through the translator this entire time.

Dr Xant: Zenthi can vocalise, but it is reserved for only the cases of physical pain or discomfort. It is seen as uncultured to do so otherwise. Younglings are taught this as they mature.

Subject: Huh, I guess crying kids is a constant across the galaxy, who knew? Ha ha.

Dr Xant: That is an excellent point Jasmine, and it leads perfectly into my next query, about your reproductive organs-

Subject: Whoa there! Buy me dinner first! (<Embarrassment, Entertained>)

Dr Xant: I beg your pardon?

Subject: Sorry Xant, its a (Sex) courtship joke.

Dr Xant: I'm afraid I don't understand the context. Could you elaborate?

Subject: (Can of worms...) Alright, Xant, ummm (Giggle) A common and widely accepted courtship practice is to converse over a meal. Since taking a hopeful candidate back to your dwelling on a first meeting is considered very forward, most people agree to meet at a meal provider (restaurant). So 'buy me dinner first' is a play on the cultural norm. Xant, I am implying that you have made a faux pas (social mistake) but in a way that I understand your ignorance and am not offended. If a human male, or female for that matter, I don't know that well came up to me on our first (date) courtship and asked about my reproductive organs I would be immediately offended and discount them as a potential partner… First (date) courtship is about getting to know the person before initiating coitus… Unless both parties agree they only want coitus from each other. I'm sorry Xant, I knew you were talking about it scientifically, but it can be a little hard separating from the cultural norm.

Dr Xant: No need to apologise, I am actually far more humbled that you would consider me close enough to share a piece of humour with.

Subject: Hey, don't get emotional on me now!

Dr Xant: I will stay calm Jasmine I assure you, but we are getting off subject..

Subject: (Damn) Alright, we have ovaries, fallopian tubes, the (giggle) vaginal wall, uterus, vulva, and clitoris (the fun part). Do you need a run down of the male parts?

Dr Xant: From what I’ve gathered from the diagrams, human males are very similar to most other defined males in the galaxy, but without the ability to retract their member.

Subject: (It retracts when it’s cold!)

[Note: Subjects stronger neural frequency has been interrupting her speech patterns, or acting on its own accord, I will have to contact a translator engineer to help combat these irregularities]

Dr Xant: What is the usual incubation period?

Subject: [Nine months] although it can be shorter if complications arise, a baby can be born at, uh, [6 months] (maybe?) But without hospital care it wouldn't survive long (<sadness>)

Dr Xant: That is an incredibly long incubation period and if you only carry a single youngling at a time it would be incredibly inefficient for a mammal such as yourself.

Subject: Well, it’s less than a [year] for the baby to be born but also it takes an extra [year] of child rearing before the little darling can walk by itself, and a further year before they can string simple sentences together. It’s almost [twelve years] before a human is considered an adolescent and it can be a further [6-7 years] after that before most countries give over complete legal rights. A human being isn’t considered fully developed until [21 years] of age.

[Long pause]

Subject: Oh no, I’ve said something upsetting haven’t I? Your ears are doing the thing…

[Note: Subject is apt at reading Zenthi and Sulin body language, but expressed complete confusion toward Arvas motions, commenting of Operations Manager Isk that ‘He twitches way too much for me to get a read on him’]

Dr Xant: Not upsetting just... concerning.

Subject: (<Anxiety>) Concerning how?

Dr Xant: What is the average lifespan of a human, Jasmine?

Subject: Provided they live a healthy life? [80 years] although some have lived to and past [100 years].

Dr Xant: The average Arvas worker is considered ancient at [20 years], their queens, princesses and princes enjoy a healthy [40 years]. Despite their intellect and the repair work to their decaying genome, a Qztillians body degrades at [40 years] but only with exceedingly careful medical treatment. Sulin’s and Zenthi share the longest life span of [60 years]. One Sulin pack leader held a phenomenal [75 years] after losing all of his extremities and finally succumbing to complete organ failure. I am [32 years] and more than half way through my expected lifespan. Jasmine, how old are you?

Subject: I am [22 years] old, and in many ways still feel like a child. (<anxiety, sadness>) Maybe we should stop for today.

Dr Xant: I concur. I will postpone our interviews for now. We can continue after I have scheduled a lab for the perception tests.

Subject: Okay, um Xant? Is it alright if I keep the Dataslate? I was hoping to do some more drawing or, keep my own notes.

Dr Xant: That Dataslate’s memory is completely filled. I will organise a new one to be delivered to your quarters.

Subject: Thank you,

[Long pause]

I'll go on ahead.

Dr Xant: Thank you Jasmine.

[Note: Subject was keenly aware of my need for isolation without receiving emotional signals from the translator. It was [6 hours] before I was completely able to process the implications of a long lived species after a mild case of volatile emotional Frequencies syndrome (VEFS). I will have to calibrate the translator further to block out such strong signals.]

[Session Ended]

Jasmine stood from the table and crossed the near empty room, leaving the doctor to sit there quietly. She was worried, he seemed genuinely freaked out at the apparent long life span of a human being. Of all the marvels she had witnessed aboard the station and the few nightmares she remembered from her abductors, why was something like a slightly extended life span a concern to him? Had they simply not thought to do so? Was it not important to them? Jasmine had so many questions of her own she wanted to ask the aliens, but she didn’t have anywhere to go, if Xant needed time to process that ‘overwhelming’ discovery she would give him space. She flicked her hand over the doors sensor, a small square of plastic that gave off a pale blue light when activated and waited for the slider to open.

A guard stood outside, Private Suk she had been told, an Arvas, a tall insectoid warrior. Six eyes, each pair a different colour, red, green and blue, snapped to her position, he stared her down, saying nothing.

“Ummm,” She looked up at the guard, and then back down to the futuristic sword at its hip. “I would like to go back to my hab room, please.”

“And the doctor?” The guard’s voice came over the translator, flat and professional. Jasmine jumped a little, having only understood clicks and whistles before, to hear him speak was exciting and terrifying.

“He- Dr. Xant wishes to be left alone for the moment,” she answered.

The guard nodded his head and turned down the large empty hall, expecting her to follow.

Jasmine followed suit behind the silent guard, a little scared to ask any further questions.

Xant allowed the human to wander into the care of Private Suk, while he desperately tried to calm his nerves. She shifted from one emotion to another with such shocking ease and ferocity.

The amount of information she could broadcast was simply astounding, even after he had calibrated it as much as he could to diffuse the more harmful Frequencies. This was something he would have to bring up with the director. He retrieved a small depressor chem vial from his coat pocket, a supplement for his medipen to help cool his nerves. A small, measured dose would be needed when speaking with the human, and perhaps, a few lessons in controlling her emotions. It was a pleasant realization, that if the human had the capacity for Zenthi communication with the translator then there was an opening for more, personal methods of conveyance. Xant measured out a [1/5th] of a vial, before administering the blue liquid directly into his wrist. A calming sensation flowed over his nerves, and the doctor could once again think clearly. He had learned much from their short interview, enough to prepare for the upcoming board meeting, but first, it was prudent he had himself examined in the medical wing. Just to be sure.

-*-

Silence fell over the room as Xant entered the director's office, his co-workers one by one had their eyes on him. Laandi however, was the only one smiling.

“Salutations Xant.” She greeted, from the head of the boardroom table, the only one not dressed in utilitarian scrubs. Today she presented herself in a fine green tunic, cape with a single pleat over her right shoulder, black gloves ran up to her elbows hiding as much of her grey skin as she could. She gestured for the researcher to sit down, with the graceful flair that was taught to Qzetllian politicians.

“Salutations Laandi.” Xant returned, immediately taking his place to her left. The usual scornful Marsen Duuarn did not attempt a snide comment, the young geneticist seemed even more smug than usual. Xant then noticed that Kyda Jess had returned from her scheduled rotation, making Marsen’s mood all the more obvious.

“Now then, we’re all here,” Laandi announced.

“Finally...” The ancient Dr. Kydron muttered under his breath. The old Sulin surgeon had been busier than usual with the new specimen arrivals, he didn’t like his schedule interrupted.

“I trust you have your quarterly reports ready?” Laandi asked rhetorically, black eyes narrowing as she took her seat. “Isk, if you would start the session recording?”

Isk stood to her right, a man of integrity but very little in the way of patience. He activated the boardroom’s holo-display and Laandi took a deep breath to begin the recording announcements.