Dankien looks slowly and carefully at the results.
After a long minute of silence, Dankien asks to the technician: "What is that?"
The technician explains: "These are heavy metals. The total concentration of these metals is slightly above the normal in your body."
Dankien: "mmm... any recommendation about it?"
Technician: "additional tests would be required to specify if your body is currently accumulating heavy metals at a fast rate or if this concentration is due to a past exposure to heavy metals. Anyway, at this moment, no medical treatment is required."
Dankien: "well... thank you".
Dankien turns back to Parkes: "at least no alien infection has been detected. I feel really better about that."
Then, Dankien's transmitter emits a 'beep'. Dankien quickly checks the message: "Unbelievable! Doc Holliday has left the TAZ!"
A small wave of relief swept over the room. Almost all of the guards relaxed their postures. The highest threat had been reduced.
Demesa holstered her gun, nodded and went back into her room. She was tired and could trust the other guards to keep an eye on things while she lied down for a bit and rested.
A sigh of relief left Parkes mouth. He was getting too old for this crap. Nomad threats too close to home were taking their toll. At least his friend was okay.
"Should get those metals checked out properly sometime you know? Or you'll end up like me." He joked, knowing that his work in industry for so long had exposed him to a lot of nasty chemicals. Knowing no alien infection was there made him feel better; both about his friend and Freeport 11's scanners.
"Mmmmmm." He nodded slowly, "I saw that news crop up. No idea what it means, but we'll see how everyone conducts themselves. For now I think people will continue to do their own things and avoid each other for a while."
"So Dankien, what's on the cards for you now?" Parkes asked, taking his seat once more whilst Moebus got up from the scanner bed so that the staff could pack it up.
Yes, you are right, I'll pay attention to these heavy metals.
Dankien sits down and have a drink.
End up like you? you know I'll be lucky if I reach your age, space is really a dangerous place sometime even if you try to behave carefully, so when you are like me... (Dankien remembers these times when he was flying a Zoner-Whale through omicron-kappa without escort, surrounded by nomads shooting at him, his life saved only by the reinforced armour of his ship).
What for now? Well... I guess I will keep on doing research on gravity and jump-hole formation. I know that's stupid but I still have this hope that I will finally find my old fellows... Johann Boll, James Ferguson, you know...
For the rest, I'd like to investigate about this conflict between the Order and TAZ. Honestly, I really don't know what to think about it. Both parties behaved quite abnormally.
Also, I'll contact Doc Holliday, he has always inspired me. I'd like to work with him and support his humanitarian project.