Chapter 13: Exam

Harvey looked up from what he had been doing at the technician's explanation, he didn't want any surprises, why did this always happen to him?

Upon seeing his chief technician sedating the man Harvey stood up to get a closer look. The man was now on the table and the technicians were in the process of removing his shirt. Looking at the man's back Harvey instantly saw why the technician had exclaimed. "Check the others" he ordered immediately, wanting to get on top of the situation as soon as possible. He didn't want Pietor to find out that one of their new acquisitions had been brought on board with undetected alien technology.

The techs and guards all quickly checked the backs of the other prisoners in the room and when Harvey had received the negative from each of his subordinates he frowned and stepped closer to the unconscious man, having a better look,the mans lower back was largely pink with new scar tissue and the round black objects shone dully from his skin some black others red. Turning to the nearest prisoner he demanded "What are these and what do they do?"

The family man looked uncomprehendingly at Harvey.

"Sir," one of the guards started "It would seem not all the people on this planet speak the same language."

Harvey sighed heavily; it was very rare to come across a planet that had such a large and widely dispersed population and as such almost just as rare to have multiple languages. Turning to another prisoner he said; "What about you? Do you understand me?"

The prisoner was one of the two that they had yet to vet and Harvey could see a familiar look of defiance in his eyes but the man nodded. "Well? Do you know about this?"

"I have no idea" the man admitted, "I've never seen anything like it and I don't think anyone you ask will know." The man had a strong accent and Harvey had to concentrate as he as he was talking but as he did its meaning sunk in. "Does your planet have space travel?" he asked , a sense of urgency seeping in.

"We've sent men to the moon and probes to the planets in our solar system." The man claimed proudly.

Harvey released a breath he had not realised he had been holding, so they did have space travel but it was primitive at best. Even so, he thought, it may be necessary to tell Pietor at least some of his discoveries and suggest they put as much distance between themselves and this solar system. Thinking of something else he turned to one of the technicians at the video monitor. "See if he arrived with anyone and if he did get that person and bring them here." He ordered.

The technician nodded and immediately dropped his eyes to his screen. "The man arrived with three companions, would you like me to retrieve all of them?"

"No one should be sufficient." Harvey snapped "Take two guards and be discreet, don't tell anyone what you are doing; if anyone asks you are under my orders." Harvey didn't want any of this getting back to Pietor before he had it under control. The technician nodded and headed for the door, two guards in tow.