As it turned out, fighting was apparently frowned upon on the station and Gabriel had to spend another hour or so retelling what happened. But as Madeline and the small four-eyed, bat, Turian alien told the same story, Kzanti managed to get the station to more or less keep him out it the case. The gang was known around the station for starting trouble with every Xeno that was not Yavichian or Phigos and while the alley had no surveillance, they more or less admitted everything through insults and threats while they were arrested.

Gabriel shook his head and sighed, “Is it plain simple racism or?”

Kzanti nodded, “Yes, they have gotten it into their heads that Azik and Cecaiampals are beneath them.” It is almost inevitable when new races enter the Union. Culture clashing and the like…Kzanti huffed. “Some will always object.”

“The small one, is she an Azik or, Cecai...what were they called?” Gabriel asked.

“She is an Azik,” Kzanti said and show him a picture of a four-legged alien whose arms split into two at the elbow. “This is a male Cecaiampal” Gabriel leaned closer, he had seen one on the way to the embassy. Its head was almost snake-like but without scales, a flat nose, and no visible ears. “The females have a colored bone ridge from the forehead, traveling down the spine.”

“Right...” Gabriel said and tried to put that to memory. “And what sexual dimorphism does Azik have?”

Kzanti paused then waved her head to the sides, “Very little, most obvious differences are covered by fur. They are mammals after all”

“Right, I will have to ask then, I’m not planning on groping every one I meet”

“Probably for the best, you have spent a lot of time here as it is without me arresting you,” Kzanti said and stood up and spoke with a practiced tone: “You are not suspect of any crime and are free to go.” Then she added a bit more casually, “But please try and keep out of trouble. Even if you cleary can handle it.”

“I’ll try” Gabriel smiled and Kzanti gestured to the door

“I think miss Nioni is waiting in the cafeteria”

“Thanks” Gabriel followed her out and as she turned right towards the medical room and whatever else was in the direction, Gabriel turned left and did indeed find Madeline in the cafeteria, checking something on her phone, or PCU or whatever. “Hey, what’s for lunch?” Gabriel sat down opposite her.

“Don’t know, safe to eat for both us though.” Madeline looked up from her PCU, “I’ve gotten a message back from my father and...” She looked away and shrugged, a ripple traveling down her fur ridge like it usually does when she says no.

“I don’t know what you meant by that,” Gabriel said. “Nor am I an expert on your fur movements.”

“I’m unsure about what to feel about it.” Madeline sighed and leaned over the table, reading parts of the message to him with a lowered voice. “I understand your predicament and support your decision to help this human. First contact is important and I will notify the proper authorities. If you find the time, your mother and I will be happy to meet him and of course, see you.”

“Uh...what’s wrong with that? a little formal maybe?” Gabriel asked.

“My father is a man of few words, especially so for an emissary. He would not include anything in the message without it having some sort of meaning. I don’t know if he is telling me to bring you to Zilg or simply follow you along, he is usually very good at speaking his mind” Madeline sighed, “I will inform the proper authorities” she sighed, “I’m not sure what he means to do with this.”

“Would it be anything bad?”

“Not on purpose, but it might mean it will be harder to travel quietly to search for your sister...Or maybe I’m too much my father's daughter and I’m overthinking this” Madeline shook her head and sat back, putting her PCU away.

“How often do new sentient races get found?”

“Zilgi was the newest until you came around, and we have been part of the Union for over a generation.”

Gabriel tilted his head thinking. “But...you said you have just gotten into space, did that take so long?”

“Vaccines takes time,” Madeline said shrugging, “Every new planet has its own diseases and nasty stuff. And there is the logistic problem of bringing hundreds of people into space, ships to be built, and trade agreements for FTL and such. Individual Zilgi has been in Union space for longer than I have lived but it recently opened up to everyone...that can afford it.”

“Huh, I see” Gabriel frowned. “Speaking of vaccines, I must have had one right? I mean, you did not get sick from being around me, and neither did I”

Now it was Madeline's time to frown, “I guess you are right...but Vaccines can’t be tested in stasis, and it takes a huge team and many years to make. You clearly have not been experimented on to that extent, you’re still the same age as when you left.”

“And my sister was too if the Igris spoke the truth and our hair color and everything still matched. So...me and my sister might not have been the first humans kidnapped?” Gabriel said, Madeline just shrugged.

Gabriel rubbed his face and felt his stomach rumble, “I have not slept well enough for this. I completely forgot to ask Khrussk how much speech you need to record a language. Victoria could have been the one speaking of course but...Well enough speculation, let’s eat” Gabriel said when his tired brain could not come up with any more answers.

Lunch did little to help with his sleepiness and Gabriel and Madeline both were almost asleep at the table when Kzanti appeared. “Are you ready for the tests Gabriel?”

Gabriel slapped his cheeks, trying to wake up some and shrugged, “I have not slept well, but I should handle the physical tests”

“Good, please come with me” Kzanti turned and Gabriel stood up.

“Can I watch?” Madeline asked Kzanti who in turn looked to Gabriel.

“Fine by me,” Gabriel said.

“Then I have no complaints,” She said and led them to the medical room.

“Ah, great, you are here,” Morthri said and walked over to Gabriel. “I heard you lifted a Phigos one-handed by the collar, is that true?”

As usual, Morthri wore both mask and goggles so Gabriel could not see his expression nor tell what he thought about it. “Uh, yeah that’s true,” He said.

“Interesting, interesting” Morthri said and noted something down on his tablet. “Would you mind lifting me?”

“Uh...” Gabriel looked at Kzanti, but her expression gave nothing away. Madeline had an expression of amused and dumbfoundedness on her face. “...Sure?”

“Great” Morthri said, as if this was something out of the ordinary, “Please try and replicate the lift.”

“Alright…” Gabriel bundled up some of Morthri’s, Gabriel assumed it was something like a hospital scrub, in his hand, “Ready?” Gabriel asked unsure about the situation.

“Yes,” Morthri said and raised his tablet to type. Gabriel shrugged and took a step closer before lifting the doctor up so they were face to face. He was not heavy and the lighter gravity did help. “So...” Gabriel asked after a bit, feeling his arm getting tired.

“That will do, thank you,” Morthi said after a few more seconds of typing. Gabriel lowered him down and shook his arm.

“What was the purpose of that?” Gabriel asked as Morthri walked over to another computer or whatever.

“I wanted to see how you would complete the task, it is not all too easy lifting a person one-handed by the shirt,” Morthri said and walked over to a door, pushing it open and gesturing for Gabriel to step through.

“Why not just ask?”

Morthri looked at him and while Gabriel could not see his expression he imagined confusion on the doctor's face, “Experiencing things first hand is always the preferred option.” He said nodding. “With many obvious exceptions.” And satisfied with that explanation, he waved Gabriel through.

The room beyond looked kind of like a gym, only with many strange machines and weights. Many Gabriel could guess but handles were sticking out of the floor at one side and what looked like a rope pulley in the wall on another. All in all, there were probably over twenty different machines in the room. Morthri passed him into the room and wandered over to a locker. Madeline walked up and stood beside him. “What have I gotten myself into?” He asked her.

“I’m sure he won’t have you test everything in here...probably” Madeline smiled and patted his shoulder.

“Very reassuring” Gabriel sighed, the door into the medbay opened and Kzanti let Alith through before leaving. “Oh, good, maybe Alith can hold him back”

“Or the opposite” Madeline said and walked into the room looking around at the equipment.

Gabriel sighed again and smiled at Alith. “Did I miss anything?” Alith asked as he peeking into the room.

“Not really, just lifted Morthri by the collar” Gabriel saw Morthri approach and he handed Gabriel a bundle of clothes.

“Here, these should be better for the tests, there are several types, or so I was told” Gabriel turned and walked back into the previous room, ignoring the bewildered look from Alith. He spread the clothes on a bed and faintly heard Alith whisper to Morthri, he only caught collar and lifting but the question was clear. Morthri said something about data and they both headed deeper into the...test room? training room? Gabriel had to get better at asking questions.

He sighed to himself and looked over the clothes. It was a full body and shorts with a t-shirt in some sort of stretchy breathing material. All looked a little too tight for Gabriel's liking but still, he vastly preferred the shorts and shirt. Quickly looking over his shoulder to check that no one was watching he stripped down to his underwear and pulled on the shorts and t-shirt.

“Fashionably,” Madeline said behind him. Gabriel turned and saw her leaning on the doorframe.

“How long have you been standing there?” Gabriel walked over.

“Not too long, but don't worry, I saw nothing I hadn’t already seen,” She said with a reassuring smile, and not so hidden amusement.

“Oh good, nothing else? nothing indecent?” Gabriel grinned as he passed her.

“Nope, promise,” Madeline said and followed him in.

“So, Gabriel these tests are for strength and stamina first and foremost,” Morthri said and gestures to two handles in the floor. “I would like you to lift the handles, and I will increase the weight until it’s too heavy”

“Sure, can I warm up first?” Gabriel asked, and began stretching, “I don’t want to injure myself”

Morthri tilted his head and looked at his tablet, “Hm, how will warming up stop you from injuring yourself?”

“I don’t know the specifics, never bothered asking. But if I don’t my muscles might tear a bit, which now that I’m saying it out loud sounds worse than it is” he chuckled. “I would not be surprised if there were some tears on my scans after the fight yesterday”

“I assumed that was from the battle but yes, there were microscopic ones in many of your muscles” Morthri confirmed.

Gabriel nodded, “Yep, and to avoid that, and more importantly worse ones, I need to warm up” He started a standard warm-up. The normal five or so minutes took a bit longer with the lower gravity. But after about ten minutes Gabriel felt both warm and used to running. Then he walked over to the handles. “So...do I just lift them?”

“Yes, they will adjust so if they are too far apart or too close that will be taken care of after the first lift.”

“Great” Gabriel squatted down and grabbed the handles, “So just stand up? I don’t have to bring them over my head or anything?”

“No, just stand straight, then drop the handles.”

Gabriel stood up and pulled the handles. They adjusted and the weight was almost negligible, maybe a kilo apiece. “You can at least increase that ten times,” Gabriel said and dropped the handles, which sunk slowly back to the ground.

“I expected as much,” Morthri said and pressed a button or two.

After another lift, which this time was maybe 10 kilos by Gabriel best estimate, so still very manageable he asked for twice the amount. And twice again after the next two lift. He thought it would be best not to go from 80 to 160 in one go though “Can you take an eighth of that and add it every lift?”

“Yes,” Morthri said and Gabriel continued.

90 to 120 went well, even though he had barely exercised in over a week. After that it got heavy and he struggled a bit, at 150 kilos or thereabouts he stopped for a short break. “I feel out of shape, I can only do this maybe two times more,” Gabriel said, now breathing heavily.

“Well, we are out of weight,” Morthri said looking at his tablet, “That was the highest setting.”

“Really? what was that in human measurements? calculated for my gravity?” Gabriel asked and wiped his forehead.

“About 158 kilos,” Morthri said.

“Huh, better than I thought. My record is 180.” Gabriel shrugged and stretched his arms, “Still not too shabby”

“Do you know the human record by any chance?” Morthri asked sounding a bit shocked.

“Uh, a few kilos over 500?" Gabriel asked no one in particular. "But I’ve been away for 100 years so who knows at this point.”

Morthri stood silent for a while, Alith and Madeline both looked shocked. “I’m sorry 500 kilos? did I hear that right?” Madeline asked.

“Yeah,” Gabriel said rolling his shoulders.

“And where are you on the human scale in terms of fitness?” Morthri asked after recovering from the shock.

“In general fitness? maybe 7 out of 10?” Gabriel shrugged, “Guess it depends how you’re counting. I don’t compete in any lifting competitions, but I do work out regularly and I like running, usually, only a marathon or two a year, although I prefer half marathons honestly.”

“And what is a marathon?” Morthri asked while typing away.

“A 42-kilometer run, or jog, or walk,” Gabriel said and Morthri gave the others the translated measurements.

“Surely no one can run that distance?” Alith asked.

“Well no, but jog certainly, I think the record is just over 2 hours or something. And before I cool down completely, what’s next?” Gabriel asked.

Morthri stared for another moment before looking down at his tablet. “Next is a running test, I would like you to stand at one edge of the room and at a beep run to the other. It will then beep with less and less time to rest until you do not make it to the other side.”

“Fuck me, a pacer test?” Gabriel groaned loudly.

Morthri looked at Alith who shrugged, “I don’t think that translated correctly.”

“No, It did,” Madeline said from where she had taken a seat on a bench. “Human uses it as a swear word.”

“And so much more” Gabriel confirmed, “Alright let’s go” He walked over to one side of the room. “I hate pacer tests.”

Morthri walked over to the side and pressed a panel on the wall, “3,2,1” A beep later and Gabriel jogged over to the other side, trying to count the seconds so he could pace himself. It was slower than the pacer test he was used to, or just as likely, he remembered the test with disdain. Still, as light as he felt, jogging around weighing less meant he found it harder to pick up speed, so he probably did not run that much faster than he would back on Earth.

Gabriel didn’t bother to keep track of laps, he just tried to count how long each round was. It seemed to speed up ever so slightly and he had no problem keeping up, “So...is this a test for stamina or speed?” He asked as he passed Morthri.

“Both, but mostly speed as the test is at most 5 of your minutes,” Morthri said when Gabriel passed him again. Gabriel shrugged and kept going. While it did get faster and faster it was only towards the end that he had to run, and just when he was about to start sprinting the last few rounds before failing the test stopped. “Very impressive,” Morthri said, noting down the results.

“Thanks...I...am used to running,” Gabriel said between deep breaths. “But to use the same excuse...not doing it for a week didn’t help. I really hate pacer tests” He wiped his face with his shirt. “What’s next?”

“I would like to test your fighting capabilities, it’s not a standard test but I hope you are willing,” Morthri said.

“Sure, what’s the plan?”

“I will bring up a target which will measure impact, do you have any preferred shape?”

Gabriel gestured the approximate measurements for a punching bag, “I hope it’s not fixed in place”

“No, it is standing on a rod and can flex almost down to the floor,” Morthri said and a padded cylinder rose out of the floor. “This is the closest we have.”

It was a little wider than the standard punching bag Gabriel was used to, “It’ll do, do you have gloves or anything?”

“Yes,” Morthri pointed to a compartment on the wall, “Place your hands inside one at a time and the machine will apply a tape which will protect your skin.”

“Neat” Gabriel walked over and stuck a hand inside. The machine buzzed and he felt fabric wrap around his hand. When he pulled it out it kind of looked like how he’d wrapped his hands during boxing. He flexed his hand and nodded, “Yeah, that'll do” After the other hand was done he walked over to the punching bag, “So, do I just hit it?”

“Yes, I would like a punch and one kick please,” Morthri said, ready to input the results.

“Sure thing” Gabriel threw a few punches in the air, and still feeling warmed up he gave the bag the strongest punch he could muster. The bag swung to its maximum, a clang rang out when it impacted whatever stopped it from hitting the ground and Gabriel sidestepped the bag on its return journey. “How’s that? It felt pretty good.”

Morthri stared at the table with a wide-eyed Alith sneaking a peek from the side. “I suspect you held back when fighting the gang outside?”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to hurt anyone...more than necessary,” Gabriel said and shrugged.

“I see...well please provide a kick.”

“Sure” Gabriel once again made sure he was feeling limber before kicking the bag full force. Once again it swung down and the clang this time was loud enough that Gabriel briefly thought he broke it. But the bag swung back, maybe a bit slower than last time.

Alith’s eyes had gone ever wider, Morthri’s eyes were still covered by goggles, but Gabriel imagined a similar expression, “Would...would you mind telling me about Earth now that the tests are over?” Morthri asked.

“Yeah, I don’t mind, can I shower first?” Gabriel asked. He was led to a shower that only took about ten minutes to figure out. Not enough pressure and the water was not hot enough for Gabriel's taste but regardless he returned to the med bay feeling refreshed. Morthri and Alith were busy setting us a desk with two tablets on one side and one on the other “Before I forget to ask once again, what is this room called?” Gabriel asked while observing

“Medical room” Morthri answered and pointed the lone tablet, “Please take a seat.”

“Maybe I should have guessed,” What followed was nothing short of an interrogation...again. But this time Gabriel was asked every question conceivable about Earth. First by Morthri and Alith, but after a while, Madeline felt left out and began asking several questions herself. It went from climate to weather, flora, fauna, natural disasters, and politics. After what felt like too long Gabriel held up his hands. “Alright, I’m calling it quits, for now, I’m hungry and tired”

Morthri looked down, “Of course, time got away from me, food is being served as we speak.”

“Great” Gabriel stood and yawned, “Alith, you coming?”

“I would like to stay and go over the data if that is alright,” Alith said glancing periodically over at the tablet.

“Of course, don’t overwork yourself”

Madeline stood as well and mirrored Gabriel with a yawn, “I’m going to take that offer, I’m hungry as well” They walked over to the cafeteria and found most had already eaten. However, the small Azik were sitting at a table and waved as they entered.

Gabriel and Madeline headed over and sat down. “Hello, my name is Micia Vilga T'Quarkiee, thank you for saving me from those Xenos outside. I hope you did not get into too much trouble.”

Gabriel smiled without teeth, thought thinking of it, with the mouth Micia had showing teeth would be difficult. But he still found it best not to take chances and offend everyone. “You’re welcome, I’m happy you’re alright. And no, I didn’t get into too much trouble”

“Good, I would hate for you to help me just to...” She trailed off and all four eyes looked over at the door. Gabriel looked over his shoulder and saw Kzanti marching over.

“Gabriel, I have news” She glanced at Micia and paused.

“I’m fairly sure she’s not a spy,” Gabriel said and made a ‘go on’ gesture with his hands, anxious to hear what she planned to say.

“We have found coordinates for a ship we think belongs to the black market. However, it is in Roniean space and the Union does not have jurisdiction.”

“Which means?” Gabriel asked feeling his body tense up.

“Which means we cannot send any ships to investigate,” Kzanti said.

“Dammit...” Gabriel sighed and Madeline put a hand on his arm. “How long will it be there?”

“We don’t know, but if it is a black market ship, not very long,” Kzanti said with a frustrated look on her face.

“What are the odds we can hire a small ship to travel there in time?” Madeline asked.

“It is far away and I believe most ships make several stops on the way.” She waved her head slowly side to side. “Getting there in one go will be very difficult, and getting there before they leave...” Gabriel groaned and rubbed his face, realizing once again he had not shaved, which was a strange thing to notice. He had more important things to focus on.

“May...maybe I can help?” Micia said and everyone turned to look at her...