“I’m hardly planning on breaking out the thumbscrews, Doctor,” Palin countered. “And it’s highly relevant and even vital that we get what information we can out of her as soon as possible. Isn’t that correct, Captain?”

Before Weston could reply, Rame cut him off.

“You’ll get nothing out of her if you shock her into a relapse! This patient requires delicate handling.”

Weston listened to the two doctors bicker as he looked in on the very active patient who Dr. Rame was vehemently protecting. She moved purposely from place to place, examining every detail, her dark-brown eyes scanning every object in the room. Her eyes flickered in his direction, either examining her reflection or, more likely, looking for any hint of the faces she must suspect were behind the mirror. He didn’t know how to feel about this, the sheer impossibility of it numbing him to the extraordinary implications of the very existence of the ship’s newest guest.

He turned back to the dispute that was threatening to flare through the med-lab. “Dr. Rame, how is her recovery coming along?”

Rame turned to Weston. “Her recovery is remarkable, but that worries me as much as anything since I can’t figure out why. Anything unpredictable at this point is dangerous.”

“In other words, she’s fine as far as you can tell, right, Doc?”

Rame stammered over his words. “Well, yes, but that’s the point, Captain! I can’t be sure about my readings. We did just pick her up over forty-five light-years from Earth, sir.”

Weston looked at the doctor for a long moment. “All right, Doctor, point taken. What if you joined Dr. Palin while he addresses her in the room? You have full authority to pull the plug at any time you feel her health is threatened.”

Palin’s face darkened. He opened his mouth to object but shut it after a glance from Weston. Rame, on the other hand, appeared mollified.

“All right,” Palin said. “But I’ll hold you to that, Captain.”

“Good. Both of you get into class-five environmental suits and pay our guest a visit,” Weston ordered.

“Class five?” both of them objected.

“Captain, this type of situation only calls for a class-two suit.” Rame looked between the isolation chamber and Captain Weston in confusion.

“I realize that, Doctor, but class-five units incorporate mirrored visors and full-body coverage. And I don’t think I want our guest seeing us just yet.”

“Captain! I object to putting that type of stress onto this woman so soon. It’s despicable. There’s no reason to terrify the young lady that way.” Rame looked at the captain in indignation.

“I’m sorry, Doctor. But the fact that we found a human being floating in a life pod forty-eight light-years from home has been preying on my mind, and I refuse to give up too much information too soon.”

And so, in spite of his objections, the doctor slowly began to fit himself into the one-piece garment. He sealed its seams until he looked like he was wearing a lightweight spacesuit with a colossal helmet. As Dr. Palin mimicked his actions, Rame’s bulbous mass turned to take in the mirror image that had engulfed Dr. Palin. A muffled voice sounded from the suit.