The S.S Delinquent

Chapter 13 & 14

Chapter Thirteen

   Tatts heard someone clearing their throat loudly beside her, she looked up to see that the doctor had finally arrived. She was surprised to see that he was a young man, not an older person as she had imagined them to be.

   In fact, he did not even look old enough to be fully qualified or like he even shaved yet. He was wearing a stethoscope which was hanging around his neck and the blue uniform of members of the medical profession.

   He did not have a name tag to identify himself to others, instead he just had 'Doctor 524' printed above his t-shirt pocket. He was just one of many nameless minions on board the S.S Europe currently enslaved by the United Space State Alliance.

   The doctor looked mostly human but oddly he had naturally, bright scarlet coloured hair. His ruby like eyes were definitely not contact lenses. What interested Tatts the most about his appearance was the fact that he had blood red tattoos around his eyes and forehead, that were very similar in design to hers.

   Perhaps he was one of her kind? (or rather one of her parent's kind). She had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but she was too afraid and nervous. What if he did not approve of her being half human and treated her badly because of it?

   "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Inmate 469. I've heard a lot about you" Doctor 524 told her with a genuine, friendly smile.

"Good stuff I hope" Tatts replied awkwardly, feeling a little self conscious in just her towel. At least he wasn't treating her like a freak who lived in a box straight away.

   He ignored her reply, he was too busy looking down at her medical notes on his wrist computer eagerly. Seeming to find them incredibly interesting reading material, as if she was some sort of weird science experiment.

   "So.... what next?" Tatts wanted to know, keen to get the scary sounding medical over and done with as soon as possible.

"I bet you are dying to ask me all about my tattoos, aren't you?" Doctor 524 asked excitedly and a little unprofessionally, confirming his young age.

"Yeah, it had crossed my mind. But I just didn't want to blurt it out" Tatts admitted with a shrug.

   Although the doctor's tattoos were very much like her own, he seemed to have not as many as she did. The exposed pale skin on his arms, neck and chest which was visible through the v-neck t-shirt he wore, was completely un-tattooed.

   "I am also from Tropicalypsia" Doctor 524 confirmed her suspicions.

"How come you only have a few tattoos?" Tatts wondered, hoping it wasn't a rude or offensive question to ask.

"Females are always more decorated than the males, as in many cultures" Doctor 524 happily answered her.

"Right....." Tatts replied, wondering what else she could get away with asking him?

   "Your markings and colouring are most unique though" Doctor 524 commented, checking out her bare arms and legs with undisguised awe.

"Why are they unique?" Tatts inquired, fearing there was something wrong with her. Trust her luck!

"Because of your unique parentage" Doctor 524 muttered under his breath, ever so quietly.

"What about my parents?" Tatts demanded, her attention fully captured.

   "Will you look at the time? We have a lot to get done in such a short space of time before you fly out to my home planet" Doctor 524 explained nervously, trying to get her to shut up. As if remembering they were being spied on.