Fragments 1: Devolution Landing

At the Gate

Now that they were all together, the Professor ushered them through an open door into the terminal building. It was a familiar sight for him and he had been in many similar locations throughout his career. Since time immemorial, travellers had been forced to queue in tense lines while officials checked their details and made decisions about whether they could arrive or leave, what they could take with them, and how difficult the whole process would be.

This was only a relatively small version of the ancient game, but Androbos noted the desks, the uniforms, and the queues of people waiting to be seen. It was clear that there were greater numbers hoping to catch a shuttle off-world than there were trying to get on. There was a long line of people on the other side of the barriers; suspicious looking merchants, businessmen and families with children, all clutching bags, papers and baggage trolleys.

Androbos wondered, once again, why they were trying to get onto a planet that so many people seemed keen to leave. He could only hope that everything would go to plan and they would be in and out before the fighting started.

They worked their way through the checks that the Rymerian officials were still performing in a rigorous and systematic way. They all had data cards, and paper documents. Elveren Middlemein was slightly flustered, and fumbled with her various files and materials as she hooked out her data card and presented it for inspection. Ran Peracheck politely allowed Mel Moorfier through and she confidently waved her papers in front of the officials who curtly asked her to remove her sunglasses.

The Rymerians spoke excellent Standard Colonial with only the faint hint of a local accent. As a society, they valued education and order and they seemed determined to do their jobs properly, even in the present difficult circumstances.

Ran Peracheck also passed smoothly through the gates. He moved with the ease and confidence of a seasoned traveller, looking after Doctor Moorfier's bags as well as his own. Intriguing... thought Androbos to himself as he wondered once again why this particular student had been selected for their mission...

Marcus Babin was less confident and moved through the process like a nervous stick-insect, all elbows and jitters. The Rymerian officials were clearly aware of him even before he had arrived at the desk. They ushered Peracheck through without checking all of his bags and turned their attention on the young man with interest. There were raised eyebrows when they looked at his papers.

Androbos stepped forward and placed his hands on the desk.

"I think you will find that these papers are all in order," he said, taking on his most insistent professorial tone. "You'll see that the application for Sirian citizenship has been properly signed and dated, and that this gentleman is fully authorised to travel under the protection of the Union."

He pointed to the relevant documents and tried to seem a little larger than his normal diminutive frame would allow.

The officials tutted and shook their heads, discussed the matter briefly amongst themselves and then waved Marcus through, having made a great show of inspecting his bags and possessions. Some kind of local pride had been assuaged, the Professor assumed, but also guessed that the Rymerians were not overly bothered about random citizens trying to get onto the planet, given most of their own people were trying to get off...

A short and rather rotund man was waving for their attention.

"Professor Androbos", he shouted breathlessly. "I am here, sir. Korfol, sir. Adredus Korfol. I'm your guide."

The Professor shook the man politely by the hand.

"Pleased to meet you," he replied as he introduced the other members of the group. "It's good to be here. I believe you are going to take us out to the site?"

"That's right sir. In the morning when the sun is up. We have a room booked for tonight. You come?"

Androbos nodded and allowed himself to be taken by the arm as their guide led them from the terminal. As they left, he turned briefly and looked at the long queue of people as they worked their way through the gate in the opposite direction. Would it be quite this easy for them to leave Dorian's World?...