September 14th, 2242
He was bald, beige colored and had shiny silken dark eyebrows, long eyelashes, and piercing dark brown eyes. Back on earth, his friends joked that he was a “pretty boy.” He was a world-class athlete having played Lacrosse, Rugby, and Jai alai in University, so he had an intense physique. Despite what outward confidence his physical appearance belied—the twenty-three year-old Quantaz Zeric had a few doubts about embarking on his journey to become a doctor. His father always wanted him to continue pursuing sports and compete in the Olympics, and his mother wanted him to become an artist—for Zeric was gifted with a creative mind. As Earth nationalists, both his parents definitely wanted him to remain on Earth. They believed in isolationism and thought that humans had no business meddling in the affairs of the other cultures of the galaxy. However, Quantaz had other plans. After a summer of volunteering with one of the most renowned Medical Exobiologists treating alien visitors on earth, he was inspired to explore space and become a doctor himself. His parents wanted him close to home on Earth, but his ambitions drove him apply to for the Brenoran Academy for Exomedicine and get on the first solar transport away from Earth.
It was a long journey from Earth on a solar transport travelling at sub-light speeds, but he couldn’t afford any of the transports that could travel as light speeds, and his family certainly wasn’t going to help him in this endeavor. This was his first time in space, so in addition to his racing thoughts, he had been fighting space sickness. As he looked out the window into the empty vastness, the space station grew closer and closer as his heart beat faster and faster.
Just then, the conductor made an announcement. “All passengers, welcome to Brenora space station. This is the final stop on Solarix Travels. Please make sure to take all your belongings with you upon exiting the shuttle.”
Quantaz frantically scrambled for his baggage and then stepped off the solar transport. When the docking clamps locked and the pressurization cycle was complete, he raced off feeling extremely nauseous.
“Pull it together Q!” he thought. “You’ve avoided the space sickness the whole flight!” But it was too late. With a sound so ugly that it could only could be compared with the wail of Retroublian lymph worm, Zeric lost his lunch right at the entrance to the space station.
“Nice!” he heard a voice call out from somewhere in his periphery. “I think you have more variety of colors in your vomit than any other student I’ve seen with space sickness!”
Zeric looked up and noticed a strange purple man with short close cropped hair like cotton and a spotted face sporting a smirk of self-satisfaction.
“Galdren Sirinus of Brenora ” He held out his hand in a gesture to help up Quantaz. Quantaz accepted and the two of them shook hands.
“That’s kind of strange isn’t it? You waiting right here by the airlock? Have you been here all day watching people get off the transports?”
Galdren smiled. “Well, I’m just sizing up my competition. So far I haven’t met anyone that’s a challenge to my valedictory pursuits.”
“Valedictorian? Classes haven’t even started yet! Besides, the valedictorian is right in front of you!”
Galdren briefly scanned his surroundings in bewilderment. Both the men stared at each other for a few seconds until they burst out into laughter.
“I didn’t catch your name.”
“My name’s Quantaz Zeric. Sometimes people call me ‘Q,’ but you can call me whatever you’d like.”
Galdren put his arm around Quantaz’s shoulder. “Well Mr. Zeric, let’s go find out our housing assignments!”
Zeric’s first year at the Brenoran Academy for Exomedicine (BAFEX) proved very challenging. More challenging than he ever thought. However, he was committed to not giving up. He never gave up on anything he set his mind to. This was no different. His friendly rivalry with Gladren helped him develop a true friendship he reckoned could withstand the test of time. Zeric hid the fact that his medical endeavors ensured exile from his family back on Earth, and all of his other friends were scattered through his home system. But as he and Gladren grew closer, they shared secrets. On holidays and special occasions, Zeric spent time with Galdren and got to meet his family back on his home planet, Brenora Prime. The Brennites were an extremely friendly species and good relations with humans. Galdren’s family was more than willing to take in Zeric, and even game him a Brennite nickname, “Zerooni.” This was what Galdren always wanted—to learn about alien cultures and expand his horizons. Little did he know what his academic pursuits would hold in store for him.
