Outcast by Alex Douglas

well-lit office just a short stroll away from the café. A Belaari miner was sitting in the corner, nursing a burnt hand and looking sorry for herself. The receptionist stared at Lan as if he was an interesting specimen in a laboratory. "Aldorian," she said. "We don't get many of your kind around here. Never mind. Doctor Gerha is ready for you. Third room on the left."
    "Thank you," Lan said and went to the door, slightly nervous. He had never been to a doctor before, and doubted that it would prove fruitful. Still, it would be good to rid himself of this feeling of nausea, so he knocked and went in.
    "Oh yes, the Aldorian!" The doctor seemed beside herself with excitement, grinning widely and revealing her sharp teeth. "We don't get many of your kind around here."
    "No," Lan said and sighed. How many times had he heard that already? He sat on the examination table and described his symptoms and rubbed his belly, then sat back expectantly.
    The doctor put on a pair of glasses and pulled out a cuff from a drawer. "I'll give you a once over first," she said. "If you don't mind. Haven't had the chance to examine an Aldorian since I was at medical school. Very exciting."
    She took his temperature and measured his blood pressure, both of which tests were pointless since Lan was largely able to control them himself. But he said nothing as she looked in his ears, made him follow her fingers with both his eyes, and walk along a thin line on the floor. "Nothing wrong with your balance," she said.
    "No," Lan said.
    "Do you mind popping your clothes off?"
    "No." The robes slid to the floor, and she stared at his body until he felt like running from the room.
    "Not mated, I see."
    "No."
    She reached her thick hand over and prodded his stomach. "Pain?"
    "No."
    Then the hand descended to his crotch, and squeezed. "Pain?"
    Lan's head swam for a second. "Yes."
    She listened to his heart and poked and prodded a few more areas of his body before sitting back down at her desk. "What am I thinking?" she said.
    He considered her question. As far as he knew, Belaari were not telepaths, so he should not have been able to the impression of more than a basic emotion, if that. Still, when he concentrated hard, the back of his brain began to tingle and he saw an image of a small blue bird; Belaar's AirBall team mascot. "You are amused," he concluded, picking up the figure from the desk and turning it over in his hands. "Why?"
    "Well," she said, a smile spreading over her face. "I'm no expert on Aldorian physiology, of course. But you have heightened telepathic ability, pain in areas where none should manifest, and a slight hint of nausea. Does that sum it up?"
    "I suppose so."
    "In that case, there's nothing I can do for you."
      "Why? Am I dying?"
    She laughed. " Salah , you are in love. Your body is getting ready for -- what do you call it on Aldor? The Binding. Congratulations, by the way."
    Lan stared at her, aghast. "I do not believe you."
    "Well, if you want a second opinion, I can arrange a HoloLink consultation with the nearest Aldorian doctor." She clicked at her computer and scanned the screen with her violet eyes. "Should take a couple of weeks."
    "That will not be necessary." Lan pulled his robes back on. His hands were shaking so much he could hardly tie the straps. He saw the doctor wrap her coat about her body, her breath starting to cloud. Despite the sudden cold, she grinned again.
      "Loss of temperature control," she said. "Another classic symptom. I'm surprised you don't know any of this."
    Thoroughly humiliated, Lan said nothing and went out to the reception. He leant against the wall and covered his face with his hands. No, no, no .
    It couldn't be true. The doctor was, as she herself admitted, no expert. For one crazy moment, he considered packing in his job and going home to see a real doctor, one who could cure him. But then he remembered that he had no money and that even if he had, a return to Aldor might be very risky