Detachment 1, 1129th Special Activities Squadron, Dreamland, Groom Lake, Homey, C-Base the list is endless. The secretive facility in Groom Lake Nevada has been the center of myths and urban legends since the Vietnam War. According the the Central Intelligence Agency, the base is was testing site for the government's U-2 and OXCART aerial surveillance programs, nothing more nothing less. Unoffical sources claim its done everything from harboring alien artifacts to running test on actual live aliens. No hard evidence has ever been found, but that doesn't stop millions from swarming as close as they can get to the mysterious facility which is more commonly reffered to by its most famous nickname:

Area 51.

The history of the facility consumed most of Hana's thoughts as the shuttle approached her new place of employ. Before her impromptu interview with the HR rep a few months ago, she filed all that alien nonsense under the term “hogwash” figuring it was nothing more than a way to get people to come visit and buy cheap tourist trap junk. She’d been working at out there for months now and the most unusual thing she’d seen was that mold growing in the back of the fridge in the employee lounge. She let herself have a great laugh at her earlier suspicions and began enjoying her work fully as chief medical officer. And these annoying jittery nerves where nothing more than a few worries over her newest assignment.

...That she knew almost nothing about, save it was extremely top secret if the many NDA’s she’d had to sign were anything to go off of.

“Get ahold of yourself Hana, you’ve been here for months. You're just letting your imagination ran away with you that’s all. Now, deep breath, and focus on the positives.” The inner mantra repeated as the shuttle jerked to a stop, employees filing out and heading towards their assigned spaces.

The long white corridors seemed especially narrow for some reason as she made her way into the new building, the silence nothing like the busy medical station she was used to being in. She lamented over the fact that she would have to leave Private Johnson in Lisa’s, her assistant, care for now. Hopefully she could actually make him rest, and she might have time to pop in and make sure he actually took his medication instead of hiding under his tongue, again.

“Doctor Lucien?”

Jeezus! Bolting upright, she desperately tried to calm her racing heartbeat as she turned to the military officer she hadn’t seen right in front of her,

“I-I’m sorry Major, I was lost in thought.” She quickly straightened up, hoping to recover some of this first impression.

“At ease Doc, just checking to see if you’d gotten lost.” The middle aged major chuckled, used to jumpy first timers. He was a slightly large man, years at a desk job were probably to help blame for that, but he still had a fairly intimidating aura about him. “I hear that’s easy to do here.”

“Yes sir, thank you for doing that.” She felt a bit of her nerves disappear at his words as they made their way deeper into the facility.

“I’m grateful for you agreeing to come onto this new project of ours, most shy away from it with the little information they let us give out about it. Between you and me I hate all that political mess and the hoops they make us jump through.” He grumbled, and it may have been her imagination but was it getting darker? Was there something wrong with the lights?

“Well, here we are.” She was jerked from her thoughts yet again as they stood outside an elevator. “Now at this point I’m supposed to remind you that from this point all and anything you see or hear or find is strictly confidential and blah blah blah, consequences of disclosure to unauthorized individuals etcetera etcetera, may result in immediate termination, just everything you read in those forms you signed.” He seemed fairly at ease, but for some reason she couldn’t shake the chills making her hyper aware of her surroundings.

“Yes sir.” She hoped the feeling would pass as soon as they got to, to wherever they were going.

“Fantastic.” He smiled and opened the elevator door, It seemed no different than any other, drab grey walls, horrible music, even the little “ding!” noise when the doors opened and closed. Only, there was only a single button where the floors should have been.

“So they don’t like stairs, quit being so foolish.” She berated herself on the way down.

“Now, before we arrive at the work site, I was hoping to ask you a few questions. Off the record of course.” Major Tom asked as they continued down.

“Of course sir.”

“How do you feel about aliens?”

Well, that was...an interesting question. Or joke? Maybe he was trying to ease the tension by mocking the ridiculous rumors surrounding the area.

“I guess I’d have to meet one before I made any firm judgments about them, but I doubt they’d just stop by for an afternoon tea.” She played along, feeling a bit more at ease.

A bark of laughter came from the general, “Nope, they don’t do too well in sunlight, or so I hear.” He remarked as they came to a gentle stop.

“But on a more serious note, what do you really think of them?” ANd just like that, the tension came back, with a vengeance. Was he- no he couldn’t-those were just stories right?

Heartbeat accelerated, palms sweating, thoughts racing as her mind tried to comprehend what he was insinuating.

“All those stories are mostly what you think. Trash, nothing but wild tales and made up mumbo jumbo to sell all that dime a dozen “Area 51” merchandise to tourist.”

“ But...aliens sir?” A gag, they were pulling a huge joke on her and she was falling hook line and sinker for it, her brain tried to rationalize.

“Yep, they’re real. But nothing like those little green men movies, heavens no. Most are much more humanlike than you’d imagine. Especially the group you’ll be seeing too, though they look more like mice to me. Most of them are real timid and understandably don’t like strangers too much. They crashed here a few years ago, ship was a complete wreck, not a single salvageable, and most were injured or starving by the time we got them back here.”

The elevator finally opened, and her world stopped. A large open space, with hundreds of small buildings on the outskirts, all circled a giant dome like construction in the center. It was huge! the halls seemed to go on for miles, much larger than the building they’d just came from. The major didn’t miss a beat as he motioned her to follow.

She remained in awe as the headed towards one of the larger buildings in the underground base with a simple designation written above the glass doors:

MIRRIN MEDICAL FACILITY

“Welcome to your new office doc.” ANother voice welcomed them as they passed through the doors.

“Ah Jimmy! I thought you were off today?” The Major greeted him warmly before introducing her,

“Doctor Hana this is our lead scientist Jeremiah Gibbons. He knows more about Mirirn's than anyone else.”

“Which is a about a 50 people, including yourself.” Jimmy interrupted as she shook his hand. He was about her age, tall and muscular, not looking very much the part of a scientist save for the lab coat and glasses. “And it's just Jimmy, no need for formalities down here doc. MIrrin biology is fairly close to our own so you shouldn't have too much trouble. Just let me know of any anomalies that pop up and let me know if you have any questions.”

“Well, I better get going, got a few more bigwigs to please before I can call it a day. I’ll be back to pick up your reports Jimmy, and I expect them to be complete this time.”

“Sure thing Major.” Hana been using their time conversing to finally get herself sorted out. So, in the span of one morning, she’d transferred to a new job that involved treating aliens, figured out aliens existed, found out all the stories about area 51 were actually based on truth, and she was under a hundred different NDA’s saying if she breathed a word she’d spend at minimum life in federal prison.

“So-” Jimmy smiled as he motioned towards the inner wards that housed the current paitents of the medical wing. “Want to meet your first patient?”

Hunched over a field tilling the land wasn’t exactly the ideal way of spending an early morning, but Aeson had been advised to be awake early today by Jeremiah. He had only taken moments of being awake before his mother started her daily pleas. Which gave him the idea of farming, to get away from her loud voice. She had been this way for as long as he could remember. Like the rest of their small group, perhaps only 20 or so, she was often upset with Aeson’s willingness to comply with the humans. Said he was brainwashed. And, maybe he was considering he had been born and grew under their watchful eye. Though he doubted it. Instead, Aeson thought that he was a bit smarter than the rest. He had been trained, definitely, but not brainwashed. He wasn’t the youngest in the group, though he was the only one born here who was old enough to have any tangible thoughts. If the Mirrin were honest with themselves, Aeson should never have been born. When their ship crashed his mother had already been heavily pregnant, her injuries should have killed him in utero. Yet somehow, they didn’t. And until only a few years ago, when the humans began performing invitro-fertilization on the Mirrin women, Aeson had been the only one born here. Now though, there were six new babes to the ‘village’ as they generously called it, with none of them being over three years. So, it was within reason that Aeson had become a favourite specimen among the humans. Times like this he was grateful for his ability to fold over his ears, essentially making him deaf until he chose to open them up again. A handy, though often overlooked, talent of his people.

“Aeson!” Suddenly the world regained its noise, for a moment it almost hurt Aesons sensitive ear. No, that was the hand that was tugging at it. Turning his head he came almost nose-to-nose with his mother. She was older, much older than him, and her appearance showed it quite harshly. Sharp wrinkles etched through her face making her look much more like the little creature that the humans called mice. Unlike his own, he nose was upturned making the four nostrils seem larger and more prominent. He had once heard Jeremiah describe her as prunish. And sometimes Aeson agreed. “Come here and look,” With her harsh grip changing from his ear to his shoulder she pushed him harshly to opposite side of the village. Where the exit that seemed to come and go when the humans wanted would appear. Not ten feet from was Goras, who was the next oldest from Aeson. Thought it was quite the leap between the two in age. Cut and bruised Goras laid crumpled on the ground. His injuries didn’t look anything serious, they’d heal in a few days. Aeson was not quite grasping what the fuss was about.

“Do you see this boy?” The village elder Haldir, who looked as though he’d turn to dust any moment, spoke hoarsely as he faced the boy. “This is what those people do. They take us, hold us down and beat us.” Aeson only rolled his eyes at the gravity in the oldmans voice.

“It’s his fault for struggling.” Goras had gone for a regular treatment. A few needles and he’d have been done and perfectly well. Perhaps even better than before. “It was only injections. Other than mishit vein, I’ve never been bruised or cut.” Intending to leave the conversation at just that, Aeson turned around to return to his tilling.

“IT’S LIKE HE’S ONE OF THEM, ELDER!” A shiver shot up Aesons spine as he heard his mother shriek and fall to her knees. He took a quick glance back to see her sobbing as the others rushed to console her. A pang of guilt walked through his mind, but despite Aeson returned to his work for several more hours. Even with his ears folded over he could still faintly hear his mother’s desperate cries. At that volume he wouldn’t be surprised if they had heard her from outside the glass, though the words would’ve been unintelligible.

“Number 14 please approach the gate!” A voice chimed over the dome, to which its only response was a growl or hiss from the Mirrin below. Except for the one it beckoned of course, to which it received no response at all.
Several moments passed when it bellowed again, “Number 14!” Again nothing. This went on a few more times, the announcer sounded increasingly agitated with each round.

Up in the watch tower two men who looked too young to work at infamous Area 51 were taking turns trying to summon the specimen requested for the new doctor. In between each press of the intercom button the two would bicker about the aliens below.

“Uncooperative,” The short, skinny one with blonde hair and freckles mumbled childishly.

“Lazy,” This one taller than the first, but still not all, with sleek black hair and coke-bottle glasses muttered back.

“No good-“They started in unison, but were both cut off when the Major walked in. He barely gave them a glance as he pulled his radio closer to his mouth.

“Don’t worry, Jim, I’m on it. Roger.” Though he didn’t hear anything, he could just see the professor sighing. Using Roger was long since outdated, but the Major would be damned if it didn’t make him feel at least a little badass. “For two genius, you two sure are stupid,”

Almost leisurely the Major walked up to the command board a pressed a small glowing button with the word “Lights” on it. Immediately the lights in the dome believe began to flash. It irritated the hell out of the Mirrin, but it sure got their attention.

Down below, Aeson was unsurprisingly startled by the sudden bright flash. He must’ve jumped a good foot or more in the air, causing his ears to unfold from the force. All at once the loud sounds of displeasure bombarded his mind, almost overloading his senses. After the world finished spinning Aeson put one hand of his eyes, blocking the flashing light, and used his other to guide him to where the exit would appear. No fuss, no hesitation.

Going through the opening that came from nowhere, Aeson was greeted by an armed guard designed to be his escort. Though he was sure it was just protocol, both him and the humans knew he hardly needed one. Maybe for directions. Unlike the others Aeson had figured out that the key to living a long time, and living it comfortably, around here was to just follow orders. The other Mirrinians made it difficult on themselves by struggling and resisting the men. The walk through the maze-like always was a quiet one. He hadn’t heard a guard speak since they figured out he could understand them. Something else none of the other Mirrinians could do. He was the only translator for either language.

The humans had never been able to crack the Mirrinian language on their own, and Aesons fellows refused to teach them. While Aeson personally had tried once or twice, they quickly found he was not meant for teaching. And the humans had never intended for any of his kind to learn their tongue. Aeson himself was only able to learn from being raised alongside it. Once they learned he could speak, the humans were gracious enough to teach him to read and write. Though he didn’t like doing much of either. Human stories made no sense, and writing simply took too much time.

At last the long walk had ended and they came up beside the glass doors with the sign

MIRRIN MEDICAL FACILITY

The guard gestured to the door, indicating that Aeson was to go in then left. This was far from the first time he had been here, in fact this was probably the building he spent the most time in. However, Aeson wasn’t due for more tests for another few days. He stood there for a moment, perplexed as to why he had been brought here at such an odd interval. Was he ill? He felt fine. Maybe there was a new test that just came out? That seemed feasible.

Gathering his resolve Aeson entered the building and was greeted by Jeremiah. And another… human? It looked humanish at least. The face was human, but the body was different. In his time here, Aeson had seen humans of all colours and sizes but none of this shape.
“14, this is Doctor Lucien,” Jeremiah smiled and gestured towards her than back towards Aeson, “Doctor, this is Specimen Number 14: This facilities prized possession.” Aeson just stared at the doctor, completely perplexed by her appearance. Maybe she was a female? Aeson had always wondered where the humans kept their women, having not seen one. So that would be the most logical answer.
Slowly Aeson held out his hand to shake. A gesture for greeting amongst humans. “It is pleasure to be meeting Doctor Lucien,” He said rigidly, forcing a smile.

Hana could barely contain herself when the alien walked through the door. Somewhere, in a back corner of her mind, a voice was nagging at her that this wasn't right, but common sense and an overwhelming sense of curiosity silenced it as the creature stepped forward.

He was so...bizarre. And she meant that in the best way, the major had been right when he described the as mouse like. Which made sense when she thought about it. Mice and rats were used as test subjects because of the similarities between their physiology and a human's so it made sense they'd ask her to come aboard. Her brain was racing a mile a minute just taking him in.

Young male, pale skin, large eyes, used to see in the dark perhaps? Probably isn't doing well with the bright lights if that's the case. I wonder if he speaks any English-

“It is pleasure to be meeting Doctor Lucien.”

Sweet Issac Newton he does! Her curiosity was having a field day with this, up until she caught the rigidness in his voice and stance.

Being a military doctor often meant dealing with prideful patients that would rather endure pain then show a weakness. Over the years shed learned to read the body for signs of stress and pain, and 14 had just unknowingly triggerd her maternal side.

Her face softened; a warm smile that would hopefully help put him at ease as she gently grasped his hand with both of hers. It wasn't like shaking a humans hand, the texture was a little rougher, and she noted the rough blisters on his palms. Her brain had already began measuring and recording the size of his hands and the paperwork she would need to secure gloves for them, if such forms existed. If not she was handy with a needle, surely making a pair of gloves couldn't be any more complicated than sewing up a wound. And what was with the numbers? Surely they had names? Maybe they didn't translate to English well so the numbers were used to keep everyone separate...

"Its a pleasure to meet you too 14. And please, just call me Hana okay?" She tried to keep her voice calm and warm, hoping to help put him at ease.She wasn't sure on his races protocol for first meetings, but patients tended to feel more at ease when cool politeness was set aside and hey could become more familiar with their doctor on a one on one level.

"Doctor Lucien's just going to give you a physical today, make sure your still healthy as a horse." Jim broke the her inner train of thought as he gathered up some papers. "I've got a meeting to get to so his in your hands Doctor." He smiled as he left, but Hana couldn't help bit think their was a little more threat to that statement then was implied. The physical was probably just to help get acquainted with Mirrin physiology more than it was for his health. No doubt he was in excellent shape if Jim's earlier statement was anything to go on.

"Well, shall we?" She said as she moved towards the door. "I'll wait outside, just call for me when your finished changing alright?"

The woman’s face held an expression that Aeson had not seen on a human face before. Oddly it seemed familiar, and he thought that maybe his kind had one similar. Not entirely sure of the proper protocol he should follow when dealing with human women, Aeson simply stared at her, following any movements she made. He was trying to read her and found it a fair bit more difficult than anticipated. Then again, the humans had always been difficult to read when compared to his own. Humans had always taken a strictly-business approach with him and so the woman’s familial speech and actions were a strange phenomenon. He continued to watch her, as well as Jeremiah, trying to find any discernable difference in how one behaved in the presence of a human female. For all he knew the difference could be as stark as night and day or completely moot. And choosing the wrong course of action might not be the brightest idea.

Already he had noted that the process of shaking a females hand was different than that of a males. She shook with both hands rather than just one, and held the position for far longer than he was accustomed. He kept his hand completely still throughout the process as she felt around his hand. Was this part of the greeting or the assessment? Aeson couldn’t be sure and as precaution tried to do the same to her. Feeling the shape of her hand with as small of movements as he could make. It was quite a bit smaller than a male humans, and completely dwarfed in comparison to Aeson’s own.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you too 14. And please, just call me Hana okay?" Finally she had let go of his hand, which dropped to his side trying to ignore the odd sensation that lingered. He wasn’t positive, but something of the previous action had felt out of place, awkward if you would.

“Han, a. Ha… na. Hana,” Aeson tested out the name a few times before finally saying it properly. For a moment he wondered if he should share his own name. Though it then occurred to him that he knew almost all of the scientist’s names, and he doubted if any of them knew his. “It is pleasure… Hana,” He reintroduced, the name still feeling foreign in his mouth.

It was then that Jeremiah left, leaving the two in the office by themselves. To which Aeson wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or even more anxious. Being short a watchful eye meant that making a mistake in protocol was less likely to have repercussion, but it also meant that he was in a room with a person he had no idea how to behave around. Then after telling him to change, Doctor Lucien left the room, making him by himself.

Carefully he removed the brown fur skirt that had covered is lower half and slipped into the white hospital-style gown. His movements were slow and gingerly as he avoided touching anything he wasn’t supposed to. He had never quite figured out how, but the humans always knew when something had been touched. Once the gown was on he reached behind and began to tie to the back closed, with only enough room for his tail to stick out. It was odd to be in solitude for this, typically whichever human that was working on him would stay and watch.

“Dikaati thi't cichagi?” Aeson asked himself out loud, before quickly putting a hand over his mouth. The humans didn’t like hearing Mirrinian outside the village. He let out a sigh of relief when he remembered he was by himself. Finished with his dressing, he folded his skirt and placed on a small table and turned back to the door. Opening it he leaned his head into the hall, Doctor Lucien—Hana—had been waiting just outside.

“Ha-na, done now.” He said, giving her the confirmation that she could come back in.

Hana used the wait to collect her thoughts. "So, in the span of-" a quick glance at her watch, "Thirty minutes, we figured out aliens exist, Area 51 was harboring them, and her new job was taking care of them." she could feel the tension beginning to pool right in between her shoulder blades, and a Advil in her future.

Attempting to redirect her excess energy, she focused her thoughts on the being in the other room. 14 was a remarkable creature, so much like her own but yet so outlandishly different at the same time. His clothes had resembled hough of native americans,most fur skin and very basic designs with a few beads here and there. His hand had dwarfed both of hers, and she wondered if he had demands her own out of curiosity or a feeling of necessity. Perhaps he'd been mimicking her? How much did they know about human greetings or human culture period? His English was a bit broken, defiantly no formal training, he must have just picked it up by himself.

She still had a few English books lying around form her college days, she could bring them and a pick up a few lower level books from the library. It would be wonderful to communicate with him fully.

“Ha-na, done now.”

Her head whipped around as she looked up from her inner dialogues. He somehow looked even more alien in he gown than he did his actual clothes.

"Alright, let's get started." She smiled and motioned for him to sit down as she got the nesscary tools out. The set he's chop was first, asking him to breath in and out as she listened for abnormalities and liquid in his lungs.

"So," She began after a small silence, putting the sethesc opp e back in its drawer. "What's your name? Besides that number they gave you, if you don't mind me asking."

Aeson followed the woman’s instruction to sit, though he remained incredibly still. As she gathered her tools Aeson watched her, perplexed. He still wasn’t quite sure what she was, though he had more or less gotten over this fact. What was confusing him now, was why he needed a physical in the first place. Until now, he had only received one every few months. And he had just had once a few days ago. Perhaps they had discovered something wrong and were following up, but Aeson was sure that Jeremiah would’ve said something if that were the case. Maybe it was for the new doctor to learn about his kind, but why did they need him then? There were others who were actually due for checkups, unlike him.

"So, what's your name? Besides that number they gave you, if you don't mind me asking."

Her voice made Aeson jump ever so slightly, and it was then he realised that he had gotten lost in his mind. Somewhat embarrassed, he diverted his eyes away from her face, which he had been blankly staring at for the duration of the physical. Though he looked back at her when he realised what she had asked. Now he was completely confused, none of the previous scientists or doctors had ever even seemed like they wanted to know his name, never mind actually asking.

“Ahm,” He cleared his throat, unsure if he really should share. He doubted that the others would be very pleased with it. Then again, he was taught to never deny a humans request. “Aeson. It is Aeson,” Somehow, it almost felt foreign to be speaking his own name to another.