6: Varaum-91C

Somewhere inside a distant galaxy, on a huge planet surrounded by several rings, the ground was bustling with a crowd of non-human origins. This hollow disc shaped planet is a home for an alien species that are often addressed as Darthars in the vast cosmos. The name of this planet was Varaum-91C.

These alien species have been holding a position just a step above humanity in the cosmic hierarchy. One might assume that being on the step above humanity might give these species a complete dominance over humans. However, that is not debatable.

Instead, the reality is that the difference between humans and darthars is not wide enough to completely overwhelm humans. On several occasions humans have stood their grounds against darthars in diplomatic squabbles and feuds over resources.

Although both species are not quite fond of each other and remain in recurrent conflict, there still exist crucial diplomatic, commercial and political relationships between the two species. 

However, that doesn't change the fact that Darthar are still above humans in the hierarchy. That's because they have efficient data acquisition protocols, diverse culture, flourishing ecosystem, strength, along with a commendable military might; however out of all, their technological standpoint is what really sets them apart from humans.

Their specialization in industrial, practical, and mechanical arts and applied science is what gives them a cutting edge over human beings despite being a type-2 civilization, same as humans.

Their biological anatomy closely matches with humans except for their head that resembles that of a white-bearded snail. Just like humans they walk on two legs, yet unlike a human skull the bones in their forehead have an elegant bulging curvature reaching all the way to the nose; a single boney bulging forehead that separates the eyeballs.

In contrast to the bulging mass of the forehead reaching the end of their nostrils, their cheek bones are excessively skinny. The dense white facial hair on the cheeks and dark eyes gives them a look that is plum and full of wisdom.

Apart from that they have a similar body structure like humans with two sets of hands and legs. Their biology is quite similar to the species of the mammal kingdom. This is because they have lived and evolved in the same kind of atmospheric conditions as that of humans. 

Nevertheless, the most important fact out of all is that these inhabitants of this planet are the species who are behind the creation and distribution of gigantic premium mobile cruises that are also called the 'The Disque Caravan'.

—

In the night sky of this distant habitat of Darthars, a commercial stellar cruise soon entered one of the million air routes. This stellar ship had a build quality far below average. With hydraulic grease and smoke leaking out of the rusty cracks above the ionic thrusters, the ship was silently crying for urgent maintenance.

Soon, the ship gracefully landed on the base of the public hyperspace station. The gates opened and several passengers came out of the ship all at once. All of them had thin glowing film over  their entire bodies, which immediately evaporated when they all clicked twice on a round metal disk attached to their chest. 

Each of these passengers after coming out of their ships voluntarily handed over the metal disc to the darthar conductor that came out from the front door of the steller ship. These metal discs were nothing but Darthar-made safety flight suits for the passengers. 

Most of the passengers along with the ship conductor were Darthers. However, among those passengers, there were two humans. Both of their faces were covered with air-tight helmets concealing their facial identities.

The conductor soon directed the only two human passengers towards a specific direction. It seems that both of them needed to go through interstellar customs checks. 

As they moved toward the customs they noticed several azure glass chambers lined up. One of those glass chambers opened. This time an armed Darthar who stood behind a translucent glass chamber came forward and signaled them to halt on their track. 

He uttered, 

"Official IDs and stellar board pass please."

Both of them stretched out their hands. The Darthers official dabbed a blues glass panel over both of their wrists which turned green. The Darthat official soon glanced over the details that appeared on the panel for a few seconds before uttering.

"Mr. Fang Jin and Mr. Creed Griffon. I want both of you to remove your helmets and state the purpose of your visit."

Both Fang and Creed clicked the right side of their temple making the metallic helmet shrink and transform into an ear plug now covering just their ears lobes. Fang leaned forward and replied with a bright smile.

"We are here for a meeting with a potential business client, Sir!"

"How long have you known this person? Is he a permanent resident here ?"

"We know him through a mutual acquaintance. He is indeed a permanent resident who runs a small business here in sector UC-65."

"How long do you plan to stay?"

"We have a return flight scheduled in 19 hours."

"I see!" The Darthar official glanced at them for a few seconds and pulled out black palm-sized tablet. "Alright! You are clear. Humans with hunter Ids need to wear these at all times during the visit. I need you to put your wrist over this tablet."

Fang and Creed both looked at each other and nodded. As instructed, they both put their wrists on the tablet, and a thin metallic band twiched and jumped out of the tablet and wrapped itself around their wrists.

"If I may ask!" Fang smiled and asked as he gazed over his wrists with a child-like curiosity, "What are these bands?"

The Darthar official put the tablet and id-scanner inside his pocket. He then pressed the button that lit up the path towards the exit and mumbled.

"Just a mandatory security protocol… " The Darthar official replied ignorantly.

After not getting any satisfactory reply, they both proceeded toward the exit and were greeted with an energetic and bustling Darthar local residents on the streets. Seeing so many Darthars at once  flustered them boys. Creed was a loss for words too.

This was his first time, traveling to a distant alien planet. Not to mention that his senses were tossing and turning trying to accommodate these foreign facial features and their expressions into his mind. 

All this time he had alway had an advantage since he was so over the edge good at reading human expressions but this was completely new territory for him to adapt.

Fang looked towards Creed, completely dazzled by the scene and a smug smile appeared on his face as if he was already familiar with what was going on inside his mind.

"We are here… " Fang turned his head at Creed, "so.. what now?"