Nick
The New Earth Alien Embassy stood like a monolith of glass and steel against the blue sky, looking larger than life. Nick tilted his head back, eyes squinting against the sun as he tried to watch the whole structure simultaneously. It was beautiful and scary at the same time.
Every person Nick knew wanted to be part of this prestigious organization. NEAE was founded when humans first contacted an intelligent alien species 400 years ago, and it has continued to grow ever since. It was a marvel of modern engineering, and secrets of the universe edged into every surface of it.
Nick had dreamed of being here one day. It was one of the main reasons he took up Alien Medicine after school. The world beyond Earth, the mystery of life, and aliens, these were all the things that kept him up at night. However, now that he was here, he felt like an imposter. His hands clenched the strap of his old, ragged bag as he stood before the massive metal door, unsure if the guards would even let him in. He looked out of place...young, inexperienced, still a newbie, where others looked much more suited for this place.
The laser sensors scanned his face before swishing open. Nick made his way inside with hesitant steps, awestruck at the beautiful architecture, an amazing amalgamation between modern and historical artistry.
"Nick Allen?"
A sharp voice startled him, snapping him back to reality. A woman in a black uniform stood with a tablet in hand, her expression cold.
"Yes," Nick answered.
She barely looked up from her tablet. "Follow me. The orientation room is this way."
Nick stumbled a step before he followed the woman through the labyrinth of corridors. Nick would have taken his time to appreciate the grandeur of the Embassy more if not for the woman's long gait that made Nick run after her.
This was a place where dreams were made. Each door carried endless possibilities. There were technological marvels, first-contact archives, and the secrets of the whole universe. There was so much to learn... so much to discover.
Nick came to a vast auditorium where other interns had already gathered. Nick's eyes almost bulged when he recognized some of the faces. They were well-known scholars and gold medalists in Medical Science. All of them sat tall and proud, looking as professional as they probably were.
"Take a seat, we are about to start," the woman said, walking to the front of the auditorium.
Just as he sat down, a hologram flickered to life, displaying Nick's name in front of his desk.
Nick's eyes scanned the room before finding a corner seat. He turned around and noticed Rita Verma, a well-known alien doctor, who had once come to Nick's university as a guest lecturer as well. Nick gulped, feeling a niggle of self-doubt. What was he even doing here? He had never worked with an alien, never really had real hands-on experience; all his knowledge came from books.
Moments later, a middle-aged man in a black suit came to the stage. "Good morning. Welcome to the New Earth Alien Embassy," he began, his voice thick and vibrating. "I am Director Hammond. I will be taking your orientation today."
"You will be assigned to mentors who oversee specific alien species," Hammond continued. "Your performance here will shape your career and humanity's future among the stars."
A series of names and faces appeared on the projector behind Dr. Hammond, followed by their mentors. When Nick's name came up, his breath caught. Dr. Ira Desai, Specialist in Grosh Physiology.
Nick's heart gave an involuntary thud when he read that name. He blinked, trying to clear his head and ensure he read it right. Someone has to be in a coma to have never heard the name Ira Desai. She was the best alien physician on Earth. But it wasn't just her that made her famous; it was who she worked with.
The Grosh.
The name alone sent shivers down Nick's body. Grosh weren't just alien beings; they were the most superior alien beings among all the intelligent aliens that humans knew. They were gods walking among mortals. There was very little knowledge available about them. They were the fastest intraspace travellers; they knew how to bend space, travel through wormholes. As humanoid as they looked, there was nothing human about them.
No one knew how old the Grosh truly were. They could be older than the Earth's solar system or older than time itself. Humans had developed entire fields to study Grosh aliens, yet their existence was still a big secret. Assisting Dr. Desai would mean Nick would have to work closely with these god-like beings, especially the Grosh Ambassador, Dan.
If you ignored his imposing height of six feet seven, the Grosh alien could pass as human from afar, but he would be undeniably alien if you looked closely. His body, muscular, smooth slate-gray skin gave him the appearance of a god carved from stone. Grosh usually supported longer hair; Dan had long hair when he first came to stay on Earth, but he cut his hair short to blend in with the humans. His short hair accentuated his angular jaw and piercing silver eyes. But it wasn't his appearance that made Nick nervous; it was his personality.
"As you might already know," the director's voice pulled Nick out of his spiraling thoughts, "we choose interns from across the world to come and work with our physicians every year. We congratulate you on your success in making it here this year."
Nick puffed up his chest and sat up straighter, feeling proud of being one of the chosen ones. He knew how hard he worked to gain his medical degree. He came from a poor family, and getting a degree wasn't an easy feat. He had worked long hours while in medical school just to earn the fees, studied without sleep to be in the scholarship program. And even though he wasn't a gifted student, he certainly was a hardworking one.
"Why don't you guys introduce yourselves individually," the director urged.
Rita Verma was the first to speak up.
"Hi, my name is Rita Verma. I have worked under Dr. Kruti in her research on alien organ transplants. I have written two books detailing Vaigan aliens' anatomy. Currently, I am working on my third book. I am honored to be selected as an intern at NEAE, and I am looking forward to working with you guys. Thank you so much."
Nick stared at her, starstruck. Nick had read one of her research papers during his second year in medical school. He would have never thought of working at the same level as her one day.
Nick wasn't even over his amazement when the next person started talking. From all of their introductions, it was clear Nick had no work experience. He was the youngest and the only one fresh out of medical college.
Nick hesitated when it was his turn. He stood up, fists clenched by his side. "My name is Nick Allen. I completed my PhD in alien medicine two months ago. It has been my lifelong dream to work at NEAE. And I want to thank you for offering me this internship." The introduction sounded hollow in comparison to the list of achievements others listed. There were a few seconds of silence as people expected him to add more.
"Thank you guys for introducing yourselves," the director said, breaking the silence. "Once again, we are happy to have you guys here. You will be taken to your respective doctors for further instructions," he informed.
Nick saw Rita rush to Hammond and talk to him urgently in a low voice. When the director responded, his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "These selections are based on your personality traits and have nothing to do with your merit."
Rita turned around when she saw everyone staring at her, clearly embarrassed.
"He doesn't deserve to work for Grosh people," Nick heard Rita say.
"Take it up with HR. It's not in my control," the man said before walking away.
She gritted her teeth, her neck giving Nick a hard glare before rushing behind Hammond.
After orientation, representatives in NEAE uniforms directed each intern to their respective physician offices.
"Dr. Desai's office is on the third floor," a young woman said as she directed Nick toward the elevator. "Good luck," she said, pressing the button for the third floor, giving him a professional smile as she did so. He smiled back in response, but before the smile could reach his eyes, the elevator door closed. He tapped his feet, his heart hammering as the elevator ascended.
Nick got off on the third floor. As he walked along the corridors, which had translucent walls that glowed softly with bioluminescent light, he imagined what it would be like to meet Dan.
The name alone was enough to set his nerves on edge. Dan. The alien either envied, feared, or idolized. Nick knew his assignment was a privilege, but it felt like a curse. He would have much preferred one of those Zeta aliens, or Canopusarians, or even Vaigans—but Grosh, it was the last alien ambassador he thought of working for. What was a new graduate supposed to do for a being who could bend time and space to his will?
Nick stopped before a brushed metal door, the name Dr. Desai etched into its surface in clean, clinical lettering. He knocked twice and waited, shoulders squared, putting all his effort into looking confident. No verbal permission came. Instead, the door slid open on its own with a soft mechanical hiss, revealing a sleek, minimalist office beyond.
A narrow desk dominated the space, its surface pristine except for a floating holographic display. Behind it sat Dr. Desai, thick glasses balanced low on her nose, her attention fixed on the data streaming before her. Translucent projections shifted and reassembled—alien musculature, skeletal overlays, organs rendered in precise detail—casting a pale blue glow across her face. She didn't look up immediately when he entered. When she finally did, it was without lifting her head, her eyes finding him through the glass as if she had been aware of his presence long before the door opened.
"Nick Allen?" she asked, her tone neutral as her eyes scanned him.
"Yes, ma'am," he said, walking toward her desk.
"Have a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair in front of her.
He obeyed like a school student brought in for a lecture to the principal's office.
"Good morning," Nick greeted, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants.
"I'll be blunt," Dr. Desai began, leaning back in her chair. "I change interns faster than any other physician on NEAE. And there is a reason for that. The Grosh are not like anything you've encountered before. Their physiology, their psychology, even their sense of morality—it's alien in every sense of the word. So be prepared for anything and everything. Don't be shocked when things don't seem professional at times."
Nick nodded, swallowing hard. "I understand, Dr. Desai. I'll do my best to keep up."
Her sharp eyes locked onto him. "Do you know why I chose you over all the other more qualified applicants?"
Nick blinked, caught off guard by the question. He shook his head. "No, ma'am."
Her gaze narrowed. "Because you're not special."
"Special people have egos," she continued. "And egos are a liability when it comes to working with Dan. The Grosh ambassador is... challenging, to put it mildly. You were one of the few who seemed willing to unlearn everything you know and start fresh. That's the only reason you're here. It's not a compliment; it's an expectation."
Nick nodded, though the lump in his throat made it difficult to speak.
"Dan is... an asshole," Dr. Desai said, her tone as blunt as a hammer. "He's manipulative, arrogant, and exhausting. Not to mention, he's critical to everything we're building here. If you're going to survive, you'll need patience. A lot of it."
She studied him for a moment, then handed him a slim data tablet. "This is everything you need to know... for now. The Grosh are secretive about their biology, even with us. You'll be working closely with Dan, their ambassador." She paused before adding, "But don't let him intimidate you."
Nick accepted the tablet. He had no idea what he was getting into, but one thing was clear: this was going to be the experience of a lifetime.
Later, he went to his quarter at the other end of the NEAE campus. Nick was assigned a luxurious living quarter. The walls could change color and texture at his command, and the bed adjusted to his preferred firmness. A huge window by the study table had a sprawling view of the cityscape, a maze of towering skyscrapers and a labyrinth of transportation tubes. Above all that was the sky-touching alien residence building standing out from all other structures, the top of the building disappearing into the faint haze of the upper atmosphere.
Nick sank onto the couch, feeling utterly exhausted. He was here... really here.
Nick pulled up the manual he had received on Grosh aliens. For such a complex alien, the manual was surprisingly light.
Nick skimmed through it. Most of the information was already familiar: Grosh had higher body temperatures than humans and an additional bone on their wrist called the Avath. It was both a weapon and a biological tool capable of injecting venom. The book hinted at its role in mating, though Nick wasn't sure what to make of that.
A knock interrupted his reading.
Sierra, one of the interns he had seen earlier today, stood before his door. She was a well-known physician in her forties. She had been the only person to speak to him nicely since he'd arrived.
"Dinner?" she asked, smiling warmly.
Nick nodded. "Sure, let me grab my badge."
Dinner was lavish, with an array of dishes that seemed more alien than human. Some interns whispered and laughed, casting glances in Nick's direction. He ignored them, focusing on the food.
Sierra sighed. "It sucks they took our phones. I wanted to call my kids."
"They'll let us use them eventually," Nick said, though he felt relieved not to have his. Talking to his stepmother would only sour his mood. And he knew she would call, if only to ask when he would receive his first paycheck.
For now, he focused on surviving. Tomorrow, his real work would begin.