“Ser, your tests came back.”

The doctor clicked his pincers in what I could only assume was supposed to be an encouraging gesture. The deep blue tone of his exoskeleton was thoroughly out of place in the sterile, white, clinical infirmary.

He almost reminded me of my home planet, his appearance reminiscent of an insect found there called a mantis. I hadn’t seen Earth in years. Planet Carbonem of the Rho Galaxy, as the Federation called it, named after the rare excess of carbon found there.

I felt a pang of sadness at the thought. I hadn’t felt Earth’s sun on my face in what felt like eons, and at this rate I never would again. I could feel my body growing weaker with every passing rotation.

“Ser?” Dr. Gromk broke my train of thought.

“The results?” I snapped back to reality, meeting his large, bloated orange eyes.

“The news is fresh, Ser James. You are in the best of health. You are not ill at all.”

“Bullshit.”

“Bull… shit?” The doctor tipped his head sideways in confusion at the English word. “What is this?”

“It means that you’re wrong.” I grit my teeth, trying to suppress the urge to strangle him. “You need to summon another doctor from the Federation. Someone that specializes in humans.”

“But, Ser-“

“I’m serious.” I abruptly stood, despite the pain that shot through me. “I’m dying. I need help. I don’t care what your test says. It’s wrong.”

I stormed out of the infirmary, trying to stay steady as I went towards my quarters. No one knew what was wrong with me. It was infuriating. I felt like I was going crazy. I hoped a bit of rest and a specialist would be enough.

---

I awoke with a start, struggling to breathe. Something was very wrong. My body was shutting down. I just prayed to whatever deity that was listening that I could make it through.

I tried to stand and my legs were too weak to hold my weight, collapsing back onto my bed. It was a strain to find my communicator in the dark.

“Summon Doctor to human qua…” I couldn’t even get the words out, dying for oxygen.

---

“He’s in perfect health. A perfect specimen.”

I tried to look around in the darkness at the unfamiliar voice.

“That’s what I concluded.” Dr. Gromk said, clicking in annoyance.

“Help…” My lungs burned as I forced the single word out. Why were they talking over me in the dark? Why couldn’t they see that it was all wrong? I was going to die and they would tell me that I was healthy into my grave.

“Ser, it is time to stop.” The new voice demanded. “I am a human specialist from the Federation and you are in excellent health.”

My breathing felt like flames in my lungs as I struggled to take in oxygen.

“Please… turn on the lights… look… I’m dying…” I pleaded desperately, starting to panic. I was only 43 earthen years old. I wasn’t ready to die.

“Ser, that is enough.” The new doctor said sternly. “I can see your eyes responding to the light clearly. It is time to stop the falsehoods. You are healthy.”

I hesitated, feeling the complete and total distress in my stomach. I was blind. My muscles were too weak. I could barely breathe. I was going to die here, on a ship thousands of light years from any other humans, surrounded by aliens that were insisting I was healthy right into my grave.

Life certainly was bullshit.