Shore leave and a visa to Aeden, the Paradise Planet. I couldn’t believe my luck as we descended through green skies towards the space port.

After landing, I followed the signs to the human processing area. A deep, robotic voice directed me to one of a row of doors. I stepped into a small room with the sterile feel of an operating theatre, and the door closed behind me. I’d heard of Aeden’s rapid vaccination procedure, but didn’t know much about it.

On a table was something that looked like a hospital gown with a harness.

“Put it on,” the voice instructed.

I undressed and put the gown on. I heard a whirring noise above my head and looked up. A metallic arm descended towards me out of a complex array of machinery. It held a large syringe.

“Relax your right arm,” said the voice.

I did my best.

I felt a cold scratch.

Seconds later, I felt dizzy and feverish. Suddenly, my stomach lurched and I gagged. I doubled over and threw up violently. And again. Then I lost control completely and vile liquids came out of all my orifices. It went on and on. I was on my hands and knees, drained, when it finally stopped. I felt sweaty and weak, like a fever breaking after a severe illness. An illness fast-forwarded.

I felt a click behind me and I was lifted in the air by the harness, the soiled gown falling away. Hoses sprayed from several directions, cleaning me and the floor.

A door I hadn’t seen before opened, and I was deposited in a shower cubicle. Warm water flowed pleasantly from above, and a shelf to my right held colourful gels and shampoos.

“You have been successfully vaccinated against 4,252 pathogens dangerous to one or more of the species who visit Aeden. You may proceed.”

I towelled dry, feeling the colour return to my face. I wasn’t even surprised when another previously unseen door opened. I entered a larger sunlit room, a high, wide window showing the pale green sky.

Beachwear sat neatly folded on a chair. On a small table nearby sat an oval glass with a deep orange liquid, a straw and the fruity smell of a cocktail.

“Welcome to Aeden. Enjoy your stay.”

#microfiction #writing #sci-fi #ScienceFiction #paradise #vaccination