Do you know what it's like running a pet grooming service on a station where people can have pets from all over the universe? It's not easy, but it's very rewarding. -- DaniAndShali
[AN: Given the general similarities between cogniscent species from one area and pets in another, all grooming and beauty services tend to mesh together. Same with medical practices.]
The small creature was shivering in its carrier. The concerned Human opened it to let the creature out onto the prepared mat. "By the time I homed in on the signal, this was the only critter alive. None of the translators work, and I know it needs some love..."
The small meeping creature found their way to the heating mat and huddled on it. They did not stop meeping, but slowed down a little.
"The scanners said simple protiens and non-complicated carbohydrates and I tried to keep it healthy, I have... and there's this gluck on them and... I think they've been trying to talk to me."
Beautician Quyn had more complicated scanners than Salvager Herb. She was prepared to contact the CRC about this anyway, but it was always best to be sure. Accidental cogniscent pets happened more often than might be believed. It was the deliberate ones that caused the most trouble.
Ah. Her suspicions were confirmed. "This is a pre-verbal infant. A Class three Havenworlder."
Salvager Herb covered their face with their hands. "Oh no... Oh no oh no. Did I hurt them? Did I do some other damage? I tried my best to be kind..."
And kindness was relative, too.
The proper data emerged at last from the searches, and an alert automatically went out to the CRC. Beautician Quyn brought out the appropriate wipes for the little one's skin and carefully daubed the wrong kinds of 'gluck' from the kid. "You did your best with limited knowledge, that is understood. The CRC will be helping with proper care until a foster family can be found. You have records of your finding?"
"Yeah. And I marked where I buried the bodies. There wasn't a lot left when I got there. Nothing working, and... this little mite..." Tears. Salvager Herb turned away from the infant Havenworlder. "They were playing in the wreck..."
And likely with any remains. That had to be terrible in retrospect. The child did not understand the difference. Yet. Poor mite.
"The thin good news is that exposure to a kindly Deathworlder has done some epigenetic improvements on them. They will be stronger for the experience."
"And not..." the Human tapped their own temple. "Wrecked?"
"We have an abundance of counsellors ready to take on the case," soothed Beautician Quyn. A rescue rescued. "There's little wrong with this baby that a little hydration and extra rest won't see right again."
"Oh thank the Powers," muttered Salvager Herb.
At least in this case, there would be little in the way of legal action.
Next on her docket - an eagerly friendly pup who needed his nails trimmed and blunted. The real problem with that one was getting the creature to sit still.
[Image by Shari Sirotnak on Unsplash]
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