He seems to believe every word

“I believe you.” Dr. Marque spoke quietly but clearly and Samantha felt her heart jump in her chest in wonder and relief.

“You do?!?” She asked trying unsuccessfully to keep her disbelief from her voice.

“I guess I'm a sucker for a pretty face.” The doctor joked as he took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Samantha could feel her face flush in embarrassment, it would take a while before she could get used to someone as handsome as this doctor calling her pretty. Or was it the warmth of his elegant fingers curled around hers that brought the color to her face? Perhaps unwisely she tried to calm her nerves by taking another sip of her drink.

“I don't know what to tell you Samantha.” The doctor begins still holding her hand in his. “Normally I'd take you directly to our security offices to collect samples and initiate a comp...”

“No!” Interrupted Samantha, “I just can't.”

“Ssshh,” Once again Samantha found herself nestled against the doctor's silk shirt. “I wasn't going to advise that.” He reassured her stroking her hair softly. Samantha thought she sensed some frustration in the doctor's voice as he spoke.

“Why not?” Samantha asked in surprise at least in part in relief at not having to go through what she could only imagine to be a humiliating experience.

“I'm sorry.” Dr. Marque apologized. “We can certainly get our medical staff to collect samples that would be used by the prosecutor's office. My chief of security Mr. Abrams has connections that might speed the process and if I add my name to the request it will certainly get prompt attention.” He shook his head sadly and this time it was Samantha who ran her hand over the slightly stubbled cheek of the suddenly tired looking doctor. “But none of this will make any difference in the long run.”

“Why ever not Dr. Marque?” Samantha began but was immediately interrupted.

“Please, call me Will.”

“Ok then Will.” She liked the way his name sounded as she said it for the first time. "How could prosecuting this creep not matter, Will?” She definitely liked the way that sounded. “I want to make sure this doesn't happen again.”

“That's why it really doesn't matter, Samantha.” Will told her with a slight shrug. “This case won't even make it to court. A Court-appointed Justice will convict Tierno just based on these preliminary facts, and he will be deported without even a trial.” Samantha nodded, not so much because she understood what he was saying as because she liked the way his voice sounded. “And as of an hour from now I plan to revoke his working papers which will result in the exact same result.” He held her hand is his again and shrugged slightly.

“I'm afraid the Aria justice system doesn't care to waste time protecting one undocumented rimmer from another.” Samantha stared at the striking man in confusion, relieved that she wouldn't have to submit to the indignity of a medical evaluation but unhappy with what the doctor was saying about her lack of documentation.

“I don't understand.” She finally said.

“The problem is that according to what you've told me, you have no legal presence on Aria.” Samantha stared at him in disbelief.

“What do you mean?” She asked, pulling away from him.

“Your story about being transported here through time and space isn’t going to convince many court officials, and without a chip and with no record of your arrival on Aria, you are technically an illegal.” Marque explained.

“So that makes it OK to **** me?!” Samantha relief was turning to anger and she pulled away from the handsome doctor.

“No of course not, Samantha.” The doctor sighed. “But the sad and simple truth is just that this case would never make it to a Jury, and even of it did, no jury of citizens is likely to care about what happened. They'd send Tierno away for sure, but, if not for my influence they'd send you off-planet on the very same cryo-ship.”