At first, you won't feel anything.

So it's probably not as bad as they say, you think to yourself. But then after a second, just one single second, you'll start feeling the pain. It stings like a thin crystal of Goljm in your veins and gets inside you slow, real, damn slow. So you try to think of something else, to distract in some way. You think of the green grasslands of the Kahlo and the docile animals quietly grazing there; you think of the boundless ocean of Bolm, wondering how many secrets its deep and spellbound bed is hiding; you think of the women in the Desert of Hursh, all of their seductive dances, and the liqueurs of their men that would wipe just anything off your mind; then you don't think of anything, really anything, because the pain is too strong and you won't feel like thinking anymore; and then...

Then, luckily, it ends.

The nurse tells me to reopen my eyes and gently invites me to leave the room, she still has lots of work to do. I get up, and I notice a single tear is running on my cheek. I dry it up and head to the door.

As I open it, I see a long line of comrades calmly waiting for their turn. One of them approaches me with apprehension.

"So? How was it?"

"Oh... you know, it's not as bad as they say. Hardly felt it at all", I lie. Reassured, he smiles back at me.

As I finally leave the building, I think about what's waiting them in here, and a shiver crosses my back.

But I'm better off this way, I know I'm doing the right thing. It's better to stand the painful bite of that damn puncture than risking your squamae for that terrible disease. I've already seen dozens of companions getting infected, you know? It's horrible... it starts from the antennae, and then goes to heads, necks and shoulders, till the end of your claws; small and sluggish rosy swellings jump out of nothing and soon end up covering your whole body, and there's nothing you can do about it: just wait for it to go away, hoping it's not going to kill you.

They say the Colonists brought it here while coming back from their latest mission.

And what were they calling it? ChjkanPusch... ChjckanPox... yeah, something like that.