Smoke rolled among the low roof beams, while cold, condensed vapours wraps itself around the feets, paws, and pseudopods of the myriad of patrons of the bar. The bar-bot disengaged itself from the large group at one end of the bar and rolled over to the solitary, hooded figure seated by itself at the other end of the long counter.

“Same again?”

The hood dipped slightly, as if the sentient under it was inclining its head. A stiff limb with multiple digits grabbed the drink bulb offered by the bar-bot, deftly peeling the warning sticker off.

"To be born a Human," the bar-bot said as it extended a waldo towards the tall biped that was the centre of attention at the other end of the bar, "just look at him getting all the ladies' attention… and the guys' attention… and the attention of whatever the Sagitarians call their fifth gender these days."

"You're not even born." a heavily accented voice from under the hood said as the empty bulb reappeared from the hood, "But yes, he is certainly thriving on all the attention… but he ain't human."

There was a soft whirr as the bar-bot zoomed in at one of the patrons at the other end of the bar.

"Oh dear. One of the Efts just went into heat… that is going to leave a stain on the floor. Anyway, he says he is human and he ought to know, right my friend? Same again?"

"Same again. Look at the ears, and the spikes. I mean, that seems like a half decent attempt to get the hands and thumbs right - back alley surgery, I bet - but that guy, friend barkeep, is a humaboo… a human wannabe."

A fresh drink bulb disappeared into the hood as the bar bot processed what had just been said.

"A humaboo? Why lie about something like your species?" it asked as the empty bulb reappeared, "Besides, he certainly tells a lot of stories about Terra."

"He certainly has a superficial understanding of earth culture and history. But not detailed enough to fool someone who knows humans."

"Almost no humans travel this far from Terra and the Orion arm. I'm wondering if you are simply jealous, Captain Josh. Same again?"

"Relived is more like it… just look, he has gills - humans don't have gills. I better not, I launch in a few hours. Put it on my tab, please."

"Very well. But how would you know?" the bar bot asked, "Have you ever seen a human?"

"Only," the hooded figure said as he rose unsteadily, "only every time I look at myself in a mirror…"

The bar suddenly got very quiet… and then exploded in the sound of feets, paws, and pseudopods quickly moving from one end of the bar to the other.

Captain Josh stared at the empty alcohol bulb in his hand.

"Oh shit," he muttered, "I said that out loud, didn't I?"