- 2 days ago
▶He gave her his last can of food a decade ago. Now she returns—beautiful, transformed, and holding the same can. But what she says next changes everything.
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Keywords: "Dive into the captivating world of HFY (Humanity, Fuck Yeah!) with our latest video, featuring an enthralling HFY Short Story that showcases the indomitable spirit of humanity in the vast expanse of the cosmos.
Experience a unique Sci-Fi Story where Humans are Space Orcs, demonstrating their resilience and ingenuity in a universe filled with challenges. This Sci-Fi Short Story, inspired by the popular Reddit HFY Stories and the intriguing concept of Humans are Space Orcs, promises a blend of adventure, conflict, and the triumph of the human spirit.
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FunTranscript
00:00Human gave little alien girl his last food. Now she returns years later to repay his kindness.
00:06The rusted industrial skyline of Novar Prime was a mockery of what it once had been.
00:11Twisted metal spires reached toward an ash-colored sky like the fingers of a dying man.
00:17Rain fell in sporadic, acidic bursts, eating away at what little remained of this alien world's
00:23former glory. I sat on my cardboard box, the only possession I could truly call mine anymore,
00:29in the middle of a deserted street. My icy blue eyes stared vacantly at the cracked pavement.
00:36The combat suit I wore, dark, sleeveless, lined with tactical straps and armored plates,
00:42had seen better days, much like myself. My massive arms, still corded with muscle despite my age,
00:50were exposed to the biting cold. The white beard that cascaded down my chest was the only warmth I
00:55had. Ten years. Ten goddamn years on this forsaken rock. I'd come here as a mercenary when the mining
01:04corporations still thought they could squeeze blood from the stone. When they pulled out,
01:09they left behind their equipment, their trash, and people like me. Expendable assets no longer
01:15worth the fuel to transport off-world. My mind drifted back to that night, so long ago. The
01:22night that, for some reason, kept haunting me more than all the blood I'd spilled or the friends I'd
01:28buried. It had been raining then, too. Not this half-hearted drizzle, but a proper deluge that turned
01:35the streets into rivers. I'd been huddled in the doorway of an abandoned factory, counting my remaining
01:41rations, one protein bar, half a canteen of water, and a single can of synthetic meat.
01:48The corporations had pulled out three days earlier, and the exodus had begun. Those with credits fled,
01:55those without waited to die. That's when I saw her, a small figure curled into a ball beside a waste
02:01disposal unit. At first, I thought it was just another pile of discarded clothing. But then it moved,
02:07and I saw the unmistakable orange skin of a Novarian child. No more than six or seven,
02:12by their standards. Hey, I called out, my voice rough from disuse. You lost, kid! The child looked
02:19up, startled. Large, luminous eyes blinked at me through the rain. She was trembling, whether from
02:25cold or fear, I couldn't tell. Probably both. I shouldn't have cared. In my line of work,
02:31Karen got you killed. But something about those eyes, the absolute terror and hopelessness in them,
02:38reached past decades of scar tissue around my heart. You hungry? I asked, already knowing the
02:44answer. She nodded, still pressed against the wall, as if expecting me to hurt her. I looked down at my
02:49meager supplies. The protein bar would keep me going for another day. The water was essential. The can,
02:56well, it was my emergency backup. But the kid looked like she hadn't eaten in days.
03:03Fuck it, I muttered, pulling out the can. I used my combat knife to pry it open, the smell of processed
03:10meat filling the air. The child's eyes widened, and I saw her swallow reflexively. Here, I said,
03:17holding it out. Take it. She didn't move at first, suspicious of the offering. Smart kid. But hunger
03:24eventually won out, and she darted forward, snatching the can from my hands before retreating
03:29to a safe distance. I watched as she devoured the contents, using her fingers to scoop out every
03:35last morsel. When she finished, she looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
03:40Thank you, she said in broken standard, her voice small but clear. I just nodded, already regretting my
03:47moment of weakness. That might have been the difference between life and death for me in the
03:52coming days. Go on, get out of here, I said gruffly. Find somewhere dry. She hesitated,
03:59then scurried away into the rain, clutching the empty can to her chest like it was precious.
04:04That was the last I saw of her. Until today. I was still sitting on my cardboard box,
04:12contemplating whether I had the energy to search for food, or if this would be the day I finally gave
04:17up when a shadow fell across me. Looking up, I was struck dumb by what I saw. A Novarian female
04:23stood before me, but not like any I had seen before. Her orange skin seemed to glow with vitality,
04:30contrasting with a form-fitting light brown suit that left little to the imagination.
04:35The translucent material clung to curves that would make a human supermodel envious.
04:39A slim waist, generous hips, and a full chest revealed by a plunging neckline. A khaki-colored,
04:46hooded cloak draped over flowing silver-white hair, framing a face that was both alien and
04:51breathtakingly beautiful. But it was her eyes that froze me in place. The same luminous eyes I'd seen
04:58a decade ago, now filled with confidence instead of fear. In her hands, she held something out to me.
05:04A can. The same damn can I'd given her all those years ago. I've come back to repay your kindness,
05:11she said softly, her standard now perfect and melodious. My icy blue eyes widened in shock as
05:18memories and emotions I'd long buried came rushing back. You was all I could manage to say. Her lips
05:24curved into a gentle smile. Me, she confirmed, and I have much more to offer than just this can.
05:30You kept it, I said, staring at the can in her delicate orange hand. All these years. Her smile
05:36widened, revealing teeth that were whiter than I remembered Novarians having. I did more than keep
05:42it, human. I studied it. Every molecule. Every trace element. She stepped closer, and I caught her
05:48scent. Something like cinnamon and ozone. Your name is Greg Dawson, isn't it? I tensed. How do you know
05:55that? I know many things about you now. She tucked the can away in a hidden pocket of her cloak.
06:01My name is Nira, and I owe you everything. I stood from my cardboard throne, my knees protesting the
06:09sudden movement. Even standing straight, she was tall for a Novarian female, the top of her head
06:14reaching my chin. Up close, her beauty was even more striking. Her orange skin had a subtle shimmer to it,
06:21and her eyes contained flecks of gold that seemed to dance in the dim light.
06:26You don't owe me anything, I said gruffly. It was just a can of meat.
06:30It was survival when I had none, she countered. And it was more than food, much more.
06:36She glanced around the empty street. But this is no place for such a conversation.
06:42Will you come with me?
06:43Every instinct honed from decades as a mercenary screamed that this was a trap. Yet something about
06:51her earnestness made me hesitate. Where?
06:54My home, it's not far. She gestured down an alleyway. I have real food, clean water, a shower.
07:03At the mention of a shower, my resolve crumbled. It had been weeks since I'd had more than a splash
07:09of rainwater to clean myself. Lead the way, I said. As we walked, I noticed how she moved,
07:15graceful but alert, constantly scanning our surroundings. She'd learned to survive in this
07:20hellhole too. You've been watching me, I said. It wasn't a question. For several days, she admitted
07:27without shame. I needed to be sure it was you, and that you were... alone. The implication hung
07:33between us. In a place like Nova Prime, companions were either threats or vulnerabilities. After 20
07:40minutes of navigating increasingly narrow passages, she stopped at what appeared to be a solid wall.
07:46With practiced movements, she pressed a sequence of bricks, and a section slid aside, revealing
07:51a hidden doorway. Impressive, I muttered. Necessary, she replied. Her home was a revelation,
07:58a modest but comfortable space carved from what must have been an old maintenance facility.
08:03Clean, well-lit, with actual furniture. A far cry from the cardboard box I'd been calling home.
08:10Please, she said, gesturing to a chair that looks sturdy enough to hold my bulk. Sit. Rest.
08:16I lowered myself into the chair, feeling oddly self-conscious about my filthy state in such
08:21clean surroundings. The shower's through there, she said, pointing to a door.
08:26I have clothing that might fit you. A previous visitor left them behind. I raised an eyebrow at
08:34that, and she laughed. A musical sound that stirred something in me I thought had died years ago.
08:40Not what you're thinking, human. He was a trader who needed shelter during a toxic rain event.
08:46And the shower? I asked, already imagining the luxury of hot water. Fully functional, I've modified
08:52the water recycling system. You can use as much as you need. I didn't need to be told twice.
08:5820 minutes later, I emerged feeling like a new man, dressed in clean clothes that fit surprisingly
09:03well. My beard was trimmed, my bald head gleaming. I'd kept my combat knife strapped to my thigh.
09:09Old habits being what they are. Neera was setting food on a small table. Real food,
09:15not the synthetic protein that passed for sustenance on this planet. She looked up as I entered,
09:21and I saw her eyes widen slightly as they traced the contours of my still muscular frame.
09:27Better? She asked, her voice a touch lower than before.
09:31Mutt, I admitted, suddenly aware of the tension between us. It wasn't just gratitude or curiosity
09:36in her gaze. There was something else, something primal that transcended our different species.
09:41As we ate, she explained how she'd analyzed the can I'd given her, discovering that the
09:47preservatives contained a compound that acted as a powerful antibiotic against a disease that had
09:53been ravaging her people. Your simple act of kindness didn't just save me, she said, leaning
09:59forward. It saved thousands of my kind. The compound in that food, harmless to humans, but miraculous to
10:05us. Became the basis for a treatment we desperately needed. Just dumb luck, I said, uncomfortable with
10:13the reverence in her voice. Perhaps, or perhaps the universe has patterns we don't yet understand.
10:19Her hand moved across the table, orange fingers coming to rest inches from mine. Either way,
10:25I've been searching for you ever since I became old enough to do so. The implication wasn't lost on me.
10:32I was a different man then. Softer. Less broken. I don't see anything broken, she said, her eyes
10:40holding mine with an intensity that sent heat through my veins. I see strength, endurance,
10:46humanity. The way she said that last word, like it was something precious and rare, made my throat
10:52tighten. There are people looking for me now, she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper.
10:58Powerful interests who want the formula I developed. They don't know about you yet,
11:03but they will. We can't stay here long. We, I asked, though I already knew my answer.
11:09After years of merely surviving, the prospect of purpose, and yes, the company of this fascinating
11:15creature, was irresistible. Her fingers bridged the gap between us, touching mine with surprising
11:21warmth. Yes, Greg Dawson. We... The night deepened around Nira's hidden sanctuary. We sat close
11:29together on a worn couch, the remains of our meal forgotten on the table. Her fingers traced the
11:34scars on my forearm, each one a story she seemed eager to hear. This one, she asked, touching a jagged
11:40line that ran from my wrist to elbow. Pirate raid on Vega Colony, I said. Bastard had a vibroblade.
11:46I had the last laugh, though. Her eyes glittered with interest. And this? Her touch moved to a
11:53circular burn mark on my shoulder. Plasma discharge? Weapons malfunctioned during a corporate extraction
11:59job? She leaned closer, her silver-white hair brushing against my chest. The scent of her,
12:06that strange mix of cinnamon and ozone, filled my senses. Your body tells a history of violence,
12:12yet you showed kindness to a starving child. I shrugged, uncomfortable with her admiration.
12:18Anyone would have done the same. No, she said firmly. They wouldn't. My people were dying,
12:25and your corporations were leaving. No one stopped, except you. Her face was inches from mine now,
12:32those golden flecked eyes studying me with an intensity that made my heart pound in a way it
12:38hadn't for decades. Neera, I said, my voice rough with emotion I couldn't quite name. I'm an old man.
12:46By human standards, perhaps. Her hand moved in my face, fingers tracing the lines at the corners of
12:52my eyes. But my people measure age differently. We see vitality, life force. Yours burns brighter than
13:01any I've encountered. The tension between us crackled like static electricity. I found myself
13:08drawn to her, this alien woman, who looked at my battle-worn body and saw something worthy of desire.
13:15There are differences, I managed. Even as my hand moved of its own accord to the curve of her waist,
13:22she smiled, a mischievous expression that transformed her face.
13:26Fewer than you might think. My research was thorough. The implications sent heat surging
13:33through me. Before I could respond, her lips were on mine. Warm, surprisingly soft, and tasting
13:40faintly of the sweet fruit we'd shared at dinner. What followed was a discovery of similarities and
13:45differences. A bridge built between two species through touch and whispered guidance. Her orange
13:51skin flushed a deeper hue beneath my hands, and she gasped at sensations that seemed new to her.
13:57I found myself rediscovering pleasure I thought time had stolen from me. Her touch awakening parts
14:03of me I'd long neglected. Your heart, she whispered against my chest afterward. It beats so strongly.
14:11I stroked her silver-white hair, marveling at how it seemed to shimmer even in the dim light.
14:17Human hearts are stubborn things. She laughed softly. That explains much about your species.
14:25We lay together on her narrow bed, a tangle of orange and pale limbs, when the first explosion
14:31shook the building. I was on my feet instantly, decades of combat training overriding everything
14:37else. Nira was only seconds behind me, already pulling on her form-fitting suit.
14:41They found us, she said, her voice tight with fear. Who? I demanded, grabbing my clothes. Vex Corporation
14:48mercenaries. They must have tracked me when I was watching you. She moved to a panel in the wall,
14:55punching in a code that revealed a hidden compartment. From it she pulled two weapons,
15:00a sleek pistol for herself, and a more substantial rifle that she tossed to me.
15:04I caught it one-handed, checking the power cell, and sighting mechanism with practiced ease.
15:11Standard Vex pulse rifle. Nice.
15:15Taken from one of their scouts last week, she explained, moving to a monitor that showed the
15:20exterior of the building. Four of them. Heavy armor. Military-grade weapons.
15:24Another explosion rocked the structure. Closer this time. Dust rained from the ceiling.
15:31They're trying to flush us out, I said, already calculating angles and cover positions.
15:36Is there another exit? Maintenance tunnel. It leads to the old sewage system.
15:42She pointed to a hatch in the floor, partially hidden under a rug.
15:46I nodded, my mind shifting fully into combat mode.
15:49You go first. I'll cover our retreat.
15:51Greg, she said, grabbing my arm. These aren't common thugs. They're enhanced.
15:57Cybernetic implants. Reaction boosters. Targeting systems.
16:00I grinned, feeling a surge of adrenaline that made me feel twenty years younger.
16:05Good. They'll underestimate what a plain old human can do.
16:09The door to her sanctuary buckled inward as a breaching charge detonated.
16:13I shoved nearer toward the escape hatch, then took position behind an overturned table.
16:18The first mercenary through the door was a hulking Draxian.
16:21His scaled skin augmented with metallic plates.
16:25His head swiveled, cybernetic eyes glowing red as they scanned the room.
16:29I waited until the second merc, a spindly Tellurian with mechanical arms, entered before I fired.
16:36The pulse rifle bucked against my shoulder as I put three shots into the Draxian's chest,
16:41finding the gap between his natural armor and cybernetic plating.
16:45He went down with a roar of pain and surprise.
16:48The Tellurian was faster, those mechanical arms whipping up a weapon that fired a spray of neural disruptors.
16:55I rolled left, feeling the static charge as the disruptors missed me by inches.
17:00My second burst caught the Tellurian in the face and he dropped without a sound.
17:04Two down, I called to Nira, who had the hatch open but was watching me with wide eyes.
17:10Behind you, she screamed.
17:12I spun just as a third mercenary, this one looking almost human except for the glowing circuitry visible beneath his transparent skin.
17:20Lunged through a side door I hadn't noticed.
17:22His fist encased in some kind of power gauntlet connected with my ribs.
17:26Even through the armor of my combat suit, I felt something crack.
17:31Pain exploded through my chest, but I'd been hurt worse.
17:34I dropped the rifle and drew my combat knife in one fluid motion,
17:38ducking under his second swing and driving the blade up under his chin.
17:42The mercenary's augmented strength meant nothing when cold steel severed his spinal cord.
17:47As he collapsed, I retrieved my rifle and limped toward Nira.
17:50That's three.
17:52Where's the fourth?
17:53A shadow moved in the doorway.
17:55The last mercenary, a female Syrian with the lower body of a serpent and four arms, each holding a different weapon.
18:03Down, I shouted, tackling Nira into the open hatch, just as the room erupted in weapons fire.
18:08We fell through the hatch into darkness, landing hard on a metal grating.
18:12The impact sent fresh waves of pain through my injured ribs, but I bit back a groan.
18:18Above us, the room erupted with weapons fire as the four-armed Syrian mercenary shredded Nira's sanctuary.
18:24Close it, I hissed, reaching for the hatch.
18:27Nira was faster, slapping a control panel on the wall.
18:30The hatch slid shut with a pneumatic hiss, followed by the satisfying thunk of magnetic locks engaging.
18:36That won't hold her for long, Nira said, activating a small light on her wrist device.
18:41The blue glow illuminated a narrow maintenance tunnel, stretching into darkness.
18:45Can you move?
18:46I've had worse, I said, pushing myself to my feet, despite the stabbing pain in my side.
18:53Which way?
18:54This tunnel connects to the old sewage system.
18:57If we follow it east for about half a kilometer, it leads to an abandoned spaceport.
19:02She touched my arm, her eyes reflecting the blue light.
19:06I have a ship there.
19:08A ship?
19:09I couldn't hide my surprise.
19:11You were planning to leave all along.
19:14Her expression softened.
19:15I was planning to ask you to come with me.
19:18The timing just...
19:19Accelerated.
19:21A thunderous boom echoed from above, the Syrian trying to breach the hatch.
19:26Tell me about it while we move, and I said, gesturing down the tunnel.
19:30We set off at a brisk pace, the tunnel occasionally branching or dropping to lower levels.
19:35Nira navigated with confidence, selecting paths without hesitation.
19:40The air grew damper and carried the faint scent of decay.
19:44The spaceport was abandoned when the mining corporations pulled out, Nira explained as we walked.
19:50Most ships were salvaged for parts, but I managed to restore one.
19:55A small, human-built scout vessel.
19:58Not fancy, but fast.
19:59And where exactly are we planning to go in this scout vessel?
20:03I asked, keeping my voice low.
20:05A sound carried strangely in these tunnels.
20:08There's a human outpost in the Procyon system.
20:11They've been researching medical applications of xenobiology.
20:15My formula would be valuable to them, and to your species.
20:20I processed this information.
20:22So, this is about more than just repaying a personal debt.
20:26She stopped at turning to face me in the dim blue light.
20:29It's about both.
20:31I owe you my life, but I also believe this discovery could help bridge the gap between our peoples.
20:37Novarians have biological adaptations that humans lack.
20:41And humans have...
20:42She trailed off, her hand finding mine in the darkness.
20:46What?
20:46I prompted.
20:47An extraordinary capacity for kindness in the face of adversity.
20:51She finished.
20:52It's rare among space-faring species.
20:55The compliment warmed me more than it should have.
20:58Before I could respond, a distant clang echoed through the tunnel, followed by the distinctive
21:03sound of metal being torn apart.
21:06She's through the hatch, I said, and she'll have called for backup.
21:11Nira nodded grimly.
21:12We need to hurry.
21:14The next section is tricky.
21:15Part of the tunnel collapsed years ago.
21:17We'll have to climb through.
21:18She wasn't exaggerating.
21:21A hundred meters further, the tunnel had pancaked, leaving only a narrow gap near the ceiling.
21:27Nira went first, her lithe form slipping through with practiced ease.
21:31I followed, my larger frame making the passage more challenging.
21:35My ribs screamed in protest as I dragged myself through the gap.
21:39On the other side, the tunnel opened into what had once been a main sewage junction.
21:45Multiple large pipes converged in a circular chamber, most now dry and crumbling.
21:50Catwalks crisscrossed the space overhead.
21:53Almost there, Nira said.
21:54The access to the spaceport is through that northern conduit.
21:58We had just started across the chamber when a metallic scraping sound froze us in place.
22:03From one of the western pipes, the Syrian mercenary emerged, her serpentine lower body propelling her forward with frightening speed.
22:12All four of her arms held weapons, two blasters, a neural disruptor, and what looked like a vibroblade.
22:18Down! I shouted, pushing Nira behind a concrete barrier as energy bolts sizzled past us.
22:24I returned fire with the pulse rifle, forcing the Syrian to take cover behind a support column.
22:29The chamber echoed with weapons discharge, the sound amplified by the concrete walls.
22:35The northern conduit, Nira said, pointing to an opening about 20 meters away.
22:40If we can reach it, I'll cover you, I said, already calculating the angles.
22:45When I give the word, run.
22:48Don't stop.
22:49Don't look back.
22:51She gripped my arm.
22:52Not without you?
22:54I'll be right behind you, I promised, meeting her golden flecked eyes.
22:58Trust me.
23:00Something passed between us in that moment, more than attraction, more than the physical connection we'd shared earlier.
23:07A bond forged in danger and mutual reliance.
23:10I leaned forward and kissed her quickly, the taste of her momentarily drowning out the smell of dust and decay.
23:17Ready?
23:18She nodded, tensing to run.
23:20I popped up from behind our cover and laid down a barrage of suppressing fire,
23:25aiming not at the Syrian, but at the structure around her.
23:28Chunks of concrete rained down as my shots impacted the already unstable ceiling above her position.
23:34Now!
23:35I shouted.
23:36Nira sprinted for the northern conduit, her orange skin a blur in the dim light.
23:41The Syrian emerged from cover, all forearms raising weapons to target her.
23:46I shifted my aim and fired directly at the mercenary, catching her in the shoulder.
23:50She hissed in pain, but didn't go down.
23:53I broke from cover, running laterally to draw her fire away from Nira.
23:58The tactic worked.
24:00Energy bolts tracked me instead, one grazing my thigh with a searing pain.
24:04I dove behind another barrier, switched the rifle to maximum output, and fired a sustained burst at the junction where the ceiling met the support column.
24:14With a groan of tortured metal and concrete, the structure gave way.
24:18The Syrian looked up just as tons of debris came crashing down on her position.
24:25Her scream was cut short by the thunderous collapse.
24:28I didn't wait to see if she survived.
24:30Ignoring the burning pain in my leg, I sprinted for the northern conduit where Nira waited, her expression a mix of relief and urgency.
24:37This way, she said, leading me into the conduit.
24:40The spaceport is just ahead.
24:43As we emerge from the tunnel system, the vast, empty expanse of the abandoned spaceport stretched before us,
24:49and in the center, illuminated by the first rays of dawn breaking through the perpetual cloud cover, set a small ship.
24:56Our ticket off this rock.
24:57The ship sat on the cracked tarmac like a promise of freedom.
25:00A sleek, human-designed scout vessel with the faded insignia of some long-defunct mining company, still visible on its hull.
25:10Dawnlight glinted off its weathered surface, giving it an almost ethereal quality against the bleak landscape of the abandoned spaceport.
25:18There she is, Nira said, her voice filled with pride.
25:21The Redemption?
25:22You named it, I asked, raising an eyebrow.
25:25It seemed appropriate.
25:27She squeezed my hand.
25:28Come on, we're almost there.
25:30We crossed the open expanse cautiously, keeping to the shadows of derelict loading equipment and collapsed hangars.
25:37My injured leg throbbed with each step, and my ribs protested every breath, but the sight of that ship kept me moving forward.
25:45As we approached, something felt wrong.
25:47The entry ramp was down, and a faint wisp of smoke curled from an open access panel near the engine housing.
25:54I grabbed Nira's arm, pulling her behind a cargo container.
25:57Wait, uh, what is it?
25:59Wait, someone's been here.
26:01I nodded toward the ship, and recently, her eyes widened in alarm.
26:06The mercenary?
26:06But how could she have?
26:10Alternative route, maybe, or...
26:12I hesitated, not wanting to voice my suspicion.
26:15Or what?
26:17Or she wasn't as buried as I thought.
26:20Nira's hand went to the pistol at her hip.
26:22What do we do?
26:23I assessed our options.
26:25The open tarmac offered little cover between our position and the ship.
26:29If the Syrian was waiting inside, she'd have the advantage.
26:32I'll go first, I said.
26:34Draw her out.
26:35You circle around to the maintenance hatch on the port side.
26:39No!
26:39Nira's grip on my arm tightened.
26:41We go together, or not at all!
26:44I started to argue, but saw the determination in her eyes.
26:47This wasn't the frightened child I'd saved a decade ago.
26:51This was a woman who'd survived on her own, in one of the harshest environments in the galaxy.
26:56Together, then, I conceded.
26:58But stay behind me.
26:59We approached the ship in a crouch, weapons ready.
27:04The entry ramp showed signs of forced entry.
27:07The control panel had been ripped open, its wiring exposed.
27:11Inside, the main cabin was dark except for the emergency lighting that cast everything in a red glow.
27:16Engine control is this way, Nira whispered, pointing toward the cockpit.
27:20We moved through the ship silently, checking each compartment.
27:24The galley was clear.
27:26So was the small cargo hold.
27:27When we reached the cockpit, we found what we were looking for.
27:31Or rather, what had been looking for us.
27:33The Syrian mercenary sat in the pilot's chair.
27:36Her serpentine lower body coiled beneath her.
27:39Two of her four arms were busy ripping out components from the navigation system.
27:44The other two held weapons, pointed directly at the doorway where we stood.
27:49Predictable, she hissed, her voice like sandpaper on metal.
27:53I knew you'd come for the ship.
27:54I pushed Nira behind me, raising my pulse rifle.
27:58Step away from the controls.
28:01The Syrian laughed, a sound like breaking glass.
28:04Your weapon is useless, human.
28:06I've disabled the engine's navigation and communications.
28:10This vessel goes nowhere.
28:11Why, Nira demanded.
28:14What does Vex Corporation want with my formula?
28:18Your formula?
28:19The mercenary's vertical pupils narrowed.
28:22Vex doesn't care about your pathetic medicine.
28:25They want you, Novarian.
28:26Your genetic structure.
28:28The way your body adapted to the human compound.
28:30I felt Nira stiffen behind me.
28:34What are you talking about?
28:36Your kind was dying from the Crimson Plague.
28:39Then you ingested human preservatives and survived.
28:42Not just survived, thrived.
28:45Vex wants to know how.
28:47They want to weaponize it.
28:49The pieces clicked into place.
28:51They want to create a bioweapon, I said.
28:54Something that affects specific species.
28:56The Syrian's lipless mouth curved into what might have been a smile.
29:01The human understands.
29:03Yes, imagine.
29:04Targeted pathogens that can wipe out entire species while leaving others untouched.
29:09Valuable for corporate warfare, don't you think?
29:11I felt sick.
29:13The simple act of kindness, giving a starving child my last can of food,
29:18had set in motion something I could never have imagined.
29:21I won't let that happen, Nira said, her voice steady.
29:24Despite the tremor I felt in her hand against my back.
29:27You have no choice.
29:29The Syrian raised one of her weapons.
29:32Come quietly and I might let the human live.
29:35Time seemed to slow.
29:38I assessed the cockpit, the distance to the mercenary, the cover available, the weapons in play.
29:44The Syrian had the advantage of position and firepower, but she had one critical weakness.
29:49She underestimated humans.
29:50Nira, I murmured, barely moving my lips.
29:54When I move, hit the deck.
29:56I felt her slight nod against my shoulder.
29:59You know, I said conversationally to the Syrian, there's something about humans you should understand.
30:04And what's that?
30:05She hissed, her patience visibly thinning.
30:08We're really good at improvising.
30:10I dropped to one knee, bringing the pulse rifle up, not at the Syrian, but at the overhead environmental control panel.
30:17The shot hit with pinpoint accuracy, rupturing the coolant line.
30:21Pressurized gas exploded into the cockpit, creating an instant fog bank.
30:25The Syrian fired blindly, energy bolts sizzling through the mist.
30:29I rolled left, coming up behind the navigation console as Nira flattened herself against the deck.
30:36Can't see in coolant fog, can you?
30:38I called out, drawing her fire while Nira crawled toward the emergency kit mounted on the wall.
30:43Your thermal vision doesn't work when everything's the same temperature.
30:47The mercenary hissed in frustration, her weapons tracking the sound of my voice.
30:52I kept moving, circling the cockpit, staying low.
30:55Human, she snarled.
30:57I will find you, and when I do...
30:59She never finished the threat.
31:01Nira had reached the emergency kit and extracted a flare.
31:05With a quick twist, she activated it, the brilliant chemical light cutting through the fog.
31:09The sudden illumination blinded the Syrian, whose eyes had dilated to compensate for the darkness.
31:15She screamed, all four arms reflexively covering her face, leaving her completely exposed.
31:21I didn't hesitate.
31:22Three precise shots from the pulse rifle and the mercenary slumped in the pilot's chair, her weapons clattering to the deck.
31:30The silence that followed was broken only by our heavy breathing and the hiss of the ruptured coolant line.
31:37Nira rose shakily to her feet, the flare still clutched in her hand, casting her orange skin in an otherworldly glow.
31:44Is she? She asked.
31:47I checked the Syrian's pulse.
31:49Dead.
31:50Nira moved to my side, her free hand finding mine.
31:53You saved my life.
31:54Again.
31:56I looked down at her.
31:57This remarkable woman who had transformed from a starving child into someone willing to risk everything to repay a simple kindness.
32:04In that moment, despite our differences, despite the danger still facing us, I felt something I hadn't experienced in decades.
32:12Hope.
32:14Let's call it even, I said, pulling her close.
32:16Now, how bad is the damage to the ship?
32:19With the Syrian mercenary's body secured in the cargo hold, Nira and I turned our attention to the damaged ship.
32:25The cockpit was a mess, coolant fog still lingering in the corners, control panels torn open, and components scattered across the floor.
32:34How bad is it? I asked, watching as Nira's nimble fingers sorted through the wreckage of the navigation system.
32:41She frowned, her orange skin catching the emergency lights in a way that made her look like she was glowing from within.
32:48Primary navigation is destroyed.
32:50Life support is functional but compromised.
32:52The engines, she moved to another panel.
32:55Her expression brightening slightly.
32:58The engines are damaged but not beyond repair.
33:01Can we fly it?
33:02Not to Procyon.
33:03Not without navigation.
33:05She looked up at me, determination hardening her features.
33:09But we might make it to the orbital station at Terrace Minor.
33:12It's only a short jump from here.
33:15I nodded, already calculating our odds.
33:18And from there we could secure passage to human space.
33:22Exactly.
33:22She stood, wincing slightly as she straightened.
33:26I noticed a dark stain on her side.
33:28A tear in her form-fitting suit, revealing a wound I hadn't seen before.
33:33You're hurt, I said, moving toward her.
33:35She waved dismissively.
33:36It's nothing.
33:37The Syrian caught me with a glancing shot during the fight.
33:41I gently turned her to examine the injury.
33:44The wound wasn't deep, but the edges had an unnatural blue tinge that concerned me.
33:49This needs treatment.
33:50Later, she insisted, the ship first.
33:53I wanted to argue but recognize the stubborn set of her jaw.
33:57Fine.
33:58What do you need me to do?
34:00For the next two hours, we worked side-by-side repairing the Redemption.
34:04Nera focused on the navigation and communication systems.
34:08Her knowledge of the ship's technology impressive.
34:10I handled the mechanical repairs to the engines, drawing on decades of field experience, maintaining equipment in hostile environments.
34:18Our different approaches became evident quickly.
34:21Nera worked methodically, each movement precise and calculated.
34:25I relied more on intuition and improvisation, finding unconventional solutions when standard repairs weren't possible.
34:33That's not in the manual, she observed as I bypassed a damaged fuel regulator using parts from the galley's food processor.
34:41I grinned, wiping sweat from my brow.
34:44Manuals are for people with spare parts.
34:47She laughed, the sound warming me more than it should have.
34:50Is that a human saying?
34:52It is, now.
34:54As we worked, the ship gradually came back to life.
34:59Systems rebooted, lights flickered on, and the gentle hum of the engines began to build.
35:04Outside, the sun climbed higher, baking the tarmac and turning the abandoned spaceport into a shimmering mirage.
35:11During a break to check the external hull integrity, Nera suddenly swayed on her feet.
35:16I caught her before she could fall, alarmed at the heat radiating from her orange skin.
35:21Medical bay.
35:22Now, I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
35:28The ship's medical facility was small but functional.
35:30I helped Nera onto the examination table and activated the diagnostic scanner.
35:35The results confirmed my fears.
35:37The wound was infected and her body temperature was dangerously elevated.
35:41The Syrian's weapons must have been coated with something, I muttered, searching through the medical supplies for antibiotics.
35:49Nera caught my wrist, her grip surprisingly strong, despite her weakened state.
35:53It won't work.
35:55Not on me.
35:57What do you mean?
35:58She reached into a hidden pocket of her suit and withdrew a small vial filled with dark orange liquid.
36:03This is what they're really after.
36:05My blood.
36:06I stared at the vial, understanding dawning.
36:10The adaptation.
36:10She nodded weakly.
36:13When I ingested the preservatives from your food, my body didn't just resist the crimson plague.
36:18It incorporated the compound into my cellular structure.
36:22My blood contains antibodies that can neutralize almost any pathogen.
36:27A universal vaccine, I whispered.
36:30Or a universal weapon in the wrong hands.
36:33She pressed the vial into my palm.
36:35This is why I came back for you, Greg.
36:38Not just to repay a debt, but because I needed someone I could trust.
36:43Someone who understood kindness without expecting reward.
36:46The weight of her words settled over me.
36:49This small vial could change the course of interspecies medicine or warfare.
36:54And she had trusted me with it.
36:56What do you need, Washington?
36:57I asked.
36:58A transfusion.
36:59My own blood, untainted by the toxin.
37:02She gestured to a medical device on the wall.
37:05The synthesizer can create it from the sample.
37:08I worked quickly, following her instructions to program the medical synthesizer.
37:12Within minutes, it had produced a bag of orange fluid matched to her genetic profile.
37:17As I connected the transfusion line to her arm, her fingers intertwined with mine.
37:23Thank you, she whispered.
37:24For what?
37:25For proving me right about humans.
37:28The transfusion took effect quickly.
37:31Color returned to her face, and the blue tinge around her wound began to fade.
37:35As her strength returned, so did the urgency of our situation.
37:40Vex will send more mercenaries when they realize their operative failed, she said, sitting up.
37:44We need to finish the repairs and leave.
37:47The final repairs took another hour, both of us working with renewed purpose.
37:51When the last system came online, Neera smiled triumphantly.
37:55We did it, she said.
37:56The redemption is ready.
37:58I closed the access panel I'd been working on and turned to her.
38:03In the proper lighting of the ship, with the immediate danger behind us, I was struck again
38:08by how beautiful she was, and how much she had changed from that frightened child I'd
38:12helped so long ago.
38:13You did most of it, I admitted.
38:15I just held tools and looked pretty.
38:18She laughed, moving closer to me.
38:20You did more than that.
38:21Much more.
38:22The air between us seemed to charge with electricity.
38:26Her hand found my face, fingers tracing the lines at the corners of my eyes with a tenderness
38:30that made my heart ache.
38:33In my culture, she said softly, there is a belief that souls can recognize each other
38:39across time and space, that connections formed in one moment can echo through a lifetime.
38:45And what do you believe, Rona, I asked, my voice rough with emotion.
38:49I believed that when you gave me that can, you gave me more than food.
38:54You gave me hope, purpose.
38:57Her golden flecked eyes held mine, a reason to find you again.
39:02What followed was a connection that transcended our different biologies, a coming together that
39:07felt both alien and perfectly natural.
39:10Her skin against mine, warmer than a human's, created sensations I'd never experienced before.
39:15We discovered each other slowly, learning the differences and similarities between our
39:20species with wonder and delight.
39:22Afterward, as we lay in the narrow bunk of the captain's quarters, her silver-white hair
39:27spilling across my chest, the ship's sensors began to wail.
39:31Proximity alert, Nira said, instantly alert.
39:34Something's approaching.
39:36We rushed to the cockpit, hastily dressed, to find the radar showing multiple vessels
39:40entering the atmosphere.
39:42Vex reinforcements, I said grimly.
39:44They're earlier than I expected.
39:46Nira slid into the pilot's seat, her fingers dancing across the controls.
39:51Engines are at 80%.
39:52It's enough to break atmosphere.
39:54Then let's not waste any more time on this rock.
39:57As the Redemption's engines roared to life, lifting us from the cracked tarmac of the abandoned
40:02spaceport, I looked down at the desolate landscape of Novar Prime.
40:06The place where I'd lost everything, and somehow, against all odds, found something worth fighting
40:13for again.
40:14The Redemption shuddered as we broke atmosphere.
40:17The damaged engines straining against Novar Prime's gravity.
40:21Through the viewport, the perpetual cloud cover gave way to the star-studded blackness
40:25of space.
40:26For the first time in years, I felt a weight lifting from my shoulders.
40:29The oppressive burden of that dying world finally falling away.
40:33We've got company, Nira said, her voice tight as she gestured to the radar.
40:38Three blips were rising from the planet's surface, their trajectories clearly aimed at
40:42intercepting us.
40:43Vex pursuit ships, I confirmed, strapping myself into the co-pilot's seat.
40:48Military grade.
40:49Faster than us, especially with our damaged engines.
40:52Nira's fingers danced across the navigation console.
40:56Terrace Minor Orbital Station is here, she said, highlighting a point on the display.
41:00But we'll never outrun them in a straight line.
41:04I studied the star chart, noting the asteroid field between us and the station.
41:08We don't have to outrun them.
41:10We just have to outsmart them.
41:12Her golden-flecked eyes met mine, understanding dawning.
41:16The Keller Belt.
41:18Exactly, I grinned, feeling a rush of adrenaline that made me feel decades younger.
41:24Those corporate ships are built for speed and firepower, not maneuverability.
41:28The belt will even the odds.
41:31Nira adjusted our course, sending the redemption hurtling toward the dense field of asteroids.
41:36Behind us, the Vex ships accelerated, closing the distance rapidly.
41:40They're within weapons range, she warned.
41:43As if on cue, the ship rocked as energy blasts struck our rear shields.
41:47Warning lights flashed across the console.
41:50Shields at 60%, Nira reported.
41:52We can't take much more of that.
41:54I took the controls, my old combat pilot training coming back like muscle memory.
41:58Let me drive.
42:00The first asteroids loomed ahead, massive chunks of rock and ice spinning silently in the void.
42:06I guided the redemption into the belt, weaving between the larger bodies while using the smaller ones as cover from our pursuers.
42:13They're splitting up, Nira said, watching the radar, trying to flank us.
42:18I nodded, my focus absolute.
42:21That's their first mistake.
42:23The redemption responded to my touch like an extension of my body.
42:26Despite the damage, despite her age, she was a human-built ship designed with intuition and adaptability in mind.
42:34I pushed her through gaps that seemed impossibly narrow, skimmed the surfaces of asteroids to mask our heat signature, and used the natural gravitational eddies of the belt to gain bursts of speed.
42:46Behind us, one of the VEX ships misjudged a turn and clipped an asteroid.
42:51Its shields flared brilliantly before failing, and the impact sent it spinning out of control into a larger rock formation.
42:58The explosion briefly illuminated the belt around us.
43:01One down, I said grimly.
43:03Nira looked at me with something like awe.
43:05Where did you learn to fly like this?
43:08Earth Navy, before I went private.
43:11Asteroid racing was how we spent our leave time.
43:14I threw the ship into a tight spiral to avoid a cluster of ice fragments.
43:18Not exactly regulation, but it taught us skills they don't cover in the manual.
43:23The remaining two VEX ships were still in pursuit, but more cautiously now.
43:28One stayed directly behind us, while the other attempted to circle around and cut us off.
43:33They're hurting us, Nira observed.
43:35Let them think it's working.
43:38I pointed to a particularly dense cluster of asteroids ahead.
43:41See that formation?
43:42On my mark, I want you to cut power to the port thrusters and reroute everything to starboard.
43:49She nodded, hands poised over the controls.
43:52Ready.
43:53We hurtled toward the asteroid cluster, the VEX ships closing in from both sides.
43:58At the last possible moment, I gave the command.
44:01Now, Nira executed the maneuver perfectly.
44:05The Redemption pivoted sharply, seeming to stall before rocketing off at a 90-degree angle.
44:11The VEX ship that had been attempting to cut us off couldn't adjust in time.
44:15It plowed directly into the path of its companion, their shields colliding in a spectacular cascade of energy.
44:23They didn't explode, but the collision left them tangled and drifting,
44:26their engines sputtering as emergency systems engaged.
44:31That buys us some time, I said, plotting a direct course to Terrace Minor.
44:35But they'll be after us again once they sort themselves out.
44:39Nira's hand found mine on the control panel, her orange fingers intertwining with my pale ones.
44:44That was incredible.
44:47I felt a surge of pride at her admiration.
44:50Just an old human trick.
44:52The Tari's Minor Orbital Station appeared on our long-range scanners,
44:57a sprawling structure of interconnected modules and docking arms.
45:01As we approached, Nira opened a communication channel.
45:05Terrace Control, this is Novarian Research Vessel Redemption requesting emergency docking and asylum.
45:11We are being pursued by hostile corporate forces.
45:14The response was immediate.
45:16A human male voice crackling through the speakers.
45:18Redemption, this is Terrace Control.
45:21We have you on our scopes.
45:24You're cleared for emergency docking at Arm 7.
45:27Be advised, we're detecting a human scientific expedition vessel currently docked.
45:31The ESS Darwin.
45:33Nira and I exchanged surprise looks.
45:35A human scientific vessel?
45:37Here?
45:39Confirm that control, I said, taking over the comm.
45:42This is Greg Dawson aboard the Redemption.
45:44What's the Darwin's mission profile?
45:46Well, Xenobiology and medical research, Mr. Dawson.
45:50They've been studying the aftermath of the Crimson Plague on the Novarian population.
45:55It seemed too perfect to be coincidence.
45:58I glanced at Nira, who was staring at the station with renewed hope.
46:02The universe has patterns we don't yet understand, she murmured, echoing her words from earlier.
46:08As we docked at Arm 7, station security met us with weapons drawn, standard procedure for vessels claiming asylum.
46:15But they lowered their arms when they saw me, a fellow human, helping an injured Novarian from the ship.
46:21We need to speak with the Darwin's research team, I told the security chief.
46:25Immediately.
46:26It's a matter of galactic importance.
46:27Before he could respond, the dock doors opened, and a group of humans in science uniforms rushed in.
46:34The leader, a tall woman with silver streak black hair, stopped short when she saw Nira.
46:39My God, she breathed.
46:41You're one of them?
46:43One of the survivors?
46:45Nira straightened, her dignity evident despite her exhaustion.
46:48I am.
46:50And I have something you need to see.
46:51The next few hours passed in a blur of medical examinations, debriefings, and explanations.
46:58The Darwin's research team was indeed studying the Crimson Plague, trying to understand why some Novarians had survived when most had perished.
47:06When Nira revealed her blood sample and explained its properties, the scientists were ecstatic.
47:11This could revolutionize cross-species medicine, Dr. Eleanor Reeves, the expedition leader, explained as we sat in the station's observation lounge.
47:19The way your body adapted to the human preservative compound is unprecedented.
47:25And it all started with a can of food, Nira said, her hand finding mine under the table.
47:30Dr. Reeves looked between us curiously.
47:33You two have quite a story.
47:35Care to share it?
47:36So we did.
47:38I told her about giving my last can of food to a starving alien child.
47:42And Nira explained how that simple act had saved not just her life, but potentially thousands of others.
47:47The compound in the preservatives triggered a mutation in my immune system, she said.
47:53It allowed me to survive the plague and develop antibodies that could be synthesized into a vaccine.
47:58But VEX Corporation wanted to weaponize it, I added.
48:02Create targeted pathogens that could wipe out specific species.
48:06Dr. Reeves' expression hardened.
48:08That's why we're here, actually.
48:10We've been tracking VEX activities for months.
48:13The Earth Confederation has concerns about their bioweapon research.
48:18Then you'll help us?
48:19Nira asked.
48:20More than that, Dr. Reeves said with a smile.
48:23We want to offer you both positions with our team.
48:26Mr. Dawson, your military background and first-hand knowledge of corporate tactics would be invaluable to our security division.
48:33And Nira, your scientific insights and your unique biology make you the perfect research partner.
48:38I looked at Nira, seeing my own surprise reflected in her eyes.
48:43After years of mere survival, the prospect of purpose, of making a difference, was almost overwhelming.
48:51We accept, Nira said without hesitation, her fingers tightening around mine.
48:57Six months later, I stood at the viewport of the Darwin's observation deck.
49:00Watching as Earth grew larger in the distance.
49:04Beside me, Nira's orange skin contrasted beautifully with the formal white uniform she wore as the expedition's new xenobiology chief.
49:12Nervous? I asked, noting the way she fidgeted with the color of her uniform.
49:16A little, she admitted.
49:18I never thought I'd see Earth, let alone be welcomed as a scientific ambassador.
49:23I pulled her close, marveling at how perfectly she fit against me, despite our different biologies.
49:28You've earned it.
49:30The Novarian human adaptive vaccine is going to save millions of lives across a dozen species.
49:36None of it would have happened without you, she said softly, without that one can of food.
49:42I thought back to that rainy night on Novar Prime.
49:44To the desperate choice I'd made to help a starving child.
49:48How could I have known that simple act of kindness would lead to this moment?
49:52To revolutionary medical breakthroughs?
49:54To interspecies cooperation?
49:55To finding love with the most unlikely person in the galaxy?
50:01You know what humans say, I murmured, pressing my lips to her forehead.
50:05Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness have the greatest impact.
50:10Nira smiled up at me, her golden-flecked eyes shining with emotion.
50:15Is that really a human saying?
50:17I laughed, holding her tighter as Earth's blue oceans and white clouds became visible through the viewport.
50:23It is now.
50:24It is now.
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