Chapter 2 #3
I can hear the ground beginning to cave in beneath me, with Stells chirping, “This is your ten-second warning,” over the top of it.
I glance down at the screaming human, before taking a deep breath and loosening my grip on the rope.
I have about a foot or so wrapped around my forearm for stability, so I drop until only the knotted end is in my hand.
As the human begins to slide down into the mouth of the gargantuan creature below, I flick out my tail and manage to wrap it around his wrist. Pain shoots up my spine as I’m forced to take his entire weight, and for a moment, I worry I’m going to go tumbling down into the creature’s maw with him.
He grabs my tail, making it a little easier for me to haul him up into my arms. The human immediately wraps his arms and legs around me, nearly overpowering me with his far broader frame.
Wow. This human is pretty. His skin is red, redder than I’ve ever seen a human.
From fear, maybe, or it could be from the atmosphere here.
Either way, it doesn’t detract from his big, brown eyes, strong jaw, or blonde curls.
His hair is strange, shaved on the sides, with some shorter curls on top and longer curls flowing down the back of his neck, but it’s oddly appealing.
It emphasizes how his ears aren’t quite even. I’m not sure why that’s so hot.
Wait, what, no. This is a human. They’re gross, soft creatures that definitely aren’t sexually appealing in any way.
It’s the adrenaline talking. I don’t really think this weird creature is attractive.
It’s just an intimate moment, that’s all.
I’d be feeling this drawn to any sentient creature I just saved from certain death.
I grunt as the human—Banjo—clings to me like Mo’quls do to the hull of my ship.
His fingers dig into the sensitive area between my shoulder blades, and I grit my teeth to keep myself from wincing.
Once the adrenaline wears off, I’m going to pay for every single second I hold his weight.
The thought of all the credits I’m going to earn from returning him to Earth helps make it a little more worth it.
I tug on the rope, hoping I managed to work the pulley loose enough for Stells to pull us back up.
I may be athletic, but I’m not sure I’m strong enough to climb the rope with Banjo wrapped around me.
I can barely even move my head with the way he’s got his own buried against my neck.
His breath comes out in hot, humid bursts against my skin, and it takes everything in me not to shudder.
Thankfully, the pulley is functioning now, and in moments we’re both safely back in my ship with the hatch closed behind us.
I have to shove Banjo away to get him off of me. He finally gets to his own two feet and goes still, staring at me. He bursts into laughter. My brow furrows in response, and he giggles louder. Were we too late? Has the heat already fried his tiny, human brain?
He confirms this when he squeaks, “Hot!” before dropping straight to the floor.
I peer down at him, peeling my mask away from my face as I study his prone form.
After a moment, I see the soft rise and fall of his chest. He’s still breathing.
Good. I’d hate to have gone through all that work for nothing.
My time is valuable, and I don’t want to waste it on worthless humans that are already dead.
At least alive I can get something for him, even if it isn’t on Earth.
Actually, that’s a great idea. I’m surprised I didn’t think of it sooner. Humans are a hot commodity. Someone is always willing to pay top credit for one.
“Alright, Stells,” I hum as I grab my tablet. I stretch the two metal end pieces out, activating the holographic screen between them. “Let’s see what the damage is.”
Straddling Banjo’s unconscious form, I slowly move the tablet over his entire body. A medical scan appears, numbers shifting and whirring around the screen as Stells runs a variety of tests and compares them to what’s standard for humans.
“He appears to be suffering from a human condition known as heat exhaustion,” she says after a few seconds of processing.
The environmental control unit kicks into high gear, and I feel the temperature around me immediately begin to drop.
“It can be alleviated through rest, fluids, and cooler temperatures. Human medical professionals also recommend removing any heavy clothing and applying a cool compress to the forehead, neck, armpits, or groin.”
Okay, the forehead definitely seems like the option that requires the least amount of touching from me, though I suppose I should probably get him out of this weird jacket first. It’s a heavy material that matches his pants. Why he’s still wearing it in this weather, I have no idea.
I slide the large, bulky case off his back, followed by his backpack, before removing the jacket.
It’s damp, and I immediately chuck it to the side before Banjo’s gross human juices get all over me.
The white v-neck shirt he’s wearing underneath is just as soaked.
I try not to notice how it clings to his shoulders and pecs.
“Ugh, I should have worn gloves,” I mutter, wiping my now-damp palms off on my pants.
“Don’t forget the fluids and cold compress.”
I huff. Like I’ve forgotten in the last few minutes.
“You know, you’d be a lot more useful if you had hands,” I shoot back as I walk into the main living area of the ship.
It’s small—the entire ship is small—but it’s enough for me.
It’s all one big, open room that serves as the kitchen, living room, and bedroom all in one.
There’s a bathroom tucked off to the side, and I head there first to wet a cloth in some cold water.
“If I had hands, I’d be unstoppable,” Stells replies with a wistful sigh. “The universe knew it couldn’t dare give me that kind of power.”
“Uh-huh.” I head across the room to open the cold storage to find an appropriate replacement for all the fluids Banjo lost. There’s an electrolyte beverage shoved in the back that I’ve given to humans before, so I grab it before heading back to the cargo area where my new guest is sprawled.
He’s exactly where I left him. I carefully lay the cold compress across his forehead, doing my best not to touch him.
Stells didn’t say if this was a contagious disease, so there’s no way I’m risking catching it.
I place the bottled drink next to his head.
There. All done. Stells lets out a snort of disapproval, and I glare at her.
“What?” I say snippily. Sometimes, I imagine punching her in her judgy little face. It’s impossible, yes, but it makes me feel better all the same. Although I have to admit, being limited to words has really improved my verbal sparring. “Am I supposed to pour it down his throat?”
“I suppose it’s my fault, for not being more explicit with you. I know you have trouble following basic instructions.” I roll my eyes. She continues right along like she didn’t see it. “By ‘fluids’ I meant injecting him with one of the vials from the medkit.”
I wrinkle my nose, looking down at Banjo. That medkit was expensive. Human-approved medicine is hard to come by out here, since there’s not exactly a ton of them to test on. I suppose I could order something up from Earth, but their medicine is just so primitive compared to most other planets.
“He’s fine,” I insist. Banjo already looks better.
He doesn’t appear to be actively secreting anything anymore, and his breathing is nice and even.
He almost looks peaceful, actually. “Yeah. He’s totally fine.
” I turn my attention to his belongings, a grin creeping across my face.
I just saved Banjo’s life. He probably won’t have any problem with me taking a quick peek at his things.