rebeckyelsie

[rebeckyelsie]

Speckled

“Mabruk, have you seen the new human yet?” The silvery tools clinked delicately on the tray as they were put down. The slumped figure that had been holding them straightened up from their work and sighed. “Which human? The new ones from half a partec ago, or the new new one from last solar cycle?” “The newest one!” The speaker, an easily over-excited booka sprang excitedly into the room, eager to share the latest news that had been spreading across the ship. His bushy fur had a strange effect of both muffling his footsteps and creating a rippling ‘whooshing’ noise as he moved. “They were supposed to arrive with Human Marius, but they apparently got held up with some last-minute medical testing. They got here about ninety moortiks ago, you need to come see!” Mabruk brushed back a flowering sprig from their face and stood slowly to carry their tray from the table they were working at and moved it next to the washbasin. They turned on the mixture of cleaning solution and water and began washing their hands, scrubbing at the speckled, woody skin. They took a moment to admire the light and dark patterns made by their bark. Mabruk didn’t consider themself to be overly vain, but, well… when you’re this pretty, it’s kind of hard. The cleaning solution felt nice, but they focused on making sure they didn’t absorb any. It wouldn’t have been that bad if they had, but still, it wasn’t pure water and absorbing too many chemicals was bad for the bark. Satisfied that they were clean, they turned to grab the tray to wash it as well, but the booka had jumped up on the counter and had shut off the faucet.

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[rebeckyelsie]

Snakes

A requested idea from a user on ao3

Captain Barr had allowed for the new humans coming aboard the ship to bring a “pet”. Granted, not just any pet, there were rules. Safety was a main concern of course. Not only of the animal itself, but of the crew. It had to be low maintenance, they were on a ship afterall, and it had to be low to no allergen for any crew member. That took out most of Earth’s native fauna of course. By the stars, that planet churns out dangerous creatures like they (as the Earth phrase went) were going out of style. Human Tildy had been on the crew for a little over four partecs now, and Senta hadn’t seen the pet she had brought along. Some part of her had suspected that perhaps Tildy just hadn’t brought a pet at all. Not all the humans did, preferring to not have to worry about the duties a pet would entail while aboard. Oh wow, was she was wrong. After Senta had asked Tildy about having a pet, the human had been very enthusiastic about showing her. She followed her to her habitation suite and waited outside while her human companion retrieved the pet in question. Tildy backed out of her room so as to block Senta’s view of the creature until she could turn around with an excited, “Ta-da!” Senta reared back, surprised. What the heck was that? “Is that a tiny stransi!?” Sentra gave a confused hiss. The creature coiling itself around the human’s arm looked just like her, but, well… small. Very small. And without the well-defined ridges along the back. “I know right! He looks just like you! This is my corn snake, Honey.” The tiny stransi-like creature started exploring the open air and Tildy transferred a bit of it to her other hand to help support it and beamed up at her snake-like crewmate.

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[rebeckyelsie]

Humans Are Weird

So there has been a bit of “what if humans were the weird ones?” going around tumblr at the moment and Earth Day got me thinking. Earth is a wonky place, the axis tilts, the orbit wobbles, and the ground spews molten rock for goodness sakes. What if what makes humans weird is just our capacity to survive? What if all the other life bearing planets are these mild, Mediterranean climates with no seasons, no tectonic plates, and no intense weather? 

What if several species (including humans) land on a world and the humans are all “SCORE! Earth like world! Let’s get exploring before we get out competed!” And the planet starts offing the other aliens right and left, electric storms, hypothermia, tornadoes and the humans are just … there… counting seconds between flashes, having snowball fights, and just surviving. 

[rebeckyelsie]

The Prisoner - Part 2

It was requested that I continue this. So I guess this is what’s happening. Here’s Part 1 if you want to read that

*****

Garn was uneasy, but his training with the Syndicate overrode any outward expression of fear or other weaknesses. Instead, he channeled his nervous energy into scanning the crowds and shadows for potential threats. That kept him busy because at the Tupiti Port, everyone was a potential threat.

And what’s more, he was 100% sure that by now the Syndicate knew which of their guards had gone rogue and had helped their human prisoner escape. They’d lost any pursuers from the initial escape quite a while ago, but there were only so many spaceports in the accessible area and it was only a matter of time before Garn and Porterstone were tracked down to Tupiti. It was stressful, but Garn funneled that into keeping up a stony facade and remaining vigilant.

The human in question was klern-near prancing around from stall to stall in the market area. Garn had at first adamantly refused to enter the shopping area, knowing full well how easily one could be stalked and attacked with so many places for enemies to hide. However, that hadn’t done anything to stop Porterstone. After a bit of growling, Garn grudgingly followed. He didn’t like being too far away from his new human companion. And anyway, if the Porterstone died, how the frewan was he supposed to get off-world? -If he survived much longer than his new friend for that to even be a concern, that is.

Afterall, what’s logic to a human’s curiosity?

“You know, Garn,” Porterstone pulled him out of his anxious thoughts, “I seem to be getting a lot better deals on what I need with you around.”

“Mmm.” Garn shook his head and went back to scanning their surroundings.

“No, I mean it. It’s like they see you behind me and they pretty much take whatever amount I offer, no matter how much I lowball them.” He gingerly placed his latest purchase into the satchel he had also bought earlier from another booth. “I mean, I know you’ve got the whole ‘big and scary’ thing going on, but I think most of these guys are actually, like, really scared of you.”

“It’s the Syndicate. They see that I’m a Dantum. It’s well known that many of us serve as the Syndicate’s muscle.”

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[rebeckyelsie]

Humans and Gardening

It’s summer, so for me, that means garden and yard work. I’ve got scratches all up my arms because of raspberry bushes, and I stepped on (and then pulled out) several thistle plants while picking cucumbers.

 Earth may seem like a death planet to some aliens, and they’d be right. Even the plants are out to get you!

[rebeckyelsie]

Humans are Space Orcs, “Exotic Lifeforms.”

Had some fun writing this one. Give you more of that alien perspective everyone likes so much, so I hope you like it 

“It has been a pleasure doing work with you as always.”

“Your end of the deal?”

“Already upheld…. Where do you even find these creatures. I can’t say we have ever seen anything like it.”

“We found these ones on a stroke of luck. We do not think they are native to the panet, though where they came from is still very much a mystery.”

“Then what a stroke of luck for us indeed, I can’t imagine having your job.”

“You should try sometime, the exotic lifeforms business is very lucrative. If it hadn’t been you, I would have sold it to a wealthy owner.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because, you paid more.” 

The Vitan turned ponderously on its five trunk-like legs and left through the open wall which spilled a beam of light through the room before going dark once more. 

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[rebeckyelsie]

humans inviting aliens to visit earth after a long mission and aliens being really excited to go and see the infamous planet that led to the development of such universally renown species but get one look at the ocean and are just. what the fuck is that. 

and humans are like oh yeah we don’t fuck with that

and aliens are like you literally hop galaxies with little to no understanding of what you’ll find but you won’t venture into your own aquatic abyss?

and humans simply say scan it

five kicks later and aliens say fuck that fuck that fuck that what the fuck how are you all alive let’s go back to the black holes

[rebeckyelsie]

Unknown Powers

Entry Log Post Crash: Day 1

In all honesty, I am surprised by the number of our unit that survived the crash. Thank the stars, though. It could have been worse, it could have been so much worse. When the ship’s engines took damage yesterday and we started falling from the planet’s orbit, I thought we were all goners.

I suppose our survival is largely thanks to Human Fatima who risked her life and grabbed everyone and yanked as many as she could reach into the nearest closet. Between her and Human James and Biet Kuhir bracing the walls, we made it out with relatively minor injuries. I mean, we were all hurting, our medic is busy as frewan, but we’re all alive.

The humans showed us how to construct some “lean-tos” out of parts of the ship to sleep in tonight. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. Apparently survival training in the wilderness is part of human upbringing? Or part of their required disciplines? I’m not sure. Before, I would have said that such requirements would have been a bit excessive, but now? I and every other survivor are very thankful for their preparedness.

Hopefully tomorrow we can figure out the rest of what we need: clean water, safe food sources, etc. I’m just glad we have scanners. They could very well be lifesavers for those tasks.

Entry Log, Post Crash Day 3

I said earlier that no one in our unit had sustained too serious of injuries. That’s not to say anyone’s in great condition, but we’re hobbling around as best we can. The humans seem to be recovering remarkably fast. I know, I know, that may sound like their typical MO, but even medic Kippari Sefra seemed a bit taken back by their recovery and improved mobility. All’s for the best, I suppose, the rest of the unit seems to barely be in commission. The humans have managed to forage and gather food and have been carrying water from a spring they found not too far from our site. They even gathered wood and started two fires in our camp yesterday. They left Kuhir and I and a few others to tend to them on shifts as they continue to gather supplies or construct better shelters. I don’t know where they’ve found this newfound energy of theirs, but may the stars bless them.

Entry Log, Post Crash Day 8

Humans are weird, but I don’t think even they are supposed to be this weird.

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[rebeckyelsie]

Humans are unstoppable...Until they aren’t.

I’m not the most eloquent writer, but I’ve had this idea kicking around for a while and figured I’d put it out into the universe.

A lot of the basis for the “humans are space orcs” stuff is the idea that we’re pretty durable compared to many species, yeah? When it comes to physical trauma, we can bounce back from most things that don’t kill us outright, especially given the benefit of hypothetical space-age technology, and adrenaline is one heck of a drug when it comes to functioning under stress. 

But that doesn’t make us unkillable, and even though we can survive debilitating injuries and not die from shock, it doesn’t mean it’s fun. Dying of shock sucks, but at least it’s probably quick.

So - Imagine a ship, adrift in space, slowly being drawn into a star or something. In order to save the ship, someone has to repair the hyper-quantum-relay-majig on the hull or in the engine or whatever. Bit of a problem though- there’s a ton of deadly, deadly radiation (Wrath of Khan style) or poisonous fumes or, I dunno, electrical current, between the crew and the repair. Like, enough to kill most species instantly, so the crew is just like, ‘welp, guess we’ll die then’. But then.

BUT THEN

They ask the human. Because everyone’s heard the stories - you’re basically unkillable, right? Could you survive long enough in there to fix it? And their human goes real quiet for a second, but still says ‘Yeah, I could fix it’. And the rest of the crew is like, ‘Whaaaaaa, it won’t kill you?’ and the human repeats “I can fix it” (which isn’t an answer, but no one catches that, not yet at least), so they send ‘em in. And the human fixes it, they come back, the ship flies to safety, and the crew is thrilled to survive. If the human is a little quiet, well, they’re entitled after pulling off a miracle. Everyone else is just excited to get to the nearest station’s bar to tell their very own human story, cuz, ‘those crazy humans, amiright?’.

The good mood keeps up until the human is late for their next shift. At first it’s just faint unease, but- but they earned a bit of a lie-in, right? No reason to begrudge them some extra rest, even if it is a little weird for them to oversleep. They’ll be fine. Humans are always fine. 

(Right?)

(…Wrong.)

- What is… help. Help!-

- ake up! You have t-

- been days. You need sleep, you-

- nother transfusion. We could-

- out of sedatives!-

A week later, the crew finally reaches the station. They stumble into the bar, haggard and haunted. And over the next months and years a new rumor about humans starts to make its way through space. A rumor unlike any before.

‘Be careful with your humans’ it whispers. ‘Their strength is not always a blessing. Be sure they don’t do something they can’t come back from, because when a human dies… they die slowly.’

[rebeckyelsie]

Apologize

The Captain turned to the humanologist he had summoned. “What is this ‘apologize’?” gesturing to a document on his desk. 

“Ah, well, sir, humans have a long memory...”

The Captain interrupted, “They don’t live that long.”

“Yes, sir, but they can take collective action taken against them personally.”

The Captain was puzzled. “What do you mean? That they can hold grudges not taken against themselves personally?”

“Yes sir. injuries can live on in collective consciousness for generations.”

The Captain mused for a moment. “But what is an apology?”

"You say you’re sorry and hope that they can move on beyond their grudge.”

“And that fixes it?” It seemed simple.

“it often can, and at the very least, will help to rebuild relations with them.”

#flashfiction #humans are space australians #humans are weird #humans are space orcs #space australia

[rebeckyelsie]

Safety in Numbers

Strange, that having a human onboard brought safety, and that each human added more. Safety in numbers, was a saying they had. I hadn’t understood the magnitude of that statement until I saw five of them facing off against an entire horde of Jaggons. The rest of the crew hiding behind the pathetic shield of a ship. Five humans facing the horde. 

It had started as one walkied toward the horde, leaving the safety of the ship. The Jaggons had noticed and sneered. Another human soon rose and joined in the walk toward them. The sneers had disappeared. As the third came into view, a few shifted uncomfortably. The fourth and fifth had quickly joined the others, and by that time the Jaggons had stopped advancing. 

A standoff had occurred, the humans staring down any Jaggons that were looking at them. That standoff had bought our backup time. We were rescued in those long minutes that the humans “took down the Jaggons with their steely glares” as the rumors have it. The humans were even getting medals for their trademark, stupid, brave behavior. And I, the ship recorder, endlessly grateful and indebted, yet again, to humans and their unique contributions to our alliance.

#humans are space australians #humans are weird #humans are space orcs #space australia #space orcs #flashfiction

[rebeckyelsie]

Necessary Evil

“How could you?” her sob ripped through me. I looked at her and saw how she saw the world: as beings wanting to be together, not understanding how some were just evil; watching one of her close friends kill them at close range. 

I closed my eyes and surrendered to the memory. The Rav’tors, coming at me. Starloc, next to me, her eyes wide in confusion, not comprehending the danger pounding down the hallway. Pulling my knife from my boot. Every detail vividly ripping through my mind, faster and faster. Running at them. The first. The second. The third hesitating too late. The fourth stopping and retreating. Turning back to Starloc to find her running away from me. 

A week later and she had finally agreed to meet with me in the Captain’s conference room. 

“How could you?” a whisper this time. I pulled back into the present. Should I try to explain? Should I just let her go, thinking of me as the monster that I very well might be? Other species avoided us completely due to it. 

The Captain shifted in his seat when I didn’t respond. “Starloc, he saved your life, and perhaps others of our crew. We are thankful that we had a human onboard and on our side that day.” 

Her eyes weren’t registering his words. Strange, that her eyes were so humanlike, but her instincts so different. So innocent, so naive. I was jaded next to her. 

I shook my head. “It’s okay, Captain.” I turned to Starloc. One plea, one request to be understood, and I would let it rest. Perhaps she should stay innocent. “I am not like you, Starloc. The universe needs beings like you who believe in the good of all. But I’m not. I did it because I love you, because I love our crew, and what we stand for. I couldn’t let them hurt you. But I understand that you don’t understand hurting to stop hurt. If you want me to keep my distance, I will. But I will always protect you and look out for you, so that you can bring unity and innocence to the universe.” 

#humans are space australians #space australia #humans are space orcs #humans are weird #flashfiction #space orcs #humans are space oddities

[rebeckyelsie]

“Before we begin, I want you to know that I take no part-”

“Shut up.” He nodded at the computer screen. “Play the video.”

She was mutely hit play and he saw his face fill the screen. Larger than life, his mouth giving a speech while his eyes looked bored. A narrator spoke while he continued through his speech. “Just this afternoon, news that rocked the business world as famous Jefferson-”

He hit the pause button before walking toward his window and looking out at the city before him. 

#flashfiction

[rebeckyelsie]

Clothed

Grubnuck opened Shirley’s door. She made a gasp noise and appeared to be holding her chest.

“Human Shirley are you hurt?”

“What? Grubnuck-I-what are-can you turn around please?”

Confused, Grubnuck complied with her request. Was this some sort of entering human ritual?

He heard scuffling behind him and asked again, “Human Shirley, are you hurt?”

“No. I’m naked.”

“Are you uncomfortable unclothed?”

“Um...it’s impolite in most human cultures to be unclothed. You can turn around; thank you.”

Grubnuck faced her, dressed in her usual uniform.

“Human Jason often watches human unclothed though.”

Human Shirley appeared to be overheating and turning pink. “He does? Well...uh...that’s...not something...humans typically discuss. It’s not polite conversation. Perhaps you shouldn’t share that about him.”

“Have I offended you human Shirley? I am sorry. I am trying to understand.”

“No, no, it’s okay Grubnuck. Just uh...what-what did you want?”

#flashfiction #humans are space australians #humans are weird #short story #fiction #flash fiction #space australia #writing #story #humans are space oddities #humans are space orcs

[rebeckyelsie]

Space Orcs- Alien Friend

Gromon’ltac’amanal, or “Grom” to his human crewmates, still did not really understand human behavior, but after three tours on the Arbexis Adronai  he had decided that he quite liked them. In particular, the human Gillian Daavies had professed some level of bonding with him, and while the feelings were not entirely shared (he’d read the full manual on bonding just to be sure he was understanding what was happening properly) he was fond of her, and so willing to be, in human vernacular, friends with her.  She was certainly flattering, always going on and on about how he really understood her, when no one else did, and how great it was that she could just be herself around him without having to worry about, in her words, “all that other stuff, you know?” Grom didn’t know, and doubted he ever would, but the interactions made for fascinating study on long journeys and he found the timbre of her voice to be relaxing, so he tended to go along with her schemes, just to see what they would lead to.  For instance, there had been that one trip to Federation Station Gamma 335.09, or as the humans referred to it, Station Zero, which was often the first space station humans would visit when leaving Earth for the first time. Gillian had taken Grom out “for drinks,” and come up with an idea that Grom had not understood at all, but agreed to, where they went back to the ship, Gillian removed her coverings, and Grom had helped her paint her body with a blue pigment, at which point she had put on other, far less substantial coverings of a silvery sheen and told Grom he had to refer to her as a resident of planet Esteros.  Grom had never heard of that planet, but went along with it. He did not believe himself to be good at intentional falsehoods, but several new arrivals seemed to lap it up. When they were distracted, Gillian would often wink at Grom or whisper how gullible they were, until one in particular had whispered something in her ear, and she had gone off with them, giving Grom a subtle signal to allow it.  The next morning she returned, much of the pigment rubbed off, and spent an hour in his quarters, asking him over and over again if she was a “slut.” He wasn’t familiar with the term, but her cadence and tone suggested such a thing would be bad, and so he tried to reassure her. “You are not a slut, nor a citizen of Planet Esteros. You are a healthy, functioning, fertile human woman.” “Oh, Grom, you really think so?” And then she pressed her lips against his face. She did that, sometimes, when she was inebriated and they were alone.  Other times, she would be sad, often after a long coversation with a human male she had met during leave then left when two ships went their separate ways. Grom had often tried to warn her that such liasons left her unhappy when they ended, and she NEVER listened, but would always be in his quarters again after, leaking from her vision centers and asking him why she never listened to him. Grom didn’t know. He doubted he ever would. But he was her friend, and found the timbre of her voice to pleasant, and so would welcome her back in, listen as she spoke, and be ready for her next nonsensical scheme.  Then, one day, an old crewmember, Darren, came back on board after several cycles working at one of the stations. Darren had been friends with Gillian before Grom had come on board, and Grom had wondered if he would know how Grom could be more helpful than he already was. “Come in!” Darren had called when Grom knocked, and as he walked in, Grom noted the pictures of Darren with another human male on the wall. “Your bonded?” he asked, politely. Darren glanced at the picture. “Oh, Dave. Yeah, I guess. It’ll be hard now that I’m back shipside, but I think we can make it work till we’re back together. Now what can I help you with?” “It is Gillian. You are human, and knew her well. She has been in my quarters often of late, complaining of failed relationships and putting her lips on my face. I listen, and try to advise, but it does not seem to…” Suddenly Darren was laughing so hard he could barely respirate properly. Grom, concerned, moved to help, but Darren waved him off, still chuckling hard. “Oh, so she dragged you into all that? You poor, poor soul.” “I am unbothered, but I do worry that nothing I say seems to…” “Nuh-uh.” Darren shook his head, then gave Grom a pat on the back. “I piloted that course for years and always ended up back at Jump Zero. You’re a good soul, and Gillian was my girl, but no dice. Sorry, pal, but that bitch is YOUR problem now.”

[rebeckyelsie]

So excited for the game tomorrow!

[rebeckyelsie]

No Friend But One

“How. Dare. He.”  My human took a shuddering breath. 

“You’re 12!” She said loudly. It reminded me of a video I had been shown earlier, of a quiet mountain suddenly...what was the word...exploding. 

My human was still talking. “Never mind that 12 doesn’t mean the same thing to you...full-grown, born mature, etc. Still, I’m pack-bonded to you for goodness sake! They can’t just take you away from me.”

She did not seem to understand that a captain’s word was final. I would be sad to leave my human as well, true, but signing onto a ship meant following the orders given - including removal from one’s human. 

“You’re mine.” She was still talking. 

This conversation was beginning to affect me. I had also pack-bonded with the human, though to a lesser degree. No one had the capacity for pack-bonding like the humans. That is why they matched one of us zanataz to a human on ships - so that other creatures would not have to pretend to be bonded to the humans. Thus far, zanataz were the only ones that had even a portion of the ability to keep up with earth’s pack-bonding creatures. It had been found that other creatures, “pets” from earth, were also capable. However, being that they could not speak nor had any usefulness on a ship, we were a better alternative companion for humans. Pack-bonding was useful-

My human’s sobs broke across my thoughts. She was sitting on her resting-place now, covering her face, with liquid flowing down through her fingers.

“First, no other friends. Then we lose contact with earth. And now they take you away. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.” 

I moved closer to her and patted her shoulder, as I had been taught. Pat. Pat. A sniffle from the human. Pat. Pat. Her hand covered my glove. (our claws had proven non-beneficial for human contact). Her head came up and her eyes met mine, full of liquid. “I can’t,” she whispered. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later, I had managed to get my human to the common energy consumption area. She poked her food slower than normal then aggressively poked her food. Ah-the word was stabbed. I had learned that word from watching a movie with her one night. 

“I’m gonna talk to the captain.” She stood up and started walking to the door before I could recover and hurry after her. The downside of us being human companions was that our reflexes were much slower than humans. 

As I hurried along the corridor, I was reminded that I was also slower than humans in general. By the time I got to the bridge, my energy was low and the door had just shut behind my human. I decided to wait it out in the hallway. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My human had done the impossible - again. She had somehow convinced the captain, using logic - a tool in the human arsenal that is not always used - that keeping me on board was the wisest course, “at least for a month or two.” My human had danced all the way back to her quarters, and I found myself thankful that I had been so successfully bonded with her. She truly was a wonder, and I agreed with many of my own species when they said “we are forever in our humans’ debt, in a multitude of ways.”

#humans are space australians #space australia #humans are weird #humans are space orcs