Not long ago, this planet of havenworlders saved a human who had, had a cheese-grater landing. If not for these beings, the human, fortunately the only occupant of that freighter, would not have survived. Then raiders came to harm these people. And the humans showed what gratitude for kindness earns. -- Anon Guest
[AN: May be in relation to: @internutter/challenge-04839-m090-waif-and-stray ]
Hal was learning a lot of things. Starting with the fact that aliens were real and that a lot of them were more harmless than the average Human. The surprising part was that there were other Human worlds, stations, and settlements all over the known universe. Lots of them had banded together to form some kind of fellowship, but they were also friends with a whole bunch of aliens.
He also figured out that he couldn't go back to his world and tell the people there that. Hal's home was isolated and would panic if actual real live aliens showed up. He might even be considered 'polluted' or 'infected' by the alien forces.
They might even think he had been copied or... taken over by the aliens.
It might be better if his world thought he'd died with the rest of them. His world was not ready to know about the Galactic Alliance. They might be ready in a century or two of various revelations, sightings, and benevolent close encounters.
Hal spent a week worrying why he wasn't so disturbed by that thought. Maybe it was because he'd already expected to die on the planet. Maybe it was because he expected the nice lizards to eat him, still. Maybe it was because all the people he'd known were on board the ship with him when it crashed. Or it might be because the vegetarian lizards were nicer to him than anyone in his life before that day.
A couple more weeks into the trip to a better place, Hal realised that his health was improving beyond what he was used to at home. He was stronger, faster, more agile. Heck, he was quicker on the uptake when he was learning things.
These lizards were good to him, and for him.
Which was why, when the raiders attacked the vessel, Hal picked up the nearest heavy object and brought it smashing into the first invader's helmet. He didn't stop swinging until the raiders disconnected and fled.
Panting, trembling, twitching, Hal put the item down. "I think..." he managed, "IthinkIwannapuke..." He barely made it to the hygiene facilities in time. He'd later learn that his weapon had been bolted to the bulkhead before Hal ripped it off.
Which explained why his muscles were all knots when he was done getting over his adrenaline rush. And why all the nice lizard people were afraid of him.
Hal defaulted to hiding in the most sheltered corner of his sleep nook, wrapped over with a blanket so that most of him was hidden. Being as still and quiet as possible so that nobody would be mad at him.
Crillut crept softly towards Hal's bunk. "Human? You being well?"
Sniffle. Cringe. "...no? You're mad at me now."
"We no anger. Human anger?"
"Not at you guys. Never you guys. You're so good, I'll be sad to leave. And... I'm sorry I wrecked your stuff. Please don't throw me out 'cause of that."
"Human belonging with Human," said Crillut.
"...I don't wanna," Hal sighed. "I wanna stay with you. And all the lizards. I can get rid of the bad guys and you're good to me."
"We must telling Humans," said Crillut. "Being law. Humans must knowing where Humans being."
The last batch of Humans that Hal knew hadn't been as nice. "And they won't take me away from you?"
"Not if you saying you wanting stay."
Hal let himself shake, but they were aftershocks from everything else. "Thanks."
[Photo by David Clode on Unsplash]
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