On the bridge of the Krysalyn, Tila, Loran, and Captain Kador stood together, observing the human who stood out due to his imposing presence. Byra, still recovering, rested in her quarters, but the rest of the crew had returned to their usual duties after the tense days on Cassur Prime. Five days had passed, and things seemed to be slowly returning to normal or at least, to what could be called normal after all they had endured.
The human stood at the center of the bridge, bared from the waist up. The top half of his black jumpsuit was tied around his waist, revealing pale skin and dense, defined musculature. To Tila, it was strange to see him like this. His species, like most she knew, were covered in fur or scales, but this being was different a creature of smooth, unprotected skin. Yet even without his armor, he was colossal. The raw strength emanating from his physical presence was palpable, and it was clear he could overpower many species with brute force alone, even without the aid of his advanced technology.
Captain Kador held a small metallic device, resembling a thin, polished disc. It was the translation chip. Calibrated by the Nyxis A.I. over the past few days, it had been specifically configured for the human. The chip was an advanced Federation technology, capable of adapting automatically to any species' physiology, connecting to the skin without invasive procedures.
"Ready?" Kador asked, glancing at the human.
The human nodded, his expression solemn. He had agreed to use the chip willingly, but only after being convinced by Nyxis that it was safe. She had explained, with her flawless logic, that the chip would not only allow him to understand the crew but also translate his speech into the common tongue, eliminating the need for constant mediation.
"This isn't an implant," Kador calmly explained as he positioned the chip. "The technology is designed to interact with neural systems non-invasively. It connects to the skin and operates self-sufficiently."
The human remained silent, but his posture exuded confidence a rarity for someone who had distrusted them so fiercely at first. He turned, exposing the back of his neck to Kador, who carefully pressed the chip against his skin. The device emitted a soft sound, like a buzz, as it began to connect automatically.
"It'll take a few seconds to adapt," Kador remarked, watching as the device seemed to fuse with the human's skin.
Tila observed intently, fascinated by the technology. She understood how the chip worked, but its efficiency was always impressive. Nyxis had calibrated it so the human wouldn't just comprehend the common tongue but speak it too, translating his words in real time and allowing the crew to understand him without linguistic barriers.
"And that's it," Kador said moments later, stepping back. He studied the human briefly, waiting for the chip to complete its integration.
The human raised his hand, lightly touching the back of his neck where the chip now rested. He said nothing, but his eyes betrayed his processing of the experience. The captain, Tila, and Loran waited in silence, curious to hear his first words in the common tongue.
The human spoke for the first time in the common tongue, his deep, clear voice echoing across the ship's bridge. "Can you understand me now?"
The captain smiled, crossing his arms with satisfaction. "Yes, perfectly."
Nyxis's voice followed shortly, direct and flawless. "Congratulations on your achievement, human."
"And now?" the human asked, looking at the captain. "What's our next move?"
Kador tilted his head thoughtfully before answering. "Well, we could return to the system where we found you and search for the wreckage of your ship. I'm sure with a quick sweep from Nyxis, we'll be able to locate something."
"That is appreciated," the human replied, his tone carrying a hint of formality. "Humanity will recognize your efforts in aiding a member of our species."
"It's nothing," Kador said, shaking his head. "You saved our ship and our lives."
The human slowly nodded, acknowledging the captain's words.
"We'll depart in a few hours," Kador continued. He then turned to Tila, who stood nearby. "Are the supplies already loaded onto the ship? And what about the remaining cargo?"
Tila gave a slight nod before explaining, "We managed to sell the cargo for a good price at the market with Loran's help. But unfortunately, the station has refused without explanation to provide us with an anti-grav cart to load the supply crates onto the ship. And those pirates took ours."
The human, who had been quietly observing until now, suddenly spoke. "I think I can help with that."
Everyone on the bridge turned their eyes to him, clearly intrigued.
"What will you do?" Loran asked suspiciously.
The human let out a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Show me where the crates are."
A few minutes later, the human donned his armor and helmet, his figure once again transforming into an imposing presence that struck fear into even the bravest. Tila and Loran led him into the station, where the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
As soon as he entered, every species present stopped what they were doing. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, and some creatures simply stared at the human, their eyes wide with fear. A few even fainted at the sight of his towering, fully armored form.
Tila and Loran repeatedly apologized to those around them as they quickened their pace, guiding the human to the hangar where the supplies were stored. When they arrived, he walked directly to the massive, heavy crates that no one could move without proper equipment.
Without apparent effort, the human lifted two crates, one in each arm, and began carrying them toward the ship. Tila and Loran followed closely behind, still apologizing to the station workers who watched in stunned silence. The human made three trips, moving all the necessary crates with the same efficiency.
However, as they were returning to the ship, a group of guards appeared in the hangar, their weapons trained directly on the human. Their official uniforms gleamed under the hangar lights, but their hands visibly trembled.
"Stop right there!" one of the guards shouted, his voice shaky. "Identify yourself, or we'll consider this an invasion!"
Tila quickly stepped forward, raising her hands in a placating gesture. "He's not part of the Federation, so he doesn't have identification," she explained, trying to keep her voice calm.
The guards, however, did not lower their weapons. If anything, they seemed even more on edge. One of them stepped forward, his finger hovering near the trigger. "You let this barbarian into our territory?"
Before Tila could respond, Kador appeared, walking quickly toward the scene. He raised his hands, trying to diffuse the situation. "Everyone, calm down, please. He's not hostile."
Before Kador could say more, the human spoke in a low but clearly audible tone. "I could be."
Kador quickly turned to the human, giving him a sharp, reprimanding look. "Don't make this worse," he murmured, clearly irritated.
The human crossed his arms and fell silent, saying nothing more, but his posture conveyed an implicit challenge.
One of the guards, still pointing his weapon, stepped closer. "Where are you from, creature?" he asked, his voice filled with distrust and disdain.
"None of your business," the human replied coldly. "After all, I'm from one of the countless barbaric worlds out there, which I'm almost certain you don't bother to learn the names of."
The tension in the air was almost palpable, and Kador quickly stepped in again. "Please," he said, addressing the human. "Do not escalate this further."
The tension in the hangar was almost palpable, with the guards still pointing their weapons at the human and everyone present caught in an uncomfortable silence. Suddenly, a red-furred Cossarian, elegant in his simple yet well-kept uniform, approached. His voice was calm and conciliatory, carrying a subtle authority.
"Calm down, everyone," he said, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture. He addressed the leader of the guards, speaking in a tone only the guard could hear.
The leader, still visibly tense, initially shook his head in refusal, but the Cossarian persisted, murmuring something and handing the guard a small object that no one else could see. There was a pause, a moment of hesitation, before the guard leader finally relented with a long, frustrated sigh.
Both returned, and the guard leader made a brusque gesture for the others to lower their weapons. "The creature can go," he said, looking directly at the human. "But I don't ever want to see that thing here again."
The human tilted his head slightly, his voice low but cutting: "Your face isn't exactly pleasant either."
The two exchanged a hostile, intense stare, and for a moment, it seemed the situation might escalate again. But Captain Kador quickly intervened, gesturing for the human to step back. Without further words, they began making their way back to the ship.
As everyone boarded, the red-furred Cossarian approached Kador just before he, too, entered the ship. "Captain," he began, his voice still calm. "I'd like to accompany you."
Kador frowned, turning to face him. "This isn't a passenger ship. We're merchants, not a transport service."
The Cossarian, with a slight smile, persisted. "I can pay. I don't need luxury, just transportation."
Kador considered for a moment, studying the stranger with suspicion but also sensing his good intentions. After a brief sigh, he gave a nod, granting him permission to board.
"Thank you," said the Cossarian, bowing slightly in gratitude. He then extended his hand and introduced himself: "My name is Zarn."
Kador shook his hand briefly and motioned for him to enter. "Come aboard, Zarn. But stay out of the way."
Zarn nodded, stepping onto the ship without further argument, while Kador followed him, closing the hatch behind