“I’m exhausted,” Dez whined, dropping herself down on a makeshift bed across from Vern.

They had been given a small hut as part of their initiation to share until a new one was built.

“They working you, huh?”

“So many complaints,” Dez groaned. “How is it even possible for such a small settlement that has barely existed a couple of weeks to complain so much?”

“You’re asking the wrong guy. Honestly, I’m surprised you’re going along with all this.”

Dez turned, glaring at Vern whilst she lay. “Do I have a choice? These idiots haven’t the faintest idea of what to do.”

“You almost sound empathetic,” Vern smiled.

“Don’t you start. Anyway, we’ve things to discuss.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, this Star Emperor guy. The people will never agree to challenge him, they’re terrified. But you’re right. This planet has a lot going for it, and we have nowhere else to go. Why create problems for ourselves?”

“And? Where are you going with this, Dez?”

“Well, you already said you wanted to deal with him yourself…”

“Yes, I did,” Vern nodded.

“Well, you still can.”

“What about a ship? Rugsby certainly doesn’t want to take me anywhere else.”

“He already agreed to ferry the settlers, and what difference is it if he just takes you?”

“And how do I get back?”

“I guess you either convince Rugsby, or find another way? Once this Star Emperor is dealt with, the pressure will be off. You can take your time.”

“I just found some degree of civilization and you want me to head back into the unknown?”

“You’re the one that said all that stuff, and now you’re going back on it?”

“No,” Vern slumped. “I guess not. But it’s just… Ah, whatever, fine. I’ll go sort this out somehow.”

“That’s a good boy.”

“No need to be condescending. Also, isn’t there anyone that can help?”

“Doubtful. These guys are amazed you were able to take out those weird twins. I doubt they would provide any real assistance. And besides, we’re trying to build something here, every extra hand counts.”

----------------------------------------

Vern’s fingers tapped against his thighs as he waited for Rugsby to reply.

He didn’t particularly like that it felt like he was being forced into solving everybody’s problems, but he had been the one who suggested staying, and he still wanted to. An already developed city would be better, but if everyone was hunting people like himself as anomalies, then building their settlement might be the only real option available to them.

As the language decoder crackled into action, Rugsby’s voice warped and twisted before it settled into something intelligible. “I’ll take you somewhere, we agreed on that much. But you don’t even know where this Star Emperor character is, how am I meant to help?”

“Well, where do people go for information like that?”

“Around here? No idea. Amongst the Skard? A hiveworld. But that journey alone months, even with that fancy FTL drive you picked up.”

“So, you don’t know of any settled worlds that might be of interest to me?”

“You’re not scared of bumping into more of those rangers?”

Vern was scared of that possibility, but he was starting to get tired of running.

“Is there any other option?”

“No,” Rugsby shook his antennae.

“Fine, let's do that.”

“Are you insane? Do you want us to go to a Kalmardian settlement? Do you know what they will do to me if they catch me?”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Vern shook his head. “You’re just dropping me off, it’ll be fine.”

----------------------------------------

“Why and how did I agree to this,” Rugsby whined as they flew through the atmosphere and into the dark beyond.

“So, where are we headed anyway?”

“A little world called Earendel, apparently it has somewhat of a city. Likely awful, since it is inhabited by Kalmardians.”

“Is it far away?”

“No, not with this FTL drive. We’ll be there in a few hours.”

“Enough time to rest my eyes a little,” Vern stretched and slunk back into the cabins.

“Typical,” Rugsby muttered behind Vern’s back as he walked away.

Violent jostling and the grinding of metal awoke Vern. The entire world around him shook and vibrated as he stumbled to his knees while attempting to leave the cabin.

“What the hell,” Vern groaned.

Static crackled and Rugsby’s voice sounded over the intercom. “We’re caught in something, it is dragging us in. I told you this was a bad idea! But you just never listen!”

Vern waited until the shaking calmed and rose to his feet once the vessel was somewhat stable and made his way to the bridge.

A huge ship with hundreds of smaller vessels floating around it was spread across the viewport and translucent blue ripples beamed through space, enveloping Rugsby’s commander ship.

“You’ve gone and done it now. That’s a Kalmardian carrier. There are thousands of rangers aboard that thing.”

“Don’t you have escape pods or something?”

“Yeah, if we were on fire or something. If my ship can’t outrun that thing, what do you think a little escape pod is capable of? Idiot.”

“So, what do we do?”

“Wait. that or take the easy way out.”

Vern nodded. “I guess we’re waiting.”

“Yeah, thanks to you.”

Vern rolled his eyes as they made their way to the airlock. There was no fighting it, and both figured they might as well face their captors head-on.

White fumes funneled out and the lock disengaged as the hydraulics pumped into action and the door opened.

Flashes exploded in a dizzying array of white and by the time Vern realized what was going on, a dozen slug-like aliens in sleek, white suits stood around them with phasers at the ready.

It didn’t take Vern any convincing to throw up his arms.

“Commander, the anomaly and the Skard commander have been secured.” One of the Kalmardians said into their wrist, not that either Vern or Rugsby could understand a word of it.

----------------------------------------

"Er du gog, mutta de wan," slurred the Kalmardian warden as he pushed his baton into the small of Vern's back and urged him on.

"Alright, I get it!" Vern turned his head whilst walking.

Rugsby had been whisked away somewhere, and Vern felt a little guilty for dragging him into this mess, but he had bigger things to worry about.

"Fufu, data mata mugon."

"Arg dag dag, woot woot, merdong," another jailor replied as the two chuckled moistly and pushed Vern toward a cell with a singular occupant, whose face was cast down with long dark hair following over it.

But he was human, Vern didn't need to see the man's face to know that.

A sound buzzed and the door slid open - Vern was forcefully pushed in and fell to his knees. A second later, the doors closed behind him.

Vern turned back to his jailors but they were already walking away as they continued to chuckle.

An ominous aura emanated from the man as Vern turned back to look at him. He sat on one of the simple, white beds, which consisted of a single pillow and sheet. His prison garb was torn and tattered and he didn't move an inch.

"Hello?" Vern said as he got back to his feet.

A figure grunted but remained otherwise unmoving and silent.

"Does that mean yes? Wait, are you human?"

"Human?"

"Yeah," Vern scratched at his neck.

"Is that what this cursed, pathetic, pink shell is? Is that what you call yourself, a human?" Came a deep and guttural sneer.

"Yeah, I take it you're not a human then..."

The figure rose to its feet, and slowly his face drifted upward, thick clumps of dark hair sliding away from his... handsome, chiseled face and strong chin? What? Vern couldn't believe what he saw, the man looked as if he belonged in an old timely movie, sweeping dames of the era off their feet with a chest full of hair piercing out from his shirt.

"You are human?" Vern shakily asked.

"I am no human. I am Morganathral, an ice troll of the frozen wastes of Timithathran. I am a slaughter of the weak and alpha of all. I stand as a giant amongst the living, looking up to none!"

"You look about five-six to me," Vern said, quickly waving his hands defensively. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. Yay, small king! You go!" Vern cheered.

"What is it you blabber about, human?"

"It's, you know..." Vern said, pointing to his inmate.

"My curse? This cursed system that has placed me in this horrid, pink shell?"

"You went through the character creation, right? And got to the race part?" Vern suddenly remembered his own experience and how he had selected human but received infested human instead.

"Yes, and I chose what I was born as. An ice troll, superior race to all."

"...Aaand you got?"

"HUMAN!" The man shouted.

"Okay, now that explains a lot. So," Vern's finger waved through the air as he pointed at the man. "You looked a little different, I suppose?"

"I stood twenty feet and had a hide as hard as iron. What do you think, human?"

"Yeah, sounds like it. I'm Vern, by the way. And I guess I'll call you, Morg. It's a little easier for me."

Morg snorted. "Whatever your weak little race requires, it makes little difference now."

Vern made his way across the cell and dropped himself on the other bed. "Don't have to be so down, we're still alive aren't we?"

"Humph, easy for you to say, human," Morg said, slumping back down onto his bed.

"I guess being given the human race also gave taught you English, huh?"

"That damned system decided to impart me with the language it decerned as most useful for my new race. I guess it was right. Though your usefulness has yet to be decided."

"Fair enough. Just to let you know, I don't intend to stay here, locked up in this cell."

"You don't, huh? Easy to say." Morg's right eye peeked open as he caught a glimpse at Vern from his side. "'You don't look like all that much to me."

"Yeah, well, this system has given me a few benefits, you could say."

"The classes, right?"

"Yep, superior b here."

"Inferior, though I doubt I'd be so, against you in a fight."

"Oh? you're inferior b? that's pretty impressive."

"Not as impressive as being a spawn of the greatest race to have ever haunted Timithathran."

"Yeah, I don't suppose it is. What is your class though?"

"Mine? Tundran Tusk Warrior. Though I have little understanding of what that means."

"Got any cool powers?"

"No. None cooler than what I had at least."

"Fine." Vern turned to his side. "You really are a difficult one. I'm going to get some sleep, hopefully, you'll be more interesting to talk to when I wake up."

"Whatever, human."