Penelope retraced her steps back to the main floor. Eyes trailed her as was becoming the new norm on stations and she watched to see if they could recognize an injury. It wasn’t lost on her that she’d probably have some explaining to do.

Well… they don’t know what a bruise is. If I’m the first human they’ve seen… is there a chance they wont notice? Maybe they’ll just think humans periodically change color…

As she pondered her chances of having to explain things, she made her way back to the only being on the station who would recognize an injury for certain. Stepping into the shop she waved and got Laz’s attention.

“Oh damn. I didn’t think they’d be able to touch you.” His hands spoke.

“So you knew I’d try to hop in the ring?” She signed back.

His reply was a sly grin and a shrug of the shoulders. Penelope leveled a dry glare at him and continued to speak in sign.

“Most of them weren’t combat frames but the last one was a doozy. Anyway, do I owe you anything for the info?”

“You’ve already paid.” He responded silently.

“How so?”

“Broken bots are excellent for business.” He smiled.

“…I see…”

“I do have something for you though, call it an apology for the busted lip.” His hands fell to his side and he got up.

Moving into the back of the shop, he reached around a corner and dragged an old punching bag back around. Setting it in front of her his hands went to work.

“Thought you might have use of it. Lord knows I don’t.” He held up a comparatively lanky arm.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to be taking things-”

He held his hands up and batted the air to interrupt her.

“Please. Of all the things I wish survived that accident, this is not one. It’s all yours.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem…” his hands stalled and he stared at the newly forming bruises on her cheek, “I’m trying to think of a good cover story but I’ve got nothing.”

“It’s alright, they’ll just have to get over it. Not the first shiner I’ve gotten.”

“They should see the other guy, right?”

“Exactly.” She chuckled.

“I should get back to work here but I hope that colony is everything you want it to be. And if you ever want to come by and drum up a ton of business for Liior and I again you’re more than welcome.” He smiled and picked up his tools.

“I appreciate the offer and I hope so too. A sunset. I could take or leave a lot but a good sunset would be really nice. Have a good one Laz.” She picked up the punching bag.

His hands had gone back to work, but he gave a friendly nod as she turned and left the shop.

She got only a few feet before she saw the captain coming from the opposite direction.

“I just caught Gareth and most of the rest of the crew, we’re setting out soon.”

“Gotcha, I was just heading back to the ship myself.”

“Perfect. I’ve got a few stragglers and then the frame to grab and I’ll see… you… there,” His speech slowed as he noticed her face, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Laz let me in on a little fun at the lower levels.”

“…Fun, right. Okay. As long as you’re okay. I’ll see you back at the ship.” He raised his paws and continued walking.

---

After a short while the crew had been gathered, the bot returned to its place in the cargo bay, and a few additional amenities had been loaded that would be appreciated by planetary colonists. Few of the crew remarked on Pen’s injuries, which didn’t surprise her. Whether they were unaware of what an injury to a human looked like or just not willing to call attention to it was anyone’s guess. What did surprise her was Gareth’s lack of attention to it. She expected a scoff or scolding but he acted as if he didn’t even notice. Which suited her fine, it was just unexpected.

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Eventually the ship was out of the station and back en route to Raxia. After the ship had entered FTL Penelope retired to her room leaving Deag, Gareth, and Ton’et on the bridge.

“Enjoy your spa Gareth?”

Gareth thought of what he’d witnessed on the station. He had gone to a Weilen spa and gotten his frills cleaned. A necessity given their dreadful condition of late. However, he’d cut the service short to follow their new temporary crew member.

“Um yes. Yes it was nice.”

“You seem distracted, not concerned, are we?”

“Concerned? About whom?”

“It would seem Penelope became injured somehow” Ton’et offered without turning.

“Oh I hadn’t noticed.”

“Fairly severely too, I think. I hope those guards didn’t do anything. Such action would be utterly out of line-“

“It wasn’t” Deag and Gareth both said in unison.

Deag and Ton’et both looked at Gareth sideways.

“Oh, do you know how?” Gareth asked.

“Do you?”

“No no, I just meant that the guards wouldn’t be capable of it ethically or… physically. So, it would have to be something else. Did she say anything to you?”

“Yea, she mentioned some fun on the lower levels. I guess the rumors of fights were true.”

“Yes, they must be.” Gareth tried to say as aloofly as possible.

“You don’t care?”

“Why should I? If she wishes to throw herself at frames like that, it is entirely her own prerogative.”

“I suppose so, still, Ton’et maybe just make sure she’ll heal okay? Just ask at least.”

“Of course. I was going to.”

Gareth spoke very little after that. Even after retiring to his quarters, he couldn’t help but conjure the image in his mind. Penelope was on the ground and yet the surprising this wasn’t the fact that the frame had managed to overwhelm her. What was surprising was the look on her face as it brought its fists down. He was certain he saw relief, almost a smile if it could be believed. The only other thing to enter his mind was the realization of how gentle she’d truly been with him on the derelict ship.

---

Pen had a feeling she was going to sleep well but despite everything she wasn’t tired yet. Physically sure, but not mentally. It had only been five or six hours since she’d woken up that morning, or what counted for morning on a ship. She started up and left her room while she wondered how off her circadian rhythm had gotten. If she were back on Aster, what time would it be?

The jet lag would be astronomical. No pun intended.

After some wandering, she found herself at the door of the engine room. Thwilll was clearly avoiding her but maybe it had been long enough at least to introduce herself. She tapped the console, and a familiar timid voice came through a few seconds later.

“Y-Yes? Who is it?”

“Its uhh, its Penelope. I just figured it had been a few cycles and I haven’t introduced myself. I don’t want to scare you or anything though.”

“Oh um no that is okay. Please come in.”

The door wasn’t locked to begin with, so she pressed the console and it slid open. The small creature could be seen atop the engine and behind a number of pipes.

“H-Hellooo…” he peaked over a pipe.

“Hi, you working on something up there?”

“…Yes.” His big eyes were locked on her.

“…”

“Okay, no. I’m just… look you are very big and I don’t do well with… big. And your eyes…”

“I get it. I could sit down if that would help?”

“Perhaps.”

Penelope sat cross-legged on the floor. She could feel the thrumming of the engine now as well as hear it. Thwilll hopped over the pipes and sat at the edge of the engine core.

“Are all humans so large?”

“Generally, I suppose. There’s genetic variance but I think you would consider most humans large.”

“Ton’et says you eat meat.”

“Not all of us but yes.”

“Not all?”

“There are some who don’t like the idea. They’ve found a lot of ways to supplement their nutritional requirements in other ways. I do eat meat, if you’re wondering.”

“Mmmm” he didn’t seem to like this.

“It’s not like we go around eating people though. In Terran space it is utterly illegal to eat a sapient creature. A lot of consumed meat nowadays is synthetic anyway.”

“That is somewhat relieving. I feel I should apologize; I didn’t mean to avoid you it’s just… well I can't live my life free of fear like you I guess.”

“You think I don’t feel fear?”

“Against the pirates you didn’t even hesitate. Not a tremor or anything.”

“Oh no, there's plenty I'm afraid of. You know my old Captain had some wise words on the subject. He once told a much younger me that fearlessness is just another word for stupidity. We are right to be afraid of the things that can bring us harm. It’s a vital instinct. Without it we’d all be wandering off cliffs or sailing into stars!”

This did elicit Thwilll's version of a laugh.

“But you… you must do a very good job hiding it then.”

“I do. It’s a trick really. Fear has its uses, but it can also get you into trouble. The trick isn’t to be fearless, it’s to act anyway. Whenever I’ve been truly terrified, I remind myself that doing nothing, freezing, certainly isn’t going to help so I might as well try something. Either it works and I’ve saved myself or it doesn’t, and it didn’t matter anyway.”

“That’s… huh, I guess so. Still, if we get attacked by more pirates, I think I’ll hide again.”

“Smart. And don’t worry, I’ll take care of them.” Penelope winked.

Thwilll didn’t seem to realize that he’d been migrating ever closer to the human. At this point he sat only a few feet from her. She did indeed seem less imposing sitting on the ground.

“I’m sure you will. Say, Ton’et mentioned that you might find me cute? Is that true?”

“Incredibly so, it has taken all my willpower to not try to pet you.”

“I appreciate that. Please do not.”

“Heard and understood.” Penelope couldn’t help but chuckle.

Thwilll moved back to his work but kept talking. The two spent a number of hours discussing the various differences between predator species on their respective planets. Pen learned that Thwilll’s people were herbivores and often preyed upon before and after evolving intelligence. They were also, as far as anyone knew, one of the first species in the galaxy that had developed space travel along with Gareth’s people.