Isolation and despair can lead to an early grave.

I am unsure of how to describe the feelings I had when I turned sixteen. It was despair, it came from finally receiving my freedom and all I found was nothingness.

You see when one finally turns sixteen and has been in the care of the government here on Syaty IV you will find yourself unceremoniously kicked out of the orphanage and on the streets. The social workers who run the orphanages on Syaty IV do so by the book. They are not there to help create bonds or to nurture one's growth. They are there for one thing and one thing only to keep you out of the way of the greater society until one is no longer the burden of the government.

That is how I have found myself living in the streets for the last three months, barely scraping by, filthy, dirty, living out of a used shipping container. Now don't get me wrong, I have always had dreams of the time where I am free to pursue whatever I want, to learn whatever I desire, to try and become something more! I just never expected the beginning of this journey to start out so rough.

Now you might be thinking well there has to be someone out there who can help you, who can give you a chance, the universe can't be that cruel. I would normally agree, however I haven't mentioned one really important detail. I am alone! Now when i say i am alone obviously i do not have a family as i was raised in an orphanage. You see, I am more alone than that. I am the only one of my species. That is to say no one knows what I am or where my species comes from.

I was found as an infant in some sort of stasis pod floating out in the outer rim of the Olis Galaxy. Some deep miners had stumbled on my pod and that I might be some lost tech that was rumored to be out in the outer reaches. You can only imagine their disappointment when what they had found instead was a frozen infant. They at least were kind enough to drop me off at the first planet in one of the established federations. Unfortunately for me Syaty IV isn't known for its generosity.

Syaty IV is not owned by one of the great races that dominate the known galaxies. Instead it's what is known as a frontier planet. These are planets with rich resources at the edge of civilized space. They are normally a lawless planet as different organization try to dominate the newly discovered planet

Lucky for Syaty IV it was once a lawless planet that has now been brought into the fold of the Dokal Corporation. It also means that it is ruled with an iron hand. One does not put a foot wrong in the up incoming society that is being created unless one wants to lose that foot. What it also means is that it has a very thriving underground that looks to exploit the riches that Syaty IV has to offer. It is that underground that it turns out saved my meek life and helped me turn myself into what i am today.

"Hurry, get up and get moving unless you want us all to be slag!" I heard a deep feminine voice command.

I looked down the alleyway that has been my home as I scooted myself tighter into my makeshift home. My home consists of a couple of shipping boxes with some heavy canvas strapped to it to help keep the constant rain out. I have also gathered a used bare thin mattress, and a collection of other materials to try and make it more comfortable inside.

"Crap we need to split up.”the same voice ordered,” I will meet you back at base now go!"

I looked down the alleyway and saw several shadows move as the one shouting the orders started to move my way. Behind them I could hear more faint shouting as it seemed these individuals were being pursued. As the figure got closer to my home I could see that they were limping and were clutching one of their legs. I could tell this figure was losing ground as the shouts further down the alley were getting closer to the intersection and that they would be spotted soon. They were also huge! My mind raced as I could tell this person was probably an Orc or one of the other large species that populated the galaxy. I also could tell they were not going to make their escape.

I crouched so that I was sticking out from my home about a quarter of the way and with a shaky voice "Here hide in here. You won't lose them with that wound but I will hide you."

As the figure got closer I could tell indeed they were an Orc but with lighter green skin than what I have seen from most Orcs. The Orc was also a female and had a strong build with a bald head and tiny tusks jutting from her slender jaw. She had a dark red tattoo on the side of her face that looked tribal.

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She looked behind her and then back at me and I could see the calculations going quickly behind those almond colored eyes. She only hesitated for a second and then fell in behind me and into my makeshift home. I quickly covered her body with some of the blankets I had pulled together to try and make the floor more comfortable.

The other party got louder. I could now see the second group emerge into the intersection and hesitated.

"Looks like they split up" I heard a male voice spit out. "If we lose them the major is going to have our ears for this"

I could see the individual speaking push three of his group down the other side of the intersection and he turned and started making his way in my direction.I could tell right away that this was one of the elven races that have made up the police force of Syaty IV. No one in the galaxy has a way to sound like a pure authoritative ass like the elven races. The figure started hurriedly forward making his way closer and closer to my makeshift home and the now hidden Orc.

"You there scum!" he said with enough venom in his voice to make me flinch. I could tell that he hated having to talk to someone like me just by his stance and tone, "Did you see an Orc come down this way?"

"I saw some massive form move down just a second ago. It woke me up from my sleep, just like you are keeping me from going back to sleep." I was trying to sound like I might either pass out from intoxication or on the verge of being sick. Hoping that it would drive him away from me.

It almost worked as I could see him turn to leave and then came a rustling sound behind me as the Orc shifted slightly. "What was that?" He spat at me, now turning to look directly at me.

"Just a cat I found. Don't worry about her, she is just a smelly wet thing. Nothing you need to worry about. She is harmless," I said as I started to rise, showing my hands to show I was no threat.

This guy had a real problem with those he considered underneath him as he turned a furious shade of red. "Back on your knees, I am your better and you will not approach me unless I instruct you to!" shouting and this time spit flying everywhere. “Wow” she thought to herself,” He went from an annoying cop, to murder authoritarian in seconds.” He lashed out with his leg as I was on the rise, snapping me right under the jaw and sending me sprawling.

Now here is where I inform you how having nothing really puts one far behind. You see, in this day of age everyone is enhanced somehow. Whether it be by Nano Technology, Genetic Manipulation, or a vast array of other benefits out there in the galaxy. He being an elf and also on the police force meant he had some decent upgrade. Me on the other hand living on the streets with nothing and no one meant not only did i have none of that but also i was probably extremely malnourished. This added up to me being knocked out cold with one simple kick.

"Hey, wake up!" I heard that familiar voice whisper in my ear and sent small shivers down my spine. I could feel her strong hands slightly shake me.

"There you are!” the orc said in relief,”I was worried he nearly killed you there with that one kick. I would have hated not to be able to return the favor to the person who saved me tonight." I cracked my eyes at that and got a good look at the woman who was now laying slightly behind me. She did indeed have a lighter tone of skin than most Orcs. She also had a very feminine face that was not as normal for her race. She had the darkest of brown eyes that took everything in. She had a very gentle expression that contradicted the massive intricate clan tattoo that covered the right side of her face going from around the ear and curved down her neck.

I opened my mouth to reply but a mess of words came out. The Orc just smiled. "Wow he must have really cracked you good. Here drink this," as she put a small flask to my lips. It tasted metallic and it burned going down. I coughed and winced as my head screamed for an instance and then just like that my mind cleared and became clear.

"Elly," I managed to get out. "My name is Elly". This time I was able to get up to my feet as the Orc followed me up.

"Stella," as she stuck her hand out and wrapped it around mine. She had a very curious look on her face as we both got our first full looks of each other. This of course was something I was very used to as I mentioned before I am the only me.

"Huh, I thought you were some elf for a second but you are not, you are too tall and slender to be a dwarf." She said as she touched her temple. She must have some sort of neural net implant that is helping her scan and try to figure me out. I also again knew how this was going to turnout.

I coughed loud to get her attention. "Stella, that isn't going to help you out. You are right I am no Elf, Dwarf, and i am pretty sure you will find out it comes back inconclusive. I am the only me there is and even i don't know what i am." I think that came out a little more sad and pathetic than what I intended it to sound as the concerned face came back as if she had just found a lost puppy.

Sadly I thought to myself, “Thank you universe I am now a lost pet!”