"No! Please do something! I can't go back home in such an appearance!" Patrick shouted. He always got bullied in his normal human form - He couldn't imagine what kind of treatment he would get if he looked like a freak show.

"Be calm." Solo said with his calm but stern voice. "We have a vaccine so you won't die. But, still, you will get mutated; That’s what the vaccine does.”

"What? Why? No! I'd rather die than have a mutant body! You guys don't know what will happen to me when the people in my school see me look like an alien!" Patrick said.

"Well, it's your decision. You are here and you are now exposed to radiation and virus. You will be dead in about three or four hours now if you don't get the vaccine - There's nothing we can do about it." Solo explained.

"WHAT?!" Patrick's eyeballs almost jumped out of his skull.

"Now, let's see if you were serious with your words. I'll prepare the cremation chamber," Pictos smiled.

"NO! I don't wanna die! Please give me the vaccine. I'll figure out later if my appearance changes because of it."

"Come. I'll lead you to the west gate, as well introducing you to the others. They have the vaccine with them." Solo said, leaving the room.

Following Solo's steps through the ship, Patrick felt like he was in an old spaceship in a zombie movie. Most of the ship's material was metal but not as rusty as Pictos's lab. Just crossing from the lab to the west gate was enough to make Patrick realize how huge the ship was.

Faintly, Patrick heard people's noises. It was getting clearer and clearer when he walked further.

"Pull up the anchor! Damn it!"

"Point to its eyes!"

"Careful, V9!"

"Solo," A short, silver-haired woman with half of her face covered in scale approached.

"The whales again?"

"M'm. We are getting closer to the cold water - The monsters are getting challenging." She nodded. Then, she looked at a boy standing flabbergasted behind Solo. "And ... who is this sweety, clean boy?"

"He is a human from 2023. Pictos made it with his machine, even though it was just a minute. He brought him here so he needs the vaccine." Solo explained.

"Oh! It's too bad. Didn't think the machine would be working this time - we lost the vaccine in a battle with pirates on our way back."

"Oh, no..." Pictos covered his mouth with both hands.

"What should we do then? I don't want to die!" Patrick grabbed his hair. Then, he turned to Solo. "Please do something! I don't wanna die here!"

Clucked, Solo turned to Pictos. "We need to talk-"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"No! There's no way I will do that!" Pictos didn't let Solo finish his words.

"He needs it - else, he'll die. It's the first time your machine worked. We don't know if the next one will do." Solo said.

"It will. I believe it will. We only need to find another Xstone." Pictos persisted.

"Pictos, this is what you always wanted. The only normal human who will save your family is finally here. Are you sure you want to abandon this chance?" The half-scale-skinned woman said.

"Guys! My life is in danger! I'll die soon! Stop talking and save me!"

"We are trying to," Solo answered with his calm voice. "He is the only one who has a vaccine but never wants to use it."

"Hey!" Patrick rushed at Pictos, grabbing his collar. "You said I have to do something, didn't you? I will do it. I will do everything you want me to for this mission. Please give the vaccine to me! I don't want to die in vain like this!"

Seeing Patrick desperately shaking Pictos and yelling at him, people began surrounding them.

Tears welling up in his eyes, Patrick suppressed his voice, reddening his face and popping out some guts around his neck and forehead, "In my life, I haven't done something useful. I'm always being a coward, locking myself in my room, being a nerd, always studying but never using my knowledge. But ... but the thing I am always afraid of is to die as nothing. If I have to die, at least I want to die when doing something for someone. I don't have to be a hero or a star, I just don't want to breathe my last breath as a burden."

People fell silent, staring at him, but Patrick didn't mind. His immense willingness to live defeated his shame. He didn't know why he always felt like this. His life was nothing but a scum. He always be a loser, got bullied, couldn't even say 'Hi!' to a girl he liked, and walked with his face hung down. But why? Why did he want to live so badly? It was a voice deep inside his heart, tightly attached to his soul. Where it came from, he had no idea.

"Pictos, are you sure be doing this to a boy with this surviving ardor? We can look for a new vaccine to replace yours, but we can't revive a dead person." A huge man with shining dark-brown skin stepped in. His voice was as deep as a lion's growl.

Clenched his shaking jaws, Pictos shook his head. "No. I take no risk - You all know that. Then, if we can look for a new one, it must be for him."

"You ... You bastard..." Patrick threw all his anger and disbelief by rumpling Picto's collar harder.

Suddenly, a rough hand tapped on his hands and arranged them to loosen up. "Be calm. It's not that hard finding the vaccine as long as we don't waste time."

"You have to promise me - That I'll survive." Patrick stared at Solo, slapping off his hand.

However, Solo snatched Patric's collar in no time, making him hold his breath. He pulled him so their faces were only a centimeter away. "Your fate is in your hands. Just because we are willing to help you doesn't mean you can rely your life on us. If you don't want to be a burden, don't become one!"

"To your respective post. Find the nearest ship. We will be pirating today." Solo said as he left the crowd.

Watching Solo walk away and the crowd began to disperse, Patrick just stood frozen in his own shadow. He always hated to be a burden, just like what his aunt said in her sleep. But, when was the last time he tried not to become one? He even forgot the last time he cared about it. Solo's words were a hard slap on his face.

"He doesn't like a spoiled person, but he has a good soul - Please believe me," A soft girl voice almost made Patrick think it was an angel whispering into his heart.

Turning around, Patrick jumped a little to find a pink-skinned woman with long braided white hair smiling at him.

"Oh. Wow," He raised his brows.

"I heard the human race back then only had a few skin colors. It must be so confusing to see my skin. My grandpa once told me, I look like a doll." The girl walked closer to Patrick. Then, she reached out her hand. "My name is V9. What's yours?"

"Oh, hi. I'm Patrick Harberton-" Patrick paused when he held V9's hand. "Oh..." he almost pulled his hand back.

"Hm?" V9 tilted her head for a second, then her white eyebrows rose. "Oh! I'm sorry. My hands are still slimy from fighting the whale."

"I-it's okay." Patrick briefly shook her hand before releasing it.

"I'll find the best post for you. Solo will get angry if he sees you don't do anything when the troublesome pirating must be done because of you," V9 said, starting to walk. "Please follow me,"