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Cadet Black Gum is the first Zarillian to join the Kurrian ranks. However, his trust is tested when he's sent to the Earth Observation Station. Zarillians are known for being agressive and having god complexes when compared to other species. In order to advance in his ranks, he must ignore his temptations to use humans for his own selfish desires. One day, he finds a tiny wounded human, dying in the hallway. He'scompelled to take the little creature and nurse it back to help. However, danger is abroad, and one of the crew members is a traitor looking to turn all humans into their slaves.
___________________________________________
Zheta V
"Duties"
Wriiten by Midnight317
Gum stood out from the rest of the group as the first Zarillian to join the Kurrian ranks. He was among many other creatures. Light shined blue through the window beside him, reflecting off his black fur. The others wore uniforms, but the Zarillians and Kurrians didn't have to due to their thick fur coats.
All the Extraterrestrials surrounding were much taller than him. Zarillians were the shortest race of the Kurrian Alliance. It made him a subject of criticisms. The bird-like creature beside him was twice his size.
A Kurrian padded up to the stand. Like the Zarillians, they were very canine-like. The main differences was that Kurrians were a little more than a whole foot taller, while Zarillians had antlers. The Kurrian General wrapped his padded handpaw around a solid block and SLAMMED it on the clear table. Silence fell upon everyone.
"Welcome to the graduation embassy, everyone!" He called out to the crowds. His arms raised to the ceiling. "If you are here, it is because the department thought you were the best of the best. To you, I give congrats." He bowed his head and looked back out to the crowd.
"Now for your designations. Nalok and shluk, you are designated to the K.R.S. Xarho battle cruiser. Bak and Mork, your designation is aboard the Abcott Science Ship under the leadership of Clover," he continued to name off names. The apprehension killed Gum. What role would he get? Divines, he hoped he got assigned to a battleship. Everyone knew that the Kurrians technology was superior to many of the surrounding empires. Finally, he heard his name.
"Miklard, Gum, and Pierce, your designation is aboard the Sol III Orbital station, Zheta V," the general said. Gum stared. His shoulders heaved. Of course, he'd get put aboard an observation station. He clenched his handpaws hard, his claws sliced through his pawpad. Blood seeped out over his black pad. His jaws gritted together. He grinded his footpaws on the floor, leaving deep scratches. Thoughts of blood and tearing crowded his head. His claws itched to slice through the fur of the general.
He's lips retracted into a snarl. His brilliant white, killer teeth shined from his black gums. An alien beside him stared at him with wide eyes. It stepped away from him. Zarillians were well-known for their domination complex. It's a wonder why they were accepted into the alliance with their territorial personalities. Gum pushed his homicidal thoughts to the back of his head. He ruffled his handpaw through his vibrant red hair between his antlers.
He navigated through the flood of other creatures to the front. The vulpine general looked down at him from his stand. "Gum, is there something you need?" He asked. Gum nodded and bowed.
"Yes, sir. I was wondering what obligated you to send me to the Sol Observation Post. I'm sure you saw my educational review. I should be fully capable to staff a starship position," Gum said.
"I'm sending you to Earth Observation because of your science skills in Extraterrestrial dynamics. Sorry son, but I got my orders, as well as you. Now get to the transport," he ordered. Gum mumbled curses to himself before leaving the fox-like creature to its own vices.
He padded out of the auditorium. A red-scaled reptilian creature approached him from behind. It some-what resembled a dragon, but wingless. "Hey G!" It called. Gum ignored him and continued down the hall. A window stretched along the wall. Miniscule stars awaited to be explored outside of their system. He could've been out there exploring if it wasn't for the primitive human civilization.
Another pleasurable vision came to him. His tall figure towered over the tiny beings like a god. Each step he took crushed worthless bodies into warm pulps beneath his pads. He grinned and clenched his fist, imagining humans being crushed in his palm. The little morsels' screams were hard to hear as he tossed them into his dark maw. He chewed them up and swallowed. Feeling their juicy, lifeless bodies slip a-
"GUM!" The shout awakened him from his daydream. He glanced at the reptilian creature beside him.
"Oh, Markol," Gum mumbled, turning back to the window.
"I assume it didn't go as well as you hoped?"
"The asshole is sending me to the Zheta V station."
"With the bug primates? Ouch," Markol said. He joined Gum, looking out at the colorful cosmos and stars. A transport ship flew past the windows. It orbited the station and pulled up to an airlock. A metal platform extended and fasted around the door of the ship. The top of the platform flicked green to indicate that the ship was ready to be boarded.
Gum sighed and met eyes with his friend. "Well, that's my transport," Gum said. Markol nodded and shook hands with him. His eyes widened as the short, antlered fox wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into an embrace. His eyes tightened close, taking in the last few moments with his friend. "I'll miss you..." Gum wispered into the repilian's webbed ear. His ears flattened against his furred skull.
His alien friend loosened down and hugged him back with a gentle smile. "I'll miss you too."
They let go of each other. Both stared at the floor, avoiding the sight of each other. Gum clasped his handpaws behind his back. He twisted his bare, black paws on the floor. His claws scratched across the floor. "W-well, I gotta go get ready. I hope we see each other in the future later," he said, staring at his footpaws.
His chest tightened as the reptilian grabbed his handpaw. Suddenly, Markol reached in and kissed his furred cheek. He tightened his paw and whispered into his flattened ear, "Maybe we could be more than just friends when you get back." Gum eyes lifted to meet his. The reptilian smiled into his eyes, warmly. Gum's heart plummeted.
He already knew his best friend had a gay crush on him. Although Gum liked him, he never wanted to be with some taller and stronger than him. He always pictured himself as a protector. What's the point of protecting, if what you're protecting can protect themself? He broke eye contact with him. The reptilian frowned and turned away. He let go of him. Gum's green eyes glued back onto him. "Markol."
The reptilian froze. Light from above reflected off his red scales. He refused to make eye-contact. "Nevermind, I shoulda known you wouldn't be up for it. You're more of the dominant type, anyway. Just remember, there's always someone in the galaxy who loves you," he said. His claws clicked on the floor as he left the hall.
The fur of Gum's cheek soften as tears spilled down from his eyes. He tried to hold them back, but he knew how much he had hurt his friend. A speaker above his cracked on. "Zheta V O. Station leaves in 500 hours," a voice boomed. Gum wiped the wetness from his cheek fur and padded to the Elevation Pod.
His placed his handpaw on the monitor beside it. A scanner surveyed every crevice of his pads. It blinked, "CONFIRMATION" along the top. The door hissed as it depressurized and the door slipped open. A Kurrian couple stood inside. They patted their messy and matted fur. The female giggled at the male. The grasped paws together as they padded out. The female made a devilish grin as she squeezed her mate's ass. Gum watched them pad down the hall, bickering at each other. His heart throbbed.
*Would I ever get that?* He wondered. The Elevation Pod PINGED to remind him of its presence. He padded into it and shivered as his paws brushed the carpet inside. Every tiny strip of fabric massaged his paws, wiping the sweat from between his sole and toes. Each fabric fit neatly between his pad crevices. "Where to, Cadet Gum?" The automated, feminine voice of the Elevation Pod asked.
"Take me to Hall B180," he answered, knitting the carpeted floor between his toes.
"Taking you to Hall B180," the voice added. The pod descended into the depths of the station. "Stopping at Hall B258," the voiced announced. Gum padded to the side. His pulled his arms close to him and held his breath. The Pod slowed and the doors swooshed open. A heavy built Kurrian padded into the small space. Even his immense paws were twice the size of his own. The creature gave a Hellish grin. It's hazel eyes glued to Gum, judging him like always.
"Where to, Lieutenant Daykahn?" The automated voice asked.
"Hall B214," he answered in a gruff voice. His hateful gaze sliced through Gum.
The antlered fox avoided eye contact with the large-framed creature. The Kurrian narrowed its eyes at him. "A Zarillian..." he growled, "You know, I'm surprised we even let one of you lowlives amongst our ranks." Gum stared down at his black paws with his arms crossed. The annoyed Kurrian approached him with rolled fisted. His lips curled into a sneer, showing off razor-sharp jaws. Hate clouded its eyes. He wrapped his masculine paw around Gum's snout and jerked it so he was forced to look up into his fiery eyes. "Why can't you look at me? Eh, think your kind is superior?" It snarled. Gum refused to answer.
The animal slugged him with it's curled fist. Gum's head slammed against the wall of the pod. He spit a tooth from his snout. Blood seeped from where it once was and poured over the fur of his snout. The hateful Kurrian stood, awaiting a response. His fur of his handpaw dripped black specks of Gum's blood. He smirked and leaned in. "That's what I thought, Zarillians never change," He snarled.
"Opening at Hall B214," The automated voice announced. Daykahn stepped away from his target of ridicule. His wiped his handpaw on his black uniform, cleaning off the bloody evidence. The doors swooshed open. The Kurrian gave him one last hateful look before padding out of the pod.
Gum watched his nemesis leave. His gut dropped into his stomach, and his chest tightened. The doors swooshed closed again. "Continuing to Hall B180," the automated voice explained. Gum banged the back of his head against the wall. His antlers clattered. Tears rolled out from his eyes, tainting his fur wet. He sniffled and knelt down, holding his pointed ears down in shame. More streams rolled over his cheeks.
What if everyone was right? What if the Zarillians were a waste of resources? What if they were worthless to to the Alliance? What if he was worthless? More tears shredded out as he thought more about it.
"Approaching Hall B180," the automated voice said. Gum wiped the warm tears from his fur and stood. He held his breath. The door swooshed open, leading to a busy hallway. Everyone watched his as he padded down the endless corridor.
Gum's tense nerves relaxed. He found the entrance to his room. There was a scanner beside the door, similar to the one beside the Elevation Pod flickered to life. He placed his handpaw on it. It dinged as the door slipped open. "Welcome home, Cadet Belcot Gum," the same feminine voice said, "Eviction in five hours."
He padded into the room. A long window stretched along its side, showing the galaxy outside. The overhead lights flickered to life. They glowed a luminescent blue. A ship soared past the window. Gum padded up to it. An art easel stood in front of him. His shoulders dropped. He'd never be able to fit it in the transport vessel. The station supplied him with one. Hopefully Zheta V did too. He reached behind it and pulled up a collection of art pieces.
They featured many depictions of Zarillians. Some looked down to smaller, inferior beings they held in their handpaws. He started making them to overcome his pain of being the smallest species of the Alliance. The monsters that towered over him made him feel miniscule and worthless. He hid the art pieces away in his collection holder. They slid in, smoothly. Blue LEDs glowed around it as he clipped it shut.
His focus returned to the colorful cosmos. He sighed and search the room for anything else to grab. Most objects in the room would be furnished at the new station. Gum picked up the last of his art supply and padded into the center of the room. "Computer," he ordered, "this room is no longer property of Belcot Gum."
The blue LEDs lining the walls flipped to red. Gum padded out of the room. He froze in the hall in front of the door. What would change? He wondered.
He padded down the hall. His ears laid flat against his skull as he stared towards the metal floor. He joined a large crowd in the Elevation Pod. "Where to, Cadet Gum?" It asked.
"Hall B312," he ordered as the hydraulic doors slipped closed. Many of the occupants surrounding him whispered in each others ears, while giving him quick glances. Some said his species name loud enough, just to make sure he heard it. He averted eye-contact with them and held his portfolio tight to his white-furred, fluffy chest.
The Elevation Pod shifted as it made its rise to the top. It made two stops along the way, allowing for the departures of some of the inhabitants. "We've reached Hall B312," the voice announced, opening to a busy hallway. Different creatures bustled through the corridor, each was of different shapes and sizes.
The short deerfox followed the LED-lit hallway. A crowd filled the hall in front of him. Many exchanged goodbyes amongst their friends and families. A glowing, dark-blue sign towed above them. "Zheta V transport," it read.
"GUM!" Markol's familiar voice called from behind him. The red reptilian lepted at him, wrapping his scarlet-scaled arms around him. He closed his eyes, enjoying his embrace. "I just wanted to come by one last time to see you off. Ya know, you don't really have to go for a couple hours yet, right?"
"Yeah," Gum answered, pulling himself from the wingless dragon's hug, "but now is better than late. Hopefully this won't last long."
Markol grinned. "Hopefully, you don't make any new best friends. Also, if you get laid, I'm gonna be very jealous," he laughed.
"You don't have to worry about that. The only interesting things about Zheta V are the primitive bugs, and that's only if they make a delicious snack," Gum's smile turned into a devilish smirk.
"DON'T EAT THE HUMANS!" Markol hissed through sharp teeth. He leaned close to Gum's ear and whispered, "Nothing pisses off the Alliance more than when sentient beings are hunted for fun or made a food source."
"Yeah, and nothing pisses me off more than when I train for years only to become the babysitter for the shrimp of the galaxy," Gum growled, revealing a row of sharp jaws. The bright surround LEDs reflected off each canine tooth.
"Look, I know humans are said to be small and fragile, but look at it this way: everyone's bigger than you here and that won't change on a ship. At least at Zheta V, you know there's a Extraterrestial species that you can relate to. I know you've always wanted it. Become one oc the gentle giant Zarillians you draw in your artwork. I've seen them. I know what you really want," Markol said. Gum averted eyed from him he stared down at his paws in silence. He knew Markol was right. On Earth, those paws could mark the success of humanity, or they could bring them death and destruction. To them, he'd be a mortal God.
He straightened up. Markol was right. Humanity was one of the smallest species within Karian space, much like how his species the shortest of the Alliance. His back straightened and his chest fur fluffed out. Confidence filled his lungs. For the first time that day, he smiled. He looked up at his reptilian friend. "Yeah, who knows, I might find them cute," Gum said.
"That's the spirit. Just don't use them as pets," Markol said. Gum nodded.
"Thanks," he said, before padding through the doorway to the Transport ship. He waved his goodbye to his friend. Two others were already seated inside. One was a three-eyed avian named Rheka Miklard. Besides her eyes, the rest of her appearance resembled something like a peacock with a closed fan of feathers. In the seat across from her, sat another Karian. This one was short framed, but still taller than Gum. He focused on a tablet in his handpaws, staring at the screen through a medal visor.
A slender crew member stepped up behind him. It snorted through a trunk on it's nose, narrowing it's tiny eyes at Gum. It shoved him out of the way with its 3-digit hand. The iron cropping of the seat sliced through Gum's skin. He tripped into the leather seat. Black blood oozed down the fur of his leg, it looked like oil. The other crew members spoke to their captain in a foreign language. Most of their language was made from ticks and clicks. Their captain shoved past them and stepped into their room. He eyed each and everyone of them. At last, his squinty eyes landed on the Zarillian.
His eyes stared as he approached the deerfox. "A Zarillian?" He asked, "To the Human Planet?"
"Yeah," Gum nodded, "and it's pronounced as Earth-"
"SHUT IT, BEAST!" It snarled, pointing a fleshy figure an inch from Gum's snout. "I don't know how the Alliance could ever trust one of you, especially with such a fragile species. You're likely to devour them."
"Yeah sure, I kept asking myself whether I was going to eat them medium-well or raw. Can you guess which I decided?" Gum asked, his lips stretched into sadistic grin. He leaned in and whispered into the captain's earhole, "I decided to take them raw. I prefer to feel my hopeless prey squirm in my gullet. I want them to try to tempt fate, but realize that at the end of it all, they're just that: food for a superior being."
The captain stared, dead-eyed, at the Zarillian. "Your sick," he mumbled, "Shlovock! Get this BEAST off here. There shall be no threats towards the humans on my ship."
"And there won't be," a familiar voice butted in. The general padded onto the vessel. He narrowed his eyes at Gum, then he turned to the ship captain. "I don't way you care. You're not even in the Alliance. We pay you to transport, which includes Cadet Gum. As for his attitude, he's only making threats because he doesn't want to go. However, guards will be posted outside of his room just in case."
Gum stared at the general. He cocked an eyebrow. "Just in case?" He stood up out of his seat. The general still stood a foot above him. They met eyes. "I'm I really that much of a threat?"
"Cadet, what you said was alarming. I don't think you'll do anything, but it's still enough for the Alliance to worry. You're our first Zarillian, they're hoping for it to work out. Just go out and make us, and your people, proud," The general smile, patting a paw on Gum's shoulder. Gum's heart warmed. He smiled as the General padded off the vessel. One of the crew members closed the airlock behind him.
The compartment shifted as the transport ship separated from the station. The boosters along the back warmed up. They glowed blue. Flame shot out of the back as it blasted out of the system, shooting faster than the speed of light.
Gum sat in a seat next to a window. He watched stars and ships fly by. The station they just departed on was reduced to a speck in the distance. His new home in the Sol system approached fast. Gum knew his whole life was going to change, but he didn't know it was because he'd become best friends with a much smaller and inferior being to him...
___________________________________________
Zheta V
"Duties"
Wriiten by Midnight317
Gum stood out from the rest of the group as the first Zarillian to join the Kurrian ranks. He was among many other creatures. Light shined blue through the window beside him, reflecting off his black fur. The others wore uniforms, but the Zarillians and Kurrians didn't have to due to their thick fur coats.
All the Extraterrestrials surrounding were much taller than him. Zarillians were the shortest race of the Kurrian Alliance. It made him a subject of criticisms. The bird-like creature beside him was twice his size.
A Kurrian padded up to the stand. Like the Zarillians, they were very canine-like. The main differences was that Kurrians were a little more than a whole foot taller, while Zarillians had antlers. The Kurrian General wrapped his padded handpaw around a solid block and SLAMMED it on the clear table. Silence fell upon everyone.
"Welcome to the graduation embassy, everyone!" He called out to the crowds. His arms raised to the ceiling. "If you are here, it is because the department thought you were the best of the best. To you, I give congrats." He bowed his head and looked back out to the crowd.
"Now for your designations. Nalok and shluk, you are designated to the K.R.S. Xarho battle cruiser. Bak and Mork, your designation is aboard the Abcott Science Ship under the leadership of Clover," he continued to name off names. The apprehension killed Gum. What role would he get? Divines, he hoped he got assigned to a battleship. Everyone knew that the Kurrians technology was superior to many of the surrounding empires. Finally, he heard his name.
"Miklard, Gum, and Pierce, your designation is aboard the Sol III Orbital station, Zheta V," the general said. Gum stared. His shoulders heaved. Of course, he'd get put aboard an observation station. He clenched his handpaws hard, his claws sliced through his pawpad. Blood seeped out over his black pad. His jaws gritted together. He grinded his footpaws on the floor, leaving deep scratches. Thoughts of blood and tearing crowded his head. His claws itched to slice through the fur of the general.
He's lips retracted into a snarl. His brilliant white, killer teeth shined from his black gums. An alien beside him stared at him with wide eyes. It stepped away from him. Zarillians were well-known for their domination complex. It's a wonder why they were accepted into the alliance with their territorial personalities. Gum pushed his homicidal thoughts to the back of his head. He ruffled his handpaw through his vibrant red hair between his antlers.
He navigated through the flood of other creatures to the front. The vulpine general looked down at him from his stand. "Gum, is there something you need?" He asked. Gum nodded and bowed.
"Yes, sir. I was wondering what obligated you to send me to the Sol Observation Post. I'm sure you saw my educational review. I should be fully capable to staff a starship position," Gum said.
"I'm sending you to Earth Observation because of your science skills in Extraterrestrial dynamics. Sorry son, but I got my orders, as well as you. Now get to the transport," he ordered. Gum mumbled curses to himself before leaving the fox-like creature to its own vices.
He padded out of the auditorium. A red-scaled reptilian creature approached him from behind. It some-what resembled a dragon, but wingless. "Hey G!" It called. Gum ignored him and continued down the hall. A window stretched along the wall. Miniscule stars awaited to be explored outside of their system. He could've been out there exploring if it wasn't for the primitive human civilization.
Another pleasurable vision came to him. His tall figure towered over the tiny beings like a god. Each step he took crushed worthless bodies into warm pulps beneath his pads. He grinned and clenched his fist, imagining humans being crushed in his palm. The little morsels' screams were hard to hear as he tossed them into his dark maw. He chewed them up and swallowed. Feeling their juicy, lifeless bodies slip a-
"GUM!" The shout awakened him from his daydream. He glanced at the reptilian creature beside him.
"Oh, Markol," Gum mumbled, turning back to the window.
"I assume it didn't go as well as you hoped?"
"The asshole is sending me to the Zheta V station."
"With the bug primates? Ouch," Markol said. He joined Gum, looking out at the colorful cosmos and stars. A transport ship flew past the windows. It orbited the station and pulled up to an airlock. A metal platform extended and fasted around the door of the ship. The top of the platform flicked green to indicate that the ship was ready to be boarded.
Gum sighed and met eyes with his friend. "Well, that's my transport," Gum said. Markol nodded and shook hands with him. His eyes widened as the short, antlered fox wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into an embrace. His eyes tightened close, taking in the last few moments with his friend. "I'll miss you..." Gum wispered into the repilian's webbed ear. His ears flattened against his furred skull.
His alien friend loosened down and hugged him back with a gentle smile. "I'll miss you too."
They let go of each other. Both stared at the floor, avoiding the sight of each other. Gum clasped his handpaws behind his back. He twisted his bare, black paws on the floor. His claws scratched across the floor. "W-well, I gotta go get ready. I hope we see each other in the future later," he said, staring at his footpaws.
His chest tightened as the reptilian grabbed his handpaw. Suddenly, Markol reached in and kissed his furred cheek. He tightened his paw and whispered into his flattened ear, "Maybe we could be more than just friends when you get back." Gum eyes lifted to meet his. The reptilian smiled into his eyes, warmly. Gum's heart plummeted.
He already knew his best friend had a gay crush on him. Although Gum liked him, he never wanted to be with some taller and stronger than him. He always pictured himself as a protector. What's the point of protecting, if what you're protecting can protect themself? He broke eye contact with him. The reptilian frowned and turned away. He let go of him. Gum's green eyes glued back onto him. "Markol."
The reptilian froze. Light from above reflected off his red scales. He refused to make eye-contact. "Nevermind, I shoulda known you wouldn't be up for it. You're more of the dominant type, anyway. Just remember, there's always someone in the galaxy who loves you," he said. His claws clicked on the floor as he left the hall.
The fur of Gum's cheek soften as tears spilled down from his eyes. He tried to hold them back, but he knew how much he had hurt his friend. A speaker above his cracked on. "Zheta V O. Station leaves in 500 hours," a voice boomed. Gum wiped the wetness from his cheek fur and padded to the Elevation Pod.
His placed his handpaw on the monitor beside it. A scanner surveyed every crevice of his pads. It blinked, "CONFIRMATION" along the top. The door hissed as it depressurized and the door slipped open. A Kurrian couple stood inside. They patted their messy and matted fur. The female giggled at the male. The grasped paws together as they padded out. The female made a devilish grin as she squeezed her mate's ass. Gum watched them pad down the hall, bickering at each other. His heart throbbed.
*Would I ever get that?* He wondered. The Elevation Pod PINGED to remind him of its presence. He padded into it and shivered as his paws brushed the carpet inside. Every tiny strip of fabric massaged his paws, wiping the sweat from between his sole and toes. Each fabric fit neatly between his pad crevices. "Where to, Cadet Gum?" The automated, feminine voice of the Elevation Pod asked.
"Take me to Hall B180," he answered, knitting the carpeted floor between his toes.
"Taking you to Hall B180," the voice added. The pod descended into the depths of the station. "Stopping at Hall B258," the voiced announced. Gum padded to the side. His pulled his arms close to him and held his breath. The Pod slowed and the doors swooshed open. A heavy built Kurrian padded into the small space. Even his immense paws were twice the size of his own. The creature gave a Hellish grin. It's hazel eyes glued to Gum, judging him like always.
"Where to, Lieutenant Daykahn?" The automated voice asked.
"Hall B214," he answered in a gruff voice. His hateful gaze sliced through Gum.
The antlered fox avoided eye contact with the large-framed creature. The Kurrian narrowed its eyes at him. "A Zarillian..." he growled, "You know, I'm surprised we even let one of you lowlives amongst our ranks." Gum stared down at his black paws with his arms crossed. The annoyed Kurrian approached him with rolled fisted. His lips curled into a sneer, showing off razor-sharp jaws. Hate clouded its eyes. He wrapped his masculine paw around Gum's snout and jerked it so he was forced to look up into his fiery eyes. "Why can't you look at me? Eh, think your kind is superior?" It snarled. Gum refused to answer.
The animal slugged him with it's curled fist. Gum's head slammed against the wall of the pod. He spit a tooth from his snout. Blood seeped from where it once was and poured over the fur of his snout. The hateful Kurrian stood, awaiting a response. His fur of his handpaw dripped black specks of Gum's blood. He smirked and leaned in. "That's what I thought, Zarillians never change," He snarled.
"Opening at Hall B214," The automated voice announced. Daykahn stepped away from his target of ridicule. His wiped his handpaw on his black uniform, cleaning off the bloody evidence. The doors swooshed open. The Kurrian gave him one last hateful look before padding out of the pod.
Gum watched his nemesis leave. His gut dropped into his stomach, and his chest tightened. The doors swooshed closed again. "Continuing to Hall B180," the automated voice explained. Gum banged the back of his head against the wall. His antlers clattered. Tears rolled out from his eyes, tainting his fur wet. He sniffled and knelt down, holding his pointed ears down in shame. More streams rolled over his cheeks.
What if everyone was right? What if the Zarillians were a waste of resources? What if they were worthless to to the Alliance? What if he was worthless? More tears shredded out as he thought more about it.
"Approaching Hall B180," the automated voice said. Gum wiped the warm tears from his fur and stood. He held his breath. The door swooshed open, leading to a busy hallway. Everyone watched his as he padded down the endless corridor.
Gum's tense nerves relaxed. He found the entrance to his room. There was a scanner beside the door, similar to the one beside the Elevation Pod flickered to life. He placed his handpaw on it. It dinged as the door slipped open. "Welcome home, Cadet Belcot Gum," the same feminine voice said, "Eviction in five hours."
He padded into the room. A long window stretched along its side, showing the galaxy outside. The overhead lights flickered to life. They glowed a luminescent blue. A ship soared past the window. Gum padded up to it. An art easel stood in front of him. His shoulders dropped. He'd never be able to fit it in the transport vessel. The station supplied him with one. Hopefully Zheta V did too. He reached behind it and pulled up a collection of art pieces.
They featured many depictions of Zarillians. Some looked down to smaller, inferior beings they held in their handpaws. He started making them to overcome his pain of being the smallest species of the Alliance. The monsters that towered over him made him feel miniscule and worthless. He hid the art pieces away in his collection holder. They slid in, smoothly. Blue LEDs glowed around it as he clipped it shut.
His focus returned to the colorful cosmos. He sighed and search the room for anything else to grab. Most objects in the room would be furnished at the new station. Gum picked up the last of his art supply and padded into the center of the room. "Computer," he ordered, "this room is no longer property of Belcot Gum."
The blue LEDs lining the walls flipped to red. Gum padded out of the room. He froze in the hall in front of the door. What would change? He wondered.
He padded down the hall. His ears laid flat against his skull as he stared towards the metal floor. He joined a large crowd in the Elevation Pod. "Where to, Cadet Gum?" It asked.
"Hall B312," he ordered as the hydraulic doors slipped closed. Many of the occupants surrounding him whispered in each others ears, while giving him quick glances. Some said his species name loud enough, just to make sure he heard it. He averted eye-contact with them and held his portfolio tight to his white-furred, fluffy chest.
The Elevation Pod shifted as it made its rise to the top. It made two stops along the way, allowing for the departures of some of the inhabitants. "We've reached Hall B312," the voice announced, opening to a busy hallway. Different creatures bustled through the corridor, each was of different shapes and sizes.
The short deerfox followed the LED-lit hallway. A crowd filled the hall in front of him. Many exchanged goodbyes amongst their friends and families. A glowing, dark-blue sign towed above them. "Zheta V transport," it read.
"GUM!" Markol's familiar voice called from behind him. The red reptilian lepted at him, wrapping his scarlet-scaled arms around him. He closed his eyes, enjoying his embrace. "I just wanted to come by one last time to see you off. Ya know, you don't really have to go for a couple hours yet, right?"
"Yeah," Gum answered, pulling himself from the wingless dragon's hug, "but now is better than late. Hopefully this won't last long."
Markol grinned. "Hopefully, you don't make any new best friends. Also, if you get laid, I'm gonna be very jealous," he laughed.
"You don't have to worry about that. The only interesting things about Zheta V are the primitive bugs, and that's only if they make a delicious snack," Gum's smile turned into a devilish smirk.
"DON'T EAT THE HUMANS!" Markol hissed through sharp teeth. He leaned close to Gum's ear and whispered, "Nothing pisses off the Alliance more than when sentient beings are hunted for fun or made a food source."
"Yeah, and nothing pisses me off more than when I train for years only to become the babysitter for the shrimp of the galaxy," Gum growled, revealing a row of sharp jaws. The bright surround LEDs reflected off each canine tooth.
"Look, I know humans are said to be small and fragile, but look at it this way: everyone's bigger than you here and that won't change on a ship. At least at Zheta V, you know there's a Extraterrestial species that you can relate to. I know you've always wanted it. Become one oc the gentle giant Zarillians you draw in your artwork. I've seen them. I know what you really want," Markol said. Gum averted eyed from him he stared down at his paws in silence. He knew Markol was right. On Earth, those paws could mark the success of humanity, or they could bring them death and destruction. To them, he'd be a mortal God.
He straightened up. Markol was right. Humanity was one of the smallest species within Karian space, much like how his species the shortest of the Alliance. His back straightened and his chest fur fluffed out. Confidence filled his lungs. For the first time that day, he smiled. He looked up at his reptilian friend. "Yeah, who knows, I might find them cute," Gum said.
"That's the spirit. Just don't use them as pets," Markol said. Gum nodded.
"Thanks," he said, before padding through the doorway to the Transport ship. He waved his goodbye to his friend. Two others were already seated inside. One was a three-eyed avian named Rheka Miklard. Besides her eyes, the rest of her appearance resembled something like a peacock with a closed fan of feathers. In the seat across from her, sat another Karian. This one was short framed, but still taller than Gum. He focused on a tablet in his handpaws, staring at the screen through a medal visor.
A slender crew member stepped up behind him. It snorted through a trunk on it's nose, narrowing it's tiny eyes at Gum. It shoved him out of the way with its 3-digit hand. The iron cropping of the seat sliced through Gum's skin. He tripped into the leather seat. Black blood oozed down the fur of his leg, it looked like oil. The other crew members spoke to their captain in a foreign language. Most of their language was made from ticks and clicks. Their captain shoved past them and stepped into their room. He eyed each and everyone of them. At last, his squinty eyes landed on the Zarillian.
His eyes stared as he approached the deerfox. "A Zarillian?" He asked, "To the Human Planet?"
"Yeah," Gum nodded, "and it's pronounced as Earth-"
"SHUT IT, BEAST!" It snarled, pointing a fleshy figure an inch from Gum's snout. "I don't know how the Alliance could ever trust one of you, especially with such a fragile species. You're likely to devour them."
"Yeah sure, I kept asking myself whether I was going to eat them medium-well or raw. Can you guess which I decided?" Gum asked, his lips stretched into sadistic grin. He leaned in and whispered into the captain's earhole, "I decided to take them raw. I prefer to feel my hopeless prey squirm in my gullet. I want them to try to tempt fate, but realize that at the end of it all, they're just that: food for a superior being."
The captain stared, dead-eyed, at the Zarillian. "Your sick," he mumbled, "Shlovock! Get this BEAST off here. There shall be no threats towards the humans on my ship."
"And there won't be," a familiar voice butted in. The general padded onto the vessel. He narrowed his eyes at Gum, then he turned to the ship captain. "I don't way you care. You're not even in the Alliance. We pay you to transport, which includes Cadet Gum. As for his attitude, he's only making threats because he doesn't want to go. However, guards will be posted outside of his room just in case."
Gum stared at the general. He cocked an eyebrow. "Just in case?" He stood up out of his seat. The general still stood a foot above him. They met eyes. "I'm I really that much of a threat?"
"Cadet, what you said was alarming. I don't think you'll do anything, but it's still enough for the Alliance to worry. You're our first Zarillian, they're hoping for it to work out. Just go out and make us, and your people, proud," The general smile, patting a paw on Gum's shoulder. Gum's heart warmed. He smiled as the General padded off the vessel. One of the crew members closed the airlock behind him.
The compartment shifted as the transport ship separated from the station. The boosters along the back warmed up. They glowed blue. Flame shot out of the back as it blasted out of the system, shooting faster than the speed of light.
Gum sat in a seat next to a window. He watched stars and ships fly by. The station they just departed on was reduced to a speck in the distance. His new home in the Sol system approached fast. Gum knew his whole life was going to change, but he didn't know it was because he'd become best friends with a much smaller and inferior being to him...
Category Story / Macro / Micro
Species Fox (Other)
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 69.2 kB
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