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Yarvok
It just figures that the damn space port is congested right when I need to get there.
I guess some new arrivals just came in. Look at them, a whole bunch of fresh faced, eager aliens of all different species thinking that they’re going to find something on New Verdan they can’t find anywhere else in the galaxy.
Poor miserable bastards. That’s exactly what I thought when I first decided to come here. I thought that all of my problems would be over when I came to New Verdan.
And if all I wanted to do was be a ranch hand, or a water reclamation attendant. But I’d work such a job for a century or more before I saved enough up to start my asteroid mining operation.
I need a lot of money much faster than that. Since the illegal fights are a bust, no pun intended, it looks like I’m going to have to find alternatives. Slinging cargo might be hard work, but it will pay better than working on a ranch. Hopefully.
Only I’ll never make it inside the terminal under these circumstances. I glance over at the livestock highway. It’s supposed to be off limits to foot traffic, with good reason. The avenue simply isn’t safe.
But I’m a Vakutan. I can survive being trampled by a Nayk or two. It might be worth getting trampled to avoid this murderous crowd. I’ve never seen so many sapients in one place since we were massing for an assault on Horus IV during the war.
“Oh fuck it.”
I duck down an alley, turning sideways so I can fit through the narrow passage. Of course, there’s a twelve foot fence blocking me from the livestock highway, but that’s a simple matter for a Vakutan like me. I crouch down, building up potential energy in my legs, and then leap straight up into the air.
Stretching my hands out, I easily catch the top of the fence and then vault myself over. On my way down, a curious sight presents itself to me. A human woman runs past me, carrying her pointy heeled shoes in her hand. She’s followed by her hovering luggage, an expensive set unless I miss my guess.
And it turns out that’s not all that’s following her. I thought I heard a stampede. An entire herd of Nayk are rampaging along the highway, no wranglers in sight. I put two and two together and realize the human woman is in big trouble.
Of course, she could just stop running and leap over the fence…oh, right. Humans aren’t that strong. In fact, they’re one of the physically weakest sapients in the galaxy. She would not survive being trampled by a single Nayk, let alone an entire herd.
I run after her, dodging her suitcase as it gets in my path. I smack a handbag out of my path, sending the hovering luggage flying.
Easily catching up to the woman, I run abreast of her and get my first good look. My eyes widen as I take in the sight of her. her long hair trails out behind her, shiny in the bright sunlight. Her eyes are fresh and green as new leaves in springtime. Long legs covered in translucent stockings and a knee high black skirt flash along as she strains to escape certain death.
“Hey there,” I say. “What’s up?”
She glances over at me, barely slowing at all.
“We’re going to die, that’s what’s up!”
“Not if I can help it.”
I scoop her up into my arms. She weighs next to nothing, her soft curves pressed against my chest.
“Yah, what are you doing?”
“Saving your life.”
“Oh,” she says. “Um, thanks.”
I smile at her, but the sight of a smiling vakutan tends to be unsettling to humans. It’s our double rows of sharp teeth, I think. Or maybe the fact that we look like reptiles to their sight, though we are as warm blooded as they.
“Who’s going to save me from you?” she asks.
“Don’t mind me, darling,” I say, giving her my best bedroom eyes. “I’m harmless as a cake cup.”
“Are you trying to say cupcake?” She looks over my shoulder and her hands grip me all the tighter. “They’re gaining on us! Maybe you could flirt less and run more?”
“Who needs to run?”
I veer off to the side as the Nayk close in. I have more momentum this time, so I clear the fence easily and land on the other side. I make sure to bend my legs to avoid giving her a hard landing.
“Are you all right?” I ask as she brushes her hair out of her face.
