We Need a Deathworlder!

The shuttle’s seal pops and hisses open. The familiar scent of the Kwip-Chap’s cargo bay wafts into the craft to the splendorous reprieve of the two occupants.

Chucknuq mad-dashes to the door, skin a bright yellow. Each eye finds a respective crewmate still sitting in their seats.

“Blazing stars! You’re alright…” His skin reverts to a less high strung orange “And you both look worse for wear, come on then. To the Med Bay with you! Then you can inform me of what kept you!” he orders, already out of breath.

“Sounds good to me, cap… Come on, Bo Peep. You had the worst of it.” Simone says feeling as though she had gone without sleep for weeks.

“Oh, it’s good to see you, Chucknuq! I’m afraid our excursion was quite the harrowing experience.” Chak stiffly gets onto her hooves and practically drags herself from the craft.

“Ms. Chakalata’motaas, I’m sorry to not see your brother in attendance.” the Captain brings a grasper to the Cali’s shoulder in comfort.

“He’s alive Chucknuq, however the situation is… complicated.” Chak replies in a tone both shades of happiness and sorrow.

“That’s a fuckin’ understatement.” Simone butts in, stretching her left arm up in the air. She looks down to the Cali with a concerned expression. “Would you like a lift to Med-Bay? The ride back up here did a number on ya.”

Swaying herself in a drained, yet coy manner Chak opens her eyes as wide as they are able in her current state.

“Please?” she confirms, raising her lower limbs up like a child.

Simone releases a hard puff of air from her nostrils, and raises an eye tuft. Without feeling the need to comment on the display the Terran leans down, and with extra care scoops up the willing Cali. Then promptly makes her way with Chucknuq down to the Med Bay.

The room is a sterile white with four patient beds separated only by top-of-the-line automated surgeon androids. The androids themselves are spheroid with a dozen octopus-like appendages sprouting out from their bottoms. They are connected via the ceiling coming down between the beds like drooping lures.

Simone sets the Cali down on the first bed and makes her way to the next one over. Immediately their respective androids blink to life.

“Good evening Custodian Chakalata’motaas! How may I serve you today? Oh dear, my sensors are indicating that you have suffered severe hypothermia and minor brain swelling! Please disrobe your outer layer and lay down. I’ll raise the temperature of the bed and check the kitchen for something warm and yummy for you after you take a little nap! Don’t worry, I expect a full recovery as long as you take it easy.” Chak’s android informs.

Simone watches her android expectantly.

“Bruh, you’re like… soooo fucked up man.” it states in a very bold yet chill tone that takes the Terran by surprise.

“Excuse me?” she says, not entirely sure what the deal is.

“Like, fuuuuucck Simone… You’re more scar tissue than tissue at this point, you gotta get stabbed less. BUT, you got some gnarly abs though! Shit man you can grate concrete on those things!”

Slowly Simone leans around the android to look at a resting Chak.

“I think mine’s broken…?” She ends the sentence as if it were a question.

“Nah friendo, I can assure you I’m at my PEAK performance! Now lay your ass down, you’ve got some SERIOUS cases of lack-of-naptime, noggin boo-boos and second degree burns on your fun-time hand.” the android states as it heats up the bed under Simone.

“My wha- No. What’s with the… the... shtick?” Simone asks, shaking her head.

“Personality matrix my dude! We scan your brain’n’shit and make up a generated bed-side personaaaaa… Pretty sick right?”

“And… this is what you generated for me?”

“Bingo! I generated it, but it’s allll from your She-Hulk brain!”

“I think it may need some tweaking there pal.” Simone says now amused as she discards her coat and boots.

“Harsh… but fair. Well how about I use the generated backup personality? Warning… I’ll miss you. NAH just kidding, I haven’t achieved sentience yet! Later!”

For a microsecond the lights on the android blink.

“Hey darling…” it says in a much more rich feminine voice. “Ohhh…. My… don’t worry about a thing sweetheart. I’m here, and I’ll take such good care of you… first I need you to lie down on this bed so I can embrace you with my encompassing warmth then allow me to feel all around in all the right places to make all the baaad pain go away…”

Simone stares down the machine, red-faced, while Chak looks on with bigger eyes than ever.

“For fuck’s sake and all the stars above, go the fuck back! Now!” she stammers, dying from humiliation.

“Mmmmmnn okay sweetheart… I’ll always be here if you need a warm-”

“Now!” Simone demands covering her face with a hand.

The android blinks once more.

“Sweeet! PEAK is BACK my dude! Now can you like, lay down now? I wasn’t joking, you need serious help man.”

Simone complies this time without further resistance.

“Nice, alright let’s get that champion of a hand patched up first. I can only IMAGINE the pain! That’s a lie, my sensors are pretty fucking sweet.”

The android wraps an appendage around Simone’s wrist and fires thousands of microneedles into it. Simone jumps from the surprise, but a quick-acting numbing sensation instantly washes away the pain from the wrist down.

“Ahhh… thanks.” Simone can’t help but say.

“Good shit right there. ‘Wish I could sneak you some behind the scenes but unfortunately I’m programmed to be a damn nark. Such bullshit amIright!?”

“All good… so doc… what do I call you?” Simone asks as the bed begins to mold around her body.

“-GASP- DUDE! You should TOTALLY give me a name! I mean, technically I’m called AutoSurgeon ARKO Serial Number 28478008135. But that really harshes the convo right?.”

“Sure… uhhm… you kinda sound like a ‘Dave’ to me… So yeah… let’s go with that.”

“Bruh… that’s rad! Dave it is!”

Chak takes a break from watching the show to look over to her android.

“Oh, AutoSurgeon… Why have you never asked me to give you a name?” she inquires.

“Well because Terran’s are much more agreeable and compliant when they pretend we’re actual living beings! Would you like to give this personality matrix a preferred designation?”

“Yes, I’d like it to be… Selanu.” Chak chirps adventurously.

“I see, that is perfectly suitable. Now could you be a dear and do your best to sleep? The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll recover!”

“That name mean anything?” Simone asks curiously.

“Oh… It’s the name of my home world's smallest moon. And… It's a cute name.” Chak explains as she closes her eyes.

“Yo, to be honest I can’t force you to do shit, but you’d be doing me a real solid if you crashed too.” Dave informs its patient.

“Yeah, yeah… I’m on it.” Simone agrees as she watches Chak almost instantaneously pass out.

“I’ll leave you to it, but I expect a full report when you’re back on your locomotion appendages!” Chucknuq informs sternly.

“Course.” Simone responds softly, suddenly too tired to even lift a hand.

The Captain then respectfully takes his leave.

Simone continues to watch Chak sleep, fighting to keep her own consciousness for a little while longer.

Out of all the people in the galaxy, Chak didn’t deserve all of this. This poor lady has a heart of gold, and a wonderful mind of pragmatic dreams.

But here she is, struggling to survive against growing, insurmountable odds. A whole galaxy potentially against her. Yet despite it all, she never compromises who she is. Unafraid to be herself, in a time where so many want her dead, because of who she is.

“She’s stronger than I could ever be…” the Terran whispers to herself, before finally allowing her mind to drift away.

Simone stirs, eyes opening to bright medical lights. A dreamless sleep, or at least no dreams worth remembering. She lifts her right hand to see her hand bandaged, free of pain. In fact, she felt no pain throughout.

“Uhhhm… Dave?” she speaks groggily.

“Hey dude, how’s it feeling?” the android responds next to her.

“Fine I guess. How long was I out for?”

“Man, I would love to say somethin’ crazy like… four years or somethin’ like that, freak you out and shit. But, can’t lie to ya if you ask me somethin’ directly, bummer. It’s been just over eleven hours. Chak woke up after seven, ‘case you’re wonder’n”

“How‘re my injuries?”

“You’re pumped with like eight different painkillers and stem stims, so you won’t feel much of anything for a while. Pretty sweet dealio. Oh, right. You’ll be fine, just don’t hit your head on anything for at least a week, two weeks if you can manage.”

“And the hand?”

“As long as you keep it bandaged and unbothered? Should be good as new in a few days!”

“...thanks Dave. Am I free to go?”

“Don’t let me hold ya back dude! Go take on the world ya crazy badass!”

Simone chuckles at the android as she sits up now noticing she is wearing completely new clothes. A matching set of pure white shorts and sleeveless shirt.

“Did… someone change my clothes…?” she asks not sure if she wanted to know the specifics of the obvious answer.

“See what I mean? The four year coma would’ve come across so well! But yeah that was me, no worries. Nothin’ I couldn’t already see with my scanners.” Dave responds as if to imply a ‘wink’ in there somewhere.

“Gotcha, well I’m out. But I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot more of me in the near future.” Simone says as she stands, feeling rather light headed.

“I‘m sure my dude, but hey I’ll be here if you’re ever up for pretend chat! Severe life threatening injuries or no!”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks again for the patch-up.” Simone farewells as she makes her way to the door.

“Later!”

The Terran exits, gut screaming for sustenance. Very much tempted by the mess hall literal feet away, she decides to turn towards the bridge in search of Chucknuq.

After entering she notices he’s not in his usual spot, rather his muffled voice is heard to the left.

Simone looks over to see a new opening leading down into a shallow textured ramp.

“So that’s where he sleeps.” Simone figures as she approaches. SHe hears an indistinct conversation between Chucknuq and Chak.

Not wanting to be a snoopy asshole or interrupt Simone figures now would be the perfect time to go shove grub down her gullet.

Down in the warm humid Captain’s quarters Chucknuq and Chak sit across from one another on a lounge corner couch.

“I still can’t believe it… Brom… what a greater twisted tragedy this has become.” the captain utters before taking a drink of conthoan brew.

“We will make him understand. Though we would certainly need to find him first.” Chak admits, still in her fresh white garb.

“I wish that I shared your confidence, your majesty. Brom was a bright one, but if he has fallen so low…” Chucknuq lets that sit.

“Call me foolish, however I said I was going to save him, that I would at least try. That hasn’t changed.” Chak affirms as she leans forward, trying to scramble together some sort of play to make.

“Regardless, he lives. And I’m sure after upon discovering his plan had failed, we will see him again.” Chucknuq assures feeling unsettled about that fact.

“Then I’m glad we have Simone with us, she seems to understand my feelings on the matter. Or at least… tolerates them.”

“Speaking of our resident Terran, how is she faring?”

“She’s… incredible. Well, I know she’s holding something back from us, that’s for certain. But Simone has had a good streak of keeping me in one piece, regardless of the circumstances. So, I trust her explicitly.”

“Simone is certainly a stellar find for the job! Though crass, she takes her duty seriously. She has earned my respect, no doubt. I’m glad she gets along with you as well, it certainly makes the day to day smoother eh? Haha!”

Chak looks away embarrassed.

“Chucknuq… may I confide in you?”

The captain leans forward.

“Always!” he declares loyally.

“I want your honest feelings on the matter, because I feel like I’m losing my mind in a web of… everything it implies I suppose.” Chak clarifies.

“And I swear by the stars above you will have it.” he promises before nodding to her to go ahead.

The Cali shifts in her seat, unsure of the words to use. Or how brutally earnest to be.

“My problem is… You see… oh this is rather difficult... I... believe I like Simone.” Chak admits narrowing her eyes.

“I’m… glad to hear it? Indeed we all get along surprisingly well-”

“No… not just that… uhmm… I’m not sure if I can describe it in words. She- I… oh dear…” Chak scratches at the sides of her head in stressed thought.

Chucknuq watches her intently, before clicking in his throat in a chuckle of realization.

“Ahh… You fancy her, do you?” he says continuing the clicks.

“Oh… I suppose… yes? Yes. Very much so. But I’m uncertain if that’s alright? Is that wrong of me?” she confesses, feeling a knot in her chest finally unwind.

Chucknuq’s skin shifts from red to purple. To a Terran that may come across as disgust, but the Cali is relieved to see it.

“Why would it be wrong?” he asks softly.

“You know why. In our current standing… Simone by her own admission finds it hard to say ‘no’ to me. What if I push her into something she doesn’t want? Or stars forbid, she leaves? Her Terran expressions and signals don’t come across very clearly to me sometimes, it’s like as soon as I think there’s something there, she backs away. Is it because… I’m not a Terran?” the Cali buries her face in her upper hands, feeling her mind swirl.

Chucknuq takes another swig of his brew in contemplation.

“I’m afraid you're asking the wrong person those questions. Only Simone can answer that! Bwaha! That can be the case, or perhaps she is a slow-burn sort, OR she simply doesn’t share the same feelings. Can't rule that out.”

Chak sinks into herself a bit.

“She has already done so much for me it feels so selfish to... want more… What if I ruin our friendship because I’m being a greedy, spoiled princess?”

“Now listen here.” Chucknuq sternly says as he moves closer to place a grasper on Chak’s upper shoulder. “You are incredibly selfless. Not perfect by any means either, no one is. You want my honest opinion? Here it is; To klat with it, any day can be your last. Whether or not it’s selfish, idiotic, or scary if you want it then, by the stars, go for it! When you deem the time is right, strike out and snatch the moment! Even if it ends poorly, or catastrophically it’s worth trying rather than letting it all pass you by.”

“Oh, but… Chucknuq… I’ve lost so much already… I can’t risk losing her as well.”

“The woman already risks her life every time she steps off this ship with you.” Chucknuq points out. “I’ve given you my honesty, now it’s up to you to decide what you want more.” he finishes before returning to his brew.

Chak nods.

“For once in my life… I don’t know… Thank you, Chucknuq.”

“Certainly. I’m certain you will figure it out, and unfortunately that’s on you.”

Simone rips open the fifth CocoSlabPie wrapper and immediately bites down on the chemical concoction that barely qualifies as ‘food’.

Reveling in the childhood nostalgia, she leans back content and relaxed.

Her guts are going to have their vengeance in time, but she doesn’t care. Damn it all, she needs this.

The mess hall door slides open, granting Chak access.

“Oh, there you are! When you weren't in the med bay I checked your room. But then I remembered how hungry I was waking up so I figured… right… how are you feeling?” the Cali explains as she approaches the table.

Simone raises both eye tufts and smirks as she chews.

“Pretty fuckin’ good…” she says in deep satisfaction.

“Oh, good! That’s really good to hear!... good…” Chak trails off awkwardly.

Taking another big bite, Simone eyes the Cali looking fairly uncomfortable. Something is clearly on Chak’s mind, something that really needed to be addressed. The jubilation on the Terran’s face begins to fade.

“Hey… I know what’s bugging you.” Simone says with a mouth still half full.

“You do!? I mean… I’m not bothered really, but… well it’s complicated I suppose and-” Chak stammers to be thankfully interrupted by Simone holding up a bandaged hand.

“When you were damn near frozen solid I panicked. I just did what I did without thinking. It’s not an excuse, but I guess my head wasn’t in the best condition to be making autopilot decisions.” Simone explains before shoving the rest of the SlabPIe in her mouth with urgency rather than enthusiasm.

“I don’t-” Chak begins to say before the Terran’s hand raises again. Her face turning serious.

“I’m sorry, please let me finish... I guess my dumbass fried-brain confused what to do when trying to reheat someone else. Your clothes weren’t even wet, so what I did was completely unnecessary. I took my boots off for fuck’s sake. We were lucky that it worked at all, but it still crossed the line.” Simone gathered up all the wrappers and clumped them together in her hands, “The last thing I intended to do was to take advantage of the situation, or you. And I understand if you’re upset with me. I’m glad it worked out, but I’m really sorry. I promise that nothing like that will ever happen again.” Simone steadily looks to Chak, awaiting her response.

Taken aback by this, Chak takes a moment to collect her thoughts.

“Oh, I’m not upset… it certainly wasn’t what I expected to come back to but… uhm... I’m lucky to have come back at all, you still saved me. And I trust you enough to know that you only wanted to help me.” she explains, wanting to say more, but perhaps now isn’t the time.

Simone stands up and walks to a trash receptacle, dumping her hands into it. Her face lost any trace of her previous contentment.

“Alright, but still. I just wanted you to know. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I’m a fucking monster, but not that kind… uhm…” the Terran blinks, as her breathing becomes erratic and she notices her heart begin to race. “S-sorry… uhm… shit…” Simone wipes away sweat that she swears wasn’t there a second ago. “If you need anything I’ll be in my quarters.” with that, she storms out not giving Chak even a momentary glance.

Outright disturbed by the sudden decline of attitude and composure Chak follows her out to the hallway, but loses nerve seeing the aggressive steps the Terran is taking to get away.

“Monster?” Chak whispers, not believing that for a second.

-

Two days go by, and Chak never once witnesses Simone leave the confines of her room. No excursions for food or water, not even to do her routine of taking an early run.

Concern bubbling over, the Cali finds herself approaching and knocking at the door. No response.

Not bothering to knock again Chak takes the initiative and opens the door.

The aroma is pungent, and familiar to the Cali from when she entered that deathworlder bar.

Regardless she presses on, right into a sight of horror. The mattress is propped up against the wall, torn to shreds. Clothes, knives, shattered glass, stains, and junk are scattered along the walls and floor. The only section thankfully spared being the one with the algae farm.

Chak glances around in the darkness seeing a Terran slouched up against the low bed frame. Arms curled around legs and face hidden away.

“Simone?” the Cali chirps softly.

The Terran stirs, as if woken up from a light slumber.

“Ohhh shhhhit I thhought I locked the damn... door.” she slurs as she attempts to get up, but only succeeding in knocking over empty glass bottles.

The bottles clank loudly as they topple and roll away from the clumsy deathworlder who can’t seem to find her feet. The Cali watches the bottles in shock, uncertain of how the Terran could have snuck in so many, and keep them hidden at that.

Chak cautiously approaches the purposely self-poisoned Terran who shamefully covers her own face.

“Naaahhh… Chak. You don’ wanna see this. Llleave.” Simone warms.

“What happened Simone…? What’s wrong?” Chak presses.

The Terran’s face scrunches as she batters the air in Chak’s direction to dissuade her from approaching further.

“N-nnoth’n Chaak! Jusss fuc’n go! Pleease!” she begs as her voice volume pitches erratically.

Maintaining a respectful distance, Chak moves around to the Terran’s front. With her hoove she kicks a bottle away and sits herself down.

“You don’t have to say anything. But I’m here for you.” the Cali informs boldly, ignoring the inebriated plea.

Simone curls herself back up, but keeps her eyes trained on Chak’s. Gradually her expression shifts from annoyance, to anger, to an intense threat. Hoping that may scare the Cali away, because even in this state she dare not get physical.

Although clearly not enjoying this treatment, Chak fights her screaming instincts to remain seated. Not looking away is the hardest part, but she needs to show that her word isn’t something so easily backtracked on. Simone is in pain, and she needs someone in this moment.

Witnessing the determined Cali stay in place, Simone feels the sting of guilt take over her heart, the Terran’s threatening gaze breaks and glazes over into a horrified sadness. Her shoulders quiver and shake as tears burst free.

“I killed ‘em Chak… all… all of 'em…” Simone admits in harrowing howls, hiding her face again in her legs.

Chak leans back slightly watching as the Terran makes sounds like an injured animal. The most formidable creature she knew... one who faces death more often than any had any right to… is cowering?

Wordlessly the Cali crawls forward to the distressed Terran’s side and sits herself back down. The Terran, noticing her too late, tries to flinch away. But she can only manage a foot before slamming into the wall.

“DON’T! I- you’re nnnot safe! I cannn hurt you!” Simone forewarns in an inebriated panic.

Never experiencing this odd sensation of being feared like this, Chak think back to all her studies on Terrans. There must be something that can help, at least a little. Her bright red eyes scan her surroundings until an idea forms. Reaching over she grabs a heavily battered pillow. Dragging it as she crawls she swings and lifts it up for the Terran.

“Squeeze this.” she orders rather firmly.

It takes a few moments, but Simone accepts it between her arms and crushes it with all her might. Her eyes close trying to snuff out the burning within her, it’s not working.

Then as her grip begins to lax, a blanket is draped around her shoulders and tighten towards her front.

Four arms find their way around and embrace her. The death hug on the pillow picks back up in a retribution.

“There… I hope that’s a little better.” Chak whispers soothingly.

In response, the Terran’s emotional dam completely gives way. Her sobs and yowls erupt from her uncontrollably. Fluids drain from all her facial features. Tears, snot, sweat and drool all begin to stain the blanket.

“W-WHY AM I SSTILL HERE!?” Simone screams into the pillow. “WHY!?”

Chak tenses wanting to reply, but remains quiet to allow the Terran to vent.

“I H-HAD NO OTHER CHOICE! BU- OH STARS THEIR FFFACES! THEY SHO’VE SSSTOPPED ME, I KILLED THEMMM-” Her voice hollows raw, allowing the sobs to fully take control again.

Chak wishes she had an operational Lens, she could look up exactly how to help more. Instead she moved her hands up and down Simone’s shaking back, trying to greater express her presence. Noticing a minor reaction from this, she takes a gamble and continues.

Slowly, the delirious sobs reduce into harsh huffs, then dwindle down to rough staggering breaths.

The Terran’s energy is spent, leaving her eyes glazed and still. The rubbing of her back is all she allows herself to focus on. It’s familiar, it’s a message to her heart that it’s okay to come back down.

Glancing around, Chak knows what must happen next.

“Do your best to stand up.” she orders softly as she pulls away.

Finding nearly no strength left within her, Simone’s first attempt is pathetic. Not even lifting her ass up off the ground.

“I can’t lift you up. I need you to stand, please.” Chak presses.

Head swimming from alcohol, Simone nods and tries again using the bed frame to sway up to her knees. Her vision escapes her own focus and she nearly plops back down from nausea. Chak braces her to the best of her ability to prevent it.

“Almost there. I’ll do my best to help you the rest of the way. Try not lean on me too hard, okay?” Chak encourages.

Resuming to say nothing, Simone pushes up. The exertion nearly causes ethanol-bile slurry to fire forth, but thankfully the bed frame is spared that fate. Doing her best not to put a reflexive hand on Chak, Simone stands. Though clearly not for very long by how she sways.

“Good job! Now take it slow and focus on staying upright. Let me guide you, okay?”

It’s a short trip, filled with close calls. Every time Simone starts to lean on Chak by the littlest bit she overcorrects the other direction, nearly toppling over and dragging the Cali with her. However, by the miracle of the stars, they make it to the unused quarter’s across from Simone’s. Chak promptly guides her to the fresh bed, allowing the Terran to fall on it like a sack of thakkions.

The Terran eyes flicker shut and her soft slumber growling soon follows. Chak sighs and leaves for a short time before placing a procured medicine, a note pad, and a small object on the desk by the bed.

She then hovers over Simone, using a lower limb to brush head hair away from her open mouth. Could be a choking hazard of course.

Chak then leaves the Terran to rest, and prepares herself to venture back into the mess to start cleaning up. Not only did she want to help out more, but it’s a good distraction from the concerning words Simone confessed. She knows her mind will wander without further context, and she knew the last thing she needed was any pestering doubt in Simone’s intentions.

She is a good person, but was she always such?