Challenge #01788-D327: You Want Humans
Humans are pack animals. We come together to overcome challenges that would overwhelm the individual. When we unite against a common enemy, we’re nigh unstoppable. -- TheDragonsFlame
They say that Humans are best in disasters. They do not mean that Humans make a better disaster by being added to the scene. They mean that Humans show off their best attributes when a disaster strikes.
Such as now.
The aftershocks had only ceased half an hour ago, but the humans had started working together even before the initial quake had quite finished. Putting out fires, escorting others to safety, forming chains to pass rubble into clear areas. Helping the wounded. Laying out the dead. Comforting the dying. And they did this without knowing anyone.
Complete strangers gathered together. Someone set up an impromptu soup kitchen. Someone was doling out perishables to those who were hungry. Someone who had power shared it with those who didn't. Someone used their home equipment as a public comms booth. They did it without thinking. They did it without reward. They did it because... Humans are pack animals. Because they work together.
In their ancient past, ten or so Humans would group together to bring down megafauna, and then share it with the tribe. They had never forgotten this. And now they gathered together to help out other living beings who may not share their genes, their home planet, their morals, or even their language. Because that's simply what they did when disaster struck.
They grouped together to turn a big problem into a little problem that could be solved.
When the emergency response teams arrived, they were surprised to find a record number of survival cases. A record low number of deaths. There were far more wounded, but they were wounded survivors. People who would have died if the humans weren't there. In fact, the presence of calm and jovial humans had helped many to overcome the initial fear that might have killed them.
There was a study, but the media reduced it to, Humans help increase disaster survival rates, and increasing numbers of Galactic citizens liked having these deadly, dangerous, and often insane Deathworlders hanging around their neighbourhood. And the Humans repaid this by being radically protective, pack-bonding, risk-taking, semi-insane Deathworlder maniacs.
But by the Powers, they were useful to have around in emergencies.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Dustie]
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