Challenge #01898-E074: But We Made It Home Alive
“I hate the word ‘should’.” -- TheDragonsFlame
"And after we make it through the wormhole, we should be aces," said the Ship's Human, Lyn.
Their Captain bristled, literally. Defensive spikes raised along her carapace. "Should is a word that should not exist," she said.
"Uh... you just used it."
"Yes, the corruption spreads far," said Captain G'orp. "A future tense qualifier adverb is an uncertainty we do not need in the middle of space. We need rock-hard certainty. Not your human 'luck'."
"Well," said Lyn, "if we waited for everything to be certain, we'd certainly die. Humans have survived because we take the chance anyway. If we're doomed to fail, then what's to be lost with giving something a try?"
Captain G'orp muttered something about suicidally crazy humans, but gave Lyn the go-ahead. And then sent out a warning for all hands to brace themselves.
And, like all products of uniquely human inspired desperation, it worked. It got them to safety, to a wormhole nexus called Lost Point by some ancient human who thought they were being funny. And even though they made it, there were, to quote the human, a thousand papercuts to deal with.
The Far Sight Flyer was leaking atmosphere, her internals were leaking all over the ship, and more than a few crew were leaking as well. The crew were more than lightly shaken. Everyone aboard came away with multiples, but they were light ones. Easily patched by non-professionals.
Lyn was grinning and almost glowing with insufferable self-pride. He small and slow leaks had self-patched, and parts of her soft, human skin were showing unhealthy colours. And worst of all, in Captain G'orp's personal opinion, the human was giggling.
"Human Lyn, I am giving you immediate shore leave. Go at once to the Human Sector and seek out whatever release suits you best. Just come back within forty-eight hours and do so in a state that's fit for service aboard my vessel."
Giggle, giggle. "Aye aye, mon capitane."
Humans...
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / TsuneoMP]
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Nice post. thank you