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Chapter Text

Kr'taru stared at the terrarium with all four eyes wide in horrified shock as he spoke to his human housemate, Alex, "Y-you're actually keeping Chimerants?! In your room no less!?"

Alex grinned as he gently patted the terrarium and said, "Oh, you know about these cute little buggers?"

"C-CUTE?! They're one of the most terrifying insectoid species in the known galaxy!" exclaimed Kr'taru who was quite certain that he was close to emptying his ink-glands due to sheer fright and stress.

"Eh, they're not all that bad as long as you keep them in a properly sealed terrarium. Besides, they are kind of like ants from back on Earth, just with the ability to create a wide variety of castes that include acid-shooters, stinging-jumpers, big-headed biters and tiny flesh-burrowers. A really fascinating species, really."

Kr'taru was close to fainting as he spoke, "R-right... and the next thing you'll say is that you know someone keeping Mutaspiders as pets."

"Oh, I actually know someone do does," replied Alex who, seemingly oblivious of Kr'taru's growing horror, cheerfully explained, "He really likes how those eusocial spider-like aliens have evolved different castes including dedicated weavers, big-fanged diggers and active hunters that are a lot like jumping spiders from Earth. Personally though, I'm not a big fan of bugs that look like spiders."

A loud thump on the floor was the only reason why Alex realised that Kr'taru had finally fainted on the spot.

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Author's Note:

- My first post/chapter of the series which highlights how humans are quite "chill" about keeping dangerous pets.
- Kr'taru is an octopus-inspired alien species known as a Cephaloid which has four eyes on separate eye stalks.

Chapter Text

Yl'tarii could feel two of his five eyes twitching as he spoke to the human ambassador, Michael, "So... let me get this straight. You, along with the majority of your entire species, has just rejected an alliance offered by the Elvarans, one of the ten strongest civilizations to have joined the Galactic Council, in favour of becoming allies with the... Gobloids."

"Yup," confirmed Michael who had a wide grin as though he had not just offended an entire race of powerful aliens with psychic abilities.

"Okay... WHY do you think that is a good idea, at all?" asked Yl'tarii who was close to waving his six tentacle-arms about to express his growing frustration.

"Simple, the Elvarans are a bunch of arrogant pricks compared to the Gobloids," answered Michael.

Yl'tarii was about to argue against Michael's reasoning but, after a short pause, let out a gurgle which was the equivalent of a sigh among his race, "That's... an admittedly fair point."

Elvarans were many things but being humble was most certainly NOT one of them.

"Besides, I have tried some of the fresh produce from the Gobloid home world and, believe me, they are really tasty," said Michael.

Well aware that humans had a rather... generously broad definition of what was safe to eat, Yl'tarii knew better than bring up the fact that at least half of the mushrooms from the Gobloid home world were hallucinogenic to some degree. That was not even counting the various fruits and herbs which were spicy, caffeinated or both.

"Are there... any other reasons why you think Goboilds are better allies than the Elvarans, who might take this offence as a possible excuse for waging war with your entire species?" asked Yl'tarii.

"Well, the Gobloids are cuter-looking than the Elvarans," said Michael. Compared to the tall and eerie-looking elf-like Elvarans, the short and goblin-like Gobloids were downright cute in Michael's opinion. Plus, he knew that more than a few "weebs" would happily ask a Gobloid out for a date should the chance arise.

Yl'tarii gurgle-sighed again as he covered his eyes with his tentacle-arms and muttered, "Of course you'd consider 'cuteness' as an important criteria for a possible alliance...!"

In hindsight, Yl'tarii should have realised that he was dealing with a race that saw no issue with allying themselves with:

- The savage humanoid wolves from an icy 'Death World' known as the Fenrids simply because they had really soft-looking fur and were "friend-shaped".

- The worm-like Tardaswines from a swampy planet simply because they looked "ugly cute" with their expressive eyes and wiggly feeding tentacles.

- The velociraptor-like Dinorexes from an arid desert world simply because they looked "cool as hell" while dressed in their war-gear.

- The Slitharas which resembled snakes with humanoid upper bodies for having, of all things, "boobs".

Yes, Yl'tarii was going to need a drink or three to deal with his brain-ache...

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Author's Note:

- This is the second post/chapter of the series.
- Yl'tarii is a Polypian and Michael's non-human advisor in handling alliances with other alien races of the known galaxy.

Chapter Text

Fenrids, an alien race from an icy 'Death World' that resembled humanoid wolves with sharp claws and teeth and a size that was, by human standard measurements, well over two metres tall. Even after achieving space-flight, which was considered to be a miraculous achievement by many other alien races due to the unforgiving and harsh conditions of their home world, the Fenrids never lost their savage culture as hunters of dangerous prey.

To many aliens that wanted to keep all their limbs intact, giving the Fenrids a wide berth was a logically sane decision.

Well, humans were never considered the most sane of sapient beings by most of the Galactic Council, especially when it came to things that they somehow considered as "cute".

A young human girl named Rachel had a goofy smile on her face as she hugged and petted the daughter of Tribe Master Rustfang as though she was a pet puppy from Earth and said, "Aw... you're so cute!"

While many other aliens backed away from Rachel with the assumption that she was about to become "Fenrid Chow", Rustfang and his guards tilted their heads curiously at the human child. Unlike many of the other aliens who reeked of fear, disdain or both whenever they saw him and his kind, Rachel had no such scent. In fact, the human child smelled of strong affection towards Rustfang's daughter, Moontear (hence why they did not see her as a threat even as she eagerly approached them).

Make not mistake, Moontear was considered adorable by Rustfang and nearly everyone else in his tribe (there was a reason why Rustfang could not bring himself to refuse Moontear's plea to visit the mothership of the Galactic Council after all), but this was the first time Rustfang had met a non-Fenrid who shared the same opinion.

Deciding that the little human was no threat, Rustfang asked with a deep guttural growling voice that was typical among his kind, "Are you alone, human?"

Rachel actually smiled at Rustfang as though he was an old friend as he replied, "Nope! I came here with my mummy and daddy!"

Rustfang's ear twitched in surprise at Rachels' cheerful response. Feeling compelled to know the reason for her lack of fear, he asked, "Are you not scared of us?"

"Well... you're big with sharp teeth and claws but you're not being mean to me, so no," answered Rachel.

Amused by Rachel's blunt reply, Rustfang grinned wolfishly and let out a chuckle before saying, "Well, I suppose I can't disagree with your assessment." He then turned his attention toward his daughter and asked, "Would you like to play with her, daughter?"

Moontear's happy nod was all the answer that Rustfang needed.

Within the following hour, the various alien races could only stare in dumbstruck shock as Rachel happily played with Moontear and even Rustfang and some of his guards. As it turned out, Rachel was actually the daughter of a visiting human ambassador and was not actually alone while exploring the ship as some of his guards had been keeping an eye on her to ensure her safety. When news of Rachel happily playing with the Fenrids reached him, it did not take long for him to decide that forging an alliance with them was in order.

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Edit/Extra Part: As skilled hunters and warriors, Rustfang and his guards knew that Rachel's guards had been observing them the whole time. That being said, they were honestly surprised that the said guards felt no fear even when Rachel started playing with the adult Fenrids who were armed with weapons that had sharp bits. They were also impressed by the humans' ability to stay hidden as they had actually failed to notice a couple of the guards. (Credit to the user who suggested the expanded part: https://www.reddit.com/user/fluorozebra/)

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Author's Note:

- The third post/chapter of the series.

Chapter Text

Though means which left even the psychic elf-like Elvarans scratching their heads, which had silk-smooth hair, an agreement was made to allow a certain human festival, Halloween, to take place on the mothership of the Galactic Council.

While festivals and ceremonies that required wearing special costumes were not unheard of among many races throughout the galaxy, what was unusual was how broad the term "costume" was for those who wanted to celebrate Halloween. For the alien races that were allied with humans, which therefore meant that they were likely to have a better idea of Halloween than the other races, this was an opportunity to try out different costumes based on not just their own myths, traditions and folklore but also that of the humans and fellow allies.

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A human girl named Rachel, who was wearing a red hood to be Little Red Riding Hood, was smiling from ear to ear as she asked her wolf-like Fenrid friend, Moontear, "Are you ready, Moontear?"

"Ready!" replied Moontear who had decided to be, of all things, Mary's Little Lamb.

Yes, more than a few humans who saw Moontear in her costume thought of the phrase, 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'.

Rachels father, who had decided to dress up as the Woodsman, grinned as he spoke to Moontear's father, Rustfang, "I'm surprised that you agreed to be the Big Bad Wolf."

Rustfang shrugged, a habit he had learnt from humans, as he replied, "Well, since my daughter has decided to take part in this festival, it's only right that I join in too."

"Even if it means wearing a disguise to look like Red Riding Hood's grandma?" asked Michael whose grin broadened to "fecal-consuming levels".

Rustfang, who was indeed dressed in clothes fitting for an old lady from a pre-industrial era on Earth, glared at Michael and growled, "If my reputation as Tribe Master suffers from this festival, I will be holding you accountable for giving that suggestion to my daughter."

Well aware that Rustfang was genuinely embarrassed by the costume, which was honestly understandable, Michael raised his hands in appeasement and said, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to pay my dues."

An amused chuckle announced the arrival of Rustfang's mate, Snowfrost. Unlike Rustfang who had black fur and Moontear who had white fur, hers was grey. She was also currently dressed as, of all thing, Mother Goose. Her eyes shone with amusement and affection as she gazed upon her mate, "Personally, I think you look cute in them, my love."

Michael's wife, Sarah was similarly amused with Rustfang's comical predicament as she spoke to her husband, "Speaking of Halloween costumes, we should get going soon if we want the children to get any treats." She was currently dressed as Mary Sawyer, the "owner of the little lamb".

Before long, the two families set off to perform the age-old tradition of trick-or-treating.

---

"How did you ever manage to convince me to dress up as 'Octodad'?" grumbled Kr'taru. As a Cephaloid, an alien race which resembled octopuses from Earth with four eyes on separate stalks for each individual alien, he fit the role of the titular 'Octodad' from an ancient human-made video game rather well.

Alex grinned as he spoke to Kr'taru, "Come on, you look great in a suit!" He was currently dressed as a "red-shirt" from 'Star Trek'.

"Do I seriously have to make my lower eye-stalks look like a mustache of all things?" groused Kr'taru.

"Hey, are you boys done dilly-dallying? I want to head out and get the treats!" shouted a voice that belonged to a Gobloid female named Grotzkin-Throngler. Although new housemate, Grotzkin was friendly and quickly got along with both Alex and Kr'taru. The fact that she was a great cook, at least by Alex's standards certainly helped.

On a side note, she was currently dressed as an Ork from 'Warhammer 40k'. Yes, really.

"We're coming! We're coming" said Alex as he dragged Kr'taru along to take part in the Halloween celebration.

Alex could not help but blush a little when Grotzkin grabbed hold of his hand and started pulling him along while yelling, "Now, let's get da' tasty treats before da' rest of da' gits get them! Waaagh!"

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Author's Note:

- The fourth post/chapter and the point when I realised that, to quote myself, "It's official, I have somehow created an entire story setting with the central idea of 'Humans Being Space Orcs' with an emphasis on humour and fluff. "

Chapter Text

Bel-Khanor, a proud member of the elf-like Elvaran race, frowned ever so slightly as he watched various other races participate in the human festival, Halloween. Seeing a goblin-like Gobloid female, who was dressed in what looked like a replica of... armour made from cobbled scrap, nearly made him grimace in distaste. The fact that the Gobloid was dragging along a human male dressed in a red costume only reminded the Elvaran further of the time a human ambassador named Michael who rejected his offer for an alliance in favour of becoming allies with the Gobloids instead. A part of Bel-Khanor honestly felt pity for the Polypian advisor, Yl'tarii, who desperately tried to appease him after Michael had bluntly rejected the offered alliance.

Pushing the rather aggravating memory aside, as well as reminding himself that humans had chosen Gobloids as allies partly due to thinking with their stomachs rather than their brains (a fact that was rather shamelessly proven true by various humans who said "Worth it!" after consuming the various fungi, fruits and herbs that originated from the Gobloids' home-world), Bel-Khanor mused about humans and their ways.

Contrary to what many other races believed, Elvarans were not so arrogant as to declare war for even minor slights. After all, there were other ways to get even with others for such slights which were much more civilized such as enforcing taxes on trade, enforcing laws on visits or immigration and advising others against making "poor choices in allies". As for the wars that had actually happened due to "seemingly minor slights"... there was a reason why the other psychic races of the Galaxy, including those who were even more powerful than the Elvarans, did little to nothing to decry their actions.

The Karinites, a race of hideous slug-like humanoids with purple hair that actually believed that they could bully other races to submission and had delusions of eventually taking over the galaxy. Admittedly, many Elvarans were all too willing to show them their actual place in, as humans would put it, the "galactic pecking order".

The Tran'Kweerians, a race of perverse slavers that had plans to form a galaxy-wide slave trade, regardless of legality, and had a particularly vile interest in "young xenos flesh". When the truth of their perverse desires became known to the wider galaxy, not even the peace-loving races blamed the Elvarans for wiping out nearly half of all Tran'kweerians, especially the upper class members of the race, from existence.

The Wanitans, a female-dominated race of religious fanatics that believed that all males must submit to females regardless of context such as species or cultural history. Given how much disdain they had towards ANYONE who did not share their beliefs, a war against them would have happened eventually if the Elvarans had not taken the initiative to prevent their toxic religious ideology from spreading.

As for the humans... they were honestly a strange lot with an unusual talent for befriending and/or aggravating everyone else. That was not even counting their strange reasons for accepting or rejecting alliances with other races, never mind their "generously broad" definition of what counted as "safe to eat" or "a good idea".

For example, in spite of being separate races born on planets literally light-years apart, humans and Gobloids somehow shared the same love for getting intoxicated in spite of all the painful, and at times humiliating, side-effects of consuming such intoxicating substances. In fact, it was becoming increasingly common to see humans and Gobloids drinking ethanol-infused drinks together after their work-shifts had concluded.

Ethanol, a substance that most races avoided consuming due to its toxic qualities and yet was seen as an essential component for "a good drink" by humans and, more recently, Gobloids.

Another example was humans quickly befriending the wolf-like Fenrids and the velociraptor-like Dinorexes. Admittedly, after considering the various animals that humans had kept as pets, making the "logical leap" to seeing the two dangerous-looking alien races as potential allies who happened to be "friend-shaped" was not all that strange in hindsight.

The less said about some humans having xenophilic interests in Slitaras, a race of snake-like beings with humanoid upper bodies and functional breasts similar to that of human females... the better for the sanity of the wider galaxy. Bel-kanor had nothing against consensual xenophilia and knew that the interest in "sexy sneks" was partly caused by a certain human-made video game called 'X-Com' but forging an alliance with an alien race simply because the females look "fine as hell" was shallow to the say the least. Yes, there were other reasons too, and of nobler nature at that, but all the psychic races agreed that wanting to win the favour of an alien species that happened to be attractive-looking was a significant one for the humans.

To describe humans as a race of, to use yet another human term, "simps" would not be an inaccurate description.

Speaking of video games, no other race in the entire galaxy had so many works of fiction compared to humans and, for some reason, the rate of producing such works of fiction had not slowed down at all after humans had discovered intelligent alien life and joined the Galactic Council. In fact, some would argue that the rate of making works of fiction with above-average levels of quality was accelerating. These works of fiction included, of all things, a form of gambling called "gacha games" in which points, which could be bought with actual currency, would be spent to potentially gain a new character that was often a visually-pleasing female.

As much as it galled Bel-Khanor to admit it, even he found the character designs and stories of some works of human-made fiction impressive.

Regardless of the strangeness of humans, Bel-Khanor and many of his people agreed that they had the potential to make great changes in the galaxy in ways that even powerful psychics might fail to properly predict. While humans were not seen as a genuine threat, mostly because they were more interested in exploring the galaxy than conquering it, Bel-Khanor knew that their interest in exploration would wane eventually. The same had happened to other races before, often with tragic results.

Deciding that he had spent enough time musing about humans, Bel-Khanor decided that a short break with a cup of non-caffeinated tea was in order. However, just as he was about to enter his chamber, he caught sight of something that made his eyes widen in shock.

"Is that Fenrid male dressed as... an elderly human female?"

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Author's Note:

- The fifth post/chapter of the series.

Chapter Text

Xessass, a Slitara female, was currently getting ready to go out on a date with her human childhood friend, Kimihito.

While consensual xenophilia was a widely-accepted part of life in a galaxy-wide alliance of various sapient races, there was no denying that humans had a "generously broad" definition of what was, as they would put it, "bang-able". Even so, Xessass was grateful for having found a potential mate that genuinely cared for her.

---

Many years ago, the Slitara home world was ruined by a war between separate factions of their own kind which resulted in a world-wide nuclear winter. In the ensuing nuclear winter, a plague broke out which caused most males to be stillborn. For a sapient race that was already struggling with the terrible aftermath of a war that had caused many males to die out, being unable to produce enough viable males was a serious issue that needed to be dealt with to avoid extinction. One of the desperate measures taken was keeping the surviving males as, to put it in human terms, "brood studs" with the sole purpose of impregnating the far more numerous females. While the few surviving males were kept in the best possible living conditions at the time, the simple truth was that they were essentially imprisoned slaves to fulfill a biological role.

The other measure to ensure the survival of the Slitara race was the development of a space colony on one of the nearby planets within their own star system to somehow start rebuilding their ruined society. It was during the first attempt at colonisation that they got into contact with the Galactic Council for the first time.

Xessass was too young to remember what happened exactly but, from what her mother had told her, the majority of the races that made up the Galactic Council viewed Slitaras with pity, disdain or both. Considering the circumstances at the time, even the most prideful of Slitaras had no choice but to accept that the condescension they received was justified.

It was during that time of shame when humans, against the expectations of so many, decided to form an alliance with the Slitaras.

At first, the Slitaras were suspicious of the humans. After all, they could be after whatever technology had survived the war or wanted the survivors and their descendants to be in their eternal debt as slaves. However, after a few years, the Slitaras realised that, aside from some humans genuinely finding them attractive as mates regardless of issues such as compatible genetics, their unexpected ally genuinely wanted to help them regain their "footing" as a civilised sapient race.

A brief look into the conflict-filled history of humanity, which was further reinforced by observation records that were written by "neutral observers instead of winners" from within the archives of the Galactic Council, revealed just how similar the circumstances of the two races could have been.

Within a decade, and with some help from allies within the Galactic Council, humanity managed to find a way to help the Slitaras overcome the plague that was killing so many male offspring. In addition, humanity had helped them fully escape from their ruined world to establish a successful colony which was rapidly becoming a new home-world. Out of gratitude, the Slitaras swore to be steadfast allies of humanity for as long as the trust between the two races remained whole and true.

One of the results of the strengthened bond of trust between humans and Slitaras was, of course, consensual xenophilia between members of the two races.

---

Xessass could still remember how, during her first meeting with Kimihito as a young child, they boy kindly helped her to stay warm while treating an injury on her serpentine tail. The memory of that first meeting made her cobra-like hood flush and the tip of her tail wiggle.

"Xessass-chan, are you ready to go?" asked Kimihito, a young adult human male who was of Japanese descent.

"Yesss, jussst a minute!" replied Xessass before making sure that her purse had a modified version of a human pepper spray that contained her venom. Yes, she could just shoot venom from her viper-like fangs but it never hurt to be prepared for trouble. Besides, she could pass her "venom spray" to Kimihito if necessary.

After making sure that she had everything she needed for her date, she slithered out of her room and happily held onto Kimihito's arm. Kimihito could not help but blush as he could feel her breasts press against his arm, which was clearly deliberate if the mischievous twinkle in her eyes and hissing giggle was anything to go by.

"Well then, letsss go, darling!"

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Author's note:

- The sixth post/chapter of the series.
- Yes, the name of the human dating the snake-like alien is very much intentional. XD

Chapter Text

Alex was visiting a fellow human friend with his two alien housemates, an octopus-like Cephaloid male named Kr'taru and a goblin like Gobloid female named Grotzkin-Throngler. The name of the said human friend was Peter.

Kr'taru was less than enthusiastic about visiting Peter because he happened to be the owner of a dangerous species of eusocial spider-like alien arthropods called Mutaspiders. It took the poor Cephaloid a whole week to finally get over Alex's own dangerous pets, the eusocial ant-like Chimerants.

In Kr'taru's opinion, anyone would have to be crazy to think that keeping an ant-like species that could produce acid-shooters, stinging-jumpers, big-headed biters and tiny flesh-burrowers as castes of the same colony was crazy. That was not even counting the spider-like species, which produced web-weavers, big-fanged burrowers and active hunters that could jump. Oh, and did Kr'taru forget to mention that the spiders, which could be as big as adult human hands depending on the caste, all possessed toxic venom that certain castes could literally shoot out of their fangs?

The only reason why both Alex and Peter were not in trouble with the Galactic Council was because they somehow had permission to keep their dangerous pets after making sure that the terrariums were made of actual military-grade composite glass and had advanced covers with sealed feeding chutes, environmental controls and remote-controlled drones for viewing and manipulation. Of course, regular check-ups from the proper authorities was a must to prevent a possible breakout.

Admittedly, Kr'taru found the Alex's ability to carefully maintain his surprisingly well-planned terrarium with minimal fuss from the normally-aggressive Chimerants rather impressive. The fact that the Chimerants were clearly healthy and thriving in captivity was a clear testament to both Alex's love for his pets and his ability to rear them properly. Even the elf-like Elvaran ambassador, Bel-Khanor, who had visited to do an inspection recently, was impressed.

Before long, Alex saw his friend and grinned broadly while waving his hand and calling out to get his attention, "Yo, Peter! Over here!"

Peter grinned at Alex and said, "You three certainly took your sweet time!" He then cheekily asked Alex, "Were you busy 'sucking-face' with your cute girlfriend?"

Alex blushed and was about to reply in negative when Kr'taru saw an opportunity and said, "Yes, they were. I had to use four of my eight tentacles to pry them apart and use only one of my four eyes to look at them while keeping my mental-scarring to a minimum."

A moment of silence passed before Grotzkin and Alex flushed and yelled in unison, "KR'TARU!!!"

Peter laughed and said, "Damn, you two are progressing fast!"

Alex glared at Kr'taru and asked, "This... is payback for the time when I brought in some durians from Earth, isn't it?"

Kr'taru glared at Alex with all four eyes and answered, "Considering that the so-called... 'King of Fruits' smelled bad enough to be, in my personal opinion, a weapon of sheer stench, yes." Although Cephaloids did not have a keen sense of smell, Kr'taru still found the smell of durians unbearable.

"Bah, you're exaggerating! The smell wasn't so bad and the taste was great," said Grotzkin.

"The Fenrids giving our house a wide berth would beg to differ," argued Kr'taru who was speaking about a race of humanoid wolves called Fenrids who had a keen sense of smell.

"If you think that durians are bad, you should hear about some of our stinkiest cuisines," said Peter.

Kr'taru was honestly tempted to not ask but his morbid curiosity got the better of him as he asked, "Like what?"

Kr'taru would soon learn about an infamous type of fermented fish called Surströmming and, surprisingly, he actually liked the taste in spite of the strong smell.

It should be noted that, to avoid a "galactic crisis", an official announcement had to be made to ensure that everyone knew what Surströmming was and its infamous stench. Even with the aforementioned warning, which many aliens took very seriously after realising that most humans actually feared the food, several alien races, including the Elvarans, could have sworn that the food was a foul bio-hazardous weapon that somehow ended up becoming food for humans instead. In fact, a number of Fenrids actually passed out from the smell.

Chapter Text

Everyone in the Galactic Council knew or quickly learnt that the biggest players in the entire known galaxy were the 'Top Ten'.

The psychic elf-like Elvarans were among the few who had the privilege to be one of the 'Top Ten' but even they were below the 'Big Four' which were in turn subservient to the 'One Above All'.

One of the members of the 'Big Four' were a race of long-lived humanoid birds (which, quite coincidentally, resembled kākāpōs from Earth but with a wider range of colourations) with clawed hands in place of wings. Known as the Avianites, they were masters of using their psychic abilities to read minds and wield telekinesis.

An 'Honoured Elder' Avianite named Toa-Vanu, chuckled in a way that made him coo like a pigeon from Earth to express his amusement at an idea that had been posted on the local messaging network. As one of the leaders in charge of ensuring that one particular mothership of the Galactic Council was running efficiently, he had a responsibility in making sure that the needs of the residents living within the ship were met within reasonable limits. After all, it would not be fair to turn the entire mothership into a massive aquarium to satisfy the needs of more aquatic alien races at the expense of other races that might drown or worse.

As for the message that got his attention and amusement, it was a suggestion from a human to hold a fair to show some of the strangest cuisines in the known galaxy. It was one thing for one alien race to consider the food of another race to be strange. To actually consider cuisine prepared by one's own race as strange, if not downright disgusting, was quite a rarity to say the least. Add in the fact that humans already had an infamous reputation of having a "generously broad" definition of what was edible and, well, Toa-Vanu was certain that the fair would be, if nothing else, "interesting".

Toa-Vanu would later bring up the idea with the rest of the leaders that managed the mothership and, after making sure that the fair would be held within a sealed environment to "limit" the possible chaos, the fair was approved.

---

A few days later, the fair began within a sealed environment with advanced air-purifying systems designed to eliminate harsh smells.

For every non-human who had attended the fair, including Toa-Vanu and his peers, there was a certain level of anticipation that was largely fuelled by morbid curiosity. The humans were thankfully willing to start with the "less extreme" dishes such as durians, wasabi, natto and spicy prawn paste. That being said, the "less extreme" dishes were already proven to be nearly too much for some of the more delicate races. As the dishes became progressively more extreme, including various cheeses that were infested with maggots, mites and mould, various kinds of preserved fish and peppers which were especially bred for extreme levels of spiciness, more and more alien races had to excuse themselves due to feeling ill. Even a number of races that originated from 'Death Worlds' such as the wolf-like Fenrids were starting to feel nauseated by some of the more extreme dishes.

To the Fenrids' defence, they possessed a keen sense of smell and came from an icy Death World where decay was limited.

When the humans revealed a particular type of fermented fish called Surströmming as the "grand finale" of the fair, Toa-Vanu could not help but wonder if he had been a little too indulgent towards humans for the sake of experiencing things that were amusingly novel even for him.

---

After assuring a furious Bel-Khanor that Surströmming would be banned from most sectors throughout the galaxy, with a few exceptions such as sectors controlled by the octopus-like Cephaloids who actually liked the food, as well as various other types of preserved and fermented fish and shrimps, Toa-Vanu allowed himself a moment to lie back and sigh.

"That... was more than I have expected."

A soft chuckle made Toa-Vanu turn his attention towards a humanoid tortoise whom he immediately recognised as another member of the 'Big Four', a Kappoid. The said Kappoid was also an old friend of his, the Ancient of Ceremonies, Ryl'anur.

"You knew that this would happen, didn't you?" asked Toa-Vanu.

"The degree of the smell aside, yes," admitted Ryl'anur.

"It's no wonder why even most humans are wary of that particular dish," said Toa-Vanu who could not help but shudder at the mere memory of the smell that would surely haunt his dreams for many nights to come.

"And yet you will still continue to be indulgent towards humans because, like myself and many other members of the 'Big Four', you appreciate them for what they have already contributed to the galaxy," said Ryl'anur.

Well aware that many Kappoids, Ryl'anur included, were deeply amused by a certain fictional work from humans called 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', never mind the fact Ryl'anur had actually decided to take up human-derived martial arts as a hobby, Toa-Vanu coo-chuckled in amusement and replied, "Yes, you're right, old friend."

It was not often that anyone who was not a member of the 'Top Ten' could even accidentally figure out the nature of the 'One Above All', the ancient and almighty Void Watchers, with the surprising level of accuracy as that of humans. Not even the most talented masters of precognition among the Kappoids could have anticipated the level of accuracy that the humans had managed to capture the appearance of the Void Watchers, especially in works done by a certain H. P. Lovecraft and in a certain video game called 'Look Outside'.

Even the "space whale" heralds and speakers of the Void Watchers, the most senior members of the 'Big Four' known as the Star Singers, were surprised by how close humans had been in imagining the form of the Void Watchers.

"Well, the debacle at the end aside, I think the fair is quite a success," said Toa-Vanu.

Ryl'anur nodded and said, "The Gobloids certainly loved the durians and natto."

"And the Tardaswines certainly liked all the fermented dishes, including the cheese infested with maggots or mites," agreed Toa-Vanu.

Ryl'anur chuckled and said, "It's certainly quite a rare sight to see a human express worry or disgust while their alien allies eat the cheese with the maggots or mites still alive. Usually, it would be the other way around."

"I do feel pity for the Fenrids. Those few members that stayed to the very bitter end deserve free counselling sessions at the very least," said Toa-Vanu.

"Oh, most certainly," agreed Ryl'anur.

Chapter Text

Tardaswines were many things.

They were worm-like in appearance with eight stubby legs, of which the four frontmost legs could function as hands as well, wriggly feeding tentacles and eyes which humans somehow found "expressively adorable". They were also the size of pigs from Earth with a stubby appearance similar to tardigrades which were, again, from Earth. 

They originated from a swampy 'Death World' where rot and disease was prevalent, thus making them one of the few alien species to have no issue with a particularly infamous type of fermented fish made by humans called Surströmming. The condition of their home-world also meant that, similar to various other 'Death World' inhabitants, they had to struggle to survive let alone achieve even a basic form of space travel that allowed them to start conquering their own star system.

More than anything though, they were glad to have humans as allies as they knew that, as far as alliances went, they had little to offer.

To give a better idea of their low opinion of themselves:

---

- The wolf-like Fenrids were, aside from being fluffy and deemed "friend-shaped" by humans, were also skilled warriors and hunters fitting for anyone who had survived the near-impossible conditions of an icy 'Death World'.

- The Gobloids, aside from being similar enough to humans in appearance to be, as humans would put it, "bang-able", were also producers of a wide variety of fungi, fruits and herbs that humans enjoyed consuming.

- The Dinorexes, aside from being deemed as "cool as hell" by humans due to resembling velociraptors from Earth, were skilled warriors and hunters as well due to originating from a desert 'Death World'.

- The serpentine Slitharas, while having little to offer at the beginning, had quickly proven their worth in loyalty and skill as combatants that had survived a war that nearly destroyed their kind. Yes, there were humans who actually found them attractive too but it was a well known fact that humans had always been "generously broad" when it came to preferences in mates, as various Fenrids would attest.

- The Octopus-like Cephaloids were producers of various "seafood" that humans enjoyed. Some humans also enjoyed exploring aquatic habitats and many Cephaloids were quite happy to allow humans to visit their home-world as a form of guided tourism.

- The Polypians, a race of aliens with five eyes, six tentacle-arms and four stumpy legs, were actually the first alien race to volunteer in helping humans get used to living as members of a galactic community which, as dictated by the laws of the Galactic Council, kept themselves hidden from discovery by insufficiently advanced races.

---

Compared to the aforementioned races, the Tardaswines had very little to offer other than a willingness to donate blood for medical research and helping to consume certain things that were edible to their kind such as unwanted stems and roots of harvested crops and uneaten food in certain human establishments such as hotels. There was their innate ability to weave silk as well but, well, there were other races that could make silk of better quality in smoothness, beauty and/or strength. That was not even counting the fact that Tardaswines were a rather clumsy-looking lot as a whole.

In spite of their concerns, which humans and other allied races often assured them were actually non-factors for some reason, the Tardaswines were happy to be their ally.

---

Humans, along with their allies, were very glad to have Tardaswines as allies.

While Tardaswine silk was inferior to silk produced by other races in terms of strength, beauty or smoothness, the said silk had one important quality which was its powerful antimicrobial effects. In fact, it was so potent that, aside from the obvious use as bandages and stitches to help seal and disinfect wounds, it could be used as a component for water filtration. That was not even counting the blood which could be refined to make a wide variety of medical serums that were useful to not only humans but other races as well. One of the most notable use of the serum derived from Tardaswines was helping the Slitaras survive as a race by curing the plague that had been killing their male offspring.

Yet, somehow, the Tardaswines were still convinced that their contributions were quite minor to the point of not minding to work as "waste disposal". One main reason why humans even allowed Tardaswines to do something that most would see as terribly demeaning was because, aside from having evolved to be very efficient detritovores, they produced excellent fertiliser.

Quite amusingly, some human children had taken a liking to having Tardaswine children as friends because the latter saw no issue with eating "yucky veggies".

Thanks to the admittedly clumsy-looking Tardaswines, humans were able to produce medical materials and tools which were on high demand by other races throughout the galaxy. In an effort to keep the Tardaswines safe, as well as to maintain at least some level of monopoly of the supply, admittedly, humans kept the information a secret from most of the galaxy. Only a few members of the 'Top Ten', including the 'Big Four' and the 'One Above All', knew the truth in detail and they agreed to help humans maintain the secret.

There were many malicious races that would have no issue with kidnapping Tardaswines and enslaving them for their blood and silk.

---

Bloop-Blap, a young female Tardaswine, was making a happy purring trill as she received a gift from her father. The gift in question as a small pretty flower hairpin that she could stick onto the right side of her head with a bit of silk. After putting on the hairpin and looking at herself in the mirror, she ran around her father in joy of having such a pretty gift.

Bloop-Blap's father made a gurgling chuckle as he affectionately rubbed her head with his feeding tentacles. He then let her run off to show her new accessory to her friends at the playground. Truly, life as a humble "leftover handler" at a local restaurant and occasional donator of blood and silk was good for him and his family.

Chapter Text

A human named Drake was walking through a dense forested area cautiously when he spoke into his communicator, "No sign of the target."

Drake soon got a reply from a Fenrid male named Stoneclaw who growled, "The scent trail leads to this forest. The creature must be hiding somewhere in there."

"Thisss isss going to be troublesssome..." hissed a Slitara female named Sskirass.

"Shall we force it out?" asked a Dinorex male named Krax'yl.

"Negative, the client wants the target captured and unharmed. I'd rather not give it reason to consider fight or flight. Plus, we do not want any of the locals to start panicking," replied Drake.

"Bah, my hide and war-gear are more than sufficient to endure the fangs and claws of that beast," argued Krax'l.

"Your ability to take punishment is duly noted," said Drake who had an unmistakable deadpan tone in his voice.

"Maybe you can use my silk to help with the capture?" suggested a female Tardaswine named Blarg-Blox.

Drake raised an eyebrow and said, "You know, that might just work!"

---One Hour Later...---

"Oh, thank you so much for finding and bringing back Mr. Snuffles!" said an overweight human woman who was hugging her decidedly unamused pet cat named Mr. Snuffles.

"The pleasure is ours, ma'am," said Drake who, along with the rest of his team, were a group of "fire and rescue fighters" who had just retrieved a runaway pet cat which had run into a densely-forested area of a park.

The capture of the cat involved baiting it with a flying drone that was waving a stick which had a wad of Blarg-Blox's silk on its tip.

While Drake was the leader and spokesman of the group, Stoneclaw was the tracker and "primary muscle".

Krax'yl was the "secondary muscle" whose main task was to be the drone pilot. While he was skilled in combat and eager to fight, which Stoneclaw was happy to oblige during training, there was no denying that he was very good at piloting his drones for surveillance and the occasional supply drop. It should be noted that, typical among Dinorexes, he had both scales and feathers with feathers covering the upper parts of his head, neck, back and tail.

Sskirass was the team's resident expert in climbing and moving through tight spaces while Blarg-Blox was the medical support of the team.

Other members of the team included Zrr'tara, a female Polypian secretary; Ghurska-Thrakkon, a male Gobloid mechanic and occasional mech-pilot, and Bl'rana, a female Cephaloid who was mainly involved in aquatic missions.

"I still find it hard to imagine that the little feline pet could give us so much trouble," said Stoneclaw.

"I find it harder to believe that so many of our supposed peers who are not from 'Death Worlds' actually still fear the little beast," said Krax'yl while rolling his eyes.

"To be fair, many of the races who genuinely fear cats are on the smaller side. I mean, there's a reason why humans don't try to keep lions or tigers," said Drake.

"Not to mention that, sssize and cute eyesss assside, catsss are ssstill ssskilled predatorsss, mossst of the time," added Sskirass

Krax'yl, who had seen a documentary of wild animals from Earth before, scratched his scaly chin thoughtfully and said, "You two raise good points."

"Anyway, with the job here done, let's head back to base," said Drake.

A short ride on the firetruck later, the team returned to their base and were soon greeted by Ghurska, "Yo, heard that the 'housecat crisis' has been resolved."

"Had to use one of Krax'yl's drones and some webbing from Blarg-Blox to catch the little furball, but yeah, we did it in good time," confirmed Drake.

"Good, because I've just received word that a certain pet otter is on the loose, again," said Zrr'tara who approached the group with her four stumpy legs.

Drake grimaced as he uttered, "Oh, boy. Let me guess, the otter has gone into the aquatic biome and is now on the hunt for its favourite type of alien fish while terrifying at least half of the aquatic races living there, again."

Zrr'tara made a gurgling sigh and said, "Pretty much."

"Has Bl'rana been informed about it?" asked Drake.

Zrr'tara nodded and said, "Yes, and she should be arriving..."

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" exclaimed Bl'rana who had just put on her gear to start the mission of catching the otter which its human owner had affectionately called Mochi.

"Right, since this will be an aquatic mission, Bl'rana, Sskirass and Krax'yl will head out with me. Stoneclaw and Blarg-Blox, you two stay here and watch the fort with the others," said Drake.

"Drone-assisted otter-fishing?" asked Krax'yl.

"Drone-assisted otter-fishing," confirmed Drake.

Before long, Drake, Bl'rana, Sskirass and Krax'yl set out to retrieve the runway pet otter, Mochi.

Overall, just another typical day for the fire and rescue fighters.

------

Author's Note:

Call me crazy, but did I somehow make some sort of "noble-bright" mirror universe of 'Warhammer 40k' by accident?!

Hear me out:

- There are humans who are the "underdog faction".

- There are the Elvarans which I have made with the idea of a "less terrible version of the Aeldari".

- There are the wolf-like Fenrids which, lets face it, can be a stand in for Space Wolves.

- There are Gobloids which are basically "space goblins" like the Gretchin.

- There are the velociraptor-like Dinorexes which can, debatably be a stand-in for the Kroot.

- There are the bird-like Avianites which can arguably be called a stand-in for Tzeentchian daemons.

- There are the snake-like Slitaras which can arguably be called a stand-in for Slaaneshi daemons.

- There are the worm-like Tardaswines which can arguably be called a stand-in for Nurglesque daemons.

- No stand-in for Khornate daemones yet but I can always have a Minotaur-based race added later.

...

Therefore, I am either crazy or I have taken a very unintentional writing direction.

Chapter Text

Rules were important to maintain order and the rules of the Galactic Council were no exception.

For example, the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) was allowed but limitations had to be put into place to ensure that they remained dependent on their organic creators and masters for their continued existence. This made sense as no organic being wanted, to reference a certain human movie, a "Skynet Scenario".

Far too many civilizations had fallen into ruin due to robotic rebellions to discredit the necessity of the rule. That was not even counting a few "Grey Goo" incidents that had actually happened due to rogue A.I. gaining control of tiny robots (which in turn had led to another rule to discourage the creation of robots that were very small in size). In fact, of these incidents were so dangerously close to becoming completely out of control that the Galactic Council had no choice but to authorise a terrible last resort which was essentially, to reference a certain human game, a planet-destroying "Exterminatus".

Another rule that everyone in the Galactic Council was expected to follow was to refrain from getting into direct contact with insufficiently-advanced races (which explained a certain 'Fermi Paradox"). This rule was deemed as necessary as the last thing anyone wanted was a race of unreasoning savages suddenly gaining advanced alien technology that they had no idea how to use responsibly. There were exceptions though such as the time when the snake-like Slitaras were given desperately-needed help in spite of not actually fulfilling the minimum requirements to become members of the Galactic Council so that they could be saved from extinction.

This is the story of one other such rare exception...

---

The incident all began with a song that was somehow heard by everyone on a Galactic Council mothership.

It was no mere song for the auditory senses though for it was a psychic song of sorrow and loss so pure and profound that even the most prideful of the elf-like Elvarans were moved to tears.

It was the song of a dying demigod that had sacrificed himself to protect a race of lesser mortals from being taken away by demons that had come from the darkness between the stars.

It was the song of an aged and dying Star Singer, a member of a whale-like alien race that could travel through the void of space unaided, who had died saving a primitive race from slavery and worse.

---

Although the mothership was not the closest vessel to the planet which the old Star Singer, Gregoria Sanctus, had died protecting, few questioned the decision to do a costly faster-than-light warp-jump to the planet. Gregoria was not just an honoured elder among the already long-lived Star Singers, he was also a former teacher to a few leaders who managed the mothership.

Ryl'anur, a tortoise-like Kappoid and the Ancient of Ceremonies of his kind, had a sorrowful expression on his face as he gazed upon the body of his former mentor which, given its massive mountainous size, was thankfully in orbit around the planet, "To think that such a terrible fate would befall upon Lord Gregoria..."

Toa-Vanu, an honoured elder among the bird-like Avianites, clenched his clawed fists tightly enough to nearly draw blood as he spoke, "The savages who killed him WILL PAY for this transgression!" The very air around him shimmered with barely-restrained psychic fury.

"Calm yourself, friend. We must focus on handling this delicate situation with the local inhabitants of the world below us," said a seemingly robotic entity which was actually a mobile "hive mech" that was piloted by a whole colony of small mantid-like aliens known as the Cybrids. Capable of telepathic communication, each Cybrid colony was an individual hive mind with its queen as the focal point of the hive mind. Cybrids were also one of the "Big Four", a group of four powerful alien races that included the Star Singers, the Kappoids and the Avianites, and had some of the most advanced technology in the entire known galaxy.

Toa-Vanu sighed as he knew that the Cybrid, Sha-Strika, was right.

Under normal circumstances, the race that Gregoria had died defending, which was currently still in the "stone age", would have been far to primitive to even consider accepting as a member of the Galactic Council. However, not only had they witnessed Gregoria die defending them from invaders but, based on the confessions of other Star Singers, they had actually been aware of the existence of the Star Singers for some time.

Known as the Sonarins, the primitive race looked like humanoid bats with a bipedal stance and clawed hands instead of wings. They also possessed large eyes with keen night vision, a keen sense of smell, sensitive whiskers on their face and large ears that granted them a keen sense of hearing. Though small of stature, they were effective nocturnal hunters gatherers that were also capable diggers and climbers thanks to their clawed limbs.

The most remarkable trait of the Sonarins though was their innate psychic abilities as they had, in the past, detected the psychic presence of a passing pod of Star Singers by accident and even sang in response to their psychic songs. Impressed by their abilities and moved by their simple yet profound songs, the Star Singers decided to continue visiting the Sonarins' home world even though it technically went against the rules of the Galactic Council. These visits resulted in the Sonarins worshipping the Star Singers as wise demigods, which was honestly not completely inaccurate as even the Kappoids, who could live for up to a thousand human years, were short-lived compared to the Star Singers.

Well aware that the situation needed to be handled with care and yet with a strong possibility that some rules would have to be broken, Toa-Vanu asked, "Should we get the humans involved in this matter?"

Ryl'anur smiled bitterly and said, "Knowing how they have reacted to the song, I doubt many would be as determined to somehow help the Sonarins as them and their closest allies."

In spite of the tragic circumstances, Toa-Vanu made a cooing chuckle and said, "Too true, old friend, too true."

Sha-Strika made a skittering sound that almost sounded like a sigh as she spoke, "In the mean time, I'll help arrange for a proper cremation of our former mentor."

---

Just as the Ancient of Ceremonies had predicted, the humans and their closest allies were determined to somehow help the Sonarins regardless of the usual protocols that they were supposed to follow. Clearly able to sense their empathic sorrow and sympathy, in spite of the fact that they had come from the sky like the terrible demons that had killed one of the Star Singer demigods, the Sonarins quickly accepted the unusual newcomers.

Due to being taught by the songs of the Star Singers, the Sonarins had a much better grasp of the galaxy than any stone-age society, both historical and current, in the known galaxy. This meant that the Sonarins quickly understood that the newcomers were actually people from other planets who had somehow managed to reach the stars to live together as a united people with the Star Singers. In fact, the Sonarins were eager to learn how to achieve the flight needed to one day travel among the stars.

The Sonarins soon learnt that it was a custom among the Star Singers to let their bodies by consumed by nearby stars as a way of passing on and that the rest of the galactic council was going to cremate the ancient Star Singer who had died to protect them. However, in spite of wanting to attend the cremation of the Star Singer, their sensitive skin and eyes were easily harmed by the sun. Thankfully, the humans had an idea by requesting, of all things, sunglasses. Combined with the silk of the worm-like Tardaswines and whatever other protective fabrics could be used, many Sonarins were able to attend the cremation while offering solemn and tearful prayers for their slain demigod.

Moved by a psychic song of profound grief, the people on board the mothership once again wept.

After the cremation had concluded, the leaders of the mothership descended upon the planet to decide what should be done about the Sonarins. While protecting them from further raids was a given, there was a question of how much help they should receive from the Galactic Council as, remarkable talents aside, the Sonarins were still a primitive stone-age race.

Michael, the human ambassador who had led to mission to help the grieving Sonarins, had something to say about providing limited aid, "Let me tell you something about these Sonarins. They are a lot smarter than humans ever were back in our own stone age. Hell, I can say with confidence that they are a lot smarter than a lot of humans way past that point too. Yeah, that's not a high bar to leap over, admittedly, but the fact remains that they understand that their world is not flat, that their world revolves around the sun instead of the other way around, that performing ritual sacrifices will not make rain fall, that courteous decency is not a weakness to be mocked, that constantly whining about an 'unfair reality' fixes nothing and that rejecting truth, such as the fact that men and women are different from each another in at least some ways, is a one-way trip to being stupid, crazy or both. They already know that we exist and they are eager to learn so that they can one day see the Star Singers up close and sing with them. I don't know about the rest of you, but that's as good a reason to go into space and explore the stars as it can ever bloody be. So if you lot plan to half-ass in helping them, well, I guess we humans will have to pick up the slack and help them with everything we've got."

Horrified by the idea of leaving the "innocently impressionable" Sonarins to humans, many alien races immediately started "volunteering" to provide additional aid to the primitive race. As for the alien races who were close allies to the humans, well, they were rather amused by how horrified many of the other races were, understandable reaction notwithstanding. They were not alone in their amusement either as even those who were personally grieving for the tragic death of Gregoria, namely his Star Singer kin, a certain Kappoid and a certain Avianite, almost laughed when the panic started.

Little did many realise that the Sonarins were moved by the "song of conviction" within Michael's soul and were quick to agree in becoming allies with humans.

---

Author's note: This chapter was honestly harder to write than expected. Also, given a few things that I have touched upon in this chapter, I'm expecting at least some level of backlash on Reddit.

Chapter Text

"Drake, you once said that humans do not normally keep tigers and lions as pets," said a velociraptor-like Dinorex male named Krax'yl who was a member of the local team of 'Fire and Rescue Fighters'.

Drake, who was the leader and spokesman of the team, raised an eyebrow and replied, "Yeah, I did. What about it?"

"I believe that you're mistaken," said Krax'yl.

"Why do you say that?" asked Drake.

"Because I've done some research about humans in a place on Earth called Texas and I have noticed that they keep exotic pets, including tigers," said Krax'yl.

Drake shrugged and said, "Well, in my defence, keeping exotic pets is strictly regulated and even banned in some parts of Earth. Texas just happens to be an exception, both back then and even now, when it comes to certain pets like tigers."

"Weren't dogs and housecats wild animals once?" asked Krax'yl who seemed honestly confused.

"Yes, but that was a long time ago. Plus, there is a difference between keeping a local wild animal and keeping an imported exotic one," answered Drake.

Krax'yl made a soft rumbling hum and then said, "True, introducing a non-local animal to a habitat can cause disastrous results, especially if the habitat is a 'Paradise World'."

Unlike 'Death Worlds', which were planets with extremely dangerous environments and/or wildlife, 'Paradise Worlds' were the opposite extreme. On a side note, Earth was not considered a true 'Death World' but it was supposedly "pretty close".

"Do you have an interest in keeping tigers as pets?" asked Drake.

Krax'yl shook his head and said, "No, I am actually more interested in keeping a brown bear from Earth as a pet. I believe its omnivory will make it easier to feed even after considering its higher food requirements."

As Dinorexes originated from a desert Death World, Krax'yl was not terrified by the idea of keeping a pet bear.

Drake could not help but put on a deadpan expression on his face as he asked, "You do remember how badly some of the aliens from 'Paradise Worlds' react every time small pets from Earth like Mr. Snuffles (the cat) and Mochi (the otter) go running about, don't you?"

Krax'yl made a hissing sigh as he grumbled, "All too well, unfortunately. I sometimes wonder if we should call ourselves 'Pet Wranglers' instead."

Drake laughed at the comical idea and said, "Can't say it's an unwarranted idea!"

---

Author's note:
- Someone on Reddit mentioned about tigers being kept as pets in Texas in a previous post/chapter (kindly refer to Chapter 10). This, along with the fact that I know some people actually keep bears, is my attempt to address my mistake.

Chapter Text

A full human week had passed since the tragic passing of the whale-like Star Singer, Gregoria Sanctus, who had died to defend the home-world the "formerly primitive" humanoid bat-like Sonarins.

It was a widely accepted fact that the main reason why the raiders that had tried to invade the Sonarins' home-world were able to kill Gregoria at all was because the ancient Star Singer was already old and dying. As stated by his closest kin, he had originally planned to spend his dying moments singing to the Sonarins before, as was the custom among his kind, letting his body be consumed by the sun of their world.

Even so, the fact that the raiders were able to harm and kill a dying mountain-sized being that could travel across the stars without the aid of technology meant that the raiders had a significant fleet that could, in theory, conquer an entire primitive planet within the human equivalent of days or less.

It was a bitter fact that the Galactic Council, while the dominant force in the galaxy, as not without opposition.

One of forces that opposed the Galactic Council was the Space Pirates, a faction that was made up of criminals from nearly every known race in the galaxy. While there was no denying that the violent Space Pirates were just as likely to attack one another as they would attack anyone else, which therefore meant that they were unlikely to ever form a unified force on their own, they were a persistent threat had resisted complete destruction for as long as the Galactic Council had existed. Unsurprisingly, many Space Pirates wanted the Galactic Council gone so that they could rampage across the stars was they wished.

Another force that opposed the Galactic Council was the Cartel Traders of the Dark Market who dealt with all kinds of illegal trade including "weapons of planetary destruction", slaves and "illegal cuisine". Similar to Space Pirates, many Cartel Traders wanted the Galactic Council gone so that they could "do business" freely for more profits. For example, many Cartel Traders believed that leaving a planet rich in resources alone so that its primitive native inhabitants could live in peace was such a waste of potential profit. It was also common for Cartel Traders and Space Pirates to do business together for mutual benefit, tendency for backstabbing notwithstanding. Particularly powerful Cartel Traders are known to possess their own private armies. Despite the efforts taken by the Galactic Council to eliminate the Cartel Traders, the most cunning ones often found ways to somehow stay just out of reach.

However, in spite of the desire to take down the Galactic Council, very few Space Pirates and Cartel Traders ever dared to actually try and they were about to have one more reason added to the list of reasons...

---

"This. Is. ALL. YOUR! FAULT!" yelled a Karinite Cartel Trader named Perralk. Like the rest of her kind, she had purple hair on her head, a pair of humanoid arms, a slimy slug-like tail for a lower body and a pouch for storing both brood and tiny males. Similar to angler fish from Earth, the tiny males would fuse with the much larger females after entering their pouches.

A Tran'Kweerian Space Pirate named Soni'Kach glared at Perralk and asked rhetorically, "What were we supposed to do? Let that Star Singer live to tell the rest of the galaxy?" Like the rest of his kind, he resembled a humanoid stick-insect with two legs, four arms, a pair of insectoid mandibles and a tail that contained his reproductive organs.

It should be noted that all Tran'Kweerians were hermaphrodites but with the more dominant members acting as "males" while the more submissive members acted as "females". However, even the majority of the "females" had a desire to dominate others like their "male" counterparts, hence their keen interest in having lower-ranked slaves.

Visible veins appeared on Perralk's face as she let out a shrieking bellow, "YES!"

Soni'Kach and Perralk were about to attack each other when a Wanitan Cartel Trader named Gadisar spoke, "ENOUGH. Turning on each other will not solve our current predicament."

Well aware that the Wanitan female, who was nearly three metres tall by human standards, could easily tear them both apart if she was angered enough, both Soni'Kach and Perralk backed away from each other. They then turned their attention towards the towering alien which was a spider-like alien with four legs, four arms, four eyes, hardened skin and a crested head. In spite of loathing the Wanitan, partly because of her fanatical belief that all males should submit to females which went against a core belief among his race, Soni'Kach asked,  "What do you propose we do then? Even now, the Galactic Council is hunting us down."

Gadisar growled at Soni'Kach in distaste before she spoke bitterly, "For now, we have no choice but to lay low. I doubt the rest of our respective races will want anything to do with us after that debacle."

In the past, on separate occasions, the Karinites, Tran'Kweerians and Wanitans tried to join the Galactic Council. Before they could become official members though, they needed to pass a trial period which, for one reason or another, ended in disastrous failure due to provoking the elf-like Elvarans. To say that the Elvarans had delivered a one-sided beatdown to the three races on separate occasions would be an accurate description of the resulting conflicts.

The Karinites, who believed that they had the right to bully anyone weaker than them, were deemed as unfit by the Galactic Council as soon as it was made clear that they would sooner provoke wars than stop bullying others or admit that they were wrong about anything.

The Tran'Kweerians, who believed that the strong had the right to enslave and dominate anyone deemed as lesser, were deemed as unfit by the Galactic Council as soon as their plan to establish a galaxy-wide slave trade became known.

The Wanitans, who fanatically believed that all males were inferior beings fit only to satisfy the desires of their female betters, were deemed as unfit by the Galactic Council after it was made clear that they despised anyone who rejected their religious dogma regardless of gender.

Unsurprisingly, many members of the three rejected races resented the Galactic Council to the point of choosing to become criminals as Space Pirates and Cartel Traders. Some, such as Gadisar, Perralk and Soni'Kach, even ended up becoming allies for the shared goal of inflicting as much pain to the Galactic Council as possible. Of course, any plan to inflict that pain which was actually feasible needed both funding and manpower.

The "primitive and uncivilised" Sonarins were marvellously well-adapted to work as miners. Had Soni'Kach succeeded in capturing enough of them, both Perralk and Gadisar would have been able to forcibly breed them with the aid of cloning and artificial womb technologies to form an army of slave miners. True, both technologies were imperfect but it was not as if the welfare of slaves, their clones and progeny included, was actually important to Perralk and Gadisar. Some of the produced slaves would then be given to Soni'Kach and his followers as payment for their services.

In truth, both Perralk and Gadisar wanted to conquer the home-planet of the Sonarins outright but doing so would have attracted unwanted attention. That was why the plan was to raid the planet and capture as many Sonarins as possible before leaving. No one had expected even a single Star Singer to actually get close enough to the Sonarins' home-planet to intercept Soni'Kach's raiders though.

The rest, as some would say, was history.

Forced to agree with Gadisar, both Perralk and Soni'Kach nodded with bitter expressions on their faces. They were about to go their separate ways to go into hiding when a massive fleet of ships suddenly appeared in the sky above them. Their eyes widened as they realised the implication that the Galactic Council had somehow managed to track them down to their current location which was a former asteroid mining post that had been turned into a "criminal colony". They also knew that various Space Pirates and Cartel Traders would readily turn on them if it meant avoiding the wrath of the Galactic Council.

A holographic image of a human male appeared in the sky above the former asteroid mining post and announced, "This is Admiral Duke Hazard of the Super-Dreadnaught Battleship, Yamato's Fury. We are here to demand for the immediate surrender of the criminals responsible for both the murder of the Star Singer, Gregorius Sanctus, and the attempted enslavement of the Sonarins. Failure to comply within the next (human hour) will be deemed as an act of knowingly harbouring these criminals." His expression darkened as he added, "I am currently in command of a lot of pissed off boys and girls with VERY itchy trigger fingers so I strongly suggest handing those criminals to us within the (human hour)."

One particularly audacious, and quite likely stupid, alien criminal which resembled a humanoid fish asked, "Oh, yeah? What's going to stop US from taking you and your fleet down instead, you stupid hairless monkey?"

Rather than express indignant anger, Duke wore a far more chilling smile instead as he spoke, "Well, since at least one of you is feeling BRAVE enough to take us on..." He raised his right hand and then swung it down while yelling, "I declare this provocation as a declaration of war! To all allied forces, you are free to engage the enemy at will!"

The various battle ships that belonged to the humans and their closest alien allies soon started firing to destroy or at least disable as many enemy space vessels and defensive turrets as possible.

Realising that the humans were not going to bother waiting for even a single one of their hours, the resulting panic was nothing short of pandemonium as humans in powered armour landed in armoured drop-pods and started attacking anyone who tried to flee or fight back with guns that shot powerful bolts of energy. Although the armoured humans were avoiding making fatal shots, mostly to ensure that the criminals could be interrogated later, the attacks still resulted in a lot of severed limbs and half-burnt stumps. As for the enemies that tried to get close, well, the armoured humans were all too willing to oblige with a wide range of close-range weapons such as retractable bayonets on their guns that generated enough heat to melt metal, energy blades that created a spinning field of energy not unlike a chainsaw and even armoured fists.

The humans were not alone as the various aliens that had allied with them also took part in the battle upon arriving in armed transport vessels that followed after the drop pods.

Snake-like Slitaras, who had humanoid upper bodies, rapidly slithered all around the former mining post before taking positions at various hidden locations to start sniping at criminals with their foldable laser rifles. As survivors of a war that nearly destroyed their own species many human years ago, they knew how to stay hidden and strike from the shadows with not just their laser rifles but also "venom bombs", knives and razor wire.

Fenrids, who were humanoid wolves from an icy 'Death World', howled as they charged into battle while wielding spears that generated powerful energy fields for both offence and defence. Although they lacked dedicated ranged weapons, partly because blinding blizzards were common on their world, they carried tomahawk-shaped bombs which they could throw at their enemies with terrifying range, accuracy and explosive results.

Velociraptor-like Dinorexes, who originated from a desert 'Death World' and wore protective armour that had energy blasters, power blades and energy shield generators attached, shrieked as they charged into battle while shooting at their foes with the said energy blasters. As soon as they got close enough, they used their power blades with terrifying efficiency as they tore even reinforced walls with ease.

Goblin-like Goblids, who were all piloting small mechs that had at least one massive gun each, cackled with seemingly mad glee as they lobbed all kinds of "explosives" at their enemies. One type of "explosive" released a large blinding cloud of extremely spicy powder, rendering entire enemy squads helpless due to sheer tear-inducing agony.

Worm-like Tardaswines, while not active combatants, were sent to the ground to collect the wounded, both allies and enemies alike. It should be noted that, while generally peaceful, Tardaswines originated from a swampy 'Death World' where rot and decay was ever present so they were not against eating something, or someone, alive if deemed necessary. Many wounded criminals became a lot more cooperative when the Tardaswines did not hesitate to eat a severed limb or two, slowly while staring at their "patients" in the eyes at that, to prove their point.

Arguably, what terrified the criminals the most were two things:

Captured criminals that were meant to be executed anyway for irredeemable crimes were made into "examples" by humans who wore powered armour. Known as "Glory Kills", the humans killed the "examples" in brutally barbaric ways that included tearing them into halves, ripping out their organs and crushing their heads. Even worse, the "Glory Kills" were broadcasted across the entire criminal colony, thus making it clear that the humans and their allies were not "asking politely" for compliance. The fact that the humans did not feel sadistic glee, only wrathful fury, when executing the "Glory Kills" deeply unnerved many of the Space Pirates who inflicted harm upon others out of sadistic desire.

The second, arguably worse thing was the "War Chants" that made a number of criminals, especially the religiously fanatical Wanitans, convinced that the humans had formed a literal death cult that had already influenced their allies.

"We are the hammer! We are the hate! We are the doom of our foes!"

"We are the dagger. We are the venom. We are the ssshadowsss that you fear."

"We are the spear! We are the fury! We are the howling storm of death!"

"We are the blade! We are the hunger! We are the hunters of our prey!"

"We are the bomb! We are the party! We are here to fight and win!"

"We feed on rot. We feed on decay. We can choose to feed on YOU."

"FOR ALL THAT WE CHERISH, LIVE WITH HONOUR, FIGHT WITH COURAGE AND DIE IN GLORY!"

Before the day was over, the entire criminal colony was captured with Gadisar, Perralk and Soni'Kach apprehended before they and their respective forces could even plan an escape. Truthfully, though, the sheer destructive fury of the humans and their allies was enough to make more than a third of the criminals simply surrender out of sheer terror.

---

An Elvaran soldier wore an uncomfortable expression on his face as he spoke his thoughts aloud, "The humans and their allies are, barbarism aside, disturbingly effective."

An Elvaran admiral named Ul-Therras could only sigh while rubbing the bridge of his nose and muttered, "We are going to have to do a complete reassessment of the potential threat level that these humans and their allies pose."

"To think that they could build crude yet effective weapons of war so soon after receiving the gifts of technology..." uttered another Elvaran soldier who was honestly worried about the idea of facing the humans and their allies as enemies. Yes, the Elvarans were still confident that they had superior weapons, never mind their innate psychic abilities, but they did not become one of the ten strongest races in the known galaxy by being blindly arrogant. The fact that the technology given to the humans and their allies were mainly non-military in nature, such as efficient power cells, civilian-grade warp-drives and construction mech suits, made the resulting rapid growth in military prowess all the more worthy of alarm.

"Well, on the bright side, this can be considered as a very enlightening military operation for everyone involved," said Ryl'anur, a turtle-like Kappoid and the Ancient of Ceremonies among his kind.

"You knew that this would happen, didn't you?" asked Ul-Therras.

Ryl'anur chuckled and said, "I simply gave the humans and their allies permission to be the first wave of soldiers to find and capture the ones responsible for murdering Lord Gregoria. Everything else, they have managed to achieve on their own."

"You and I both know that many of the races in the galaxy, especially the ones from 'Paradise Worlds', are going to fear the humans and their allies even more once word of their deeds here, especially the 'Glory Kills' and the 'War Chants', are made known to everyone," said Ul-Therras.

"True, but I think we can both agree that having the humans and their allies as our friends is preferable to the alternative," said Ryl'anur.

Ul-Therras nearly grimaced as he knew that the Kappoid was right.

---

Author's Notes: Not going to lie, this chapter/post took a while and a few revisions to get it to a point that I felt was right.

Chapter Text

Word of the humans and their closest alien allies successfully capturing the ones responsible for not only the attempted enslavement of the humanoid bat-like Sonarins but also the murder of Gregoria Sanctus, a member of the whale-like Star Singers who could travel between the stars without the aid of technology, soon spread across the galaxy. Though many were glad that the criminals had been brought to justice, more than a few aliens were horrified by how terrifyingly effective the humans and their allies were in taking down an entire "criminal colony" through a mixture of sheer barbaric brutality and cold wrath. Even the worm-like Tardaswines, who acted as field medics, were terrifying when they started to threaten to eat "enemy patients" alive if they refused to cooperate and even started eating severed limbs to prove that they were serious. The military strike was so terrifyingly bowels-emptying effective that many of the surviving criminals ended up needing, of all things, psychiatric help.

That was not even counting the infamous "War Chants" that could be compared to the chants and hymns of religious fanatics.

Needless to say, the infamy of humanity and their closest allies only got worse. However, as their actions during the military strike were authorised by leaders from the "Big Four" (with the Star Singers being one of the said four), no one dared to openly condemn them.

With the criminals responsible for killing Gregoria arrested and condemned to be sent to a certain "One Above All" for judgement and punishment, which was a polite way of saying that their punishment would be death or worse, the people of the Galactic Council could finally put more focus on helping the primitive Sonarins get used to living as members of the Galactic Council.

Not surprisingly, many aliens hoped that the Sonarins would not be "too influenced" by the seemingly contagious nature of humans.

---

Skra'hee-noo was amazed by the sights, smells and sounds of life around him as he and the rest of the volunteers from his kind, the Sonarins, finally entered the moon-sized Galactic Council mothership that came to their aid. During the human-weeks that followed after the death of their honoured demigod who had died to protect them, Lord Gregorius Sanctus, a small number of large metallic platforms were built to allow easier arrival and departure of star ships. The said platforms were also armed with weapons designed to, with the added aid of a dedicated star fleet, repel future enemy invaders from the stars. It was also during that time when the Sonarins were given medical aid so that they would be at least resistant to the various pathogens that they and everyone else would have to put up with while living and travelling together across the stars. In addition, the Sonarins were given, as humans would put it, a "crash course" in both the history of the Galactic Council and the various races of the galaxy.

For some reason, a number of alien races were rather perturbed when the Sonarins wanted to learn more about humans and their closest allies.

Like the other Sonarins who had volunteered to be among the first of their kind to live in the Galactic Council mothership, Skra'hee-noo was dressed in clothes designed to protect his skin and eyes from damage. Although he understood the need for such protective clothing against light, especially sunlight, he hoped that there would be more comfortable options once they got settled on the mothership.

Michael, who was both the human ambassador and the Sonarins' guide, took them a structure deep within the forest biome of the mothership that resembled a rocky hill with an internal cave system that extended to below the ground level. The six-armed and four-legged Polypian advisor, Yl'tarii, could not help by wriggle his tentacles nervously as he asked Michael, "Are you ABSOLUTELY sure that this is the best way to house the Sonarins on the mothership, Michael?"

"Yes, I am," answered Michael who then explained, "You and I both know that the Sonarins were, and still are at present, nocturnal hunter gatherers. This forest biome will help shield them from the lights and noise that they would otherwise have to deal with if we had them housed in a more urban area instead. Plus, it will give them a chance to go hunting and gathering every so often if they so choose."

"Which is something that I and many others, including Bel-Khanor of all people, are willing to concede as acceptable reasons," replied Yl'tarii, who had just mentioned the name of a certain elf-like Elvaran ambassador, before saying, "What I am less than certain off is the idea of housing them in what's basically a replica of a rocky cave system."

Michael raised an eyebrow and said, "I believe that I have explained the reason for that too."

Yl'tarii sighed and admitted, "Yes, you have and, on an intellectual level, I can see the logic in replicating their original homes so that they can settle into living on the mothership more easily."

"On the other limb?" asked Michael.

"On the other limb, we're dealing with members of a race that Lord Gregoria, may his soul move on and find eternal peace, died to protect. We are supposed to help uplift them so that they can one day travel across the stars like the rest of us. How can we say that we're doing that if we're not... 'helping them become properly civilised'?" asked Yl'tarii. There was an unmistakable tone of sarcasm in his tone as he was clearly unimpressed with the races that expected the Sonarins to adapt to "civilised life" within less than a generation.

Michael smiled in response to Yl'tarii's response and said, "You've raised a good point, Yl'tarii. However, I can assure you that, with the proper furnishing, this replica of a cave system will become a pretty comfortable place to live in even by human standards."

Well aware that humans had lived in caves in their ancient history, Yl'tarii knew better than to assume that Michael had no idea what he was talking about. At the very least, Michael had the good sense to make sure that the replica of a cave system had proper plumbing, basic security measures, a passive yet efficient ventilation system and a modular system that would allow future expansions and upgrades such as electricity and wireless network connections. There was even an option to have the surface of the "cave" covered with vegetation if the Sonarins so wish to.

As for why Michael had not provided the Sonarins a home with electricity and wireless network connections, yet, he felt that they needed more time before they were ready to handle electrical and electronic tools which had a tendency to be "bright" and/or "noisy". At the very least, he wanted to make sure that they did not end up becoming "brain-dead couch potatoes" who were addicted to staring at their digital screens.

"Well, let's not waste any more time and introduce them to their new home," said Michael as he opened the "hidden door" to allow the Sonarins to enter and explore.

As it turned out, the Sonarins liked their new home and were eager to have it properly furbished to make it more "homey".

---

Author's Note(s): This is part one of a mini-arc that involves the Sonarins getting used to "modern life". Also, this story now has a "proper official name": 'Humans Are Crazy! (A Humans Are Space Orcs Redditverse Series)'

Chapter Text

After letting the humanoid bat-like Sonarins check out their new home, the human Ambassador, Michael, took them to a different location within the mothership of the Galactic Council, 'Terra's Child'.

Like all mothership-class ships of the Galactic Council, 'Terra's Child' was massive vessel roughly the size of a moon (Earth's moon in this particular example) which had several sections that included actual biomes to fulfil the needs of its inhabitants. These biomes included: an Urban Biome which was the centre of residence and business for many inhabitants, a Forest Biome which had a variety of animals and plants, an Aquatic Biome which resembled a massive aquarium with a wide variety of aquatic animals and an Ice Biome which was a snow-covered region that was often used to store things at freezing temperatures. Each section and biome was connected to one another with roads, passages and elevators. Of course, public transport was provided to make travelling between the said sections and biomes much easier.

Although not a battleship on its own, 'Terra's Child' had an escort fleet of military star ships that belonged to members of the various allied races that reside within it. In addition, it was capable of repairing and supplying its escort fleet, thus ensuring that the fleet was well maintained and supplied at all times. It was also capable of faster-than-light warp-travel without the need for a 'warp gate', a useful feature for not only quick travel to various worlds for trade and provision of aid but also military strikes and, when necessary, a quick escape.

It was important to note that, while most warp gates were controlled by the Galactic Council, criminals had been known to build inferior versions that, while more hazardous to use, were still functional.

Back to the Sonarins, they were currently in the Urban Biome of 'Terra's Child' and were honestly glad to have their home in the much quieter Forest Biome. Yes, they would have to travel to the Urban Biome to acquire just about anything that could not be obtained at the Forest Biome or delivered to their new home but the very idea of living in such a busy, bright and noisy place was honestly off-putting to them. In spite of the brightness and the noise, the Sonarins could not help but look around the Urban Biome with wide eyes while their guides, Michael and his six-armed Polypian advisor, Yl'tarii, guided them to a street market.

As was the case for markets in general throughout the galaxy, it was crowded with many people trading all sorts of goods including food, clothes and various cheap gadgets such as educational toys. More expensive tools and equipment such as high-end computers, the latest mobile communication devices and shiny new mechs, tended to be sold in shopping malls which had better security.

Michael grinned at the amazed Sonarins and said, "Before we get anything else around here, we're getting you some clothes. I'm pretty sure that all of you want to wear something that's less stifling than these protective clothes."

"I certainly do," grumbled a Sonarin male named Skra'hee-noo. Although he knew that the protective clothes were vital for protecting his sensitive skin and eyes from bright lights, they were awfully restrictive and stuffy even with small in-built ventilation fans.

It should be noted that all members of the Galactic Council were given translator devices, which were often wearable, so that effective communication would be possible regardless of different languages and even anatomies of vocal organs. That being said, there was a "Universal Galactic Language" that most members were expected to learn in case the translator devices failed. The language, known as Eldrish, was the language of the mighty Void Watchers that currently rule the Galactic Council.

"We're going to Celine's shop, aren't we?" asked Yl'tarii.

"Well, I have promised to introduce them to him and we both know that he's good at what he does," replied Michael.

"That's certainly true," agreed Yl'tarii.

A short while later, the Sonarins and their guides visited a shop that was called 'Celine's Fashionista Boutique'. As they approached the shop, the owner came out with a broad smile and said, "Welcome to Celine's Fashionista Boutique, everyone!"

Now, Skra'hee-noo knew that he was by no means an expert on humans but he was pretty sure that Celine was a male with a decidedly tall and muscular masculine body. However, there was also no denying that the "psychic song" of Celine's soul had a decidedly effeminate sound so the curious Sonarin had to ask, "Are you... a male who likes other males?"

Celine, a homosexual man with a love for crossdressing, raised an eyebrow at Skra'hee-noo's unexpected question before he asked a question of his own, "Oh, you know about homosexuality?"

Skra'hee-noo nodded at Celine and said, "My kind do a lot of huddling and cuddling at night to stay warm. That usually leads to mating between mates and a few of us prefer mates with the same baby-making bits."

Amused by Skra'hee-noo's response, Celine chuckled and said, "Well, you're right. I'm a homosexual man who loves to dress up as a lady in spite of what my body is like. Also, my real name is Charles but you can keep calling me by my 'stage name', Celine."

"You made all those clothes in your shop?" asked Skra'hee-noo who looked past Celine to gaze upon the variety of clothes that were inside his shop.

"Yes, I did," said Celine who was clearly proud of his craft.

"I assume you already have a selection ready for them?" asked Michael.

"Yes, I have," confirmed Celine who then sighed and added, "I do honestly think it's a bit of a shame that these little darlings have rather poor colour vision though."

"Well, considering their evolution, there's little we can do about it unless they're willing to accept surgical implants which we both know is strictly regulated for a reason," said Michael.

Celine nodded and said, "True. We don't want a repeat of the 'Peeper Incident'."

For context, the 'Peeper Incident' involved a shortsighted human who actually managed to improve the function of his own ocular implants for "long-ranged x-vision peeping". Although he was eventually arrested, he was given a position in the humans' science and development department to help improve the technology of implants in return for a reduced sentence.

"Let's not forget the 'Flying Spaghetti Incident' either," said Yl'tarii who had a deadpan tone in his voice.

Michael snorted in amusement of the incident that involved spaghetti and a human soldier, who was on leave at the time, deciding to misuse his leg implants. He then turned his attention towards the Sonarins and said, "Well, let's see what Celine has prepared for you all."

Before long, the Sonarins were wearing the clothes that Celine had prepared for them and, well, Michael had to ask, "You have made clothes in other fashions for them, right?"

Celine rubbed his clean-shaven chin and said, "I did, but it seems that they really like the gothic fashion, plus the skirts."

As a race that had roughly the same height and humanoid form as the Gobloids, albeit with more slender bodies, the Sonarins had a broad choice of clothes to choose from. However, it was clear that they not only preferred gothic clothes but, even after being made aware of the intended wearers, had a preference for skirts. To be fair though, their original primitive clothes did not include "true pants" and they already had to put up with wearing restrictive protective wear if they wanted to travel in daylight.

Not even Michael could argue that certain types of underwear technically already counted as a pair of shorts and that the idea of wearing "two layers of shorts together" seemed a little silly in the Sonarins' opinion. There was even one Sonarin who had read about Scotland and knew that a whole nation of human men had, at one point, worn skirt-like kilts.

The end result was the Sonarins choosing to become a whole group of "perky goths" who were not only genuinely pure and innocent but also had a preference for skirts regardless of gender.

As a homosexual crossdresser, Celine was understandably delighted by the unexpected result.

Michael could only shake his head with a resigned smile and thought, "Well, if nothing else, the next meeting about the Sonarins is going to be an interesting one."

---

Author's Note(s):

- In this setting, humans have access to technology that can alter the body. However, the technology is carefully regulated to prevent misuse and non-essential alterations are reserved for humans who are old enough to be considered adults. There is also the reality that many alterations, once done, can never be fully undone. As such, altering a child's body in any significant way is normally not allowed unless it is vital for saving the child's life. Replacing a missing limb is considered to be a widely-accepted exception to the rule though.

- While homosexuality is considered as a "non-standard sexual act" in the Galactic Council, mainly because it will never result in the production of healthy offspring unless a lot of body modifications or use of breeding technology was involved, it is not outlawed either. After all, it would be terribly strange and hypocritical to outlaw homosexuality in a community that already allows xenophilia. That is not even counting the races that are naturally hermaphrodites.

Chapter Text

"Well, Skra'hee-noo, welcome to the team!" said the human male, Drake, as he welcomed a humanoid bat-like Sonarin named Skra'hee-noo to the "Fire and Rescue Fighters" of the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child'. It should be noted that the name of the station the team worked in was called 'Terra's Fire and Rescue Fighters' Station'.

Skra'hee-noo did a quick bow as he spoke, "P-pleased to work with you!"

Ghurska-Thrakkon, a goblin-like Gobloid male and the team's mechanic, grinned as he welcomed the Sonarin with a friendly wave of his hand, "Yo!"

Bl'rana, a four-eyed octopus-like Cephaloid female and the team's specialist in aquatic missions, waved one of her eight tentacles and said, "Welcome to the team, Skra'hee-noo."

Stoneclaw, a tall humanoid wolf-like Fenrid male and the team's "primary muscle", nodded at Skra'hee-noo and said respectfully, "Greetings."

Sskirass, a snake-like Slitara female with a humanoid upper body and the team's current expert on squeezing through tight spaces, bobbed her head as she greeted the Sonarin, "It'sss a pleasssure to have you here."

Blarg-Blox, a worm-like Tardaswine female with eight legs and the team's medical support, raised her body so that she could wave at Skra'hee-noo with her two front right legs that could also act as arms, "Hello."

Krax'yl, a velociraptor-like Dinorex male and the team's primary drone pilot, grinned in a way that was meant to express friendliness but ended up terribly intimidating in appearance as he spoke, "It will be interesting to see what you can do."

Zrr'tara, a six-armed and five-eyed Polypian female, who was also the secretary of the team, said, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me for assistance."

Drake, who was the leader and spokesman of the team, said, "Now, as rest of you should know, Skra'hee-noo will mainly work during the evening and night shift as his kind do not do very well in daylight, or very bright lights in general. I expect all of you to help him get adjusted to working with us. Any questions?"

Blarg-Blox raised her front-most right leg and asked, "Why is he wearing a skirt? I thought skirts are for females among humans?"

Everyone on 'Terra's Child' knew that the human ambassador, Michael, had taken the Sonarins to a human-run clothes shop called 'Celine's Fashionista Boutique' a few human-days ago. It was therefore expected that the male Sonarins would wear pants instead of skirts, the human owner's unusual preference for lady's clothing in spite of being a male notwithstanding.

"Oh, that's because skirts are more comfortable and we think it's kind of silly to wear two layers of pants unless it's for protection," answered Skra'hee-noo.

A short moment of silence passed before Stoneclaw rubbed his chin and said, "Huh, I never thought of those boxer undergarments that way."

"Persssonally, I think you look good in it," said Sskirass.

"Awww, thank you," said Skra'hee-noo.

"What of the 'gothic fashion' I've been hearing about lately?" asked Bl'rana.

Skra'hee-noo tilted his head and asked, "What's wrong with it?"

"Well, according to what I know, humans who wear gothic fashion tend to focus on death, decay and/or gloominess," answered Bl'rana.

Skra'hee-noo shrugged and said, "Well, my kind prefer living in dark places and we can't see many colours. Plus, we know that great demigods can die."

Blarg-Blox nodded and said, "He's got a point there."

"Well, if there are no more questions that need to be answered right away, then let's get started with helping Skra'hee-noo get settled in," said Drake.

---A short while later...---

Ghurska was doing some maintenance work on his mech, which he had affectionately named 'Burnin' Borka', when he started hearing a soft humming sound. Curious, he took a moment to leave his maintenance work aside so that he could find out who was humming. At the very least, the Gobloid was very certain that the humming was not from Drake because the human was such a horrendously tone-deaf singer that the rest of the team agreed that he should never be allowed to use any karaoke machine, ever. For goodness sake, even the honks and hissing shrieks of Krax'yl's singing somehow sounded better than Drake's!

While on the search for the source of the humming, which was clearly partly psychic in nature if the soothing effect it had on his mind was of any indication (as a Gobloid who enjoyed eating hallucinogenic mushrooms every now and again, he would know), he encountered Sskirass who literally appeared from an opened vent. As the two looked at each other, and made a silent agreement that the humming was most certainly not coming from Drake, the two continued with their search which lead to upstairs.

The two soon found nearly else everyone in the team gathering around the entrance to the roof of the station and found out the source of the humming was Skra'hee-noo. The Sonarin, who was currently dressed for work as a member of the 'Fire and Rescue Fighters', was sitting at the edge of the roof in a seemingly carefree manner as he hummed while watching the "evening sunlight" fade away to "night". Soon, the stars of the "night sky" appeared and Sonarin smiled as he reached out to them with one clawed hand and said, "May the sacred darkness hold you in a kind and warm embrace as you slumber now and forevermore, Lord Gregoria."

Well aware that Skra'hee-noo was speaking of Gregoria Sanctus, a whale-like Star Singer who had died to protect the Sonarins from raiders that wanted to enslave them, basically everyone in the team shared one thought, "Skra'hee-noo's our precious little Sonarin and is to be protected at all costs!"

Suddenly, Zrr'tara received a call which she had to answer. Her six tentacles quickly sagged in clear exasperation as she covered the microphone of her communication device and whispered to the team, "Code: Mr Snuffles."

"Again? That's the third time this week!" whispered Drake.

"That feline must have found a secret passage that its owner knows nothing about," grumbled Stoneclaw.

"It is clearly becoming far more cunning that it appears," hissed Krax'yl.

"Who's Mr Snuffles?"

Nearly the entire team screamed or shrieked comically when they heard Skra'hee-noo ask his innocent question while standing before them without their notice.

After a quick explanation, the team set off together with their newest member to find a certain runaway cat named Mr Snuffles.

As far as first missions went, Skra'hee-noo did very well as he was not only able to track down the cat with his keen senses of night-vision, smell and hearing but was able to calm the wary animal with a gentle hum.

All in all, a good first day of work for the Sonarin.

Chapter Text

The Pikupiku are a peaceful race of aliens that resemble small rabbits with large eyes and fluffy squirrel-like tails. They originate from a 'Paradise World', the very opposite of a 'Death World' which has a very dangerous environment, and are thus blessed to have a relatively easy path to becoming a civilisation advanced enough to join the Galactic Council. However, as was with many other aliens that originate from 'Paradise Worlds', the Pikupiku are unused to struggle and have a tendency to get scared easily by potential threats such as cats from Earth.

After all, cats have fangs, sharp retractable claws and a keen hunter's instinct that, for the most part, has hardly waned at all even with many generations of domestication. The fact that cats are a bit bigger in size compared to a Pikupiku only makes them even more terrifying to the peaceful aliens.

The less said about dogs, especially ones that were once bred for brutal combat like pit-bulls, the better as far as the Pikupiku are concerned.

This, is the story one Pikupiku who wants to be genuinely brave.

---

Chuchichi, a young Pikupiku male, was observing a team of 'Terra's Fire and Rescue Fighters' bravely pursuing the terrible beast that had been terrorising his race's place of residence semi-regularly for many weeks now, a real grouchy cat named Mr Snuffles.

"How are they so brave even when facing such a scary beast?" asked Chuchichi.

"Brave? They're uncivilised savages that have formed a deranged death cult in their military!" exclaimed Chuchichi's mother, Chippuupuu.

"What were our leaders, Lord Toa-Vanu and Lord Ryl'anur most of all, thinking when they approved the Sonarins' decision to become allies with humans?!" groaned Chuchichi's father, Pichupii.

For context, Toa-Vanu was an old and wise member of a race of bird-like humanoid aliens known as the Avianites while Ryl'anur was the wise 'Ancient of Ceremonies' among a race of tortoise-like aliens known as the Kappoids. As for the Sonarins, they were a race of "formerly primitive" bat-like humanoids that, due to unique circumstances, had been allowed to become members of the Galactic Council with some of them volunteering to become residents of a certain mothership called 'Terra's Child'.

"Mark my words, that decision will one day be remembered as a terrible mistake when the Sonarins become yet another deranged race of death cultists!" said Pichupii.

"Haven't you heard? They already are with their... their... goth fashion!" mourned Chippuupuu who seemed to be on the verge of fainting.

Chuchichi almost rolled his eyes as his mother's overly-dramatic dismay. Yes, the Sonarins were clearly interested in the humans' goth culture but a chance encounter with one of them, a new member of 'Terra's Fire and Rescue Fighters' named Skra'hee-noo, had convinced him that the Sonarins were not becoming a deranged death cult. After all, unless Chuchichi was terribly mistaken, a death cultist was not someone who sang comforting songs to calm frightened children with such sincerely pure kindness.

Still, as much as Chuchichi did not agree with his parents' opinion about the Sonarins, he could not really blame them for considering humans and their allies, most of who originated from 'Death Worlds', dangerous. After all, one would not survive for long on a 'Death World' or a world that was close to becoming one without becoming dangerous enough to somehow survive let alone thrive. Yet, in spite of finding humans and their 'Death World' allies rather terrifying, especially their soldiers, there was something strange about how they could also be so friendly and even gentle towards others.

Having made his decision, Chuchihi was going to speak to some humans and members of their allies in person.

---

On the following day, Chuchichi rode on a creature that was a beast of burden among his people, a Snorkan.

Although as large as big dogs from Earth, Snorkans were gentle herbivorous beasts that had elephantine trunks for plucking their favourite fruits and leaves. They also had thick shaggy fur which allowed Pikupiku riders to hide inside whenever they felt threatened.

In spite of being determined to somehow speak to at least one human or member of an allied race, Chuchichi quickly realised that he honestly had no idea how to even begin. He was about to give up and then come up with a better plan when, thanks to his keen sense of hearing, he heard someone yell, "Alex, for the love of all things good, do NOT even think about it!"

Surprised, Chuchichi turned his attention towards a group of three: a human male, a goblin-like Gobloid female and an octopus-like Cephaloid male. Curious, Chuchichi turned his ears towards the group to listen to their conversation.

"Come on, Kr'taru, it's not like I'm helping to take care of Peter's colony of Mutaspiders. It's just Celine's pit-bull."

"Yes, 'just a pit-bull', the same dog from Earth that once thought my tentacles would make good chew toys, you CRAZY HUMAN!" yelled the Cephaloid, Kr'taru who was already grabbing onto Alex while shaking him vigorously.

"Bah, you're overexaggerating! She was just play-biting," said the Gobloid female.

Kr'taru glared at the Gobloid and said, "Well, EXCUSE me for not being keen on testing my luck in with an animal that has both sharp fangs and strong jaws that are infamously known for refusing to let go, Grotzkin!"

"Eh, you're just upset that you 'inked' yourself and then fainted when Fluffy grabbed onto one of your waving tentacles with her mouth," said Alex.

As Chuchichi listened to Alex, Kr'taru and Grotzkin's conversation, he thought to himself, "Well, I was looking for a human and/or a member of their allies to talk to." Gathering his courage, he approached the three on his Snorkan and timidly asked, "E-excuse me!"

Alex, Kr'taru and Grotzkin turned their attention towards the Pikupiku. Upon laying eyes upon him, Kr'taru quickly composed himself and asked politely, "Oh, hello there. Did my outbursts upset you or your Snorkan in any way?"

Chuchichi shook his head and said, "N-no, but I couldn't help but overhear what you three were talking about. I-is it really true that your human friend will be taking care of an a-actual pit-bull dog from Earth?"

Kr'taru made a sound raspberry-like sound that was clearly a sigh among his kind as he groaned, "Yes, he is."

Chuchichi turned his attention towards Alex and asked, "A-aren't you scared of taking care of such a b-big beast?"

Alex shook his head and answered, "Nope, she's the gentlest and goofiest dog I've ever seen."

Chuchichi blinked and said, "H-how can you say she's gentle when she has b-big sharp teeth and powerful crushing jaws? T-that doesn't make any sense!"

"Well, what counts as a gentle being to you, then?" asked Alex.

Surprised by the response, Chuchichi thought for a moment and then said, "A-a being that does not go around hurting others would count as a gentle one."

"Then what difference does it make if a being of great power chooses to be gentle rather than cruel?" asked Alex.

"T-that's... a legitimate question, actually," said Chuchichi as he realised that Alex had a point. Toa-Vanu and Ryl'anur were widely regarded as wise and kind leaders in spite of having the potential to cause great harm with their authority. A pit-bull might not be a sapient being but... was it really any less worthy of being called gentle if it had chosen to not harm anyone who was not a threat or food?

Even in 'Paradise Worlds', predation was a common fact of life, just not to the extreme as that of other words, especially 'Death Worlds'.

Grotzkin tilted her head and asked, "Why are you so curious about pit-bulls? I thought most of your kind are terrified of cats, dogs and otters from Earth."

"W-well, I actually wanted to talk to a h-human and/or a member of their allies to find out how they can be so brave and gentle yet also c-capable of being so cruel to others," admitted Chuchichi.

"Does it have anything to do with the military strike against the criminals responsible for murdering Lord Gregoria?" asked Kr'Taru.

Chuchichi nodded and said, "W-what the humans and their allies did during that attack... I-I think their actions were terrible even when used on c-cruel Space Pirates and uncaring Cartel Traders. Y-yet, had they not attacked, someone else would have to do it to bring those c-criminals to justice. O-otherwise, those criminals would have gotten away with m-murdering an ancient Star Singer, never mind the attempted raid to e-enslave the Sonarins that Lord Gregoria had died to protect." He clenched his paws tightly and said, "I-I do not want to learn to be cruel... b-but I do want to learn to be brave." The looked up at Alex, Kr'Taru and Grotzkin with wide pleading eyes and asked, "C-can you three offer any advice to help me?"

A moment of silence passed before Alex scratched the back of his head and said, "Damn, that's... a pretty heavy topic. Still, I may not be what you'd call a brave solder or an expert on bravery, but I do have a bit of an idea on what counts as real bravery."

Chuchichi's ears perked up as he asked, "R-really? W-what is it then?"

"Well, one famous definition of being brave is not being fearless but doing what is right even though you're scared," answered Alex.

"D-doing what's right even though you're scared?" asked Chuchichi who then had to say, "T-that's... a bit oxymoronic, I think."

"Well, we humans have always been a bit of an oxymoronic bunch and I'm pretty sure many other races all over the galaxy would agree with that opinion," said Alex.

"I certainly can't agree more," grumbled Kr'Taru.

"T-to be strong yet choosing to be gentle... t-to be scared yet choosing to be brave... I-I think I have a lot to think about," said Chuchichi. He then gratefully bowed to Alex and his friends and said, "T-thank you for taking the time to answer my questions..."

Why did Chuchichi suddenly feel a warm breeze blowing?

Chuchichi turned around and nearly had a heart attack when he stared into the snout and eyes of a pit-bull. Although the dog was thankfully not baring its fangs, Chuchichi knew that a single bite would be more than enough to end his life. Chuchichi's legs turned into jelly as he stared helplessly at the panting beast and was on the verge of panicking when he realised something odd.

Why wasn't the Snorkan he was riding on panicking or running away from the dog?

Chuchichi dared to look down to his mount and realised that the Snorkan, a species of animals from his home-world which was not only famous as useful beasts of burden but also had a keen sense of danger, was not worried about the dog at all and was in fact sniffing the dog curiously. The realisation made Chuchichi realise that the dog was not a threat, at least not at the moment.

"To be scared, yet brave..." though Chuchichi as he decided to do something that would surely get him grounded by his parents.

He chose to pet the dog on the nose.

The effect was near-instantaneous as the dog licked Chuchichi which, given his small size, caused him to be almost completely drenched in drool. This caused Chuchichi's worry about getting eaten to quickly shift to being utterly "grossed out" by the current state of his fur as he thought to himself, "Oh... thank goodness I've had all those shots years ago!"

"Oh, my! Are you okay, little Pikupiku?" asked a tall and muscular man in a dress whom Chuchichi recognised as Celine, the crossdressing human owner of a clothes shop and that currently provided the Sonarins their clothes. He was also holding the leash of his pet pit-bull, a dopey-looking dog with a broad smile named Fluffy.

"I-I'm okay... though I'll definitely need a full bath after this," groaned Chuchichi.

Celine almost snorted in amusement at Chuchichi's comical yet understandable response and said, "Well, I certainly can't blame you for needing one right now."

"Hey, Uncle Celine. Heard that your business is doing really well lately," said Alex.

Celine smiled happily and said, "Yes, it is. The Sonarins have been eager to send clothes that I have made to their relatives and loved ones back on their home-world to try on. With their craze for gothic fashion calming down at the moment, I figured that I owed myself a treat."

Grotzkin grinned at Celine and said, "Hence why you want us to take care of Fluffy for you while you go for a short holiday and relax before getting straight back to business."

"Exactly!" confirmed Celine while winking playfully at the Gobloid whom he approved as a potential wife for his nephew.

"W-well, I am in urgent need of a bath and I have to somehow take one before m-my parents realise that I've just petted a pit-bull dog on the nose, so I'll have to excuse myself," said Chuchichi who then bowed to Alex and said, "B-before I leave though, thank you for answering my questions on gentleness and courage."

"Hey, no problem. Feel free to visit us again if you need anything," said Alex.

"Just be aware that my crazy human housemate actually keeps Chimerants as pets," warned Kr'taru.

Recalling the crazy story of a few humans keeping dangerous 'Death World' animals like Chimerants and Mutaspiders as pets, Chuchichi trembled in fright as he replied, "I-I'll keep that in mind. A-anyway, I've got to go! Thank you!"

As Chuchichi set off to return home and take a much-needed bath, he thought to himself, "I'm going to have to plan a few excuses so that I can see those three again."

---

Relevant Links:

- https://archiveofourown.org/works/64851736/chapters/166674670

- https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/pet-foolery/gentleness/viewer?title_no=691801&episode_no=81

Chapter Text

It had been a few human-days since Chuchichi, a young rabbit-like Pikupiku, had met a human named Alex and his two friends, an octopus-like Cephaloid male named Kr'Taru and a goblin-like Gobloid female named Grotzkin-Throngler.

It had also been a few human-days since Chuchichi needed a full bath to wash off the smell of dog drool on his fur after a certain pit-bull named Fluffy licked him. Luckily, he had managed to take his bath without his parents noticing or else they would have grounded him for certain for having the "idiocy" of petting such a large predator which had once been bred for barbaric blood-sport.

"I'm heading out to give our Snorkan a bit of exercise!" said Chuchichi as he left his home.

"Okay, son. Be sure to stay within the safe zones away from the humans and their allies!" said Pichupii, Chuchichi's father.

"Are you sure that it's safe for him to keep heading out like that? It feels like those 'death cultists' are becoming worse and worse by the day!" said Chippuupuu, Chuchichi's mother.

"It's not like he's heading out all alone. He's got Frumpowhumps with him," argued Pichupii who then added, "Besides, it's about time for a male his age to learn some responsibility."

"True, but I do worry about him being so interested in humans and their allies. I just don't want him to end up getting influenced by whatever contagious madness they have," said Chippuupuu.

Well aware that his mate had a point, Pichupii thought of an idea and said, "Well..."

---

Chuchichi petted the family pet Snorkan, Frumpowhumps, and said, "Well, Frumpowhumps, let's go and meet up with Alex and the others!"

Frumpowhumps did a gentle yet clearly happy trumpet with its trunk as it was eager to explore places outside the park where the Pikupiku had settled within the urban biome of the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child'. Exploring new places in the mothership had been a lot of fun for the hairy alien animal.

On a related note about pets, it was considered a standard procedure for pets to receive "psychic training" so that they would know how to behave while on a Galactic Council mothership. After all, even if an animal was a peaceful creature from a Paradise World like a Snorkan, no one wanted to deal with animal droppings, urine and other types of bodily waste. As for animals with more potential to inflict great harm like cats and dogs from Earth, the training would include learning to repress their desire to hunt sapient races that happened to look like prey such as the rabbit-like Pikupiku. While the psychic training was not meant to suppress natural instincts completely, it was normally enough for a well-cared pet to not consider attacking anyone sapient under normal circumstances.

However, not all animals could be trained that way and would therefore have to be carefully contained to ensure the safety of the various vulnerable races within the mothership. Examples included ant-like Chimerants and spider-like Mutaspiders which were aggressive creatures that originated from 'Death Worlds' and had to be kept securely inside sturdy terrariums.

Strangely enough, many humans were hesitant if not resistant to the idea of making their pets undergo the psychic training unless they took direct part in it as well to ensure that their pets had not been "brainwashed". The irony that some humans would rather put themselves at risk of brainwashing or worse to somehow protect the minds of their pets was not lost to any of the psychic races in the Galactic Council.

Before long, Chuchichi left the park area while riding on Frumpowhumps. He could not help but smile happily as he left the park area to meet up with Alex and his two friends who, as Chuchichi later learnt, were actually housemates. In fact, Grotzkin was Alex's girlfriend.

As Chuchihi made his way to a place where he would meet his three non-Pikupiku friends, he was blissfully unaware that he was being followed...

---

Alex, who was with Kr'taru and Grotzkin as usual, grinned as he spotted Chuchichi and Frumpowhumps approaching them. He waved at the approaching Snorkan rider and said, "Hey, Chuchichi, over here!"

"Hey, Alex! Did you three wait for long?" asked Chuchichi.

"Nope. We've just arrived here ourselves," replied Alex who had blond hair and blue eyes just like his crossdressing uncle who owned a clothes shop, Celine.

"So, what's the plan for today?" asked Chuchichi.

"Well, I'm planning to introduce you to some of our other friends today. I've told them about you and they're eager to meet you," answered Alex.

Chuchichi's ears perked up in interest as he spoke, "So we're meeting Peter today then?"

"Plus Kimihoto, his Slitara girlfriend, Xessass, and a few others," said Alex.

"Then let's go!" said Chuchichi while Frumpowhumps trumpeted happily.

As the group left to see Alex's other friends, a young Pikupiku female peeked out of hiding and thought with a frown, "I knew it! Chuchichi's hanging out with a human and members of races allied to humans!" She was Chuchichi's neighbour, Chachanpi, and she had just been given a task of taking her family's Snorkan out for a walk alongside with her neighbour. She was supposed to catch up to him before he got too far but she had a different plan in mind. Chachanpi's frown turned into a smile as she thought, "Well... this is my chance!"

---

Xessass, a snake-like Slitara with a humanoid upper body, wiggled her tail as she spoke to Kimihito, "I'm quite excited to ssseee a Pikupiku who won't run away from the sssight of me." Due to the Slitaras' snake-like appearance, including hooded serpentine heads with foldable venomous fangs, many Pikupiku were instinctively terrified of them.

Kimihito, Xessass' human boyfriend of Japanese descent with dark hair and eyes, smiled at Xessass and said, "It would certainly be nice to get a chance to speak to one properly and maybe even pet the little guy."

It was a widely-known fact in the Galactic Council that humans generally loved things that they deemed as "cute" and many humans were quite disappointed to realise that the Pikupiku wanted to have nothing to do with them due to being afraid of them. The Pikupiku had a policy of staying away from races that originated from 'Death Worlds' and humans, while not from a true 'Death World', had an uncanny talent of befriending various 'Death World' races which was deemed as "bad enough" among the Pikupiku.

Peter, who had brown hair and eyes, grinned at Kimihito and said, "I'm more interested in the Snorkan. I mean, it looks like a mini wooly mammoth without tusks!"

Blurg-Blorg, a worm-like Tardaswine male who was also Peter's housemate, said, "It's certainly unusual to even hear about a Pikupiku who wants to speak to us, especially after that military strike to capture the criminals that killed Lord Gregoria and attempted to enslave the Sonarins." As an alien from a swampy 'Death World', he was not terrified by the Mutaspiders that Peter kept as pets and was in fact impressed by Peter's ability to care for them.

Sunspear, a humanoid wolf-like Fenrid female who was also Peter's housemate, huffed and said irritably, "Had our kin not taken those criminals to justice, someone else would have to do the 'bloody work' instead." Similar to Blurg-Blorg, she was also from a 'Death World', albeit an icy one, and honestly found the Mutaspiders fascinating.

"True, but we can't exactly say they are wrong about the soldiers being brutal at the time," said Kimihito. Considering that a number of criminals actually needed psychiatric help after surviving a certain military strike that was executed by humans and their allies, Kimihito could arguably be accused of making an understatement.

"Hey, I think I sssee them!" said Xessass. She then waved her hand and said, "Alex! Everyone! Over here!"

Before long, Alex, Kr'Taru and Grotzkin arrived with Chuchichi who was still riding his Snorkan, Frumpowhumps. Although Chuchichi was used to being with Alex, Kr'Taru and Grotzkin, he was still nervous about meeting new people especially those from 'Death Worlds'. As such, he could not help but peep timidly from within Frumpowhumps' shaggy fur and said, "H-hello. S-sorry for being nervous, but I can't help it w-with big strangers."

"Hey, it's cool!" said Peter who then added, "Besides, the fact that you even want to see us at all is already something we're glad about."

Sunspear nodded and said, "You're more of a credit to your race than you probably realise."

Chuchichi frowned as he muttered bitterly, "M-my parents would say otherwise."

"You parents are not wrong about you wanting to speak to humans and their allies though!"

Chuchichi immediately sat up straight with the tips of his ears and tail pointing upwards. He then hesitantly turned around while desperately praying that he had not been caught by a certain neighbour of his. His prayers were soon proven in vain when he caught sight of Chachanpi who had a smug smile on her face. As he stared at his neighbour, he could only think, "Aw, butt-pellets!"

"Hey there. How's it like speaking to 'Death World' races?" asked Chachanpi who was clearly enjoying the situation.

"P-please don't tell my p-parents?" begged Chuchichi.

Chachanpi rubbed her chin and said, "I could do that... but I need something just as valuable in exchange for my silence. Equivalent exchange and all that, you know?"

Xessass leaned closer to Kimihito and whispered, "Sssay, is it jussst me or is that Pikupiku unusssually gutsssy?"

"Must be a rebellious tomboy among her kind," replied Kimihito whose unspoken response was a resounding, "Yup."

"Should we get involved?" asked Blurg-Blorg.

"Only if she starts making unreasonable or cruel demands," said Peter.

"Sounds like a plan," agreed Sunspear.

"Well, this ought to be interesting," said Alex.

Kr'taru shuddered and said, "Please don't use that word again." The last time Alex said the word "interesting" involved seeing how a certain pit-bull named Fluffy reacted after the dog had consumed some of Grotzkin's hallucinogenic mushrooms by accident. Long story short, the dog became even more dopey than usual with an interest in covering EVERYTHING in drool. Thankfully, the dog recovered after a while though it still had to be sent to a veterinarian for a medical check-up. As a victim of the "excessive drooling", Kr'taru was understandably less than amused by the whole debacle and Chuchichi had a deep sense of empathic sympathy towards the unlucky Cephaloid when he found out.

Grotzkin almost cackled at the reminder of the comical incident even though she had originally planned to eat the mushrooms that Fluffy had eaten with Alex.

"W-what do you want in e-exchange?" asked Chuchichi. Although he and Chachanpi were neighbours and their parents were friends, the two never became close due to having different interests. While Chuchichi preferred reading, Chachanpi preferred playing outdoors.

"Well, what I want in exchange is... I want in!" answered Chachanpi.

Chuchichi blinked and asked, "Y-you want... in?"

"Yes!" exclaimed Chachanpi who then proceeded to rant, "Do you have ANY idea how boring and repressive it feels to be stuck in the park area of the Urban Biome even though we have at least part of a whole moon-sized ship to explore? My parents refuse to let me leave the park area at all unless I'm with someone and every single one of those 'chaperones' refuse to go anywhere other than the 'safe zones'! Don't even get me started on my parents wanting me to be a 'proper lady' who's always protected by someone!"

Alex winced and said, "Yikes... that does sound pretty bad."

Chachanpi pointed a paw digit at Cuchichi and said, "But you... you're not only someone whom my parents consider as a suitable potential mate but is also someone who actually wants to do more than just visit safe zones while taking a Snorkan out of the park area."

"B-but won't that give everyone at home the wrong idea about us b-being actually together?" asked Chuchichi.

Chachanpi glared at Chuchichi and replied, "We can deal with that later. What I want to know now is. Am. I. IN?"

A moment of silence passed before Chuchichi sighed in defeat and said, "Yes, you're in."

Chachanpi threw her arms into the air and yelled, "Yes! Freedom!"

While Chachanpi cheered and danced about on the back of her family's Snorkan in glee, Chuchichi sighed while putting his paws onto his face and groaned wearily, "I'm so sorry about this, everyone."

Xessass made a hissing giggle and said kindly, "That's okay. If anything, are you fine with it?"

Chuchichi was honestly too "done" to even bother about feeling scared of talking to a Slitara as he pouted and replied, "It could have been better, it could have been worse."

"Well, if it's any comfort, you won't need to worry about getting grounded any time soon, at least," said Alex who was aware of the risk Chuchichi had to take every time he left the park to see him.

Little did anyone in the gathering realise that it was the beginning of an entire rebel group of Pikupiku who had decided to befriend humans.

---

Relevant Links:

- https://archiveofourown.org/works/64851736/chapters/166674670

Chapter Text

As a peaceful race of aliens from a 'Paradise World', the very idea of any member becoming a "true rebel" would normally be considered simply incomprehensible among the rabbit-like Pikupiku.

However, that was exactly what happened.

It all began with the discovery that two Pikupiku youths, Chuchichi and Chachanpi, had been exploring places other than those deemed as 'safe zones' by other Pikupiku within the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child'.

As for how the discovery happened in the first place, one could argue that it was inevitable as, at some point, another Pikupiku saw Chuchichi and Chachanpi sneaking away while riding on their Snorkans (which resembled small mammoths without tusks). The first few times could be dismissed as "youthful romance" as a little bit of rebelliousness was not unheard of even among aliens from Paradise Worlds. Nothing that a cheeky warning or two could not fix while sheer embarrassment or mortification handled the rest.

The continued acts of sneaking away made Chuchichi and Chachanpi's parents increasingly suspicious though. After all, it was no secret to them that Chuchichi had an interest in humans and their allies while Chachanpi had always been a rebellious child. Their suspicions were soon proven true when they discovered that Chuchichi and Chachanpi had actually been interacting with some humans and members of races that were allied to them.

Considering that humans and their allies were deemed as dangerous by many Pikupiku, especially their military which had actual 'War Chants' and 'Glory Kills' that made them seem like an insane death cult, it was understandable why Chuchichi and Chachanpi's parents were less than happy with the discovery.

...

"How could you do this?!" exclaimed Chuchichi's mother, Chippuupuu, "Speaking to those savages as though their kind have not done horrible things?!"

"You even dragged little Chachanpi into this... this madness of yours!" yelled Pichupii, Chuchichi's father.

In spite of being yelled at by his parents, Chuchichi strangely did not feel scared or even upset. Perhaps it was because he had befriended people who had actually originated from 'Death Worlds'. Perhaps it was because he had a far better understanding of the "savages" than his parents could possibly know at present. Perhaps it was because of the simple fact that he was done hiding how he truly felt about various things.

Chuchichi, took a deep breath before he asked his parents calmly, "Mom, Dad, can I speak my mind or do you still wish to continue yelling at me?"

Surprised by the calm response, both of Chuchichi's parents hesitated and looked at each other before they turned their attention back to him. His father put on his most intimidating glare, which was honestly adorable by human standards, and said, "And what can you possibly say that will put you into less trouble?"

"Honestly, probably nothing," admitted Chuchichi who the continued to speak before his surprised parents could respond, "Even so, I refuse to simply stay quiet while you two continue to call my friends 'savages'. In spite of being strong enough to hurt me or worse if they ever choose to, they are among the gentlest individuals that I have ever known."

"Them? Gentle? What kind of madness are you talking about?!" exclaimed Pichupii.

"Tell me, after the Karinites threatened to wage war against our kind if we refused to willingly serve them as their slaves, did many, if any, of our kind speak ill of the Elvarans who went to war against them instead?" asked Chuchichi.

Stunned by the unexpected question about the time when the elf-like Elvarans waged war against the slug-like Karinites, both of Chuchichi's parents took a moment to think before Chippuupuu answered hesitantly, "Not as far I am aware... but what does it have to do with you befriending those... humans and members of their allies?"

"Well, you two keep on calling humans and their allies savages, especially after the military strike against the ones responsible for murdering Lord Gregoria and attempting to enslave the Sonarins, but have you ever considered that someone HAD to do the 'dirty work'?" asked Chuchichi, "Yes, their 'War Chants' and 'Glory Kills' are terrible, I will never deny that, but it was them to brought those criminals, who are even worse, to justice. Also, it's wrong to think that they are incapable of anything other than cruelty. They wept when everyone heard the Sonarins' song of grief over the death of Lord Gregoria who had died to protect them, just like the rest of us."

Chuchichi's parents wore conflicted expressions as they knew that their "wayward son" had a point. Even if the humans and their allies had not attacked to capture the cruel criminals responsible for both the murder of Gregoria Sanctus, an ancient whale-like Star Singer, and the attempted enslavement of the humanoid bat-like Sonarins, someone else would have to somehow bring the said criminals to justice in their stead. Even so, the idea of their son being in "dangerously close proximity" to the "savages" was simply terrifying as Chippuupuu asked, "Aren't you... even scared of getting hurt by them?"

Chuchichi smiled and said, "When I first met them, I'll admit that I was scared that they would hurt me or worse even if it was just by accident. The fact that they genuinely want to avoid hurting me, even by accident, is proof that they are far gentler than so many of our kind give them credit for."

"But why even befriend them? It's not like there aren't other Pikupiku you could be friends with," asked Pichupii.

Chuchichi smiled sheepishly and admitted, "Actually, when I first met them, I wanted to ask them questions to understand what it meant to be brave because I wanted to be more than just a helpless bystander every time something bad happens. Becoming their friend and learning something important about being gentle... sort of happened on its own after that."

Pichupii gazed silently at Chuchichi for a moment before he asked, "Did you drag little Chachanpi into meeting those... friends of yours?"

Chuchichi wore a deadpan expression as he answered, "Nope. If anything, she forced me into letting her join by threatening to tell you two about my friends if I refused."

A moment of tense silence passed before Pichupii sighed and said with a bitter smile, "Yes, I can honestly imagine her doing that." He then looked at Chuchichi in the eyes and said, "Look, son, I cannot in good conscious encourage you to continue being friends with those humans and their friends from allied races. Even if they are indeed capable of being kind and gentle as you have said, the simple fact is that they are capable of cruelty too." Chuchichi was about to argue how the Elvarans were violent too when they waged war against the Karinites and defeated them when Pichupii raised his hand and said, "However, I still remember the time when I was a boy your age and how I wanted to have an adventure. Nothing like yours, admittedly, but an adventure nonetheless. Your mother may not approve, but I will not stand in your way to continue being friends with them. Just do us all a favour and be careful, alright?"

Even among sapient races that originated from 'Paradise Worlds', the idea of adventure was not an incomprehensible concept. Otherwise, they would have never fully conquered their home planets let alone attempted to travel across the stars.

Surprised by his father's willingness to let him continue seeing his friends who were humans and members of races allied to them, Chuchichi asked, "Really?"

Pichupii nodded and said, "Considering that Frumpowhumps seems to trust them too. Really." Among the Pikupiku, it was often considered wise to trust the judgement of a Snorkan which had a keen sense of danger. In hindsight, it was clear to Pichupii that the family's Snorkan, Frumpowhumps, was not at all scared about the friends that Chuchichi had made, not even the ones from actual Death Worlds.

Chuchichi could not help himself and rushed forward to hug his father while tearfully saying, "Thanks, Dad."

"Just don't hide something like this from your mother and I next time, okay?" asked Pichupii as he hugged back.

Chuchichi chuckled and said, "I'll try."

Horrified by the realisation that her son would continue to see the humans and members of allied races, Chippuupuu promptly fainted.

---

Chuchichi was about to head out to meet his friends to tell them the good news, while riding on Frumpowhumps as before, when he noticed that someone was already on the Snorkan. His eyes widened as he asked, "Chachanpi?

"Shh!" Chachanpi hissed before she whispered, "Let's get out of here before our parents find out and ground us forever!"

Chuchichi blinked at Chachanpi before he smiled awkwardly and said, "Actually... my father is okay with me seeing Alex and the others. My mother, not so much though."

Chachanpi stared at Chuchichi for a moment of stupefied silence before her face warped into an expression of absolute fury, which Chuchichi was certain would have made even a predatory beast from a 'Death World' blink, and proceeded to shake him violently while yelling expletives at the top of her lungs.

Needless to say, her yelling caught unwanted attention and Chuchichi had to rush out of the park area of the Urban Biome of the mothership while apologising to everyone he passed by. As he rode his Snorkan to "freedom", he could not help but laugh with a bright smile as he let out the joyous cheer of his kind.

"Pikupii...!"

---

Over the following human-weeks, to the dismay of many worried Pikupiku parents, an entire "rebel culture" was formed among the youths of the race on Terra's Child. Inspired by Chuchichi and Chachanpi's rebellious bravery, including befriending actual 'Death World' aliens, the youths started to go on "adventures" of their own in small groups. Through these adventures, the "rebellious youths" gradually learnt many things such as the value of kindness in spite of having power and the value of having even a little bit of genuine courage. In addition, some would befriend not just humans but also members of their allies such as the humanoid wolf-like Fenrids, the snake-like Slitaras and even the velociraptor-like Dinorexes.

Little did anyone, even the majority of the tortoise-like Kappoids that could see the future, realise that the Pikupiku would one day play a critical role in saving the Galactic Council from a conspiracy born from corruption within. However, that was a story that would take place many human centuries into the future.

Still, one would do well to remember that even the greatest of things had small beginnings.

---

Author's Note(s):

- Credit to a Reddit commenter for making a cool/cute post about the Pikupiku becoming the saviours of the Galactic Council... after a couple of human centuries had passed: https://www.reddit.com/user/Loud_Reputation_367/

Chapter Text

It was a well-known fact among the various races of the Galactic Council that the whale-like Star Singers could travel across the stars without the aid of technology.

Another well-known fact was that the Star Singers were not the only ones that could live in the vacuum of space without the aid of technology. One notable possible example, due to lack of concrete confirmation from anyone who was not a member of the 'Big Four" of the Galactic Council, would be the Void Watchers, the 'One Above All'.

As such, no one on a certain Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child', were surprised to realise that the ship was about to get close to a particular species of alien which could survive and even thrive in space through a number of unusual biological adaptations known as the Nebula Swarm.

---

"So, this is what a Nebula Swarm hive really looks like," said Michael, a human male with brown hair and green eyes. He was currently looking at what seemed to be a massive cluster of asteroids of various sizes clumped together into a single near-spherical structure with a translucent resin-like substance. In fact, the structure was about as large as 'Terra's Child' which, in turn, was about the size of Earth's moon.

Yl'tarii, Michael's six-armed Polypian "non-human advisor" in handling alliances with other races, confirmed, "That's correct, Michael. Though not deemed as sapient, the Nebula Swarm is a species that is about as ancient as the Star Singers themselves and have even formed a symbiotic relationship with them by helping to remove any parasites that have managed to infest their bodies. As such, they are deserving of our respect."

"And they have a remarkable ability to quickly adapt to just about anything that somehow manages to enter their hives," said Michael.

"Again, that is correct," confirmed Yl'tarii.

Michael frowned and asked, "If the Nebula Swarm is truly not sapient, then how can anyone trade with them?"

Yl'tarii widened two of his eyes while narrowing the other three to mimic a certain human expression called "raising an eyebrow", before saying, "Considering the kinds of shenanigans that I have heard about animals from Earth, such as elephants blocking traffic so that they can pilfer sugarcane from transport vehicles and monkeys stealing objects which they will only return after accepting food as bribes, one would think that humans would not question the idea of trading edible food with the Nebula Swarm in return for useful materials."

Well aware that Yl'tarii was not wrong about the mentioned animals from Earth, Michael chuckled and said, "Fair enough. I'm curious about the mechanics of its adaptive ability though."

"Many of us are but, as a human saying goes, 'don't poke the hornet's nest'," said Yl'tarii who then pleadingly added, "Seriously, DON'T!"

Michael grinned cheekily as he replied, "Don't worry, I'll make sure not to do anything too outrageous."

---

Before long, a transport ship from Terra's Child approached one of the closed entrances that led into the Nebula Swarm hive. The "door" that sealed the entrance, which was actually a specialised caste of the Nebula Swarm that resembled a massive barnacle, opened to allow the ship to enter safely.

Once inside and with the entrance closed behind them, the occupants of the ship exited the vessel. Leading the group were Toa-Vanu, an elder among the humanoid bird-like Avianites, Ryl'anur, the 'Ancient of Ceremonies' among the bipedal tortoise-like Kappoids and Sha-Strika, a colony of small mantid-like Cybrids which was piloting a mobile 'hive mech'. Michael, along with Yl'tarii, were among the various ambassadors, advisors and traders who had volunteered to take part in the trading transaction as they oversaw the transport of various goods which were carried in what were basically large trolleys that could levitate due to anti-gravity technology.

As a species that specialised in forming massive colonies by combining asteroids into a singular hive, the Nebula Swarm had been known to collect a wide variety of inorganic metallic ores in surplus and would willingly give some of them up in exchange for various edibles. However, due to the potential risk of provocation, only trading groups led by members of the 'Big Four', a group that included Avianites, Kappoids, Cybrids and even the Star Singers, were allowed to approach any hive that belonged to the Nebula Swarm.

Before long, the group approached a section of the Nebula Swarm hive which was swarming with numerous crab-like worker caste members that had six legs and two pincer-like claws. There were also a few soldier caste members of the swarm which were significantly larger and resembled six-legged lobsters with massive crushing claws. Most notable however were the overseer caste of the swarm which were even fewer in number and resembled mantis shrimps with a more upright six-legged stance similar to that of praying mantises. As the keen-eyed overseers examined the goods, which was mainly food deemed safe for consumption throughout the galaxy, the workers efficiently collected the examined goods deeper into the hive for further processing.

After some time, the workers had collected all the examined goods. This was soon followed by a separate group of workers bringing in various ores that were then deposited onto some of the trolleys which had been emptied.

Once the transaction was done, Michael cleared his throat and asked Toa-Vanu, "Lord Toa-Vanu, may I have permission to ask the Nebula Swarm a few questions?"

While many other aliens were caught off guard by Michael's sudden and unexpected request, Toa-Vanu simply raised a brow and said, "Oh, and what exactly do you wish to achieve by asking?"

"A bit of knowledge and maybe a little something extra that comes from the swarm like a sample of its primary food source, assuming that it accepts my offer for a bargain," replied Michael.

Toa-Vanu, who was a member of a psychic race skilled in reading minds, seemed to consider Michael's words before he nodded with a smile and said, "Very well, you may. Though I cannot guarantee that this particular Nebula Swarm will be willing to accept your offer, I can tell that your offers and requests will be unlikely to provoke it to violence."

"Thank you," said Michael before he turned his attention towards one of the overseers and approached it. Once he stood before the overseer, which was large and powerful enough to eviscerate him if provoked, he asked respectfully, "I have heard that your kind can adapt to just about anything that enters your hive. As such, I would like to make a bargain. The mothership that is currently outside your hive is carrying a few species of small yet dangerous animals from 'Death Worlds' and a variety of plants and fungi that most aliens find difficult to consume. If you are interested, I can arrange to have some of these things delivered to your hive for possible integration. In return, I would like to know how the integration process happens and maybe a chance to have a sample of what your species feeds on for study and possible cultivation."

Seemingly surprised by the unexpected offer, the overseer tilted its head before it made a series of clicks to the other overseers. This was soon followed by a cacophony of clicks which, for a moment, made many aliens fear that Michael had somehow offended the Nebula Swarm. Thankfully though, such was not the case as a the overseer turned its attention back to Michael and gently licked his forehead.

"Oh, it seems that the swarm has accepted the bargain," said Toa-Vanu who then made a cooing chuckle and said, "I suppose calling in a second transport ship is in order then."

Seemingly aware of what Toa-Vanu was implying, the overseer that licked Michael turned its attention towards the Avianite and made a few clicks. Toa-Vanu raised a brow and said, "Well, this is even more interesting than expected."

Confused by Toa-Vanu's cryptic statement, and resisting the urge to throttle Michael since he had at least asked for the Avianite's permission before making the audacious bargain with the Nebula Swarm, Yl'Tarii had to ask, "What do you mean, Lord Toa Vanu?"

"Oh, you'll see in a few minutes," answered Toa-Vanu while making a cooing chuckle.

A few minutes later, a member of a different caste of the Nebula Swarm arrived. Known as the listener caste, its sole purpose was to receive psychic signals from not only the Star Singers but also various other psychic races such as the humanoid bat-like Sonarins and the elf-like Elvarans. It resembled a six-legged shrimp with two modified pincers that could be mistaken for filter-feeding appendages but actually functioned as its "psychic ears". Then, to the shock of many, both the listener and the overseer shed their shells followed by the smaller listener climbing onto the significantly taller overseer. Fungus-like tendrils then emerged from the two, fusing them into a singular being as its exoskeleton quickly hardened. The end result was a creature that looked like an overseer but with a clearly larger "head" with four compound eyes instead of the usual two.

Then, the fused creature spoke telepathically, "Your bargain is... unexpected but not unwelcome."

Shocked by the turn of events, an octopus-like Cephaloid trader fell down backwards and uttered, "It... it can speak?"

Yl'tarii did not fall down but he was equally shocked as he spoke his thoughts aloud, "It can think?!"

Rustfang, a humanoid wolf-like Fenrid who originated from an icy 'Death World', was able to maintain his composure as he frowned and thought, "What other abilities has the Nebula Swarm hidden from the rest of the Galactic Council?" He then glanced at Toa-Vanu and Ryl'anur who were oddly calm about the whole situation. Though he could not smell Sha-Strika's scent due to her colony being inside a 'hive mech', her posture was equally calm. Rustfang's eyes widened slightly as he realised, "Those three, and probably the Star Singers too, know about this!"

"Yes, it is just as you have realised, Rustfang," said Toa-Vanu who had read Rustfang's mind.

Rustfang narrowed his eyes and growled, "If you three already know, why keep it a secret from the rest of the galaxy?"

"It is because my kind requested them to do so," answered the fused being which then introduced itself to the rest of the group from 'Terra's Child', "You already know of the two constituents that make up my being, a member of the overseer caste and a member of the listener class, I am a member of a different caste, the thinker caste. My function is to respond quickly in making intelligent decisions when dealing with a threat that typical hive defenses cannot handle or a novel situation like this one. Though I am barely a newborn, I already have access to generations of archived information that far predates even that of the Galactic Council."

Michael hummed thoughtfully and said, "You said that your function is to respond quickly. Then is it safe to assume that the Nebula Swarm has a dedicated version of your caste which, while more effective, would take time to produce?"

"You assume correctly, though I have no obligation to provide further information on that particular topic," confirmed the thinker.

"If you and your kind wish to remain regarded as non-sapient beings by the rest of the galaxy, then why reveal your capacity for intelligence now?" asked a worm-like Tardaswine female who was an ambassador among her kind, Blegh-Blorp. Similar to Rustfang, her kind originated from a 'Death World', albeit a swampy one, and was able to maintain her composure.

The thinker pointed at Michael and said, "His questions imply that he is already suspicious of what my kind may be truly capable of. Trying to hide the truth from him and his kind is, while possible, unlikely to work in the long term. As long as he and his kind remain suspicious, one way or another, the truth will be revealed eventually."

"So you've chosen to, in simple terms, 'get it done and over with'," said Michael.

"Yes," admitted the thinker who then added, "However, I would prefer not to be officially recognised as a sapient being even after this exchange. Higher levels of intelligence is... not always optimal for the continued survival of a species. Even now, I can feel the burden of having so much knowledge, archived and compressed as they currently are, on my two brains."

Michael winced and said, "Generations of memory that range from traumatically painful to numbingly dull and even humiliatingly cringe-worthy. Yeah, I can already see why you and your kind would rather put all of that way and just be simple-minded beasts most of the time."

"I am... surprised that you can actually understand my kind's desire for mental simplicity," said the Thinker.

"Well, humans have always been, and still are to some degree, interested in immortality and all the consequences that come with it, including putting up with centuries or even millennia of memories. We're also more familiar with feeling jaded or burnt out with life than some may realise," replied Michael.

"Yet even I can tell that you still wish to remain sapient, to continue struggling with all the problems that come with it such as the inevitability of death for all that lives in the known universe," said the thinker.

"Well, there is a saying among us, humans. 'Life is a series of problems. Striving to overcome at least some those problems, that is living'," said Michael.

"While I prefer to continue using my kind's method of handling the issues that comes with sapience, I am willing to respect your kind's decision to handle those same issues your way," said the thinker which then assumed what could only be described as a "business pose" as it continued to speak to Michael, "Now, I believe we have sidetracked for long enough. About that 'bargain' of yours..."

---

Before long, a second much smaller transport ship delivered a number of things which included various small but deadly 'Death World' animals such as ant-like Chimerants, spider-like Mutaspiders, centipede-like Razocrawlers and tick-like Shroommites. The ship also carried a wide range of fruits, vegetables, herbs and fungi which, while edible among humans and goblin-like Gobloids in general, were deemed as unpalatable if not unsafe to eat by the rest of the Galactic Council. Last but not least, as requested by the thinker class of the Nebula Swarm during the "haggling of the bargain" were blood samples of humans and various aliens that were allied to them. Not surprisingly, Michael took charge of the second delivery, with Yl'Tarii's resigned assistance, while everyone else observed.

Once the second delivery had been made, the thinker clicked its mandible approvingly and said, "As agreed, you and your closest allies are allowed to study how my kind adapt to changes quickly. Once you have seen the process, you will be given a single "fungal seed" of this hive's choosing."

"Will we need to move deeper into the hive to see the adaptation process?" asked Michael.

"Actually, no," replied the thinker before it made a series of beckoning clicks.

A few workers arrived while carrying was looked like a large ball of fungal tissue with an opening at the top. Closer inspection revealed that the ball contained a shallow pool of slime, making the ball of fungal tissue resemble a classical cauldron used by witches in human works of fiction.

The thinker then proceeded to collect the "genetic samples" and drop them into the slime. The small yet dangerous animals from 'Death Worlds', still sluggish from cryogenic containment, struggled weakly as their bodies gradually broke down and liquified. The various fruits, vegetables, herbs, fungi and blood samples were then similarly deposited into the thickening pool. Before long, all the samples were used up and the ball of fungal tissue closed its open top by growing a cap over it.

"Now, we wait for the genetic processing to conclude," said the thinker.

After a few human-hours, the ball broke apart, thus revealing a stalk with a bulbous tip that was covered in about fifteen ball-shaped 'fungal seeds'. The Thinker plucked one seed and inspected it for a while. Satisfied with the result, it walked towards Michael and gave it to him while saying, "As agreed, you will have one 'fungal seed' of the hive's choosing."

Surprised by the unexpected gift, Michael asked, "Are you sure? I'm pretty certain that this one has the genetic materials that are meant for your hive."

"I am sure. There are more than enough 'fungal seeds' of the same make to satisfy the needs of this hive. Consider this as repayment for your generosity in giving us genetic samples of not only your species but that of your allies as well," said the thinker which then added, "Besides, you'll need a version of our fungus which can thrive under the conditions of your mothership and this seed will most likely be well-adapted enough."

Michael chuckled as he conceded, "Fair point." He then kept the 'fungal seed' inside a glass tube which would keep it safe until it was time for planting.

Soon, most of the group left the chamber to return to the transport ships while Toa-Vanu, Ryl'anur and Sha-Strika chose to stay behind to speak to the thinker of the Nebula Swarm.

Ryl'anur chuckled as he spoke, "In spite of being able to see visions of the future with reasonable accuracy, I have never expected your kind to be capable of such cunning."

"All I did was give the humans what they wanted. Whether they and their allies realise that the gift is even more valuable than they initially realise and use it wisely will be up to them," replied the thinker.

"While I do not disagree with the logic of making use of our mothership as an alternative to receiving the aid of passing Star Singers, are you certain that entrusting even a single seed to the humans and their allies is wise?" asked Sha-Strika.

"In the countless generations of my kind's existence in this galaxy, no non-psychic being ever considered speaking to us to make a fair bargain, until today," said the thinker. Although incapable of making facial expressions, there was an unmistakable tone of anger in its telepathic voice as it added, "Also, they were the ones who avenged Gregoria."

Toa-Vanu smiled bitterly at the memory of an ancient Star Singer, Gregoria Sanctus, who had died to protect the Sonarins from raiders and said, "Ah, yes. You and Lord Gregoria knew each other."

"It was Gregoria and his pod who helped to take my siblings and me across the stars so that we could spread far from our parent hive instead of being reintegrated back as added genetic information. Being generous to the ones who have avenged his death is very the least my hive can do," said the thinker.

"A fair assessment, I will admit. I apologise for any offence made," said Sha-Strika.

"You have made none, little ones," said the thinker who then added, "You simply speak out of concern for the seed that may one day grow to become a new hive, a child of mine."

"Well, we must be leaving soon. It's good to speak to you again, old friend," said Ryl'anur.

"It's good to speak to you as well, Ryl'anur, Toa-Vanu, Sha-Strika. May we speak again in the future," said the thinker which knew that its body would expire soon and that the collective intelligence of the hive would once again enter a state of what could be considered as a deep slumber.

As a species that was willing to suppress its own capacity for sapience in order to ensure its continued survival, was it really any wonder that it would be willing have one of its offspring live on as a "mere crop"?

---

Author's Note(s):

- Let's see how many people recognise this chapter as a homage to a certain anthology series.

- With the increasingly expanded universe, I feel that it is important to set up a timeline to ensure that various events take place in a manner that makes chronological sense. The timeline, as far as human involvement with the Galactic Council is involved, is as follows:

General Timeline:
- Humans have succeeded in colonising the moon and Mars, thus earning the right to be accepted by the Galactic Council.
- The Polypians volunteer to be allied with humans and help them get used to living as members of the Galactic Council.
- Humans, after passing a trial period, become official members of the Galactic Council.
- Some humans start living on a Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child'.
- Humans choose the Slitaras as allies to help them recover from near-extinction.
- Humans become allies with the Tardaswines. Tardaswine blood plays a key role in saving the Slitaras.
- Humans become allies with the Cephaloids.
- Humans become allies with the Dinorexes.
- Humans become allies with the Fenrids.
- Humans choose the Gobloids as allies in spite of being offered an alliance with the Elvarans.
- Humans manage to introduce Halloween to the aliens on Terra's Child.
- The aliens on 'Terra's Child' realise the horror of "stinky human cuisine".
- Humans, along with other races on Terra's Child, aid the Sonarins. The Sonarins later choose humans as allies.
- Humans, along with their allies, attack a criminal colony to apprehend the ones responsible for two terrible crimes.
- Humans inspire the youths of the Pikupiku to "rebel" against their own culture as a timid race.
- Humans encounter a Nebula Swarm hive for the first time, uncover a hidden truth of the species and receive a 'fungal seed' as a gift.

Chapter Text

Ryl'anur, a bipedal tortoise-like Kappoid, raised a brow as he asked Michael, a human ambassador, "Oh, you wish to send the Nebula Swarm's gift to the Sonarins' home-world?"

Michael nodded and said, "That's correct, Lord Ryl'anur."

Ryl'anur stroked his chin as he ponded over Michael's plan and then asked, "While I am sure that the Sonarins will appreciate such a gift, I must ask why you wish to give it to them in particular."

"With all due respect, Lord Ryl'anur, I am willing to bet my entire collection of alcoholic drinks that the 'fungal seed' that the Nebula Swarm has given to me as a gift is a lot more than a simple fungal crop that is edible to humans," replied Michael who then added, "Especially since we both know that a number of small 'Death World' animals were used during the creation of this particular seed."

Well aware that the crustacean-like Nebula Swarm, a species of seemingly non-sapient animals that could survive in space by building massive hives with asteroids, had indeed used several small yet deadly creatures from various 'Death Worlds' as "genetic ingredients" to create a number of 'fungal seeds', including the one in Michael's possession, Ryl'anur chuckled and said, "True, but that does not answer my question of why you wish to give this seed to the Sonarins."

Michael wore a grim expression as he explained, "Well, I have three reasons. One, as much as neither of us like to admit it, the star fleet guarding the Sonarins' home-world may not always be present or even reliable. A big enough emergency elsewhere or even a cut in military budget will weaken the defences protecting their world significantly, never mind possible double-agents within the ranks of the star fleet. Two, I do not think that we have enough space on this mothership to properly grow the 'fungal seed' here and we can't very well entrust it to some official who 'conveniently' has the space needed to grow it. We both know that there are greedy and corrupt bastards within the Galactic Council, my own people included, and I won't even entrust a damn toy gun to them much less this seed."

Ryl'anur did not frown but his expression as far from pleased as he knew that Michael was right. As a former "primitive race", the humanoid bat-like Sonarins were still ill-equipped to defend themselves from space-travelling threats, never mind the chilling idea of corrupt members of the Galactic Council gaining any form of ownership over the Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed'. Still, he needed to hear Michael's last reason before he could make a decision, "And the third reason?"

"I am of the opinion that, between humans and Sonarins, the latter will have a much easier time managing whatever grows out of this seed. At the very least, the Sonarins have psychic abilities that we humans lack, are unlikely to ever see the 'fungal seed' as a mere commodity to be exploited and, given the fact that some Sonarin blood has been used to create this seed, have actual 'blood ties' with it, albeit from a certain point of view," answered Michael.

Ryl'anur smiled as he spoke, "Add in the fact that the Sonarins still revere the Star Singers, who are in turn allied to the Nebula Swarm, as long-lived demigods... yes, I can imagine this seed growing to become a powerful ally and protector of the Sonarins. Still, it does not change the fact that you are giving up a great boon to the Sonarins, their alliance with you notwithstanding."

Michael shrugged and asked rhetorically, "Well, can you think of a better way to strengthen that alliance and properly handle something so valuable yet so potentially dangerous at the same time?" He then grinned and added, "If all goes well, humanity will stand to gain at least some of the benefits without having the headache of handling something that might grow out of control, come to resent us or both."

Ryl'anur laughed and then said, "Very well, I see no great fault in the logic of your plan, nor a foreboding vision of the future for that matter. We shall visit the Sonarins' home-world to deliver the seed after we leave this sector."

Michael bowed to Ryl'anur respectfully, and said, "Thank you for your approval of this plan, Lord Ryl'anur."

After Michael left the room, Ryl'anur smiled as he gazed at a massive moon-sized structure which was actually a Nebula Swarm hive and thought, "I wonder if you are aware of the human's plan to give your seed to the ones that our departed friend had died to protect, old friend."

The Kappoid's smile broadened ever so slightly when he heard a soft telepathic voice speak from deep within the hive, "We are. We approve."

---

A few human-days later, the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child', visited the home-world of the Sonarins. The Sonarins who had volunteered to live on the said mothership were understandably excited to return to their home world. The fact that their human allies had actually decided to give a Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed' to their people only made them even more joyous.

Before long, a transport vessel landed onto a landing platform that had been built onto the surface of the Sonarins' home-world during a previous visit. Michael, along with many eager Sonarins, a few guards and his ever-resigned assistant, a five-eyed Polypian named Yl'tarii, stepped out of the vessel. As the landing took place in the late evening, the sun was setting and the Sonarins did not have to fear about their sensitive skin and eyes being harmed by sunlight. This also meant that the Sonarins, who had grown to like human gothic fashion and preferred skirts over pants, looked like an entire race of perky goths, including "crossdressing males", as they happily welcomed their space-travelling kin who were similarly dressed.

Yl'tarii could feel his eyes twitch as he muttered, "I'm not a humanoid who needs clothes to stay warm and yet I can already tell that this is... not quite right for some reason."

Michael chuckled at Yl'tarii's statement and said, "In my defence, they chose their favoured fashion even after being given other choices."

Yl'tarii's six tentacle-arms sagged as made a gurgling sigh and groaned, "I know..."

After the Sonarins celebrated their joyous reunion, they turned their attention towards Michael who took out a glass cylinder that contained the Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed'. He then said respectfully, "As some of you may already know, this is a gift from a race called the Nebula Swarm, friends of the Star Singers. It is my belief that you are the ones best-suited to help cultivate this seed."

An elderly Sonarin stepped forward and said, "We thank you for this great gift, Sir Michael. Songs of your generosity will be sung among our kind for many generations to come."

Michael nodded with a smile and said, "We will be staying in this planet's orbit for a few days while we observe the seed's initial growth. Assuming that all goes well, this seed will eventually grow to not only produce edible fungus but also form a planet-bound version of a Nebula Swarm hive."

"It will be a great honour to help raise this child who is a friend of the Star Singers," as the elder as he reverently accepted the glass cylinder from Michael. The seed would later be planted deep within a Sonarin settlement which was rapidly developing into a capital city among their kind.

---

Several Sonarin-days later...

A gang of human Space Pirates slipped past the star fleet defending the Sonarins' home-world with the help of technology provided by a "very rich human benefactor" who wanted the Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed' for selfish personal gain. Although the presence of the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child' was a concern, the benefactor had anticipated the possibility and helped the Space Pirates to prepare accordingly. As such, their small but quick vessel was able to get past the defences undetected.

As soon as the Space Pirates landed, the leader of the gang, who had nicknamed himself Taserfist, smirked at his fellow pirates and said, "You know the drill, boys. We go in, steal that seed, and get out before the ships start shooting. If we can nab even a few of those Sonarins while we are at it, all the better!"

"Need I remind you that the seed is our main objective?" asked a human woman who was clearly not a member of the pirate gang. She was an agent sent by the benefactor to ensure that the pirates did as they were told, Agent 009.

"Hey, those Sonarins are worth a pretty penny even after that incident that got Perralk, Soni'Kach and Gadisar arrested!" argued Taserfist who was referring to a certain incident that involved the three alien criminals wanting to enslave the Sonarins but got thwarted by an ancient whale-like Star Singer, Gregoria Sanctus, who died to protect the Sonarins. The arrest that came afterwards involved humans and their alien allies executing a devastating military strike that left many surviving criminals traumatised.

Agent 009 glared at Taserfist disdainfully while speaking to him, "Perhaps, but any attempt to capture even a single Sonarin may very well jeopardise this mission and I refuse to let that happen."

"Well, if you're so worried about me and my boys being greedy, maybe you can offer us a different bonus after this mission is over?" said Taserfist who leered lustfully at Agent 009's sensual-looking body.

Agent 009's glare turned dangerously frosty as she growled, "Only if my employer allows it, which I doubt will EVER happen if you and your men fail to do your task."

Taserfist raised his hands in mock surrender and said with a sly smirk, "Fair enough, fair enough."

"Let us get this mission done and over with before anyone notices us," said Agent 009 who sighed in resigned exasperation.

Soon, with the aid of information provided by spies within the star fleet responsible for protecting the Sonarins, the gang of human Space Pirates and one human agent arrived at the entrance of a cave that would eventually become the Sonarin's future capital city. Since the time of the day was noon, the majority of the Sonarins should be asleep and blissfully unaware of the coming danger.

Aware of the Sonarin's nocturnal habits, the Space Pirates were confident that raiding the settlement for the Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed' would be a breeze. However, Agent 009 was unwilling to be as confident of success as the Space Pirates as she warned them, "Remember, our goal is to steal the seed before it grows too much to be safely taken away. Failing that, acquiring a living sample of fungal tissue is an acceptable alternative. If we fail in this task, my employer will cut any an all connections with us in order to protect his own interests. Failure is NOT an option."

"Yeah, yeah, we get the drill, agent 'Sixty-Nine'," said Taserfist.

"My codename is Agent Double-O Nine," growled Agent 009.

"Not for long if your boss is cool with us having fun with you," said Taserfist.

Agent 009 did not bother to say anything as she thought to herself, "Degenerates, the whole lot of them!"

Suddenly, one of the pirates collapsed to the ground while foaming at the mouth. Shocked by the sudden collapse, another pirate exclaimed, "What the hell!?"

Soon, the other pirates start collapsing one after another. Panic quickly consumed the gang while Agent 009 looked own and realised something alarming.

The ground was crawling with small arthropod-like creatures which, the last time she checked, were clearly not the local fauna.

Realising that capture was imminent, Agent 009 sighed and said, "It seems that this mission has failed in its primary objective."

"H-how the fuck can you so calm about this?!" demanded Taserfist as he desperately swatted away the arthropods crawling up his armoured boots.

"Simple, I'm not even here in person," replied Agent 009 whose body then started to burn from the inside out, revealing its true mechanical nature.

Not surprisingly, Taserfist swore loudly before he got overwhelmed while his gang's space vessel suddenly exploded...

---

The real Agent 009 sighed as she emerged from a pod which could be mistaken for an extremely advanced version of a virtual-reality gaming machine. However, instead of playing video games, its real purpose was to allow a user to pilot advanced drones. Unlike her "machine body", the real agent 009 was short and petite in spite of being a full-grown human adult.

"So, the primary objective has failed, as expected," said a well-groomed man who was dressed in an expensive suit.

Agent 009 nodded and said, "Barring a full-scale attack that would be impossible to conceal, collecting even a small sample of Nebula Swarm fungus is a lost cause at this point."

"And the difficulty of acquiring a sample without risking the destruction of the planet itself will only grow by the day," said the man.

"I do apologise for being unable to gather all the data on the cloaking device before its self-destruction though," said Agent 009.

The man smiled charmingly and said, "There is nothing to forgive, my dear agent. While losing the data before it can be fully collected is indeed a pity, it would have been far more disastrous to let the Galactic Council, or my competitors for that matter, get a hold of the device and its data. Besides, loss of data aside, the device has performed as well as I have hoped."

"The Galactic Council will surely be on high alert for future incidents of Space Pirates and Cartel Traders using advanced stealth technology to bypass various security checks and blockades," said Agent 009.

"True, but selling that kind of valuable technology to them was never the goal to begin with," said the man who then smirked as he added, "After all, Taserface's pirates were just... 'unwitting volunteers' for the real purpose of this attempt to steal the Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed'."

"Actually, it's Taserfist," corrected Agent 009 who had a deadpan expression on her face.

The man chuckled and said, "Yes, I know, but let a man have his fun."

---

"This is an outrage!" yelled an elf-like Elvaran ambassador named Bel-Khanor.

Although the human Space Pirates were ultimately foiled by the new caste that emerged from deep within the still-growing mass of Nebula Swarm fungal tissue, the fact of the matter was that they were able to sneak past both the star fleet and the mothership that should have been able to prevent them from even getting near to the planet.

"We must take immediate action to hunt down that 'benefactor' who gave those Space Pirates the technology that allowed them to sneak past the planet's defences!" said an alien ambassador that looked like a humanoid fish, a Deepown female named Flissha.

"If a small group of Space Pirates can bypass our security so easily, who knows what will happen once more of them get a hold of the technology?" whimpered a Pikupiku male named Chachuupi, the ambassador among his kind.

Toa-Vanu, a humanoid bird-like Avianite, was glad to have purchased a certain human tool called a gavel as he struck the said tool against a sound block to get everyone's attention, "Please, calm yourselves, everyone! This is indeed an alarming matter but let us not forget that the attempted theft was successfully thwarted by the new caste of Nebula Swarm that emerged from the germinated 'fungal seed' with no loss of sapient life."

Bel-Khanor glared at Toa-Vanu and said, "With all due respect, Lord Toa-Vanu, we've just discovered a small gang of Space Pirates that has somehow successfully sneaked past an entire fleet of starships with no one noticing until AFTER those very same pirates got incapacitated by the newly-formed Nebula Swarm colony."

"Indeed, that is true, but panicking and pointing fingers will not make solving this issue any more effective either," argued Toa-Vanu.

Bel-Khanor's frown deepened but he did not disagree with Toa-Vanu's statement either. Instead, the Elvaran asked, "Then what do you propose we do then?"

Toa-Vanu turned his attention towards Michael and said, "Since the Space Pirates claimed to have a 'human benefactor' perhaps you can provide some insight to the one responsible for this incident."

With all eyes on Michael, the man sighed as he stood up and spoke, "As you all already know, the Space Pirates had access to technology that somehow allowed them to sneak past not just the star fleet defending the Sonarins' home world but our mothership as well. The fact that even psychic races such as Elvarans and Avianites have failed to notice their approach means that the technology is likely one that has a psychic effect as well. In theory, having such technology will allow the Space Pirates to sneak in, steal whatever they want, and run away before anyone can do anything to stop them."

"You believe that there is more to the attempted theft, don't you?" asked Toa-Vanu.

Michael nodded and explained, "Even if the Space Pirates can enter the settlement and somehow have reliably accurate information of its layout, we're talking about invading a settlement to take something of incredible value to the people that live there. Say what you will, but the Sonarins are not without the ability to detect incoming threats, call for help or defend themselves, never mind the Nebula Swarm colony growing within their settlement. A single mistake would have blown their cover completely and have everyone up here going after them within minutes."

"So what do you think is the true purpose of the attempted theft then, Michael?" asked Toa-Vanu.

"Judging by how thorough the destruction of the ship and the human-replica drone have been, I believe that we're dealing with someone whose real objective was to test the effectiveness of the cloaking device. Taking a sample of the Nebula Swarm was probably just a secondary objective, at best," answered Michael.

"So you're saying that those Space Pirates were just unwitting test subjects of a field test?" asked Bel-Khanor.

"To put it simply, yes," confirmed Michael.

Bel-Khanor sighed and said, "While there is no way to identify the benefactor, much less confirm the accuracy of Michael's conjecture, due to the destruction of any possible lead, I am inclined to believe that he is correct, galling as it is to admit."

"Which means that the best thing we can do for now is to form a tighter defensive net at key locations to limit the chances of Space Pirates and Cartel Traders being able to slip through successfully by even with the stealth technology," said Michael.

"I believe that my kind will be able to assist in that endeavour," said Sha-Strika, a hive mind intelligence of an insectoid colony known as a Cybrid. As her kind were skilled in building advanced machinery, including tiny space vessels that could be piloted by a single member of the colony each, everyone agreed that the Cybrids were arguably the best choice in improving both defence and enemy detection.

"If there are no further inquiries or objections, then this meeting is adjourned," said Toa-Vanu who then turned his attention towards Michael and said, "I would like to have a private word with you though."

Michael sighed as he could already guess what Toa-Vanu was going to ask him. His suspicion was soon proven right when the Avianite asked, "You have an idea of who the benefactor is, don't you?"

"I do, but it's just a gut feeling based on past reports that I've been receiving from Earth," said Michael.

"Even so, I would like to know who that person is," said Toa-Vanu.

"His real name is unknown but he is an infamous human Cartel Trader who calls himself Khanos, a name derived from two infamous fictional businessmen, Sher Khan and David Xanathos. He's infamous for making plans that have at least two separate objectives which, at times, may be contradictory to the point of absurdity."

"And yet the nature of his plans is exactly why he is always one step ahead of anyone who tries to capture him or get the better of him," said Toa-Vanu.

"Unfortunately, yes. This incident has his mark all over it but, without concrete evidence, there is no way to tell for certain," said Michael. The unfortunate fact was that human-replica drones of high quality were, while incredibly rare and expensive, not something that was exclusively used by Khanos.

"Is there anything else that you can tell me about this Khanos?"

"Well, he may not be above using people as expendable tools, as in the case for those Space Pirates, but he's also unusually principled by Cartel Trader standards. He's been known to use human-replica drones to avoid sacrificing his most valuable personal assets and many of his lower-ranked grunts are incredibly loyal to him even after capture. Hell, I've heard reports of him deliberately sabotaging several Cartel Traders to, of all things, rescue slaves," said Michael.

Toa-Vanu raised a brow and asked, "Is there anything else that you can tell me?"

"Well, I've told you just about all that I know about Khanos. As far as the details of incidents that are connected to him are concerned, I have the reports with me and I can send them over to you and the others later," said Michael.

"Then please do so. It would be unwise to keep the others ignorant of him," said Toa-Vanu.

"I'll get to that, after I take a bloody drink or two," grumbled Michael before he asked, "By your leave?"

Toa-Vanu nodded and said, "You may leave, Michael. Thank you."

After Michael had left, Toa-Vanu made a soft cooing chuckle as he found Khanos more amusing than he had initially expected. After all, had Toa-Vanu not known any better, he would have been convinced that Michael was talking about an Avianite of old, albeit with a lot less treacherous backstabbing and mad rituals to achieve godhood. Honestly speaking, getting humbled by the Void Watchers was arguably the best thing that could have happened to his ancestors.

"A principled Cartel Trader? That's certainly something I have never thought I would ever hear," said Toa-Vanu who then added, "Still, it would be best to keep an eye out for him and his agents, don't you agree?"

"That goes without saying," said a tiny mech which was being piloted by a member of Sha-Strika's colony. The said mech had been in hiding in the room the whole time.

"Something tells me that this Khanos may very well become a genuinely powerful player in the galaxy," said Ryl'anur as he stepped out of the shadows with surprisingly grace in spite of his age and appearance.

Toa Vanu nodded and said, "For good or ill, he will certainly make things interesting."

---

Author's Note(s):

- Yes, I know two animated series that feature well-liked antagonists who are businessmen.

Chapter Text

Someone once said that to be alive was to be the villain or the victim in someone's story.

A certain human Cartel Trader who went by the name Khanos agreed with the statement wholeheartedly. After all, even if one ignored the necessity of consuming other living beings for basic sustenance, the pursuit of goals or purpose would inevitably lead to conflict. In such conflicts, there would be winners and losers, heroes and villains, monsters and victims.

Still, while he agreed with the fact that being alive would inevitably lead to conflict, he refused to be a blind adherent to it's tragic conclusion. After all, what was the point of living if not to live a life as genuinely well-lived as possible?

Khanos smiled as he tended his garden of plants which originated from a 'Death World'. Known as Snapper Vines among humans, these plants were infamous for being aggressively carnivorous. While incapable of eating a whole human body, they were perfectly capable of biting anyone who got too close.

After feeding a small 'feeding bud', which already had sharp teeth, a cricket, Khanos turned his attention towards his butler, Sebastian, and asked, "How is the progress of securing a business deal with the Deepowns?"

Sebastian, who was a handsome-looking elderly man, sighed as he answered, "I am sorry to report that there has been no significant progress thus far. Even after all these years, the Deepowns are still bitter over how our kind turned down an alliance with them to ally with the 'puny backwater Cephaloids' instead."

"Unfortunate, but not surprising. Still, they really only have themselves to blame for that humiliation," said Khanos.

Not long after humans became accepted as official members of the Galactic Council, two races approached humans to offer an alliance.

The first of the two was the humanoid fish-like Deepowns who originated from an aquatic planet. As their planet was rich in easily-mined mineral resources and oil, they were certain that humans would choose them as allies. After all, all space-faring races needed various materials to build and fuel their star ships. In addition, the Deepowns had a military force significantly superior to that of the Cephaloids.

The second one was the octopus-like Cephaloids who also originated from an aquatic planet. Similar to the Deepowns, their planet was rich in mineral resources and oil but the said resources were mostly located in deep trenches which were hazardously difficult to reach. On the other hand, the Cephaloids had a huge diversity of aquatic life and, vicious nocturnal predators from the abyssal depths of the trenches aside, the planet was close to being an actual 'Paradise World' of great beauty.

Humans ultimately chose the Cephaloids as allies for two reasons. The first reason was that humans were still finding a cure to help the snake-like Slitaras overcome the plague that caused many of their male offspring to be stillborn. The biodiversity of the Cephaloids' home world meant a higher chance of finding a possible cure to the plague. Though the endeavour failed in the end, pleasant discovery of various delicious seafood notwithstanding, the techniques used would later lead to the discovery of the medical marvel that lied within the blood of the worm-like Tardaswines.

The second, admittedly shallower reason was the simple desire to be able to visit the Cephaloids' home world as tourists. As stated previously, the world was close to being a beautiful 'Paradise World' and there were no shortage of particularly daring, if crazy, humans who were willing to brave the dangers of nocturnal predators for the sheer thrill of it. That was not even counting the humans who were willing to take dangerous risks to find locations that were potentially profitable for mining operations, lack of success thus far notwithstanding.

In contrast, the Deepown's home-world was heavily polluted to the point of resembling a massive toxic swamp due to constant mining activities and factory production. Unsurprisingly, the awful state of their home-world made it a lot less appealing as a place to visit let alone for a holiday, a sentiment that many other races shared with humans. Their arrogance and antagonism towards the meeker Cephaloids only made them even less appealing as allies to humans in general.

"Well, unsurprising lack of progress with the Deepowns aside, has Victor responded to my message?" asked Khanos.

"Yes, he has. He has expressed interest in your stealth technology," confirmed Sebastian.

"Excellent! Sebastian, please put all my other meetings and calls on hold until further notice. I wish to settle things with Victor first and foremost," said Khanos.

Sebastian bowed and replied, "As you wish, sir. However, I must to remind you to please not spend too much time with Victor this time. I am afraid that your investors and business partners are still bitter about the last time you kept them waiting for too long."

Khanos chuckled and said, "Don't worry, this conversation should not take too long."

---

After a short refreshing shower, Khanos entered his personal office. He then activated a communication device on his massive work desk which revealed a holographic projection of a grim-looking man with a tall and lean build.

"Victor! It is so good to hear from you again, my friend," said Khanos.

"Khanos, I see that your tendency to be 'dramatic yet charming' has yet to wane," said Victor.

"What can I say? Life should be enjoyed as long as the enjoyment does not lead to ruin," replied Khanos who then asked, "Now, I assume that you have questions about the stealth device?"

Victor nodded and said, "While I do not question the effectiveness of the stealth device in bypassing current methods of detection by various star ships, the recent tightening of security at various key locations as a result of your 'field test' notwithstanding, what has caught my interest is your claim that it might be the key to solving a certain issue on the Cephaloids' home-world."

Khanos' smile widened as he explained, "Well, as you know, one of the difficulties of getting past security is the psychic abilities of various alien races, especially those of the 'Big Four'. The fact that even they had failed to detect that Space Pirate vessel that landed onto the surface of the Sonarins' home world is proof that the technology can, at least to some degree, block off their ability to detect psychic presence."

"Which is all well and good but that is no guarantee that it will be enough to avoid the detection of those 'leviathan-class beasts' that dwell within the trenches of the Cephaloids' home world," argued Victor.

Khanos nodded grimly as he knew that Victor had a point. As stated previously, dangerous nocturnal creatures lurked within the dark trenches of the Cephaloids' home world. Among those creature were massive 'leviathan-class beasts' which were big enough to hunt literal whales from Earth and tough enough to be comparable to apex predators from actual 'Death Worlds'. The presence of those beasts were enough to convince even the greediest Cartel Traders that establishing a mining operation on the Cephaloids' home-world was an expensive exercise in futility unless one was willing to consider exterminating all life on the planet.

Using advanced stealth technology to sneak past dangerous beasts to quietly harvest a few ores or deep-sea biological samples before making a hasty retreat was a different matter though.

"That is unfortunately true which is why I am willing to offer your one of my devices at a heavily discounted price. It will be modified so that it can be passed off as a mere experimental device for avoiding detection by dangerous beasts through generating a psychic field that fools them into thinking that there is nothing of significance," replied Khanos who then grinned and added, "All things considered, this cover story is not too far from the actual truth of its intended use in this particular case."

Victor hummed thoughtfully and said, "True. I can have my men use the device while exploring previously-explored regions of the trenches first to test its effectiveness. Assuming that it works as intended, they will be able to start exploring new regions while collecting materials of potential importance. All the while, their mission will be treated as a privately-run research programme which, while still required to procure a significant amount of information to the local leaders of the Cephaloids' home-world, may potentially lead to a profitable business deal with them even if the true goal cannot be achieved."

"At the same time, the stealth device will be recording data that will be vital for further enhancements of the stealth technology, data that you and your men will have the rare opportunity to study in detail if you so choose," said Khanos.

Victor smirked and said, "Knowing you, the data will be heavily encrypted, thus making it impossible for anyone to know how the device actually works unless they have the means to decode it."

"I'm sure your goddaughter will love the challenge," said Khanos.

"Oh, she will," agreed Victor who then said, "Very well, I see no great loss in accepting this deal. Even if the local government ultimately decides to refrain from establishing any mining facilities in the near future due to concerns of safety from dangerous beasts and other potential consequences such as habitat destruction, the opportunity of having a stealth device capable of avoiding detection from psychic races in my possession alone will make it worthwhile, never mind the encrypted data stored within it."

"Splendid! I'll be sure to inform one of my agents to deliver the modified device to your branch in the Cephaloids' home-world as soon as possible." said Khanos.

"Till we meet again," said Victor.

"Till we meet again," replied Khanos.

---

Victor sighed as he disconnected his communication line with Khanos. While he respected the man as a fellow Cartel Trader with actual principles, there was no denying that accepting a deal with him always carried some risks even if he was being genuinely friendly. Still, as long as no one made the connection between the device being delivered to him to a particular incident of Space Pirates successfully sneaking past a whole star fleet to land onto the surface of the humanoid bat-like Sonarins' home-world, Victor was certain that his own attempt to draw wealth from the Cephaloids' home-world would not be put into too much jeopardy.

Thinking about the Cephaloids almost made Victor chuckle as he recalled how their leaders used, of all things, a Jenga tower from Earth as an analogy of the hazards of carelessly exploiting the natural resources deep within the trenches. In spite of the amusing choice of visual presentation, it was undeniably quite effective as a tall yet unstable Jenga tower could be easily compared to a society that had advanced very quickly but at the expense of carelessly damaging its own home-world. Not surprisingly, many Deepowns who saw the presentation loathed it.

"Still, who should I select to lead the mission..." pondered Victor who then had an idea. He took out his private mobile phone and made a call to an old friend of his.

"Hey, Victor. I didn't expect a call from you to today. Is everything alright?"

Victor smiled as he replied, "Oh, everything is business as usual, old friend. I'm just making this call because I believe I have a business proposition that is going to be quite a lucrative adventure for you and your whole family."

The other person on the other side of the line was silent for a moment before he said tensely, "Explain."

"As you know, I have a vested interest in uncovering and keeping track of potential sites for valuable resources deep within the trenches of the Cephaloids' home-world. I have recently managed to acquire a device from a particularly charismatic acquaintance of ours which might allow diving vessels to enter those very same trenches undetected by the beasts that lurk within them. I would like you to help lead at least one of the expeditions so that I can acquire useful information which I can then share with the local government. In return, I'm willing to offer you and your family a well-deserved vacation to that same planet with all expenses paid for and, for my cute little goddaughter who loves to tinker, a chance to examine that device in person," answered Victor.

A tense moment of silence passed before the other person suddenly laughed and said, "Damn it, Victor, you sure know how to drive a hard yet irresistible bargain! Alright, I'll take on the job."

"Wonderful. I look forward to seeing you again, Jimmy," said Victor.

"Be seeing you soon, Victor," said James who was often nicknamed 'Jimmy' by friends and family.

After ending the call, Victor took out a photograph of himself standing alongside with his friend, a tall rugged man named James, a beautiful woman with red hair named Ariel, an older girl with red hair named Vicky and a younger girl with brown hair named Isha. Although Victor loved his friend, James, whom he saw as a brother in all but blood, he admittedly had a particularly soft spot for Isha who had a love for tinkering to make new gadgets, programming and hacking.

Victor took a moment to look at the photograph with a soft smile on his face before he stood up with a grim frown. He walked out of his office, past dark corridors and thuggish humans who stood at attention upon noticing his presence to his destination which was located in a dark basement.

Inside the basement was a Tran'Kweerian criminal who was a dominant male among his race of hermaphrodites. He was currently bound onto a chair with his two legs and four arms tied in chains to ensure that he would not be able to escape even if the guards that surrounded him had suddenly turned blind and deaf. Victor took a chair and sat down opposite the Tran'Kweerian and asked, "Do you know why you are here, Knuck'Leks?"

Knuck'Leks glared at Victor spitefully and spat, "Me and my boys tried to kidnap a group of humans which, for some reason, you've reason to protect."

Victor nodded and said, "Good, that means that you're aware that you have somehow caused a rather personal offense to me even if the true details elude you."

"What are you going to do? Kill me?" asked Knuck'Lecks who the said confidently, "My boss and his boys will tear your whole gang apart and then find every single human in that group and have them all enslaved, you stupid monkey!"

Victor huffed in mild amusement as he smirked and said, "Stupid monkey... a rather hypocritical insult coming from you, miserable insect."

Infuriated by the insult, Knuck'Leks growled, "You dare?!"

Victor stood up and walked around Knuck'Leks in a seemingly casual way as he talked to him, "I dare because, unlike you and apparently most of your kind, I know that to be human is to be flawed in body, mind and spirit. I dare because I am nothing like the miserable rejects of humanity, both past and present, that whimper in fear of having all their sins laid bare and judged by a galaxy that does not revere or fear them. I dare because I am one of the new generation of humans who have... evolved to survive and thrive in this new galactic-scale environment."

Knuck'Leks laughed as the asked incredulously, "Evolved? You? Your kind is incapable of any significant natural evolution within less than two of your decades!"

"That is certainly true... if we're strictly following the 'biological definition' of evolution," replied Victor. Knuck'Leks felt a sudden sense of dread settle within his spinal cord as Victor continued to speak, "The evolution that I'm talking about is actually 'mental evolution'. A shift in mindset, so to speak."

Suddenly, the door opened and a woman of African descent with grey hair, a lean build and cybernetic augments named Bessa entered while holding something that made Knuck'Leks stutter, "H-how...?"

"Simple, my men and I have already taken down your boss," said Bessa as she held the severed head of Knuck'Leks boss, who was clearly a fellow Tran'Kweerian, in her right hand.

"Any casualties on our side?" asked Victor.

"A few, but no fatalities or crippling injuries thanks to our informant," said Bessa.

"Excellent. You and your men are free to rest for the next few days to recover," said Victor.

"What should I do with this?" asked Bessa while holding up the severed head.

"It has served its purpose. You may leave and dispose of it," said Victor.

"Good, because I think it's starting to stink," said Bessa before she left the room.

Victor's smile was unmistakably cold and cruel as he asked Knuck'Leks rhetorically, "Now, what was it that you said about tearing my whole gang apart and then finding every single human in the group that we protected to enslave them all?"

Finally realising that no one was going to save him, Knuck'Leks whimpered like a low-ranked female among his race as he begged, "J-just let me go! I-I won't go after any human ever again, I-I promise!

"Ah, I see that you have the same weakness too," said Victor.

"W-what?" stuttered Knuck'Leks.

"Remember when I said about the miserable rejects of humanity, both past and present, that whimper in fear of having all their sins laid bare and judged by a galaxy that does not revere or fear them? Well, your current behaviour is all too similar to theirs," said Victor.

Victor could recall certain events that soon followed after the start of humanity's "trial period" in becoming officially accepted as members of the Galactic Council as though they had just happened on day before. Though it was ultimately decided that the majority of humans were worthy of possible integration into the wider galaxy, there were those who were deemed as unfit to even consider as potential members. Among those deemed as unfit were humans who were:

- Abusers or murderers of the innocent, especially children.

- False accusers who had ruined the lives of innocent people.

- Willing to allow criminals to run free and terrorise the innocent in return for power and authority without responsibility.

- Incapable of handling irrefutable truths such as the fact that attraction to the opposite sex was the norm, not an obscene abnormality.

- Convinced that they were in the right even after inciting or committing acts of violence on others over petty issues such as race, religion or politics.

- Arrogant fools who thought that they could get away with their crimes just because they had some form of power such as social status, money and/or political connections.

When the rejections were made public, along with the reasons, the reactions of those rejected could be described as "unsurprisingly predictable". Whatever anger or indignation they had quickly turned into horrified terror when members of the 'Top Ten' started to list down at least some of the misdeeds that they had done, with scandalous accuracy, in public. Various celebrities, politicians, religious figures, "champions of progress" and "brave victims" quickly became social pariahs overnight as a result. After the "first wave of revelations", none dared to speak ill about the decision made by the Galactic Council though it did result in an "anti-alien cult" that was rather easily dealt with at a later time.

Ironically, the terrifyingly effective culling of the "false idols" had allowed others to rise to take their place. However, unlike their predecessors, they knew the dangers of facing aliens with psychic abilities which meant that only those rare few who were genuinely willing to risk having all their crimes exposed would dare to rise above the rest of the competition. Of course, many failed but it just meant that the surviving few "big shot criminals" who were able to become a part of the wider galaxy were quite often human criminals with unusually strong conviction and self-control.

Both Victor and Khanos could be considered as examples of such human criminals in the galaxy.

"Now, before you die, allow me to tell you this. Real power is not given to those who are born with strength, speed, intellect, talent or riches. No, real power is given to those who have the conviction to do what must be done, not matter the cost nor the risk of losing," said Victor who then stepped aside to reveal a rabbit-like Pikupiku male who had clearly suffered abuse before.

Recognising the Pikupiku as a previous victim, Knuck'Leks realised, "You're... the informant?"

"Well, now you know that being small has its advantages," said Victor who took out a syringe and knelt down while asking the Pikupiku, "Are you certain that you want this? Once I inject this experimental combat stimulant into you, there is no turning back. Dying now could in fact be considered a mercy compared to accepting this."

"I know," replied the Pikupiku who then looked up at Knuck'Leks with a hateful fury in his eyes that the Tran'Kweerian never knew was even possible for the meek rabbit-like race as he growled, "but I cannot forgive this... monster for what he and his followers have done to my mate and my children. I am done being powerless... done being helpless. For better or for worse, I... need to do this before I rejoin them."

Victor wore a sad smile as he spoke kindly to the Pikupiku, "Then, for all that is it worth, you have my deepest thanks for being both an invaluable informant and a willing test subject of this drug. Also, though I have no family of my own, I know what it means to love someone like family." Before he injected the drug into the Pikupiku, he softly said, "In memory of all that we cherish."

The Pikupiku wore a bitter smile as he gazed at Victor tearfully and said, "In memory of all that we cherish."

As Victor injected the drug into the Pikupiku, Knuck'Leks realised that the guards were leaving the room with the horrifying implication that he was about to be left alone inside a locked room with what could be described as, in human terms, "a grieving Pikupiku with a grudge and on roid-rage".

The change was near instantaneous as the Pikupiku suddenly convulsed and seemed to swell in size. As Victor left the room and locked it behind him, Knuck'Leks realised that the chains that bound him had been loosened due to the unlocking of remote-controlled locks. However, the Tran'Kweerian's sense of growing terror did not abate at all as he stood up and armed himself with the chains while staring fearfully at the Pikupiku who had been drugged with the experimental combat stimulant. Seemingly aware that the Tran'Kweerian had just been freed, the Pikupiku glared at Knuck'Leks with mad rage in his eyes before charging towards him with a fury that would have alarmed even brave warriors from dangerous 'Death Worlds'.

Knuck'Leks screams of terror quickly turned into pathetic whimpers for mercy before he drew his last breath...

---

Author's Note(s):

- Given some of the topics touched in this chapter, I have decided to update/expand the timeline, which, thankfully, did not require any rewriting or retconning of the original texts (other than the first list of timeline events which was pretty bare-bones at some parts).

General Timeline (Readjusted with no need to change the main texts):
- Humans have succeeded in colonising the moon and Mars, thus earning the right to be considered for integration by the Galactic Council.
- The Polypians volunteer to be allied with humans to help them get used to living as members of the Galactic Council.
- During the trial period, certain humans were deemed as unfit for even consideration as potential members of the galactic community.
- Some humans start living on a Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child'.
- Humans choose the Slitaras as allies to help them recover from near-extinction.
- Humans, after passing the trial period, become official members of the Galactic Council.
- Soon after becoming official members, humans choose the Cephaloids as allies instead of the Deepowns.
- Humans become allies with the Dinorexes.
- Humans become allies with the Tardaswines. Tardaswine blood plays a key role in saving the Slitaras.
- Humans become allies with the Fenrids.
- Humans choose the Gobloids as allies in spite of being offered an alliance with the Elvarans.
- Humans manage to introduce Halloween to the aliens on Terra's Child.
- The aliens on 'Terra's Child' realise the horror of "stinky human cuisine".
- Humans, along with other races on 'Terra's Child', aid the Sonarins. The Sonarins later choose humans as allies.
- Humans, along with some allies, attack a criminal colony to apprehend the ones responsible for two terrible crimes. (Debut Battle)
- Humans inspire the youths of the Pikupiku to "rebel" against their own culture as a timid race.
- Humans encounter a Nebula Swarm hive for the first time, uncover a hidden truth of the species and receive a 'fungal seed' as a gift.
- The Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed' is given to the Sonarins as a gift.
- A "human benefactor" provides advanced stealth technology to human Space Pirates who were unwitting test subjects.
...
- In the distant future, the Pikupiku will play a critical role in saving the Galactic Council from a conspiracy born from corruption within.

---

Relevant Links:

- https://archiveofourown.org/works/64851736/chapters/166674670

Chapter Text

Peter could arguably be considered as a young man who descended from a "genetic line of nerds" as both his father and paternal grandfather were scientists. In fact, his father was currently working as a member of 'Humanity's Science and Research Division' on the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child'. As for Peter's biological mother... there was a messy divorce which happened many years ago and Peter was glad that his father got the support of alien psychics that could read minds during the trial.

Currently, his father was busy inventing a detection device that could, in theory, detect those who were using a stealth device capable of avoiding detection from even psychic races. However, due to the lack of the "target device", which self-destructed soon after it had allowed a small gang of human Space Pirates to successfully sneak past a whole star fleet undetected, progress was slow at the moment.

Technology related to psychic abilities was actually rather common in the known galaxy. After all, restraints that suppressed psychic powers were a must if a psychic being got arrested. Psychic boosters, while mainly used for long-distance communication, were also known throughout the galaxy. There were also various devices which made controlling machines, including prosthetics, with thoughts alone possible. As such, a device that could block off detection by psychic races was by no means completely inconceivable. The main issue though was the difficulty of getting such a stealth device to work right. After all, simply creating a "Shadow in the Force" to avoid detection would just end up alerting every nearby psychic that something was wrong for a different reason. Potentially useful for making a distraction, admittedly, but not for getting past the guards without alerting them.

The current hypothesis, based on a few surprisingly successful tests with the help of a certain infamous peeper, was that the device, rather than block out psychic detection completely, simply dulled it enough to mistake something for "psychic background noise". A difficult and delicate process but not impossible to achieve if one was willing to use high-performance artificial intelligence to constantly monitor and calibrate the "psychic stealth field" by the second.

Fortunately for the Galactic Council, it was apparent that building and properly maintaining even a few stealth devices that could successfully block off psychic detection would cost a fortune due to not only the required parts and artificial intelligence but also the large amount of power needed to power its functions. That was not even counting the apparent impossibility of miniaturising the technology beyond "being possible to be carried around by a small transport vehicle" even with the assistance of the technologically advanced Cybrids. Even so, the potential threat posed by the stealth devices remained very real.

"Well, not like I can do much to help them solve the issue," thought Peter who was currently building a lightweight device which was meant for a friend of his, a small rabbit-like Pikupiku named Chuchichi. The device was essentially a harness that would allow a Pikupiku to travel quickly with the aid of a pair of retractable "grappling guns" placed around the waist. The guns could be controlled with a headgear which would allow a Pikupiku to mentally activate the guns to shoot or retract. At the end of each grappling rope was a grappling claw which could open or close with a mental command from the same headgear. Peter also thought of adding retractable gliding wings so that a Pikupiku would be able to glide from a higher elevation when needed. No one wanted to see a cute bunny-like Pikupiku go "splat" after all.

After a bit of tinkering, Peter decided that he needed a break and stretch his legs. As such, the nerdy young man with brown hair and eyes left his room with his current personal project half-completed. Little did he realise that a small "mini-mech" that was piloted by a single insectoid alien had been observing his work. After making sure that Peter had exited the room with no intention of returning back any time soon, with the help of a few "team members" who were stationed outside the room, the 'mini-mech' landed onto the table and did a quick scan of the harness that Peter had been making. Seemingly satisfied with the design of the harness, the Mini-mech took out a piece of paper, used a miniature laser beam to "write" a message for him and signed the resulting message before leaving. The message read:

"Dear Peter, your design is, to put it in human terms, a little amateurish. That being said, I am impressed with your ability to build a small yet functionally practical harness which has both grappling hooks and glider wings, both of which can be controlled with mental commands. Your willingness to build a custom-made harness for your friend is a token of friendship that deserves praise, connections to your father who is currently working under me notwithstanding. As such, if you are willing, I would like to collaborate with you to help complete the harness. As it is your personal project, I will simply be an advisor and helper in testing the harness. If proven successful, it may even serve as a potential tool for the Pikupiku race as a whole for civilian and possibly even military uses. Regardless of your decision, I am sure you will know how to get in touch with me if you wish to respond to my message. Yours sincerely, Sha-Strika."

Satisfied with the message, the insectoid-piloted 'mini-mech', which was one of the many creations of an entire race of small hive-minded insectoids known as the Cybrids, inserted the letter beneath the stand onto which the harness had been placed and left the room without a word.

Cybrids, while infamous for being able to easily spy on others, were often honest and polite towards those who had won their favour.

---

In a separate part of the mothership, 'Terra's Child', inside one of its many hangars for star ships to be specific, a demonstration was taking place.

Peter's father, a tall and skinny man with brown hair and eyes named Richard Benson, stood before a gathering of ambassadors and military representatives. Standing beside Richard was a short man of Japanese descent with black curly hair and eyes which were red due to augmentation with ocular implants, Midou Minoru.

Bel-Khanor, an ambassador of the elf-like Elvarans, glared at Minoru disdainfully and asked, "Professor Benson, why is that pervert here?"

Well aware that Minoru was responsible for a certain infamous "Peeper Incident", Richard sighed and said, "He's here because, like it or not, he has willingly volunteered to help us solve the dilemma of that 'stealth device'."

It should be noted that, in spite of being a voyeuristic pervert who liked to peep at "sexy ladies", including those from other races, Minoru only peeped at "sexy ladies" who were not underage. That was not much comfort for the Elvaran ladies whom Minoru deemed as "too creepy-looking to peep at" though.

"Does that mean that you humans have finally figured out a way to detect that 'stealth device'?" asked Flissha, a humanoid fish-like Deepown and the ambassador among her kind on Terra's Child. Her tone made it clear that she was suspiciously doubtful of their success.

"Unfortunately, no. However, with approval from Ambassador Michael Bakers and Admiral Duke Hazard, among others whose identities I have been told not to reveal at the moment, my team and I, along with the assistance of Midou Minoru, have come up with something that might be able to help mitigate the possible threat that," answered Richard.

"And what would that be?" asked Chachuupi, the ambassador of the rabbit like Pikupiku and the father of a certain Pikupiku named Chachanpi.

"The solution is to create a combat vehicle that could transform to adapt to changing circumstances," answered Richard.

It was a well-known fact throughout the known galaxy that humans in general were unusually keen on flexibility, customization and improvisation. One memorable example of their subconscious love for flexibility, customization and improvisation was the time when, after being given a few large-sized transport trading star ships by the bipedal tortoise-like Kappoids as an offering for peaceful coexistence, humans proceeded to convert a few of the said star ships, which were supposed to be for civilian use, into actual battleships with fully functional weapons that were clearly modified versions of technologies provided by various other races. Though the ships looked like messily-cobbled pieces of random parts, the scrappy-looking ships quickly proved their worth when a small fleet of Space Pirate star ships tried to attack them during a transport mission with their unmodified counterparts which were carrying civilians and cargo. To put a long story short, the Space Pirates were swiftly defeated through the use of ludicrous amounts of firepower and fleets of smaller star ships that were clearly based on the unarmed scouting vessels of the humanoid bird-like Avianites but modified to function as combat fighters and bombers.

Another memorable incident was when humans used donated Cybrid technology to, of all things, build a whole series of robotic toys that could transform into various vehicles. True, humans had used the technology for more productive purposes such as remote-controlled drones that could help with maintenance, repair and rescue operations but no one had expected humans to consider making admittedly well-designed toys as a priority. The toys were so well-made that even the prideful Elvarans were impressed.

So far, only the goblin-like Gobloids were equal to humans when it came to putting seemingly random parts together to build something scrappy yet somehow functional.

Rustfang, the ambassador of the humanoid wolf-like Fendrids, raised a brow and asked, "I thought humans have always prioritised flexibility in combat?" His statement had truth as he knew humans had made powered armour, vehicles, mechs and star ships which could be quickly customised with modular parts before battle or even while getting repaired after battle. These modular parts ranged from different types of weapons to jet-packs, shield generators and even semi-autonomous drones.

Some of the powered armour, vehicles and mechs even had alternate modes to fulfil different roles during combat such as a medium battle tank which could transform into a stationary siege cannon for long-range bombardment and a tank-like battle mech with six spider-like legs that could transform its legs to become a stable stationary turret with its power supply more fully devoted to protective energy shields and destructive energy weapons. The human military even had "semi-standardized protocols" on making improvised weapons or tools out of the still-functional parts of partially-destroyed vehicles.

"That is true, but we're not talking about small transformations from one mode to another. We're talking about a more significant transformation. In this case, a fast-flying fighter-class starship that could transform into a humanoid battle mech," answered Richard.

"Wait, are we talking about something similar to those transforming robotic toys that you humans seem to like so much?" asked Chachuupi who honestly found the toys a little too pro-violence for his liking. To his dismay, a growing number of rebellious Pikupiku youths, including his own daughter, had come to think otherwise.

"Basically, yes," confirmed Richard.

A minotaur-like alien who towered over Rustfang, who was already over two human-metres tall in height, named Minas-Carne hummed as he spoke, "While I can see the appeal of flexibility to better respond to ambushes and sudden shifts during combat, I also see several issues with the proposition." As a member of a race of mighty yet noble warriors from a 'Death World', the Tauronites, Minas-Carne was an ambassador skilled in both combat and diplomacy. It should be noted that, similar to the Elvarans, the Tauronites were members of the 'Top Ten' who were below only to the 'Big Four' and the 'One Above All' within the 'Top Ten'.

Yes, most Tauronites had muscular bodies and the females had breasts and wide hips.

Bel-Khanor nodded and said, "A machine that can transform between two separate forms to fulfill two contrasting roles will most likely be less efficient in either role compared to machines that, while certainly more limited in use, are more efficient in what they can do. That is not even counting both the complexity of making and piloting such a machine, let alone the cost of making it. There is a reason why only Cybrids have been truly successful in making machines that can rapidly switch to different forms for fulfilling different roles during combat."

As hive-minded insectoids with small bodies, Cybrids could build up to thousands of small mechs and vehicles, each one piloted by a single insectoid member of a colony's hive mind, which could transform and combine together into larger machines. This made combating Cybrids in war extremely difficult as a massive "cloud" of swarming piloted machines could suddenly combine into a massive titanic machine within seconds.

"Which is why it's role will be mainly for support in space combat, for now," said Richard who then explained, "As long as its top speed is at least above average, it will be unlikely to hold back a travelling star fleet of unless it is composed of only fast-moving starships. We can also use advanced artificial intelligence to help its pilot by letting it manage the various systems required for both transformation and combat efficiency in either form. The frame is also designed to allow rapid transformation yet also durable enough to take at least a bit of a beating before its systems start to fail. Given the proper gear, it can serve a wide variety of support functions that may make even the stealthiest Space Pirate or enemy army cautious."

"A persuasive argument, but one that requires a proper demonstration to fully convince us," said a Nagarom ambassador named Tha'rok. Similar to Minas-Carne and Bel-Khanor, Tha'rok's people, who were lizardmen with dragon-like scales and horns, were members of the 'Top Ten'. Though mainly a race of keen-eyed traders, the Nagaroms were mighty warriors in their own right. 

It should be noted that, among the Nagaroms, the males tended to be muscular with broad shoulders while the females tended to be more slender with wider hips and softer bodies. Ironically enough, Nagarom females were taller and heavier than males on average.

Also, unlike the snake-like Slitaras who had humanoid upper bodies with snake-like heads and tails, the Nagaroms had no breasts at all.

Richard nodded at Minoru and said, "Well, as agreed, you get to pilot the machine."

Minoru grinned and cheered, "Oh, hell yeah!"

"Are you sssure that letting him pilot it isss a good idea?" asked a snake-like Slitara named Zessarr, the ambassador of her kind and the mother of a certain Slitara named Xessass. She was also one of Minoru's "peeping victims" so she was understandably apprehensive about the idea of him piloting an experimental transforming machine.

Richard smiled and replied, "Well, being a pervert aside, he does want this project to actually succeed and, if someone like him can pilot it, it'll be proof that piloting it will be easier than some of you may be expecting right now." His smile widened into a smug grin as he spoke, "Also, if he does actually try anything, I'm sure Sha-Strika will be less than pleased with him."

Minoru shuddered as he spoke, "I'm willing to risk a lot for the sake of fulfilling my desires, but getting swarmed by an army of insects in tiny mechs with pointy bits is one risk I'm NOT willing to take." He then wore a big grin on his face as he asked rhetorically, "But come on, who doesn't love the idea of piloting a transforming mech? It's every nerd's romantic dream!"

"Wait, Sha-Strika's one of the supporters for the project?" asked Bel-Khanor.

"That's correct," confirmed a seemingly mechanical entity with six legs which was actually the 'hive-mech' of a colony of insectoids with a collective hive mind named Sha-Strika.

"Oh, may we know the reason for your interest in their project?" asked Tha'rok.

"During the tests to find a possible mechanism for the stealth device, it created what can be best described as, to reference a modified human phrase, a 'Shadow in the Force'," explained Sha-Strika who the grimly added, "The resulting area of effect basically weakened or even nullified various psychic abilities, including telepathy."

The implication quickly became clear as everyone knew that many of the Cybrids' greatest strengths relied on the innate ability for all members of the colony to coordinate together as a single multi-tasking entity through the use of telepathy. Without that telepathic connection, the hive-mind would fail to properly coordinate the many members of its colony.

"Even as we speak, my kind is finding ways to prevent the issue from becoming a severe weakness. In the meantime, having even an imperfect alternative is preferable to having none," said Sha-Strika.

Toa-Vanu, a humanoid bird-like Avianite nodded and said, "This is the first time in the history of the Galactic Council that someone has truly succeeded in creating a device that could, even if only temporarily, potentially be used to weaken or nullify psychic abilities within an area of effect." Left unsaid that it was probably human researchers who worked for a human Cartel Trader that had made the discovery by mistake.

"Then we must endeavour to further advance our own technologies to be better prepared for future... 'unpleasant surprises'," said Rustfang. Many others nodded in agreement with him. As a member of a race that was allied to humans, Rustfang knew that humans had a tendency to make unpleasant surprises like what had happened during an infamous "Surströmming Incident".

"Right, without further ado, let's show you the result of our research," said Richard.

Minoru grinned and announced dramatically, "Presenting... the 'Cyberclone: Tactical Void-Craft Mark 1'!"

When a cloth-covered object was revealed with the help of Sha-Strika's "mini-mechs" that took the large piece of cloth away, various aliens were... surprised yet aware that they should have expected it.

As previously mentioned, humans in general had a subconscious desire for flexibility, customization and improvisation. That desire, combined with the various works of fiction that humans had created over the course of their history as a race, meant that many types of human inventions were modified with donated alien technology or donated alien technology were modified to fit various human purposes. Therefore, one could argue that the blocky-looking fighter-class starship, which was clearly a humanoid mech which had "folded itself" to assume a form similar to that of a fighter-type starship, was the end result of humans trying to bring one of their more fantastical works of fiction to life with the aid of donated alien technology.

A moment of silence passed before a Gobloid ambassador named Thuskin-Grokka grinned and said, "I want one!"

Michael Bakers, a human ambassador with brown hair and green eyes who had stayed silent so that Richard and Minoru could do their presentation uninterrupted, chuckled and said, "I'll be sure to let you know when we start building more of them and can spare a few."

"Well, I'm going in!" announced Minoru as he quickly got into the cockpit of the fighter-class starship. As Minoru got into the cockpit, a few hundred "mini-mechs" that belonged to Sha-Strika flew into the cockpit of the starship to form a roughly humanoid form that sat on the rear seat as a co-pilot. It should be noted that Minoru was wearing a skin-tight suit meant to help pilots handle high-speed flights beneath his clothes and that there was a helmet for him to wear inside the cockpit.

"Ready when you are!" said Minoru after he had put on his helmet and closed the cockpit.

Richard nodded and said, "Prepare to launch in 3. 2. 1! Blast off!"

The starship flew out of the hangar and into space. As expected, its maximum speed was not as fast as the fastest true fighter-class starship but it could maintain a top speed that was indeed above average. In fact, to the surprise of many aliens, it was actually flying well above average thanks to the inbuilt thrusters in what were obviously the "legs".

Suddenly, while in mid-flight, the starship transformed into a humanoid mech which looked as if it was wearing a winged jetpack for flight. Though slower than its starship form, it was significantly more agile as it could quickly turned around and, after doing a "180 degree turn", rapidly transform back into its starship form to fly in the opposite direction within seconds. It then transformed back to its humanoid form while armed with what were basically a shield that could generate a protective energy field and a massive version of a "chain-sword" which could generate a spinning energy field to form a "cutting edge". It was also striking a pose that was supposed to look "cool".

"All systems are still optimally functional," reported Sha-Strika.

Minoru whooped, "This. Is. Freaking! AWESOME!" As he cheered, the mech did a rather silly-looking dance.

Impressed by the display, Zessarr said, "While it'sss top ssspeed is below that of the fassstessst fliersss known, asss expected, it isss sssignifcantly more agile than expected." As a serpentine Slitara, she considered agility as a vital part of a military force.

"They will certainly be useful as support for our usual star fleets, especially for escorting larger vessels and defending strategic locations," said Tha'rok who could already imagine using them support units that could also act as guards during an emergency.

"While the display is undoubtedly impressive, which I am willing to wager is at least partly because Sha-Strika herself was involved in the creation process, I am of the opinion that further testing in the field, including a military exercise or two, should be done to better confirm that this 'human creation' can indeed fulfil its intended role," said Bel-Khanor.

A man who appeared aged yet was still fit and strong named Admiral Duke Hazard nodded and said, "I have no problem with the suggestion for further field testing. Better to have my boys and girls face problems during a field test or a military exercise than during an actual battle. However, we intend to proceed with building at least a few more of the 'Cyberclone Tactical Void-Crafts' to form a small fleet with trained pilots. That way, we have a fleet which we can test more effectively yet also put to immediate use during an emergency."

Toa-Vanu nodded approvingly and said, "A sound compromise between making progress and ensuring quality control before proceeding to standardised production."

Little did the various aliens realise that Minoru, in spite of mainly specialising in technological implants, had actually prepared design concepts for mechs that possessed different body forms and yet could transform into various vehicles. The concepts would later be shared with various alien races that had become close allies with humans.

---

Author's Note(s):

- In case anyone asks, you can refer to 'Diaclone' as a reference for the transforming mech.

---

Relevant Links (including links for certain visual references):

- https://archiveofourown.org/works/64851736/chapters/166674670

- https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/modern-mogal/maiddragon-origin/viewer?title_no=228972&episode_no=92

- https://overlordmaruyama.fandom.com/wiki/Lizardman

- https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/the-top-dungeon-farmer/ep-48-ox-king-storms-in/viewer?title_no=5656&episode_no=48

- https://xcom.fandom.com/wiki/Viper_(XCOM_2)

Chapter Text

As a rabbit-like Pikupiku, Chuchichi did not consider himself as particularly brave but he liked to think that he had gotten at least a little bit braver than before he met his new friends, some of whom originated from actual 'Death Worlds'.

He also liked to think that he was wise enough to know the difference between a risk that was worthwhile taking with a risk that was simply to insane to even consider.

Trying out an experimental 'Omni-directional Mobility Harness', which had a pair of "retractable grappling guns" and two pairs of retractable gliding wings, was getting dangerously close to being "too insane to even consider" in Chuchichi's honest opinion. A single head-on collision could lead to a serious injury or worse. However, the appeal of being able to move in just about any direction and even glide in the air was simply too appealing for the Pikupiku who wanted to be able to do more than just ride on his family's small mammoth-like Snorkan, Frumpowhumps.

On a side note, he had been hearing rumours from his neighbour, Chachanpi, about a group of Pikupiku of their own age group who wanted to try making a vehicle that could transform into a type of powered armour or mech. Granted, the Pikupiku had their own powered armour and mech technology but they tended to be used for logistics, construction and rescue work. Since there was already a whole series of robotic toys made by humans that could transform into various vehicles, Chuchichi as certain that his peers would not be lacking in potential ideas, or parts, for their endeavour.

While Chuchichi did not mind the idea of having his own vehicle that could transform onto a mech or powered armour, he was too attached to Frumpowhumps to ever consider replacing it with a vehicle hence his desire to have a harness that would greatly increase his mobility instead.

Currently, Chuchichi was standing at the top of a building, 'Terra's Fire and Rescue Fighters' Station' to be precise, while wearing the 'Omni-directional Mobility Harness' and a specialised helmet with goggles that would allow him to control the harness with his mind. The fire and rescue fighters, including their human leader and representative, Drake Howlett, were standing outside the building while holding a large piece of cloth to help catch Chuchichi in case anything went wrong.

Yes, they had volunteered to help Chuchichi try out the harness.

A few of Chuchichi's friends, which included a certain Peter Benson who was the maker of the harness, were standing outside the building too. One of Peter's housemates, a humanoid wolf-like Fenrid female named Sunspear, asked loudly, "Are you sure you got this?"

"Honestly... m-maybe?" replied Chuchichi who was not ashamed to admit that he was getting second thoughts about making a "leap of faith". True, there were people below who would help to catch him and break his fall but the situation was getting rather nerve-wracking since Pikupiku were not meant to fly in the air like bird.

Piloting a flying machine that had several safety features like in-built parachutes and air bags did not count.

In spite of his nerves, Chuchichi wanted to be brave enough to at least glide for a bit. As for the "grappling guns", everyone had agreed that testing them would be done at a later date as testing the glider, which could act like a parachute in an emergency, took priority. Chuchichi took a deep breath to calm his nerves before he nodded to himself and did a running leap over a ramp into the air. As he jumped off the building and into the air, he could have sworn that he saw his life flash before his eyes. Then, just as he started to fall, he quickly thought, "Activate wings!"

Activated by his thoughts through the specialised helmet, two pairs of insect-like wings emerged from the upper half of his harness, thus allowing him to glide in the air. He then grabbed onto the handles on the larger front pair of wings, thus granting him the ability to control his flight through the air. 

As Chuchichi glided past the "safety net", he felt a thrill as he smiled in joy and thought, "I'm gliding. I'm REALLY GLIDING!"

While Chuchichi cheered in joy, Drake grinned and though, "You know, someone back on Earth once said that gliding is 'falling with style'."

Krax'yl, a velociraptor-like Dinorex male and a fellow member of the fire and rescue fighters, grinned and said, "Well, he's certainly doing it with style."

"Uh... shouldn't someone catch up with him before he glides too far?" asked Zrr'tara, a Polypian female with five eyes, six tentacle-arms and four stumpy legs. She was also the secretary of the fire and rescue fighters. 

"Good point," said Drake before he called out to Chuchichi's friends who were cheering for their little friend, "Hey, you kids might want to catch up with him before he flies too far without knowing how to land!"

Realising that Chuchichi was indeed gliding farther and farther away, Peter paled and said, "Crap, we got to go!"

Kurosaki Kimihito, a young human man of Japanese descent and a friend of Peter, said, "Let's catch him before someone, or something, else does!" The group of friends soon started running to catch up with the "runaway Pikupiku".

"Thanksss for helping usss!" said a snake-like Slitara female named Xessass before she sped off with the rest of Chuchichi's friend group.

"Anytime," said Sskirass, another Slitara female who was a member of Drake's team, while waving at the departing group.

A goblin-like Gobloid male named Ghurska-Thrakkon snickered at the comical sight and asked, "So, what are the chances that those kids are going to end up running into a bit of trouble before the day is over?"

Stoneclaw, a male Fenrid, smirked as he glanced at his fellow team member of the fire and rescue fighters and said, "Knowing humans in general, at least a fifty/fifty."

"Hey, come on! We're not THAT trouble-prone!" argued Drake who had a grin on his face.

"I distinctively remember a certain incident that involved, of all things, a toilet bowl," said a worm-like Tardaswine female named Blarg-Blox. She was a member of Drake's team and had an unmistakable deadpan look on her face while standing on her four hind legs so that she could cross her two front legs together.

Drake blushed and grumbled, "I'm pretty sure I told you guys to never bring up that incident..."

As the fire and rescue fighters laughed at their leader's expense, a certain Pikupiku named Chuchichi finally realised that he was in trouble as he yelled in panic, "H-how do I land this thing?!?!"

Fortunately, no one got hurt but it was clear that further testing and training with the harness would be needed before Chuchichi could consider himself as an experienced user.

---

Author's Note(s):

- Decided to do a short and light-hearted chapter.

---

Relevant Links:

- https://archiveofourown.org/works/64851736/chapters/166674670

Chapter Text

It was a well-known fact that the Galactic Council ruled the known parts of the galaxy. It was also a well-known fact that there were still parts of the galaxy which the Galactic Council had yet to discover or officially declared as fully explored. In fact, one of the purposes of the mothership-class starships, such as 'Terra's Child', was to help reveal previously undiscovered planets which might lie, as humans would put it, 'right beneath the nose'.

A humanoid bird-like Avianite male named Toa-Vanu hummed thoughtfully as he gazed upon a planet which had lush jungle habitats and said, "Well, this is certainly an unexpected surprise."

"It appears to be an undiscovered 'Feral World' with no established civilization," said a Cybrid named Sha-Strika. As a large colony of small insectoids with a collective hive-mind intelligence, she was capable of multitasking to a degree that most would not even hope to match. The queen of the colony was, as was the usual for her kind, inside a six-legged 'hive-mech' with no less than a few thousand of her brood.

Ryl'anur, a bipedal tortoise-like Kappoid, said, "Then it would be wise to leave the world alone after doing a preliminary scan and send the results to the rest of the Galactic Council before conducting further study."

"I'm afraid that we have no time to wait for that," said Sha-Strika who then revealed a picture of a starship which had clearly been badly damaged and abandoned for a long while.

Both Toa-Vanu and Ryl'anur frowned as they realised the implications of the picture.

---

"As you can see, this is a picture of a ruined transport starship which is comparable to a corvette-class military starship in size. The fact that there is no official record of this planet's existence within the Galactic Council in spite of the presence of the ruined starship implies many things, none of them particularly good," explained Sha-Strika as she spoke to a gathering of ambassadors and military leaders on board Terra's Child.

For context, corvette-class starships were one of the smallest types of military starships in the Galactic Council. Only fighter-class and bomber-class starships were consistently smaller than the corvette-class.

"Should we expect Space Pirate presence?" asked an aged yet strong-looking human man named Admiral Duke Hazard.

"While we do suspect Space Pirate involvement, we believe that they are not present on the planet or nearby it. Even so, caution is highly advised," said Sha-Strika who then revealed pictures of various six-legged predators that included an actual dragon-like beast with scales.

"The question now is whom we should send to the planet to investigate the crash site," said an elf-like Elvaran male named Bel-Khanor.

"We can send in a few 'Cyberclones'," suggested Admiral Duke who was referring to a recent human invention which were mechs that could transform into fighter-class starships.

"Oh, why them?" asked Tha'rok, a lizardman-like Nagarom.

"While they are mainly for battles in space, various tests have confirmed that they can enter a planet's atmosphere and then return back to space with no issue. The tests have also confirmed that they capable of flight even in their mech forms, provided that the planet's gravity is not too extreme compared to Earth's gravity. Granted, they may not be able to help much with data extraction, surveillance or investigation but they should be able to help assist and protect the investigation team both in the air and on the ground," explained Admiral Duke.

"He is correct about the test results," confirmed Sha-Strika who then added, "As one of the supporters of the project, I support the idea as it will be an opportunity for field testing."

"The 'Cyberclonesss' can act asss both aerial essscortsss for the transssport ssstarssshipsss and guardsss on the ground to protect the sssurveillance team," said a serpentine Slitara named Zessarr who seemed to approve of the idea.

"The team will still need protection from threats that the transforming mechs cannot handle due to being too large though," said Minas-Carne, a minotaur-like Tauronite.

"Then we send in two armed transport starships, each one carrying a mixture of members from both the investigation team and their security team," suggested Tha'rok.

"My warriors have keen senses which may help with both the protection of the investigation team and finding any possible clues about the ruined starship," offered a humanoid wolf-like Fenrid male named Rustfang.

"We too will asssissst in thisss endeavour. We know our way around tight cornersss and obssstaclesss," said Zessarr. Though mainly urban fighters, her kind were skilled in jungle warfare as well since there were many places they could hide in and strike from.

Minas-Carne smiled at both Rustfang and Zessarr and said, "Well, with so many eager volunteers, I suppose it is only fair that my people send at least one warrior to help protect the investigation team."

"We would like to help too."

All eyes turned to a short humanoid bat-like Sonarin female named Shria'kha-laa, the leader of the Sonarins currently living on 'Terra's Child' and the unofficial ambassador among her kind.

Ryl'anur stroked his chin and said, "Oh, is there any reason why you wish to help?"

"The creatures on that world may see us as prey or threats. My people may be able to convince them to not attack us," answered Shria'kha-laa who then added, "Also, who knows what the Space Pirates could have done after crash-landing onto the planet, or even before that?"

Well aware that a group of Space Pirates and Cartel Traders had tried to enslave the Sonarins in the past, a cruel endeavour which was thankfully foiled by a noble yet tragic sacrifice, none questioned Shria'kha-laa's desire to somehow do something about the current issue.

---

Before long, two armed transport starships flew down to the planet alongside four Cyberclone mechs which could transform into fighter-class starships. As the two transport starships landed onto the surface of the planet, the Cyberclone mechs transformed into their mech forms and formed a protective perimeter around the two starships.

The first ones to exit the starships were the security team which made up of two Fenrid soldiers, two Slitara soldiers and two Tauronite warriors. This was followed by a team of scientists who knew how to obtain information from starships, including ruined ones which had intact databanks. The team of scientists included an octopus-like Cephaloid male, a five-eyed Polypian male, an Elvaran female and a human male of Japanese descent named Midou Minoru. There was even a Sonarin volunteer, a female among her kind named Skree'lah-luu.

"Yeesh, that ship looks even worse up-close," said Minoru who, while a brilliant genius, was also a voyeuristic pervert that had been punished by being made to work for 'Humanity's Science and Research Division'. Currently, he was working as a volunteer so that he could earn his parole sooner. Plus, his "illegally augmented" eyes were actually useful for the investigation.

"It has certainly seen better days," said Skree'lah-luu. Although her kind were in the "stone age" when they were first discovered by the Galactic Council, she had seen enough working starships to reasonably assume that the ruined wreck was in no shape to even start its engines.

"Hopefully, the databanks in that starship are still salvageable," said the Cephaloid who was a member of the research division for his kind on 'Terra's Child', Gr'laru.

"Well, there's only one way to find out," said Minoru who sighed in resignation.

"It's a good thing I'm staying behind to monitor your progress and relay information back to the mothership," said the Polypian member of the investigation team named Xl'karuu. As Polypians were a race of aliens with four stumpy legs each, no one expected them to be able to move at a fast pace. In spite of the lack of mobility, the five-eyes and six-tentacle-arms that each Polypian possessed meant that Xl'karuu was, like most of his race, naturally good at what counted as "deskwork". It should be noted that Polypians also possessed tube-shaped bodies and W-shaped mouths with two long prehensile tongues in each mouth.

The Elvaran member of the investigation team and its appointed leader, Sylvra-Tii, glared at Minoru and said, "Though it pains me to say this, you're authorised to activate the augmentations in your eyes." As one of Minoru's former "peeping victims", her dislike towards him was justified. After all, she was a member of the Elvarans' research division and a beauty among her kind, not a "creepy elf".

Minoru grinned and said, "Hell, it's about time!"

In theory, the augmentations in his eyes could be removed but it was decided that keeping the augmentations "password locked" would suffice to ensure that he could see normally with them and yet bet unable to use their "enhanced functions" to peep at anyone. Given the current situation, it could argued that the decision proved to be a wise one in hindsight.

As soon as Minoru activated the full capabilities of the augmentations in his eyes, he saw something in the trees that made him freeze.

Realising that Minoru was shocked, the psychic Elvaran leader of the investigation team asked, "What did you see?" Her dislike towards him aside, she knew that his shock was genuine.

"I see kids... human kids!"

Shocked by the revelation, one of the Cyberclone pilots, a young woman of Korean descent with dark-brown hair and eyes named Hana Miran, exclaimed, "Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm making a joke?" asked Minoru.

"Are they alive?" asked Skree'lah-luu.

Minoru's expression quickly became downright sheepish as he answered, "Yes, but there is a... 'little' complication."

It was at that very moment when every non-human in the entire group knew that the situation somehow involved a "uniquely human" brand of madness...

---

Bel-Khanor resisted the urge to pinch his nose in frustration as he took a deep calming breath and then said, "So... to put things in proper perspective, based on both the data that your team has managed to salvage and the children's testimonies, the starship belonged to a human Cartel Trader who wanted to sell orphaned children to the highest bidder on the Dark Market. While using an illegal Warp Gate, the said gate malfunctioned and caused the ship to crash-land onto the planet with no way to even call for help let alone take off, correct?"

"That is correct," confirmed Sylvra-Tii who was close to sighing in resignation.

"To top it all off, the children who managed to survive the initial crash somehow befriended a local lifeform, one of the apex predators no less, by, to quote from one of the human soldiers, 'pulling off an Androcles'," said Bel-Khanor.

Sylvra-Tii turned around to look at a group of three children who had chosen to stay close to a massive bear-sized beast that resembled a lion-like manticore of human myth with four clawed legs, a pair of bat-like wings and a tail which, while not covered in armour, was prehensile and had a bulbous tip that contained retractable venomous quills. One of the children, a little girl of Mexican descent named Ana, was even riding on the head of the beast as though it was a pony. The Elvaran scientist almost grimaced at the sight before she simply replied, "Yes."

"In the kids' defence, Leo chose to attack the Cartel Trader and his surviving men instead of attacking them when they were forced to enter his lair as bait," said Minoru who then asked, "Combined with the kids deciding to do everything they could to help him heal from his injuries after that fight, can you really blame them for getting attached to one another as a result?"

The fact that the children had named the manticore-like beast Leo was not lost to anyone.

Bel-Khanor knew what was going to happen as he sighed and said, "Honestly speaking, no, I can't." He then turned his attention towards the other military leaders and ambassadors and asked rhetorically, "We're going to take them all in, aren't we?"

Toa-Vanu could not help but make a cooing chuckle as he answered, "Yes, I believe we are."

Chapter Text

Ana Luna Rosas was just over three years old when her parents were killed by human gang members. Ever since that horrible event, she and her elder brother, Diego, were raised in an orphanage which was managed by a neglectful and abusive matron.

Although life had been hard for Ana and her brother, neither of them ever thought of blaming the "damned aliens" for their suffering. After all, it was other humans who killed their parents and it was their own human relatives who chose to forsake them rather than take them in, never mind the matron of the orphanage who was human too. Also, for all the matron's complaints about aliens making life miserable for her and other humans due to being able to read minds and refusing to "respect personal privacy", even Ana could tell that she hated the aliens simply because she could not get away with lying to them. After all, she constantly told lies to others to make herself look good.

Given the circumstances, it was little wonder that, for a long time, both Ana and her brother wanted to leave their place of birth and live elsewhere even if it meant living in space among aliens that could read their minds. Getting sold to human traffickers by the matron was a rather cruel twist to that wish.

Ana did not like to think about the days that followed after she and her brother, along with fellow orphans from the same orphanage, were sold to the human traffickers. Being locked in a cage with many other children, including children who had been taken from elsewhere, with no hope of freedom was horrible to say the least. Then, not long after the starship they were in started travelling into space, something went wrong. Neither Ana nor her brother knew much about starships, other than the fact they could fly into space, but they both knew that starships were not supposed to crash-land onto a planet.

The cries of other children with broken bodies, some of whom were already dying due to their injuries, still haunted Ana to the current day.

Due to the lack of care from the human traffickers, nearly half of the imprisoned children had died from their agonising injuries before a full day passed by. Admittedly, the human traffickers were not in a much better state themselves as many of them were either dead or too badly injured to do much of anything. Desperate to survive and unwilling to stay in a starship that was full of dead bodies which would surely attract unwanted attention, the human traffickers forced the surviving children who could walk to follow them and be "live baits". As for the surviving children who could not walk due to their injuries, they were callously left behind to die instead.

A one full day after the children and their cruel captors had left the ruined starship, they found a cave which could be used as a temporary shelter. Ana could still remember how one of the human traffickers held her hostage while her brother, who was armed with only a big stick at the time, hesitantly walked into the cave while shaking like a leaf in the wind. At the time, she tearfully feared that she would lose the only still-living member of her family who genuinely loved her.

Then, Leo appeared from behind the whole group.

Ana knew that what Leo did to her captors was terrible but she honestly did not feel bad about them getting ripped into pieces by the bear-sized alien that resembled a lion with bat-like wings and a long tail that had retractable venomous quills. However, Leo did not win the fight unscathed and was in fact rather badly hurt, at least in Ana's opinion at the time. In spite of Diego's worried protests, Ana refused to leave Leo behind after he had had basically saved them and the other children from their cruel captors. In the end, all the children who had been saved by Leo agreed to live with him for protection.

Sadly, by the time Ana and the other children returned to the ruined Starship to rescue those who had been left behind, there was no one left to save.

In spite of the tragic situation, Ana and the other children were able to survive surprisingly well with Leo's help. Besides protecting them from various other dangerous animals, he also shared meat with them and even wordlessly warned them about poisonous animals and plants. Combined with the still-functional tools that the children had managed to salvage from the ship and the dead human traffickers, the children managed to form their own little community in the wilderness of an alien planet with Ana as Leo's unofficial "owner".

The rest, as some would say, was history.

---

Ana, who was riding on Leo as usual, looked at her new surroundings with eyes wide in wonder. Unlike the cramped and dirty starship that she and so many others were imprisoned in, the huge mothership, 'Terra's Child' was clean, bright and spacious. In fact, the forested area they were in was large enough for Leo to glide if he wanted to. Speaking of alien animals, it should be noted that Leo had already received some "psychic training for pets" but would likely need a bit more before long.

"This place is so big!" exclaimed Ana.

A bird-like humanoid alien named Toa-Vanu made a cooing chuckle and said, "Indeed, it is, little one."

Diego, who was old enough to be considered a human teenager, asked Toa-Vanu warily, "Are you really going to take us in?"

Toa-Vanu nodded and said, "Given the circumstances that brought you all to that planet in the first place, simply returning you to Earth would have been a horribly irresponsible thing to do."

Of the twenty children who were supposed to be sold as slaves on the galactic Dark Market, only four managed to survive long enough to be rescued. Even more tragically, all the children had been discovered to be easy targets for human trafficking due to being orphans, unwanted or both.

"But you would have sent us back to Earth if we had families to return to," said Diego.

"Assuming that your relatives genuinely loved you, yes," confirmed Toa-Vanu who then added, "Of course, confirming that they truly love you will require a psychic evaluation. Should they fail the evaluation, they will be forced to face the consequences." His eyes hardened as he added, "As will the matron of a certain orphanage."

Diego stared at Toa-Vanu silently for a few seconds before he nodded and said, "Good."

As a victim of abuse from an alien-hating matron, the idea of that said matron getting judged and then punished by mind-reading aliens was karmically fitting in Diego's opinion.

Able to read Diego's mind due to being an Avianite with psychic abilities, Toa-Vanu reminded himself to arrange for counselling to help the children move past their horrible traumas. After all, saving them from dying would be meaningless if nothing was done to help their minds and hearts heal.

"E-excuse me, Mr Alien?" asked a timid girl who was of Brazilian descent named Iara Rio Santos. She was a child of a single mother whose job was... "adult" in nature. Though she never knew who her father was, her strikingly-blue eyes indicated that she was only part-Brazilian. Soon after her mother died from an illness that she had contracted from her work, Iara was kidnapped by human traffickers.

"Yes, Iara?" asked Toa-Vanu.

"Will we have to work to be allowed to stay here?" asked Iara.

Toa-Vanu hummed before he answered, "Yes, but only after you have grown up and learnt some skills that will allow you survive or find work. For now, what you children need the most is a chance to heal, learn and grow."

"A-and if we can't get a job here?" asked Iara who feared the worst.

Toa-Vanu sighed before he knelt down to look at her in the eyes and said, "I cannot promise you that nothing will go wrong. Life can be tragically unfair even to those who should have been blessed instead of cursed. However, you have my word that I and those whom I trust will do all that we can to help you so that you will be able to have a better life."

The last child, a Venezuelan girl named Mariala Gomez Miranda, frowned as she asked, "That's nice and all, but where will we be staying.?

Born in an abusive family who treated her badly, she chose to run away from them to live on her own. She was living on the streets when she got kidnapped by human traffickers.

Toa-Vanu smiled and answered, "Well, considering how attached you four have become to Leo, I cannot in good conscious have you separated from him in any significant way."

While Ana nodded vigorously in affirmative, Diego raised and eyebrow and asked, "Is there even a place we can stay close to Leo?"

Toa-Vanu made a cooing chuckle and said, "As a matter of fact, we do."

Soon, the children realised that Toa Vanu had led them to what seemed to be a an artificial rocky hill. Standing outside the said hill were a group of short people in clothes that covered their entire bodies. One of the short people stepped forward and said with a bow, "We, the Sonarins, welcome you all to our humble abode."

"Are their accommodations ready, Shria'kha-laa?" asked Toa-Vanu.

"Yes, though I regret to inform you all that the furnishing is a little lacking at the moment," answered Shria'kha-laa the leader of her kind living 'Terra's Child'.

"That's quite alright," replied Toa-Vanu who then beckoned the children and Leo to follow him. Soon they reached an entrance that led into an artificial cave system within the hill itself. The opening was large enough for Leo to comfortably walk in without needing to crouch low and the interior was even more spacious.

"Wow, even the cave is big!" exclaimed Ana.

Mariala was confused as she tilted her head and asked, "Why is there a rocky hill with a cave system in this ship?"

"That would be because of me."

The children turned around and saw a fellow human, a man with brown hair and green eyes named Michael Bakers, emerging from deeper within the cave system.

"You're not going to tell me you live in this place, are you?" asked Diego.

Michael snorted at the comical question and replied, "No, I don't. That being said, I am the guy who got this place built for the Sonarins so that they can more easily adjust to live on the mothership."

"What do you mean?" asked Ana.

"Well, they have sensitive eyes and ears so living in a busy city area would have been pretty stressful for them. That's not even counting the fact that, prior to becoming residents of Terra's Child, they used to live in caves like cavemen, hence why I figured that letting them live here is the best choice until they get more used to living on this mothership," answered Michael.

"So this big space was originally meant for them?" asked Diego.

"Yes," confirmed Michael.

"T-the Sonarins don't mind us u-using this space?" asked Iara.

"Nah, they don't mind. Other than their love for gothic fashion ad musical instruments, they don't really have much interest in hoarding worldly possessions," answered Michael who then added, "Besides, we're already planning an extension to this artificial rocky hill cave system so it's no trouble at all."

"Wait, they play music and sing songs?" asked Ana.

"Yup, and they're pretty good at them too," confirmed Michael.

"Good enough to impress even the Elvarans, in fact," said Toa-Vanu.

Ana looked down at Leo and asked innocently, "Are you okay living here, Leo?"

Leo walked around the interior of the cave chamber, which had minimal furnishing, before deciding to lie on top of what looked like a massive soft mattress. He then yawned, thus revealing his massive fangs, before resting his head onto his paws to nap.

"I'm pretty sure that's a 'Yes'," said Michael who had a broad grin on his face.

---

After making sure that the children had settled into their new home, which was shared with the humanoid bat-like Sonarins, Michael and Toa-Vanu decided to leave the Forest Biome of 'Terra's Child'. As they walked towards one of the public transport stations that would take them out of the biome, Toa-Vanu asked, "Have you sent word of this matter to the leaders of your world?"

Michael sighed and said, "I have but I'm afraid that, other than bringing the people who abused these children to justice, little else would get done."

"Is it because there are still humans who resent us for what we did all those years ago?" asked Toa-Vanu.

Michael nodded and said, "As much as I hate to admit it, there are still a lot of people who are utterly dependent on lies and delusions to get by let alone gain power and control. When you and the others revealed your ability to expose those lies and delusions for what they really were, well, let's just say that to those people it was be like realising that you could suddenly take away their very ability to breathe."

"Hence why anti-alien sentiment among humans is still so strong even after all these years," said Toa-Vanu.

"You may have gotten rid of a lot of powerful corrupt leaders and prevented those who remained from ever gaining enough power to threaten the peace on Earth and beyond, but there will always be more of their ilk who want to fill in the gaps left behind, including those who would burn even the very stars themselves to ash so that they can gain absolute power and control over the said ashes," said Michael who then bitterly added, "That's not even counting the people who will gladly follow them even if it means that they get burnt as well at the end."

"Is there truly no way to resolve this issue?" asked Toa-Vanu.

"No, not without risking a lot of bloodshed or worse," answered Michael.

"Not unlike what forced my kind to let go of our past ambitions and vices long ago then, I imagine," said Toa-Vanu.

As the ambassador of humanity on 'Terra's Child', Michael had access to information which was not readily available to humanity as large. One example of such information was how the Avianites used to be a race of cruel schemers with mad ambitions before they were collectively humbled as a race by the eldritch Void Watchers. He therefore nodded and said, "Something to that extreme, I'm afraid. Even then, I doubt it will completely fix the issue. To paraphrase a quote from Albert Einstein, even the universe might more finite than human stupidity."

"An evil person will make others suffer for his own benefit but a stupid person will make others suffer even if it results in his own suffering, be it in the long term or even in the short term," said Toa-Vanu who had read a certain "Five Basic Laws of Stupidity" and found it rather enlightening.

"And a stupid person will sooner lash out, the consequences be damned, than admit that he is wrong," said Michael.

"Which also means that they are truly incapable of acting rationally even when in the face of truth or utter damnation," said Toa-Vanu.

"Well, there is a reason why stupidity is considered to be an even greater existential threat than evil," said Michael.

Toa-Vanu shook his head and said, "Even after all this time, I still find it a little unusual how you humans so readily criticise your own kind to the point of stating that to be 'human' is to be flawed."

"With all due respect, Lord Toa-Vanu, it's not like you alien folks never criticise members of their own species," said Michael.

"True, but rarely to the same degree as yours, Michael," replied Toa-Vanu.

"Well, if you do not mind me being frank, I think that members of each non-human race behaves in more or less the same way, just with variations of the same personality template with the occasional extreme here and there. Us humans, though, we're pretty much 'anything goes' on the whole damn personality spectrum including the good, the bad and the dumbass," said Michael.

Toa-Vanu made a cooing laugh and said, "Yes, that certainly seems to be a pretty accurate assessment, both for humans and for everyone else." His eyes shone with elderly amusement as he added, "Though it can be argued that it is this very nature in humans that makes you capable of being creative in ways that so few throughout the galaxy can match."

"Doesn't stop some of us from being stupidly deluded, both by human standards and by alien standards," said Michael.

"No, it doesn't," agreed Toa-Vanu.

---

Author's Note(s):

- I will be taking a break as I want to focus on other things. Hopefully, I will be able to go back to fleshing out this universe some more before too long.

Chapter Text

A bird-like humanoid alien named Toa-Vanu blinked as he stared at the holographic projection of a fellow alien named Swallaros and asked, "Could you please repeat that?"

Swallaros, a humanoid alien with grey skin, completely black eyes and deadlock-like tentacles on the sides and back of his crested head sighed as he repeated himself, "A human male has somehow managed to summon a Void Watcher."

A moment of stunned silence passed as Toa-Vanu processed what Swallaros had told him. As a member of the bird-like Avianites, Toa-Vanu knew that the Void Watchers were incredibly powerful eldritch beings that had the power to rule the galaxy as god-like tyrants if they wanted to. He and rest of his kind also knew from past "incidents" that just looking at the true form of a Void Watcher could be dangerous to one's own sanity. He therefore had to ask, "How...?"

"Apparently, the human built a psychic communication device as a school science project and, during testing, somehow managed to attract the attention of a young and curious Void Watcher. Fortunately, it knew that it should not show its true self to the people on Earth to avoid causing 'a lot of damage' so it instead sent a tiny fraction of its own flesh to Earth to serve as its 'mortal avatar' to investigate," explained Swallaros who looked obviously resigned.

Toa-Vanu could already feel a headache growing within his skull as he sighed and said, "Given the fact that all of that had apparently happened by pure accident, I suppose there was very little that you and your agents could have done to stop it."

Swallaros, who was a member of the 'Top Ten' races in the Galactic Council, the Greais, nodded and said, "Fortunately, the Void Watcher seems to like the human so there's little reason to panic, for now."

"You're worried that the humans who loathe aliens, never mind the 'bullies' and 'criminals', will do something monumentally stupid," said Toa-Vanu.

"Yes," confirmed Swallaros who then grimly added, "Already, my agents had to 'silence' one gang of human idiots who thought that they could get some... 'snatch' by intimidating or beating up the human who summoned the Void Watcher."

Left unsaid was that getting imprisoned for life by the Greais, who were infamous for being almost impossible for non-psychics to detect, was a far more merciful fate than what an annoyed Void Watcher could do even with a tiny fraction of its true power.

"Well, that settles it. We will be visiting Earth as soon as possible to help resolve this matter," said Toa Vanu who then wore a deadpan expression and added, "Preferably before some fool ends up dooming every living being on the planet."

---

Thomas Newman knew that the strange human-looking woman, whom he had decided to name Voi-Chan, was an alien. After all, her black "hair" was basically countless thin tentacles which were prehensile. That was not even counting her eyes, which were almost entirely black except for the amber irises that seemed to literally glow, and her bone-white skin which had grey chitinous plates at certain parts and seemingly exposed purple "sinew" in others. As for her mouth, it was full of tentacles, which had the same purple colour as her "exposed sinew", and her lower jaw could split into two to "widen" her mouth like the time when she decided to eat a pile of pancakes whole. She was also utterly shameless in how she presented her nude body as though the very concept of clothes was, pardon the terrible pun, alien to her.

Even though Thomas did his best to avoid ogling at her while she was naked, the young man who was currently attending college was unable to avoid noticing that she had what some would call a "Barbie doll anatomy".

Understandably, after witnessing Voi-Chan suddenly appear in his room by literally stepping through what could be described as a miniaturised version of a warp gate portal, Thomas quickly reported the matter to a Polypian secretary of a nearby alien embassy. For some reason though, the five-eyed Polypian looked as though she was about to "shat bricks" when she heard Voi-Chan speak in an alien tongue that was apparently known as 'Eldrish'. After meeting a few other aliens, who were higher in rank yet equally terrified of Voi-Chan, to give a detailed statement of how she ended up in his room, Thomas was advised to look after her until further notice.

Thomas did not mind looking after the Voi-Chan. Alien features aside, she was easy on the eyes and she was endearingly curious about many things around her. She also liked hugs and holding hands. As young man who was unpopular in school due to being an introverted nerd who loved visual and literary arts in spite of his "chosen" main subject in college, Thomas honestly appreciated her company. Yes, he had his family but he was currently living on his own as he knew that his neglectful parents ultimately favoured his "gifted" siblings, an elder brother and a younger sister to be precise, over him. The said siblings were, in turn, rather neglectful towards him as well.

What Thomas did not expect was to see a certain Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child', appear in orbit above Earth along with a whole pod of titanic whale like Star Singers that could "swim" across space without the aid of technology.

Thomas stared at the orbiting mothership with disbelieving eyes before he turned his attention towards Voi-Chan and asked rhetorically while pointing at the massive starship, "Those guys up here are here for you, aren't they?"

"Yes," confirmed Voi-Chan who had managed to learn a few simple human words.

Less than an hour later, Thomas and Voi-Chan were taken to Terra's Child by a small squad of Greai agents who had prepared a transport starship for them.

---

"Greeting, Thomas Newman," greeted Toa-Vanu before he said, "I assume you know why you have been brought here."

"Considering that Voi-Chan suddenly appeared in my room after I had tested my school project less than a week ago, it's not exactly difficult to imagine why," replied Thomas who recalled that, during the testing of the psychic communication device, he decided to call out to ask if there was anyone among the stars who was willing to "give a damn" about him.

Toa-Vanu nodded and then asked, "Has she told you what she really is?"

"No, but I imagine she's a shape-shifter of some sort," answered Thomas.

"That's... putting it 'very mildly'," said Toa-Vanu who then glanced at Voi-Chan.

Voi-Chan tilted her head and said something in Eldrish. Toa-Vanu raised an eyebrow and then asked Thomas, "She claims that you suspect her true nature. Is that true?"

Thomas shrugged and answered, "Well, everyone knows what most of the 'Top Ten' look like, the 'Big Four' of the ten included, but barely anyone knows what the 'One Above All' really looks like other than the rumours that we humans have accidentally gotten a pretty good idea with just our imagination alone. Also, shape-shifting aliens are a thing in our fiction, never mind how freaked out the aliens at the embassy were after she spoke to them."

Toa-Vanu stroked his chin and said, "So, if I were to tell you that Voi-Chan is actually a tiny fragment of a young Void Watcher..."

"Then that would probably explain the dreams of walking across a massive plain of flesh, bone and eyes that I've been having lately after she started living with me," said Thomas who could not help but blush at the memories of her hugging him intimately while sleeping.

Toa-Vanu's eyes widened slightly as he asked, "Did the dreams not disturb you?"

"I won't lie, I freaked out when I started dreaming about the plain for the first time. After a while though, I realised that the plain was not only truly alive but also had no desire to harm me. That was when I decided that I might as well as start exploring to see what it had to show me," said Thomas who recalled the star-filled sky which looked incredible in the dreams.

Toa-Vanu stared at Thomas for a while before he made a cooing chuckle and said, "Well, I can now see why she's interested in you." He then asked, "What do you intend to do now that you know her true nature?"

"Honestly speaking, I have absolutely no idea," admitted Thomas who then added, "I was hoping that you could advise me on what to do. Even if she's just a small part of an actual eldritch abo-, pardon my language, alien, the thought of her getting hurt or worse is an unpleasant one."

"Fortunately, I do indeed have a proposition," said Toa-Vanu who then asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "How do you feel about you and Voi-Chan becoming the newest residents of 'Terra's Child'?"

---

As a young man with neglectful family members and no genuine friends among his peers, Thomas had little reason to refuse Toa-Vanu's offer to become a resident of 'Terra's Child'. At the very least, it was a chance to have a fresh start in life with someone whom he saw as a friend by his side. In spite of being a young adult, he was obligated to inform his next of kin about his decision which meant letting his parents know about it.

Thomas was very glad that Toa-Vanu agreed to meet his parents in person as he knew that Avianites had psychic abilities and were skilled at reading minds. His parents, who had a tendency to lie to make themselves look like loving parents for all three children, were therefore unable to convince Toa-Vanu to "reconsider" the idea of making Thomas a resident of the Galactic Council mothership. A gentle but firm reminder of the last time someone had tried to lie to a member of the "Top Ten" quickly made his parents "unusually eager" to let Thomas go to explore the stars. To Thomas' unsurprising disappointment, his parents' decision was less about letting their son take his first steps into the wider galaxy and more about getting rid of an unwanted responsibility who could not even serve as a "convenient ticket" to a better life.

Little did Thomas realise that Voi-Chan, in spite of being an eldritch alien, was aware of his parents' dismissive attitude towards him and was therefore quite displeased about it. Although she did not plan to do anything too drastic, she was not above deciding to give them a mild nightmare later that night in retaliation. Toa-Vanu, who was aware of her displeasure, made sure to remind her to keep the nightmare as mild as possible. After all, what counted as a mild nightmare to a Void Watcher was something... decidedly much more terrifying for a mere mortal mind.

Long story short, Thomas' parents had a single horrifyingly vivid nightmare that continued to haunt them for nearly a week as they gradually recovered from the traumatising event. Even though they were justifiably suspicious of aliens being responsible for the nightmare, they could do little about it as no one wanted to risk antagonising even a mere avatar of a Void Watcher.

---

Author's Note(s):

- I once had a thought of how humans could become a terrifying force in the galaxy by befriending literal eldritch abominations that terrify all the other aliens (basically the "logical conclusion" of befriending a dangerous beast or race). As you can probably tell, I wrote this chapter with this idea in mind.

EDIT: Minor name edit.

Chapter Text

On the day before, a human young man named Thomas Newman had moved into the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child' along with his new alien companion, a human-shaped avatar of an eldritch Void Watcher named Voi-Chan. In spite of her appearance, which resembled a human woman with bone-white skin and black "hair", Voi-Chan could freely shapeshift and was in fact over two thousand human-years old. Also, the human-shaped avatar was just a tiny piece of flesh from her true form.

Since he had already settled down in his new home, Thomas decided to take a walk around the mothership to explore. After all, he would probably spend the rest of his life in the starship. He had also applied to do part-time work in one of the docking stations of the mothership while he completed his college education. In spite of his keen interest in art, both visual and literary, he "chose" to study engineering as both a way to appease his parents and as a means of securing a job that would pay reasonably well in the future. Even though he had misgivings over being unable to pursue art as a field of study, he also knew that he would not have been able to get into contact with Voi-Chan if he had not built that psychic communication device as a part of his college school project.

The fact that he no longer needed to worry about his normally-neglectful parents constantly voicing their disapproval towards his true interests meant that he could finally pursue art more seriously than before. Perhaps he could even ask Voi-Chan if she could be his model.

Speaking of Voi-Chan, she was given a device that suppressed her innate psychic powers unless needed for an emergency. Originally, certain members of the "Top Ten" on 'Terra's Child' wanted to keep her true identity as an avatar of a Void Watcher a secret. However, doing so would have been impossible at that point since various aliens at the embassy on Earth had already known the truth. Nothing short of making them swear to secrecy and a whole lot of "data scrubbing", including partial memory-wipes if deemed necessary, would have prevented the information from spreading.

Thomas could not help but smile as he observed Voi-Chan looking at her new surroundings with wide curious eyes. Although not the most expressive of individuals in terms of facial expressions, her child-like wonder and curiosity were simply unmistakable. Admittedly, he was also seeing a number of things for the first time himself. After all, he had never met a small rabbit-like Pikupiku in person before, especially one that was actually gliding in the air with gliding gear that resembled insect wings. He also noted that many people were staring at him and Voi-Chan which, considering the circumstances, was actually rather understandable.

Of course, after over an hour of walking and taking in the sights, Thomas felt the need to sit down and rest. Upon spotting a cafe owned by a goblin-like Gobloid, 'Morka's Spicy Cafe', he decided to sit there and order some drinks and snacks for both himself and Voi-Chan. Voi-Chan, who seemed completely unaffected by all the walking, was willing to sit down and wait for him to recover. Admittedly, the chance to eat and drink something tasty was apparently a rather compelling reason to the young Void Watcher to take a break.

"Welcome to 'Morka's Spicy Cafe'! How may I serve you two?" greeted a Gobloid cafe owner, a chubby female named Morka-Throngler.

Glad that he was wearing a translation device that allowed him to speak to most aliens without issue, Thomas said, "I'd like to make an order for myself and my friend here. Do you have any recommendations?"

"That depends on what your friend can eat," answered Morka.

"Well, from what I understand, she can eat just about anything," replied Thomas.

"Then I think I know just the thing for you two," said Morka who then offered her recommendation to Thomas and Voi-Chan. Shortly after accepting her recommendation, they received their drinks and snacks. After serving them, Morka said, "So, you two must be the new human resident and his alien friend that everyone's been talking about lately. Not every day that someone accidentally befriends a Void Watcher."

Thomas raised an eyebrow and asked, "You're not going to ask for an autograph, are you?"

Morka waved the notion dismissively and said, "Nah, I have little use of fancily-written names unless they're for titles or advertisement."

Thomas took a bite of a bun that looked and tasted quite similar to bread from Earth. Pleasantly surprised by the taste and texture, he said, "I was expecting something... more unusual in taste."

"Well, humans and Gobloids have similar tastes when it comes to plant and fungus-derived food so it's no surprise that most of our food will taste good to you," replied Morka.

Voi-Chan watched Thomas eat his food before copying his way of eating the bun. She wanted to avoid swallowing something that she should not such as the time when she consumed Thomas' plate and set of cutlery along with a small stack of pancakes that she had decided to swallow whole. When she finally spat the plate and the cutlery out, they were... utterly unusable.

After taking another bite of the bun, Thomas asked, "So, other than myself and Voi-Chan, is there anyone else of note around here?"

Morka laughed and said, "Oh, we have quite a few, in fact! We have four human children who have somehow managed to befriend an alien apex predator the size of a bear from your world. We also have the Sonarins, a few of who joined us after we helped them even though they were a primitive race at the time. We even have Pikupiku youths who want to be more daring, at least by their standards."

"So the rumours of smuggled human children being found on an alien planet are actually true?" asked Thomas.

"Yes, unfortunately," confirmed Morka who then wore a sorrowful expression and added, "While we have managed to save four children, the rest were not so fortunate."

"Will the four children be returned to their families or guardians?" asked Thomas.

Morka shook her head and said, "If what I've heard about their families and relatives being terrible people are true, unlikely."

As someone who knew how it was like to grow up with uncaring family members, Thomas made a decision as he asked Morka, "Do you mind telling me where they live?"

A surprisingly short while later...

Thomas stepped out of the high-speed transportation system that took him to the Forest Biome of 'Terra's Child' and was honestly amazed at the sight of the forested area before him. He also made sure to get some extra buns and even some preserved meat, which were usually meant for more carnivorous customers such as the wolf-like Fenrids and the velociraptor-like Dinorexes, from Morka's cafe as a gift for the four human children who had certainly suffered worse than him when he was at their age. Thanks to Morka's directions, he was able to find the artificial rocky cave system which was the home of the Sonarins, the four human children and a certain "family pet" named Leo.

Leo, a bear-sized manticore-like beast known as a Manticoid, was lazing around on the peak of the artificial rocky cave system while basking in artificial sunlight. In spite of being rather lazy when not on a hunt or provoked to fight, he quickly noticed the new arrivals and soon realised that something was not right about Voi-Chan. The Manticoid stood up on his four legs and, with the massive bat-like wings on his back, glided towards the two visitors with the grace of a majestic yet terrifying predator.

In spite of being aware that all animals that were allowed to move freely had received psychic training to behave properly, Thomas could not help but feel intimidated by the appearance of a bear-sized beast that, while incapable of true flight, was still far more agile than its size indicated. As the Manticoid landed before Thomas and Voi-Chan, it took a moment to look at them before it noticed the bag of food in Thomas' hands. Although tempted to "investigate" the food, the Manticoid had a duty to protect its "cubs" and thus turned its attention towards Voi-Chan. A single look into her eyes was all that was needed for the Manticoid to realise that she was far beyond its ability to defeat.

Aware of the Manticoid's growing fear, Voi-Chan made a short respectful bow and said, "Be not afraid, we come in peace."

Leo would only mew meekly in response before rolling onto his back in submission.

"It appears that Leo acknowledges you as his better, Miss Voi-Chan," said a humanoid bat-like Sonarin who was currently dressed in protective clothing to protect her sensitive skin and eyes from bright light.

"That's... not going to be a problem, is it?" asked Thomas.

The Sonarin chuckled and said, "Well, as far as my fellow Sonarins and I are concerned, no." She then bowed and said, "My name is Shria'kha-laa, leader of my kind on 'Terra's Child and unofficial ambassador of my people."

Thomas blinked at the unexpected revelation and then said, "I honestly thought you were a guard on 'daytime duty'."

Shria'kha-laa was clearly amused in spite of the protective clothing covering her face as she replied, "Well, it helps to have Cybrids as friends." As it to prove her point, a small robot-like entity, which was actually a small mech piloted by an insectoid alien known as a Cybrid, appeared on top of her head.

"Greeting, Thomas Newman, Voi-Chan," said the robotic mech.

Well aware that Cybrids were a race of eusocial insectoids, with each colony possessing its own hive-mind, Thomas asked, "Were you and the rest of your colony keeping tabs on me and Voi-Chan?"

"Yes," said the Cybrid who then added, "It would be most illogical to not keep an eye on you two, at least for the first few human weeks or even human months."

Thomas sighed and said, "That's fair, I suppose." Feeling that he had been sidetracked long enough, he asked, "Are the four children who live in the Forest Biome here right now? Voi-Chan and I are here because I want to check on them and give them something to eat."

"They are still at school, actually," answered Shria'kha-laa who then explained, "Unlike other children, they require additional lessons due to their past circumstances." She chuckled as she added, "You should have seen little Ana's face when she realised that she could not bring Leo to school with her."

Thomas grimaced at the idea of a bear-sized lion-like alien predator entering school grounds and said, "I can see why bringing Leo to school could be a problem."

"Well, since you have come all the way here to greet the children, why not stay here for a while and be our guests? It would be an honour to commune directly with one of the Void Watchers," said Shria'kha-laa.

"Sure, why not?" replied Thomas who was secretly glad that the Sonarins, along with many other aliens on the starship, were not treating Voi-Chan as though she was a divine goddess. Yes, the Sonarin seemed to regard Voi-Chan with great respect but there was a difference between treating someone with respect and putting the same person on a pedestal as a divine being.

Before long, Thomas and Voi-Chan were seated on comfortable cushions while being surrounded by Sonarins. As Thomas had never met Sonarins in person before, he could not help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of them wearing gothic clothes, never mind the fact that the males favoured wearing skirts over pants. Admittedly, he could not deny the fact that boxers counted as underwear that resembled shorts.

Unwilling to abandon his "domain", Leo remained nearby but stayed at the entrance into a chamber that served as a living room to keep an eye on the two guests, especially Voi-Chan.

Although Thomas had already eaten, he accepted the light snacks that the Sonarins had offered to him which included dried berries and nuts. As he swallowed a dried berry, he asked, "So you and your kind revere the Star Singers as wise demigods, right?"

"That's correct," confirmed Shria'kha-laa.

"Then, what does that make the Void Watchers then?" asked Thomas.

"We view them as demigods even closer to absolute divinity than the Star Singers, though a lot more detached from mortals like us as a result. However, with Voi-Chan here among us, that belief may not remain absolutely true for much longer," answered Shria'kha-laa.

"Void Watchers normally watch from the sidelines instead of getting directly involved with the daily lives of mortals. Though admittedly young and curious, Voi-Chan is a rather notable exception of the norm," said the Cybrid who had introduced herself as Sha-Strika.

"Just how old can a Void Watcher get?" asked Thomas.

"Well, the oldest ones have been around long enough to watch galactic empires rise and fall multiple times," said Sha-Strika who then added, "In fact, a lot of historical records of the Pre-Galactic Council era came from what we could decipher from their ancient memories."

"Isn't that risky though?" asked Thomas who was aware that just looking at the true form of a Void Watcher could be dangerous to one's own sanity.

"Only if the attempt is made without the Void Watcher's permission. As long as one has permission and does not ask for dangerous answers, the danger is normally minor," answered Sha-Strika.

"Do I even want to know what happens when someone asks for dangerous answers without permission?" asked Thomas.

Sha-Strika, or at least a single member of her colony, visibly shuddered in spite of being inside a small mech, and said, "Probably not. If you really want to know, you can look up on the history of the Avianites at the museum."

Just then, a young girl's voice could be heard, "Leo? What are you doing waiting at the entrance like that? Did you get caught stealing dried meat again?"

"It seems that the children have finally arrived," said Shria'kha-laa. She then stood up, grabbed an umbrella to give herself a bit of shade from bright light, and asked with a smile, "Shall we go and meet them?"

Although Thomas did not spend much time with the Sonarins and the four children who were Leo's "owners", he enjoyed their company and would soon spend more time with them within the near future.

Chapter Text

A few days had passed since the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child' appeared in orbit around Earth. While this was not the first time the mothership had visited Earth, many people were still caught off guard by the unexpected "surprise visit".

During those few days, other than handling a certain matter of importance which involved an actual living fragment of a young eldritch Void Watcher, a few investigations took place. One of the issues that warranted investigation was the smuggling of human children off-world. The other notable issue was a certain stealth device that even psychic races could not detect.

While the humans involved in the smuggling of children off-world had already been caught for some time before the arrival of 'Terra's Child', the fact remained that the human smugglers somehow had enough connections with alien criminals to not only obtain a small transport starship but even a "warp gate service". As such, looking deeper into the matter was deemed as necessary to ensure that whoever was backing the smugglers would be brought to justice. Admittedly, with the actual smugglers long dead due to a certain accident while travelling through an illegal warp gate portal, it was difficult to obtain any additional information. In the end, there was little progress in the investigation.

Similarly, the investigation to uncover the origin of a stealth device that had allowed a gang of human Space Pirates to sneak past an entire fleet to Galactic Council Starships undetected had yielded little result. Oh, there were suspicions of a certain powerful human Cartel Trader named Khanos being responsible for the creation of the device but all the captured humans who were loyal to Khanos knew little to nothing about Khanos' true appearance or name, never mind the stealth device.

Bel-Khanor, an elf-like Elvaran with an appearance that humans generally found eerie, sighed after reading the report and said, "The rest of the ambassadors will not like the lack of conclusive evidence, as well as the lack of resolution of the problems."

Ryl'anur, a bipedal tortoise-like Kappoid, nodded and said, "No, they won't. However, we both already know the possibility that the investigations may yield little result."

"It won't stop some of the ambassadors from voicing their complaints though," argued Bel-Khanor.

"True, but everyone knows that our main purpose was to collect the avatar of the Void Watcher before anything 'apocalyptically foolish' happens. Conducting further investigations on other matters was simply a matter of coincidental convenience," replied Ryl'anur.

"I still think that not keeping Voi-Chan's identity as the avatar of a young Void Watcher, made by a tiny fragment of her true form's flesh no less, a secret to the rest of the galaxy is a foolish move," said Bel-Khanor.

"Perhaps, but we both know that removing the information from both record and memory would have been a large-scale effort to big to successfully conceal for long," replied Ryl'anur who then added, "Besides, our own residents on 'Terra's Child' are taking it rather well, all things considered."

"I'm more concerned about the possibility of other humans trying to replicate Thomas' feat with far less pure intentions, never mind the possible results," grumbled Bel-Khanor.

Ryl'anur laughed and said, "Then it is a good thing that we have given a friendly warning to the Void Watchers, unnecessary as it may be, and decided to let humans know the history of the Avianites' disastrous first contact with them."

Bel-Khanor shuddered and said, "I still find it disturbing how accurately humans have managed to imagine the negative side effects of provoking a Void Watcher."

Ryl'anur sighed and said, "It's truly a shame that I've never gotten a chance to speak to H.P. Lovecraft in person."

---

Whenever a Galactic Council mothership visited a civilised planet, trade between the residents of the mothership and the local people of the planet often occurred. 'Terra's Child' was no exception as a street market was set up just outside a well-guarded alien embassy building. A certain goblin-like Gobloid female named Morka-Throngler was running a stall in the said market with the help of her younger sister, Grotzkin-Throngler, and a few of her friends: a human named Alex Turner and an octopus-like Cephaloid male named Kr'taru.

"Come and try Morka's freshly-baked fungus bread! Trust me, it's a treat worth getting into a drunken brawl for!" yelled Grotzkin.

"Best eaten with Morka's home-made meat stew cooked with Fel-Fire sauce!" yelled Alex who was referring to an extremely spicy sauce that was made from the pulp and seeds of Fel-Fire Pepper, the spiciest pepper in the known galaxy and a crop from the Gobloids' home world. In fact, the pepper was so spicy that Gobloid soldiers were known to use a powdered version of it in warfare and making the sauce required the use of safety equipment which could be considered as parts of actual hazmat gear. As for why the Gobloids would even consider using the pepper as a cooking ingredient, it was not only useful as an ingredient for preserving food and keeping pests away but was also a natural flavour enhancer.

Kr'taru, who was putting his four eyes and eight tentacles to good use in making sure that no one tried to steal the food that Morka and Grotzkin had prepared together unnoticed, shuddered as he recalled the time when he decided to try a single drop of the spicy stew out of morbid curiosity. The resulting burning sensation was bad enough that he needed to stay in an ice-bath for a whole human-hour before the effect became weak enough to be bearable.

The less said about the resulting stomach upset that Kr'taru had to endure later that evening, the better.

Unlike Kr'taru, Alex actually loved the insanely spicy meat stew that the humans on 'Terra's Child' had unofficially dubbed as a "Gobloid delicacy". Thinking back, Alex's eagerness to try the stew and, in Kr'taru opinion, his downright masochistic enjoyment from bearing the brunt of its burning effects might have been part of the reason why Grotzkin eventually agreed to be his "alien girlfriend".

There was also a rather memorable incident that involved a group of imposing beetle-like alien visitors from an actual 'Death World' who believed that the rumours of humans and Gobloids being able to tolerate agonizing levels of spiciness in their food was simply an exaggeration. The said aliens quickly realised how very wrong they were after they had taken some of Morka's infamous meat stew cooked with Fel-Fire sauce, with admittedly hilarious results.

"I'll buy five buns of fungus bread with the Fel-Fire meat stew," said a human customer.

"Five fungus bread buns with Fel-Fire meat stew coming right up!" said Morka.

Kr'taru shuddered and muttered, "I can never understand why humans and Gobloids find pleasure in consuming something that can inflict so much agony to the senses." Left unsaid was what many races throughout the galaxy unofficially dubbed as the justifiably feared "unholy Fel-Fire exit".

As a Gobloid, Grotzkin's large pointed ears easily picked up Kr'taru's muttering and said with a broad grin, "Hey, the pain is part of the fun! Plus, it's not like we don't care about making the food safe enough to eat."

Even the majority of Gobloids and humans knew better than to consume Fel-Fire peppers raw. As for the minority that tried anyway, they often ended up getting hospitalised for a few days. The sauce, while arguably even worse, could at least be consumed in small amounts as a condiment. Yes, overconsuming the sauce would lead to a result similar to eating the pepper raw.

Kr'taru wore a deadpan expression as he replied, "Define 'safe enough to eat'."

---

As a member of a race that, up until recently, refused to interact with humans out of fear, a young rabbit-like Pikupiku male named Chuchichi never had a chance to visit Earth before. Granted, while Earth was not considered as a true 'Death World', it was pretty close to being one due to various factors including venomous arthropods, poisonous frogs and a certain infamous plant called the Gympie Gympie.

Yes, even various aliens from actual 'Death Worlds' treated Australia with respectful caution.

Since 'Terra's Child' was orbiting around Earth, Chuchichi, along with his fellow Pikupiku neighbour, a female named Chachanpi, decided to visit one of the safer locations on the planet with a few friends that included: a human male of Japanese descent named Kurosaki Kimihito and a snake-like Slitara female named Xessass. Currently, they were in Japan, Kyoto to be specific.

"Sssooo, how do I look, Darling?" said Xessass, who was dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, while posing in front of Kimihito.

Kimihito blushed and said, "You look good in it."

Xessass made a hissing giggle before she said, "It'sss a ssshame that we did not come in ssspring. I would have loved to sssee the cherry blossssomsss in full bloom."

"Maybe we can collect a few fresh samples to cultivate some trees on the mothership," suggested Kimihito.

"Hey, check this out!" exclaimed Chachanpi.

Both Kimihito and Xessass turned to see Chuchichi and Chachanpi appear while dressed in their own kimonos which were normally meant for small animals like cats and dogs. Kimihito smiled and said, "You two look good in them."

The owner of the clothes store, human Japanese lady, smiled happily as she spoke to the two Pikupiku, "Awww... you two look even cuter than I hoped!"

"I'm surprised you can make the adjustments so quickly after getting our measurements," said Chuchichi.

"Well, making last-minute adjustments is pretty common in my line of work," replied the store owner.

As someone who knew a certain crossdressing homosexual man named Celine, Kimihito nodded and said, "It's true. I've seen Celine make adjustments for the clothes that the Sonarins wear."

"Wait, you know Celine, the clothes shop owner who provided clothes to the Sonarins?" asked the store owner. Even the humans on Earth knew about the short humanoid bat-like Sonarins and how they adopted human gothic fashion. Of course, word about Celine, who was responsible for providing clothes to the Sonarins who preferred skirts over pants, became widely known among humans as well.

Kimihito nodded and said, "I'm a friend of his nephew."

The store owner grinned and said, "I'm actually a bit of a fan. It's not every day a clothes store owner succeeds in getting an entire alien race to adopt a human fashion."

Kimihito smiled and said, "I'll be sure to let him know."

"By the way, before you four leave, can I take some pictures that I can post on my store's social media?" asked the store owner.

Kimihito glanced at his companions to receive their unspoken permission before he nodded and answered, "Sure."

As a people who generally appreciated cute things, it was no surprise that many Japanese locals liked the pictures of Chuchichi and Chachanpi who were dressed in their respective kimonos. To be fair, the two dressed Pikupiku looked cute enough to be loveable mascots.

To the store owner's delight, some Sonarins decided to visit Kyoto later that night and even visited her shop after seeing a few of the pictures. She made sure to take pictures of the Sonarins wearing kimonos which were mainly black and white in colour with their permission.

Chapter Text

As a Galactic Council mothership, which was as large as a moon, it would not be surprising to see many kinds of alien races on board 'Terra's Child'. These races included humanoid bird-like Avianites, bipedal tortoise-like Kappoids, hive-minded insectoid Cybrids, small rabbit-like Pikupiku, goblin-like Gobloids, four-eyed octopus-like Cephaloids, feathered velociraptor-like Dinorexes and eight-legged worm-like Tardaswines. Of course, humans were one of the various races that called the mothership home.

While many alien races on 'Terra's Child' got along with humans, especially their official allies such as the snake-like Slitaras who possessed humanoid upper bodies and hooded viper-like heads, there were a number of alien races that were generally neutral towards humans.

One such race was the jellyfish-like Medusians. Unlike Cephaloids, Medusians were incapable of leaving their aquatic habitats without specialised suits that helped to prevent their soft jelly-like bodies from drying up or getting crushed by the lack of structural support. As humans were a land-bound race and many Medusians honestly loathed the protective suits which they considered to be terribly stifling, they generally considered befriending humans to be more trouble than it was worth. That being said, they had recently formed an alliance with the Cephaloids, who were in turn allied with humans, so the situation might change in time. On a side note, each Medusian possessed a brain, six eyes that looked in six separate directions and the ability to generate electricity for both aquatic navigation in the dark and self-defence. Also, Medusians were sequential hermaphrodites with all Medusians being born male with the most dominant member becoming a larger female.

Moulweeds, a race of plant-like aliens, were generally neutral towards everyone, humans included. While skilled farmers and foresters, they preferred to keep to themselves and not interact with other races unless necessary. That being said, they had been known to accept the company of those who lived close to nature such as the Sonarins who lived in the Forest Biome of 'Terra's Child'. As a race of former slaves that had survived the fall of a previous "Galactic Empire", it could be argued that their reluctance to interact with other races was at least partly due to generations of trauma. On a side note, each Moulweed had ambulatory roots that allowed them to move about, two pairs of flexible vine-like arms with three "branching digits" at the end of each arm and a "head" which had bushy leaves and, depending on the age, between two to four eyes on flexible individual stalks. Yes, Moulweeds could photosynthesise like plants on Earth.

Another race that was neutral towards humans was a race of imposing beetle-like aliens known as the Rhinoxians. Possessing a centaur-like body plan with four legs and two arms each, along with a bulky appearance that resembled that of a rhinoceros beetle from Earth, the beetle-like race was a relatively recent addition to 'Terra's Child'. They originated from a 'Death World' and were supposed to live on a different Galactic Council mothership that had made first contact with them, 'Capelia's Nomad'. However, as a proud race of warriors and hunters, they only respected those whom they deemed as strong. Though aware of the concept of possessing different strengths and weaknesses, they had a preference for courage and combat prowess. Their attitude had made their kind rather unpopular on 'Capelia's Nomad' as a result and the majority of the residents refused to have too many of them on board, hence the transfer of some Rhinoxians to 'Terra's Child'. Initially, the visiting Rhinoxians were dismissive about the claims of humans and Gobloids being able to tolerate and even enjoy "downright insane" levels of spiciness in their food as mere exaggerations from weaklings who had feeble bellies. They quickly learnt otherwise after getting humbled by an admittedly comical incident that involved trying to eat an infamous Gobloid dish, a meat stew cooked with a sauce made from the spiciest pepper in the known galaxy, Fel-Fire Pepper. The incident made the Rhinoxians significantly more respectful towards humans and Gobloids though only time would tell whether or not the respect would lead to an actual alliance.

It should be noted that 'Capelia's Nomad' had neither human nor Gobloid residents.

Aside from aliens that were neutral towards humans, there were also aliens that disliked or even feared them. The rabbit-like Pikupiku was, until quite recently, one of the races that feared humans due to being a race that originated from a world that was almost dangerous enough to be dubbed as a 'Death World' and got along infamously well with various aliens that originated from actual 'Death Worlds' such as the humanoid wolf-like Fenrids. While the Pikupiku, especially a growing number of youths, eventually learnt to get along with humans, the same could not be said for various other aliens.

The humanoid fish-like Deepowns, for example, still held a grudge towards humans for rejecting their offer for an alliance in favour of becoming allies with the Cephaloids instead. The fact that the Cephaloids greatly benefited from human tourists and prospectors who visited their aquatic world, which was close to being regarded as a beautiful 'Paradise World' with a rich diversity of life, only made the prideful Deepowns even more bitter towards humans. True, even the Deepowns acknowledged that their own home world was heavily polluted but such was the price for rapid advancement into a wealthy space-faring species.

Another alien race that disliked humans were Trimartians, each of who possessed three flexible legs, a pair of slender arms and an enlarged head blessed with great intellect and memory retention. As a race of aliens that valued order and logic, Trimartians deemed humans as simply too chaotic and factitious to ever consider as worthwhile allies. Left unsaid was the fact that they were honestly intimidated by how quickly humans had advanced ever since joining the Galactic Council, never mind a certain human's recent feat of befriending an actual eldritch being known as a Void Watcher which was simply incomprehensible to them.

Unlike the resentful Deepowns and the supposedly disdainful Trimartians, the Roachites feared humans. As a race of small humanoid insectoids that resembled cockroaches from Earth, never mind how many humans instinctively feared and/or hated the said insects, few could blame the Roachites for being scared of getting "squished" by any human who saw them. Yes, there were a few humans who apparently did not fear and/or hate cockroaches, but the chance of befriending a human was simply not worth the risk in the Roachites' general opinion. It should be noted that, unlike true cockroaches from Earth, each Roachite had a round head, two arms and two legs.

Elvarans, a tall elf-like race with features that many humans found eerie, generally disliked humans but were otherwise willing to tolerate them and even cooperate with them if the situation called for it. One reason why Elvarans disliked humans was that, similar to the Deepowns, humans had rejected an alliance with them to be allies of the goblin-like Gobloids instead even though the Elvarans were one of the ten strongest races in the known galaxy, the 'Top Ten'. They were also generally offended by the fact that humans found them eerie-looking rather than beautiful. Yes, there was no denying that different alien races had different concepts of beauty but there was also no denying that humans were infamously "generously broad" in their preferences for romantic partners as evidenced by certain humans being attracted to Slitaras and Fenrids. It should be noted that, blunt vulgarity aside, humans were hardly alone in deeming Elvarans as an arrogant race so the Elvarans had ironically little reason to take particular offense to that opinion.

Elvarans were not the only member of the 'Top Ten' who disliked humans, at least among the adults anyway...

---

An alien with the appearance of a literal bipedal cat from Earth, with functional thumbs on his paw-like hands of course, sighed as he grumbled to an Elvaran ambassador named Bel-Khanor, "Those humans make me want to quit and retire early."

Bel-Khanor nodded and said, "I feel your pain, Purrhomas, but we cannot simply dismiss them, especially not after one of their kind has somehow managed to befriend a Void Watcher." He pinched his nose and added bitterly, "All by pure accident, no less."

As the ambassador of the cat-like Felinors, Purrhomas had the displeasure of being among the first of his kind to meet humans and realise the shame of being treated like a "fur baby" in spite of the fact that his kind was one of the 'Top Ten' in the Galactic Council. Even more galling however was how skilled even a juvenile human was in giving pets and scritches which was likely the "logical outcome" of humans perfecting the said skills for thousands of years with their own animals. Even to the current day, Purrhomas was ashamed of how easily a human girl named Rachel Bakers was able to completely ruin his reputation as a dignified sapient being with just her skilled fingers, never mind how a repressed part of him actually liked the experience.

"At least the humans find your kind appealing in appearance. They consider my kind 'creepy looking' even though some of them are romantically attracted to races that look even less human than my kind," said Bel-Khanor.

"Try telling that to the parents of my kind," groaned Purrhomas who had to deal with dismayed Felinor parents complaining about how humans, especially the human children, had essentially "brainwashed" their precious little kittens with treats, pets and scritches. The four human children who had moved into the Forest Biome of 'Terra's Child' to be with their manticore-like "pet" were unusually infamous as the youngest among them, a girl named Ana Luna Rosas, was apparently extremely good at giving pets and scritches. A number of individuals, including even other humans, suspected that part of the reason why the manticore-like alien apex predator, a Manticoid named Leo, basically adopted the children was because of Ana's unusual talent. After all, it was not every day a young human was able to "subdue" a mighty minotaur-like Tauronite guard at school with just a few well-placed scritches behind the ears

Purrhomas and the rest of the adults among his kind still had no idea how the idea of saying "Nya!" became a thing among their kittens.

"Fair enough," conceded Bel-Khanor who then asked, "Same time, tomorrow evening?"

"If my schedule allows it," answered Purrhomas.

Bel-Khanor nodded at Purrhomas before he left the cafe which had become a rather popular place for various aliens on 'Terra's Child' to visit and voice their frustrations about humans. As a cafe owned by Elvarans with Trimartian and Roachite staff, few humans visited the place and none thus far ever visited more than once. This made sense as, between the prideful Elvarans, the clinical Trimartians and the terrified Roachites, even socially inept humans quickly learnt that they would never receive a warm welcome at the cafe which was, quite ironically to humans, named 'Terra's Sanctuary Cafe'. Besides, there were far more welcoming places for humans and their close allies to visit such as 'Morka's Spicy Cafe'.

Personally, Bel-Khanor would not mind having Felinors as partners in running 'Terra's Sanctuary Cafe' but he knew that getting them involved would attract humans like scavengers to fresh carrion. Fortunately, none of the adult Felinors took offense to the decision as they deemed it as a rather understandable necessity to keep the space as "human-free" as possible. After all, basically everyone on 'Terra's Child' knew about the "pet cafes" on Earth and, sapience aside, the Felinors did indeed closely resemble cats from Earth.

Bel-Khanor nearly grimaced as he thought about human children and Felinor kittens coming up with an idea of running a cafe together. Should such an even occur, poor Purrhomas would surely start balding prematurely due to stress.

---

Author's Note(s):

- Admittedly, this can be deemed as a filler chapter that covers a few aliens not truly allied with humans.

- I was wondering about what to add as the tenth and final member of the 'Top Ten' when I recalled watching 'Love Death and Robots'. Combined with my knowledge about Palicos of 'Monster Hunter', well, you get the idea. XD

- By the way, a few other aliens are conceptualised based on aliens found in games and movies. Feel free to find out what they are.

Chapter Text

A few Earth-days had passed since a certain Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child', had left Earth's orbit to travel to a different part of the Milky Way Galaxy. As the massive moon-sized mothership travelled across the vast void of space, the children who lived within the starship continued to attend school like any other child in a civilized society.

"Well, we're off, Leo! Try not to steal any of the Sonarins' dried meat again today, okay?" said a human girl of Mexican descent named Ana Luna Rosas. She was currently getting ready to leave an artificial cave system, which was her current home, to attend school with her elder brother, Diego Luna Rosas, and her two "elder foster sisters", Iara Rio Santos and Mariala Gomez Miranda.

After making sure to remind a certain bear-sized manticore-like alien predator, a Manticoid named Leo, to not steal dried meat, again, Ana left the Forest Biome of 'Terra's Child' with her family. Once they reached the Urban Biome, they made their way towards a school complex that taught a wide range of students of different age groups and different races - 'Terra's Child School Complex'. Ana could still remember how amazed she felt when she entered the school complex for the first time and saw many incredible things including: small rabbit-like Pikupiku children riding on Snorkans that resembled small versions of wooly mammoths that lacked tusks, humanoid wolf-like Fenrids racing together with feathered velociraptor-like Dinorexes to see who could reach the school gates first, worm-like Tardaswines ambling onwards at a sedate pace with their eight stubby legs, humanoid snake-like Slitaras slithering towards school with serpentine grace and three-legged Trimartians moving with surprising ease in spite of having three awkward-looking legs.

Before long, Ana had to split up from the other three as she was supposed to attend a class meant for her age group. Fortunately, she had good friends in her class so she was not scared to attend it without her family. Once she was in her designated classroom, which had a number of features not found in schools back on Earth such as platforms that resembled wall shelves for smaller races to study without needing to worry about getting stepped on by accident and large cushions for races that could not use typical chairs or stools like the serpentine Slitaras, Ana sat down to take out a storybook to read.

"Hey, Ana!"

Ana's expression brightened as she recognised one of her classmates, a Felinor kitten named Mewthew. Unlike his parents and most of the other adult Felinors, all of who resembled bipedal cats from Earth, the kittens generally got along with their human classmates who enjoyed petting them and giving them scritches. Mewthew was no exception as he happily leapt onto Ana's lap so that she could pet him and scritch the back of his ears.

"So, what do you think Mrs Rhia-Nuva will teach us today?" asked Ana while petting Mewthew.

"I don't know. Less talking and more petting before class starts, nya!" replied Mewthew.

Ana giggled as she continued to pet Mewthew affectionately.

"You're a real needy one, you know that?" said a humanoid wolf-like Fenrid pup named Streamstride.

Mewthew grinned smugly and said, "You're just jealous that I got here first, nya."

Streamstride turned her eyes away and scratched her cheek in embarrassment as she knew that Mewthew was right. In her defence though, even the mighty Tauronite guard of the school complex, Bohein-Kardor, yielded before Ana's petting skills. It should be noted that Bohein-Kardor also worked as a teacher during physical education classes on occasion.

Soon, a tall humanoid bird-like Avianite, Mrs Rhia-Nuva, entered the class. In spite of her young appearance and pretty feathers, she was actually over a human-century old. With the calm ease of an experienced educator, she said, "All right, everyone! Please return to your designated seats!"

Mewthew reluctantly left Ana's lap to take a seat.

Once everyone was seated, Mrs Rhia-Nuva said, "Now, please take out your textbooks on 'Basic Eldrish'."

Her announcement made many students groan as they found the common language of the Galactic Council, which was also the language of the eldritch Void Watchers, difficult to learn.

---

While Ana and her classmates had to put up with learning Eldrish, again, Iara and Mariala were studying 'Basic Xenobiology' with their classmates. Among their classmates, there were a few who were their friends including: a human girl named Rachel Bakers, a female Fenrid pup named Moontear and a young Tardaswine female named Bloop-Blap. Their Xenobiology teacher, a bipedal tortoise-like Kappoid male named Sa'kan smiled as he spoke to his students, "As most of you should know by now, there are several different categories of worlds. The two largest categories are 'Habitable Worlds' and 'Uninhabitable Worlds'. 'Habitable Worlds' are worlds that can sustain local life, albeit with features that may cause at least some off-world visitors to require technology to live comfortably or even survive. 'Uninhabitable Worlds' on the other hand are worlds that cannot sustain local life and are often dangerous enough to require extensive use of technology for the survival of just about any off-world visitor. A good example of an 'Uninhabitable World' would be Betalis, a world rich in useful minerals but nearly impossible for most forms of life to live without protection from ionizing radiation. While efforts to turn the Betalis into a profitable 'Mining World' is still ongoing, progress is slow due to the dangerous radiation."

Mariala wore a bored expression as she was more interested in building machinery than understanding biology or planets. Iara, in contrast, as attentive as she wanted to be a doctor in the future.

"Our main focus today though will be the 'Habitable Worlds' which can be broadly subdivided into three groups: 'Paradise Worlds', 'Inhabited Worlds' and 'Death Worlds'. 'Paradise Worlds' are the rarest type of world and are essentially worlds in which most sapient races have little to no reason to fear for their own safety or lives. Such worlds generally have relatively mild habitats and few to no living beings capable of harming a sapient being. 'Inhabited Worlds', in contrast, are the most common type of world as they include a wide variety of worlds which are 'Near-Paradise Worlds' or 'Near-Death Worlds'. In fact, the planet that we have recently visited, Earth, is considered to be an example of a 'Near-Death World'. 'Death Worlds' are, in contrast to 'Paradise Worlds', worlds which are hostile to most sapient races to an extreme that can be compared to the harsh conditions of an 'Uninhabitable World'," explained Sa'kan.

Iara raised her hand hesitantly.

"I see that you have a question, young Iara," said Sa'kan who then asked kindly, "What do you wish to know?"

"A-are there different types of 'Death Worlds'?" asked Iara.

"As a matter of fact, yes, there are," confirmed Sa'kan who then explained, "When a world is categorised as a 'Near-Death World' or a 'Death World', we tend to categorise it based on its most dangerous aspects. We also need to consider if the dangerous aspects are natural or caused by the actions of the sapient beings living on it."

"So what makes Earth a 'Near-Death World'? asked Mariala who could not help but be curious.

"Oh, quite a few things, in fact," answered Sa'kan who then listed, "For example, your world is home to a wide variety of animals and plants which are quite dangerous to most sapient races. A tiger from Earth, for example, has fangs capable of killing even a young Tauronite with a single bite to the neck. Most of the plants on Earth contain compounds which are harmful to most off-world sapient beings, with a few notable exceptions such as the Gobloids who have similar plants on their own home-world, Morktar, never mind the truly dangerously toxic ones like the Gympie Gympie found in Australia on Earth. The pathogens and parasites on Earth, while not to the extreme of those found on the Tardaswine home-world, Nurblurp, are dangerous and varied enough to be deserving of caution. After all, I'm sure none of you wish to be infected with a parasitic fungus that can take control of your minds like the cordyceps fungi on Earth."

"I thought the fungus only infects insects?" asked Rachel.

Sa'kan nodded and answered, "True, but please consider it from the Cybrids' point of view."

Well aware that Cybrids were a race of small insectoid aliens with each colony possessing its own hive-mind, Rachel's eye widened in horror before she asked, "Has any of them gotten infected?"

"Thankfully, no. Looking through the internet database on Earth has helpfully prevented any potential infections from taking place," said Sa'kan. Left unsaid was how many aliens were honestly horrified by a certain thankfully-fictional version of the cordyceps fungus that could infect humans and how disturbingly real it could become with the right evolutionary pressures or genetic tampering.

"So, Earth is a 'Near-Death World' because of all the dangerous living things on it?" asked Iara.

"In part, yes," confirmed Sa'kan who then added, "Your world also has a wide range of hostile environments not related to living organisms such as deserts which have extreme temperature fluctuations similar to the Dinorexes' home-world, Skro'nar, icy wastelands similar to the Fenrids' home-world, Wulfenruss, and even toxic acid lakes like what one would find in the Rhinoxians' home-world, Nerubarak."

"Then why isn't Earth considered a 'Death World'?" asked a female Trimartian student named Xan-zim.

"Well, part of the reason is that Earth is, quite ironically, also home to wonders one would normally find on a 'Near-Paradise World'. For example, possible dangers and on-going recovery from past destruction aside, the coral reefs and kelp habitats on Earth are nearly as beautiful as the ones found on the Cephaloids' home world, Sub'Autika. There are also forests which, while potentially if not certainly dangerous, are also undoubtedly full of wonders and, if one is skilled or lucky enough, bounty. After all, I am sure many will agree that the flowers that bloom in spring are beautiful, never mind the bountiful fruits, berries and nuts that follow if one is able to safely consume them," answered Sa'kan who then added, "That being said, many agree that Earth is, at the very least, a 'Near-Death World'."

"I have heard that Earth is rated a 'Near-Death World' because of humans who don't like aliens," said a portly Deepown student named Morrey who had a mean smirk on his face.

Rachel was about to speak in protest when Mariala rolled her eyes and said, "Duh, some humans can't even stand people who belong to another group no matter how similar they actually are. Of course, there will be some humans who won't like aliens. Don't even get me started on humans who literally don't give a damn about their own family let alone other people, aliens included. How do you think my real family and I got taken off-world by Cartel Traders in the first place?"

Mariala's response made more than a few students pause in shock.

Well aware of Mariala, Iara, Ana and Diego's past circumstances, Sa'kan sighed and said, "While Morrey's claim is undeniably rude, there is a grain of truth in his words. For every human who enjoys the company of aliens, to an excessive degree in some cases even, there will be at least one human who views alien in a negative light. Mariala's claim is also, unfortunately, true to an extent. However, I must stress that conflicts between members of the same sapient race is hardly unusual and have, at times, even led to tragic conclusions."

"Like what hasss happened to Ssserpessstia-Primusss," said a Slitara student named Ssleewaa who had a downcast expression on ger face. Although she was born after the destruction of her kind's original home-world, Serpestia-Primus, she knew enough to feel sorrow for what had happened to it.

Sa'kan nodded solemnly and said, "Indeed, young Ssleewaa. While the recovery of Serpestia-Primus is thankfully in progress now that Serpestia-Secundus is has stabilized and become a proper 'Terraformed Habitable World', the fact that Serpestia-Primus is a 'Made-Death World' is still true even to this day." He then smiled gently and added, "Speaking of Serpestia-Secundus, I would like to highlight that it was humans who voluntarily helped the Slitara recover from the tragedy that almost doomed their kind. Yes, other races gave assistance as well but it was through the efforts of humans that a cure for the plague that was killing male Slitara offspring could be discovered. Had it not been for their efforts, the Slitara would have likely never been able to recover as well as they have today."

Morray resisted the urge to scoff at Sa'Kan's statement while Ssleewaa nodded with a smile on her face. As an older sister of a baby brother, she was understandably grateful for the cure that humanity had been able to discover.

"The Slitaras are not the only ones humans have helped either," said a male Cephaloid student named My'Liru.

"Indeed," Sa'kan affirmed with a nod, "The Cephaloids have benefitted greatly from their alliance with humans who generally have a vested interest in protecting the near-pristine environment of Sub'Autika. More recently, humans were willing to, as they would put it, 'screw the rules' to help the Sonarins after the death of Lord Gregoria Sanctus."

It should be noted that the humanoid bat-like Sonarins agreed to have their world named after the whale-like Star Singer, Gregoria Sanctus, who had died to protect them from enslaving raiders. As such, their home world, which was officially classified as a developing 'Civilised Habitable World', was named Gregorius. Also, due to being a nocturnal race, young Sonarins could not attend school at the same time as most other students and instead had to attend night classes.

"They have helped us to learn courage and gentleness too!" said a Pikupiku student named Pikachan who was a member of the "rebellious Pikupiku youths". As for his "rebellious act", it involved buying cookies from a goblin-like Gobloid cafe owner named Morka to snack on instead of the usual seeds and berries that he normally ate. Of course, he made sure that the cookies were safe to eat before buying them. There was a difference being brave enough to try something new and being foolish enough to do something without checking properly after all.

As it turned out, Pikupiku could safely eat and even enjoy plain cookies and crackers made by Gobloids and humans without issue as long as they were properly baked and did not contain substances such as capsaicin, caffeine and lactose.

Sa'kan chuckled and said, "Yes, that too, little Pikachan." Though Sa'kan was sure that many Pikupiku adults and elders on 'Terra's Child' would disagree, he personally though that the "growing rebellion" among the Pikupiku youths was a good thing. Even so, he was willing to accept that limiting the "rebellion" to 'Terra's Child' was probably for the best, at least until the mothership visits the Pikupikus' home-world, a 'Paradise World' famous for its flower fields called Pichanchuu.

"Now, since we're on the topic of humans, let us talk about the cuisine on their world and how it compares to the cuisine of other races throughout the galaxy. After all, eating a proper diet is an important part of being healthy," said Sa'kan.

---

While Sa'Kan was teaching his students about human cuisine, with examples that could be deemed as "Foreign Queasine" among aliens and even certain human groups, Diego was undergoing physical education class with the rest of his classmates. He was currently sprinting through an obstacle course that tested his physical speed and agility. Racing alongside him were four classmates, a Fenrid pup named Firesight, a Dinorex named Drak'ryn, a Slitara named Rassarr and a Rhinoxian named Anumbra. While not as fast or agile as his peers, Diego was able to keep up as he could maintain his pace for longer than the others. Firesight was overall the fastest and most agile at the start but, as his kind originated from an icy 'Death World' and only adult Fenrids were given coolant-gear to help maintain peak combat efficiency, was quickly starting to lag due to overheating. Drak'ryn, while not as agile as Firesight, was easily just as quick and could maintain her pace better in spite of the heat as her kind originated from a desert 'Death World'. Rassarr, though not able to maintain her top speed for long, was extremely agile as she could rapidly climb over obstacles and squeeze through gaps with ease. Anumbra, while large and lumbering even as a young nymph among his kind, was able to move quicker than expected and could maintain his pace as he originated from a 'Death World' that has toxic acid lakes and widespread active tectonic activity with plenty of active volcanoes and hot springs.

Before long, Drak'ryn crossed the finish line followed by Rassarr, Diego, Firesight and Anumbra.

Firesight was panting like an exhausted dog as he groaned, "I... really... wish... we can... do this... in the... Ice Biome instead!"

"I really wish there weren't so many climbing obstacles to deal with today," grumbled Anumbra.

"I think they're fun," said Rassarr while making a hissing giggle.

"Well, we can't always get what we want," said Diego who then grinned and said, "but at least we can do swimming in our next lesson."

Drak'ryn grimaced and said with a hissing sigh, "Easy for you to say. Water makes my feathers wet and heavy. I just hope is isn't too cold."

"Same," agreed Rassarr who, like most Slitara, disliked cold temperatures in spite of being a warm-blooded snake-like alien.

"You five can go ahead and rest in the shade while I test the next group. Also, just a reminder, don't take any ice-chilled drinks until your bodies have cooled down a bit. Room-temperature drinks are perfectly fine though," said a lizardman Nagarom teacher with dragonic scales and horns named Sha'rune. Like most of female Nagaroms, she was slender with wide hips and a soft-looking body yet was also taller and more massive than the males of her kind. Though Nagaroms were generally traders, they were also willing to offer other types of services in return for payment that they deemed as fair.

Speaking of making a fair trade, on main reason why the Deepown residents of 'Terra's Child' chose to remain on the mothership in spite of disliking humans and Cephaloids was because they knew that tolerating their presence would allow them to trade with other races, including the aforementioned Nagaroms, without having to deal with too much competition from their own kind. The Nagaroms on 'Terra's Child', in turn, willingly buy goods from the Deepowns for either their own use or to be sold off to other races at a profit.

While Sha'rune was testing the next group of students, Diego passed a bottle of isotonic water to Firesight and said, 'Here you go."

"Thanks," said Firesight before he opened the bottle and started guzzling down its contents.

"Ssso, do any of you have any plansss for 'Break Day'?" asked Rassarr.

"Honestly, not really," admitted Drak'ryn.

"I actually have a day off from my additional lessons," said Diego.

"My kind and I are still getting used to living here, but I'm sure my parents will let me hang out with you four if you have something planned," said Anumbra. Left unsaid was that his parents had deemed his group of non-Rhinoxian friends as respectfully capable if driven to fight or hunt.

"Well, sssince we're all free on 'Break Day', why don't we visssit Diego'sss home? We've never been there after all and I would like to sssee the Sssonarinsss," said Rassarr.

Aware of the "family pet" at Diego's home, Firesight, Drak'ryn and Anumbra quickly became interested. After all, a chance to play-fight with a mighty Manticoid sounded like a fun activity to the 'Death World' aliens.

Diego raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't mind, but I'll have to run this through my sisters first."

Little did Diego realise that his sisters' friends had similar ideas.

---

Author's Note(s):

General Timeline V.3 (Readjusted with no need to change the main texts):
- Humans have succeeded in colonising the moon and Mars, thus earning the right to be considered for integration by the Galactic Council.
- The Polypians volunteer to be allied with humans to help them get used to living as members of the Galactic Council.
- During the trial period, certain humans were deemed as unfit for even consideration as potential members of the galactic community.
- Some humans start living on a Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child'.
- Humans choose the Slitaras as allies to help them recover from near-extinction.
- Humans, after passing the trial period, become official members of the Galactic Council.
- Soon after becoming official members, humans choose the Cephaloids as allies instead of the Deepowns.
- Some Felinors become residents of Terra's Child and meet humans for the first time.
- Adult Felinors dislike humans after a "Petting Incident" that left their ambassador humiliated.
- Humans become allies with the Dinorexes.
- Humans become allies with the Tardaswines. Tardaswine blood plays a key role in saving the Slitaras.
- Humans become allies with the Fenrids.
- Humans choose the Gobloids as allies in spite of being offered an alliance with the Elvarans.
- Humans manage to introduce Halloween to the aliens on Terra's Child.
- The aliens on 'Terra's Child' realise the horror of "stinky human cuisine".
- Humans, along with other races on 'Terra's Child', aid the Sonarins. The Sonarins later choose humans as allies.
- Humans, along with some allies, attack a criminal colony to apprehend the ones responsible for two terrible crimes. (Debut Battle)
- Humans inspire the youths of the Pikupiku to "rebel" against their own culture as a timid race.
- Humans encounter a Nebula Swarm hive for the first time, uncover a hidden truth of the species and receive a 'fungal seed' as a gift.
- The Nebula Swarm 'fungal seed' is given to the Sonarins as a gift.
- A "human benefactor" provides advanced stealth technology to human Space Pirates who were unwitting test subjects.
- Humans on 'Terra's Child' invented transforming mechs known as 'Cyberclones'.
- Trafficked human children are discovered on a 'Feral World' and are adopted by the people of Terra's Child, along with their "pet".
- A human has somehow gotten in touch with a young Void Watcher and befriended it. This necessitates an unplanned visit to Earth.
- 'Terra's Child' stays in Earth's orbit for a few Earth-days before departing.
...
- In the distant future, the Pikupiku will play a critical role in saving the Galactic Council from a conspiracy born from corruption within.

---

Chapter Text

As a community living within a massive Galactic Council mothership that might travel across the stars in the galaxy for up to Earth-weeks at a time, the residents of 'Terra's Child' needed days when they could take a break from work and relax. Similar to other motherships, a six-day cycle known as a 'Hexa-Cycle' was established with the sixth day being a 'Break Day' for most residents, students included. As for those who had to work on 'Break Day', basically everyone agreed that they should be allowed to take a day-off on a separate day of their choosing.

Four human children, who were lucky enough to survive on a 'Feral World' before they got rescued by the people of 'Terra's Child' - Diego Luna Rosas, Ana Luna Rosas, Iara Rio Santos and Mariala Gomez Miranda - had recently agreed to let their friends, who were also classmates, visit their home. Unlike their friends, who mostly lived in the Urban Biome of 'Terra's Child', the four children lived in the Forest Biome instead so that they could live with their bear-sized manticore-like "family pet", a Manticoid named Leo. They were also neighbours of the humanoid bat-like Sonarins who were happy to have the young visitors coming over.

Due to the unexpectedly large gathering and the possibility of needing to stay up at night to properly interact with Sonarin youths, it was ultimately decided that the visit would take place at the end of the fifth day of the 'Hexa-Cycle' and that it would be an overnight camping trip at the Forest Biome before the friends returned home on the following Break Day. In fact, a few teachers had volunteered to be the chaperones of the visiting friends to not only ensure the safety of their students but also as an opportunity to educate them further on various topics related to the Sonarins and the resident Manticoid. As for how the arrangement was made, it involved a certain Sonarin leader named Shria'kha-laa overhearing the four human children talking about inviting their friends over and deciding to let a few "individuals of interest" know of their plan to help smoothen things out. The four children were surprised yet appreciative of the unexpected assistance provided by the adults.

Before long, it was the day of the students' arrival at the artificial cave system within the Forest Biome that acted as a home for the Sonarins, the four human children and Leo. The list of visitors was as follows:

- Ana's group of friends: Streamstride, Mewthew and Thruk-Khroopa

- Iara and Mariala's group of friends: Rachel Bakers, Moontear, Bloop-Blap, Ssleewaa, My'Liru and Pikachan

- Diego's group of friends: Firesight, Rassarr, Drak'ryn and Anumbra

- Chaperones: Mrs Rhia-Nuva, Sa'kan and Bohein-Kardor

"All right, everyone. I know that this is a gathering of friends and that we're simply your chaperones to ensure your safety but kindly remember to behave yourselves, okay?" said Mrs Rhia-Nuva, a humanoid bird-like Avianite, "Don't forget that the Ana, her three siblings and Leo are not the only ones living in the Forest Biome."

"Yes, Mrs Rhia," replied the gathered children who were friends of the four human children that lived in the Forest Biome.

As the children and their chaperones set off from the public transport station to reach the artificial cave system, a beetle-like male Rhinoxian nymph named Anumbra asked Diego, "You and your sisters travel like this all the time?"

Diego nodded and said, "It's either that or we live separately from Leo."

Anumbra nodded and said, "An understandable reasoning."

"I'm impressed that your younger blood-sister can travel like this without any complaint," said a feathered velociraptor-like female Dinorex named Drak'ryn.

"It's not that far and we can rest while riding on the transport train. Plus, the school complex is nearby a station and a bit of walking is nothing compared to what we have already gone through," said Diego.

Drak'ryn made a hissing grimace at the reminder of the circumstances that led to Diego being stranded on a 'Feral World' with the other three and said, "Fair enough."

Mariala smirked and said, "If anything, the real hard part was convincing Ana to leave Leo behind instead of taking him to school with us."

Ana blushed and protested, "Hey!"

Not even Iara, who was terribly shy, could resist giggling at Ana's reaction.

Bohein-Kardor, an imposing minotaur-like Tauronite male with a muscular build to match, chuckled and said, "As a guard with a duty to protect the students from harm, I cannot say that I approve of the idea of letting Leo visit the school. As a Tauronite warrior though, I must admit that the idea of having a friendly wrestling match with the Manticoid to see if he could stay or not is an amusing idea."

It should be noted that Bohein-Kardor had volunteered to help carry the camping gear that the group would need for their overnight stay. In spite of the fact that the Forest Biome had carefully-regulated climate controls, many agreed that a camping trip would not be complete without tents or their equivalents among different races. Of course, an outdoor camp fire was a must as well.

A humanoid wolf-like male Fenrid pup named Firesight grinned wolfishly and said, "A wrestling match with a friendly yet mighty apex predator does sound fun." Moontear and Streamstride, who were both female Fenrid pups of younger age groups, nodded with eager smiles of their own.

Pikachan, a rabbit-like Pikupiku male, wore a deadpan expression and said, "You 'Death World' folks are a real bunch of muscle-heads and thrill-junkies."

"Hey, my kind's not like that!" protested an eight-legged worm-like Tardaswine named Bloop-Blap whose race originated from a swampy 'Death World'.

"Sorry, my bad," replied Pikachan who had the decency to be sheepishly apologetic towards Bloop-Blap. After all, her kind tended to be scavengers and medics rather than hunters or fighters.

A bipedal tortoise-like Kappoid male named Sa'kan chuckled and said, "Let this be a gentle reminder that not everyone from the same category of world is the same, little Pikachan."

Rachel, who was a human girl, giggled and said, "I'd rather pet Leo and give him scritches."

Ana smiled and said, "His 'paw beans' are really soft too!"

"It's kind of strange how, gliding wings and retractable venomous bards aside, similar a Manticoid is to a lion from Earth now that I think about it," said Iara.

"Like how my kind resemble octopuses from Earth," said My'Liru, a male octopus-like Cephaloid with four eyes on stalks.

"Or how I look like a cat from Earth, nya," said a male Felinor named Mewthew.

"It is indeed quite surprising how similar various living things can be even if they originate from different evolutionary lines or even worlds," said Sa'kan.

"Let'sss not forget about humansss and their worksss of fiction and myth," said a snake-like Slitara named Rassarr. Considering a certain game franchise from Earth called 'X-Com', it would not be surprising for the Slitara to have an interest in the game.

"Like goblins from human stories," said Thruk-Khroopa, a goblin-like Gobloid male. Though not as close to Ana as Streamstride and Mewthew, he was on good terms with her as she liked his ears.

Bohein-Kardor, who knew about a certain mythological creature called the Minotaur, chuckled and said, "Yes, that too."

Suddenly, Leo appeared before the group with a surprisingly silent landing after gliding from the peak of the artificial rocky cave system which was his current home. While Pikachan squeaked in fright and My'Liru almost "inked himself", most of the other children quickly became guarded. Only Ana was not phased by Leo's sudden appearance as she smiled happily and said, "Leo! Did you come here to greet us?"

Leo made a soft rumbling purr as Ana rushed forward to hug him. The Manticoid allowed Ana to hug his head as he affectionately nuzzled her in return. He then lied down onto his belly with one of his bat-like wings lowered, a gesture that Ana knew was an invitation to climb onto his back to ride him. Ana turned her attention towards her three classmates, Streamstride, Mewthew and Thruk, and asked, "Do you want to ride with me?"

Streamstride, Mewthew and Thruk looked at one another for a moment and, upon reaching an unspoken agreement, turned their attention back towards Ana to reply with wide grins, "Count us in!"

Ana turned her attention towards Leo and asked, "Is it okay if you carry all four of us together, Leo?"

Leo seemed to almost roll his eyes at the rather silly question before he nuzzled against Ana with a soft purr. Taking his response as a, "Of course, I can." Ana giggled and quickly got onto the Manticoid followed by Mewthew, Thruk and Streamstride. As soon as all four children got onto the Manticoid's back, he stood back up on his four legs and proceeded to walk back to the artificial cave system.

As the Manticoid walked back to the cave system with seemingly regal dignity, Anumbra spoke to Diego, "Your sister's worthy of respect." While Ana was clearly no warrior, her ability to fearlessly befriend a dangerous predator, unusual circumstances notwithstanding, was something that deserved recognition as a genuine form of personal strength in Anumbra's opinion.

Diego sighed in exasperation and brotherly affection as he spoke, "I still have no idea how Ana was able to convince Leo and us to live together back on that planet."

Bohein-Kardor chuckled and said, "Given the circumstances at the time, one can be forgiven for caring more about making the best of the situation rather than spend too much time pondering about the reasons of how it was possible to begin with."

"Oh, like that time when Ana was able to 'subdue' you by giving you scritches behind the ears?" asked Sa'kan who had a teasing grin on his face.

Bohein-Kardor almost blushed at the reminder of the embarrassing incident. In his defence, he only allowed Ana to give him scritches behind the ears after she had asked for permission politely. She apparently had a weakness for waggly ears and tails.

Mrs Rhia-Nuva made a cooing chuckle and said, "Well, let's not tarry any longer. We have an eventful evening ahead of us and it won't start any earlier if we stand around here." No one disagreed with her statement.

Soon, the entire group had gathered outside the artificial cave system which was the home of not only Ana's family, the "family pet" included, but also the Sonarins. A group of Sonarins, who were dressed in protective clothing to protect their sensitive skin and eyes from bright light, bowed to the group while their leader, Shria'kha-laa, said, "Friends and teachers of our neighbours, we welcome you all to our home."

Mrs Rhia-Nuva bowed in return and said, "Your kind hospitality is appreciated, Shria'kha-laa of the Sonarins." Bohein-Kardor, Sa'kan and the students bowed as well.

"Please, come inside and make yourselves comfortable," said Shria'kha-laa who then added, "We've also prepared refreshments for everyone."

"That great to hear. I'm pretty thirsty after all that walking," said My'Liru. Given his amphibious octopus-like physiology, it was understandable that he would get thirsty quite easily.

"I could use a cool drink myself," said Firesight who originated from an icy 'Death World' and was therefore more prone to overheating than most of his peers.

Well aware of their needs due to her position as an ambassador of the Sonarins on 'Terra's Child', Shria'kha-laa nodded and said, "The refreshments include refrigerated and heated drinks. There are also cubes of sugar and salt for those who wish to add them to their drinks."

The mention of sugar cubes caused Anumbra to perk up as, similar to most of his kind, he liked sugary drinks. While he and his kind were mainly carnivores, they enjoyed the taste of sweet fruit juice and plant sap which they deemed as safe sources of water on their home-world which had toxic acidic lakes.

"Are there any seeds and nuts?" asked Pikachan.

"Yes, along with dried berries, pieces of fruit and edible grass," confirmed Shria'kha-laa.

Mrs Rhia-Nuva, who was bird-like in appearance, said with a knowing wink, "That's nice. I'm feeling a bit... 'peckish' myself." The female students generally found the silly pun amusing while the most of the male students were a little exasperated by it.

After a short while, the group settled down and enjoyed the refreshments while speaking to the Sonarins who were awake. As they were inside the surprisingly roomy artificial cave system, the Sonarins did not need to wear their protective clothing and could thus wear whatever they wanted which was mainly feminine Gothic clothes.

"So, how's working for 'Terra's Fire and Rescue Fighters' like for you?" asked Thruk.

A Sonarin male named Skra'hee-noo smiled and replied, "It's nice working with people who regularly do the night shift."

"Is it true that you and your team tend to deal with runaway human pets?" asked Mewthew.

Skra'hee-noo chuckled and said, "Yes, we do. Especially that cat, Mr. Snuffles."

"Does that mean that you and your team will have to somehow catch Leo if he ever leaves the Forest Biome?" asked Streamstride.

"Probably, but we'll likely need back-up if we want to do it safely for everyone involved," replied Skra'hee-noo.

"I can imagine why," said Pikachan.

While Skra'hee-noo was talking to Pikachan, Thruk, Mewthew and Streamstride, Rachel was with Ana and Moon Tear. Rachel smiled broadly as she touched Leo's front paw and said, "Aw, his toe beans are really soft!"

"Is it strange that I want to keep touching them?" asked Moontear. Even though the wolf-like Fenrids had their own paw pads, Leo's was a lot softer than any Moontear had ever known except for young infants among her kind.

Ana giggled and said, "Nope!"

As Leo continued to let the three children touch him with dignified patience, Bohein-Kardor, who was chewing some grass, asked, "So, any volunteers for setting up the camp?"

Diego, who was talking to his classmates, stood up and said, "I'll help."

"Count usss in too," said Rassarr.

Iara, who was busy helping the Sonarins serve refreshments, said, "Be careful not to get hurt while setting up camp, especially the camp fire!"

"It's not like I've never made a camp fire before," muttered Diego.

Mariala smirked and said, "So says the guy who burnt a fish until it got 'extra-crispy'."

Diego blushed and argued, "Hey, cooking and making a camp fire are totally different things!" He then pointed at Mariala and said, "Besides, who's the genius who thought that using a laser gun to catch fish in a river was a good idea?"

Recalling the memory of how the laser beams from one of the scavenged guns reduced all but the largest of alien fish into ruined half-burnt pieces of meat, Mariala blushed and stuttered, "H-how was I supposed to know that laser beams can do that?"

Iara sighed and said, "At least none of us thought of using those explosives. Who knows what would have happened."

Mrs Rhia-Nuva, Sa'kan and Bohein-Kardor made a mental note to remind their students the importance of proper firearms, as well as bombs, safety after the camp was over. The last thing they wanted was a curious child, especially a human child, who somehow managed to get a big gun accidentally blasting a hole through the hull of the mothership.

While Bohein-Kardor left the cave system to set up camp with the older students, Mariala, Bloop-Blap, Ssleewaa and My'Liru turned their attention back towards a Sonarin female named Skree'lah-luu. Mariala then asked, "How's the progress of making your own starship so far?"

Skree'lah-luu smiled sheepishly as she answered, "We have made good progress but, honestly, it's less building our own and more copying and combining what we can from the designs of the other races with adjustments to fit our needs."

"Not unlike how humans have been doing things, for the most part, then," said My'Liru.

"Well, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' isss a popular human sssaying for a reassson. No need to build your own tech from ssscratch if the onesss you can replicate from your alliesss' tech work jussst as well," said Ssleewaa. While Slitaras needed to build specialised seats to suit their serpentine lower halves, they were able to use hand-held devices that were made for humans with surprising ease. In fact, it was not unusual for Slitaras and humans to swap tools or even weapons then the situation called for it.

Bloop-Blap tilted her head and asked, "What kind of starship are you building?"

"Well, I can't go into the specifics yet, but we're building a ship that can let us get close to a Star Singer and sing in tandem with them," said Skree'lah-luu who then added, "It will have at least some psychic technology added to it."

"So it'll be a civilian starship with what some would call ceremonial utility," said Mariala.

Skree'lah-luu nodded and said, "We plan to build other ships with different uses but that will be for later."

"Will you be using the Gobloids' cockpit designs?" asked My'Liru.

"Given that our builds are quite similar, yes though with some adjustments such as soundproofing," confirmed Skree'lah-luu.

In theory, the Sonarins could have asked the other races for help in building their starships but they ultimately decided that they should build their own starships instead. True, they were receiving a lot of help and advice from the more technologically-savvy races, materials and facilities included, but they felt that building their own starships would be far more meaningful than passively receiving completed starships from others. Besides, the Sonarins refused to be utterly dependent on the protection of others like what had happened during the tragic events that led to the death of an ancient whale-like Star Singer who had died to protect them, Gregoria Sanctus.

Admittedly, learning to use advanced technology was challenging to the few Sonarins who had chosen to become engineers as they were not only a formerly-primitive race but also had sensitive eyes, ears and noses that needed to be protected from sensory overload. In addition, building starships was not just a matter of assembling the correct parts but also ensuring proper maintenance of the ships, such as refuelling, and getting the raw materials and facilities needed to build the parts of starships. Thankfully, with the support of the people of 'Terra's Child', along with the fact that the mothership had a number of underutilised facilities, the Sonarins had little trouble in getting things started. There was also the fact that their biological adaptations had made them naturally good miners to the point that they needed only minimal technological assistance to locate potential mining sites on their home-world, Gregorius.

As the children continued to interact with the Sonarins, as well as Leo, Mrs Rhia-Nuva and Sa'kan continued with their silent observation.

Less than two hours later, the camp was ready for the guests with a camp fire burning merrily.

Iara, who was skilled at cooking, quickly started preparing dinner for everyone with the help of the Sonarins who were used to making meals with her. Rachel, Ssleewaa and Mrs Rhia-Nuva also helped Iara to prepare dinner.

Contrary to what some humans had assumed based on vampire lore and being aware of their keen sense of smell, the Sonarins did not mind the smell of garlic or onions. That was not to say that they liked foul-smelling food such as Surströmming though. In fact, they loathed Surströmming which was admittedly understandable even among many humans. As such, the smell of onions and garlic getting cooked with other ingredients through the use of induction cookers, which used electromagnetic fields instead of fire to cook food, could be smelt from within the cave system as the Sonarins prepared their equivalent of breakfast for their kind.

Thruk sniffed the air and said, "Smells good. Could use a bit more spice though."

Mewthew glared at Thruk and said, "Not everyone has iron stomachs like you and Ana, nya."

Anumbra almost shuddered at the reminder of the "Rhinoxian Fel-Fire Meat Stew Incident". To put a long story short, it involved a few bold members of his kind trying an infamously spicy meat stew at 'Morka's Spicy Cafe' which resulted in them begging for moisture to dull the burning sensation that came from eating the said stew. Not even his uncle, the largest and strongest of the Rhinoxians on 'Terra's Child', could take more than a few mouthfuls before he admitted defeat. That was not even counting the messy "unholy Fel-Fire exit" that followed which was even worse in Anumbra's opinion.

"Even the mild ones can make people sneeze like crazy," said Streamstride who recalled the time when she sniffed at some pepper from Earth out of curiosity. The resulting sneezing fit made her wary of spices used by humans and Gobloids ever since.

Ana giggled and said to Thruk, "Well, we have spicy sauces in our pantry if you're interested." As a child of Mexican descent, she loved having a bit of spiciness in her food. In fact, one of the reasons why Thruk enjoyed Ana's company was because she appreciated spicy food.

"Let's go and take them out then!" said Thruk.

While Ana and Thruk made a beeline to the pantry to get some spicy sauces, Drak'ryn asked Diego, "What kinds of sauces do you have?"

"Mostly sauces made of ingredients from Earth," replied Diego who then added, "We also have some sauces made of ingredients from Morktar too though we don't have any Fel-Fire sauce."

Well aware that the Gobloid home-world, Morktar, was considered to be a 'Near-Death World" due to its fruits and herbs that were spicy, caffeinated or both, Drak'ryn said, "I'm honestly not surprised."

Rachel smiled sheepishly and said, "I'm not overly fond of very spicy dishes myself."

"Doesn't change the fact that you have a better tolerance than most non-humans," said Bloop-Blap.

"I'm honestly more interested to try out this campfire cuisine that you humans call s'mores," said Moontear.

My'Liru's skin shifted to express a grimacing expression among his kind as he spoke, "That's way too much sugar for my liking."

"Same," agreed Ssleewaa.

Mariala raised an eyebrow and asked, "I thought Fenrids can't eat chocolate."

"Yes, but we can eat marshmallows and crackers without issue as long as we do not overindulge," said Moontear. As a member of a race that originated from an icy 'Death World', being picky about food was a recipe for starvation. As such, while being mainly carnivores, Fenrids could eat starchy tubers and sweet berries without issue when the opportunity arises during the short warm season.

"I'm sticking to just the plain crackers without dairy, thank you," said Pikachan.

As day turned to night, the children enjoyed their outdoor camping experience just outside the artificial cave system. While the Sonarins had to wear protective glasses to protect their eyes from the light produced by the campfire, they did not need to wear protective clothes as the light from the fire did not harm their skin. The children enjoyed singing with the Sonarins who sat around the fire and ate with them.

Overall, it was a pleasant and rather educational experienced for everyone.

---

Author's Note(s):

- This chapter took a lot longer to write than I thought. Hopefully, the next update will be a bit easier.

Chapter Text

"I've heard that you have something that might interest me and the rest of my kind," said a minotaur-like Tauronite male named Minas-Carne.

A member of 'Humanity's Science and Research Division' on the Galactic Council mothership, 'Terra's Child', Richard Benson, nodded and said, "It's an accidental discovery based on a failed concept of personal shield technology."

"Oh, are you referring to the 'Second Skin Shield Technology' by any chance?" asked Minas-Carne.

Richard nodded and said, "As you know, all shields are divided into three broad categories, energy protection, physical protection and hybrid protection which does both."

Minas-Carne had a thoughtful look in his eyes as he spoke, "And creating a shield that protects from physical harm effectively while being flexible enough to form a 'second layer of skin' has always tricky at best." It was a well-known fact that, unlike shields that protected from energy attacks, shields that protected from physical harm tended to "harden" or "thicken" to fulfil their intended function. This meant that making a shield that could protect one from physical harm effectively often resulted in restricted mobility unless it was generated as a field that was either kept away from the user's body or covered an inflexible part of the body. The alternative method, "segmented physical shielding", was considered but deemed to be mostly impractical for full-body protection due to the necessity of having a separate shield-generating emitter for each segment, never mind the issue of making sure all the segments fit properly.

It should be noted that shield bypass technology was available to allow users to bypass shields unimpeded. However, the shield bypass device had to be set to synchronise with the "frequency" of the shield it was bypassing to be successful and most modern shield generators "fluctuated" their "frequencies" to prevent enemy shield bypass technology from being effective. To allow the entry and exit of authorised individuals, a shield's "frequency" can be "locked" momentarily so that the individuals could pass through before being set to "fluctuate" again. Alternatively, having the same "fluctuation settings" would allow individuals to exit or enter rapidly as needed.

"Even with speed-reactive functions that prevent physical attacks above a certain speed limit from passing through, there are still complications as attacks that are slow yet lethal can pass through the shield with ease," said Richard.

Minas-Carne nodded and said, "Never mind the possibility of having the user's maximum mobility restricted by his own shield."

"Actually, the restriction of movement is exactly the reason why we wish to propose an idea to you," said Richard.

"Oh, and why would that be a feature instead of a fault?" asked Minas-Carne who was feeling curious.

"While the shield is by no means effective as a form of physical protection in combat unless the user is willing to never move above a certain speed limit, we have discovered a possible use as a training tool," answered Richard who then added, "One of our testers said that trying to move quickly while the shield is active is like trying to move through water."

As a member of a race of noble warriors, Minas-Carne quickly understood the implications as he spoke, "Ah, you're planning to have the shield repurposed as a tool that provides physical training by resisting movement."

"For military and, if successful enough, even civilian use," confirmed Richard.

"While I see no issue with the proposition, we already have other effective ways of physical training such as the 'Gravity Chambers'," said Minas-Carne.

"True, but we both know that 'Gravity Chambers' are, well, large chambers that cannot be carried around with ease. That it not even counting the risk of injuries during training becoming more severe due to increased levels of gravity. The modified personal shield generators will, in contrast, be a lot more portable and even potentially provide support to minimize the impact on joints," argued Richard who then added, "Also, who's to say that the two cannot be used together?"

Minas-Carne smiled and said, "Very well, you have convinced me that your idea deserves merit. However, I must ask, have you not considered proposing this idea to members of the races allied with your kind?"

"Oh, we're planning to let everyone know about it later. We're just curious if any of your fellow Tauronites will want to assist us with the demonstrations with the others," replied Richard. Left unsaid was that gaining the support of the Tauronites, one of the 'Top Ten' races in the galaxy, would be a huge boon in promoting the new invention to the rest of the galaxy.

"I'm sure a few of my warriors will be willing to assist," said Minas-Carne who was certain that the more curious members of his race would not mind trying out an interesting new tool for physical training.

The repurposed personal shield technology, which would later be dubbed as the 'Oobleck Training Shield', quickly became a hit for anyone who wanted to keep fit through physical exercise. The assistance and approval of the Tauronites helped to advertise the usefulness of the 'Oobleck Training Shield' in ways that impressed even the horned lizardmen-like Nagaroms, a race of keen-eyed traders who were also skilled warriors in their own right.

Needless to say, humanity benefitted from the unexpected development in personal shield technology.

---

After the successful advertising of the 'Oobleck Training Shield', a five-eyed Polypian advisor named Yl'tarii could not help but comment, "This kind of reminds me of the time when your kind advertised that 'Anti-Pest Laser Defence Position' years ago."

Michael Bakers, the ambassador of humanity on 'Terra's Child', chuckled at the memory of the incident and said, "I remember saying, 'Wait, you're telling me that no one has ever thought of using miniaturised laser technology for pest control before?'."

Yl'tarii, imitated a human shrug with all six tentacle-arms and said, "And my reply at the time was, 'Everyone thinks it's too crazy or silly to even consider as an idea.'." He could still remember how many non-humans, himself included, did not think very highly of the invention due to being deemed as both impractical and potentially harmful to non-targets such as helpful insectoids and even the users themselves.

"Well, the Tardaswines certainly appreciated the technology," said Michael who recalled how grateful the worm-like Tardaswines were for having a technology that could effectively eliminate flying pests. Given the fact that their home-world, Nurblurp, was a swampy 'Death World' which was full of rot and disease, having technology that helped to keep the said pests at bay was understandably a huge boon to them. When the other races learnt about how effective the technology really was, they became a lot more willing to implement it on various worlds, especially 'Death Worlds' and 'Near-Death Worlds' which had dangerous flying pests.

"That they did," agreed Yl'tarii who knew that "heavy versions" of the 'Anti-Pest Laser Defence Position' were already available to deal with larger pests such as the wasp-like Botwasps.

Originating from a 'Death World', the wasp-like Botwasps were as large as small songbirds from Earth and paralyzed their victims with venom before laying eggs into their bodies. Similar to larvae of parasitic wasps from Earth, the maggot-like larvae feed on their hosts while avoiding vital organs to keep the said hosts alive. They even secreted potent antimicrobial fluids to keep the hosts alive by preventing infection. A single large host could support multiple clutches of brood from different wasps which, quite horrifyingly, actually cooperated in keeping their young safe and well-fed by actually force feeding the unfortunate host. Particularly unlucky hosts had been known to live in that state for Earth-weeks.

Not even the rabbit-like Pikupiku could blame humans for wanting to add literal flamethrowers to the 'Heavy Anti-Pest Laser Defence Position' to deal with Botwasps. While the idea was ultimately rejected due to safety concerns, many non-humans were convinced that humans would find a way to somehow implement the idea as soon as "trifling issues" such as collateral damage and injury were no longer of concern.

---

EDIT: Minor Text Edit.

Relevant Links:

- https://www.reddit.com/r/humansarespaceorcs/comments/1lku2oa/humans_have_unintentionally_created_an_excellent/

Chapter Text

According to the laws of the Galactic Council, all star systems which possessed at least one natural 'Habitable World' should be left alone as the 'Habitable World' had the potential to become a 'Civilised World' with sapient life-forms one day. This meant that only star systems that lacked any natural 'Habitable Worlds' could be legally claimed by a member of the Galactic Council. While it was theoretically possible for a race to claim an entire star system, most races were willing to settle with claiming only a few worlds at most as different races had different needs and, well, claiming a whole star system tended to be very costly. Upon claiming a world, which would normally be an 'Uninhabitable World', the new owner would have the choice to either build 'Habitat Structures' to establish habitable regions or, if deemed viable, use terraforming technology to convert the world into a 'Terraformed Habitable World'.

Unlike most races, who would endeavour to terraform a world to match their original home-world as closely as possible if given a chance, humans possessed an unusual willingness to do only the bare minimum of the terraforming process and, if necessary, build 'Habitat Structures' for added safety and comfort. While this meant that a 'Terraformed Habitable World' that was owned by humanity would likely be an uncomfortable place to live in, at best, it also meant that humans were able to not only claim a number of 'Uninhabitable Worlds' that most races would not consider as worth terraforming throughout the galaxy but even form thriving semi-independent colonies on those worlds. As a result, humans were spreading across the galaxy much more quickly than most other races.

As stated previously, most races would not claim ownership of an entire star system, with the understandably notable exception of their respective original home star systems of course, so it was not unusual for a star system to have planets owned by different members of the Galactic Council. Such a scenario would normally not be an issue as the different members of the Galactic Council were generally willing to share the star system with other members, especially allies. However, there was also the reality that not everyone got along.

This particular story took place between two worlds within the same star system, a 'Mining World' called Corrallaz that belonged to the fish-like humanoid Deepowns and an 'Agriculture World' called Vikingfrost that humans had recently finished terraforming.

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The Deepown leader of Corrallaz made a hacking gurgling sound in his throat to express his displeasure as he observed a neighbouring world called Vikingfrost with the use of a telescope. Recently, the humans had finished terraforming the planet with the intention to, of all things, utilise it as an 'Agriculture World'. Make no mistake, he knew that everyone needed to eat but the idea of turning a literal ice-ball of an 'Uninhabitable World' into a thriving producer of agricultural produce, even aquatic produce since most of the ice had melted away, was ludicrous to say the least. Well, aggravating presence of humans aside, whatever losses that resulted from the foolish endeavour would have little to no effect on him or the rest of his own kind so he was content to leave them be and take pleasure in witnessing their inevitable failure.

A few human-months later, Deepown leader's prediction would be proven inaccurate to the point of being arguably comical from a certain point of view.

While there was no denying that Vikingfrost was still extremely cold even after the use of terraforming technology to overcome the worst of it, the humans' goal was never to turn the world into an ideal world for agriculture in general sense but rather a world that was ideal for cultivating aquatic produce that could thrive in cold climates. What was more, humans were willing to cultivate not only animals and plants from their own world but also those from other worlds that belonged to their close allies such as those found on the coldest regions of the aquatic 'Near-Paradise World' that belonged to the octopus-like Cephalopids, Sub'Autika, and the aquatic regions of the icy 'Death World' that belonged to the humanoid wolf-like Fenrids, Wulfenruss. Combined with the use of mobile floating 'Habitat Structures' that provided light and warmth to not only increase the variety of produce but also act as potential "breeding grounds", it was clear that the world would soon become a vital producer of food for not only humans but also Cephaloids, Fenrids and anyone else who could safely consume the said food.

Even more galling however was that, given the close proximity, all non-Deepowns on Corrallaz would be tempted to buy produce from Vikingfrost regardless of the "frosty relationship" between Deepowns with humans. The Deepown leader on Corralaz was therefore forced to make a choice:

Option One: Swallow his pride and make a trade deal with the human leader of Vikingfrost to ensure a steady supply of relatively cheap yet delicious food but at the risk of upsetting many Deepowns, including various trade partners, in the process.

Option Two: Refuse to make the trade deal and risk angering every non-Deepown on Corrallaz who had been hoping to obtain food that was cheaper yet tastier.

On the surface, it seemed that the first option was the worse of the two. This made sense as basically everyone in the Galactic Council already knew that the Deepowns resented humans for choosing the Cephaloids over them as allies in the past. Besides, it was not as though the humans on Vikingfrost were producing anything that could be considered as "ingredients for fine cuisine" at the moment and the non-Deepowns on Corrallaz had been doing "just fine" without produce from a neighbouring world for human-years.

However, if one looked deeper into the issue, it was clear that choosing the first option might actually be the more harmful one in the long run. After all, the humans had already managed to make marketable produce with animals that plants that reproduced and grew quickly merely human-months after they had completed terraforming Vikingfrost enough to make it liveable with the help of 'Habitat Structures'. Who knew what they would end up producing within the next few human-years? Also, losing the favour of fellow Deepowns was one thing but missing out on a possible "golden investment" was something that the Deepown leader of Corrallaz simply could not ignore.

In the end, the Deepown leader decided to make a compromise. He would not make an official trade deal with the humans of Vikingfrost out of the principle of being a Deepown. However, he would not forbid anyone on Corrallaz from ordering fresh or frozen ingredients from Vikingfrost either as long as they were willing to pay a relatively small tax when making the purchase. Yes, he could have increased the amount of tax but doing so would only make the non-Deepowns resentful and wise Deepowns knew that no business would function at its best with resentful employees. While the Deepowns on Corrallaz were displeased to know that their leader had not forbidden any trade with humans on Vikingfrost, they also understood the practicality to keeping non-Deepowns happy enough to remain cooperative. As for the non-Deepowns, they were happy to receive relatively cheap food that genuinely tasted good.

While the humans on Vikingfrost could, in theory, trade with others, being able to trade with the neighbouring planet of Corrallaz was a boon as it accelerated the progress of "breaking even". It was therefore understandable that, in spite of humans and Deepowns not being allies, the Deepown leader of Corrallaz was given some produce from Vikingfrost as a gift of gratitude. Though surprised by the gift, especially since it was clearly a genuine gift with no strings, nor deadly toxins, attached, the Deepown leader decided to accept it and even allowed his cooks to prepare it with proper care. Even though the resulting dishes were decidedly plebian compared to the more extravagant dishes that he had consumed in the past, the Deepown leader was willing to admit that the dishes made with ingredients from Vikingfrost were pleasantly tasty.

Little did anyone realise that the Deepown leader of Corrallaz, Mudpup, would one day choose to become an ally of humanity on the grounds that continuing the antagonism with them would be "simply unprofitable".

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Author's Note(s):

- I once read a post on Reddit (I believe it was on the 'Humans Are Space Orcs Subreddit') that mentioned how humans were content to live on planets with minimal levels of terraforming. This chapter is based on that idea.

- EDIT: Some spelling edits.

Chapter Text

Many years had passed since humans first joined the Galactic Council. In that time, humans had not only spread far and wide across the galaxy but even obtained a variety of loyal allies. During those years, humanity and their allies proved their invaluable worth as members of the Galactic Council when they helped to fend off a terrible threat that came from beyond the galaxy called the Celestial Devourers. It was through their combined courage and daring tactics that the terrible threat could be held at bay long enough for the eldritch Void Watchers to strike a fatal psychic blow to the hive-minded Celestial Devourers, including the greater whole of the species that were still in transit towards the galaxy. Though there was no way to be sure that every member of the Celestial Devourers had been destroyed, the mind-breaking devastation that their hive-mind had suffered was such that it was unlikely that they would recover to their former strength any time soon, if ever.

However, to the surprise of many other races, many humans who had earned the right to be revered as champions of the galaxy decided to reject the idea of their own race becoming a new member of the 'Top Ten'. Yes, humans had a vested interest to become a prosperous yet mighty race that few would dare to trifle with but they were willing to give up their spot in the 'Top Ten' to the Sonarins who were admittedly invaluable due to their ability to lift spirits with their psychic songs.

Some assumed that the humans only wanted the Sonarins to take the spot to be mere puppets but the idea was quickly brushed aside as there was no way the whale-like Star Singers would allow the Sonarins to suffer such a fate, never mind the various other psychic races such as the bird-like Avianites and the bipedal tortoise-like Kappoids. Even the cat-like Felinors, who had decided to step down from the 'Top Ten' after having their home-world saved by humans and their allies, would have sooner decided to remain in the 'Top Ten' than allow the Sonarins to be used as mere puppets of humanity.

As it turned out, the reason was much simpler.

Most of the smarter and wiser humans knew that their own kind was not the best-suited for a high rank in the galaxy. Never mind the possibility of getting corrupted by the desire to misuse power, there was the simple fact that being one of the 'Top Ten' would lead to responsibilities and expectations that most humans would rather not deal with. Granted, the Sonarins were not necessarily the best at handling the responsibilities and expectations which came with being a part of high galactic society either but they were more consistently good-natured than humans and were on excellent terms with various powerful races such as the Star Singers and the crustaceous Nebula Swarm. In addition, the Sonarins could always ask the "lesser races" for help with various matters such as industry and, the bane of just about any sane being, paperwork.

In other words, many good-natured humans would much rather be free than to have more power than anyone else, a rather ironic oxymoron as many assumed that having more power was a requirement to enjoy greater freedom. Then again, there was the human saying, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Although the decision to pass the position to the Sonarins was unexpected, the decision was ultimately accepted by the Galactic Council. Of course, the Sonarins made sure that humans and their allies would help them with various matters, especially paperwork.

At around the same time, humans decided to reveal a form of genetic manipulation that would allow them to successfully hybridise with various alien races such as the wolf-like Fenrids, the Snake like Slitharas and the goblin-like Gobloids.

This marked the beginning of a new era. An era of humans being the "orcs of the galaxy".

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Author's Note(s):

- Due to real life responsibilities and the growing difficulty in writing the story, which is partly due to a rapidly-expanding caste of characters, I have decided to end the current story/timeline.

- However, as I have grown attached to the setting as a whole, I wish to, at the very least, update/improve the codex of the various alien races and technologies used in the setting and maybe even include a proper naming system for each race. Maybe even add more races to expand the setting even further.

- If I ever decide to rewrite the story, various plot points will be altered in an attempt to "smoothen the timeline of events" with various new additions to the story and greater emphasis on describing various characters. The rewritten story will also use the updated codex.

- I have heard about people posting original stories online to earn money and, while I am interested, I am not sure if my stories will be eligible for posting on such websites due to my love for referencing popular works of fiction (an admittedly minor issue if one is willing to adjust the names and phrases) and desire to be free to write what I wish instead of being forced to obey the "online editors". I am also fairly sure that my story will not be anything all that great so joining as an online writer for free would be preferable for me even if it leads to lower potential income.

- Anyway, before I end this chapter, I wish to say this: Thank you for reading this story.

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END
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Chapter Text

No, this is NOT an announcement of a rewrite of the story but it is an announcement of a series of "codices" that are both revision and expansion of the setting of this story that I have grown attached to.

The name of the series of Codices: 'Humans, Orcs Of The Galaxy - The Codices Of Yl'Tharii'

The relevant link is: https://archiveofourown.org/works/67849671

Thank you for your support and enjoy!

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

President Eric frowned as he gazed upon the aliens who wished to speak to him about a possible alliance with him and his political party. While he had nothing against the idea of being at peace with benign non-humans, he could not help but be suspicious. After all, while humans had successfully colonised the Moon and Mars recently, the aliens were far more technologically advanced with their moon-sized starship which they, quite fittingly, dub as their mothership. That was not even counting the fact that at least some of the aliens were naturally psychic which meant all kinds of unpleasant possible scenarios.

One of the aliens, a bird-like humanoid named Toa-Vanu, bowed as he spoke to Eric, "Thank you for responding so swiftly to our request, President Eric."

Eric nodded back in return and said, "You and your kind mentioned about wanting to form an alliance with me and my political party. I'd be a fool to reject your offer outright without finding out more about what you can offer and hope to gain in return."

"You do not trust us," said a tortoise-like alien named Ryl'anur.

Well aware that at least some of the aliens standing before him were likely reading his mind already, Eric shook his head and said honestly, "No, not fully at least. Yes, you and your kind offered us a chance to form a peaceful alliance with your Galactic Council instead of waging war against us to either destroy or enslave us. However, that does not change the fact that you are all non-humans and therefore may have goals that will cause more harm than good to humanity as a whole in the long run. As a god-fearing president of a human country, I can't very well allow such a scenario happen if I can do anything about it. Hell, even if I were a more selfish person, at the end of the day I'm still human myself."

To Eric's surprise, the aliens that stood before him actually smiled as as Toa-Vanu said approvingly, "That is a good mindset to have, President Eric."

"Wait, you're okay with me and my people not fully trusting you?" asked Eric.

"I believe a common saying among your kind is, 'trust should be earned'," replied Toa-Vanu who then added, "While we have not initiated any attacks, you and your people still have every right to remain suspicious of our intentions. After all, controlling a person's mind by force or subtle manipulation is by no means unheard of even among races that lack psychic abilities, never mind the possible scenarios that can happen due to base corruption and greed."

Eric's eyes narrowed as he spoke, "And there is a difference between 'won't' and 'can't'."

"Unfortunately, yes," confirmed Toa-Vanu.

"So why come to me and my political party? Why seek an alliance with a group of humans who are much less willing to trust you and the others than our political opponents?" asked Eric who then added, "As I recall their official stance is to welcome you all with open arms and embrace a 'future of inclusiveness, progress and liberty'."

"That's because we would rather be allied with a group that is more distrustful but otherwise reasonable than be allied to a group that is more willing to accept us with open arms and yet is also significantly more willing to be cruel and even violent towards anyone who does not agree with their political doctrines," answered Ryl'anur.

Eric blinked at the response before he said, "You know about the assassinations and attempted assassinations, don't you?"

"As well as the responses to those incidents and how your political rivals often downplayed incidents caused by their own supporters or 'fellow members of the oppressed'," confirmed Ryl'anur.

Eric was silent for a moment before he said, "You do realise that I am not entirely against the idea of my political party and its supporters becoming a dominant force over not just Earth but possibly much more beyond that, right?"

Toa-Vanu and many other aliens expressed amusement as the bird-like alien spoke with a cooing chuckle, "You and the rest of your kind are nowhere close to being unique in that regard. In fact, a long time ago, my own people were what you would call a whole race of 'backstabbing Starscreams'."

"Wait... did you just make a 'Transformers' reference?" asked Eric.

"That, I did," confirmed Toa-Vanu.

"Speaking of 'nowhere close to being unique', we are very much aware that your political rivals and their followers are no exception to that as well, especially when it comes to ideas and speech," added Ryl'anur.

"If you know so much about us and our history, then you must know that my political rivals will not take your decision to be allied with me kindly," argued Eric.

"Yes, we do. In fact, we've already made plans in anticipation of their potential responses," said Toa-Vanu.

Eric pondered over what had been revealed to him before he wore a smirk and said, "Okay, I'm still suspicious that you aliens may have plans that might just screw me and the rest of humanity over in the long run but you folks have convinced me that you're either the most deceptively persuasive bastards I have ever met or you're all genuine in wanting to help humanity become a contributing member of the galaxy as a fellow sapient race that can travel across the stars." He stood up from his chair and offered his hand for a handshake as he continued to speak, "So, to paraphrase a quote from an old cartoon I watched years ago, 'You crazy sons of bitches, I'm in.'."

Toa Vanu unexpectedly extended a fist and said, "Among my kind, we do what you humans call a 'fist bump' as a sign of friendship and partnership. Also, we know about 'Rick and Morty'."

Eric's smirk widened into a grin as his extended hand clenched into a fist to that he could do a "fist bump" with Toa-Vanu.

The meeting would later be known as the day humanity officially accepted the trial of becoming a member of the Galactic Council, a trial that they ultimately passed.