Humans are space orcs // The Stryx Crew

Chapter 1 : The outsider

The station was buzzing with activity, the air thick with the mingling languages of dozens of species. Some clicked, some hummed, others resonated in melodic tones, but all quieted as the human walked into the central atrium.

Avani kaur, wearing their favourite turban- a deep blue fabric wrapped around their head- carried themselves with the steady confidence of someone who had faced far worse than intergalactic bureaucracy. Their kara, a steel bangle, glinted under the station's artificial sunlight, catching the eye of a passing reptilian trader who paused mid-step.

"That's the human," the trader whispered to their companion, a gelatinous being that rippled nervously.

Humans had a reputation, of course.
Stories of their resilience, their unrelenting curiosity, and their reckless bravery had spread like wildfire since humanity joined the galactic coalition. But avani was something else entirely. The tales about them specifically had spread across the quadrant.

It wasn't just that they had survived a catastrophic hull breach last year, holding their breath for an impossible amount of time while fixing the station's outer shield. It wasn't just that they had once outdrunk a Viscarian, whose species metabolized ethanol as water. It was something deeper- something in the way they spoke, the way they looked at you.

Avani didn't just survived, they thrived

○●○

A few hours later, avani stood at the station's bay, observing the recruits. The session wasn't meant for them, they'd volunteered to assist, curious about the new coalition soldiers. A young recruit, his scales a bright green that indicated his inexperience, fumbled with the training module.

"Steady," Avani said, stepping closer. Their voice was calm but firm.

The recruit flinched. "Human avani...
I-uh........I didn't mean to..... I'll fix it".

Avani crouched beside him. "It's just avani," they said, their brown eyes softening. "And you're not fixing anything if you panic. Breathe. You've got this."

The recruit hesitated but mimicked their breathing rythem. Inhale, exhale. His hands steadied, and he managed to reconnect the module.

"See?," Avani said, smiling. "Stronger than you think."

As they stood, one of the senior officers approached. A vekrian, her silver fur bristling.

"You coddle them," The officer said. Her translator gave her words a sharp edge. "They must be prepared for real combat, not handheld through simulations."

Avani's smile didn't waver. "Everyone starts somewhere. A good leader knows when to push and when to support."

The officer's ears flicked in irritation.
"Humans," she muttered, walking away.

○●○

Later that evening, Avani sat alone in the observation deck, staring at the endless void of stars.

"Do you ever fear the stories about you?" Came a voice behind them.

Avani turned to see commander Iriss, the gelatinous being from earlier, shifting nervously in the doorway.

"Fear them?" Avani raised an eyebrow. "No. But I wonder how much of me they capture."

Iriss approached cautiously, their form shimmering. "You are....revered. Feared, even. Some say humans are relentless, dangerous beyond understanding."

Avani chuckled softly. "Dangerous? Perhaps. We're resilient, stubborn. But we're also empathetic, adaptable. The universe isn't kind, commander.
We've had to learn to be strong, but strength doesn't always mean violence."

Iriss hesitated. "And you.... you do not fit the usual descriptions. Your attire, your words, they seem so deliberate."

Iriss studied them for a long moment. "Perhaps the coalition misjudges your kind. You aren't dangerous the way they think."

Avani leaned forward, their expression thoughtful."maybe. But you should know this- humans can be dangerous. Not because we're cruel, but because we're capable of immense love and unyielding resolve. Protect what we care about, and we'll move stars to keep it safe."

Iriss shivered, their gelatinous form rippling. "Perhaps that is more terrifying than any weapon."

Avani smiled. "Perhaps."

○●○

618 words
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