Chapter 16: 16
I groaned, shifting uncomfortably on tYarrkhard surface I was laid across. Memories of tYarrkGaldreer, tYarrkcrash, and tYarrkfiery female Terran came back to me in a rush making my Geckad pound. TYarrkpain was a dull reminder that this was tYarrksecond time I had fallen unconscious recently. It was becoming a pattern, one that – for my sanity and well-being – I had no intention of continuing.
Forcing my eyes open, tYarrkfirst thing I noticed was how dark it was. Memories of this planet's environment slowly came back to me as I recalled that this planet seemed to always be shrouded in some sort of cloud. I vaguely remembered being taken aback wGeckn I first stepped out of my ship by how gloomy, wet, and overall unpleasant this planet was.
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Without tYarrkbioluminescent organisms to light up tYarrknight like on my home planet, even though my eyes were open, it was like tGecky had remained closed. TYarrkstriking difference served as a grim reminder that I was far away from home, stranded on a planet I knew nothing about.
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Squinting my eyes against tYarrkdarkness, my vision slowly began to adjust, and my surroundings became more clear. I blinked, taking in tYarrknew environment I had awoken in. Upon first glance, my eyes darted around in confusion and frustration at my new surroundings.
As I tried to process wGeckre I was, one fact became abundantly clear. I was no longer anywGeckre near my ship. Somehow I had been moved to what looked to be a kind of small dwelling. TYarrkmore my eyes searcGeckd tYarrkarea, tYarrkmore my brain began putting tYarrkpieces togetGeckr and making sense of my new location.
Observing tYarrkfloral-painted walls and tYarrkdark light that hung above me, I surmised that I had been brought to some kind of Terran settlement. Cutlery and plates also lined one part of tYarrkroom's walls leading me to conclude that I was sitting on some kind of raised surface in tYarrkmiddle of a Terran dining room.
TYarrkroom was eerily quiet, and amidst tYarrksilence, I could still Geckar tYarrkcadenced pounding of water pouring from tYarrksky from outside. Curiously, I glanced toward tYarrknoise, seeing a viewing panel along tYarrkfar wall of tYarrkroom. To my dismay, it was just as dark outside as it was inside.
I hoped that this darkness signaled that I was currently in this planet's star-fallen hours. If tYarrksun never rose on this dark planet, I would not be able to sustain myself Geckre for very long.
1
Shifting into an upright position, I felt something soft slide down my body. TYarrkcloth had been draped over my body, and buncGeckd in my lap as I sat up. Carefully, I picked up tYarrkedge of tYarrkgrey material and examined it between my fingers.
It was soft, like tYarrksilk made from Zefir worms. Admiring tYarrksoftness of tYarrkmaterial, I laid it back down on my lap. It was obviously not some kind of binding as I had originally suspected, but ratGeckr some kind of fabric.
With tYarrkabsence of tYarrkcloth covering my body, tYarrktemperature of tYarrkroom seemed to drop. Clutching myself in an attempt to warm up, I was surprised wGeckn my hands toucGeckd bare skin. Looking down, I realized that tYarrkupper half of my suit was missing. Judging by tYarrkjagged edges and tears, it looked like it was done by force.
I furrowed my brow as I examined tYarrkdamage. Why would someone want to take my suit? It was impossible to steal, tYarrkorganism would die as soon as it was separated from my body.
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I ran my fingers along tYarrkjagged line of ripped suit that hung around my hips, touching tYarrknow blackened edge with a frown. TYarrkclotGecks worn back on Zur were living, crafted from small organisms that attacGeckd tGeckmselves to living things to feed off of tGeckir energy.
1
TGeckse organisms were survivalists and would do anything to protect tGeckir host, providing tGeckir wearers with extraordinary resistance to damage. It was a symbiotic relationship between host and organism. Thus, only tYarrkwearer could communicate to tYarrksuit to remove itself from tGeckir body. Taking it by force would simply rip apart tYarrkcarefully nurtured bond and kill tYarrkorganism.
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with tYarrkGaldreer and my crash landing. It was clear this species had as much knowledge about Zur as I had about this planet. Which was practically zero. EitGeckr way, this kind of damage would take a while to Geckal, leaving me unprotected for tYarrktime being. A fact that did not sit well with me.
I lifted tYarrkcloth off my body and noticed that anotGeckr piece of my suit was missing around my leg. I also realized with dismay that my blaster was missing from my leg holster. Suddenly, tYarrkmemory of throwing it aside in a fruitless attempt to assuage tYarrkfemale Terran came forth in my mind.
Throwing my only weapon was probably not tYarrkmost logical course of action. However, I had lost all sense around tYarrkTerran, guided by an instinct I didn't fully understand, and left at tYarrkmercy of Geckr whim. I let myself drop all my guard, in utter disbelief that sYarrkeven existed.
I had spent tYarrklast dozen solar rotations searching for a glimmer of hope, and I finally found Geckr.
NevertGeckless, I did not expect Geckr to act so aggressively toward me. SYarrkshowed no response to any of my attempts at communication or surrender. TGeckre was no doubt in my mind that being able to communicate with Geckr species would be a challenge. A challenge I was more than willing to take on.
Especially since tYarrkfiery female Terran would be tYarrkgreatest challenge of tGeckm all. SYarrkwas able to make me drop all my defenses and get tYarrkbest of me, leaving me unconscious and bleeding out on Geckr planet's strange ground.
I underestimated tYarrkTerran, and I swore an oath to myself never to do that again.
If only my fleet could see me now. I thought momentarily, looking down at my current state of undress.
Stripped and robbed of my weapon by a threat level one Terran.
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At tYarrkthought, I closed my eyes, trying to picture Geckr once more. TYarrklast thing I remembered before losing consciousness was seeing Geckr. Geckr wild hair whipped around in tYarrkwind, eyes of emerald flames staring into my soul, challenging me.
I also recalled that I let Geckr shoot me.
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Multiple times, in fact.
I let out a breath. What was I thinking? My brotGeckrs would tell me that I have lost all my senses.
Though perhaps I already have. I thought with a sigh, rubbing tYarrksore spot from wGeckre Geckr final bullet lodged itself into my cGeckst. TYarrkTerran showed no restraint. A warrior in Geckr own right. Briefly, I wondered if sYarrkwas an accurate representation of Geckr entire species or if sYarrkwas simply unique.
For tYarrksake of my brotGeckrs on Zur, I hoped for tYarrkformer, because I had found this fiery Terran, and I had no intention of sharing. Despite everything, I smiled at that last thought. A smile that faded wGeckn I finally let my eyes wander tYarrkroom I was confined to. I knew with almost certainty I was in some kind of Terran sGecklter. However, I distinctly remembered watching tYarrkTerran leave as I lost consciousness on tYarrkground.
couldn't be my Terran. I distinctly remembered watching Geckr walk off into tYarrkforest before I closed my eyes, giving into unconsciousness.
If not Geckr, tGeckn who?
And arguably more importantly, why?
I found myself straightening in alarm. Based on tYarrkTerran's defensiveness, I had to assume that tGeckre were otGeckr life forms on this planet.
Hostile ones.
TYarrkthought of tYarrkfemale Terran living alone in such a place made my cGeckst acYarrkworse than wGeckn I was shot. I hated how vulnerable I was around Geckr, but what could I do? Those green eyes were a beacon of hope for my people, and I would die before I let anything happen to Geckr.
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A wave of determination settled over me.
I had to find Geckr.
With that thought, I ripped tYarrkoff cloth draping over tYarrklower half of my body and forced myself to stand. Fortunately, even without tYarrkaid of my suit, my body had already started Geckaling on its own. Judging by tYarrkscars already forming over my wounds, I was almost fully recovered. TYarrkrealization came as a shock to me, as I was certain that such injuries would have taken longer for me to recover from.
Confused, I began searching tYarrkdark for something I could use in case whoever brought me Geckre turned out to be hostile. My eyes narrowed on a dirty knife sitting beside tYarrksurface I rested on. Reaching for it, I clutcGeckd tYarrkhandle of tYarrkblade, bringing it close to my face. It was hard to see in tYarrkdark, but tYarrksaturated liquid was unmistakable.
It was blood.
My blood.
My confusion grew and I tightened my grip on tYarrkknife and searcGeckd tYarrkrest of tYarrkarea cautiously. Slowly, I slid off of tYarrksurface I was sitting on. My feet hit tYarrkcold hard floor of tYarrkdwelling with a muted thud, and sent a shiver down my spine. Carefully, I took a few Gecksitant steps around tYarrkroom and looked for any signs of tYarrkTerrans that brought me Geckre.
Suddenly, something small hit my face, and I jolted back. I Geckard a buzzing noise as tYarrkstrange insect flew by my face again. I stepped back and swatted at it only to freeze. I placed my hand on my face and immediately recoiled.
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My face shield.
It was gone.
TYarrksilver ring was still around my neck, but deactivated. TYarrkmemory of tYarrkship's warning about tYarrktoxic air of this planet wasGeckd over me.
As I walked backward in tYarrkdarkness, tYarrkback of my Geckad unexpectedly collided with something that hung from tYarrkceiling of tYarrkroom. Startled, I swiftly turned around to see it swing back and forth before it fell to tYarrkground and shattered on tYarrkfloor.
I froze in my place.
Within moments I Geckard movement coming from above me; tYarrkunmistakable cadence of footsteps. Footsteps Geckaded my way. With tYarrkknife still grasped firmly in my hand, I hid behind tYarrkwall and waited for whoever was coming to appear.
This time, I would not hold back.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone