> In the early days, when humans were first officially recognized by the alliance, not a lot was known about them. Imagine the shock, and a little bit of fear, when injuries, including internal bruising, though no bleeding, and broken bones, not only didn't send the human into shock, but also didn't require full sedation or surgeries. And even more surprising was their recovery rate! -- New Guy
First, there were a few incidents. Close encounters, near misses, glimpses in unfamiliar territory. And unexpected help where both parties ran away to safety. In the space of a few weeks... they were _everywhere_.
Humans.
They weren't particularly fast, they lacked what most might consider natural weapons. Or at least, body parts and functions that were _utilised_ as weaponry. They didn't seem to be strong, nor vicious, nor vile. They didn't need to be. What they _were_ was both relentless and persistent. That was plenty.
They weren't welcome in the Alliance, but if you were going into or through the Edge Territories - you needed a Human. They may not fully understand everything that's said, but they _will_ protect you from all the dangers they understand. They pack-bond _intensely_ and will suffer so their crew doesn't have to.
Human Zef tumbled to a halt after saving Surveyor Lan from a bad fall. Zef had taken care to roll so that Lan was not crushed under their weight. Lan was unharmed. Able to rise to his feet and update the rest of the team on their mutual status.
Their Human was lying very still. After a vertiginous moment, a stream of curses indicated that Zef was still alive. Most of them were censored by the autotranslators, resulting in a quasi-musical string of bleeps.
"You climb, yes?" panted Zef. "Climb careful? Zef no catch now." They did not have a grasp of GalSimple, and the translators didn't understand half of their words. Thus making understanding... difficult. "Need... lift. Take Zef ship."
"Day not over," said Lan. "Zef tired? Long sleeping need?"
"Leg break," said Zef, shuffling themself carefully into a new position. "Arm break."
Lan noticed, now, how the one arm Zef had used to position themself was now holding the other carefully against their chest. Zef's weird, rubbery face was twisted in a not-smile. Showing teeth, but not in the way that meant they were happy. They were hissing.
Lan called for emergency evac support. Their Human was potentially dying. Bone breaks could be fatal for him and his species. The readouts from Zef's livesuit indicated stress and shock, but nothing in the red zones.
Human Bruez, the Medik for Zef, arrived from above on a hover-sled. Descending in a steep, spiral path. "_Had another bingle, ey?_" The Human didn't wait for the sled to completely stop before hopping off to tend to Zef. They were speaking the _lingua franca_ of Human kind... more or less. The accents and colloquialisms were baffling. "_I keep tellin' ya. No high-diving 'till after you check out the pool._"
There was scanning, and weak chatter from Zef, and Bruez added devices to Zef's arm and leg. Then an addition to Zef's bloodstream, which gave Zef enough strength to hobble to the padded flat of the sled. "You up come," said Bruez in his own limited GalSimple. "No leave alone. Danger."
Humans knew danger better than anyone. Lan hopped up onto the seat and waited for Bruez to strap them all in. The trip back to the main lander was a _lot_ slower and more careful than the trip out. Lan spent most of it watching Zef fall asleep, watching their suit's diagnostics to ensure that the Human was still alive.
Once in the medical bay, Zef was awake and ready to see Lan again. Nobody looked good in patient scrubs, nor in hospital lighting. Zef looked worse. Most of their body was discoloured. Deep dark spots and blotches were in more places than just the broken arm and leg.
"How long you got?" Lan asked.
"Zef on light duty, three week," said Zef. "Outside... five week, Lan be slow, yes? Zef be slow."
"Slow? _Slow_? It be Lan? Lan _dead_."
"Better is Zef," said Zef. "Heal good."
[Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@socalcaral?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Cara Shelton</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/x-ray-result-_GpJpHnyCSw?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a>]
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