“And then you ran out there bsting those Gelly fuckheads, like pew pew, bruchrushhh!” Ash waved her hands around in the shape of an explosion. “We were running for our lives, and you were out there risking yours to save us all. It was so badass. You’re a hero!” Ash jumped up on me, hugging me tight.

  It felt nice to have a fangirl, or at least I thought it did. It was still kind of new to me. Hopefully this didn’t get out of hand. I just wanted things to go back to normal so I could sail the gaxy, free with my lover. I hadn’t had sex in a few days now, or was it a week? Either way, I needed some special attention from my man. I just needed to get this doctor visit over with and then I could focus on the future.

  Ash pulled my hand along, dragging me further down a hall before stopping abruptly and pushing me in front of her. “Here we go, the doctor’s office.”

  I took a step forwards, looking back. Ash refused to move any further. Her face lost the innocent, perky smile, and was now stern.

  “What’s wrong? You’re not going to accompany me to the doctor’s office?”

  “No thanks, I will wait outside. That thing gives me the creeps.” She whispered, cupping her hand, “Snakes eat bunnies in the wild.”

  I chuckled, but she was right. Slizz might be hungry for some sweet, innocent bunny. I had no clue of knowing if they would eat her or not. I swallowed the lump in my throat and entered the office.

  It was more of the grey concrete. Not as fshy, or creepy, as the ships med bay. Just a small room, filled with a rge anthro-snake, four arms and all, sifting through a holo-screen filled with medical procedures and autopsy reports done on mutited figures.

  “Pleassse, sssit.” They gestured to the padded table for me to sit on.

  I slowly walked in, keeping a distance from Slizz. I sat down, realizing that Slizz face was different than usual. It was scrunched, almost frustrated and disgruntled. I scanned the page she was on. A news report on an unknown creature sughtering a family back on Earth. A string of occurrences that had no leads.

  “What are you looking at?” I spoke up to break the silence. Slizz was scary, but they were still a living person. I could try to give some empathy here.

  Slizz shut down the screen instantly, whipping her head around with lighting speed. “Jussst sssome loossse endsss I need to tie up. No need to concern yourssself with.” They slithered up to me and gazed into my eyes with its own sea blue orbs. “Sssit ssstill.” They grabbed a scanner with one their arms, waving it around my body in one swift motion.

  It was more like a regur doctor’s appointment. No creepy staring, no threats to cut me up and serve me like sushi. Something was off with Slizz.

  They looked over the scanner and nodded at me. “Everything looksss okay, you can get back to duty.”

  “Sweet, all this sitting around was driving me crazy. I need to get out there so we can leave this pce. Get back to normal.”

  Slizz nodded at me, “I would appreciate that, greatly. We all have thingsss we need to get done outssside thisss moon.”

  They slithered back over to the holodeck. I jumped off the table and began to leave. The better part of my soul got ahold of me. I just had to ask her a question. That damn good part of my brain. Couldn’t I just be a dick this instance? Damn.

  “If there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here.”

  Slizz slowly looked up at me, not saying a word.

  “I’ve had a bad past too. I know what it’s like to have loose ends. It can eat you up inside, driving you mad.” I smiled at them, “I’m here if you ever need to talk.” I stepped out of the door and let out a deep sigh. Wow, that was tough. I needed a drink in a nap now. I felt exhausted.

  “How was it?” Ash didn’t dare take a step closer to the office.

  I thought for a second, “You know, not too bad.” Slizz was a member of our crew after all. I didn’t want her to feel like she was all alone. I knew how that went. Trapped in a crew that didn’t want me. It was terrible. I wanted them to know they could count on us all, no matter what they were.

  “You’re more courageous than I thought. I could never step in there.” She swallowed hard and followed me out to the main room, keeping on my heels and never shutting up about my heroics.

  “You still need to meet my brother. He had to take off while you’re in the office, but he said my family is all safe and taking refuge underground. When I heard that, man, I just felt like a burden was lifted, you know?”

  “Yeah, I know exactly how you feel. I’m gd your family is safe. After this is over, I will meet them all.” I didn’t know why I said that. Maybe it was the close encounter with death that was warming my heart over. Something was different though. I felt good.

  Ash jumped and cpped with joy, “Great! It’s a date then!”

  Before I could respond, a speaker chimed up, calling for me to meet in the war room.

  “Oh, they probably want a briefing on what happened. Yeti and Uwu are there pnning their next move. Go, I’ll wait here!” Ash waved me goodbye as I headed into the war room. It was packed full of the usual suspects, the Meowtws and Captain Uwu, Speck was there as well as Echo.

  The whole room started to cp as I entered. I felt underdressed. Wearing some leftover street clothes with unkempt hair.

  Yeti waved me over, shouting into the room, “The mother fucking hero awakes! Come, we have much to talk about!”

  I wasn’t sure what we were talking about, but they appraisal felt pretty nice. I guess I could be a hero.

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