And Human John kept taking the ribbing, the teasing from his xeno friends and crewmates in stride.
âHaha yep, funny guys you are! Iâm totally afraid of shadows that dont move, and empty rooms, ya got me!â
Until one day, when John was brought along as a delegation attache to a trade negotiation between his Captain, Xir'toxtl, and the majority of the Trade Union for Sector 14.
No one thought it unusual at John being nervous in an unfamiliar place, with no âblasters allowed on board. Everyone knew he was âjumpyâ.
âHey Human John, you sure you dont wanna check out that supply closet? The donorâs closed and it doesnt have any lights on!â
âMmm, hilarious as always Xir'Toth, hilarious,â John replied dryly.
The meeting droned on for hours. Only John seemed restless. After the customary meal break, John returned to the conference room alongside Captain Xir'toxtl and Major Xir'toth. The others milled about in the doorway, chatting with some of the other delegates while John returned to his seat in a chair against the wall, almost in the corner, where he could enjoy the perfume exuding from a rare, imported jasmine from his homeworld.
But he just couldnt seem to relax.
John sat bolt upright, glancing around the room. Again no one noticed. He frowned in puzzlement and sniffed deeper. No one noticed. His head cocked to one side and slowly one corner of his mouth twitched in a thin smirk. They should have noticed that at least. Everyone knows to watch for when humans smile.
The Captain turned to move towards the table. John rocketed out of his chair straight at the Captain, a long knife appearing almost out of nowhere in his hands. Captain Xir'toxtl jumped back in surprise, but he didnt need to bother as Johnâs knife whistled past him, arcing off to the side and slamming into the wall.
âWHAT THE FUCK John!?â bellowed the Captain. âWhat are you playing at? Did Xir'Toth put you up to attacking me like this just to embarrass me? Are you TRYING to make me look bad in front of the Council?â
John just held still, breathing heavily, still wound tight as a spring.
âDo you smell that?â John said, barely above a whisper.
âSmell what? The stench of your stupid Human adrenoxy or whatever itâs called?â
âLights. Full UV and visual spectrum.â Jihn seemed more calm now, but the relaxedness of an armed missile just sitting in a loading tube.
The Captain jumped back. âHoly fucking critalna!â
There, skewered and pinned to the wall by Johnâs knife, was a Throlnat. Virtually invisible under low visible light and UV spectrums, they were the perfect assassin. You couldnt see them until the light was as bright as a Sol-3 system noon sun, and a lot of UV radiation, and even then, they were still sort of translucent with a rainbow shimmer to them.
Black fluids dripped slowly down the wall, and out of the Throlnatâs razor sharp, needle toothed maw that still held Jonâs Bowie rammed through itâs skull.
âSomeone wants you dead real bad Captain.â
Xir'Toth came forward and slowly pulled Johnâs hand off the knife. âHowâŚ.? Theyâre invisible. How did youâŚ?â
âI thought I smelled something fishy.â
âWell I guess not so much in the olfactory sense, more just felt it. Though it does kinda smell like squidâŚâ
âWell, it was fucking impressive, however you did it John,â Captain Xir'toxtl intoned.
âSo thatâs why you jump at everything! You always expect something to be there ready to kill you. Fuckin deathworldersâŚâ
Ok Iâve had like 2 hours of sleep in 2 days so my writing is shit, but you get the idea.
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