Author's Notes: I decided to post the second chapter right away because the first chapter was kind of short :)

Chapter 2

First Pets, First Crew

Farina

Date: Thumas 17th, 6795.

I must admit to feeling rather foolish for my hysterical outbursts yesterday. I know a literal earth-shattering occurrence happened, but that is no reason to get upset. We Apex are better than that. We can overcome our baser impulses and use our reasoning ability to turn the tides in our favor. I mean I didn't even write the date on my last entry! I simply must get a hold of myself.

My first matter of business is obviously procuring a new building, but in order to do that I need to earn money. I have found a pro-Miniknog Apex city, and I am performing odd jobs for the people who live here in order to earn enough pixels to purchase some acreage on an out of the way planet. I would prefer someplace near the hustle and bustle, but I doubt I could afford such a thing anytime soon.

The city I have found myself in makes me nervous. Cameras line every building, guards patrol the streets in search of radicals, and the people all feel like their smiles were painted on over their true miserable visages. I believe the humans have a term for this condition. They call it "Stepford Smilers". I'm not sure who Stepford was, but he or she must have been very unhappy.

I intend to sleep on my ship tonight. I don't want to wake up with a gun pointed at my face as I stare helplessly up at a surly policeman. I will not allow my childhood flashbacks to rule my life. I am bigger than my fears. I am smarter than my enemies. I am a female with a bright future ahead. I will survive...

...

Date: Thumas 18th, 6795.

So far things are going well at my new job. I am cleaning for an office building and my coworkers have been very kind to me. After being around so many aliens on earth, I must admit to finding being around only my own kind rather comforting. Still, I miss seeing the smiling human faces as I walk casually down the street. I love the complexity of human culture and the casual attitude of humans themselves. If only I could help those who remain...somehow.

...

Date: Thumas 19th, 6795.

Something rather unexpected happened today. I believe I have discovered another Apex here who is as unsatisfied with the Miniknog as I am. Her name is Mara. She is a middle-aged Apex female with well maintained brown fur and a stoic disposition I find admirable.

She knows I am not from around here, and therefore have not chosen my home based on where the Miniknog has ordered me to go. It was the strangest thing. She waited until we were alone, and then backed up against the wall and put a photo over the lense of the security camera. A bit crude compared to hacking the cameras, but I commend her on-the-fly resourcefulness.

She turned to me, and I couldn't help but feel rather nervous. I feared she knew I was from outside the approved citizenry and would turn me in to the guards. Instead, she held a finger to her mouth to keep me quiet and shut the curtains on the windows.

"Do you want to earn some extra money?" Mara asked me.

Well, of course I am not one to turn down more money. I just hoped she wasn't going to ask me to do anything dangerous. I'm certainly not the type to get involved in other people's fighting.

Thankfully what she wanted was simple. She had a friend who had gotten lost and wanted me to bring him back to the village. This seemed strange since the city is so big and every Apex on the entire planet lived here. How could he get lost? Nonetheless I was offered some rare ores for the job and I couldn't resist. After all, ores convert into bars, bars convert into pixels, and pixels can buy you anything. It's just economics.

So, I trekked through harsh leafy wilderness until I found what I assumed would be a befuddled old male. Instead he had a sharpness to his eyes that unnerved me, and only nodded when I said Mara was looking for him. I don't even remember what his name was. I only remember the complete and udder silence as we walked back to the village.

When we returned to Mara's office both of them breathed a collective sigh of relief. It would have been amusing if I hadn't felt a sense of foreboding from their behavior. It reminded me of how rebel spies behave when they plant themselves in Miniknog approved cities.

Turns out I wasn't far off. Mara's "friend" was indeed a spy, and she wanted me to bring him back because it was known I wasn't from around here, and therefore it woud be assumed he was my relative. Well, while I am not fond of being exploited, I must admit that Mara pays well. 16 chunks of silver ore is enough to make me forgive quite a bit.

...

Date: Thumas 21st, 6795.

I have to leave early, and thankfully I have enough resources to not consider this trip a complete loss. I'm one step closer to purchasing a new office building. I also am not alone in this endeavor anymore.

Mara's friend was discovered by the Miniknog. He was dragged out of his hotel room in broad daylight, and the officers even made a show of clubbing him in full public view as they dragged him to the nearest teleporter. It was a brutal display, but one I am all too familiar with growing up in Banana Harvest Way. I doubt he will be seen alive again.

When I returned to work at the office Mara was waiting for me. I wasn't surprised. She had a serious and hardened look on her face, and I could have quoted her words in unison with her as she made her next request.

"If I join you on your ship, can you protect me from the Miniknog?"

I must admit I had never considered hiring a crew. Crewmates must be paid, must be fed, and must be given proper accommodations. I am very much a cheapskate, as the humans call it, and never wanted such a responsibility thrust upon my shoulders. Still, how could I leave this poor female to die in a brutal fashion as her contact had likely done?

"Do you have any skills?" I asked Mara, "Can you repair the ship? Cook? Perform emergency medical services?"

"I can fight," Was her blunt response, "I have been training for a long time, waiting for the moment when the Miniknog discovered me. I intended to join the rebels, but I cannot find any of their camps. I suppose working for you would achieve the same end. Freedom from surveillance and fear."

I must admit, she made a good argument. It would also be nice to have someone to talk to, especially another Apex who understood my struggles. So, with little hesitation, I welcomed my sister aboard my ship. I just hope I haven't made a mistake.

Cuantum

(Record)

It took three hours to stop the fragging ship yesterday. I'm exhausted, but weirdly enough I'm not alone. This morning as I woke up from sleeping on the floor of this hard unforgiving ship, I heard thumping noises. They reminded me of bongos. Frag, that brings back memories.

I remember my home village on the planet Fribbilus Nest II. It's funny how after I learned English I found out the word "frivolous", which sounds like Fribbilus, means unnecessary and unserious. It kind of fits with my village to be honest. There was a lot of stuff that wasn't necessary to survival, and because of that I thought we were rich. Turns out my village, and most Florans for that matter, come across as primitive compared to the rest of the universe.

Of course I managed to avoid that stigma, as ironic as it seems. When I was growing up I felt like a loser because I was an Avian, and everyone else was Floran. Now when I poke around the galaxy people expect more from me, because they assume I'm at least smarter than a Floran. Don't get me wrong, there are certain prejudices that come with being an Avian. People expect me to know about their religion, and I don't. Oh well, at least they don't assume I can't read.

Getting back to the matter at hand however, I have a new problem. Well really, I have a new responsibility. You see it turns out those thumping noises were not the melodious rhythm of Floran bongos. Nope. Those noises were the hippity-hopping footsteps of an animal. Yep, I hijacked a ship with a stowaway.

I didn't really know what this thing was when I saw it. I couldn't even figure out if it's safe to kill and eat or not. So, I turned to that all-important beacon of information, the galactic web. Turns out this is an earth animal, commonly known as a "rabbit" or "bunny". This one has white fur, which usually means it's domesticated. So, this was probably some poor departed soul's pet.

Under normal circumstances I would eat this thing, but there's a hitch. This is a native species of earth, and earth was just destroyed. That means this is probably the last bunny in the universe, or at least one of them. So far all I've figured out is that this thing is a girl, it hops very fast, and it really likes me. Thank nature animals generally only come in two genders. All you have to do is look at the genitals. With Florans it's a whole thing, as every single feature determines some aspect of which of the 1,374 genders they are.

I don't really know anything about pets. Naturally it's not a common thing for Florans to have pets, with the exception of snakes and certain monsters. Humans are gaga about pets, and apparently Avians are supposed to be good caretakers too. I'm not though. I don't like animals and I don't like kids. So, what am I supposed to do? Do I find a human village and drop this thing off? That could take years! Most humans that lived off-world did so because they were in prisons! I'm not trusting the last bunny in existence to some lowlife in an orange jumpsuit!

Another problem is the propulsion. I'm gonna have to wait to get it fixed. I can't go out there myself because I don't have a breathing EPP yet, but I can't restart the ship because then it won't stop. Navigation is shot. Why did I grab an escape ship from the repair bay? Oh well, at least I, um, we survived.

Should I name it? Humans name pets, right? All I can think when I look at this thing though is: rabbit, bunny, meat. None of those are good names. Eh, I'll think of something later. For now I need to figure out if there are others of her kind in any of the galaxies. Maybe I can give her to a breeder, save the species. Yeah, that might just work. For now though, I need to call a towing service for this fragging dead leaf of a ship.

Shing

Blood Month, Day 73

Floran arrive at desert and find broken house. It look like ancient palace, but now it broken. This is perfect! Floran's real house is very far away, and Floran not going back until Sha is with Floran. For now, Floran can live in broken sandstone palace. Already set up a teleporter, and will beam down some furniture. Here Floran can sell items Floran stole, and then return home without contraband in the cargo hold. Everything perfect!

...

Blood Month, Day 74

Floran already stay here for a night, and it very violent place. Floran kill bandits. Bandits human. Floran should probably feel bad, but it was them or Floran. A good thing about this land is neighbor. Floran has good neighbor next door to temporary sand castle. Neighbor is Hylotl, but not stuffy like most Hylotl. He live in cabin on sand instead of fancy water shelter. He old like Floran, and we drink tea while talking about how stupid kids are these days.

Neighbor's name is Chiyo. Chiyo very friendly, and takes care of young cousin with name Floran can't spell. Maybe Floran ask Chiyo about it tomorrow, but then again it probably won't matter.

...

Rest Month, Day 1

Just checked yesterday's entry. Turns out it mattered. Floran is writing before battle. It help to calm Floran's nerves. Ryuunosuke, Chiyo's cousin, has been abducted by Floran outlaws. If Floran know Florans, then they will probably eat him. Hylotl are delicious, after all. When we Florans discovered the Hylotl homeworld 300 years ago, we almost ate them to extinction.

Chiyo is standing here now, packing gear to come with Floran and help in the fight. He is no warrior, only a medicine man, but Floran admire his strength and courage. We go now, and not come back until someone is dead, whether it be them or us. No need for meats. Tonight, we dine on Floran!

...

Rest Month, Day 2

Floran is writing from the ship. Sand castle no longer needed, and teleporter is broken anyway.

Floran is happy to be with crew again. The fight yesterday was a wild one. Floran almost died from injuries. Chiyo only reason Floran survive. Chiyo and Floran fought against many Florans wearing skulls and masks. There were probably eight, maybe ten of them. Ryuunosuke so skinny, he probably not enough for all of them to eat. Haha!

What surprised Floran however was when there was only one Floran outlaw left. His voice familiar, and his animal skull mask smell like chlorophyll of home. Chiyo was fighting him, but losing. Floran pull Chiyo out of the way, and then ask other Floran his name.

Guess what? His name was Sha! Floran's little brother was last standing outlaw! He told Floran he was detective. Detective, Floran's roots! Sha was lowlife outlaw. Floran so proud of him! Sha is pirate like Shing, and now together we be pirates and plunder all who stand in our way.

We not alone, however. Chiyo and Ryuunosuke join us as well. Now their house can rot with sand castle. It for the best. That planet was a dud. Chiyo is good friend to Floran, and is even forgiving of Sha. Floran not really understand why forgiving was good thing before, but now Floran understand. It allow people to move on when bad things happen to them. It allow friendships to happen even when revenge seems like better answer. Floran love forgiving now!

Of course, Floran have trouble doing forgiving. Especially with Ryuunosuke. Him worst crewmate ever! Chiyo said Ryuunosuke is smart and studying online college courses to be scientist. All Ryuunosuke good for is making Floran mad! He drops everything, he cries all the time, he complains about everything, and he always hogs the toilet! How long it take one Hylotl to apply face cream!?

One thing is for sure. As soon as pink slimy headache old enough, Floran is kicking him off ship!

Billy

(Record)

I've been scavengin' for a week, and I've barely found enough food for us to stay alive. I know you're not supposed to build a campfire on board a spaceship, but I got tired of bein' attacked by monsters when I tried to cook on that there planet. I've found a lot of vegetables down there, but Starbit don't like most of the food I bring. I can't help it though. It's all we've got.

I think my favorite thing so far is popcorn. I don't remember where I learned the recipe, but if you put an ear of corn in an enclosed pan it'll turn into fluffy bits and pop right off the cob! To be fair I've lost a couple ears tryin' to do it this way. I can't cook for nuthin'.

I've also chopped down some trees, but I make sure to plant the seeds so they grow back. You gotta be careful on alien planets. You never know how much or how little of somethin' they've got, so I try to not make a nuisance of myself.

Well anyway, my potato is burnin', so I'll stop talkin' now. Hope I can fix the navigator soon. I wanna go home...wherever home is.

...

(Record)

Hoowee! This past...I think it's been a week or so, has been one heck of an adventure! I found a mine full 'a big scary monsters and lotsa treasures I can bring back. The miner said I could take whatever I needed as long as I cleared out the monsters, so that's what I did.

They had these real shiny orange jewels down there. The miner called 'em "core fragments". Apparently you can only get them by diggin' to the center of a planet. I oughta try that sometime. Sounds like a hoot and a half.

Anyway, turns out them there rocks ain't just shiny, but right useful. I found some ancient gateway full 'a pictures of different species, no Nova Kids for some reason, and all I had to do was shove some core fragments in there to make the portal go to civilization. More specifically, it was a space station full of people and shops. Thank goodness.

I was able to buy some cheese and some chocolate bars. I probably should go back and buy some fuel, but I was just so happy to get food again that I didn't even think about it.

...

(Record)

Well, I went back for the fuel, but then I remembered my ship was broke. I asked a guy about fixin' it, but he told me he needed some erchius crystals to fix it. I told him I had erchius fuel, but nope, it had to be crystals. That, uh, started a new set of problems.

I beamed to the mine to get some of them there crystals, but turns out there was a reason they wadn't deliverin' nuthin'. They, uh, how do I put this? A bunch of people in there turned into fleshy pink monster zombies and was destroyin' everything. There was only a few miners left that was still okay, and as for the others...I don't wanna talk about that.

Turns out there was a monster down in the deepest depths of the mines. Now, I don't mean a normal kind of monster that makes for a cool pet, but an intelligent monster. A giant purple horror that can only be described as a giant hunk of erchius crystal with a big evil eye!

I wanted to go back to my ship, but I couldn't beam away when I was so far underground. So, there was only one way to save myself and get home to Starbit. I had to fight the monster myself. Now, my memory ain't so good, but I don't think I'll ever forget that thing!

It shot giant beams of pure energy at me! Now, given I'm made of pure plasma, you can imagine how much that hurt. The miners said he shot in a pattern, so just memorize the pattern to survive. Well, I couldn't do that, so I just used my shield to block some of the damage.

I managed to shoot the thing enough times with the mining equipment to kill it, and turns out there was an honest to goodness human inside! He said he'd been taken over by the monster, though I just think that's a fancy way of sayin' he got eaten. Look, I get it, I wouldn't wanna admit somethin' ate me either. Either way, I hope he ain't lookin' for the guys who got turned into pink flesh zombies, 'cause he won't find 'em.

Anyway, despite how excitin' that adventure was, the end was kinda anticlimactic. I just got some crystals and brought 'em back to Penguin Pete at the space station. He and his penguins repaired my ship, and now I can leave. Thank goodness.