I am living a dream come true. Is there any kid that didn't dream about owning a spaceship, with them being the captain? I mean, my ship might have been used to smuggle slaves and it'll probably smell like shit for weeks, but it's mine. The closest thing I have to a problem with it is the crew. Nothing against them, I mean, I've only known them for around 12 hours and I'd fight and die for them. It's just that I can't understand them nor them me.

A majority of them are dinosaur folks, though we do have a suit person. I'm not sure what to think of them, but they do seem to be in good spirits. They've mostly been cleaning the place up and offering some assistance with me in taking apart the weapons of the slavers. Well, the best they can help is when you can't understand each other. I'm curious as to how they function and have been segmenting their parts for better understanding. They're all currently sitting near each other while eating, and I know exactly what, or rather who, they're talking about.

Can't blame them for being curious. A random person with an extreme amount of cybernetics from a species you don't recognize charges into a slave ship and frees you before beginning to call the shots on it with points and grunts because they can't speak your language while having a type of wrapped in his mouth that he lights on fire? That's definitely something that draws attention to itself, whether the said person likes it or not. Either that, or it's the hair. Haven't seen anyone with more than maybe just eyelashes for the blue ladies.

While looking at the tech with the suited person, a realization popped into my head. I pull out a shard. I might be able to program it to sift through news feeds and the like. Should pick up languages and figure out words, grammar, slang, etc. It's already imprinted in English, so I just need to find a way to connect it into their net. Modify the M.A.U. maybe?

I can hear some of the voices being raised, which makes me turn around to see them arguing with each other. I really didn't want to get in their business, but I can't focus with that racket going off. It's what looks like two of the dinosaurs, one of them has what looks like red face paint with basic clothes while the other has none and is in makeshift armor. He has the only gun from the slavers that isn't being dissected.

Whatever it is they're arguing about, they definitely aren't gonna stop shouting about it. I'm known for many things, patience is not one of them. I just want them to please shut their mouths, but all they are doing is getting louder, and worse is that more of them are joining the argument. Why can't they just learn to not flap their mandibles around?

"Shut your fucking mouths!" I shout right at them. They all stop what they were doing and stare at me, but I really don't care. They like people shouting? I'll show them shouting. They might not understand what I'm about to say, but I think even aliens can get someone chewing them out.

"We are free men and women fighting for our freedom, and we answer to no one but ourselves. Despite all of that, you all find time to pick fights with each other because it's easy? If you have something to say to each other, speak to each other like people that are CIVIL! Now, I'm gonna let you all off the hook for now, but know I expect better out of you all from this point forward."

They were finally silent. I didn't hear a single peep from them while I gave them a glare I hadn't used since Dex's betrayal. My luck isn't gonna run out from a bunch of morons that can't learn to be civil and kind with others. I might be an asshole but I'm a polite asshole, thank you very much.

I sat down and lit up a cig. I honestly don't care about smoke or whatnot, besides, the ship is filtering the smell of shit pretty good, or at least it doesn't smell as bad as it should. I wouldn't be surprised if it has something to do with me getting some nicotine. The damn tech here is like from a goddamn sci-fi BD, which somewhat pokes at my curiosity personally. Suppose that's why it piqued my interest.

The damn rifle seems to use some sort of accelerator for the shooting. If those four-eyed fuckers had actually maintained their weapons, that shit probably would've gone fast enough to have made me flatlined. I guess I got lucky they were lazy fucks. Still, I guess it might've overheated since from what I can tell these things should be producing a good amount of heat.

I carefully move the accelerator to have it better under the light, and something is poking out. I scan it with Kiroshi, which is about as helpful as asking a blind man for directions. Whatever it is, the damn thing refuses to allow a simple scan. Whatever the aliens use for energy, humanity has never known the substance. This causes red flags to fly in my head nonstop, as this is something I definitely want, no, NEED to understand if I want to survive.

"Hey V, you don't mind answering a question?" Johnny is leaning against a crate, with a cigarette in his mouth. I know it's about to be something stupid, but I might as well get it over with.

'Go ahead man.'

"Since you can scan materials and that sort of thing, can't you just do the same with tech to understand them?"

It took me the better half of a minute to grasp what he said. Not to wrap around what he said, but just how idiotic it was. I lowered his sunglasses from my face and gave a look of disbelief to him. All I could do was stare in shock at the sheer stupidity of what had left his mouth. His response is laughing like there's no goddamn tomorrow, the fucking maniac.

"You, pftt, really thought I was serious? That I'm a moron?! HAHAHA!" His voice echoed throughout the ship, with him very clearly wanting to fuck with me. I tried to avoid thinking about him and focused on my cig, easier said than done. The damn bastard doesn't know when to shut his fucking mouth and I wish he'd choke on his own laughter.

There seems to be a commotion near the pilot's area. I get up with mild annoyance at the fact there might be another argument. I walk over to see the same thing that I assume is their version of FTL slowing down to where it's no longer just that weird blue forcefield and shows an asteroid the suit person is directing the ship towards, but something's off.

Where once there was relief among the crew's faces, now they showed pure discontent with whatever it is. I saw one of them begin to raise their voice but a quick tap on their shoulder made them quiet. I can already tell the mandibles moving means trouble. I double-check that I have the Malorian, a pack of cigs, and extra ammo.

While prepping for my little excursion the plain-faced dinosaur walks up to me. There's a certain signifier that definitely transcends species about whether people know what they are doing. A simple nod tells me he has a plan to deal with all of this. Which is good, because I m fucking tired of winging it. I begin to approach the airlock but snuff out the cig. Even I know better than to enter there with one lit.

I walk into the airlock with a smile on my face, and some reassurance that things will be alright. Mostly because for once since I left Earth, I have someone to count on. It should help to have someone watching my back, even though it's only been a few weeks it feels so long ago. Man, I really need to start saving up for retirement. That is if I survive this.