There were four of them. They were definitely human, and the biggest was still less than 1.5 sidu tall. Probably. The biggest one was also at the bottom of what could only be described as a pile of babies. The second biggest and the smallest were using the biggest as pillows. Those three were asleep. The second smallest was reclining on the second biggest, and giggling at a repetitive song accompanying dancing cartoon fruits and vegetables playing on a tablet.
This scene would be less of an issue if it wasn't in the middle of a walkway, and accompanied by a distinct lack of guardian.
On questioning by security, the second smallest said "shhhh, sibling sweeping" and "mama feel sick" before pointing to the nearby restroom. As if on cue, the sound of violent retching emanated from the toilets.
After a small amount of panic and a large amount of ruckus, not helped by the sleeping children waking up (and being corralled by the largest one, who turned out to be younger than estimated by size), the medical team that was summoned determined that the human in the restroom was pregnant, and suffering from rather severe "morning sickness", a clear human misnomer given that it was the middle of the "night", and hadn't been able to keep anything other than cold tea down for almost two days. -- Anon Guest
[AN: Corrected to Sidu (from SDU - Standard Distance Units) because Siwu is for weights. It's a cultural peculiarity that things are measured in Sidu and -somehow- people are measured in ancient Terran Imperial units (feet, inches, pounds, stone etc). It's weird and Humans are very likely to blame. For those wondering, the largest sibling in the prompt above is 4'11"]
This is the Edge. There are all sorts here. If that isn't enough warning, then there probably never will be enough of a warning. Such was nearly the case for Plem, who was 'browsing' through some of the extended pan-polity markets in this particular ramshackle trading station. They had been doing rather well, absorbing some of the local customs by osmosis, and remaining out of trouble... and then they took a turn to an alleged shortcut and encountered what appeared to be a living roadblock.
Plem would later learn that this was referred to as a 'baby pile'. Four bodies in various stages of undress, one in hygenic pants only, were tangled together and blocking the pathway. Not one of them was taller than Plem. The tallest of them had fallen asleep, arms wrapped around two other sleepers, one of them rousing at Plem's approach. The smallest shared possession of a datareader with the tallest, and the screen seemed to be displaying anthropomorphised foodstuffs singing repetitively and bouncing about in time to their song.
The second-smallest rubbed an eye and stared at Plem, who was busy trying to figure out this particular puzzle. Plem consulted their datareader and found salient information that these beings were Humans, and worse - Human young. Very young, as it happened. Every single one of them was likely preliterate and at least one of them was preverbal. Worse and worse, they had at minimum one parental, who was nowhere in sight. They had to be cared for and their carer was nowhere to be seen. Humans were Deathworlders and Deathworlders were even more dangerous when they believed their young was threatened. Plem risked, "Where being parental?" in GalSimple.
The second-smallest said, "Mama being sick," and pointed to a door. The faded sign on the wall was one of the older symbols for bodily waste elimination facilities. Even through the inherent offensensitivity baffles, Plem could hear a Human regurgitating. Make that, regurgitating and crying.
They were Deathworlders. Dangerous, damaged, wild, everything Plem had been warned against and yet... they were also slightly pathetic for it all. Deathworlders in general did not have easy reproductive processes and the sick Human had had four young. This was the endurance run in reproduction terms. Plem hunkered down out of range from the smallest's kicking feet. "Is Mama needing help?"
Sometimes, the simplest questions cause the biggest wakes.
Mama - the unseen and ill adult - was always tired and always busy and now she was sick with it. Some of the older siblings claimed that this meant another baby. In Deathworlder terms, their Mama was running an exhausting marathon with no sign of a merciful rest.
It was dangerous to trust Deathworlders. Everyone said so. They were supposed to be relentless, bloodthirsty, killing machines. Yet they were also intelligent life and all intelligent life had its periods of vulnerabilty.
Sometimes, the simplest decisions have the longest impacts.
The adult Human emerged, looking decidedly worse for wear. Tired and ill and very likely continuing the battle with their own reproductive system. They startled at the scene and forcibly bared their teeth in what Plem recognised as a false sign of happiness. This was how Humans showed they were friendly.
"Hello?" said the Human. "What's this?"
Ah. They spoke GalStand. Not always common in the Edge. "I have not harmed the infants," they said, getting the important points established first. "I understand you have troubles? May I help?"
You can say a lot, if you use small words.
There was a story. Humans were always good with stories, even sad ones like a Deregger escapee paying their way through life with the only coin they knew how to trade, which easily explained why she had four children and had a fifth in progress. She couldn't understand what an alien like Plem would want from a Human like herself.
Plem made up something on the spot. "You have greater experience in these areas," they explained. "I am needing a guide. No more reproduction will be necessary."
"I don't really know..."
"I also wish to study Human family dynamics and you have family," offered Plem.
There was much - so much - to learn about Humans and one case study would not cover it. Nevertheless, information was valuable and Plem had now hired a direct source. Plem was more a guide for Human Hauli than the other way around, but that wasn't the important bit.
The important bit was the long-term relationship that began, in that station, between Humans and Galactics. Between Deathworlders and Havenworlders. Between two species who had no real reason to get along besides one chance meeting during someone's very bad day.
Sometimes, history hinges on the little things.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / njaj]
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