They asked only that their injuries be treated and they be allowed to be on their way in peace, after saving a Pax Humanis Sanctuary Planet. Nope, not enough. The Pax Humanis decides to send one of their more experienced, and gentler - by their standards, individuals to go and work as a permanent bodyguard for captain and crew, if the crew and captain will allow it, of course.
@internutter/challenge-03301-i013-to-preserve-life -- FightingFit
The Human was large, muscular, and possessed a stare that evaluated everyone and everything they looked at as a potential target. She looked like all she had to do was flex and the livesuit encapsulating her would burst. "You saved our world," said Human Daiz. "Many would've left us to die."
Not for the first time, Captain Gorx wished that ze could have been one of the many. Pax Humanis Enforcers were classed as divine intervention or elemental disasters. An entire planet full of them[1] boggled the mind.
Just one boggled the mind.
"I have a conscience," said Gorx. The Pax Humanis sanctuary had also held innocent Mediks and Therapists, Companions and support teams. No Human was completely insular. Ze could not have let any of them perish when ze was present to do something. "Forgive me for beginning to believe that may be a detriment. You are terrifying."
"Thank you," smiled Daiz. "I used to make people run screaming, so this is an improvement. I'm a work in progress. I know this. The point is that I will only aim at the threats to you and your crew. My world owes you. I can give you a degree of personal protection that few could ever possess." A smile from deep in the Uncanny Valley. "I can spot another predator from fifty sidu's[2] away."
Nice how she said another predator. Gorx kept looking at the Diminished Responsibility bracelet on her left wrist. Some actions, it said without words, were out of this cogniscent's control. Gorx wondered what they were.
Daiz noticed what ze was looking at. "I'm cleared for protection duties," she said. "I'll guard anything or anyone that's mine, and I'm good at making people mine."
So, thought Gorx, there are punishments for good deeds after all.
[1] Given that most Pax Humanis Enforcers are happiest when in a wilderness of fifty to one hundred acres, it doesn't take many to fill a planet with them.
[2] The Standard Distance Unit, or SDU is often vocalised as 'sidu'.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / nehru]
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