GENRE: Science Fiction
No alarm trilled. That was a good. That meant no hull breach. No structural damage. No problems. So why was he lying on the floor? He lifted his head and hit against something metal with a clang.
“Hello? Someone alive in there?”
I’m here- He licked his lips, tasting blood, and tried again, “I’m here!”
“There’s a survivor!” Metal scrapped against metal. Someone cursed.. Light burst in, blinding him as the scavengers walked in reeking of human.
“I’m alive.” He let his head fall back. Pain knifed through his shoulder. He’d rather have seen his own kind here, but better humans than Finns.
The light shifted as the rescuer surveyed the damage. Jagged metal sliced his side. Blood pooled beside him. His legs were pinned under debris.
“It’s not bad. I’m Pantros, I’ll heal. Just get me out.” He’d seen worse and he knew, as long as he got help, this wasn’t fatal.
The rescuers hesitated.
“I’m Pantros.” Idiot. Maybe a human would die from a few scrapes and a little spilled blood, but not a Pantros.
Another human joined the first. The one closest to him tugged at a lock of greasy hair as he chewed his lip. “See, the problem here is money.”
“I’ll pay you.”
Lip-Chewer shook his head. “No, see, we need salvage. Nothing personal, just business.”
His chest burned, the light spun. “It’s yours. Limes, ice, hardware, just save me.”
“Nope, can’t do it.” Lip-Chewer shrugged, tapped a recorder. “Official record: pilot found dead…