#ship inspections safety

[just2bruce]

Loose cable connection destroys bridge?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Office of Marine Safety released a report on the Dali bridge ‘allision’ (not a collision) that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore MD USA. We all read with amazement at the destruction of this major bridge, which carries much East Coast auto and truck traffic between New York-Philadelphia and Washington DC. The cost to repair it is…

[solentmarineconsultant]

Solent Marine Consultants is the world’s leading provider of Cargo Survey and Inspections services to buyers and sellers involved in the movement of goods worldwide.

Cargo Survey and Inspections in Pakistan, inspections of ships, barges, trains, etc. ensure that the condition of the carrier is suitable for the shipment of your cargo.  We identify any problems that might affect the cargo during shipment and ensure they are addressed before it is too late.  Our inspectors also represent you during loading and unloading. They also conduct inspections of various vessel conditions and do visual inspections to verify that the cargo being shipped is that described on the order form.

[madlovenovelist]

Book Review – ‘Almayer Station’ (#1.5 Admiral) by Sean Danker

A space station inspection uncovers things that challenge your loyalty and beliefs… Genre: Science Fiction No. of pages: 256 Lieutenant Deilani already had trust issues. Now she has an appalling new assignment to inspect an independent mining station in territory that’s been recently annexed. The Demenis System might have become Evagardian space, but it’s populated by the Free Traders who got…

[xfinitymaritime]

Cargo Safety Inspections In Sanpada

At Xfinity Maritime Services, we understand the critical importance of conducting thorough cargo condition surveys to ensure the safe and efficient handling of goods. Our comprehensive inspections provide valuable insights into the condition of cargo, helping to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with international standards. In this blog post, we delve into the significance of cargo condition surveys and highlight how our services contribute to seamless maritime operations.

What is a Cargo Condition Survey?

A cargo condition survey is a detailed inspection conducted to assess the condition of goods before, during, or after shipment. It involves examining various aspects such as packaging integrity, cargo stowage, and any damage or discrepancies observed.

Importance of Cargo Condition Surveys

Risk Mitigation: Identifying potential risks and hazards associated with cargo handling.

Quality Assurance: Ensuring that goods meet specified quality standards and contractual obligations.

Compliance: Adhering to regulatory requirements and international trade protocols.

Insurance Purposes: Providing accurate data for insurance claims in case of damage or loss.

Our Approach to Cargo Condition Surveys

At Xfinity Maritime Services, we employ a meticulous approach to conducting cargo condition surveys:

1. Preparation and Planning

Understanding client requirements and specific objectives of the survey.

Developing a tailored inspection checklist based on cargo type and transportation mode.

2. On-Site Inspection

Conducting thorough physical examinations of cargo at ports, terminals, or onboard vessels.

Documenting findings through detailed reports, including photographs and measurements.

3. Reporting and Analysis

Providing comprehensive reports that outline the condition of cargo and any identified issues.

Offering recommendations for corrective actions to enhance cargo safety and integrity.

Types of Cargo We Survey

Our expertise covers a wide range of cargo types, including but not limited to:

Containerized Goods

Bulk Cargo

Project Cargo

Liquid Cargo

Benefits of Choosing Xfinity Maritime Services

Partnering with us for your cargo condition surveys offers numerous benefits:

Expertise and Experience: Our team consists of skilled surveyors with extensive knowledge of maritime logistics and cargo handling

Global Presence: We operate globally, ensuring consistent and reliable service wherever your cargo needs assessment.

Compliance and Reliability: We adhere to industry standards and best practices to deliver accurate and actionable survey reports.

At Xfinity Maritime Services, we are committed to safeguarding your cargo through rigorous condition surveys. Whether you’re shipping containerized goods, bulk cargo, or specialized project cargo, our inspections provide peace of mind and ensure operational efficiency. Trust us to deliver reliable insights and recommendations tailored to your cargo’s unique requirements.

Contact us today to learn more about how our cargo condition surveys can benefit your maritime operations. Protect your cargo with Xfinity Maritime Services — your trusted partner in maritime logistics.

[heritageposts]

From the Freedom Flotilla, April 27 2024:

On Thursday afternoon, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was contacted by the Guinea Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), requesting an inspection of our lead ship – Akdenez. This was a highly unusual request as our ship had already passed all required inspections; nevertheless, we agreed. The inspector arrived on Thursday evening. On Friday afternoon, before the inspection was completed, the GBISR, in a blatantly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotilla’s ships, one of which is our cargo ship, already loaded with over 5000 tons of life-saving aid for the Palestinians of Gaza. In its communication informing us of this cancelation, the GBISR made specific reference to our planned mission to Gaza. It also made several extraordinary requests for information, including confirmation of the ships’ destination, any potential additional port calls, and the discharge port for humanitarian aid and estimated arrival dates and times. It further demanded a formal letter explicitly approving the transportation of humanitarian aid and a complete manifest of the cargo. Again, this is a highly unusual move from a flagging authority. Normally, national flagging authorities concern themselves only with safety and related standards on vessels bearing their flag, and are not concerned with the destination, route, cargo manifests or the nature of a specific voyage. Just like when you register your car, the authorities don’t require you to detail to them every place you are going to go with the car. Sadly, Guinea-Bissau has allowed itself to become complicit in Israel’s deliberate starvation, illegal siege and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel is showing the world the extent to which it will go to deny Palestinians the aid they need to stay alive, in direct contravention of International Humanitarian Law, UN Security Council resolutions, and two orders of the International Court of Justice. [...] without a flag, we cannot sail. But, this is not the end. Israel cannot and will not crush our resolve to break its illegal siege and reach the people of Gaza. The people of Gaza and all of Palestine remain steadfast under the most horrific, unimaginable conditions. We take strength from their incredible, inexplicable ability to maintain their humanity, dignity and hope when the world has given them no reason to do so. It is our responsibility to keep that hope alive. WE WILL SAIL.

The Freedom Flotilla, which was set to depart from Turkey on the 27th of April with 5000 tons of life-saving aid, has now been delayed because Israel and the United States has pressured Guinea Bissau to withdraw its flag from the Flotilla's lead ship.

Seeing as how their tactics worked on Guinea Bissau, organizers now fear that Israel and the US will exert the same pressure on whichever country the Freedom Flotilla attempt to register their ship under next.

To help the Freedom Flotilla reach Gaza, please keep an eye out for further updates from the organizers. Right now, as of April 27th, they're asking people to help boost their visibility, and to donate to their member campaigns.

For more info, see their webpage.

[lovelyjj]

hiii could you do the reader and jj diving for the necklace, getting attacked by those guys, and jj goes to get the reader with the group checking up on them and they end up getting the bends, going to the hospital to be put into that chamber and it’s just really cute and soft <3

Hyperbaric Chamber

jj maybank x reader

OBX season 4 SPOILERS

a/n: I was hoping someone would request this! I didn’t know if you wanted smut or not so I didn’t include it but let me know if anyone wants smut in the hyperbaric chamber!

“Look, it’s too dangerous for you to dive alone Im going with you,” you stated.

“You sure?” JJ questioned.

“Yeah I’m sure. It’s not safe. You need a buddy.”

“It’s 80 feet down in the dark.”

“I already decided so,” you replied.

“Okay, that’s that.” JJ spoke.

You and JJ were going to receive an amulet that had been said to break the curse of the Genrettes that’s haunted their family for over 300 years. You were a little nervous but you knew you had JJ with you. You and JJ, plus Pope and John B take the boat out to where Blackbeard’s ship was wrecked.

“Don’t forget your safety stop, all right? Fifteen feet for three minutes. Hear that, JJ? Fifteen feet, three minutes,” Pope reminded you both.

“Copy that.”

“Or what?” you ask.

“The bends, remember? Nitrogen in the blood, excruciating pain, death, et cetera, et cetera.” Pope recites.

JJ looks at you and you can tell he will never forgive himself if something happened to you. “Hey you okay?” He asks.

“Yeah I’m good.”

“Okay.”

“Diver down.”

“Diver down.”

You and JJ put on your gear and fall back into the water. You both turn on your flashlights and swim down into the water. There’s a lot of fish but you finally reach the ship. JJ pushed open a window and you both go through it.

JJ finds the necklace and uses his knife to break it off the wall. Out of nowhere someone attacks you and takes your breathing tube out of your mouth. JJ takes his speargun and thrusts it at the guy, he manages to shank him in the arm.

JJ starts to fight with the guy and the guy ends up locking JJ out. JJ calls out to you, his voice desperate and he bangs on the door. The guy grabs you by the leg and cuts off your tank leaving you with no air. JJ screams for you and you scream for him.

JJ managed to break a hole in the door and he put his arm through and unlocked it. He then urgently gave you his mouth piece to give you some air. He looked down at his monitor and saw that there was only 17 seconds left.

“We gotta go now.” JJ urged.

You finally reached the surface and you both gasped for air.

“You okay?” JJ asked.

“Yeah. That was so close.”

“I know.”

“Who the hell was that down there?” JJ questioned.

“Where’s John B?”

The two of you start yelling for Pope and John B. They hear you and you swim over to them. Pope gets the ladder.

“Y/N, hand me your stuff,” Pope offers.

You let out a groan.

“Wait. Where’s your BCP?” Pope asks.

“It’s gone.”

“What? What do you mean it’s gone?”

“I mean, it’s gone.”

“You all right?”

“Yeah.”

“There was a guy that tried to kill us.” JJ breathed.

“We saw a boat out here too. They were armed. We need to get out of here now,” Pope said urgently.

“No, you don’t understand. There’s a guy down there-“ JJ was cut off.

“There’s a boat. We just saw it pass,” Pope repeats.

John B starts to move the boat and you all sail out of there. Once you all get back to the château John B speaks, “Alright what the hell happened?”

“Someone tried to kill us,” you responded.

“What? Why would someone try to kill you? That doesn’t make sense,” Pope was confused.

“Obviously, they were going after the same thing we were, right?” John B stated.

“My stomach hurts,” you announced.

“Hey, man, did you take your safety stop?” Pope inspects JJ’s eye.

“I’m gonna say it one more time. Someone was trying to kill us. We did not make the safety stop,“ JJ replied.

“They have the bends. We need to get them to the hospital. Now.” Pope says worried.

Everyone hopped in the twinkie and John B drove as fast as he could. You and JJ were moaning and groaning in pain. Sarah told you to take deep breaths.

“Y’all are not going to believe this,” JJ says as he hands the amulet to Sarah.

“You found it?”

“Holy shit.”

After what felt like forever you finally make it to the hospital. Your friends held you up as you walked in. Pope explained that you went diving and you need help.

“Their vitals and mental status is stable, and the pain scale is moving in the right direction, but they still need time in the hyperbaric chamber. They just bought themselves 12 hours in the tank,” the nurse said to John B.

The two of you were in a lot of pain and you were panting as you laid down in the chamber.

“Y/N.”

“Mmm.”

“You almost died. I should’ve never let you go down there,” JJ says with regret.

“Then who would’ve saved your life?” You reasoned.

“I saved you too.”

“Ya know we’re in here for 12 hours,” you began.

“Yeah but there’s no one else I’d rather be in here with,” JJ shared.

“You’re sweet.”

“You’re my whole world you know that? I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to you.”

“I’m here J, right here,” You take his hand and hold it as you lay down.

JJ looks at you and then looks at your lips. You scoot closer to him and lean in. JJ cups your face with one hand and places his lips on yours. The kiss was needy but gentle. JJ was relieved to be kissing you. Your lips were crushing together.

You felt warm all over and your stomach was tingling. JJ’s heart was palpitating. JJ’s tongue explored your mouth. You lapped up his mouth. After making out, you took a breath and JJ brushed a strand of hair away from your face.

“My beautiful girl,” JJ whispered as he cradled your face.

“I love you so fucking much,” JJ confessed.

“I love you too.”

“I’m gonna marry you some day. We’re gonna live on the beach and have a bunch of kids. It’s gonna be perfect,” JJ talked to you about your future.

“Sounds like a dream,” you stated.

“It will be. So do you want a small wedding or a big wedding?” JJ asked.

“Hmm maybe something small and intimate. Like just the pogues and family,” you suggested.

“Yeah I like that idea. Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?”

“What about Greece or Italy or Fiji?” You thought out loud.

“Any of those would work for me, as long as i’m with you,” JJ replied.

You rested your forehead on JJ’s forehead and smiled. You spent the rest of your time in the chamber cuddling and talking. It was an experience. You turned out just fine and you had JJ so that was nice.

[sparrow-in-boots]

another angle of Curly's negligence folks seem to pass over is, not even towards Anya.

the Tulpar "passed inspection" yet it was missing a fucking cryopod. doesn't matter who would be left out, cus they are all equally expendable. Curly could have gotten that fixed yet he didn't. "should have made a bigger stink about that", YEAH YOU WOULD THINK SO!

he should have, as the captain looking after not just the crew but himself (captain goes down with the ship and all), and he didn't. he says he should have, makes an off-handed comment about it when talking to Jimmy, but words don't matter. someone's life is at stake here from the start, but all he can offer is a passing comment of regret.

i wonder if Curly was really that good of a captain, or if it was Jimmy hearing it from the higher ups cus Curly is a terminal enabler, and that INCLUDES enabling the company's disregard for safety and endangerment of the crew. because Curly says he cares and maybe deep down he does, but it doesn't matter as much cus he's not actually putting in the work. he will never put his money where his mouth is, because that's not even his money, but Pony Express's.

a good employee is one that doesn't threaten your bottom line, and Curly is a great captain.

(so great he will be fired just as easily as everyone else on the ship)

[midnight-xx]

Hiii, I hope you’re having a lovely day/night! I wanted to request a Hiccup x fem reader (preferably RTTE timeline) where reader is royalty from a far away land and she fled to escape a war within the kingdom and as she fled she met and bonded with a wild female night fury and as they sailed away they came across Berk and met hiccup (this prompt is very inspired by HOTD and I thought it would be cool to mash the two a little bit) thank you for reading this and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

I love how detailed this is!! I haven’t watched or read HOTD before so I made smth up lmao. They also didn’t end up meeting in berk but shh

SELCOUTH

Pairing: Hiccup x Fem!reader

Synopsis: In the process of escaping war, (name) crashes into the one thing missing from her life. Literally.

Timeline: After the events of RTTE, but let’s pretend they’re still on the Edge

—

—

War. The one thing (name) despised.

Ironically, it was (name)‘s choice to abandon her home and flee. Not for the safety of her people, but for the safety of herself.

She knew that it was wrong. She knew that she should’ve stayed and fought to the death for those loyal to her. However, she didn’t. In an act of selfishness, she left those who trusted her to fend for themselves while she evacuated.

—

(Name)’s feet pounded down the dock as she ran to the ship tethered to the end of it. She wasn’t sure why she was running so fast, as she had no pursuers, but she ran anyway.

After hurriedly untying the ship from the pole it was tied to, she hopped aboard and tossed her bag of supplies to the side before unraveling the sails and starting her journey.

“That’s princess (name)! She’s escaping!” Someone cried from the dock, and (name) turned back only to see the colors of her kingdom’s attackers.

As (name) heard the running footsteps of the soldier, she sailed further into the mist surrounding the island. She glanced back to her homeland, knowing that she wouldn’t be back for a long time, or ever.

The mist consumed the ship, and Princess (name) along with it.

—

Three days and two nights of no sleep later, (name) found herself dozing off but snapped awake at the gentle bump of her ship against land.

(Name) carefully stepped out of the ship, now wide awake, and carefully walked across the wet sand and to the shore.

(Name) collapsed onto the grass beyond the shore and embraced the feeling of solid earth beneath her body. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the dusk sky, watching as the sky faded to navy blue, and stars dotted the sky one by one.

—

(Name) didn’t know when she fell asleep, but she realized she did when she heard a twig snap about ten feet away. Getting up from her spot on the ground, she grasped the sword she had brought with her and faced the dark edge of the woods.

(Name) squinted, and gasped softly when she caught two green eyes staring back at her. The creature stepped into the light of day, and (name) noticed its powerful wings, and rippling muscles underneath pitch black scales.

(Name) gasped and tripped over her own feet in an attempt to get away from the night fury. She had heard tales of other tribes being demolished by this dragon, and she didn’t want to be next.

The dragon inched toward her until it stood right in front of her, then tilted its head down to inspect the fallen woman.

In a panic, (name) raised her sword and pointed it at the dragon quickly. In response, the night fury growled and shot it from her hand. (Name) could only watch as the blade went spinning into the distance.

(Name)’s breaths shortened in fear, but the dragon only watched as (name) panicked. The lack of air eventually got to (name), and she fainted.

—

When (name) woke up, the dragon was gone. Any tracks it may have left were gone as well, and (name) groaned as she rubbed her aching head.

A huff came from behind her, and (name) slowly turned around to see the dragon from before. However, (name) looked into its eyes and say no malicious intent, so she slowly stood up and stepped towards the night fury. The night fury tilted its head curiously, and crooned softly while it matched her strides.

The two met in the middle, and (name) stretched her arm out with her palm facing the dragon. In confusion, the dragon tilted its head and licked her hand.

(Name) chuckled to herself and shook the saliva from her hand, finding the dragon hilarious.

—

Over the next few months, (name) had learned that the night fury was a girl and named her Stelle, for the night sky when (name) sailed to the island.

Currently, (name) was flying bareback on Stelle’s back, on their way to map another unexplored island. The woman cheered as her hair whipped in the wind from the speed her dragon was flying at.

After a few short minutes, the duo landed on an eerily silent island. Furrowing her brows, (name) dismounted her dragon and gestured for the dragon to be quiet while taking careful steps forward.

A little bit of walking later, the two had found themselves at the top of a semi-steep hill. Stelle glanced mischievously at (name) and nudged her forward little by little.

“Stelle, what are you—“ (name) didn’t get to finish before she toppled down the hill and began rolling. —

“Well, bud? What do you think?” Hiccup asked Toothless, gesturing to the island around them.

Toothless merely chuffed and walked off, busying himself with a few pine cones.

“Really? It’s that bad?” Hiccup questioned, but never got to find out his response before he was knocked to the ground like a bowling pin.

“Wha—“ Hiccup exclaimed as he sat up. He immediately noticed the woman who landed on top of him, groaning and glaring up at the hill she rolled down.

Toothless’s pupils shrunk, and he growled at the girl.

“Woah, woah.” The woman’s eyes widened at the aggressive stance.

“Um, could you… get off?” Hiccup muttered from below the woman.

“Oh! Yeah, sorry,” The woman apologized as she stood up and helped Hiccup from the ground. “My dragon pushed me down the hill.”

“There’s other dragon riders out here?!” Hiccup interrogated in shock.

“No, it’s just me as far as I know… sorry,” The woman explained as her dragon swooped down from above.

Toothless growled again, and the other dragon growled in response, curling its tail protectively around the woman.

“Another night fury!?” Hiccup gasped, and Toothless backed down.

The woman hushed her night fury, and the two dragons slowly approached each other as the two humans watched. Toothless took the initiative, licking the other night fury’s forehead, while the night fury blinked in surprise. The two dragons began to run around the clearing, and the two dragon riders turned to look at each other.

“So, uh… what’s your name?” Hiccup awkwardly attempted to start conversation.

“(Name). What about you?” The woman, now known as (name) replied.

“I’m Hiccup. What’s your dragon’s name?” Hiccup asked with an excited lilt in his voice.

“Her name is Stelle,” (name) responded thoughtfully.

“A girl night fury?” Hiccup’s eyes lit up. “This could potentially be the salvation of the night fury population! They might as well be the only two night furies in the entire world!”

“Slow down there,” (name) jested. “At least let them go on a date.”

Hiccup chuckled and responded, “Maybe we could go on a date…”

“…What?” Name met Hiccup’s eyes.

“Oh, um, nothing!” Hiccup defended, averting his gaze.

(Name) shook her head. “Whatever you say, charmer.”

—

Note: I yapped a lil too much with the stuff before meeting Hiccup but we don’t talk abt that 🎀

links

ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙʏ ᴍɪᴅɴɪɢʜᴛ

[thatmexisaurusrex]

What if Tommy met Buck when Buck was still doing his fire inspector job? What if Buck came to Tommy's station for a surprise inspection and Tommy was the one who hung back at the station that day?

What if Evan was so distracted by seeing Tommy topless as he worked on the engine of a helicopter that he called himself Buckley Evan before quickly correcting himself? What if Tommy laughed at that in a way that made Buck's heart skip a beat? What if Tommy introduced himself and shook Buck's hand and Buck's imagination drifted as he thought about how big those hands were?

And.

What if Buck apologized for spacing out when Tommy, feeling nervous about a random inspection of Harbor Station, asked if Buck was okay?

What if Tommy, stressing out and spiraling a bit, did his best to undersell so that maybe the inspection would go well (the station was in perfect order, Tommy really didn't need to do this)? What if Buck got lost in Tommy's natural charm, trying to assure Tommy that the station was probably okay as they walked over to the station proper (and it was better than okay - it was the most well-kept station Buck had ever seen in his life)?

What if Tommy kept babbling; explained that he just finished most of the reorganizing that he did at the beginning of every month and just finished most of the deep clean of the station, but he apologized if it was still a little messy (the station was practically spotless)?

What if Buck placed a hand on Tommy's arm as he told Tommy that Tommy was going to be fine; that what Buck had seen of the station so far was all in fantastic shape? What if Tommy's face heated up at that touch; the heat creeping all the way to the tips of his ears; down to his chest?

What if Tommy, in a flurry, went through the safety manual basically verbatim, practically memorized as he showed Buck around and talked about how he kept the place up to snuff?

What if Buck, supremely impressed, gushed (honestly so) that Harbor Station had no dings at all? That it was the most up-to-code station that Buck had ever seen in his life?

What if they had a moment?

Just.

Staring at each other?

What if Buck swore as he got a call from his bosses? Hated that he had to take it, but he did take that call? What if the rest of Harbor Station came in, the shift over? What if in the blur of the shift change, Buck and Tommy missed each other?

That Buck hung up only to find out Tommy had already left for his condo?

What if Tommy, alone, wonders distantly if there really was a spark there with that fire inspector or if he was just fooling himself? If this was some rom-com sensibility taking hold of Tommy every time he wasn't distracted with a hobby? If this was Tommy deluding himself into believing someone like Evan Buckley would want a man like Tommy Kinard?

Probably fooling himself.

Hadn't Evan said he was an ally?

What if Buck, frustrated and very, very horny for some reason, finds his mind drifting to Tommy as he - as he -

And in the middle of the night, Buck found himself staring at his ceiling; wondering if it was normal that he kept thinking about the firefighter pilot with the hot ass every time he was single? When he was alone at night and he thought about that cleft and that ass and those hands and how the man knew how to goddamn keep a place up-to-code? And organized?

And what if, now transferred back to the 118, Buck, Eddie, and Chimney need a pilot to help Hen out on her hunch about the missing cruise ship Bobby and Athena are on?

And what if Chimney calls someone up, proclaiming that he knows a guy?

And what if Buck and Tommy cross paths again, as if serendipity?

What if?

[milkytheholy1]

Fitness Regime

REQUEST: Shadow x reader who likes to flirt with him a lot? 

----

You had known Shadow for an awfully long time, not as long as Rouge had known him or even Sonic for that matter. But time had passed and with that, the birth of an unusually bizarre friendship, that you dreamed would blossom into something more, was spear-headed your way. 

It was just your average, boring day, patrolling the cosmos in a rusted ship you called home. G.U.N had shipped you off on a space assignment before you could even sign your name on the health and safety document. But it wasn't all bad, you had Shadow with you for a start. Though you assumed he wasn't completely thrilled by your presence, especially when the white-fanged bat 'persuaded' you to go flirt with him relentlessly. 

"You're doing it again," he huffed, stretching his fingers down to touch the tips of his rocket shoes. You folded your arms over your chest, a smug smile on your face, "Why, I don't know what you mean. I'm simply...inspecting your workout regime."

"Is that what they call it these days?" he mused, although the slant of his lips gave off annoyed old man vibes, the devious glint in his eyes told a much different story. You paced around his form, watching with precision as he jumped and dived into different workout positions. At some point you waltzed right up to him, plucking a singular hair from his brow, "Looks to me like you're getting sloppy."

"Pfft, looks to me like you're blind," he muttered, arrogance laced his tone. You took a step back, Shadow copying your position, "Is that a challenge I hear?"

"Are you deaf now too?" he chuckled, picking up a wooden stick. It somewhat resembled a sword, but unlike a katana crafted with care for years, this 'sword', if you can even call it that, was chipped and scuffed by the countless months in use. Shadow presented you with your own stick, quickly assuming a defensive stance, "First one to get knocked down wins."

And just like that he was off, there was no real chance of you ever going to win if this was how he played. Though you should have known this by now, this is how Shadow was, it was how he worked. He was a good fighter, but a bigger cheat. 

You fought effortlessly, twisting and turning with each swing. With each clang and subsequent pant, you dipped and weaved under each other like it was a rehearsed dance. You stumbled under one of his attacks, a bright and eager smile adorning his lips, "What's wrong? Is winning against me too hard?" 

You could almost melt with the way he said it, so obnoxious but not at all malice. It was nice to see Shadow like this, not bothered and free to be himself; it was one of the reasons why you were so desperately in love with him. He noted your lack of response, pulling his sword away only slightly, "No witty comeback?" he swung again.

You tumbled to the floor with the grace of a flailing bird that hadn't quite captured the magic of flight yet. Your sword was kicked from your hand, your heart beating from the adrenaline, your chest almost a prison. Darkness grew over you, Shadow in all his smug glory. You're certain your face turned to a shade of red that had yet to be put on the colour scale.

"Who's sloppy now?" he all but hissed.

[cozzzynook]

Been thinking a lot about tfa shockbee and a funny scenario of Bee always talking about his partner back at home, no one believes him of course until longarm himself shows up

This is such a funny couple to me lol don’t get me wrong i like this couple!

But they are so funny!

Bee really does talk about his partner and everyone thinks he’s making this up & delusional until Longarm shows up & goes straight to bee, in a way.

He greets everybot as he should but he uses his arms to grab bee from the base and takes him with him.

Bee is immediately gushing and saying hi to longarm and telling him all the important details & random things until longarm walks off with him and then bee gets really quiet….

He’s looking at longarm with a distant expression until longarm stops looking around and his optic glows red and he tightens his hold on bee and shifts to his original frame revealing himself as shockwave.

He peers down menacingly at bumblebee who shifts his legs and whimpers as shockwave tightens his grip.

Long sharp fangs being revealed from the lower back plates of his face to reveal a long glossa that bee immediately bursts into giggles over and wraps his arms around shockwave’s chassis letting the mech lick him where he pleases.

Bee is giving shockwave kiss after kiss while letting the mech do whatever it is he wants to him. Which is lick and inspect him and put his scent all over the yellow bug who is humming so much in happiness his wings come out.

Bee is an insecticon hybrid. Shockwave is a spy.

Both know everything about the other, even if shockwave has more baggage than bee its fine they both know eventually it’ll transpire to shockwave having to bring bee to safety once the cons fully attack, so its no surprise.

Maybe shockwave came just in time for bee’s heat cycle?

Or maybe he was there for bee to help him with his?

Either way, megatron already knew what the two were up to & was given all the info he needed from shockwave. While bee left his friends in safety of their base so blitzwing & lugnut along with Strika, could raid the elite guard ship.

Bee and shockwave enjoy a nice long week together.

[bun-z-bakery]

✧. ┊𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝘵 𝘚ℎ𝘰𝑤𝑒𝑟

A/N: I'm backkkk!! I've been reading alien fics lately and wanted to make something with our best boi! it's a silly one-shot but my love for alien!dogday might make me write another:3 P.S. i did some research for this so dont come for me if something is wrong blame google!

Alien!Dogday x GN!Reader CW: injury

The rapid beeping of the ship forced you out of your sleep. The red lights flickered as a warning causing you to head to the control panel to assess the situation quickly. "WOAH!" The ship began to shake violently as you bashed away at the controls, a vain attempt to put your ship back onto course. Crackling can be heard coming from your transmitter "...Co...Ang..." The signal was weakening and you needed to work quickly. "HELLO? I NEED AID IMMEDIATELY!"

You cried as you began to mentally prepare for the worst as you suited up and strapped yourself into a seat.

Your body began to jerk harshly against the restraints of the safety harness. You could feel the air around you getting hotter and hotter as your eyes locked onto the windows turning into a tinted orange as the flames grew from the nose of your ship to the sides... Between those flames, you just barely caught a glimpse of the tiny planet you call home. The distance made you realize how far you were, and alone. Metal began to wail against itself as you felt your last breath leave your body. 

Your eyes flutter open and the flash of a dim flickering light fills your vision before your eyes can adjust. You blink, disoriented and with ringing ears. You're alive by some miracle. Slowly you try to rise to your feet though before you can move a sharp pain violently runs through your leg, making you fall back onto the ground. You wince in pain as you look around "Wait there's... gravity?" Quickly you begin piecing everything together. You never made it to your destination you were now sitting in a completely different orbit.

You remove the now broken harness strap that clung onto your shoulder. The small crack in your helmet almost sent you into a panic. Your breathing was fine however any more damage could lead to bigger problems than being injured in space.

"Mission control... Do you read me?" Your throat croaked. You were desperately in need of water and aid. You were stranded on a planet

with no equipment that could keep you alive and you only had your oxygen tank left to spare.

Your headset crackled and the voice was once again barely audible. "An... Stat... Aid..."

"I'm alive, but I only hav-" The area dimmed as a giant shadow loomed over you.

You ignored the static voice coming from your transmitter. There was nothing you could use to defend yourself. Tears formed in your eyes as you sat as still as humanly possible.

Something was whistling behind you. 

You try to stabilize your breathing as the shadow begins to slowly disappear. You take a sigh in relief yet you still weren't alone. Turning to your left you find yourself face to face with a furry creature. It seems like its stare was out of curiosity rather than fear. The creature was one like you've never seen before. 

It was canine-looking, with orange fur and what looked to be a sun symbol on the darker part of its fur that blended with the lighter parts. Its fluffy ears and tail looked soft, you were almost tempted to reach out to feel them. But what stood out to you the most was its antenna. Orange like its fur but had green at the tips, the same green spots and stripes were also had on its tail and ears. 

It seemed friendly enough, it hasn't tried to hurt you... Yet. "H-hello?" you wave at the creature as it begins to inspect you from where it stands. It chirps as it crouches down and holds your helmet in its hands.

"No no!" you protest as it reaches your helmet. Your injuries prevented you from putting up a fight, you watch as it continues to gently pry off your helmet. You could only watch in fear as you slowly begin to suffocate now from the lack of oxygen. Your body begins to feel like it could explode as your vision blurs. Two furry hands gently hold onto the sides of your face as the blurred sight of an orange blob swiftly pulls your face into its own. 

"What.." you look around in confusion. There the creature was, sitting in front of you cross-legged and smiling back at you. "You startled me there! I thought I had lost you!" 

"You- I can understand you. Wait." you look around and spot your cracked helmet off to the side. You begin to panic yet continue to breathe just fine. 

"You're safe! But you're hurt." 

It puts a furry hand on your head to help calm you. Confused and on the brink of losing your mind you decide to not struggle for fear of making it or him angry. 

You could hear the faint crackle coming from your helmet, you knew what the sound meant. "It sounds worried about you." He begins as he rises to his feet. "Your home... is broken." He looks down at the debris that surrounds you both. 

"My hom-HEY!" You were cut off as the furry creature gently picked you up and began to float. 

"PUT ME DOWN!" You shout as he continues to float away while holding you comfortably in his arms.

"Do you wish to float yourself?" 

He asks cautiously now sensing your fear. His ears fall flat as his antenna droop slightly. 

"N-no, humans can’t float..." 

This must be his first encounter with a human. You think to yourself as you ponder what this discovery could mean for you. You'd have a hand in it, sure. But what about him? What would happen to him if you brought him back to earth with your crew? 

"Good thing we've arrived then!" He cheers happily as he gracefully and gently sits you both on the rough ground, releasing you from his gentle hold. His orange hand points to the sky, you follow his hand and gaze at the sight in awe. Dozens of stars dance around the sky above you. They remind you of the star showers back home as they zoomed past you two and twinkled, you couldn't help but smile at the sight. 

"Beautiful right?" 

"They are," you respond, still in awe as you continue watching. "Do you have a name?" You cautiously ask.

"I was given the name Dogday." A small cloud of dust begins to form as his tail slowly starts to wag in excitement. 

"Do you have a name, little human?" you glance up at him, his antennae begin to give off a faint green glow. 

"My friends call me Angel." 

"Angel..." 

He parrots back in a tone as sweet as honey. You smile at him and he

does the same. Oddly enough you start feeling more at ease. "Do you know where we are right now?" You ask as you relax onto his furry arm. Your gentle movements made his tail wag even faster. "We're sitting on the star home with petals!" 

He answers happily. You tilt your head slightly in confusion but quickly realize what he meant. 

"Petals?..." you were confused with what he had meant. You look around in an attempt to see what he might be referring to, and an excited gasp leaves your lips upon the realization of where you two are currently seated. "We're on Saturn!" 

You exclaim, catching the poor creature off guard. He lets our happy chirp as he mirrors your expression. 

"Humans give names to the star homes?" 

You nod with a hum. Dogday was more than pleased with the conversation and your company. You begin to play with the ground, tracing the ground's rough textures next to your legs. He chirps happily once again upon seeing how relaxed you are now. 

"We do. On my star home, all of them have names!" 

"Your star home?..." 

Dogday looks at you with big puppy eyes. He felt a tug in his chest once he realized you wouldn't be here with him forever. After years of being alone. He felt something he never thought he'd feel again Happiness.

As if on cue, you heard the faint crackle coming from your helmet that lay in the distance. You turn your attention to it however you notice something in the distance. A bright ball of flames sped towards the location where you crashed. It was a rescue crew. 

"I need to get my helmet back and I need you to hide!" You quickly explain as you try to stand only to wince in pain once you move your leg. Your leg was still injured and you didn't want to risk Dogday being taken or worse... 

"Dogday!" You exclaim as he quickly scoops you in his arms and floats you both back to where the debris lies untouched. He gently set you down and helped you put your helmet back on. You fiddled with your gloves, making sure they were still on securely. "Angel!" You glance in the direction of his voice, unaware he left your side. Your eyes widen once you notice he is much bigger than before, his body still shrinking to the size you had seen him originally as he quickly float-walked closer to where you sat. 

"Dogday?" 

"Take!" He has a big grin on his face, and the green hue of his antennae grows brighter. You chuckle as you hold out your arm and he slips on a golden bangle that looks oddly familiar. You examine it once he lets out a satisfied hum. 

"From this star home!" that's when it clicked, it was one of Saturn's "petals" as he refers to them. It radiated a soft glow and had a pleasant chill. Now one of Saturn's rings somehow rests comfortably on your wrist.

"Stay..." His eyes began to tear up, you motion for him to lean down and gently place a gloved hand on his face.

"I have to go. Thank you for this." You stated softly as you stroked his cheek with your thumb. A sad smile crept up on his face as he tapped your helmet. You close your eyes as a soothing sensation washes over your body. 

Once you opened them Dogday was gone. 

You look around for him but instead, you spot a figure above you. It was them, they had arrived. The rescue crewmates began to help you back to their ship. They made sure you were in stable condition and treated you with what they had on board. No human could've survived what you just did yet here you were alive. You look out the small window, watching Saturn become smaller and smaller at a rapid pace. 

The sound of chatter began to drown out as you slowly began to succumb to tiredness. The adrenaline wore you out and the only thing that filled your body now was pain. An orange fuzzy face that startled you as it stared at you. It was Dogday! You wave at him and flash him a warm smile. His face was covered in tears and his lips quivered as he waved at you sadly. He pushes himself away and watches as you fly back to your home planet. Even though your time together was short you can help but feel a tug in your chest. 

Little did you know you had just been courted by the lonely dog-alien.

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed! I want to get back to being active again so send in those requests! here's all the characters i write for currently!

[solentmarineconsultant]

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[sayruq]

On Thursday afternoon, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was contacted by the Guinea Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), requesting an inspection of our lead ship – Akdenez. This was a highly unusual request as our ship had already passed all required inspections; nevertheless, we agreed. The inspector arrived on Thursday evening. On Friday afternoon, before the inspection was completed, the GBISR, in a blatantly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotilla’s ships, one of which is our cargo ship, already loaded with over 5000 tons of life-saving aid for the Palestinians of Gaza.

In its communication informing us of this cancelation, the GBISR made specific reference to our planned mission to Gaza. It also made several extraordinary requests for information, including confirmation of the ships’ destination, any potential additional port calls, and the discharge port for humanitarian aid and estimated arrival dates and times. It further demanded a formal letter explicitly approving the transportation of humanitarian aid and a complete manifest of the cargo. Again, this is a highly unusual move from a flagging authority. Normally, national flagging authorities concern themselves only with safety and related standards on vessels bearing their flag, and are not concerned with the destination, route, cargo manifests or the nature of a specific voyage. Just like when you register your car, the authorities don’t require you to detail to them every place you are going to go with the car. Sadly, Guinea-Bissau has allowed itself to become complicit in Israel’s deliberate starvation, illegal siege and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel is showing the world the extent to which it will go to deny Palestinians the aid they need to stay alive, in direct contravention of International Humanitarian Law, UN Security Council resolutions, and two orders of the International Court of Justice. Israel is only allowed to get away with this because we have an international order where law does not apply equally, where people are not valued the same, and where might equals right. The US has hijacked international law and is violating its own laws to protect Israel at every turn. A recently-leaked USAID memo states that “famine in Gaza is inevitable,” and that “changes could reduce but not stop widespread civilian deaths.” It also states that the government of Israel does not currently demonstrate necessary compliance with U.S. law required to receive U.S. military aid. Nevertheless, last week, the U.S. Congress passed and Biden signed a $26 billion aid package for Israel. It is this kind of naked impunity, over decades, that has brought us to this point where Israel can carry out a genocide, that includes a public declaration by Israel’s leaders that it is going to deliberately starve children, and not only face no consequences, but also involve a majority of world governments in its crimes. While our governments claim to care about Palestinian lives, they are complying, and indeed enforcing a situation where a state that has been found to be plausibly committing a genocide, is allowed to control what, if any life-saving aid gets to the people trying to stay alive.Yesterday, the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Right to Food, on the Right to Housing, and on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, issued a statement stating that civil society initiatives like the Freedom Flotilla are important precisely because governments are not complying with their obligations under international law and many of these governments are even complicit in Israel’s siege and genocide. The statement affirmed that ours was a legitimate challenge to Israel’s control over the delivery of aid to Gaza and it demanded safe passage for our flotilla. However, without a flag, we cannot sail. But, this is not the end. Israel cannot and will not crush our resolve to break its illegal siege and reach the people of Gaza. The people of Gaza and all of Palestine remain steadfast under the most horrific, unimaginable conditions. We take strength from their incredible, inexplicable ability to maintain their humanity, dignity and hope when the world has given them no reason to do so.It is our responsibility to keep that hope alive. WE WILL SAIL.

[mellowwillowy]

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜

4𝒌 𝑳𝑰𝒇𝑬 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

"You've done well," your husband rubbed circles on the back of your hands as you stared into his emerald eyes hollowly, "you are a brave soul. Now, let's retreat ourselves to our deserved slumber, shall we?"

Why and how did it end up to this?

The ship was sinking, you could feel the ground shaking and yet no frantic screaming was heard. Your husband had a premonition, a disaster was about to happen and unfortunately enough, you overheard him confirming his suspicion with one of the naval's officials.

He did not expect you to slip out of the festive to find him sealing both his fate and yours, sinking down in the dark and cold ocean.

Naturally, you were filled with a sense of dread. You feared that he might be right, but you hoped against hope that he wasn't. You had heard the noise of the shaking ground and the crew's chaotic conversations, but you tried to stay calm.

"Then, could it be that the shake we felt earlier was...?"

Your husband immediately whisked you away from the dock, guiding you toward your supposed stateroom. There, he sat you down on the bed while he rummaged through his bag, fishing for a glass bottle of what you assumed to be your sleeping pills.

You were filled with uneasiness as the reality of the situation slowly dawned on you yet his emerald eyes eased you down as he circled the back of your hands. He lowered himself onto the ground on one knee, looked up at you, and spoke softly"Can you hear me, dear? Or is your heart thumping so loud to the point you can hear blood swirling in your eardrums?"

You gave him a meek node and he shushed you, his thumbs never stopped circling the back of your hands.

"I have just the perfect solution for this but I'd need your cooperation."

He held out the glass bottle for you to inspect. A plain white glass that was unmistakenly belonged to you.

"I'd need you to calm down and sleep for me. The moment you woke up, you'd be safe and sound again, I promise."

You shook your head at him, "Are you implying that I'd die in my sleep?"

Yulian gave you a gentle smile that reached his eyes, "As much as I fancy the idea of having my final rest with you in this stateroom, I'm afraid I'd rather rest with you every day for I am a man of avarice."

Yulian clasped off the lid of the glass bottle and poured out 4 pills for you to drink, "This, is the only cooperation I need from you."

"And what would you do while I snore peacefully in my sleep?" "I had secured a safe boat for both of us." "Then you shouldn't have me done this."

Yulian inched his face closer to yours, "While you do have a point, my dear, I'd rather not have you take in the sight of... humans' true nature. I'd rather not have your heart thumped in uncertainty as we lowered and waited for the rescue team to arrive,"

And he'd rather not let you drown in guilt from the fact that he had taken another woman's and children's spot just to secure the two of you.

The realization that your husband was willing to do anything to ensure your safety began to sink in. Although the knowledge brought a sense of relief, it also brought a wave of guilt as he predicted.

"The night is cold and cruel, it'll be very dark and hollow, far from the word comfort. I just wish my lily-of-the-valley won't have to feel how cruel it is... I won't leave you sunk in the ocean, I won't stop embracing your body, so would you please do your husband a favor?"

You could hear his pocket watch ticking, you could hear the subtle musical instruments being played somewhere, and you could hear your husband's heartbeat matching your pace.

You gave him another meek nod and he smiled in relief, pills poured onto your palm as he stood up to bring a glass of water over to you. You swallowed it down with scrunched eyes, waiting for the effects to take in.

Yulian lowered himself again, rubbing circles with his thumbs,

"You've done well," you stared into his emerald eyes hollowly, throat swallowing a lump of anxiety and horror, "you are a brave soul. Now, let's retreat ourselves to our deserved slumber, shall we?"

Yulian positioned you to sleep on the comfortable bed, the blanket covering your body as he sat on the edge of the bed, eyes observing you while his hand patted your blanketed figure.

"Can you lay down with me too, dear?"

His eyes widened at your request yet despite his initial reaction, he didn't seem to be opposed to the idea. He rounded his way onto the bed, sinking the mattress as a new weight laid on it.

You turned to his side and locked gaze with him, "Good night."

"Good night, dear." He pulled you closer into his embrace and waited for the time to finally strike through the chaos that would ensue soon. Bribery, threat, and backings. If the naval officials failed to let him walk on land, his relationship with one of the nation's most feared Mafia Ringleaders would show them the way.

That alone was enough to kill 2 innocent lives.

****

This has actually been sitting in my drafts since I first watched Titanic (which is last year. I'm re-writing this prompt because, yeehe! 4k celebration!)

[marlynnofmany]

Mystery Colors

Our first delivery after a bit of shore leave at the local space station, and it was a stealth mission. The client didn't say why they needed this delivery to be handed over without catching the attention of the authority figures at their work site, but they were paying extra for it. I wasn't part of the conversation. I don't know what other details Captain Sunlight got from them to make sure this was a safe risk on our account. But she was always smart about that sort of thing, and at any rate, she assured us all that we didn't need to worry. Flying in to an unpopulated area out of sight of the main science installation would be fine. 

We trusted that, but we were curious. And since the client was human, the rest of my crewmates volunteered me for the delivery in hopes of wheedling out some tactful details. 

I didn't object. I wanted to know too. 

So I got into my exo suit, checking all the seams and settings even though the safety gear was inspected regularly. This planet wasn’t even all that dangerous according to the readings — it was mostly terraformed to an acceptable standard, though the air wasn’t quite up to standard levels yet — but this felt like a good time to be careful. I wasn’t likely to be entrusted with any secrets if I passed out from lack of oxygen.

Paint was waiting for me with the box. “We’re almost there!” she said, scaly tail swishing behind her. “Best of luck!”

“Thanks,” I said, taking the box and wondering for the umpteenth time what was inside it. The logos were all from a megastore at the space station. Zhee had picked it up, and it was already sealed when he signed for it as official intermediary courier. The person at the checkout counter hadn’t known what it held either.

The engines made their usual landing hum. Since our ship had good landing gear and reliable artificial gravity, it would have been easy to miss otherwise. Paint scuttled out of the way while I walked toward the exit. Blip and Blop peeked around a corner, frills waving in curiosity. Zhee was parked in a cross hallway, not trying to hide.

He tapped one bug leg on the floor and said, “I hope to hear any juicy secrets first.”

Before I could answer that, Mur scooted by in a quiet slap of tentacles and put in, “I’ll be in the cockpit to see if Wio can eavesdrop with the sensors.”

I left Zhee to grumble about it and threaten to tattle on Mur for bothering the pilots. We all knew Zhee was just jealous that he was too big to perch in an out-of-the-way corner. At least he wasn’t Trrili’s size; she barely fit in the cockpit at all.

The door panel said the airlock was engaged, and the air outside was as expected. I stepped through the first door with the box held tight, letting it close behind me with a shush of air that drowned out the bickering in the hallway.

The outside door opened to let in bright sunlight, alien air, and distinctly less gravity. I didn’t notice that last until I stepped out onto the ramp and nearly made a fool of myself. Caught my balance, though. I tried not to leave finger-shaped dents in the box as I hopped awkwardly down the ramp and mentally kicked myself for not reading the briefing more thoroughly. I’d been focused on the air and hadn’t noticed that the gravity was lower than I was used to.

No time to worry about that now, though: a pair of human shapes in bright red exo suits were approaching from the edge of the flat rocky area. A metal roof visible over the boulders behind them was probably their own shuttle. Everything else in sight was rocks in a range of gray-to-orange colors. A hill in the distance held tinges of green that could have been plants.

“Hello!” said the human who was one step ahead of the other. She sounded a little younger than me. Her face wasn’t visible through the reflective visor. So clandestine. “Thank you for being prompt.”

I said, “We aim to please,” and managed to stop moving without smashing into either of them. They had clearly been working here long enough to get a feel for the gravity. “Here is your package,” I said as I handed it over, “And here is the payment tablet,” I added once my hands were free. I unhooked it from my waistband and passed it to the second human.

The first was busy ripping the box open like a kid with an anticipated present.

“Oh good, it’s the right kind!” she said in relief. She set the box on the dusty ground and pulled out something that I recognized as a turbo cleaning wand, the kind usually marketed towards the parents of small children. I’d seen artists use them too, both for cleanup and for making some neat inverted-color murals.

Not wanting to sound like I was doing more than making conversation, I said, “I’ve heard those are good ones.”

“They’re definitely the fastest,” the human said. “Lemme just see if they work on this particular ink.” She opened a thigh pocket with a rip of velcro, and took out what looked like a chunk of tile with deep pink scribbles on it.

The other human finished with the payment tablet and handed it back. “They’d better work,” he said. “If not, we’re toast.”

“How come?” I asked with concern in my voice, hoping that wasn’t too much.

I shouldn’t have worried. The first human activated the wand and wiped the tile clean in one swift pass, then laughed with clear relief. “Saved! We should have just enough time to get everything before the inspectors arrive. Now we just have to hope Julian didn’t leave any more of his rude notes somewhere we haven’t found. The shopping lists and tally marks would be bad enough, but his stuff would get all three of us canned immediately.”

I looked in the direction of the large encampment I’d seen from space. “Are you working this whole place alone?”

She laughed and put the tile back in her pocket. “Oh no, we’re just the only humans here. Everybody else is a Waterwill. Did you know those guys can’t see the color magenta?”

“Really!” I said. This was news to me.

She pulled a pen out of a different pocket. “These are completely invisible if you write on a pale surface. Which has been handy for keeping track of specimens when we feel lazy, and leaving each other notes by the door..”

“…But Julian took it a bit too far,” added the other guy. “With this gravity, he jumps and writes insults on the ceiling.”

“Ah,” I said. “I see why that might not go over well with inspectors. Who are not Waterwills, I take it?”

“Nope,” said the first human as she stowed the wand back in the box then picked the whole thing up. “But they’re not coming until tomorrow, so we should be able to clean it all away in time. Even if we have to do some quiet climbing around in the middle of the night.”

“Hey, what’s that?” the other human interrupted, reaching for something else in the box. He came up with a bundle of green cloth.

“Oh!” said the first. “That’s for Julian. I’m going to say it was at the bottom of the last food shipment as an error.”

When the guy unfolded it, the cloth proved to be a T-shirt patterned in green specks of multiple shades. The side toward me had black text that said “The Best.”

But the two humans were laughing about something on the back. When they saw my confusion, the guy turned it around.

Among all those green dots were a series of orange ones that spelled out “I’m colorblind! And also an asshole.”

The first human explained to me, “Julian is actually red-green colorblind. The magenta pens were for his benefit originally, since they don’t blend with the green ones like red does, and sometimes we need to chart things in color-coding. But—”

“But the Waterwills can’t see it at all,” the second continued. “So they were retired. Officially.”

“I see,” I said. “Well. Best of luck in cleaning up his messes!”

“Thank you!” they chorused. Once the shirt was stuffed into the bottom of the box and the lid was safely shut, they gave me a wave and bounded across the low-gravity rocks toward their waiting shuttle.

I made my awkward way back up the ramp to where my alien coworkers were waiting. I was considering an impromptu color vision test for them, just to see if something bright and obvious to me was invisible someone else onboard.

But then I realized that it would lead to a contest for smell-vision, and I was absolutely rubbish at that.

~~~

These are the ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book.

Shared early on Patreon! There’s even a free tier to get them on the same day as the rest of the world.

The sequel novel is in progress (and will include characters from these stories. I hadn’t thought all of them up when I wrote the first book, but they’re too much fun to leave out of the second).