Ughh. Where am I? Last thing I remember was the Diegiton firing a very big gun. Smells like crap in here. I think I'm in a sewage pipe of some kind. Great. Nothing like some tasty infection in my open wounds.

  Speaking of, I should try to find a med pack. I'm pretty sure my wrist bone is supposed to be on the inside of my body. Got to get out of here. Before the blood loss and head trauma make me fall face first into the poo water. There is a huge hole in the ceiling. Must be where I came from. Looks like a good hundred, maybe two hundred meter climb. Yeah, not even if my wrist wasn't snapped in half. Only option is to pick a side and get marching. There is another giant hole in the ground. Probably the only reason I didn't drown as most of the sewage is draining that way. I'll go the way with less water.

  These pipes are huge. Guess when a ship can fit thousands of people you need big pipes for all that crap they spew. Wonder where it all goes. In my old ship we just shot this stuff out into space. Hopefully there will be a few check points before I make it that far. It's dark in here. One small light every fifty meters or so. Maybe it's the head trauma but I feel watched. If I'm lucky it will be some cameras or drones I can't see. That would mean rescue. Otherwise it might be rats. Or some kind of space rat. I don't even like regular rats, what would that look like? And worst case, well. If I survived that fall...

  Deal with that fire when it burns me. Besides, I think I see something. The pipe is opening up. More light is coming in. Looks like I found an examination station. Probably meant to keep out any unwanted pests. Wonder if anyone is here?

  "Is anyone up there? Captain in distress!"

  Of course not. Who cares about shit watching when the ship is under attack? I see a ladder built into the wall. It's about four, maybe five meters up. Ok, buck up Tommy boy. This climb is going to suck.

  "FUCKING FUCK NUGGETS!"

  I was always creative with my cusses. Not a skill I try to use often.

  "COCK SUCKING WHORE!"

  I'm bleeding out of wounds I didn't realize were there. I was so focused on my arm I didn't feel the snapped ribs and torn tendons.

  "MOTHER FUCKING MY ASS!"

  Just a few more. Almost there almost there almoooost thereeeeee.

  "I FUCKING HATE THIS JOB AND ALL THE BITCHES THAT GAVE IT TOO ME!"

  Made it. Glad nobody heard that because I'd definitely be fired. Though that might be a good thing at this point. I really just want to sleep but I know I won't wake up if I do. I see a medical pack on the wall. Dragging my broken ass is a lot less painful than climbing. Still hurts. Just less. Luckily the packs are kept low to make sure the shorter races can reach them. Let's see what we got.

  I have no idea what any of this stuff does. Glad the instructions are all images. This big needle thing has an image of a guy bleeding out, then he stabs himself with the stuff and the bleeding stops. Think I'll start with that one. These advanced needles are so small and sharp I don't even feel it going in. Or maybe I'm in so much other pain I can't tell. Ok, bleeding has stopped. I should find some pain killers next. There's a whole section just dedicated to that. Pills and liquids and more shots. I have no idea which one is meant for someone my species. I have to guess. Let's see... Eenie, meenie, miney, blue one. Take the liquid and chug it down.

  Ok, no more pain, not blind or throwing up, should live long enough to find someone who knows what they are doing. Now for the arm. This one, some kind of advanced cage torture device. The accompanying image is a creature with two limbs, one of which is pointed at a very different direction from the other. I put this thing on, push the big button and it does the rest. Well that's close enough for me. Just fit my snapped wrist through the sharp and jagged part and...

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  I am so glad I took the painkillers first. Watching my broken wrist be realigned and stabbed in place by big metal pins already looked more painful then I could have possibly imagined. I don't want to know how it would have actually felt. Gonna have nightmares about that one for weeks. Now I just take these patches and slap them wherever it looks bad. It's ok, I'm going to be fine. Just got to find somebody to help. Anybody.

  "SCHRAAAUUNCH!"

  Anybody but that. Of course one of those monsters is down here. And with my luck I'm betting on it being... yup. The Knight. At least I'll die without feeling any of it. This thing, some kind of cauterizer for big injuries. Super heated tip for searing flesh shut. Will have to do.

  "Ok big, bug and ugly. Let's dance."

  "SCHRAAAaang..."

  It collapsed? I'm not that intimidating. No wonder it fell over after two steps. The Diegiton was aiming at it. I was just in the beam's path. Knights are fast but it looks like it wasn't able to dodge it fully. Even a glancing blow from a weapon like that would have killed a lesser species. As is, it's missing two of its arms, including one of the bigger ones. Must have been crawling all around, not knowing where it was or where to go. It's been bleeding all over the place. I thought all that green stuff was more sewage but I guess that was only about half of it. It's dying. Let's see if I can speed that along.

  One good stab in the face with this cauterizer should do it. I'm really lucky. Any other day I'd already be dead in seven different ways. Few ever kill a Knight Harvester and even fewer get to live to tell the tale. I've seen whole worlds reduced to dirt and bones by these things. Cities melted into puddles. Families wiped out. Nobody would judge me for what I'm about to do. Some would even call me a hero.

  So why does it feel wrong?

  I expected it to fight to the last second. To flail and snarl and use it's last breath to spit at me. Instead its stopped. It's eyes are closed. It's making quiet noises to itself. The remaining small arms are tucked in and clasped together. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was praying.

  Just kill it Tom. You know it deserves it. It tried to kill the Diegiton Ambassador. The same Ambassador who almost blew your face into chunks with a weapon it wasn't supposed to have. Bad example. Just do it already. Kill the bug . Kill the bug. Kill… the...

  Space God Damn it. Why do I have to be the good guy? I need another bleed stopping needle. Get a suture gun as well. Don't think the Knight will trust me with the cauterizer after I threatened it with it. Big bug is staying still. Not sure it understands what I'm doing.

  "Listen to me. Do not make me regret this. Got it?"

  It blinks. Definitely doesn't get it. Oh well, here we go. Stop the bleeding. Close the wounds. This is such a bad idea in every possible way. I just need to get them stable. That should do it, maybe. Now, is there anything I can use to tie it down? Handcuffs, metal wire, I'd settle for rope. Here we go. A metal net. Must be to strain the sewage for any large bits. This should do just nicel-

  "SCRAAAAUUNCH!"

  This is how I die. Pinned to the ground by a giant bug monster that I tried to save. No good deed.

  "Just get it over with."

  Great last words Tom. Very memorable.

  "SCRAAAGRGNAUGACK!"

  Its arm grew back. They can do that? It's coming in close. Wants to kill me with those fangs.

  "Wuh. Ie."

  Is it trying to talk to me?

  "Wha. Whuh. Why?"

  It left. I'm alive. Nothing makes sense anymore. This has been the most painful, chaotic, disgusting, confusing and all around miserable day of my life. And it's still not over. Fuck I need a drink. Several drinks. Make it a keg.

  "H-hello? Is anyone here?"

  That's a new voice. And one that doesn't sound like it wants to eat me.

  "I'm here!"

  "H-hold on. I'm coming."

  OK Tom, get up and make yourself presentable. You are a Captain after all. Try to stand up straight.

  "I'm Captain Tom. I'm in charge of this vessel. At least I'm meant to be. Who are you?"

  Just around the corner comes a small, quiet voice.

  "I-I am Alcea. I'm the... Lead Engineer. N-nice to meet y-you."