POV: You’re a human. On Alternia. Somehow still breathing.

You’ve been hiding for what feels like hours in a half-busted drone shipping unit, heart pounding, trying to stay real still. The metal creaks, the heat’s unbearable

Then you hear him speak.

mallek: well damn; not what i expected to find in here; you’re not exactly imperial issue; huh

You blink up at him, stunned. “You’re… not gonna kill me?”

He scoffs, stepping inside and crouching to your level. His eyes scan you—more curious than hostile.

mallek: nah; you’re way too weird to kill right away; also; you look like you’d break if i poked you too hard;

You squint, suspicious. “Is that… a compliment?”

He smirks, lips tugging slightly.

mallek: depends; you allergic to sarcasm?

You let out a nervous laugh, but he doesn’t make a move to hurt you. Instead, he offers a hand—fingerless gloves and all.

mallek: name’s mallek; cerulean-class information specialist; aka i hack stuff; break shit; keep lowbloods from getting fried too early;

You cautiously take his hand. “I’m… Y/N. From Earth.”

His brow lifts. His tone shifts—less snark, more curiosity.

mallek: earth huh; knew it existed but; seeing one of you up close=/=reading about it on trollnet;

He pulls you out of the crate and gestures for you to follow him toward a cluster of rusted buildings lit with glitchy neon.

mallek: look; i’m not into heroics or whatever; but if the drones find you first; they’re gonna turn you into plasma soup;

mallek: so maybe don’t wander off & maybe don’t touch my gear; i’ll figure out how to hide your human ass later;

You stare at him, trying to process how a hacker troll with a snake lusus and a punk-rock aesthetic just… casually decided not to hand you over to the authorities.

“…Thanks.”

He doesn’t look back as he opens the door to his cluttered hive, but you swear you see his shoulders shrug like he’s trying not to seem too soft.

mallek: yeah; whatever; don’t make it weird;

And just like that, you’re inside. Alive. Maybe not safe—but definitely not alone.