Empyrean Iris Story Collection

Fast Ball

The Intergalactic Journal of Biology and Mechanics

In the past few galactic rotations, the study of human endeavors has become a popular science of interest. Hundreds of articles have been published, in a relatively short time that details the unique and unbelievable adaptations the human has undergone in order to survive as the number one top predator on a class A death planet.

While many species, like the human, poses a superior intelelegence, humans also have the added advantage of physiological durability that is often lacking in their sentient counter species across other worlds.

Scientists have, and continue, to uncover many human physiological advantages seen in complete isolation in their species.

For example, we can examine the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder of a human, which together produce the altogether unique ability: to throw, and do it accurately. Of course there are many species out there capable of lobbing objects form one area to another, but none so fast or as accurate as humans. Both the males and females are capable of an extreme degree of accuracy and speed, the power, of which can be fatal to other humans if the object is thrown with sufficient strength and accuracy.

In human sports, a pitcher (baseball: see footnotes) can throw a ball at speeds a little over 100mph into a two foot diameter square, though this is putting it mildly.

Human theories suggest that it helped them capture food against faster more agile prey species of their planet, while others suggest some connection to language acquisition.

Over the centuries, humans have augmented this ability with technologies like the sling, but even without these additions, the human ability to throw is still adaptively astonishing.

Krill hated war, and he especially hated being involved in it, on the front lines, crouching in holes, and listening to the screaming as people died around him. He didn't like it and he really just wanted to get back on the ship and go home.

Captain Vir had made a point to lecture Krill and the importance of helping other people, and of course, he understood that, but this had not been his idea of helping. However the galactic assembly seemed to disagree greatly with him, and had used their, all too considerable, power to commandeer every human crew within a five quadrant radius for the job, not to mention that the U.S.S Stabby was a freelance vessel with a freelance crew, so they went where the money was.

Too bad for Krill that money happened to be on the planet Daxton fighting the Kree war-lords in order to free the subjugated Banti.

Why did humans have to be so good at war?

This point was only driven home as Captain Vir sidled up next to him inside the makeshift bunker plasma rifle cradled in one arm. One leg of his pants was torn up the side to reveal the silver chrome of his bionic leg. The metal was dented and marred with scratches from the days of fighting, but he didn't seem to notice or care.

From what Krill understood, Captain Vir had received that injury in a war not unlike this: In a struggle on behalf of the Galactic assembly against the Drev.

Despite his missing limb, the captain had never complained of any issues related to the traumatic injury, truth be told Kril hadn't noticed any difference between the man and his fully-formed counterparts despite his ability to sneak alcohol into restricted areas, that little trick seemed to be massively improved.

"Captain."

The man leaned back against the wall close to him and took a long deep breath, "Ammunition is running low, and they've destroyed the bridge. The chasm walls will be too hard to climb without help from reinforcements, and they all seem to be tied up elsewhere. We shouldn't expect help for a while to come."