Humans are Weird - Surface Tension
Apology post for missing two weeks of posts.
Humans are Weird - Surface Tension
“Commander Strk’t?” Xrt’ltx asked as he entered the commander’s office.
The commander was busy over yet another report justifying more equipment and was not in the best of moods. If Central didn’t want to supply them with four times the usual required items then perhaps they should not send item types that oxidized so quickly to a world that was over ninety percent surface water. He lifted his attention from yet another description of metal rusting out and tried to look attentive for the young anthropologist.
“Yes?” He replied.
“I had an odd conversation with one of the humans,” Xrt’ltx began uneasily.
“That describes most interactions with giant, bipedal mammals with underdeveloped self preservation instincts,” Strk’t said in a flat tone. “Is there a reason you came to me about it.”
Xrt’ltx shifted uneasily on his six motile legs and waved a gripper in confirmation.
“You would most likely know whether a human was making a threat or expressing concern,” Xrt’ltx said.
“If it was one of the humans on this base he was expressing concern,” Strk’t said with a dismissive wave. “They consider us to be ‘cute’ and ‘adorable’. Our eye to head ratios are so far into their neonatisim triggers that we get the benefit of them instinctively wanting to protect us. Once the horror wears off that is.”
Xrt’ltx looked the opposite of enlightened but Prime Cluster be Fragmented if Strk’t was going to bother expanding on human behavior if he could help it. They young anthropologist finally decided to leave it at that and went on.
“I was invited to partake in a human recreational activity,” he continued, “but the human expressed, or at least I think that was his meaning, that the forces I would be exposed to would cause dismemberment.”
“They asked if you could regenerate limbs,” Strk’t asked with an amused twitch to his upper mandibles.
“Yes!” Xrt’ltx seemed relieved that Strk’t recognized the behavior.
“What activity did they invite you to?” Strk’t asked.
“Water skiing,” Xrt’ltx replied.
“Oh yeah,” Strk’t said with a wave of confirmation. “That one will rip your gripping appendages right off.”
Xrt’ltx stared at him in horror as if waiting for him to go on.
“Just tell them you are happy to observe,” Strk’t said with a shrug.
“But if the forces are enough to dismember our much larger surface to volume ratio-“ Xrt’ltx began.
Strk’t had been among the humans a long time he would freely admit, long enough to be comfortable with interrupting someone else.
“Human limbs are very firmly attached,” he replied, “and they rely on the surface tension of the water to slow them down and reduce the tension force. You should go.”
Xrt’ltx stared at him silently for a few moments before slipping out of the office door. Strk’t turned back to his report and made a mental note to prepare the medbay for the usual human injuries.
Apology post for missing two weeks of posts.
Humans are Weird - Surface Tension
“Commander Strk’t?” Xrt’ltx asked as he entered the commander’s office.
The commander was busy over yet another report justifying more equipment and was not in the best of moods. If Central didn’t want to supply them with four times the usual required items then perhaps they should not send item types that oxidized so quickly to a world that was over ninety percent surface water. He lifted his attention from yet another description of metal rusting out and tried to look attentive for the young anthropologist.
“Yes?” He replied.
“I had an odd conversation with one of the humans,” Xrt’ltx began uneasily.
“That describes most interactions with giant, bipedal mammals with underdeveloped self preservation instincts,” Strk’t said in a flat tone. “Is there a reason you came to me about it.”
Xrt’ltx shifted uneasily on his six motile legs and waved a gripper in confirmation.
“You would most likely know whether a human was making a threat or expressing concern,” Xrt’ltx said.
“If it was one of the humans on this base he was expressing concern,” Strk’t said with a dismissive wave. “They consider us to be ‘cute’ and ‘adorable’. Our eye to head ratios are so far into their neonatisim triggers that we get the benefit of them instinctively wanting to protect us. Once the horror wears off that is.”
Xrt’ltx looked the opposite of enlightened but Prime Cluster be Fragmented if Strk’t was going to bother expanding on human behavior if he could help it. They young anthropologist finally decided to leave it at that and went on.
“I was invited to partake in a human recreational activity,” he continued, “but the human expressed, or at least I think that was his meaning, that the forces I would be exposed to would cause dismemberment.”
“They asked if you could regenerate limbs,” Strk’t asked with an amused twitch to his upper mandibles.
“Yes!” Xrt’ltx seemed relieved that Strk’t recognized the behavior.
“What activity did they invite you to?” Strk’t asked.
“Water skiing,” Xrt’ltx replied.
“Oh yeah,” Strk’t said with a wave of confirmation. “That one will rip your gripping appendages right off.”
Xrt’ltx stared at him in horror as if waiting for him to go on.
“Just tell them you are happy to observe,” Strk’t said with a shrug.
“But if the forces are enough to dismember our much larger surface to volume ratio-“ Xrt’ltx began.
Strk’t had been among the humans a long time he would freely admit, long enough to be comfortable with interrupting someone else.
“Human limbs are very firmly attached,” he replied, “and they rely on the surface tension of the water to slow them down and reduce the tension force. You should go.”
Xrt’ltx stared at him silently for a few moments before slipping out of the office door. Strk’t turned back to his report and made a mental note to prepare the medbay for the usual human injuries.
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