Nolan grabbed both sides of the cold metal missile with his hands and hurled it into space. He hovered, sweating and panting, as he looked down on the creatures who were staring at him in shock and awe. The mother from before held her daughter close, and Nolan thought once more that these creatures were exceptionally stupid. He had just saved them from being incinerated, and yet they still feared him.
But he remembered something: he had failed to protect his daughter. So maybe they weren't the stupid ones after all.
Nolan hovered down closer to the ground and looked in the girl's direction. The mother tensed up, but eventually she mustered the courage to say, "Who are you, and what do you want? Are you one of the Sandeth?"
Nolan's eyes widened at the accusation. He had heard stories of a tyrannical regime made up of creatures known as the Sandeth. This happened a thousand years ago, but the inhabitants of many planets—especially in the Milky Way galaxy—were still very shaken by the mention of such creatures.
"No. I do not bear Sandeth blood within my veins, for I am the last of my kind. And I am yearning for another who may assist me in carrying such a burden."
The mother still looked skeptical.
"I do not desire to cause harm to you nor your family; I merely long for peace."
Eventually, the mother's expression softened, but she didn't fully trust him—which was understandable.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
And for once in his life, Nolan felt like he could eat a whole planet.
"Yes," he replied. "I could eat a whole planet."
Nolan devoured his food like it was his last meal. It was not only nutritious but delicious too.
"Careful, you might choke!" The mother placed a hand on Nolan's hand to stop him from eating. Her hand was soft, as if she hadn't done any hard labor in her life, though Nolan's hands were rough and full of scars from grueling work and pain.
Nolan looked up at her, into her eyes and they were just as soft as her hands. These are very soft creatures he thought. Very soft indeed. They not only had soft skin and never worked a day in their life, but their hearts were soft. They start closed off and cautious… but eventually they become soft, and share their life with you, and trust you. Nolan remembered his initial thought about the creatures. That they were stupid. And they were. But this woman… she was just stupidly beautiful.
The mother quickly pulled her hand away and chuckled nervously. "Sorry uh, I just didn't want you to choke." She looked nervous again. "My name is Harper the way." A faint blush appeared on her face, the same appeared on Nolan's.
"Ooohh mommy is in loooove," the girl said from the living room.
The mother's face turned bright red as she gasped in shock. "No! That is not true! Just go play with your dolls!"
The girl giggled uncontrollably and Nolan couldn't help but let out a chuckle.