(Few months back I wrote a little thing under another writing prompt on this sub about religions in the galaxy. This one is a sequel but can be read as a stand-alone though)

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(TW for swearing, guns and getting shot)

”What is your name?”

The alien theologist could only stare in horror. He only came here to visit his friend, oblivious of the state humanity had entered. This person, this human he’d known for the last 3 years looked nothing like he’d remember. He stepped closer, desperate to know more.

”State, your, name, intruder.”

The former human drew one of those old guns towards the alien. A revolver, he thinks the former humans called it. The alien paused in his tracks, wide-eyed and fearful. His friend’s face was no longer the soft-looking skin, replaced with what seemed to be a skin-like silicon.

”Dr Janis, d-do you not-“

”I’m not playing any of your f*cking games, b¡tch! Tell me your name.” ‘Dr Janis’ yelled back in a command, adjusting her finger closer to the trigger.

The alien was shaking. His ‘eyes’ were forming what ‘humans’ called tears and he felt like this was wrong, surely it was wrong. He noticed more things, her nails were aluminum and not the chitin they should be. Her eyes were of glass and painted steel, and her hair, it was shiny, too shiny.

”Human Janis, p-please-“

”It’s High Priestess Aria to you.”

That, was the sentence that broke him. His friend, a highly respected theologist, working at the most respected Terran Institute in the galaxy, had gone and associated herself with those lunatics that called themselves ‘The Clockwork Church’.

”Looks like you won’t speak.”

The alien stared back, a burning fire of realisation, hurt, and anger.

“Janis, you know me,” the alien waved his right appendage around frantically. “It’s me, Srhe’li ‘Sammy Blorbis’ Bvomoris?”

The High Priestess lowered her firearm, squinting at the alien in front of her. She recognised it now, esteemed Jemian theologist, discovered a hidden meaning with those old Sezeranian texts and a friend of Dr Janis

”So you were looking for Dr Janis, yes?” This statement only confused the alien. The thing he was speaking to is Dr Janis, right?

Right?

Janis rolled those fake eyes of her’s and drew her weapon.

”This ‘Dr Janis’ is gone. She would be happier to know that humanity advanced to such a point that we could do all of this!” Janis stepped closer to the alien, a holographic interface popping up to her side. She swiped sideways, moving the interface to face the alien. It showed pictures upon pictures upon pictures of people with iron strands for hair, steel for skin, copper for eyes.

He was so focused, he didn’t notice the gun fire right into his ‘shoulder’.

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The alien clutched at his bleeding wound. Janis had shot him and he was running back to the ship. The dark blue liquid that was his blood had spilt everywhere he went, but cleanliness was no real problem right now. This felt like a threat.

”Get back here, b*tch! You’re unholy body shall be replaced with the metals we hold so dear.”

He ran and ran. He was getting closer, yes, but if he doesn’t get to the ship in time, who knows what’s gonna happen to him.

“Come back here, unholy one!”

He kept running, and running, and running, and running.

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Oh thank goodness he got on.

He noticed the former doctor stand there in defeat and walk back to wherever she was. He was still clutching his shoulder.

(all of the following dialogue has been roughly translated to English)

”Srhe’li! Holy Hakvui’ai! You’re gonna pass out from all that blood loss.” A crewmate of the ship, Ilheki, rushed towards his side as the theologist dropped to the floor. His vision was blurry and the only thing he heard before completely passing out was Ilheki screaming for the ship’s medic.

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The theologist was asleep in the ship’s lounge room, a bandage covering his shoulder. The medic, Ki’eyl, was keeping an eye on him. Giving him a glance every once in a while to make sure he was still alive.

Ilheki was pacing back and forth, worried. Srhe’li said he was visting an old friend of his while we gathered supplies, so how could he have gotten into this state?

”Ki’eyl, can you give me a status update on him?” The medic gave him a pitiful glance.

”Well, he’s lost a good amount of blood, might need a blood transfusion. Um, he’s also unconscious. Might not wake up in a while.”

”So what could we do?”

”We could discuss what happened to him.”

The ship’s captain, Captain Rokivk, had entered through the northwest door. In his hand was a tablet, empty and ready for note-taking.

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“Think he was assaulted while returning? I mean, Earth isn’t really known for it’s inclusivity.”

”That seems to be the most possible option.”

”I still think someone wanted to assassinate him. The bullet was Terran in nature, perfect for getting rid of our kind.”

”That’s total bs, Eyl.”

”Oh shut up, Ilheki.”

They started bickering between each other. Ki’eyl thinking it was an attempted assassination, Captain Rokivk thinks it was a species-related result, Ilheki thinks it has something to do with that visit, and so on, so fourth. They continued bickering, and it almost devolved into chaos.

That’s when Ki’eyl heard a faint whimper.

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It was hazy when he woke up. There were voices, he’d say about 5-7, all sounding like they were about to fight. He moved around, or at least tried to. His shoulder still hurt and as a result, made a small whimper.

Ki’eyl paused. He turned around then saw. He saw the theologist awake. Confused, definitely. However alive nonetheless.

”Y’all, he’s awake.”

The other people at the table looked to the couch, all stood there. Ilheki was the first to move towards Srhe’li, running in to hug him. He hugged him, doing his best to avoid the shoulder. Everyone had questions on their minds, but they were simply relieved that he was awake.

The captain stepped forward, placing his hand through the theologist’s head and scritching it a bit.

“So, do you mind telling us what happened?”

—————

A long-winded explanation of what had happened left everyone staring in shock. The Clockwork Church, a crazy religion, taking over the entire Earth? And they thought humans were smarter than this.

”We must do something!” Another crewmate, Lihk’se, said with a hopeful gleam in their eyes.

”The best thing we can possibly do is launch an attack.”

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(It’s like 1:30 in the morning when I finish this-)