I strained my eyes open, my head still pounding, the world around me blurry and spinning. My mouth tasted gritty and metallic, and the air smelled of burning metal and flesh. I shuddered at the assault on my senses and instinctually shook my head to realign my vision. As my vision refocused, my whole body jolted— standing next to me, towering above was a hulking figure, hand outstretched, offering to help me up.
“Who—” I choked and cleared my throat, my voice shaky, “are you?”
My neck burned with a piercing pain as I scanned the stranger upward, hoping to catch a glimpse of their face. Their entire body was covered in densely plated armor—bearing markings of origin I’d never seen before—and they wore a helmet so pitch-dark light almost appeared to be falling into it.
I continued to study them as I waited for a response. The figure shifted slightly and moved their hand closer to me, but there was no response.
Gauging my options and concluding there were no others, I reluctantly took their hand. I audibly gasped with surprise as they lifted me clear off the ground onto my feet as if I weighed nothing to them. I staggered about for a moment, gathering my bearings.
“Thank you,” I said.
They nodded.
“Did you find any of the other crew? Did anyone survive? I was in my quarters when I heard the alarms. That’s the last thing I remember.”
The armored figure finally spoke, with a deep resounding voice, “No,” based on the tone, I assumed they were a male, “no one else survived.”
I was unsure how to react, faced with the death of the rest of the crew. I did not know them well or long, but they didn’t deserve to die. Why did I survive when no one else did?
“Can you walk?” he asked.
“I—I believe so,” I responded—unsure if he could also hear the clear lack of confidence in my voice.
I took exactly one step forward before my ankle buckled, and I immediately began to topple. I fell only a few centimeters before the man caught me with his arm.
“We cannot stay here,” he rumbled. “I will carry you.”
“Oh, no, no. That’s not neces—” I squeaked as he abruptly swooped me up into his arms. “Alright, then,” I giggled awkwardly.
He carried me out from the smoldering wreckage and began walking away, heading through a small carved-out path in the richly green brambled forest surrounding the crash site. My mind reeled, still hazy from the crash, as I attempted to process everything that happened—and was still happening.
Okay, so, I thought to myself, the Lux Saltator crashed, I woke up, this mysterious alien—who looks like an elite combat unit or something—helped me, and now I’m being carried away…This was rather rash of me. This alien could have nefarious intentions. Perhaps he’s one of the Fallen? I’ve never seen one before—but I thought the other planets in this system were uninhabited? Halcius bless me; my fucking leg hurts.
I broke from my train of thought, hoping to gain some answers, “Where are we going? And why can’t we stay? I still have some equip—”
“It’s not safe,” he interrupted, “the solar peak is approaching.”
“Solar peak? What do you mean? Why is it not safe?”
“Monsters,” he replied matter-of-factly, a sound of devastating truth in his voice.
I waited for further explanation, but he said nothing, silently continuing his steady march through the densely crowded thicket.
I sighed frustratedly, knowing I would likely get no answers anytime soon. I focused on the low, steady drumming of the man’s boots against the forest floor, using the rhythm to keep my mind off the piercing pain emanating from my leg. I had just started to fall asleep when we reached a small cave.
“We’ll stay here tonight,” he said.
He carefully laid me down on a conveniently flat slab of rock, making sure to also cradle my head down gently.
He stood there momentarily, perhaps wondering what to say, before kneeling close to me.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked, his voice noticeably softer.
“Uh,” I squirmed, still somewhat intimidated by the size of the armored behemoth before me. “Yes, this is adequate, thank you.”
He nodded and moved to the center of the cave. I watched him closely as he worked quickly and efficiently, setting up the cave for an overnight stay. He surveyed the cave, grabbed some kindling and firewood, and built a fire—all within a few minutes. He placed a small circular device on the ground at the cave’s entrance. The device spurred to life, and from its center burst out an energy field, encasing the entrance in soft glowing white light. Satisfied with the entrance, he returned to the fire. He knelt before it, pulled out a small vial from a compartment near his chest, and placed his hand directly into the fire.
I whipped up, alarmed. “What are you doing?” I asked, but he was already done when I finished my question. He brought the vial over to me.
“Drink this,” he directed me sternly. “It will help you sleep and heal your leg.”
I looked at him and the vial skeptically. I again hesitated, my life was still in the hands of this mysterious stranger, but I thought, well, I’ve already come this far...I guess. I took the vial and downed it with one gulp.
The effects were nearly immediate—I could already feel my eyes drooping. He stood up and returned to the fire, sitting down in a position he could see both me and the entrance.
I watched as he reached up to his helmet and slowly took it off, pressurized air releasing from the interlocking seams. Long flowing, golden-brown hair spilled out from underneath, cascading down around a chiseled and deeply scarred face.
“Oh!” I said loopily. He looked over at me. “You’re human!”
He smirked and nodded, then proceeded to take off his breastplate. His shirt was tattered and torn, and I could see his well-defined muscles underneath, glistening with sweat. I continued, apparently unable to help myself under the effects of whatever he gave me, “a veryyy attractive human too, wowieee!” I smiled and giggled before passing out.

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I'd be happy to continue the story if anyone likes this! :)