Do You Want To Be Friends?

The soldiers were the first to step out of the ship, followed by Jinwoon and Sung Hoon. The soldiers stopped after walking fifty meters. Jinwoon and Sung Hoon looked over the soldier's shoulders and saw that they were standing in front of a group of Pahodu inhabitants.

Jinwoon looked at the group and felt like he was staring at a group of manga characters. The inhabitants of Pahodu could be compared with Anthropomorphic. They had the eyes of cats and snakes but they didn't have any fur, ears or tails, like animals.

[Anthropomorphic is a word which means "human shaped" (from the Greek anthrōpos (human being) + morphē (shape)). It is used to describe a concept called anthropomorphism, or ascribing human characteristics to non-human beings.] 

Jinwoon tried to pass the soldiers, however Sung Hoon pulled him back. Instead, he moved to the front. "I hope we didn't offend you or scare you. My name is Sung Hoon and this is my mate Jinwoon. We're from Planet Yangge." 

Jinwoon was miffed for being stopped by Sung Hoon but hearing the latter talk in the Pahodu language made him very proud. Sung Hoon had been studying hard because he didn't want Jinwoon to come in danger.

The group of Pahodu stared at Sung Hoon and the soldier before erupting into cheers. They were all smiles. "Your understanding of our native language is really good!" From the group, a mature looking being stepped forward. 

He bowed in front of Sung Hoon. "My name is Kuno. I'm the tribe elder. The other tribes and elders are waiting for you back in the village." He pointed behind him. All Sung Hoon and the other could see was smoke. 

Sung Hoon turned to Jinwoon. Jinwoon nodded his head enthusiastically. Sung Hoon shook his head with a sigh. "If Elder Kuno doesn't mind." Kuno and the others turned, and without further delay, they guided them to their village. 

When they arrived they saw hundreds of beings waiting for them. "They have arrived!" Kuno announced. There was a short silence before the crowd erupted in cheers. "Elder Kuno, you and your people don't seem afraid."

Jinwoon couldn't help but ask. Kuno smiled and led them to a large tent. "That's because you're not the first to come to our planet. Aso your coming has been foretold" He pulled away the flaps showing a cave. Jinwoon and Sung Hoon followed Kuno inside.

The cave was covered in writings and drawings. "Elder Kuno, would you mind translating for us?" Jinwoon and the others had only learned the language and not the writing. Kuno nodded. He walked to one side and began reading from the wall. 

"From the stars, they will descend. The king and his mate." Sung Hoon and Jinwoon looked at each other. Sung Hoon had never said that he was the king. "In flying ships made of metal. They will free our people of the invaders." 

"Fear them not, befriend them, care for them. That is the only way for our people to be free." Kuno stopped reading and looked at Jinwoon and Sung Hoon with big eyes. "Our ancestors knew that you'll come and help us."

Jinwoon looked at the drawings and saw that they had even predicted that there would be five ships. He turned to Sung Hoon in amazement. Sung Hoon wasn't that surprised. "Have you forgotten about us?" 

Jinwoon scratched his head feeling silly. "Elder Kuno, is it alright for the other ships to land too?" Kuno nodded and led them back outside. They noticed that the soldiers were not standing where they left them. Sung Hoon became worried. 

Kuno led them towards the middle. There they saw the soldiers sitting at a table laden with food. The soldiers looked up with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, they dragged us here. There were just too many and we didn't want to pull out our guns." Sung Hoon felt somewhat relieved.

He really wanted to believe that the inhabitants were friendly. "Sit! Sit!" Kuno pointed at the two empty chairs. Before they sat down, three other old looking men came forward. "Ah. These are the elders of the three tribes that are closest to us." 

The three elders all seem friendly. They bowed at Sung Hoon and the other. "Greetings, My name is Enhi. The other tribes are waiting for the other ships to come down." Sung Hoon frowned. Enhi turned to Kuno.

"Didn't you tell them?" Kuno indicated for the elders to sit down. "I was about to tell them the rest." Sung Hoon and the others turned from the other elders to Kuno. " Like I told you, you are not the first." 

"Every three years, beings from the Planet Jingoco will come here and take our people and resources. The Jinoco's are warring people. They are as advanced as you. When they arrived the first time, they nearly massacred more than half of our people. 

"After a year they left again. We knew that they would be back but there was nothing we could do. We sadly got used to it. We made sure that we collected all our resources and left them near their landing site. 

"But that didn't stop them from going to different tribes and killing and taking the people there. As you've seen, we are not advanced. Our wooden weapons are useless against their modern weapons."

Jinwoon and Sung Hoon listen to Kuno with concern. "When are they planning to come back?" Jinwoon had an idea why these Jinoco would fight even though the Pahodu left all their resources. "They will return in two years' time."

Jinwoon turned to Sung Hoon. "We have to help them." Sung Hoon was still in doubt. How could this planet still be underdeveloped? He whispered at Jinwoon. "Isn't it weird that they are still so far behind?" Jinwoon shook his head. 

"Would you be able to develop if every three years, you had to fight for your life and have to give all your resources? The Jinoco's don't give the Pahodu's a chance to develop. I think they spend most of their time gathering." 

Sung Hoon thought about it. He was wondering if Jinwoon was right. Since Jinwoon wanted to help them, he would follow along. "Elder Kuno, Enhi. What do you want us to do?" Elder Kuno, Enhi and the others looked surprised. "Will you really help us?"

Sung Hoon nodded. "We will help you." Kuno looked at the other elders with tears in his eyes. "I... If... All we want to... to live in peace. If you can protect us..." Sung Hoon frowned. "Isn't it better if we train or give you weapons?" 

The Elders looked like they were about to cry. "We... We wouldn't dare to ask for that." Sung Hoon was confused. They didn't want to learn to fight but they expected for Sung Hoon and the other to risk their lives?!

Jinwoon grabbed his hand. "Silly. They don't want to offend us. You still don't trust them. They can see that!" Sung Hoon glanced at the Elders. Sung Hoon didn't know that they could see his suspicion. "Let's talk to the others first." 

"Elders, is it alright for the others to come down as well?" Kuno and the others nodded. "Not a problem. We'll give you the other places they can land." Kuno gave them a sheet that looked like compressed grass. 

Eight coordinates were written on the paper. Kuno translated them to Sung Hoon. Sung Hoon used his wrist-com to relay the coordinates to the four other planets. "Sung Joon. Can you come to our location?" Sung Hoon wanted Sung Joon's opinion too.

Seven hours later, Sung Joon and his group of soldiers and scientists arrived at Sung Hoon and Jinwoon's location. The elders had given Sung Hoon and the others a tent to rest. Sung Joon didn't take time to agree with Jinwoon.

Hara, who was part of Sung Joon's group, stepped forward. "What the elders were saying is correct." "Our findings show that indeed a large decline in population. We didn't know the cause of this." Sung Hoon thought that they were getting constant information from the planet.

"Why has the satellite never noticed them?" "Because the satellite records about a month every two years. The satellite depends on solar power. After sending us the information it will shutdown to recharge. It showed us the before or the after only."

"If we don't help them, they will become extinct." They had come here to form an allies, the fastest way was to help them fight the Jinoco. And since the others were all for helping the Pahodu, Sung Hoon chose to agree too. 

Sung Hoon asked one of the soldiers to call the elders. "Elders, we've decided to help you fight the Jinoco. We'll help you develop an army and help you in any way you want. In return we hope you can help us too." Kuno, Enhi and the others went down on their knees. 

Sung Hoon and the others stood up in shock. They helped the elders up. "We're forever in your debt." Sung Hoon shook his head. "Let's win this first." Kuno had a large smile on his face. "It was destined. We'll win for sure."

Zuoane's eyes turned big when he read the notification flashing on his screen. 'You have become allies with planet CC1-SA. You'll receive extra points for being the first to form an alliance.' "What did Jinwoon do!" Zuoane couldn't believe it. "Was it that easy?"