Live from Planet Frystar

Galek dragged a hand down his face.

The shop was finally quiet.

Brivnor was gone, his barely-functional ship miraculously flying off into the distance.

Galek stared at the spot where it had been, mentally replaying the last few hours.

"Today, Galek has survived electrical hazards, potential explosions, and workplace conditions that would make any safety inspector weep."

Galek exhaled deeply. "And somehow, I'm still alive."

Behind him, the smoaklins were making themselves comfortable.

One had taken over his workbench, using an engine manual as a pillow.

Another was inside a storage bin, already snoring.

The lead smoaklin smirked. "So, boss, what's the plan for tomorrow?"

Galek blinked. "Tomorrow?"

The smoaklin gestured around the shop. "Yeah. You know. The shop. Work. Business."

Galek narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Are you saying you're staying?"

The lead smoaklin grinned. "Uh, yeah? Feels like a long-term gig."

Galek rubbed his temples. "This is a nightmare."

"Oh, but is it? Or has Galek Zim merely accepted his fate?"

Galek ignored the narrator and started closing up.

One by one, he shut down the tools, locked the supply cabinets, and made sure nothing was actively on fire.

The smoaklins did not leave.

Galek stared at them.

They stared back.

One of them rolled over on his workbench-bed and let out a soft snore.

Galek sighed. "Fine. Whatever. Just... don't burn the place down."

"And so, the smoaklins remain. A permanent fixture in Galek's increasingly chaotic life."

Galek grabbed his coat and stepped outside into the frozen streets.

The Walk Home

The air was cold and sharp, the sky dark but glittering with city lights above.

His breath fogged in front of him as he walked, boots crunching against the frost-covered pavement.

Despite the absolute nonsense of the day, the moment outside felt almost... peaceful.

Galek shoved his hands into his pockets, letting his mind drift as he trudged toward home.

"Let us reflect: Today, Galek has accidentally acquired employees, narrowly avoided an explosion, and somehow completed a job without losing a limb."

Galek groaned. "I don't need a recap."

"But you do. Because tomorrow, the chaos continues."

Galek ignored the voice and finally reached his apartment.

Home

The door slid open, and warmth greeted him instantly.

The scent of something cooking filled the air.

From the kitchen, Sela peeked over her shoulder. "Oh, you made it back alive."

Galek groaned. "Barely."

She wiped her hands on a towel, walking over and studying his face. "Rough day?"

Galek just stared at her.

"The silence speaks volumes."

Finally, he let out a long, slow sigh and collapsed onto the couch.

"I don't even know where to start."

Sela grinned. "That bad, huh?"

Galek stared at the ceiling.

"He is, in fact, too tired to process the absurdity of today."

Sela chuckled and patted his arm. "Well, lucky for you, I made soup."

Galek melted into the cushions. "You are the only good thing in my life."

Sela smirked. "That bad, huh?"

Galek tilted his head toward her. "Imagine being stranded in a blizzard with nothing but a broken tent, a malfunctioning heater, and three wild animals you found in a dumpster-except you invited them inside your tent, and now they won't leave."

Sela blinked. "...Wait. Did you actually let them stay?"

Galek groaned. "I didn't let them do anything. They just... decided that the shop belongs to them."

"As all creatures of chaos eventually do."

Sela grinned. "So, they work for you now?"

Galek sat up slightly. "No! They just-" He hesitated. "...Kind of?"

Sela raised an eyebrow. "Are you paying them?"

"No! They're working for-wait." Galek paused. "Are they expecting a salary?"

"They absolutely are."

Galek ran a hand down his face. "Great. I've accidentally hired four smoaklins. I own a smoaklin repair shop now."

Sela laughed. "That's adorable."

"It's not adorable. It's a slow descent into madness."

"Oh, but isn't madness just another word for 'business ownership'?"

Sela patted his arm. "Look on the bright side. At least now you're not working alone."

Galek stared at her. "Sela, they almost set me on fire today."

Sela shrugged. "Occupational hazard."

"She is disturbingly unbothered by this."

Galek narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Sela grinned. "Oh, immensely."

Galek collapsed back against the couch. "Unbelievable."

The Student Problem

After a moment, Sela settled in beside him, pulling her legs up onto the couch. "So. Speaking of disasters-you wanna know how that little teaching experiment went?"

Galek perked up slightly. "Oh, right! The student who couldn't grasp basic arithmetic. Did my genius teaching method save the day?"

Sela gave him a look. "First of all, your method? No. That was the narrator's method."

"And don't you forget it."

Galek waved a hand. "Technicality."

Sela rolled her eyes. "Anyway. I tried it. Had the kid mark another student's work instead of his own. And... it actually worked."

Galek sat up straight. "Ha! I knew it!"

"Correction: The narrator knew it."

Sela shook her head. "I hate that it made sense. Once he was looking at someone else's mistakes, he immediately spotted the errors. Then he got competitive about it."

Galek smirked. "So... he learned through smugness?"

Sela sighed. "Pretty much."

"Sometimes, pettiness is the strongest motivator."

Galek grinned. "See? Education!"

Sela leaned back. "I swear, if you start taking credit for my teaching now, I'm revoking couch privileges."

Galek gasped dramatically. "You wouldn't."

Sela smirked. "Try me."

"A truly terrifying threat."

Galek raised his hands. "Alright, alright. You win. I will humbly acknowledge that you're the superior educator."

Sela leaned her head against his shoulder. "Good."

Peace, For Now

For a moment, they just sat in silence, enjoying the warmth of their apartment and the quiet hum of the heater.

Outside, the frozen streets stretched beneath the neon-lit sky, the city buzzing faintly in the distance.

For the first time today, Galek wasn't dodging electrical hazards, fuel leaks, or existential crises.

For the first time today, he felt... calm.

"A rare moment of peace. Savor it, Galek. Because tomorrow, the chaos begins anew."

Galek closed his eyes. "...I don't like that wording."

Sela chuckled softly. "Get some sleep, mechanic."

Galek mumbled, already half-asleep. "Smoaklin shop owner..."

Sela laughed quietly. "Exactly."

There was a beat of silence.

Then-

"So," Sela tilted her head toward him. "Are you gonna start holding team meetings?"

Galek grunted. "Absolutely not."

Sela grinned. "Oh, c'mon. 'Attention, employees! We must discuss quarterly smoaklin performance reviews.'"

Galek groaned. "Why are you like this."

"She simply understands the joy of watching you suffer."

Sela seemd lost in toughts for a while, before saying. "You should really design uniforms."

Galek opened one eye. "I'm not giving them uniforms."

Sela nodded to herself. "You're right. Probably better to go for matching tool belts. Something with their names embroidered on them."

Galek sat up slightly. "THEY DON'T HAVE NAMES."

"Oh, but they should."

Sela grinned. "I'm naming them."

Galek dragged a hand down his face. "Please don't."

"Too late." Sela tapped a finger against her chin. "Let's see... Wrenchy-"

Galek groaned. "No."

"-Sparks-"

"Sela."

"-Short Circuit-"

"That one is actually fitting."

Galek pointed at the ceiling. "STOP ENCOURAGING HER."

Sela bit her lip to hide a laugh. "Fine, fine. I'll workshop them."

Galek exhaled. "I hate this."

Sela shrugged. "You're the boss."

Galek grimaced. "Don't say that."

"Galek Zim: reluctant business owner, leader of misfits, and soon-to-be reluctant father figure to four chaotic mechanics."

Galek glared at the ceiling. "Not happening."

Sela patted his arm. "Denial is the first stage."

A Moment of Honesty

She stretched out beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

For the first time, she wasn't teasing.

"But really," Sela said softly, "you're doing good, Galek."

Galek blinked. "That's... a terrifying sentence to hear from you."

Sela rolled her eyes. "I mean it."

Galek snorted. "Sela, my shop is infested."

She shrugged. "And yet, you fixed a ship, didn't you?"

Galek hesitated. "...Yeah."

"Against all odds."

"You're keeping things running." Sela nudged him. "Even when you think you can't."

Galek stared at the ceiling. "...Well. That's alarming."

Sela smirked. "What?"

"That almost sounded like optimism."

She chuckled. "Eh. Don't get used to it."

Galek sighed. "Noted."

She shifted slightly, getting comfortable. "But I'm serious. I'm proud of you."

Galek paused.

He didn't have a response for that.

The narrator didn't either.

"..."

For the first time, the voice in his head had nothing to say.

Galek smirked. "Ha. Got you."

"...I refuse to acknowledge this."

Sela laughed. "Sleep, smoaklin boss."

Galek mumbled. "Worst title ever."

And for the first time today, he finally let himself relax.