"Say, Goog..." I approached the new member of our team hesitantly, "I hope I don't come across as rude..."

"No, I don't drink from the skulls of my enemies. They make for impractical cups, what with the eye holes." she said without looking up from her work. I was amazed by how deftly her fingers navigated her comparatively tiny keyboard. Sensing that she hadn't answered my actual question, she stopped and turned to me, her tusked mouth smiling warmly. "I generally don't turn my enemies' body parts into trophies. Looks bad on the resumé. You don't have to walk on eggshells around me."

Those rippling muscles, barely contained by her sharp business-casual attire, told me otherwise. Still, I mustered up the courage to ask: "how did you learn to code so well?"

"How does an orc learn to code so well, you mean." My heart sank as she saw through the question, and I was terribly afriad that I had offended her. To my surprise, however, she continued smiling. "Let me ask you a question in return: when was the last time you vanquished an enemy in single combat?"

"I uh... what?"

"When was the last time you vanquished an enemy in single combat?" she repeated, matter-of-factly, "when was the last time you achieved glorious victory in war? When was the last time you came home from work blood-stained and still riding the high from the thrill of battle?"

"I have never done any of those things..."

"Exactly. Neither have most orcs nowadays. Berserker warriors aren't all that employable in today's society, but orc culture still demands we prove our honour and valor somehow. As children, many of us turn to video games."

I started to see what she was getting at. "And some orcs aren't quite satisfied with human-made video games."

"Exactly!" she laughed. "I'm completely self-taught. I first learned to code by modding Heavenedge. I was actually surprised I got this job without any official credentials. I've heard rumours that it was a clerical error, but I'm not complaining..."

With that, she cracked her knuckles and went back to typing. And just like that, I looked at Goog with different eyes. No longer this otherworldly monster, but a person, a coworker. A coworker that I was hugely impressed by. "You're a big fan of the Ancient Codices-series?" I asked.

"Some parts. Heavenedge is fine, but having gone back and played previous installments, I like The Ancient Codices III: Dawnstorm best."

And she just became the coolest person I knew. "Dawnstorm is my favourite as well! Hey, if you'd like, I would love to swap stories about our games sometime. Are you free on friday?"

"That depends..." she began, before suddenly bellowing "CAN YOU DODGE!?"

I narrowly avoided a ballpoint pen that she flung across our office. It embedded itself point-first an inch deep into a planner on the corkboard on the wall. Exactly on next friday. Goog ignored my hyperventilating and fist pumped. "Bullseye! It's a date!"