Respin

As if the Void itself has birthed it, the Starblazer hovers over the asteroid and lowers itself on the gray rocky ground. The trusters blow up a thick dark cloud of dust around the giant starship. With a smooth mechanical sound the landing panels slide out like tentacles with attached claws. Once those claws touch the ground they ram themselves into it and signal the tentacles to snap into place. With one final hiss, the Starblazer lowers the docking bridge as the air settles the deafening roar of motors and engines dies down.

Once the computerized announcement of their arrival has echoed throughout the ship, more than two-hundred Menkar eager to execute their orders begin milling around the ship. People walk back and forth from supply rooms and the main terminals. Inputs and outputs get compared. Scans get started and last moment repairs are concluded.

While the whole ship brims with activity, Respin wishes himself far away.

He stands with Serfin in a line of three more pairs in front of the Starblazer's main gate and awaits his new orders. A shy glance to Serfin reveals his eagerness to get going. As if it could propel him faster through time, he even whips his tail back and forth like a young morphling. A glance to his other side lets Respin immediately know that they aren't cut for the mission. The other Menkar present are not only calm and collected in comparison to Serfin and him but look way more competent.

One pair consists of two female terrestrials, one tall and almost as menacing as a drone, the other small and round with a friendly expression uncommon to most Menkar. The other pair consists of two terrestrial drones who look almost identical and about as mean as Captain Slicer, the Commander of the Starblazer, himself.

To top it of Slicer currently walks up and down in front them, his hands crossed behind his back. He is a brute of a Menkar. Tall and lean he is yet muscular enough to be able to crush heads with his hands — which he has done plenty of times according to rumors circling the ship. His face is rough and dominated by his piercing violet eyes and a long scar running across it. The slicked back long hair and his long, outward curved horns do not help to ease his presence either. His uniform is also the best kept and his gill protector the shiniest on the ship. And to top it off he has cultivated the menacing aura of being an aquatic Drone to perfection.

"Now listen up, Mudswimmers!" Captain Slicer shouts, his rough dominating voice making Respin's ears prick. "This one is a mission so important that I don't even have to tell you all the fucking details! All you failures need to do is go and look for the weapon our mighty Empress has ordered us to bring to her. As far as the scans of the area have shown, the weapon is most likely located in the middle of the structure dominating the asteroid. The path may be a labyrinth but that's no excuse to slack off! You will bring me the weapon faster than light-speed!"

"And how do we know if what we've found is the weapon, Sir?" asks the very snotty sounding tall female with straight slightly bend horns next to Respin.

"That's up to you, Mudswimmer!" Slicer shouts and tries to stare her down without much success before continuing his speech with a sneer. "Has someone else any smart remarks or can we continue?"

Everyone stays silent.

Respin wishes himself back to Cetus or at least back into his sleeping tank full of clean, warm water. Suddenly, he feels Serfin tugging at his sleeve. He leans over, while Slicer continues to grumble and shout about the importance of the mission.

"You're thinkin' what I'm thinkin', Res?" Serfin whispers all too happy.

"I sure hope not…" Respin mumbles, the feeling of inevitable doom pushing down on him.

"We'll be the team to bring this weapon to Slicer," he announces, causing Respin to groan, "In the end, we get a promotion out of it!"

Respin doesn't care about promotions, and he definitely doesn't care about the weapon. All he wants, is to vanish into the Void, but this luxury is not bestowed upon him.

Meanwhile, his imagination runs wild and shows him various ends to the mission. Each one much worse than the one preceding it. Also, what kind of weapon are they supposed to look for? Is it a biological or chemical weapon? Is it sentient or a mere mindless thing? Biological or mechanical? Or both? So many possibilities to die… he thinks and swallows hard.

"Are you listening, Mudswimmer?!" Slicer spits more than he shouts right into Respin's face.

"Yes, Sir!" he squeals frightened with his ears snapping up.

But before Slicer could shred him into small bloody pieces a computerized announcement echoes through the ship. According to it, all necessary preparations are completed. Before Slicer can even open his mouth to order them to go, Serfin drags Respin out of the ship. Respin feels relieved to be spared Slicers wrath. On the other hand, he would've preferred the Captain's fury over the mission.

—

On the way Respin and Serfin check again their equipment. While they do so, Respin spots the female, who has spoken up to Slicer. As she passes them, she notices his gaze and looks at him with a bemused expression. A second later she flips him off with a smirk and followers her partner away from the Starblazer. Close to a nervous breakdown, Respin remains where he is and stares blankly after her. His stupor is only broken once Serfin runs his fingers down Respin‘s neck.

"Isn't it ironic?" Serfin muses and places his weapon, a large bow made of a very light flexible metal, on his back.

He has pulled it from one of a silvery glowing ring reminiscent of a bracelet around his left wrist. As according to Fleet regulations everyone has to wear those on each wrist. Respin often thinks of them as shackles.

"Ironic?" Respin repeats bewildered, which causes Serfin to laugh.

"You're a Bladedancer," he states and pushes him forward with his arm around the shoulders. "And I'm a Crossshot. You should be the one protectin' me and not the other way around."

"I guess you're right," he replies tired and depressed "I'm sorry to be such a weak excuse of a Bladedancer. I better go back on the Starblazer and lock myself into my tank or even better look for a hole to crawl into and never return from."

"You're always so gloomy. It's almost funny," his Bondmate muses much too gleeful for his taste.

"You aren't helping!" he protests almost whining.

"But I am!" he responds, tugging at Respin's uniform where the green decors on his shoulders marking him as a Bladedancer. "You can also see it this way: The faster we get this stupid weapon, the faster we get back. And if you still want to die then I gladly kill you by huggin' you to death."

"You stupid jerk…" Respin says with a barely suppressed smile.

"That's the Respin I wanna see!" Serfin remarks with a smirk and ruffles Respin's hair. "And now use your special ability."

With a sigh, Respin closes his eyes and frowns. Forceful he tries to calm his heart and mind. Without both being at ease he can't use his psychic ability. But no matter how much he tries to force away the dark thoughts plaguing him, he can't get rid of them. They mix and mingle. Grow and mutate into monsters. Cold sweat gathers on his brow and on his back. Another distraction. More food for the despair inside his thin body.

"I… I can't…" Respin mumbles helpless and looks up at Serfin. "I'm too nervous…"

Without giving him time to react Serfin places his hands on both of Respin's cheeks. For a split-second, all Respin can do is to look confused into Serfin's glowing indigo eyes. But once he notices that his Bondmate smiles, and he can't help but return it.

"I've told you earlier," Serfin tells him calm and determined. "I'll protect you against everythin' that'll come our way. So, stop worryin', 'kay?"

"Okay…" Respin mumbles and takes a deep breath.

He closes his eyes again and concentrates. Determined and knowing that Serfin is by his side he blends his surroundings out.

No sound.

No vision.

No smell or taste.

No touch.

Nothing.

Calmness washes over him.

His awareness becomes boarder.

He feels the Starblazer behind him — gigantic, menacing.

He feels his fellow soldiers scurrying around the area — a hive-mind of work and purpose.

He feels Serfin next to him — confident and caring.

And he feels the labyrinth in front of him — twisting, old and dead.

Like a warren it burrows through the asteroid. Tunnels, corridors and paths winding and unwinding, growing and shrinking. For a moment he even feels the technology below the ground. How it produces the energy for the hidden and still running machinery. How it forms a heartbeat of its own. A heart for a corpse.

But he doesn't need to look for humming engines and electric generators.

Instead, he tries to focus on anything out of the ordinary. Something powerful and — as he imagines — dormant.

Something waiting. Lurking.

He doesn't know how much time has passed when something promising starts to pull at him. The feeling manifesting as a tingle in the tip of his ears, which perk up in response. A moment later he starts to walk in the particular direction his sixth-sense has chosen for him.

Almost in a full trance he moves forward on a path only visible and known to him. If he comes across an obstacle, he either goes around it or cuts through with his knives if applicable. Serfin follows him close by. As usual, he keeps an eye out for any kind of danger. No matter if it lurks between long dead shrubbery or crumbled walls.

They walk for at least an hour until they arrive in what appears to be the main area of the surrounding buildings. Respin can feel that they get closer and closer yet there is something he can't place. It is almost as if there is another much more powerful presence. Something strange and alien but not hostile. At least for now.

Respin‘s thoughts are suddenly interrupted by Serfin bumping into him.

He stumbles forward and falls against something very alive and twitchy. He buries the wriggling thing underneath his slender body but not for long. Serfin yanks him up at the collar of his uniform and places him down before drawing his weapon. Respin has no chance to protest as his Bondmate places an arrow at the reinforced string of the massive bow. Without hesitation, he points the barbed arrowhead at the creature.

"Don't shoot it!" says Respin panicked and pushes the arrow down.

"What the fuck is this thing?" Serfin asks, the murderous intent still present.

Respin looks a little closer at the thing. At the first glance the being seems akin to an insect about half the size of Respin, which isn't very tall. Instead of skin it has a black exoskeleton that shines like an oil slick. Overall the body is covered by brown rags, seems to be segmented and has two legs and four arms. On its head the creatures sports a pair of elbowed antennas ending in yellow feathers. But the most prominent feature are the golden iridescent compound eyes, which dominate the head.

Respin doesn't know how but something tells him that this creature isn't dangerous at all. He would even go as far as to believe it’s afraid of them. But this is difficult to tell. Because of the compound eyes Respin isn't sure if the creature could convey any emotion he could understand. As far as he can tell, it seems to look at both him and Serfin simultaneously. Yet despite its strangeness Respin feels sorry for it.

"It doesn't look like it wants to harm us," he says while Serfin lowers the bow but holds on to the arrow.

Serfin glares at the chitinous creature but does relax a bit. Respin can't help but let out a breath of relief. The creature remains standing and tilts its head. If in a curious or questioning manner, Respin can't tell. In return, he looks at it with something he hopes to look like an apologetic expression. But in the end he can only hope that it understands the notion.

"Maybe it's the weapon we're looking for?" Serfin asks after a few moments.

Respin looks again at the creature. It doesn't appear to be that strong. It wouldn't even pose a threat for a Morphling — not considering the difference in size, which is still slightly in favor of the creature. Still, to make sure it isn't the weapon Respin concentrate again. After a moment his sixth-sense tells him that this is not what the Empress is looking for.

"I don't think so… ", he muses and opens his eyes again. "The weapon is still ahead."

"And what are we supposed to do with this… thing?" Serfin wonders and points the arrow in his hand at the creature.

Without a sound it steps back and raises all four hands to protect its head.

"Leave it alone, I suppose… ", he suggests and pushes his Bondmate away from the creature.

Serfin lets out a disgruntled sigh but accepts his decision. As they move on, Respin looks back and sees how the creature lowers its hands. It looks after them with its head tilted the other way. Vaguely Respin wonders if this small creature was the other presence he had felt. It looks too weak to be anything dangerous. Yet, somehow, he gets the feeling that they have not seen the last of it.

They move on, lead by Respin's sixth sense until they come across a blockage. Vines twice as thick as Respin's arms cover an archway from top to bottom without leaving any gaps. Careful Respin pulls one of his knives out of his hyperspace-bracelet and cuts the vines. Dry leaves and hollow branches fall rather sad to the ground as Serfin pushes himself through the gap. Respin follows him after a moment of hesitation.

"Oh, my… " Serfin mumbles and looks up at a giant tree.

Pinned against it by something like a sword hangs a pale almost Menkar-like creature.

"Is… Is this thing still alive?" Serfin asks and aims his bow at it.

"I don't know," Respin replies and walks with some hesitation up to it.

"What do you think? That's our weapon?" his Bondmate asks, but he doesn't react.

Respin feels drawn to this eerie pale creature. On one hand, it looks a lot like a Menkar but it is entirely alien. The face, the hands, the general body shape. All of them look like they belong to a female terrestrial Menkar. Yet its skin is of a rosy white color, causing the pink flesh as well as blue and red blood vessel underneath to shine through. To his surprise, this creature does not possess any horns. Its head is only covered by a mass of long silvery-white hair that reaches far down and covers the creature's body. But the most significant differences between it and a Menkar are its legs and feet, which are plantigrade instead of digitigrade. This creature also seems to lack a tail — even a rudimentary one.

A part of him wonders if this creature is just a mutated Menkar. After-all Menkar-genetics are rather flimsy. But Respin reminds himself of the other sentient and non-sentient species known to the Empire. The cosmos is full of strange creatures. Some stranger than others but alien nonetheless. But what exactly it is becomes a matter of unimportance. His sixth sense points this being out to be the weapon. But what can it do? It doesn't look threatening, but then again this could be a dire miscalculation.

"Is this what we're supposed to be lookin' for?" asks Serfin again and steps beside him.

"It… she ought to be it," Respin answers a moment later.

"She? Well, it does look a bit like a female Menkar but… I don't know," replies Serfin skeptical with one eyebrow raised. "You're sure about that? This thing, creature… this whatever… it doesn't look like it could even land a scratch on the small critter back there. It has no claws or horns. Maybe your sixth sense's a bit rusted…"

"My sixth sense works just fine," Respin protests.

Serfin laughs and ruffles his hair.

"I'll take a look around while you try to come up with somethin' to get it down," he announces a moment later and walks away.

He is barely gone, when Respin notices that the small chitinous creature has followed them. It pushes itself through the gap in the vines and walks up to him. As it notices Respin it stops after a few feet, seemingly unsure of what to do. The chitinous creature tilts its head in a rather endearing way before it continues to move towards him. Slow but steady. Respin can feel that it's weary, but he also feels that it wants something important from him.

The creature moves closer inch by inch until Serfin returns. It freezes immediately mid-step. Serfin also stops dead in his track and growls. Respin's thankful that he at least refrains from taking aim again.

"I think it can help us," Respin tells him.

"Hope so." Serfin replies frowning while walking up to him with slow cautious steps. "By the way, I found a few interestin' rooms. Wanna explore?"

"We should get her down first," he objects.

"Nah. She's hung there for a long time and can hang there a bit longer," he replies after a look to the pale creature.

A second later he grabs Respin's arm and pulls him along without waiting for a reply.

The chitinous creature remains behind while he gets dragged into what looks like it once was a temple. The feeling that all of this is much too easy strikes Respin like a hammer.