Respin didn’t know how much time had passed when he woke up. It could have been minutes or hours. His head was aching and his vision was blurry. With a groan, he lifted himself on his elbows and looked around. While he knew that he was still inside Amaris’ cottage he didn’t recall the room and how he had entered it.

  Like a cheap jump-scare he remembered Amaris' bloody arm on the floor and the trashed furniture. More out of instinct than conscious decision he looked for shelter. But before he could find a place to hole up in, he came face to face with a pair of indigo eyes. The expression on them was worried but his brain didn’t immediately recognise it as such. With a high-pitched scream Respin jumped away.

  The much larger Menkar stood up and watched him before he followed. Instinctive Respin picked the other knife out of his coat and pointed it at the tall guy. Respin couldn’t help but tremble.

  ?W-what have you done to Amaris?!“ he asked with shacking voice and forced his hand with the knife to remain steady by placing his other on it. ?Where is she?“

  ?I’ve done nothing!“, replied the stranger raising both his hands in a yielding manner. ?I was just looking for her myself.“

  ?Why?“

  ?Because she is the one who repairs my technical stuff when somethin’s broken. I’m not so good with those stupid flimsy boxes,“ he explained nervous and not letting the tip of the knife out of his eyes. ?I was just lookin’ for her because she promised me to look over my computer today but didn’t come over. Also, …“

  ?Also?“

  ?I also wanted…“ he hesitated, his eyes lowering and a devastated expression taking hold of his face. ?I guess this is… Forget it. It’s meaningless now.“

  ?What do you mean by meaningless?“ Respin asked shaky with tears in his eyes.

  There was something bad in the air. A feeling like cold hands grabbing at the base of his tail and trailing up his back. At the same time his stomach tightened up again. The arm was proof enough.

  Without saying another word the other Menkar turned away. Respin was again raising his knife but as the stranger stepped aside he lowered it again. Behind him, he saw a white blood stained sheet covering something that looked suspiciously like a body. The other Menkar seemed to be Respin’s age despite his tall build and his impressive large horns. He stopped beside the cover, but didn’t look at the body and avoided eye contact with Respin as well.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  ?I, umm, wouldn’t look underneath the cover,“ he said reluctant and in a low voice. ?She’s not in good shape.“

  ?What happened?“ Respin asked and stood up without letting go of his weapon.

  ?I guess the psycho from the lake happened,“ he replied with a snarl, the disgust audible in his voice.

  ?Psycho from the lake?“ Respin asked confused.

  ?One of the older Menkar livin’ close to the lake,“ he explained growling. ?He’s an aquatic Drone but has no interest in nurturin' and protectin' anythin'. Only runs around to torture and kill for fun.“

  ?That’s terrible!“, Respin responded shocked. ?We need to report him!“

  ?That’s happened plenty of times already, buddy,“ he replied. ?Since he doesn’t attack Drones or the younger Morphlings in their care there’s little the adults will do.“

  ?This isn’t fair,“ he cried out, while tears ran down his face. ?Why did she have to die? To satiate some stranger's bloodlust? I’d rather he would’ve gone after me then her.“

  ?Don’t say something like this or I kill you!“ shouted the other one.

  This outbreak came so sudden it literally froze Respin into place. There was also something else keeping him from moving. It was the other Menkar's anger and sadness. He was pushing his emotions onto Respin. The air crackled with psychic energy. ?Amaris wouldn’t want you to say somethin’ like that! Never!“ he continued and curled his hands into fists.

  ?Why do you even bother?“ Respin asked, cursing his momentary courage. ?You don’t know me!“

  Suddenly, the other Menkar charged Respin. With a loud bang, he was slammed against the wall on the other side and lost his knife. At the same time the other's psychic ability ran haywire.

  Respin let out a choked sob.

  His heart raced inside his chest.

  His whole existence flashing before his eyes.

  Still, some part of him urged him to fight, to protect himself.

  If he had not dropped his knife, Respin could have cut him down. But as this thought crossed his mind, he wondered if he could actually kill anyone for that matter.

  The psychics, albeit unfocused, became too much for Respin to struggle against. He let out another frightened whimper and closed his wet eyes. A moment later his legs gave away underneath him, but he was kept upright by the other Menkar.

  ?I’m… sorry,“ the tall Menkar said and backed away.

  Respin fell to the ground and took a deep breath like he had been drowning.

  ?I didn’t mean to mind-bug you," he apologised, while Respin still caught his breath. "I’m… I’m just too upset about… all of this…“

  ?I’ve been through worse,“ he replied, getting up slow after a few more deep breaths. ?I should be fine…“

  ?Was never That good at mind-buggin’ anyone“, the other Menkar continued the topic visibly embarrassing him. ?Instead of a well focused attack it’s more like a cloud of bad temper around me.“

  ?Let's… Let's bury Amaris,“ Respin said after a long pause. ?We should at least pay our last respect to her.“

  ?Right…“ the other said monotonous. ?I’ve put your other knife on the shelf over there.“

  ?Thanks. My name is Respin, by the way.“

  ?I’m Serfin but you can call me Fin, if you like.“

  Without further ado they carried Amaris’ warped body out of the cottage and started to dig a hole. Albeit the grave they prepared wasn't deep enough as it was custom they buried her to the best of their ability. They had not removed the sheet since neither of them felt comfortable to take another look at the corpse. During the burial Respin and Serfin did not exchange any words but somehow they knew that this was not the end.

  The Hierarchy [Part 2]

  The Interstellar Fleet and its Steward

  The Interstellar Fleet is the biggest and most important branch of the whole Imperial Fleet. Its main deployment concerns the protection of the Empire from invasion and other hostilities originating outside our mighty Empires influence. Another deployment concerns the expansion of our Empires influence, the governing of planetary colonies, and the acquisition of necessary resources, which they bring from all corners of the universe to Cetus to be processed.

  The Interstellar Fleet consists of more than five billion Menkar spread over five hundred million spaceships across all classes. They wield advanced weaponry and are capable to subdue any threat aimed at our might Empire and our glorious Empress.

  The Interstellar Steward’s main role is to coordinate the Interstellar Fleet and to make sure the Empires the greatest weapon remains powerful and deadly. Their base of operations and flagship of the Interstellar Fleet is the J?rmungand, a cruiser of the Leviathan Class.

  The Solar Fleet and its Steward

  The Solar Fleet main task ist the supervision of the Cetusian Solar System. As such they not only protect it from any would-be attackers but collect also the taxes and monitor the entrance and exit of other alien species. The Solar Fleet consists only of around 100 million Menkars, spread over all bases on the four rocky planets of our solar system as well as on the twenty moons spread across the gas giants. They also hold power over the space-stations at which all ships of the Imperial Fleet are built, modificated, and maintained.

  The Solar Stewards role is to coordinate the members of the Solar Fleet as well as the issue of residency and working permits of all alien guests of our solar system. As such they have the right to detain and interrogate all suspicious individuals as well as judge them according to applicable law and the severity of their transgressions.

  The Advanced Imperial Fleet under Empress Aldebaraun. The Leviathan.