Respin
Respin Gloomer, an ordinary soldier without anything noteworthy to his name, doesn't mind being a misfit. All his life he hasn't managed to get more than the bare minimum. Something he's okay with since he would never dare to ask for more. He knows his place and is as content as he allows himself to be.
Even as he sits in the look-out and pushes the large red button to activate the high-energy lasers. It’s menial work, usually done by the board-computer. But just like many other things, the Starblazer lacks the necessary modules for its ancient board-computer to manage such a task. It also doesn't help that onboard high-energy lasers are relatively ancient ones running on a different OS altogether.
Blue, red and green lights reflect on Respin's large green eyes and cast thick shadows on his thin gray face. The screens, clogging the room with their frames and additional cables and modules, are dim in comparison and show the data collected by the sensors. Once in a while Respin's large round ears twitch as the hum of the machinery reaches a specific peak in its modulation before droning out again. Most Menkar can't stand this sound, but Respin has grown accustomed to it. He doesn't even hear it most of the time.
Since the work isn't the most engaging, he usually takes a book or a music-player along to elevate the boredom. But this time he has forgotten both. Well, forgotten isn't the right word. He had no time to fetch either since this session wasn't scheduled for him. It was more or less pushed onto him mere minutes before it started. Still, the first hour of this shift is drawing to a close. The first of four.
Since he has nothing else to do, but to watch the blinking screens, aim the lasers and push a button, Respin's mind wanders. At first his thoughts are about ordinary things but soon he can't help but speculate about the many reasons the Empress must have to send the Starblazer, among all other vessels of the Fleet, out on such a mission. There ought to be more suitable units to fetch something as important as a weapon of mass destruction. But things like cost saving and convenience come to Respin’s mind. Every idiot can be sent out to get something. But then again sending out an idiot might be worse than using the additional money to send an elite.
"Perhaps she wants to get rid of us…", he muses aloud and bits his lips.
Speaking or even thinking critical about the Empress isn't advisable. While every Menkar has some sort of psychic or telepathic ability — in most cases even more than one — only a few can read minds and those who can usually are the worst in terms of character. Respin has never run into any of those on the ship, but this doesn't mean anything. Perhaps he has met one already without knowing.
Maybe there's one already waiting to label him a traitor.
They might stand in front the sliding doors leading to the look-out. Right now. This very moment.
Ready to get in.
To knock him out and drag him away.
Ready to kill him.
Any second now…
The high-pitched alarm of imminent collision startles Respin back into reality. He looks up at the screen, hammers some fast calculations into the terminal and pushes the large red button in front of it. A second later the asteroid turns into dust, curtesy of a blue high-energy laser. After checking the various monitors around him, he leans back again and yawns.
The look-out is the most hated shift among the crew. Not only because of the boredom it inflicts but also because of the isolation. While Menkar are less sociable than other sentient species, at least in an amicable way, they don't like to be alone for extended periods. Yet Respin prefers the loneliness. A peculiar preference born out of necessity and not of his free will. Since he lacks one of the most important organs a Menkar has:
Horns
Horns are the most vital organ of a Menkar. They work as amplifiers for their psychic abilities. The bigger the horns on their heads, the better they can concentrate their psychic talents on a single or even multiple targets. The lack of horns on the other side creates a weakness usually mocked by others. Since Respin left the Hatching Waters, there have always been Menkar ridiculing him, calling him names or ignoring him. From all his tormentors the later are those he still prefers. After all, those who ignore do no harm.
Shaking his head Respin tries to think of something else, but again his mind moves to the mission. If the why worries him, then the where terrifies him.
Their destination — a giant asteroid in the outer reaches of space — is close to what Cetusian scientists commonly refer to as the Boundary of the Void.
The Boundary of the Void is said to be close to the bother of the universe itself. As such it's noted that time and space do not work the way they should in its proximity. There had been attempts to send ships beyond the Boundary but not a single one let alone a message did return. Well, none except a single ship but information about it is scarce and a fast way to get executed.
"Creepy…", Respin murmurs while feeling a shudder run down his spine to the tip of his tail, causing it to twitch.
And yet again Respin finds himself wondering about the why. Why send an old half-decommissioned ship with a crew made of misfits? Why is this strange weapon so close to the Boundary? Why is it so important to be secured yet not significant enough to send out a more suitable unit?
All those questions make Respin wonder why the Empress and her predecessors needed to conquer the whole universe in the first place. Sure it helps to deal with the overpopulation of their home planet, but building space stations does the trick much better. Then again, cost saving. Conquering other planets not only eases the overpopulation but puts more resources into the hands of the Empress.
Or she could stop laying that many eggs, he thinks frowning and chides himself a heartbeat later.
Before Respin can delve again into his suspicions and ideas, someone knocks at the door behind him.
Fear clogs his mind in an explosion. Could it be that a mindreader…
Before he can panic the silvery mirror-like halves of the door slide open, and a tall Menkar with broken-off horns enters the lookout. He slaps Respin's shoulder and pushes himself a second later on his narrow seat, forcing Respin to grab the backrest to avoid falling off.
He hasn't even time to protest.
"Hey there, Res!" the newcomer greets him.
"Hey, Serfin," he responds halfhearted.
For a few moments, Serfin looks at the screens as if the various pointers and numbers on them have hypnotized him.
"What's the meaning of your visit?" Respin asks annoyed. "You haven't run into trouble again, have you? Or have you at last decided to actually do the job you're supposed to do?"
Serfin looks half hurt, half proud, "On the contrary! I've secured us a special mission."
"You did what?" Respins replies louder than he intended.
"Heard me right, Bondmate," he replies and wraps his arm around Respin's bony shoulders. "You and I are going on a special mission. Promotion guaranteed. Watcha say?"
"Great?"
"Great? What kind of answer's that?"
"You haven't told me what it's about," Respin replies meekly, "What else am I supposed to say in such a case?"
"You're right, Res. Sorry. It's about retrieving this super important mega-weapon."
"What?!"
"I thought that with your special brand of psychics it's going to be a joyride."
"Fin?"
"I mean you can find all kinds of stuff, so…"
"Serfin!"
"Yes?"
"Do I look like I'm in any way, shape or form suited to be on a field mission?" Respin asks, his voice strained, while he pulls his ears back.
"Sure, you're not muscular, but you're a smart bean," Serfin replies and ruffles Respin's shoulder-length black hair. "I'll take care of the brawny stuff and you of the brainy stuff."
"Can I object?"
"Nope."
"Damn… Why has it to be like this?"
"You're alright?"
"The whole story about the mission worries me! And the fact that we, the most useless of the Imperial Fleet, are sent out to get this… thing. A weapon, which might destroy us without anyone ever knowing what happened. I never thought to end up on a real mission. I just went into the Fleet because I wanted to go with you. Besides, I'm a hornless freak. Whatever I'll accomplish will be ridiculed on the spot in the worst or ascribed to you in the best case."
"I respect you," Serfin replies with a frown and warps his arm righter around Respin. "And we could have glued my horns on your head after all. That's why I broke 'em off in the first place."
"I'm still honored by your gesture, but it doesn't change the minds of the rest of the Empire,“ he replies downtrodden. „To every other Menkar I'm a joke. Just an amusing oddity without the chance to become anything more than a jest or a punching bag to others. I'm a freak."
"You're no freak," he replies. "I like you the way you are. Fuck all those idiots who think the size of their horns bears any meaning to how powerful they are."
"You know I can only use my psychics if I'm calm and relaxed."
"That's why I'm going with you. I'll protect you, so you don't have to be afraid of anythin'. And that's why we both will make it and get the weapon. I'm confident in you; so you should be confident in yourself."
"You don't understand what I just told you, do you?"
"I do understand, Respin," he replies with a smug smile. "See it as some sort of exercise for your mind muscles. Even the best psychics need exercise."
Both fall into a prolonged silence, one that is much too tense and strained for Respin's taste. But before it can drag on for much longer Serfin lets out a soft hum. Respin looks up at his Bondmate. More than ever his eyes wander to the broken off stumps of Serfin’s horns. It doesn't help either that he has fitted them with shiny Caps made of silver and cut his hair short on one side to show at least one off without sacrificing all of his dark purplish hair.
Serfin grimaces and his thin ears twitch — the sound of the machinery has peaked again.
"You know…" he suddenly says. "You're my best Bondmate. Just don't forget it, will ya? Because I'll protect you against even the most dangerous things — no matter if it's a Being of the Void or another Menkar."
Respin is baffled by his friend's proclamation and can't help but smile. With a slight slap on Respin's shoulder, Serfin returns the seat to his Bondmate and waves him goodbye. Respin returns the gesture.
But the moment the door slides close behind Serfin the dark thoughts from before reenter Respin's mind. This time fueled by even more anxiety his livid imagination goes into overdrive. It mixes and mingles everything into pure nightmares.
Only the sound of the impact alarm makes Respin regain his composure. He inputs the degree and distance shown to him by the computer and pushes the button.
"By the Void, why can't everything in life be as easy as pushing a button," he muses and slumps back into the uncomfortable seat, while the asteroid gets pulverized.
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