After my return to the bridge, my father lectures me about how the Vermin run most aspects of the ship for us and how vital their services are for us, because we simply do not have the numbers any more to run the entire ship all by ourself.
He also warns me, that they cannot be trusted and need to be observed closely, reminding me of their history of violence and conflict.

"Listen...I would like you to run an errand for me," he suddenly says.
"An...errand, father? Whatever could it be?"

My father sighs again, turns around and fetches a small envelope.
"I want you to take this to the overseer of block X and fetch me his reply."
"I...beg your pardon, father, but why aren't you using the communication systems of the ship? Wouldn't that be far more efficient than...this?"
"It would, however this exchange is highly confidential. I do not want anyone but those it concerns to know about it. The system is simply...not quite as safe as I would require it to be for this kind of communication. Now, please be on your way."
"But...father, I beg your pardon, but I have my own post to attend to. I need to..."
"I admire your dedication, however I have already told Thaxlamsho'm that you will be delayed because I needed to talk with you. Now go. That is an order."

I look up at my father in disbelief however after a few seconds I salute, "Yes, Jor. I shall be on my way at once."

I turn around, the envelope firmly grasped in my hand, and head over to the transportation terminal.
While the transport system shoots me towards the 'X' section of the ship, I look at the envelope. It is not sealed or anything and I cannot help but wonder what might be inside that's important enough to not go through the communication channel, but not important enough to seal it.

Then it strikes me, that my father may have wanted me to take a look at it.
Besides, nobody would be any the wiser, considering that there is no seal to break.
But should I really take a look?
Wouldn't that mean betraying my father's trust?
But if he really didn't want me to look at it, he would have sealed it, wouldn't he?
He could have sent anyone, but he did send me.
But he sent me, because he trusts me, didn't he?

While my head goes in circles, I consider just asking my father over the communication line, but then I shake my head.
That would be foolish, considering how this entire exchange is supposed to be secret.

I remember playing a game like this when I was a child though.
There would be a treasure of some sort hidden somewhere on the ship and various hints where to find the next hint and ultimately the treasure itself scattered all across the ship.
A smile creeps over my face at the thought of it.
Those were better days, indeed.

But I'm all grown up now. I have no more time to play silly games like that any more.

I decide that I will not betray father's trust and keep the envelope closed.

A few minutes later, the capsule stops at the terminal to block 'X', however when I get out, I immediately notice something being strange.

Usually the local comm channels are buzzing with the chatter of the guards, but as my implant tries to connect to the local block network, it notifies me, that it cannot get a signal.
To make things worse, the only source of light is from the transport capsule that brought me here.

We've had system failures like this before, but usually protocol requires sending someone to notify a technician to take care of the problem and to report it to the bridge, however father did not mention any of this.

I pull out my personal stun gun, take a deep breath and press myself against the wall, while I try to remember what exactly it is they are doing here.

I close my eyes and try to recount the different sections.
They are labeled after the Terran alphabet, from A-Z.
Each block was built to house a total of 500 vermin, however because they keep reproducing like the animals they are, most of the blocks are already far beyond their capacity...but fortunately that is not our problem, but theirs.
'A' is the block, which houses the higher tier vermin. Well educated in culture and how to use our technologies to better serve us. But I would rather throw myself out of an airlock before sharing a room with one of those vermin, even for a pet.
'D' is the gardens, where most of our food is produced.
'M' is the medical section, where injured vermin are taken care of. It also doubles as a research section, where their physiology gets examined to optimize their work performance.

But what did they do in the 'X' block...it was something important, I'm sure...let's see, the block tasks relate to where they are, so where exactly on the...the engines! They are in charge of maintaining the engines!

I take another deep breath and think carefully.
The lights are out, which is standard procedure for pacifying the vermin.
They cannot see well in the dark, whereas we can use the infrared mode of the cameras to navigate. But without access to the local ship network, we are just as blind as they are...and the guards know that.

'Something is definitely wrong...I cannot risk going any further.'
I turn around and want to interface with the manual override of the transport system to call the capsule back, when I suddenly feel something cold and hard against my throat.

I shriek and drop the gun in my hand, immediately cursing myself for being so foolish, as a deep and snarly voice which could only belong to one of them says, "Now look at the tasty little morsel who lost her way."

I try to suppress the shaking as I feel the cold object slowly move over my skin, down towards my collarbone.
"W-who are you? W-what happened to the guards?" I ask, trying my hardest to sound brave, but my voice keeps cracking.

"Oh, your little friends? Don't worry...you will join them soon enough. But before that...I think I'll have a little fun with you. I'm sure you'll..."
"Sieg, stop that nonsense," another voice suddenly says from behind me.
"Just lock her up with the others. It's just a matter of time before they realize that the guards aren't responding."
"But...just look at her! Young! Firm! I bet she's still a virgin! C'mon, don't be..."
'How can they see me...?' I think, when I peer back and see faintly glowing eyes in the dark.
"Cut it out, Sieg! They never leave their posts unless they need to. Meaning that if someone sent her, she will soon be missed. Meaning we don't have time to waste discussing this crap!"

'Sieg' lets go of me and starts arguing with the other male, "Now you listen, Mike! She's my catch and I will not..."

I quickly react and duck away, feeling around the ground for the gun I dropped.

'Mike' apparently notices and shouts, "Watch out, Sieg!"
Sieg turns around again, probably sees me fumbling, but thank Garkla I catch the handle of the gun just before he manages to grab me again.

He yanks at my hair, making me howl out in pain and a stinging sensation in my abdomen tells me that he's through with playing.

However I still don't let go of the stun gun.
Instead I yank it up, point it straight into the face of 'Sieg' and pull the trigger.

In a blinding flash of light, Sieg falls limp and drops to the ground with an audible 'Thud', whereas the other eyes seem momentarily disoriented.
Suits me, really.
Just for the briefest of moments I believe to have seen the shape of the other man, take aim at where I remember him standing and unleash another barrage, dropping him as well.

After that, everything is silent again.
The glowing eyes are still there, but they lay still and have lost much of their effect.

But I still have no time to waste.
Where there is one, many more are to come and it is just a matter of time before they go to check up on their friends.
I quickly interface with the transport system and issue a transport command, thanking the stars, that my ancestors put the transport system on a separate computer system and power grid.

As the transport capsule pulls up, I hear many steps approaching.
Vermin steps, I'm sure.
But it is too late.

I quickly jump into the capsule, when I see like ten of those ghastly eyes approaching, but by the time they arrive at the tracks, I'm already gone.

I use the communication channel of the transport system to alert the bridge of the emergency and within a few seconds, the alert gets raised on the entire bridge.

Within the hour, every Asmodean of the security will be there and take down these fools, no matter how much they may resist.

May Garkla show mercy on their pitiful souls.

I look down at my punctured abdomen and once again thank Garkla's grace that the brute missed any vital organs with his makeshift knife.

I will make sure to see him off as he gets disposed off through the airlock.
For even the Garden grounds are too good for someone as rotten as him.