Untitled
Chapter 31

Mother Confessor:

The ache in my head reminded me that the night before was doused in over indulgence. My face hurt, as I lay on the soft mattress. I crashed hard upon it. Testing my limbs to see if they would cooperate despite my reluctance to get up. Pressing my hands into the softness, pushing myself onto my feet dangling off the end of the bed. Taking a few moments to gather my bearings in the process, fighting the feeling like a slowly undulating decoration of water and oil.

I set out for the mess hall for a quick breakfast. Then off to see Red Wolf. To see if she can help me with my agreement with the Ober-Commander. She may replace a suitable teacher for me to learn the ways of a soldier.

Graxis:

Peeling my drool covered cheek off the table; my eyes open to an empty pot of coffee inches from my nose. The linguistics expert still snoring, his face buried in his arms. Slamming my hand on the smooth metal surface.

“Get up”, I bark at the sleeping specialist. I watch as he jumps in surprise from his slumber.

“Apologies, Captain”, he says to me, “have the statements been deciphered?”

“It would appear so, Kinvall”, I return, watching him rub the sleep from his eyes, “Though some of it seems a bit broken in its translation.” Peering down at the printouts on the console screen.

The very outcry for reunion with mates and offspring, mixed with hopelessness over and over again. It is painful to read the disheartening messages, as they all seem to tell very similar tales.

Being whipped, and worked in the harsh environment on Pluto. Many of them were worked to death in the process of building the compound. They struggled to keep each other going despite language barriers. Knowing that their freedom, homes, and loved ones were taken from them. They persisted in staving off suicide, for they were all they had left in the galaxy. Uncertain if their kin were alive anymore or not. So much despair poured from the many pages on the display.

Luckily I was sitting, because if I had been standing I surely would have fallen to my knees. A mixed wash of sadness and anger came over me. My whole body felt heavy, as if I were filled with lead. A lump in my throat, I swallow hard trying to maintain my composure. Unable to imagine the nightmare these survivors had endured. I could feel a hatred building inside my very soul at the very cruelty a species can inflict on such a peaceful populace. This is not the end, my gut tells me, but just the beginning.