A woman stood looking out on the vast landscape of buildings and roads - little lakes and bridges connecting the two banks - that snaked their way towards the horizon. She sighed, her eyes not letting go of the view as a bright shimmer of light suddenly overflowed the edge of her world. It was the sun; it had come to grant the people of her home a new day, and she happily accepted the invitation.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D7OH4kuV5
A weak jerk in the corner of her lips pulled that side of her mouth further toward her ear, but halfway it stopped and was left hanging: soon all of this would be over and her amusement for the day would turn into hard and potentially deadly work.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnG55EbxVW
”Miss? Your order has arrived,” the clerk reminded for the second time in seven minutes; he was probably just wishing for the meal not to get cold, because then his costumer wouldn’t want it, so they would have to give her a replacement for free, throwing the original away, and everyone knew that free food was bad for business in the long run; even though she had paid for it, they would have wasted a whole meal, which in business terms would mean that much income, and the business couldn’t have it that way every morning. So he simply had to remind her.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7duW8SdCoI
”Thank you, Harkim,” the woman said as she turned away from the terrace railing to face the him. He was a funny-looking creature; about twice her own stature and he looked constantly anorexic - they all did - at least around the abdominal section, though their chest and rib cage bulged like the belly of a malnourished child. Their long leg structure strongly suggested the possibility of them probably breaking if these creatures even tried to do a sprint, but her better judgment knew first-hand not to second-guess their swiftness.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0WIWxxuXj
And lastly there was the head - interesting thing. Its fur-like skin was painted a brownish red color on the back that parted from a white face like on a scuba-diving suit, and its shape reminded of a well-rounded letter T. The intense, oval eyes, once fixed on something, seemed like they would never let go and could see through a person's soul like it was a shard of glass, and the long, wrinkly, lip-less mouths never seemed to smile even if these creatures showed other signs of happiness.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa6q0gLAMT
These creatures were the praetorians, expert engineers and pure geniuses regarding scientific matters. Also they were known throughout the galaxy for having a fascination with being invisible.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoTBRshxe7
Harkim the praetorian assessed the woman for a second. Often they did this to their costumers, purely professionally and for safety and security reasons, to remember them. Just in case. He knew this female's physical apperance quite well, as she was a more regular costumer to their cafe, and as with all their costumers he appreciated her contribution to the welfare of the business.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqFfkJ9TEy
Her features, however, were some of the more delicate for her species, and even though he had assessed her times before and recalled her picture very well in his mind he did this purely from routine, simply because it was demanded by the business.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4qjnhdmR3
The female was about average in height for her kind, with dark, wavy hair which she had chosen to have down today - an unusual choice for her particular taste, he reckoned, but let it slide. She had a light tan, and her blue, waking eyes were fairly compelling in comparison to many of those of her species.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0dIyfYsls
She was a human, one of the dominant species on the premises and masters in combat and fairly well-handled in engineering compared to his own people. Most humans were spread throughout the galaxy, but a lot were stationed here as well, far more than of his own species.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcULlbdRHR
"I hope you enjoy your meal," he bid and returned behind the counter to greet other costumers.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCWXx2rfQK
The woman sat down by a lone table and faced the morning light. Finding the Multi-tasker in her pocket, a small object that slightly resembled the handle of a 20th Century Ledderman switchblade, she flipped open a fork on one side and a small knife on the other. In only a few minutes her task for the day would begin.
***
A man sat alone in the corner of what seemed like a club. Disco lights flickered in endless arrays of sparkling colors, and the noise made up of lively chatter and party music was nearly deafening, although everyone around him seemed to have the time of their life, regardless. He sat there quietly while mindfully observing the spectacle on the dance floor, which was the center of attention for the loud and lively. It was staged in the dead center of the large room, with passageways leading out in all directions - also to the bar where he was sitting, not far from the exit.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke3XwfpMAE
Eventually he got restless, rose from the chair and went over to the counter. Ordering another drink, he threw it down in a single go; slamming the glass down on the counter, he gave a loud, exhausted sigh as he dejectedly shook his head.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11kydT2MbH
"You okay there, man?" the barista, a female probably in her late twenties - but who knew with her type, right? - asked, but he shook it off. "Are you sure?" she asked again, now seeming genuinely concerned. "You know, it's not good for you to have this many rounds..."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjHWvZIXLE
I'm alright," the man waved her off. He felt his forehead and then to her surprise and worry put another handful of chips on the table. "Give me another round."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiMApxA34Q
The bartender hesitated. "Sir, I don't think you should--"740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpOJvA7WgB
"Do as you're told. It's your job, isn't it?" He glared up at her from the depth of something that she had no idea what could be, but it was dead clear in his dark, drained eyes: if there was anything she could do that would actually help him that would not include the violation on contract rules, she had no idea what it would be.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF25SiRszTG
"Another," he reminded under his slow breath. "Now."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIvPEcSTaV
The woman hesitated a second but then she served him up one last time. "That's it - you're done."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIR5KDKsY9
After he had emptied this round, still in a single merciless go, he blinked twice, eyes bulging like he was attempting to keep away drowsiness, and after putting the glass back onto the table he stared emptily at the barista, who in return looked back at him, if so a little uncomfortably.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOTtUIJnVD
She was one of the more attractive races in this place: slim, delicate and with pink skin that seemed to shimmer in all the colors of the rainbow from the shifting lights above. She had large, kind eyes with lighter pink irises matching the color of her skin well, and the small mouth was round with full, glistening lips, now twisted concernedly. Her kind's physical approach, in comparison to his own, was as different as a porcelain doll would be to its live model, but still these fascinating aliens were anything but artificial in just about every way possible; even her hair texture seemed naturally different to his own kind - to be more specific, its shape and appearance changed from person to person among her peers.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwND7yUy2kG
She was a siren, her species rumored to be the most anatomically perfect beings in the Scyllus galaxy. They were the only monosexual species that he knew of, but in return for their lack of males some had reportedly evolved hermaphrodism while others showed more intersexual signs, in addition to all the reproductive preferences and orientations that that flourished among nearly all the other races in the known universe. As a result, meaning that all creatures sharing their ways of reproduction were compatible, regardless of gender.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwgmk5Nuyx
They also had only two options of defense: either they were born Enforcers - those naturally capable of producing and controlling a force so powerful its only limits lie with the wielder - or they had to use the unruly effects of firearms. On top of that he'd heard their singing voice was supposedly as coveted as their looks, although he imagined this to be a subjective opinion...740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNdeDSuSJo
The siren tried to figure what was going on inside the male's mind since he kept staring so intensely at her, but took the time to study him as well. His species was as new to this station as the pool tables in this bar, which was an invention of theirs that she didn't get at all, though some of the other aliens here seemed to deeply enjoy the purpose of these oddities.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEMNmtpil3
If she was to choose a mate in the coming days it would have to be one of his stature. She had seen some pretty undesirable examples of his kind around the place, and frankly she sometimes found it hard to believe that they were in fact the same species. This one was just what a military male should look like: strong, tall and masculine, both in build and facial features. He might not have had the self-respect, insight or control to know when to take a break from inducing as much alcohol, but his dark, mystical eyes, although glazed now from the immensely unhealthy intake, showed a kind of sensitivity that she couldn't just ignore. He had short, black hair cut in one of the species' traditional military styles, with straight edges and a close-to flat top, which she would have to say was one that suited this male very well.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xcLxs48c5
His species, the humans, were some of the most fascinating in this place in her opinion, because frankly they were the youngest to arrive here and thus had some of the smallest files in the archive describing their existence. On a more unofficial note they were not the most docile type and their ability to gloat was rather remarkable. But when it came down to it they were one of the most efficient races on the premises in technology and weaponry - not as skilled in combat as the Omani or as technologically intelligent as the Praetorians, but their assistance in social matters as they knew them were always highly appreciated to improve life around. Also they had shown a remarkable amount of persistence in their short time being here.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzSgxUqdy9
An odd sound in the form of a grumble escaped the human's open lips and the siren found herself looking away, her nose wrinkled in disgust as the male sighed, hopefully feeling a little lighter.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F0PE3xysA
Another male of his species, this one at least as physically well-shaped as her senseless patron, closed in from across the room, and when he was right behind the first one he stood straight, saluting. He had short, black hair in roughly the same manner as her client, but his appearance and eyes looked more respectable and self-conscious.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjSzLlcIPA
"Commander, we just got a call from the fleet. They want us to go to the Samari system t... Commander, are you alright--is he alright?" the man turned to the siren, who just slowly shrugged with a dejected sigh, shaking her head. As if to spare her voice, her client, his head dangling lazily, slowly turned toward his subordinate as he gradually slipped off the bar stool; when he finally stumbled off the second man caught him mid-air. He seemed to have slight problems at first supporting the drunk's weight, so the siren hurried around the counter to assist him. When he finally balanced the weight of the limp body equally over his shoulders in a fireman's carry he nodded appreciatively at the female.740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI48zh3Y7m
"I got him, miss - thanks."740Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPmRVOK4KF
She nodded in response and watched as the emcumbered soldier vanished out the doors. A thud was barely heard as the toe of the unconscious man's boot slammed into the doorframe. A last sigh escaped her lips.
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