Morrigan and Solomon walked down the ramp of a private transport ship from the Righteous Eye, the Inquisition's flagship which Solomon commanded. The sight of the gargantuan space station that was home to the Inquisition, the Void Star, was a marvelous masterpiece. A five-pronged spire city floating in space that generated its own atmosphere allowing complete freedom to its residents. It’s high gothic architecture seemed to be normal for the Inquisition and Morrigan found profound beauty in the dark shades of colors highlighted by the bright colors of lights of innumerable dwellings, businesses both militaristic and civilian, and the working docks that took care of the 13 other starships floating as silent sentinels or in for repair.

She was in true awe to see the blend of Terrans and Eskarii who bustled through the lively space station. The purple and red swirling neighboring galaxy that could be seen in the sky, giving the city-station a beautiful glow.

They walked down one of the main thoroughfares and stopped at a map as he pointed out various sections of the Void Star with pride. Her anxiety was through the roof being in such a strange new place, though she felt as if she could trust the Lord Inquisitor. Her body and mind struggled with the torrent of emotions she felt as well as the struggle between determining whether she was safe or in danger.

She turned her head as Solomon spoke seeing a glowing pink and green neon sign that said Pandora’s Box.

“Is that a bar?” she asked interrupting the man.

He chuckled at her before responding, “Yes, we have over 20 of them spread throughout the civilian districts, though Pandora’s Box is one of the more popular ones. If you’d like, you may go and have yourself a drink while I go set up the paperwork of your induction to our ranks, if you stay there long enough, I can send your two friends, the blonde mage and the… Marmuro’k, to come find you there. I’ll even send an administrator to show you to where you’ll be staying once I’m finished,” he said with understanding. He knew she was on edge and overloaded by the drastic change in her life.

Morrigan mulled it over, she was missing Nora and Xol direly though she understood they both had to be vetted through the Inquisition’s systems. Understanding did not help the encroaching nerve fraying loneliness sinking in.

She nodded despondently and slowly started walking away only for Solomon to chuckle.

“Morrigan?” he said to garner her attention.

She stopped and turned her head.

“Please do stay out of trouble, and tell Dora I’m footing tonight’s bill. I will send for you tomorrow to the Grand Cathedral, to sign your papers and have someone give you a tour. Giving you the day to try and acclimate before starting your training the following day,” he said with a kind smile.

“And my mother?” she asked cautiously.

He snorted and nodded, “I’ll do what I can to set up a vid-call with her though it will take time to coordinate her extraction from Earth. The news is she’s still within Federation territory and the war has been ramping up, but I will do what I can to bring her to the Void Star safely.”

“Okay…” she replied in exhausted, frayed, meek hopefulness before walking away.

She entered Pandora’s Box with caution as she took in the colorful low light. The music blaring was some form of techno and the air was thick with smoke coming from the customers filling the array of tables.

She took out her cigarettes and lit one, thankful that she was allowed to smoke inside before moving through the modest crowd with utmost caution.

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The trip to the Void Star was short thanks to slipstream technology, though she had no understanding of it. She spent the entirety of the trip napping in Nora’s lap in a holding cell made to protect both the inhabitants of the Righteous Eye as well as the prisoners until everything was squared away. There was no hostility that came from the crew nor Solomon when they were brought aboard, so Morrigan respectfully approved of the request of being held.

She made her way to the open bar and took a seat on the empty barstool.

The man behind the counter turned around and Morrigan’s eyes went wide. The man before her was five foot ten of caramel skin, completely bald and clean shaven. The surprising factor was the number of gaudy jewels, makeup and obscenely colorful clothing the man wore.

What the fuck is this?! Apollyon exclaimed in disbelief.

“Ohh, you look like something the cat threw up and dragged through the seven deserts of Istal III…” he said with an effeminate flair mixed with mildly offensive disgust.

“And you look like you could put a parrot to shame,” Morrigan replied with a drag of her cigarette, remembering she still wore the soiled clothes from Castile V, explaining the odd looks she got carefully moving through the patrons.

The man laughed and stepped closer, “oh my, here I said something rude and you go and give me such a lovely compliment, I’m Dora, what’s your name my catty little minx?” he said holding out his hand.

Morrigan shrank back and stared at Dora’s hand as if it may bite her.

Dora recognized the wild look in her eyes and withdrew his hand. “I see, you don’t have to worry about me darling. I’m as gay as the day is long and twice as shiny!” Dora announced with exaggerated flourish.

Well… that definitely explains a lot… Apollyon sniggered.

Morrigan snorted as she leaned back forward, “well… it’s probably not safe still… I don’t know.”

Dora nodded in understanding and reach for a bottle on high shelf and poured Morrigan a healthy amount before sliding her the glass respectfully.

“Here, this one’s on the house. You look like you need it,” he said incredulously.

Morrigan smirked as she took the glass sniffing it. The whiskey in the glass was stronger than she had ever smelled. That did not stop her from downing the entire glass in a single harsh gulp.

“According to Solomon, it’s all on the house,” she said passively as she set the glass down.

Dora smirked as he leaned against the bar, filling the glass again. “So, you’re the potential new Inquisitor I’ve heard about?”

Morrigan’s eyes shifted throughout the room in panic, “how?! I just got here?”

Dora snorted as he watched her panic, “sweetheart, gossip travels fast on the Void Star, and I hear it all. Besides, believe it or not despite all the riffraff the Inquisition takes in it’s a rare occurrence when a new potential Inquisitor is selected.”

Morrigan sighed as the whiskey burned through her core, taking a slight edge off her nerves, “I see… were you part of this… riffraff?”

Dora laughed heartily, his girlish demeanor helping ease Morrigan’s nerves, “I was a warlord before I built this place.”

Say fucking what? How?! I demand answers!

Morrigan couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief as she agreed with Apollyon, “you were a warlord?” she asked in scrutiny.

Dora smiled and nodded enthusiastically, “oh yes, had an army of 800 men and women on Istal III as well as Dorian I. Was fun but eventually it got too…dull, if that makes any sense. Before the Inquisition picked me up, I wanted to find an out and they understood I didn’t want to fight anymore. So, they let me open this wonderful bar of mine and I’ve been here ever since.”

Morrigan was surprised by that, “and you like the Inquisition?”

Meanwhile Apollyon sputtered and made noises as if it could not process why someone would want to give up being a warlord before stretching into a defeated, disappointed sigh.

Dora swayed side to side in thought, “do I believe in them? Sure. Some of the Inquisitors are pompous asses, but the work the Inquisition does is truly for the benefit of all. Being independent, and paid to assist or investigate others keeps a healthy balance between the CoU and the Eskarii as well as sticking it to the Federation like a ten-inch rod,” he said mimicking the length of which he spoke and what it was used for.

Morrigan laughed as she took another drink, “I think I like you Dora,” she said with nervous calm. Being around the overtly gay man helped her relax drastically.

“Well, I am just happy to hear that, though I still don’t know your name dove,” he said with moderate amusement.

Morrigan nodded and slowly, cautiously held out her hand, “Morrigan,” she stated nervously.

Dora eyed her with raised, trimmed eyebrows and met her hand with equal caution. Morrigan sighed in relief when Dora gently took her hand and nothing bad happened, even her anxiety relaxed.

“Nice to meet you Morrigan, seeing as you managed to escape from whatever fresh hell you crawled out of, I think you’ll do great work here,” Dora said with a bright smile that gave Morrigan a glimmer of hope in her decision