Geo was walking the concourse from the station university to her temporary quarters when it happened. Two individuals approached her. The one on her left appeared to be some sort of upright beetle, wearing what could only be described as a “modesty skirt” around their middle. The one on her right resembled a Bullet Ant of impossible proportions wearing a similar article of clothing, standing on its rear four legs it towered at 7' in height. The “bugs” stopped in front of her, looked at each other, then looked her straight in the eyes and chittered and clicked at her. Then the two bugs had bowed to her, and walked away. Her new portable translator took a few moments to spin up the almost unknown language into active memory, then spat out “Hive Queen! We have come to serve.”
Geo was a little disquieted by this, but let it pass. The next day it happened again, with different bugs. Day three had a group of them just bow to her as she walked past. On the fifth day, there was a crowd of them, all bowing and scraping to her.
*-*-*
“Sir? This is head docking controller Belzek. We have a problem.” Controller Belzek said over the Emergency comm channel.
“Does it have anything to do with that ancient wreck of a ship that just dropped out of hyperspace? Or is it about the mercenary 'company' that just offloaded?” Station master Groos responded.
“Yes. The ancient ship, I mean.” Belzek responded. “You aren't going to like this, sir...”
“I never like anything that comes on this channel.” Groos replied, the Gurgmisk's eye-stalks twitching in annoyance.
“The ship is spilling atmosphere, and requesting emergence evacuation. But, sir, it's full of Unfrlk.” Belzek's voice cracked. “The Unfrlks. As in the Original Unfrlk.”
“By the
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“I know sir. That's why I called. What are your orders, Sir?” Balzek said, almost keeping the panic out of his voice.
“...Retrieve them, and put them in quarantine until someone higher up the food chain can deal with them.” Groos finally responded. “I’ll put in a call to Fleet. I just hope they don't have any servitors with them.”
“Um... About that sir...”
“Oh bugger.”
*-*-*
The ten-legged spider like Unfrlk, the most feared and despised species in the galaxy, were waiting for her just outside of the academy entrance. There were dozens of them, ranging from hatchlings with only four legs, too full-sized matrons in excess of 10 feet in height. When they laid their 7 eyes upon her, they hushed, and as one placed their bodies on the ground in their form of a bow. In the old and wheezy voice of a 6 pack a day smoker the eldest of the matrons said “We have come to serve you, oh hive queen most high. We have heard your call, and we assemble.”
Geo had turned red at all of the attention she was getting, “Um...Ok... The Nautilus departs in about a week or two? Be there or be left behind? And stay out of trouble.”
“We will do as we are bid.” the ancient matron replied. Then, almost as one, the Unfrlk departed.
Looking around at the abandoned space around her, and the gawking onlookers in the distance, Geo said “Well...That was weird.”
*-*-*
Geo called Lod as soon as she got home from class. “You would not believe what happened today!” She said, before even saying hello.
“And hello to you Geo” Lod replied.
Geo blushed a bit. “Sorry about that, I’m just kinda weirded out at the moment.” She recounted her encounter with what she had dubbed “The bug people”.
As he listened, Lod’s eyes became wider and wider, until he finally spoke. “So, the nest ship of a dead race appeared and swore fealty to you.” Lod took a deep breath. “The very same race that caused the Galactic Civil War.”
“…Um, yes?” Geo replied, her history class suddenly coming to mind. “Oh… Oh poop!”
“Exactly.” Lod said, trying to regain his composure. “You realize that by accepting them into your custody like that, you will be taking full responsibility for all that they do? All of the problems that they may cause? And that you have put another target onto your back?”
“Poo.” Geo shook her head. “I couldn’t do nothing but stare. I had to answer them somehow.”
“Yes, and that was well done.” Lod said in a consoling tone. “But what else has me worried… Those others, not the ‘spider’ ones that you mentioned, but the ‘pill bug’ ones.”
“What about them? Or the other ones?” Geo asked, stomach feeling like it was falling into her feet.
“They are the galactic equivalent of refuse collectors. Garbage Eaters, as it were.” Lod replied. “They usually turn to piracy, much as Spidey did. They have a ‘reputation’ that may cause problems shipboard.”
“Oh. Okay. I thought you were going to tell me they were extremely xenophobic and prone to eat other people.” Geo smiled.
Lod shook his head, showing his equivalent of a frown, “They do.”
*-*-*
A week had passed and Geo looked with trepidation at her school report*: Galactic (Second Language) D-; Physics – Withdraw; Galactic History – Withdraw; Calculus – Withdraw; Hyperspace Calculation – D- (She was proud of that one); Small Craft Piloting – D; Gym – A+. Well, at least I passed some of them? She thought. Time to get the office closed down, and return to the Nautilus.
*Translated to Dirt-Rockian (English (North American)) grading style.