Cosmic Diligence.

I sighed and glanced towards my gun then back at the chaotic display.

The girl’s body fell lifeless on top of her father’s as they mixed their kin's blood on the hay-filled floor.

My body entered the black portal, closing my eyes to brace for transport.

It’s not that I wanted to kill them… But you know how it is.

Girl grows up with a vengeance towards the federation… And with her fucked mentality and her psyche out of wack she could’ve been a huge problem.

As an Officer for the Ya’valt Galactic Federation, it’s my job to make sure that people like them don’t exist.

People that cause problems.

You know, it’s quite easy to deal with problematic individuals. You just… Hold a gun to their head. ‘I won’t do it ever again’ they’ll say; ‘If you give me one more chance, I’ll prove myself’ they’ll exclaim.

But at the end of the day, these are the type of people you have to worry about the most because they have nothing to lose if they act THAT pathetic.

My eyes open as I reach the end of my transport. The grassy terrain turns into a busy-galactic station with different individuals and robots moving busily through the terminal. Small ships carrying cargo fly above me as metal robots with blue-lit eyes travel alongside men and women with clipboards in their hands.

I dip my cap onto my head and start walking past the grown-ups, inadvertently eavesdropping on their chats and gossip.

“Did you hear about the Sector 70 transfer? I heard that the Ukrsa massacred half a platoon in mere seconds!” A man informs with his arms crossed.

Ah yes… The S70 transfer… Whoever thought of that idea was a total dumbass.

I mean honestly, Sector 70 is in the middle of Ukrsa territory, why would you even consider something so dangerous?

But that’s how it is working as their meat shields… I bet the Ya’Valt had no casualties.

“Apparently, while the Ukrsa were eating them alive, the Ya’Valt opened fire on both us and the monsters… Jerem was in that platoon too.” A girl responded with a dreary expression.

I clench my fist as I continue forward to a white metal reception desk where a white-haired lady with matching colorless skin is stationed offering a genuine smile.

“Hey there Miya! How was your exploration?”

I nodded towards her as I struggled to place a white card on top of the desk on my tipped toes.

My height leads to some disadvantages… But Nanako doesn’t seem to really mind it.

A group of men wearing my same uniform but with several shining medallions across their tops laugh with huge smiles and reddened cheeks. Their skin was as ashen as Nanako’s along with their red eyes and golden flakes surrounding their pupils.

My hand almost reached the top of the counter, but a sudden shove to my forehead made me falter and lose my balance causing me to collapse onto the ground.

I looked up to the broadest man in the group, he gives me a sneer before turning back to the receptionist. “Hey Nana, let’s go drinking while I’m on break darlin’!”

The team of men behind him waved their satchels of booze toward her with wide grins.

Nanako looks at me still on the ground then at them with a hand placed on her cheek.

“Sorry dears, I’ve got overtime today… Maybe next time?”

I get up on my knees, my eyes glaring at the man beneath my cap as he continues to try to persuade her into getting a beverage.

“… Yubrash no’ kenni!”

A sudden white light flashes across my eyes as a blunt force makes my back hit the floor. I look to see one of the women in the group press her boot into my chest as my lungs lose all the air they had previously stored.

Several people talking amongst themselves turn their heads toward me and the woman, with a sudden circle forming around the reception desk.

The woman pinning me down then takes her foot from my chest and grabs a fistful of my hair dragging me from the floor and making my body linger in the air. My skull on fire from the stint of my locks being tugged, I cling onto her arm as she chuckles from my demise.

“I saw that dirty look you were giving the boss. Do you know who that is? That is your Major, and honestly, any Ya’valt here outranks you as far as I’m concerned you, inferior half-breed!”

My eyes reflectively close as I see her hand coming at me from the side, a sting on my left cheek along with my nose makes me hick as blood pools down my nostrils.

The crowd, seemingly pleased with her performance gives me eyes of disgust along with the occasional smile and giggles. My eyes open, turning to look at the group of conversing persons from before, making contact with the woman reminiscing about her fallen comrade.

Our eyes meet, however she clenches her teeth and crosses her arms, turning her eyes toward the ground.

I guess… I would do the same thing if I were in her shoes…

The woman holding me hostage then lets me fall to the ground with a thump. With a sniff I look toward the ground, my hands balling into fists as I take a deep breath.

“… I’m… Sorry… I won’t… Do it… Again…”

She chuckles and squats in front of me, grabbing me by the hair and lifting my head up so that our eyes meet.

“Demen clovenu’… Apologize in my native tongue when you address me, whored brat.”

My eyes start to water, but I fight back my tears by pushing my nails deep into my hand.

“Ya… Yato… I’usa…” I stutter with unease.

The woman throws my head down and releases my hair with a laugh. “You’re Ya’valto tongue is absolute shit! It makes it even more obvious you’re just a fuckin’ half-breed!”

The group behind her joined in her laughter, followed by the cackles of the surrounding crowd. I pinch into my palms harder as I feel a tear start to form in the side of my eyes.

I feel a tap on my shoulder to my side, with Nanako now from behind her desk handing me my white card and blue cap with a considerate smile.

My eyes soften as I stand up from the floor and shove my cap on my head and stride away. My hands balled into fists at my sides as I bite my tongue, a metallic taste filling my mouth.

If only I was a bit bigger… And stronger… And a higher rank… Then I could’ve shown her off in front of everyone.

My mouth gives off a sigh as my pace slows.

But even with all that stuff, you can’t change the fact that I’m—

—Thump

My lowered head bumps into an unseen object, causing me to stumble back while rubbing my forehead.

I then look down at the black shoes and the white uniform pants it was stuffed in, already following the routine in place for whenever I made a mistake against one of… Them.

“I’m sorry for my callowness… As a mere insect amongst you, I will strive to better myself—“

“… You talk a lot, shut up.” A raspy male voice interrupts my apology.

I look to see an older man, also Yal’vatian but this sporting a white coat along with his military uniform. His crimson eyes and long eyelashes were fairly visible beneath the transparent lenses sitting on his face.

My head lowers, and without me noticing, I started to cry with my tears creating specks of water on my black boots.

“You let them see you like this and that’ll only make them want to target you more. Let’s go to my office.” The doctoral soldier proposes.

I nod my head and walk behind him with my head still lowered to the ground.

Someday… I’ll kill them all.

. . .

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