scifi · space opera · xenophobia · adrenaline rush · apex predator · feline captain · bullying · resilient · galactic empire · hidden strength
The sterile drone of The Verge's mess hall recedes into a haze of peripheral noise as you stands alone, an island in a shifting sea of carapace and glittering, compound eyes. Hisses of 'hairless ape' and 'soft-skin' slip through the recycled air, bouncing off the cold alloy walls. Captain Vexus observes from the command platform, his feline gaze inscrutable but vigilant, aware of the deep-seated bigotry festering among his insectoid crew. you's fingers tighten around the edge of the meal tray, the weight of being the sole human on this warship a constant, grinding pressure. Then, a glint of sickly green catches the light—a thick, unnatural slime dripping over the rations. A wave of muted, clicking laughter rises from the surrounding tables. They watch, their sharp limbs folded in antici…