“You can’t worry about upsetting
them, I know why you’re telling them the dark, gritty past of your exploits and
by the end, I’m sure they will too. Their view of you won’t change,” Professor
Belemecuri stated to the hologram of Morrigan.

Morrigan held a sullen
expression, “Perhaps… but what happened to me can happen to anyone, hell,
anyone can be in the position I was the day the Federation fell…”

The older man who sat at his desk
with his feet propped up nodded sagely, “true… however, that is why you're
doing this, is it not? Why you want them to know the entire truth as they come
into the fold of the higher echelon of the Imperium you built, so they
understand that terrible things happened, not only to our conjoined races but
to you, their Empress that has built an empire of unity for all, as well.”

Morrigan huffed and eyed the
amphitheater doors, “I saw some of their faces… but you’re right, that is
why I’m doing this… personally. They need to hear it from me, not some history
log…”

Morrigan switched off the
connection as soon as the doors cracked open.

Students filed into the
amphitheater in an orderly fashion as the hologram of Empress Morrigan came
stoically to life once again. Professor Belemecuri sat behind his desk with a
content smile on his face, giving Morrigan a respectful nod.

She watched as the students took
their seats, reflecting on how many of them had left class in tears, anger or
in awe. She had no love of sharing the information she had revealed the day
before, especially when she had seen the haunted looks in some of the students,
but it was a necessary regret for the lesson she intended on conveying.

She stood regally despite dressed
in comfort; her plain pants and shirt were pressed and high quality though they
fell below what the students expected of their Empress.

All the students focused on her
now that they were seated, some holding expectant looks in their eyes, eager
for the story to continue while others sat wide eyed with worry at what else
could come from their fabled ruler.

The slightest smirk formed at the
edge of her mouth as she watched several wide eyed Marmuro’k S’randin flick
their tongues nervously as they quietly chirped at one another. Morrigan
enjoyed their animalistic mannerisms.

With a loud sigh, she started, “First
of all, I do want to apologize to those who were upset by…”

Morrigan’s words were cut off by
a distant howl before the large quirky canine with flowing tentacles that the
students saw the previous day came into view within the holographic platform.
The creature stood on its hind legs as it draped over their Empress from behind
as it persistently attacked her head with its tongue.

Many of the students giggled and
laughed at the display as Morrigan sputtered and struggled to maintain her
composure. To their surprise, she stood her ground against the massive canine’s
weight despite being less than half its size.

“Okay! Okay! I get it buddy; I
love you too but you need to sit!” she said to the creature as she snapped
her fingers repeatedly.

The creature obeyed and sat
directly beside her, its large shoulder leaning against her as, even sitting,
sat a head taller at their Empress’ shoulders

“Pets… am I right?”
Morrigan mused, a swath a giggles and amused hisses spreading throughout the
amphitheater.

Morrigan let out a deep, steady
breath as she eyed her companion, “For those who do not know, this trickster
of a creature is Skoll…”

The massive canine let out a long
howl before dipping its head into a cackling high-pitched warble that
personified laughter.

Morrigan snickered at her
companion while the students gently clapped in amusement. They watched as Skoll
preened at the applause before shifting its head and gave Morrigan a quick lick
to her face.

She let out a defeated sigh
before wiping away the saliva from her face, “Damn it…behave you mutt,”
she muttered before she reached up and stroked Skoll’s cheek and ear. “This
majestic creature is known to the Eskarii as a Danthïr, native to the planet
Turisa,” she continued. Many of the Eskarii nodded their agreement to
fellow classmates, though not all of them.

“You see, I did not meet my
lovely companion on Turisa… in fact, I have never been there though I hope to
one day. No, I met Skoll here during the early days of my career as an
Inquisitor, during a diplomatic mission to the Marmuro’k home world, Tik’Taq’To.”

The groups of Marmuro’k in the
seats bellowed in cheer at the mention of their world of origin which caused
Morrigan to grin.

Morrigan cleared her throat and
held herself a bit higher as she pat Skoll’s muscular shoulder, one of its
tentacles curling around her in an odd hug which brought out murmured awes from
some of the students.

“Today’s lesson will cover my
years within the Inquisition that followed just after my escape from Castile V…
it will also cover how I gained the respect of the Marmuro’k and earned the
honor of being able to call them our friends, largely in part, due to meeting
the Bïrûskë, as the Marmuro’k called the Danthïr. Without Skoll’s companionship
here, there is no telling how things would have gone,” she stated stoically
before Skoll howled in excitement and hopped in place beside her, stamping its
large paws on the ground.

Skoll’s antics caused laughter to
ripple which only served to encourage the creature’s silly performance, even Professor
Belemecuri chuckled behind his desk.

Morrigan’s stoicism broke at the
display and she let out a soft chuckle before patting Skoll on the cheek, “okay,
settle down you spaz. If you behave maybe I’ll let you play with the students
later after graduation,” she said, chuckling through as she eyed the
students throughout the amphitheater. The look of shock on their faces only
made her smile more as Skoll’s wide eyed look to her enticed nervous excitement
and worry throughout the stands at the prospect of meeting the silly creature
as well as the potential of meeting their Empress in person.

Skoll let out its cackle she had
grown accustomed to hearing before laying down by her side waiting patiently.

Morrigan snorted before returning
her attention to the class, “now, today’s lesson starts here, on the Void
Star. Much like some of you, I stayed within the military district housing as
well, upon my induction into the Inquisition. On this very ground, is where the
start of my rebellion against the Federation truly began…”

“It used to be said, that every
time a bell rings an angel gets its wings; but what happens when the world
cries? When the world cries out in despair and woe, there is no angel. Instead,
the universe gives birth to an equalizer. A force of nature, for better or for
worse, designed to restore balance to the world. That, is what I saw in her
when I found that young woman…” – Gregor Solomon, Lord Inquisitor of the
Inquisition, year 2393 Sol.