The Second Book of the Alienbutt Saga. The Rise of Mr Fluffy. Part 56.

Geurick Tackful landed his ship in the deserted hanger bay. This was the main chapter house for his Order, and the lack of activity was worrying. As he walked down a ramp a couple of novices ran over to greet him.
“What is happening?” he asked when they reached him. “Where is everyone?”
“The Order is on full alert, sir, everyone is out in the field. The Grand Master asks if you would see him in his quarters. We didn't know if you had survived until you contacted us to say you would be arriving,” said one of the novices. He was wearing a dark grey uniform rather than the black of those fully trained. To leave only partly trained assassins to protect the main chapter house of their Order showed that things had indeed gone wrong.
“Very well. There is a crate in my ship’s hold. Have it transferred to my quarters.” With that he walked off to meet with the Grand Master.

As Geurick marched through the silent chapter house, he was shocked by the fact that almost no staff remained, only a handful of novices and domestic robots. Quickly he reached the Grand Master’s office and knocked; after a moment he was bid to enter. The Grand Master had once been a powerful man but age had robbed him of the necessary skills to work in the field. He now sat behind his desk looking even older than Geurick remembered.
“Geurick, we didn't know what had happened to you, just that you had been given a contract by a member of the high council. I am glad you're still alive,” said the Grand Master in greeting, a look of relief on his face.
The man had been close to a father figure to the students he had spent the last fifteen years training since becoming leader of the Order.
“Grand Master, what has happened? I've heard rumours, but I've been out of touch with all while on my hunt.”
The Grand Master indicated a chair for Geurick to sit. “The High Council are all dead, as are many of our senior agents. Only Jee is still alive, and he has ordered all operatives into the field to act as protection for him and to hunt for Blackarachnia. He will be pleased that you can join the hunt.”
Geurick sagged in the chair. Mr Fluffy had told the truth about the High Council.
The Grand Master continued. “The Order is all but crippled. We must finish the war, so to that end Jee is massing the entire Federation Navy to strike in the next month. He has been bolstered by new robotic forces and is ready to strike. The prophecy is making no sense; it speaks of the nexus and the destruction of the Ick, but also of a great disaster. We are working blind and fighting for our lives. It has given us nothing of use since warning of the Heeter uprising.” The Grand Master paused, the strain of events evident on his face. “Your return gives me hope that we will survive. Will you be leaving to join up with your brothers? I know it would lift their hearts too to stand with the best of our order in the coming days.”
Geurick was tempted to stand and fall with the last of his people but he shook his head. “I have a last task to complete before I can join up them, I only stopped by here as I need some equipment from my quarters.”
“Then I have delayed you long enough, Geurick. You are the finest of our chapter and I hope you live long enough to replace me when our Order rises again to rule the universe.”
Geurick nodded and stood up. “Thank you Grand Master, your words mean a great deal.” He paused for a second ready to give warning but felt an itching inside his brain, building as quickly as the thought had come to him. Turning quickly he left. He would finish Mr Fluffy's orders and then spend the rest of his life hunting down Blackarachnia and everyone the bounty hunter had ever met, and that included Mr Fluffy.

To be continued.
All images are mine.