After my adrenaline finally was at bearable levels again, I looked myself up and down.

I was covered in more pink then… I really couldn't think of a proper comparison right now, there was a lot of pink, considering my face had yet to melt of I suspected that whatever body exploding effects that stuff had on them didn't have the same one on me.

Understandable since we had a vastly different biology, frankly I didn't want to think of any bacterial consequences for now, if they where I couldn't do much anyway.

At first I tried to distract myself with checking on the samples I collected the previous day.

The results so far where good, nothing that would outright murder me in a few days as far as the machines could tell at least, most other results where chemistry centered and I simply couldn't get anything useful out of them.

I threw some of that paint into analyzers as well and collected most of it before hermetically sealing my clothes away, let the scientists deal with stuff like that. I now needed a long shower.

After I was done I started up my computer, the servers had saved hundreds of petabytes of information, shouldn't be to hard to find things about cephalopods.

After about five more hours of research I had a few solid theories and explanations. One it was very possible for them to evolve at such a rapid pace thanks to something called RNA Editing that, something that apparently was very unstable henc why most other species got rid of it, but in return allowed very rapid and drastic evolution.

Next thing I found out is how extrem the difference between octopodes, apparently that was the correct plural, in their gender variety was,my suspicion that the upright walking ones where females was strenged as they seemed to generally be taller and stronger.

This could also explain what that confrontation was all about, maybe some form of civil war between males and females? Possible, however for all I know this could be way more complicated and may or may not involve me.

Also another interesting fact was that apparently they have their brain scattered throughout their whole body, meaning that the guy I fried very likely has brain damage now, something I didn't feel good about at all and tried to not think about too much.

I tried to think of something else to do however nothing came to mind and the confrontation played out in my head again. If those guys had real weapons I would be dead right now, heck, those are real weapons, only for them and luckily not for me.

I went to the lobby again and started to prepare myself, I would probably get a visit soon.

I took a set of spare gear and stun guns with chargers, I doubt I could get myself to use them again considering I have no idea of the effects but I also doubted that I could leave without one now.

With a timing that couldn't be more perfect there was knocking at the door, I only had basic stuff on me and didn't put on a mask or sweater but I did hefter the stun gun and a few replacement batteries on my belt. I also locked the spares away.

Well, time to see what was knocking.

"So, do you have a plan?" the Queen asked Hina who by now has calmed down a bit.

"I, think I do your highness." Hina said nervously.

"You think?"

"The biggest problem here is communication, I can't just go and properly explain the situation, it probably is confused at best and scared at worst." Hina explained.

"And something that is scared might lash out, wonderful." The queen added.

"Correct, however I do have a idea that might work in calming it down, apparently Humans used to give eachother plants as gifts, I think with that gesture I might be able to get something going or at least calm it down enough to not attack outright." Hina explained showing of pictures of humans giving each other various colorful flowers.

"And let me guess, you want to do that alone and unarmed." the queen finished the thought.

Hina only nooded meekly.

"The camp that you set up will probably still in chaos at the sudden disappearance. You will not go alone." The queen said with finality,"You will be accompanied by a force of ten and if they deem the creature as a danger and find that you are no longer able to communicate with it peacefully they will act, same goes if it attacks you in any way." Hina wanted to argue but was promptly interrupted."This is not debatable, they will keep distance however only one super jump distance is tolerated." she sighed,"Hina you might not even acknowledge it but we need you alive and well, with we I mean all Octerians your contributions are grand, a great amount of all our power came from your expeditions, as limited as they where, I plan to lift you limitations and I can't do that if you no longer are alive to use your freedom... Just don't do anything stupid."

"I… Yes my Queen." Hina said, unable to say more.

She made her preparations, and met with the guards assigned to her.

They reached the camp without trouble but inside the camp things got a bit complicated when her guards declared this a military operation and that they now had full authority, questions about on whose orders and who authorized things were generally answered with 'do what we say or jump into the water'.

Hina tried to play medicator between the team and the guards, while she usually didn't interact with them much they still have shown her nothing but respect and in Hinas eyes didn't deserve such harsh treatment.

That said, she needed to prepare, the sooner she establishes peace the better as not acting at all might be seen as a sign of guilt, or acting to quickly could as well.

Who was she kidding, she had no idea if this worked, for all she knew this would just end up insulting it.

That said she always was a Octarian of actions and so far mosts things had worked.

After she had plants similar to those on the pictures she went to the dig site and subsequently the building. The guards right behind her. When she tried to argue with them to not be visible they argued that the more she complained the closer they would stand to her.

Rude, but it filled her with some pride that the queen valued her this much.

With all the confidence she could muster she knocked, the guards a good distance away, weapons drawn. Would those even do anything? She asked herself this way too late, as the door opened revealing the Human, it didn't have as much clothes on as last time, however it was very clear that it was on the edge as it was partly hidden by the door and its weapon visibly displayed on its belt, the weapon that somehow could ignore the respawn beacons.

They had one with them on most expeditions, knowing that it could be completely useless didn't help her nerves.

She stretched her hand with the plants towards the Human and said,"Eh, sorry for the shot in the face?" she was pretty sure that one of the guards slipped behind her.

They stared at each other for a few moments, the human just blinking at her sheepishly with its posure completely lush.

Then it fell flat on its back and started laughing so badly that Hina felt as if the ground shock, she had no idea why but she honestly prefered that over all the other possible scenarios she could think of.

After it finally claimed itself down enough to stand it grabbed the plants and went back inside.

However the door it left open.

Hina stood before the open door unsure what to do, she could see a few things from outside but only in a narrow angle, she dared to take a few steps forward.

The inside didn't look as alien as she imagined, it was well lit, and somewhat cozy, with carpets, furniture, TV and everything.

The Human was not in sight until another door opened and it stepped out walking to the couch and switching on the TV before beconinging them.

They carefully walked over to him completely on the edge.

Suddenly music started to fill the room and her escorts nearly shot the radio it came from.

The human said something pointed at them and then and then at the couch where he placed 3… remotes?

The TV was switched on and images she didn't understand flashed by.

After a while the screen was split into four and each one of them had a car on it, it was a racing game.

The human want to play a racing game with them…0

Hina was… unsure what to think of that.

Again the human pointed at them and then at the gaming pads.

In the end her and two guards played while switching out with the others, it was more of a fight between the octolings present as the Human beat them down and even started rounding them.

The music also got switched from time to time, Hina really wanted to know what the Lyrics ment but right now she really was happy that the human seemed to cooperate with them.

I needed that, some music, a game, and a few people to chill with, the last few days I was on the edge all the time. I didn't even notice it but being basically stranded alone can do hell to one's mind, the supposed gunfight didn't help. But when Octogirl showed up with flowers in front of my door is simply cracked.

It was just too much and I broke down into laughter, I decided to just not care for the rest of the day. The company was nice, they talked a bit among each other. Especially the, what I assumed to be guards.

Although the music was chilly and I kept it quiet at the start that was just not my style so halfway through the race I just stopped turned to the radio and switched to something harder and louder.

My guests seemed to pump it as far as I could see. They seemed to really get into it, some even dancing, also they started to drive really aggressively… aaaaand they just knocked my car of the road while I wasn't there.

Oh its so on.

Far away in the hall of collective, the name give to the council meeting place they have assembled.

As always the 'Queen' was not invited, they always found ways to politely explain why, in truth they all couldn't stand her.

Her quick and violent takeover was unexpected and by all accounts irrational. Retvi, now Queen Retvi, used to be a general, one of the few octolings that in the eyes of the previous King could bury her aggression far enough to not only do sound tactical decisions but make good ones at that.

Then she just one day stormed the palace and declared herself queen and forced the crowning, worse even was that she somehow managed to get the support of most of the military giving her enough power that fighting her out of office was no longer a option.

That said they did the best they could to undermine her power, hoping that when Octavio came back he would take back the crown.

However this time she had something coming for them as she literally smashed the door open.

"Greetings dear councill, how nice of you to respect my personal time and not invite me, again." normal the council would stand up with the entering of the monarch, no one did, not that the queen cared as she just seated herself in on the monarchs place.

"I am sure you are all wondering why someone so important as I would lower herself to your presence." angry grumbling followed at the obvious jab at their usual excuses.

"But as I have no doubt all of you know there has been a attack not to long ago." Quiet, only scare reactions."And best of all, some of the attackers, all of them trained soldiers of the octerian empire, have claimed that the attack happened on the authority of the council."

"A desperate accusation, what does that have to do with anything?" one in the back row said.

"As baseless as it is, the problem is that those soldiers do not fit the profile of traitors at all, strange, normally one can tell if someone is about to go rough that person usually get set on a watch list, we have psychologists trained for things like that after all." the queen counterd.

"What are you saying, that you want to declare the whole council guilty?" at that most members tensed up ready to signal their private security and backup plans.

"Oh, no I am here to simply make you aware that there might be a traitor in this room, and as such I would like to declare a new law. From this day on all military actions are only to be carried out if the ruling monarch approved them. If actions are carried out without the monarchs direct approval they are treason."

As she finished the room was in a hellish uproar."You have no right!","You can't do that!","This would need the council's approval!"

"Silence!" She shouted. "I agree with you, normally I would have no right to pass a law of this magnitude,... with the exception of the emergency state being called in." dead silence was spread in the room. "As you all know today a attack happened that was very likely aimed at me, a attack on the ruling monarch is viewed as a direct threat to the country and as such from today onwards I am calling in the emergency state for the for this attack appropriate time of six months. After those are over you can go and vote the law away if you so wish." With that she stood up and left the room as it was still shocked to silence.

Hina now had more than enough time, the queen hoped she would make it count, for now she had preparations to plan.

After all there was much to do with that absolute power she just gave herself.