Chapter One

ã€ŠSong of the Depthsã€‹


 Chapter One

    <h1 style="text-align: center">Chapter One</h1>

    Five years of living in an isolation cell has a way of taking its toll on you. There¡¯s all the damn white everywhere, for one. But then there¡¯s the understanding that you¡¯re watched. Always. Make a wrong move? Become a tranquilizer pin cushion. System malfunctions? Tranquilizer cushion.

    That was the only life I knew, aside from flashes and snippets to the event that had resulted in the imperial military isolating me for study. The ¡®Resonance Incident,¡¯ they called it. Some alien species had fired a harmonic weapon at the city I lived in, reducing buildings to ash and the people to goo.

    Except for me, and some other survivors the researchers talked about on occasion. Something about us was different. Not only did we survive, but we were reduced to a feral state. We attacked and killed the invading aliens, as well as human responders.

    People who could kill the aliens were valuable, valuable creatures. Thus, we were pumped with sedatives at range and brought into isolation rooms to be studied.

    There were just two little problems.

    First, I had no memory from before the Incident. According to Doctor Abel¡¯s study, the resonance that had given me superhuman abilities had stolen my past from me. He was hopeful that I would recover, but I didn¡¯t believe I would.

    To combat the amnesia, I¡¯d been permitted to have reading material. I studied anything and everything they¡¯d let me. For the most part, that had been ancient history from fallen human planets throughout the universe. I hadn¡¯t been afforded much modern or present information.

    The second problem, was the issue of us ¡®going feral.¡¯ Apparently, the other survivors struggled to remain themselves. Some were stuck in their feral state, while others were easy to trigger.

    In that state, we acted like wounded, cornered animals¡ªthus the moniker. I had control over mine, mostly.

    And so, I was up for review.

    I ran my fingers over a printed piece of paper I¡¯d been given, eyeing the instructions for conduct. Meeting military officials wasn¡¯t exactly on the list of activities I wanted to participate in, but I did want out of my damn cell.

    ¡°Subject Zero, place your hands on the table,¡± a male voice ordered over the comm system. Once I did so, he stated, ¡°We¡¯re going to check you for weapons. Stay still.¡±

    Once the scans were complete, the doors hissed open and Doctor Abel strutted in with his hands linked behind his back, and an apologetic smile on his face. ¡°I do apologize, Subject Zero. They do love their protocols. Are you ready to meet with Gideon and Zeke?¡±

    ¡°Ready enough.¡± I stood when motioned to. ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen enough salutes to get it right.¡±

    ¡°Good, good.¡± Abel rubbed his hands together, his eyes flicking around the room as he led me into the hallway outside. ¡°This way, we will be meeting in the conference room near the mess hall.¡±

    The mess hall, at least, was a place I knew. As they¡¯d begun loosening my leash, they¡¯d started allowing me to eat some of my meals with the soldiers¡ªmost were scared of me, but there were a few who didn¡¯t care what I could do. So long as I, ¡®remained on their side.¡¯

    The conference room was a little too large in my opinion, and still just as white as the rest of the damned place. Inside, half a dozen guards awaited with two formally dressed men.

    ¡°Generals, this is Subject Zero,¡± Abel introduced me, stepping aside. ¡°She has yet to be briefed on the Resonance Project. If I may¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall giving you permission to remove her from her cell, Abel.¡± The burlier of the two men furrowed his brow.

    Sensing tensions rising, I spoke up, ¡°Sir, if you would prefer to have this discussion at my cell, then we can go back to it.¡±

    With that, they marched me all the way back and locked me in it. Gideon, Abel, and the guards stood on the other side of the clear sliding doors, though I had no idea where ¡®Zeke¡¯ had wandered off to¡ªhe¡¯d received a call, and stopped to take it, saying for us to go on without him.

    ¡°The Resonance Project focuses on utilizing survivors like you, who have inhuman power. We want to replicate it in our soldiers,¡± Gideon started speaking, his tone giving me the impression he thought he was wasting his time. ¡°More importantly, we want you to kill more Syldrari. Any and every you find. Those evil bastards must be destroyed for the good of the empire.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to just¡­what, take you at your word that the Syldrari are ¡®bad¡¯ and its fine for me to kill any and every one see?¡± I scoffed at the man standing outside my cell. ¡°You think ¡®freedom,¡¯ if you can call it that, is enough to make me another of the government¡¯s mindless pawns? I don¡¯t even know what a Syldrari is!¡±

    ¡°Asking the right questions.¡± Doctor Abel nodded in approval before turning to look at the rather agitated military man beside him. ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember anything from before the incident, sir, and information has been kept sparse as per your orders¡­¡±

    I decided to keep my mouth shut and observe. Abel¡¯s ¡®I¡¯m smarter than you all¡¯ attitude rubbed me the wrong way, but Gideon irked me more.

    ¡°Then let her go see the Syldrari Sector herself.¡± Gideon crossed his arms. ¡°Once she learns the horrors of their kind, she¡¯ll be on our side

    ¡°And if she isn¡¯t willing to kill every Syldrari she sees?¡±

    Gideon frowned, then referenced a data pad. ¡°¡­you can negotiate her terms of service. If she remains unreasonable, we can retire her. She¡¯s got an alright face, I¡¯m sure you could find a buyer.¡±

    With that, the military bastard walked off and I turned to glower at Doctor Abel, who raised his hands to placate me.

    ¡°They know they need you if they want to deal with the Syldrari. He won¡¯t give up that easily.¡± Doctor Abel shook his head slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll be brief. There are two factions of Syldrari we are aware of those who live among us, and those who are responsible for the Resonance Incident that destroyed your city and awoke your abilities.

    ¡°The higher ups want all Syldrari off our planet, as those two factions are at war with each other. Our people often get dragged into their conflicts, and even augmented humans don¡¯t stand a chance against Syldrari¡ªtrained or otherwise. The Syldrari are also suspected to be the cause of the increased crime rates throughout the empire.¡±

    I crossed my arms. ¡°¡­and since I can do more than hold my own, these bastards want to use me to kill their problems? That the gist of it?¡±

    ¡°Until we can discover a way to awaken more humans with abilities such as your own? Yes.¡± Doctor Abel released a heavy sigh. ¡°And even then, they will want you to train the new recruits. However, they¡¯re offering you more freedom if you cooperate.¡±

    If humans can¡¯t survive against Syldrari, yet I can¡­ Does that mean humans can¡¯t survive against me either? My gaze flicked around my cell, noting the cameras, vents, and the narrow slots that shot tranquilizers. Hmph. So that¡¯s why they went so overboard with security, even though I behave myself. They¡¯re afraid of what will happen if I stop playing nice.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to spend your life in a cell or as some rich politician¡¯s pet,¡± Abel coughed into his hand pointedly. ¡°So, what¡¯s holding you back?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of mindlessly agreeing to serve as a weapon against the Syldrari. I¡¯m hesitant to believe they are all criminals.¡± I shrugged, shaking my head faintly. ¡°Executing criminals, I can get behind. But I¡¯ve read enough history while stuck in here to know that it¡¯s never a good thing when a government starts trying to purge an entire race or species.¡±

    Abel frowned. ¡°Then, your potential terms are?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll only kill proven criminals¡ªones we have footage of, or ones I catch in the act. If they¡¯re merely suspects, I¡¯ll capture them alive or the military can send a different dog after it.¡± I motioned loosely with one hand, smirking. ¡°And if the government really wants me to hunt Syldrari, then they can give me a good reason to believe they¡¯re all scum.¡±

    An unfamiliar man walked into view, escorted by the missing Zeke. Rather than a military or researcher uniform, he wore a sharp suit and had a clean look to him. His brunette hair was combed back, and his piercing grey eyes framed by gold-rimmed glasses. Abel promptly bowed and moved out of the man¡¯s way. ¡°If its proof you need, a visit to the Syldrari Sector should suffice. However, she can¡¯t go looking like that. Abel, procure proper clothing for Subject Zero and arrange for her to visit the Syldrari Sector. She should understand their villainy then.¡±

    Who the hell¡­? I wondered, watching the new man. He seemed to have a presence to him, and every worker in the area bowed to him in greeting or before passing to continue their work.

    ¡°Y-yes sir.¡± Abel bowed deeper, wringing his shaky hands as the man strode past him and down another hall. Abel stayed that way for a while, before turning to check if the man was gone.

    ¡°Explain?¡± I sighed in exasperation.

    ¡°The Syldrari Sector is where all V¡¯shir Syldrari in the empire reside. The empire makes certain their kind are segregated from the human population.¡± Abel shook his head. ¡°It will be a few weeks before everything is ready for you to visit there. Continue your training while I make arrangements. With any luck, some of the other Resonance victims will stabilize soon too.¡±

    With that, Abel was off, muttering to himself.

    A visit to the Syldrari Sector so they can prove to me how terrible these aliens are? I wandered over to my bed and flopped down. Right. So, they¡¯re expecting the Syldrari to try and do awful things to me on sight. Are these fears grounded in reason, or¡­? Well. I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt to work on my training just in case.

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    * * *

    Several weeks later, I found myself outside of the military compound and above ground for the first time in years. Buildings of steel and black surrounded me, with brightly colored signs flashing everywhere. A military craft had dropped me off at the edge of the Syldrari Sector before zipping off about its business. They were so confident in their plan that they hadn¡¯t even rigged me with explosives or listening devices. All I had was a wallet stuffed down one pocket, and a communicator down the other. Around one wrist I had a band with a button I could push in case of emergency¡ªand Abel had argued quite aggressively to make sure I¡¯d gotten that.

    The sector, from what I gathered, was treated like a slum by the humans. The military didn¡¯t bother patrolling it since they couldn¡¯t do anything about Syldrari. For a so-called ¡®lawless zone,¡¯ it looked tidier than what I¡¯d seen of the city, and there were civilians walking about.

    Unless those were the Syldrari?

    Abel had warned me they were shapeshifters, but¡­whatever.

    I strode into the sector, hands in my pockets and my ears trained for the faintest hint of trouble. The odd looks I got gave me the impression that, indeed, these weren¡¯t humans around me. It wasn¡¯t long before someone stopped me¡­but it didn¡¯t appear to be out of aggression.

    ¡°We don¡¯t get many humans in here,¡± a slender woman with bright pink hair frowned at me. ¡°You clearly not lost, and you dropped off by military. What can¡­we do for you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a place to eat breakfast,¡± I answered simply. When her confusion seemed to worsen, I smiled. ¡°Where I come from, I¡¯ve never heard of Syldrari. I wished to learn more, especially with what the military claims¡­¡±

    ¡°Bah! I see.¡± The woman flapped a hand in annoyance. ¡°Always speaking ill of Syldrari. Yes, yes, I¡¯ve seen before. But never with human of open mind. Why breakfast?¡±

    I gave her a faint shrug. ¡°Food is a good way to learn and share culture. I figured, since I don¡¯t believe the military on their thoughts for what will happen to me here, I¡¯d see about getting some food since I haven¡¯t had any today.¡±

    ¡°Honest human, huh?¡± A man nearby shook his head in disbelief, before giving me a dangerous stare. ¡°I suggest you keep that honesty going. The consequences for lying to a Syldrari are worse than if you leak information your masters don¡¯t want you to share.¡±

    ¡°Oh? So that part of my briefing was true?¡± I remarked.

    ¡°Breakfast, ah¡­ this way!¡± The woman motioned down a wider street.

    The restaurant the woman led me to was a cozy cafe. Inside, a very different sight awaited me. The Syldrari all had odd skin colors¡ªblues, pinks, reds, yellows, and the colors of stones. Just about every shade of every color humans couldn¡¯t be¡ªand some they could. There were glowing sections in their hair, they had varied horns¡ªsome glowing, some not¡ªand all present had tails. They all had pointed ears too, though some had longer ones than others.

    Stranger still were their eyes. Where humans had one round pupil, the Syldrari had either a slit or diamond shaped pupil surrounded by multiple smaller triangular pupils.

    ¡°A human?¡± the man behind the counter narrowed his eyes at me, then looked to the woman that had led me there. He had slate blue skin, which was quite the contrast to his eyes, which gradated from white to yellow.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt¡ªthe military wants to convince me that hunting and killing Syldrari is the righteous path. When I refused, they decided to send me here so that you could prove to me yourselves that I should hunt you,¡± I stated, crossing my arms. Several Syldrari growled, but none made a move toward me. ¡°Since I think they¡¯re fucking idiots, I¡¯m playing along before I go back to living out my life in my cell.¡±

    ¡°Your cell?¡± The woman turned to look at me, wide-eyed. ¡°You criminal?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m a survivor of the Resonance Incident. They¡¯re studying me to figure out ¡®how¡¯ I lived.¡± I shook my head, then turned to look at the man behind the counter¡ªpresumably the owner. He looked utterly uninterested right up until the mention of my cell¡ªnow, he appeared contemplative. ¡°I¡¯ll understand if you don¡¯t want to serve a human in your establishment.¡±

    ¡°I can hear your stomach growling from there. Come here and sit down.¡± The man pointed at an empty stool across from him. His deep, commanding tone threw me off-guard. He was so¡­pretty, I hadn¡¯t quite expected that. Sassing him didn¡¯t seem like a smart idea with so many agitated Syldrari around, especially when I¡¯d chosen to be overly blunt, so I decided to obey. As I situated myself, he spoke again, ¡°From what I heard, most Resonance survivors don¡¯t require convincing in order to hunt us. Though, I¡¯ve never heard of one being locked up in a cell either.¡±

    ¡°Well, they¡¯re traumatized imbeciles who think everyone is out to get them,¡± I scoffed. ¡°If they spent more time reading and less time kissing ass, they¡¯d realize its only ever a group¡ªnot an entire species¡ªwho is ¡®bad.¡¯ As for why I live in a cage and they don¡¯t, it¡¯s simple. They were further from the blast than I was or lost loved ones to it.¡±

    ¡°What was this about returning to your cell?¡± The man asked as he placed a menu, and a cup of steaming pink liquid in front of me.

    I studied his expression for a moment, getting the feeling that the passerby¡¯s warning was quite correct¡ªhonesty was a safer path when dealing with the Syldrari. Especially if I took into account that I wasn¡¯t attacked outright for my ¡®introduction.¡¯

    Sighing, I leaned back a bit in my seat. ¡°Ah, that? I have two choices, three if you stretch it. One, submit to their ridiculous demands and hunt/kill every Syldrari and criminal I see. Two, live the rest of my life isolated in my cell, as I already have been since the Incident. Three, the military says, ¡®fuck it¡¯ and either reprograms me to do as they want or sends me to be some fat bastard¡¯s sex slave. I hear they¡¯ve been going the latter route with survivors who aren¡¯t suitable for military work.¡±

    ¡°¡­what? And you would go with the second of those options?¡± The woman who had escorted me exclaimed as she sat beside me. She promptly whacked me upside the head with her menu, then looked to the cafe owner. ¡°Dumb! Stubborn-dumb!¡±

    The man pressed his fingers to his temples. ¡°Honestly. Just agree to hunting us. It¡¯s not as if humans have the means to kill us anyway.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s not quite the reaction I was expecting.¡±

    ¡°One more human hunting us won¡¯t change anything.¡± He shrugged, before pointing at my cup. ¡°It¡¯s a bit bitter for humans usually. Let me know if you need sugar.¡±

    With that, he turned to speak in some other language with another customer, and the woman beside me¡ªwhose glowing patterns and the underside of her hair were now a deep red-orange color¡ªleaned over my arm to point at something on the menu.

    ¡°This very good. Hearty, traditional Syldrari breakfast. All nutrients needed for a day of hunting, and taste good too.¡± The woman pointed to a massive picture of what looked like a main dish surrounded by at least thirteen side dishes, though her tone implied she was still fuming about my ¡®stubborn-dumb¡¯ approach. ¡°Syldrari traditionally hunters and gatherers. Home planet have many, many dangerous beasts. Rulers and nobles only ever men and woman who good warriors.¡±

    I nodded faintly, listening as she continued to make suggestions from the menu. While she did, I picked up my cup and gave it a tentative sniff, then a sip. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s sweet.¡±

    That caused the owner to abruptly stop his conversation to give me an incredulous look.

    ¡°Ah! She have Syldrari tastes!¡± The woman giggled, nodding approvingly, her glow rapidly shifting from red-orange to a brighter, neutral cyan color. She gave the owner a smug look. ¡°See? Not all humans taste the same.¡±

    ¡°¡­we need to work on your grammar.¡± He pinched the bridge of his nose.

    ¡°Hmmm, can I get an order of these two?¡± I pointed to the large meal, and then to a smaller meal that consisted of some manner of soup and more side dishes.

    ¡°¡­do you eat like a Syldrari too?¡± He eyed me disbelievingly. ¡°You¡¯re a bit small to pack away that much food.¡±

    I pointed to his own sign behind him and gave him a smug grin. ¡°I can take ¡®home¡¯ what I can¡¯t eat.¡±

    ¡°And our little jailbird has money?¡± He countered just as smugly.

    ¡°Mmhmm, that I do.¡± I pulled out my wallet and pulled out the requisite amount of cash¡ªand then some, placing it on the counter. ¡°For the meal, for tolerating my presence, and for not having me shanked the moment you heard I have military ties.¡±

    Another customer laughed. ¡°Heh. Not scared of us at all, is she?¡±

    ¡°The human military is way scarier than we are.¡± Another snorted.

    ¡°What sort of criminals does the military want you to pursue?¡± The owner took my money with a nod, then made a gesture toward the stove¡ªwhich immediately fired to life. I tilted my head faintly, eyeing the stove¡ªwas that an ability of his, or did stoves have motion sensors?

    ¡°They were rather vague about that.¡± I shook my head. ¡°The gist was just¡­any, plus Syldrari. I¡¯m under the impression they¡¯re looking for more manpower to patrol the city. They mentioned something about 1 in 5 citizens being victimized.¡±

    ¡°You survived the Resonance, you said?¡± he murmured while preparing ingredients. ¡°That was an atrocity committed by the R¡¯selkti, yes?¡±

    ¡°Mmhmm. They employed some kind of sound weapon. It leveled my city and turned most people into ¡®goo¡¯ in an instant.¡± I stretched back in my seat, crossing my legs at the ankles.

    ¡°And you¡­survived?¡± He shook his head.

    ¡°Not unscathed, mind you. I don¡¯t remember anything from before that day, and anyone who knew me is gone. We don¡¯t even know what my name was.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Most of what I know is from being told¡ªthough I was shown some rather gruesome bodycam footage¡­¡±

    ¡°Then¡­what do they call you?¡± The woman frowned at me.

    ¡°I¡¯m just a number,¡± I answered dryly.

    ¡°A number you can¡¯t divulge, I imagine.¡± The man shook his head, then glanced over. ¡°Finished your drink already? I¡¯ll get you another.¡±

    ¡°Number? Numbers are not name.¡± The woman shook her head. ¡°Hmmm, call you Huntress!¡±

    ¡°I never agreed to¡ª¡±

    ¡°You should. Sacrificing a chance at freedom¡ªor a shard of it¡ªwould be foolish. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any among us who would begrudge you for that choice.¡± The man poured me a new cup of¡­tea? Whatever it was. ¡°These are hard times for many people. Unless you¡¯re born into wealth, you will struggle in the empire. If hunting Syldrari will grant you freedoms and comforts that would otherwise be denied to you, then you should take your chance. Human lives are short. Ours are not. We will manage.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Humans are that little of a threat, huh? So little a danger that you can show compassion to a potential enemy?¡±

    ¡°Quite.¡± A chilling smile spread across his face as he met my gaze. ¡°Do you fear the dust under your bed?¡±

    ¡°Hah. I get the point.¡± I let out a short laugh. ¡°Even so, morally¡ª¡±

    ¡°Morals just get you killed in this day and age¡ªat least in the empire. You might not know it yet, but you¡¯re in a fight for your own survival.¡± The man made a dismissive motion. ¡°If you cooperate with the military, at least, you can hold on to part of yourself. If you disobey them, they¡¯ll turn you into someone else. We¡¯ve seen what they do to enslave their own kind.¡±

    ¡­so, the military sends me here to get hurt, but instead I¡¯m getting life advice. Oookay then. I let out a small sigh and gave him a tired smile. ¡°So, that blue stuff¡ªit¡¯s some type of meat?¡±

    ¡°You can tell? Full of surprises, aren¡¯t you?.¡± he remarked dryly. ¡°You¡¯re an odd human. If you find some manner of middle ground with your superiors, you¡¯re welcome back anytime.¡±

    I¡¯m¡­what? I blinked at his back in surprise.

    * *

    ¡°Well?¡± Abel asked as I disembarked the carrier. ¡°You don¡¯t look harmed.¡±

    ¡°The terms of my service are as follows: I will only kill criminals I catch in the act¡ªSyldrari or otherwise. I will also execute criminals you can provide me with proof of. I¡¯ll also hunt monsters. I will not kill Syldrari just because they¡¯re Syldrari.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Abel nervously looked to his superiors.

    ¡°Will you fight in a war if one breaks out?¡± One of them asked.

    ¡°I was already assuming I¡¯d be treated as a soldier, so yes.¡± I nodded.

    ¡°We will accept your terms,¡± the other one stated. ¡°You will be relocating to the Resonance Project Headquarters. Abel has assigned a specialized team there, and any others who join our cause will move there as well. You will continue your training there¡ªand begin training the new recruits to tame their feral.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to the head of the program when we arrive.¡± Abel let out a relieved sigh and turned to look at me. ¡°Headquarters is in the city itself, to ensure the fastest response possible when threats are detected. The building is disguised as a civilian business, but the facilities we need are all there.¡±

    ¡°Abel, the Syldrari¡­¡± I started.

    ¡°I suggest keeping your opinions to yourself, Subject Zero.¡± Abel shook his head. ¡°The last thing you want to do is give your superiors a reason to dispose of you.¡±

    ¡°¡­understood.¡± I grimaced.

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 [Book 2] Chapter 1

    Chapter One

    Zafir strode into a meeting room high in the Resonance Project HQ, a data pad tucked under his arm and an enormous thermos of coffee in the other. General Crowe and people from different military branches, public relations, and even Imperator Julien¡¯s assistant were present. Appearing rather out of place amongst the humans, Citomy observed, a haughty air exuding from her every pore.

    ¡°Footage of Subject Zero¡¯s fight has spread too far,¡± a woman from public relations spoke up. ¡°We can¡¯t squash this.¡±

    ¡°I want to know who hacked into the facility¡¯s surveillance system to broadcast that bloodbath!¡± A general Zafir wasn¡¯t familiar with demanded. ¡°That was our highest security¡ª¡±

    ¡°We are dealing with Syldrari. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the sick bastard did it himself so he could record his conquest,¡± the Imperator¡¯s assistant interrupted, his expression dull. ¡°You¡¯re all here to analyze the footage and draft a formal report for the Imperator. Get to it. Professor Zafir, you have what you needed?¡±

    ¡°Yes. My colleague finished processing the raw footage,¡± Zafir answered promptly, placing his thermos on the table so he could tap away on his data pad.

    ¡°How is Elara¡¯s condition?¡± General Crowe asked, a hint of gentleness entering his voice.

    ¡°She will make a full recovery¡ªit looked worse than it is.¡± Zafir grimaced, the image of Elara¡¯s blood-soaked body, covered in dozens of sword wounds flickered through his mind and his throat tightened. ¡°There may be some trauma from the pain and blood loss when she wakes. However, we confirmed there was no rape. Perhaps we misunderstood her opponent¡¯s threat?¡±

    Zafir¡¯s stomach turned at his own report. He knew damn well what Jysel was doing, and that he would never harm someone in such a way. Playing along was difficult, at best. He was, however, thankful that it was easy to prove nothing had happened beyond their combat.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean the humans would stop pushing the narrative. With the entire empire¡¯s eyes focused on what had happened¡­

    ¡°They are a fight-hungry species¡­¡± Crowe rubbed his chin, then a look of realization came over him, and Zafir hastened to refocus. ¡°You think he was playing with her like a cat with a mouse.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say we are fight-hungry,¡± Citomy quipped, tapping her nails against her arm.

    Crow winced. ¡°Apologies, ma¡¯am. Just an observation in comparison to human tendencies toward the same.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Zafir nodded, choosing to ignore Citomy¡¯s interjection and focus on his task. ¡°Syldrari fluids¡ªaside from their blood¡ªglow bright colors. There wasn¡¯t so much as saliva, sir.¡±

    ¡°Good. That¡¯s one concern out of the way.¡± Crowe nodded, then motioned at the blank wall. ¡°That enough space for the footage, Zafir?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯m almost ready,¡± Zafir answered, silently quelling his desire to tap into any number of harmonic combat arts. With the right pitch, I could fracture their skeletal structure. I wonder if I could make it more targeted, perhaps? Prolong the pain? Elara wouldn¡¯t be in this mess if these imbeciles¡ª

    ¡°Bastard didn¡¯t even put armor back on?!¡± One of the onlookers snapped as a paused video flickered into existence on the wall.

    ¡°A show of power, clearly. He is saying he doesn¡¯t require armor to fight this ¡®Elara¡¯ girl.¡± The Imperator¡¯s assistant sighed irritably and motioned loosely with one hand. ¡°Play it.¡±

    Zafir steeled himself, then pressed play. He watched as they stalked each other, neither making an aggressive move nor speaking a word aloud. Both Jysel and Elara seemed completely in their element.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    That was until a brief look of surprise crossed Elara¡¯s face moments before Jysel swung his sword down at full force at her, the blade becoming a blur.

    ¡°Pause,¡± a uniformed woman ordered, the program immediately complying. ¡°They weren¡¯t speaking¡ªso why did she look surprised?¡±

    ¡°Without working audio there¡¯s no way to be certain, but Syldrari are capable of using sounds they make as a weapon,¡± Zafir answered in his best lecture voice. ¡°It is likely that he emanated a disorienting or shocking sound. ¡®Going feral¡¯ is known as kuhir-dal in Syldran. If the R¡¯selkti deserter was looking for an animal to hunt¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­he made one.¡± Crowe narrowed his eyes. ¡°Play.¡±

    Zafir¡¯s stomach twisted as the footage resumed and he watched Jysel and Elara rip each other apart. Her switch to kuhir-dal, the feral state, was so quick that Jysel didn¡¯t get far in his downward arc before the smaller woman darted to the side, toward Jysel, and clawed his chest open.

    ¡°The hell¡¯s going on? Slow by half!¡± Crowe demanded.

    Of course, at such speed¡­ Zafir¡¯s thoughts paused momentarily as he tracked Elara¡¯s movements and her sheer disregard for her opponent¡¯s weapon. If Jysel hadn¡¯t been careful, Elara would have been cut into chunks within the first thirty seconds of their fight¡ªat most.

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t forgotten to show courtesy to a queen, at least,¡± Citomy scoffed, placing a hand on her hip. ¡°Modified or not, she has the genetic data of a queen. Poor boy must have hoped he might convince her to join him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough. Jysel may have slaughtered most people manning your weapon¡¯s platform, but he was correct in his assessment of the danger your shoddy resonance cannon posed. You will continue to try and arrest him¡ªbut your government is to turn him over to me.¡±

    Crowe grunted. ¡°That isn¡¯t my decision. Imperator Julien has the final say in such matters, as I am sure you can understand.¡±

    Citomy huffed and turned her gaze back to the footage. ¡°What¡¯s this? Defeated by blood loss?¡±

    The room watched as Elara stumbled toward a pained-looking Jysel, her wounds leaving a trail of blue splatter on the floor. She wobbled, then collapsed to her knees, swaying, before her body gave out and she tilted forward.

    Jysel quickly caught her by the shoulders and lowered her, keeping her from smacking her head off the concrete floor. He looked just as maimed as her, but still took a moment to make certain Elara wasn¡¯t going to drown in her own blood. Then, he pressed a device at his wrist, and vanished from the visible spectrum without a trace.

    ¡°He couldn¡¯t have gone far with those wounds. She must¡¯ve clawed him three inches deep,¡± one of the onlookers muttered.

    Crowe turned to look at Zafir, ¡°Have our men found him?¡±

    Zafir made a show of checking his data pad, then shook his head. ¡°No. The trail suggests that he left for the nearby sewers and either entered them or, more likely, boarded a waiting transport.¡±

    ¡°And why not the sewers?¡± Citomy demanded impatiently.

    ¡°They¡­are not a place a man of his size would fit. The old city¡¯s sewers were built by children, and only fit children.¡± Zafir grimaced and pulled up a few shots on the screen for the Syldrari queen.

    ¡°Child labor¡­? Then, these sewers are not still in use?¡± Citomy gave the Imperator¡¯s assistant a threatening glare.

    ¡°No ma¡¯am,¡± Crowe stated. ¡°Point is, your fugitive son must have boarded a craft, and it went undetected by all surveillance in the city. Unless Elara¡¯s team improves drastically, we don¡¯t have the means to capture him.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± one of the generals spoke up. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he just kill her? I thought your species was good at what it does.¡±

    Citomy rubbed her temples and sighed in exasperation. ¡°Because the girl has a queen¡¯s genetics, you utter buffoon. An unclaimed Syldrari¡ªespecially a Lun¡¯iri¡ªwouldn¡¯t risk harming a queen.¡±

    ¡°A Lun-what-now?¡± The general blinked.

    ¡°For the love of¡­¡± Citomy rolled her eyes and rounded on the general. ¡°Lun¡¯iri! What your simplistic species would call a man. Lun¡¯iri are visually masculine, have a dick, and no other sexual organ. Honestly! Would it kill your species to learn about those you make your allies?¡±

    ¡°This bitch¡ª¡± the general snarled, rising to his feet.

    ¡°¡ªis the Imperator¡¯s guest, so you will show her respect.¡± The assistant narrowed his eyes at the general. ¡°Imperator Julien made it clear what the punishments would be if anyone disrupted our arrangement.¡±

    Zafir stifled his amusement and glanced down at his data pad as the humans argued among themselves. Though he loathed Citomy and her followers, she certainly had a way of making the humans less boring.

    Zafir¡¯s mouth tugged into a slight frown as a pop-up appeared on his data pad, blocking out his notes. He ground his teeth a moment, before finally speaking up, ¡°I¡¯ve been informed that I am needed in the hospital wing. General Crowe, sir, by your leave¡­?¡±

    ¡°Of course, getting Elara patched up should be your top priority. I can handle matters here.¡± Crowe nodded to Zafir.

    ¡°Thank you, sir. Ladies, gentlemen.¡± Zafir nodded to the room, then left, clutching his data pad.

    Healed already¡­? Who¡­ Zafir referenced the message from Amara again. She had lost contact with all systems for approximately ten minutes, and when they reconnected, Elara was no longer injured. Zafir fidgeted nervously with his glasses after entering an elevator and pressing a button for one of the sub-basement levels. One of the moles, most certainly. But from which faction? Citomy, Jysel, Rel, or¡­ The Abyss Father?

 [B2] Chapter Two

    Chapter Two

    I cracked an eye open and stared blearily at the ceiling above me. Several moments of confusion passed before I recognized it as the ceiling in my apartment.

    What was I doing¡­? I wracked my brain, finding only blank space for a long stretch of time. Then, I recalled the sight of Jysel swinging his sword down at me with full strength.

    Alarmed, I sat up and hastily checked myself over for sign of injury or change. When I found nothing, I frowned and tried again to recall what happened after Jysel¡¯s attack.

    I¡­must have fallen into kuhir-dal? My stomach gurgled loudly, eliciting a grimace as I pulled myself out of bed. Glancing down I realized I wore nothing but the armlet that housed my wardrobe module. What happened?

    After a quick shower, I made myself presentable and called the first outfit in my module¡¯s storage. I checked my hair briefly, then paused at the dresser. Atop it sat the medallion Rel had given to me for practice.

    Hopefully they¡¯re alright¡­ I gently plucked it off the dresser and slid my thumb along its outer edge. The strangely warm metal pulsed against my skin. For a moment, I considered putting it back down. But, after a moment, I closed my fist around it and returned to my bed.

    After perching cross legged on the comforter, I sandwiched the medallion between my palms and concentrated, summoning lightning around my hands and attempting to direct it into the jewel set in the piece¡¯s center. My head swam, and the next thing I knew, I was staring at the ceiling from the floor. The medallion crackled with energy and floated a few feet above me. When it fizzled out, it dropped and fell onto my stomach with a soft thud.

    I picked it up in my fingers and turned it over a few times, unsure of what had just happened. Then, I caught the sound of hurried footsteps and a scent akin to pine filled my nose. When knuckles rapped against my door, I hurriedly pulled myself to my feet and called, ¡°One moment!¡±

    ¡°Elara! Thank the ancestors!¡± Zafir pulled me into a tight hug the moment I opened the door, his arms trembling around me.

    ¡°Um¡­hi? How long have I been out?¡± I asked, a little taken aback by his behavior. And since when did he smell so good?

    ¡°A few weeks. You were kept sedated due to the extent of your injuries.¡± Zafir hesitated, then released me and adjusted his glasses nervously. ¡°We need to talk.¡±

    My stomach rumbled, tugging me between confusion and bodily necessity. Sighing, I chose to prioritize the latter first. Giving Zafir a pointed look, I asked, ¡°Can we talk while I make breakfast?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­yes, of course.¡± Zafir stepped out of my way, giving me room to close and lock my door. Once we began walking, he began speaking as if giving a report. ¡°Several days ago, surveillance to your hospital room was cut. When the systems came back online, you were healed, and your bandages were gone. Several machines had suffered harmonic damage.

    ¡°We believe a Syldrari infiltrated HQ to heal you, but there¡¯s no indication as to who or why. Officially or otherwise. I¡¯m concerned this means more factions have taken an interest in you, but our bosses believe this is simply another opportunity. Your orders have changed.¡±

    ¡°Changed how?¡± I prompted, striding into the kitchen, and throwing the refrigerator doors wide.

    ¡°With some questionable convincing from Citomy,¡± Zafir began, wincing at the look I shot him, ¡°the higher ups have decided to lift certain restrictions on you. Citomy has them convinced Jysel finds you to be an interesting opponent, and suggests you¡¯ll be able to lure him in for arrest.

    ¡°She also gave them more information on queens and their abilities. They want you to begin trying to claim Syldrari with your power, thinking it will make them loyal to the empire. In other words¡­you have full permission to do as you like to or with the citizens of the Syldrari Sector.¡±

    ¡°¡­are you serious, or is your sense of humor just that poor?¡± I leaned backwards to peer around the refrigerator door at him.

    Zafir fidgeted with his glasses again. ¡°I assure you I¡¯m not joking. You are¡­a much freer citizen of the empire now. The risks for poor performance or disobedience remain, but other than that¡­¡±

    ¡°Tch. Of course they do.¡± I refocused on the contents of the refrigerator, my attention to a familiar set of take-out boxes. ¡°Food from Rel¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°He¡­has been bringing breakfast by every day for you in case you wake up. You missed him by a few hours,¡± Zafir answered. Noting his uncomfortable tone and the sound of him fidgeting, I peered at him again. ¡°I need to contact several people and let them know you¡¯re awake. If you¡¯ll excuse me¡­¡±

    ¡°What has you so nervous?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow when he winced.

    ¡°I am concerned they will not let you continue to rest. Then there is the matter of your hands.¡± Zafir sighed heavily and pulled a data pad out of his lab coat. ¡°Perhaps¡­hmmm.¡±

    ¡°What about my hands?¡± I frowned at him and glanced down at them briefly. ¡°They look and feel like my hands, so I¡¯m assuming Jysel didn¡¯t chop them off. And I assume you didn¡¯t have to replace them.¡±

    ¡°Elara¡­what¡­¡± Zafir rubbed his temples and groaned from behind his hand, ¡°Look closer.¡±

    I prepared to sass him, then it clicked. Looking down at my hands, I paused briefly and then pulled my sleeves back. My hands and fingers were a vibrant, baby blue. Halfway to my elbow, the color faded to become my human skin. My fingernails were longer, thicker, pointed, and appeared to have an opalescent sheen.

    Most strikingly, the top of my forearm and curving toward the outside, I had glowing, variegated splotches in a gradient of pale yellow-green-teal, the colors of confusion.

    ¡°¡­I know you just woke up, but¡­¡± Zafir cleared his throat and glanced away when I gave him a sharp look.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t even register anything was different. I¡¯m just¡­me.¡± I shoved the refrigerator door shut. ¡°So, this, whole ¡®what are we going to do about this¡¯ issue¡­?¡±

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    ¡°Gloves, I think. Perhaps I can have someone contact Lynir¡­¡± Zafir¡¯s head drifted from side to side slowly as he thought, his expression inquisitive. ¡°Ah¡­ Erik? Perhaps Erik will do. You won¡¯t be able to go out until you have a way to cover this development, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    ¡°How long have I been like this?¡± I studied my arms closely, taking in the subtle, opalescent sheen to my skin.

    ¡°Since you were healed by the intruder.¡± Zafir¡¯s frown deepened, and his gaze fixed on my forearms. ¡°I had hoped that the color would make your genetics easier to identify or trace, but I¡¯ve found nothing in the Syldrari databases to indicate a clan with skin this color.¡±

    I shifted my head slightly, listening to the change in his tone, then caught the sound of approaching footsteps. Reluctant to pursue the conversation if we had eavesdroppers, I instead turned my attention to finishing with preparing my breakfast.

    ¡°General Crowe, sir?¡± Zafir inquired worriedly. ¡°What¡ª¡±

    ¡°Does Elara have anything to cover herself?¡± Crowe asked abruptly. I glanced over at the stormy man when he continued, ¡°We have orders to send her to the Syldrari Sector. I¡¯ve been overruled. Elara, you are to go and question Rel.¡±

    ¡°I am? About what?¡± I gave him a blank stare.

    Crowe grimaced and pulled out his data pad, then pulled something up to show me. ¡°Here¡ªa ¡®formal¡¯ request for you to try and reconnect mother with son. I see why he¡¯s cut her off¡­that is my unofficial opinion, of course.¡±

    ¡°I can find her gloves, but she should be resting¡­¡± Zafir deflated. ¡°I will be back shortly.¡±

    Once Zafir was out of range, Crowe turned to me with a serious expression on his grizzled face and ordered, ¡°Prioritize your relationship with Clan V¡¯shir. I can use your friendship with them as leverage to delay these damned imbeciles. You have my permission to leak information if you have to.¡±

    ¡°Sir, isn¡¯t that¡­¡± I hesitated.

    ¡°The more allies you have, the better my chances of stopping this pointless genocide Julien¡¯s inner circle are calling for. You have your orders.¡± Crowe pivoted and stalked off toward the elevators, leaving me baffled and alone.

    He can use my friendship with them as leverage? I repeated to myself. That seemed doubtful, but he seemed convinced. Frowning, I crossed my arms and contemplated the general¡¯s demeanor. I still wasn¡¯t sure whose side he was on, and I didn¡¯t like the sound of using my friendships as leverage. Then¡­there was the fact that I hadn¡¯t quite realized yet that was what I had. Friendships. The word felt more alien to me than anyone or anything I¡¯d seen in the city.

    ¡°I found some gloves, if you wear a jacket¡­ Elara?¡± Zafir¡¯s hand came to rest on my shoulder, and I glanced at him in surprise. He frowned at me, a hint of concern showing in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡­just¡­ Should the concept of ¡®friendship¡¯ seem so strange to me?¡± I murmured distractedly. ¡°Even with lost memory, shouldn¡¯t ¡®body memory¡¯ or other knowledge I¡¯ve picked up make it more¡­normal?¡±

    ¡°Put these on,¡± Zafir spoke softly, handing me a pair of leather gloves that would cover up to a little past my wrist. He glanced around before continuing, ¡°Depending on your circumstances, friendship may have been something you couldn¡¯t afford or never had the chance to form. We may never know. What we do know is that ¡®friendship¡¯ is a¡­shallow word, to Syldrari. Much like ¡®acquaintance¡¯ means very little.¡±

    ¡°So even friendship is complicated for Syldrari. Wonderful.¡± I shook my head, pulling my gloves on.

    ¡°Of course. Syldrari are complex creatures, capable of thoughts, emotions, and sensations humans don¡¯t even have concepts or words for.¡± Zafir gave me a calm, warm smile. ¡°You have many opportunities to build whatever manner of relationships you desire. Don¡¯t be frightened of ¡®friendship.¡¯ Trust me. Drifting through the universe with companions you love and trust is infinitely better than going alone.¡±

    After a few more words of encouragement, Zafir and I parted ways. Me to shrug on a jacket and find a car to the Syldrari Sector, and him to¡­do whatever it was he did. Research something, someone, or some sample, I assumed.

    * * *

    Thankfully, I got the car to take me straight to Rel¡¯s establishment. Not so thankfully, jaws dropped and so did a few glasses. Rel was not going to be happy about that.

    ¡°Elara!¡± Ciheri exclaimed, quickly darting over to me, wearing what looked like a human shirt, double-breasted vest, and a tie. ¡°Come with me. They need to see you!¡±

    ¡°Uh¡ª¡± Before I could form any manner of response, Ciheri grabbed me by the sleeve and pulled me up the closest set of stairs. Not quite sure what to say or do, I blurted the first thing that came to mind, ¡°Ciheri? What are you wearing? It¡¯s cute on you, but aren¡¯t human clothes¡­ uncomfortable?¡±

    Ciheri promptly rounded on me, eyes wide, pupils dilated, and his hands clasped in front of his chest. He peered at me hopefully, his skin flushing blue and his patterns glowing pink. ¡°You think I¡¯m cute? Really? That makes me so happy!¡±

    ¡°I-is this so surprising?¡± I leaned back as he leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with joy. ¡°Um, where were we going?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re trying new uniforms for the cafe!¡± Ciheri informed me brightly. He took a step back and did a little spin for me. ¡°We thought maybe we should mix cultures more to make humans realize we¡¯re friendly!¡± Then, he motioned for me to follow him. ¡°Come on, they really need to see you¡¯ve woken up.¡±

    Why is he so insistent on¡­ Oh. Even I could sense the wall of moodiness surrounding Rel¡¯s apartment. Ciheri didn¡¯t even knock before unlocking the door and waltzing right in, so I followed.

    Upon entering, I caught the sound of Rel and Jysel arguing furiously in Syldran. I hesitated in the doorway, checked again that the blinds and door were closed, then pulled off my jacket and gloves. Ciheri¡¯s eyes went wide and he put his hands over his mouth as I raised a finger to my lips.

    I didn¡¯t know how to stop fights without violence, usually, but I had a good feeling I could shock them into silence¡ªfiguratively. Literally too, if they pushed me to it.

    ¡°Well, now I understand why Ciheri was handling the cafe by himself!¡± I spoke up, entering the living room, hands on my hips. The twins froze in place before slowly turning to look at me. Jysel looked like a scolded puppy, while Rel had a much fiercer look to him¡ªuntil they noticed my arms.

    ¡°Elara? Why hadn¡¯t I heard of this change?¡± Rel demanded, his tone one of concern. He hurried over to me and took my left hand in his, gently lifting my arm so he could study it. His fingers running across my Syldrari skin felt unlike anything I¡¯d felt before. I jolted so hard I nearly pulled my arm out of his hand, bringing a mischievous smile to his lips. It was many times more intense than what my human skin had felt, and somehow seemed more¡­intimate.

    I decided to try and act like it hadn¡¯t happened.

    ¡°Which part? Me being awake, or the spreading change?¡± I asked sarcastically, before giving him a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been awake for an hour or three at most, so I really couldn¡¯t answer that question.¡±

    Jysel hesitated, taking my right hand, then knelt and bowed his head, his expression pained. ¡°I will accept any punishment you deem fitting.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Punishment?¡± I stared down at him blankly, watching a faint flinch twitch through him.

    ¡°I never should have injured a queen so gravely. Salaith-daiyr, I must pay for¡ª¡± Jysel went silent when I pulled my hand from his, and instead placed it on top of his head, ruffling his hair.

    ¡°You did what it took for both of us to survive as ourselves from that mess. Right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but¡­.¡± he hesitated, his glow flickering through multiple emotions. ¡°A single Lun¡¯iri¡¯s life is worth much less than a queen¡¯s, and if I left any scarring, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Jysel. I¡¯m fine. If you¡¯re going to worry, then you should figure out why the cult also wants me to live,¡± I stated, ruffling his hair again before withdrawing my hand to my side.

    ¡°Is¡­that an order?¡± Jysel glanced up, his expression unreadable.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s redirection because I¡¯m not comfortable with people acting subservient to me,¡± I answered, giving him a smile. ¡°Besides, I looked through my files on my way here. It looks to me like you mostly healed me before anyone else got to me.¡±

    Jysel flushed and looked away, rising to his feet. He retreated to a plush chair and sunk into it, crossing his arms defensively.

    ¡°We have much we need to discuss with you,¡± Rel murmured, bringing a hand up to my cheek and running his knuckles down it. ¡°Ciheri, can you handle the cafe by yourself for a short while longer?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Aldiner should be back soon too!¡± Ciheri gave me an excited wave, then pranced back out of the apartment.

    ¡°You should be resting.¡± Rel led me over to a sofa and pointed at it insistently. ¡°Sit. I will fetch us drinks.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Three

    Chapter Three

    I watched Jysel pace around the living room, his expression intense but otherwise unreadable. Rel had come and set down drinks for us but had left again while murmuring something about making breakfast for us. My protests had been halted by my growling stomach.

    I almost told Jysel he was going to wear out the floor, then thought better of it. He seemed genuinely worried for me, so the least I could do was try to be more friendly toward him. Even if we had been greatly at odds for a while now. ¡°Jysel, are you alright?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Jysel stated simply. He continued to pace, then slowed to a stop and glanced toward me. ¡°¡­you aren¡¯t angry with me at all?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a little annoyed you pushed me into the kuhir-dal state during our fight,¡± I informed him wryly, leaning back in my seat. ¡°But I¡¯m not angry, no. I¡¯m sure it was more convincing for any onlookers with me being in that state, anyway.¡±

    ¡°I thought I would learn something by pushing you, or perhaps create some entertainment, at least, but¡­¡± Jysel seemed to struggle to find words for a moment, as if the human tongue didn¡¯t have a word for what he wished to express. ¡°I caused you physical harm, and I could have caused you psychological harm if I hadn¡¯t been strong enough to contend with you. Treating someone who may become my¡­queen, in such a way, is¡ª¡±

    ¡°Please. Don¡¯t cripple yourself with what sounds like an outdated sense of honor.¡± I sighed at him, crossing one leg over the other.

    Jysel whipped around to face me. ¡°It is no such thing! The human tongue simply¡­ It doesn¡¯t have a way for me to properly and platonically express my concerns or apologies.¡±

    ¡°Try,¡± I mused. ¡°Take a deep breath, calm down, and try to think about it with less emotion.¡±

    Jysel sighed in aggravation before doing as I¡¯d recommended. He was silent for a short while, then spoke more confidently, ¡°Harming you, especially so gravely, is a type of betrayal in our culture. The closest human comparison I can find would be if a dominant romantic partner failed to take the proper precautions before engaging in potentially damaging ¡®play.¡¯ Such risk and damage would not only cause harm, but a loss of trust.

    ¡°I¡¯ve failed to protect you from my mother, from the human government¡­and from me. By all our customs, my life should be yours to do with as you see fit.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m telling you that, in that situation, our only choice was to nearly kill each other.¡± I narrowed my eyes at him, then pointed at the seat to my left on the couch. It took most of my self-control to refrain from telling him outright to sit. ¡°And for the Resonance Weapon, that isn¡¯t your fault. I¡¯m not going to hold you responsible. As far as I¡¯m concerned, the one responsible has been dealt with and it¡¯s in the past.¡±

    Jysel mouthed a few times, his glow wavering between yellow and light pink with a blue aura, before promptly sitting to my left and clasping his hands into fists in his lap, his glow settling on a ¡®stealthy¡¯ silver.

    I sighed softly and shifted to look at him. ¡°Do you need my verbal forgiveness?¡±

    ¡°No¡­but I¡­I would like it,¡± Jysel answered quietly, averting his gaze, his fists clenching tight in his lap. His skin flushed a darker blue, even to the tips of his ears.

    I wasn¡¯t sure what I¡¯d expected the answer to be, but at least I had one. Concern lingered in the back of my mind, telling me that his desire for forgiveness might be driven by the wrong motives, such as my status as an iri, or the queenlike powers I had.

    But¡­it wasn¡¯t my place to deny him forgiveness either, even if I thought I¡¯d already expressed that I held no grudge.

    ¡°Jysel, I forgive you¡ªand commend you for doing what needed to be done,¡± I finally spoke up, keeping my tone level and gentle, attempting to keep any commanding qualities out of my tone just to be safe. ¡°One or both of us would be gone if you hadn¡¯t shown the proper resolve in that moment. Instead, you dealt with me as necessary and bought your team time to disable the resonance weapon. You should be celebrating your success.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Jysel¡¯s eyes ticked back and forth rapidly as if processing what I said, his jaw growing slack. ¡°You mean it.¡±

    ¡°That I do.¡± I leaned forward a little and tilted my head, trying to get a better gauge of his expression. ¡°I take it you¡¯ve met little-to-no ¡®nice¡¯ iri.¡±

    ¡°Jysel has spent most of his time around queens and¡­¡± Rel trailed off in thought as he carried two platters into the room. ¡°¡­ah. The closest translation is ¡®nobles.¡¯ Upper class citizens? Something of that sort. The rich and the powerful¡­which admittedly means something quite different on Syldra. Jysel has had little interaction with iri who aren¡¯t raised in the upper echelons of society.

    ¡°Iri who are more reasonable, such as yourself, usually belong to the ¡®common¡¯ class or were born off-world. Culture on Syldra and culture on exploratory vessels are similar. It¡¯s the ships and fleets belonging to the problematic minority of queens that have the less welcoming cultures.¡±

    Jysel let out a grumpy ¡®humph¡¯ before asking, ¡°Can we save telling her my life story for some other time? We have more important¡ª¡±

    ¡°Letting our future queen get to know us is important as well,¡± Rel interrupted as he placed the platters down on the coffee table. When he straightened, a devious smile came to his lips and he made a motion with one hand. My body lifted a few inches off the sofa cushions, startling me, and he dropped me so that I was hip-to-hip with Jysel. Then, he took a seat to my right, just as close, and began preparing a plate of food. ¡°Now then, since we have you here¡ª¡±

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    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®future queen?¡¯¡± I demanded. ¡°And, you could have asked me to move.¡±

    Rel caught me by the jaw with his free hand, that same alluringly devious smile spreading across his face again. ¡°Or I could make certain you¡¯re where you¡¯ll behave yourself¡­and perhaps we enjoy watching you squirm.

    ¡°Now then. As I was saying, we have decided that, should Citomy offer us to you again, you should accept.¡±

    ¡°What? What?¡± I exclaimed. ¡°I don¡¯t want you two to be forced into¡ª¡±

    ¡°We would have you claim us right now if you could control your power,¡± Jysel stated quietly, his gaze fixed on the opposite wall instead of me, even as his hand slipped over and wrapped gently around my arm. ¡°We¡­¡±

    ¡°We decided that we quite like you.¡±

    ¡°¡­and that you wouldn¡¯t strip us of who we are. We agreed that¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªyou would allow us to continue our respective missions as well as our joint one. And, if you become our queen, that provides our clan a degree of safety we cannot.¡±

    ¡°And¡­we would have an easier time protecting you if you became our queen. We wouldn¡¯t have to worry that¡­that one of your enemies might take us first.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow and looked between the two. ¡°Do you always do that when you¡¯re together?¡±

    ¡°Only when we¡¯re around someone we¡¯ve decided to trust.¡± Rel lifted the plate in his left hand and a fork in his right, then gave me an amused look. ¡°You need to eat. Shall I feed you?¡±

    ¡°That isn¡¯t¡ª¡± I started to protest.

    ¡°Hey. I want to feed her too,¡± Jysel interjected, abruptly pulling me closer to him.

    ¡°We can split the work, of course,¡± Rel stated calmly. He promptly stuffed a biscuit in my mouth when I went to protest again. ¡°You caught our attention, Elara, and we¡¯ve decided to treat you accordingly. If we¡¯re making you uncomfortable, then of course we will stop.¡±

    I can feed myself and I prefer to, I shot back mentally, hoping one or both were listening in, as I could only chew so fast.

    ¡°Ah¡­but we like showing care instead of speaking it. Hmm¡­¡± Rel murmured distractedly, his gaze drifting away from me while he thought.

    I managed to finish chewing, so I spoke up, ¡°I would like an explanation of the whole¡­speaking together? Thing you were doing.¡±

    ¡°When around people we trust, we let down the barriers that keep our thoughts fully separate. Syldrari twins are deeply connected¡ªwe can ¡®think together,¡¯ process that information and our counter arguments, settle the argument, and then choose which one of us speaks. All in the time it takes an individual to process their comments for a normal conversation.¡± Rel shrugged and gave me a small, crooked smile. ¡°You insist you won¡¯t let us take care of you?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to be¡­babied,¡± I grumbled. There was something appealing about the idea of having them dote on me, but I didn¡¯t want to listen to that part of myself.

    ¡°Give in,¡± Rel spoke by my ear, his voice rumbling through me. When I glanced at him, I spotted an inviting smirk on his lips. ¡°You should be resting, after all.¡±

    ¡°Let us take care of you,¡± Jysel murmured, lifting my left hand to his lips, his eyes fierce but otherwise unreadable.

    ¡°I think you deserve some pampering after everything you¡¯ve dealt with while working for the humans,¡± Rel added, lifting the fork again and giving me a pointed smile. ¡°And, you shouldn¡¯t deny yourself just because you¡¯re suspicious about what part of yourself is telling you to accept our offer.¡±

    ¡°The ¡®queen¡¯ part of you is dormant right now,¡± Jysel spoke into my skin, his lips drifting toward my wrist.

    With the new intensity of sensation I felt through my Syldrari skin, I couldn¡¯t hold back a shiver when Jysel¡¯s lips traced over the sensitive underside of my wrist. His eyes flicked up to meet mine, a triumphant smirk spreading across his lips.

    ¡°Well, Elara?¡± Rel prompted with a smirk of his own as Jysel carefully placed my hand back in my lap.

    ¡°¡­fine. Just this once,¡± I grumbled, feeling my face heat up, and catching that my glow had turned a veritable monochromatic rainbow of pinks.

    ¡°As for what we were saying about trusting you,¡± Jysel began as Rel proceeded to feed me cut up bits of a Syldrari crepe-thing, ¡°twins aren¡¯t common in our species and we have just as many myths about twins as humans do, if not more.¡±

    ¡°Which results in people becoming quite uncomfortable around us if we choose to express ourselves in this fashion, even if it is the most honest representation of ourselves,¡± Rel continued, before tilting his head faintly and studying me. ¡°Slow down, Elara. I won¡¯t have you choking because you decided to inhale your food.¡±

    ¡°See? Letting us feed you was a good move after all,¡± Jysel remarked dryly.

    Rel chuckled. ¡°Anyway, since we have decided we trust you and want you to be our queen, we felt it important you begin to learn the quirks that come with us being twins.¡±

    ¡°Sometimes people struggle to keep up when we talk like this, in which case we will find a middle ground that works for that individual,¡± Jysel added, rubbing his chin in thought. ¡°It¡¯s important to us that we maintain separate senses of identity, and that the people in our lives can keep us separated too.¡±

    Without saying anything to each other, Rel handed the plate and fork across me and over to Jysel, who took it but hesitated to check if I was ¡®following along.¡¯

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we have to worry about that,¡± Rel remarked, readjusting to lean into me and rest his head sideways onto my shoulder. ¡°You haven¡¯t lost track yet, have you, Elara?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡± I murmured, glancing between the two briefly. ¡°I think it¡¯d be a little too arrogant of me to claim for certain that I didn¡¯t lose track, even if I¡¯m fairly confident I didn¡¯t. After all, I can see whose mouth is moving.¡±

    ¡°Enough talking. Eat.¡± Jysel pouted at me and lifted the fork, his cheeks flushing again. ¡°You need to regain your strength, and I don¡¯t trust those damned human¡­things to give you the nutrition a Syldrari needs.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ I wonder if we can coax that power out of you¡­¡± Rel murmured, his fingertips trailing along the top of my thigh. ¡°In a small, controlled manner¡­¡±

    ¡°It might be enough to ¡®bind us¡¯ without any of the negative effects that can be caused by lacking control,¡± Jysel suggested but, as I chewed, I shook my head in response. ¡°You have a better idea?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to get my other abilities under control, so I can have a better understanding of¡­ahn¡­ Rel, stop that!¡± I shuddered, feeling his sharp nails trace down the underside of my forearm, his breath a little too close to my neck. Sure, it felt incredible, but I wasn¡¯t there for the teasing they seemed to want to doll out.

    ¡°Mmm? Your skin is that sensitive?¡± Rel traced his fingers carefully from my Syldrari skin to my human upper arm, his intense gaze studying the way my physical reactions changed.

    ¡°Interesting¡­ Your human skin is accurate in its lack of sensory feedback,¡± Jysel remarked tilting his head to study me briefly, before giving me a small smile and offering me the final bite of food. ¡°See? Letting us take care of you now and then isn¡¯t so bad¡­ Right?¡±

    Jysel looked so damned happy and hopeful that I couldn¡¯t bring myself to even feign displeasure with the situation. Or tease. I didn¡¯t want to somehow hurt his feelings or crush his mood by attempting to be playful or sarcastic.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t ¡®bad,¡¯ it¡¯s just¡­new. And I still don¡¯t have a grasp on how to tell when one of you truly wants to do something instead of¡­¡± I trailed off and gave them a sheepish look.

    ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s healthy to indulge,¡± Rel remarked, giving me a mysterious smile. ¡°Now then, why don¡¯t you regale us with what your current orders are, and we can teach you how to deal with Citomy when she offers us to you again.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Four

    Chapter Four

    I stared down at the dark, neon-lit city below, feeling strangely detached from it. The sights, the sounds, the smells¡­it wasn¡¯t right. Sighing, I crossed my arms over my stomach and tracked the coming and going ships. I hadn¡¯t felt so disjointed and separated from the world since I¡¯d lived in my isolation cell.

    Something had ¡®clicked¡¯ when I left the Syldrari Sector several hours prior. It wasn¡¯t just their damned teasing that had made me reluctant to leave the sector. It was the fact I felt more like myself there. I didn¡¯t have to keep up the false human identity that was slowly fading away.

    I fidgeted, rubbing the back of my neck, before turning and heading back inside. My suit materialized as I walked, and Zafir spared me a concerned glance before looking to the rest of the team.

    ¡°You will be working from different parts of the area, making sure exits are covered¡ªthat kind of thing. Lethe and Acheron will be heading inside,¡± Zafir informed everyone firmly. Then, he turned to me. ¡°You¡¯re to arrest or kill Consul Gallus. Imperator Julien won¡¯t suffer his interference with Syldrari relations anymore¡­or the manner of business he is running. You have your breathing filters?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Not a fan of modding my mask, but I get the idea. Wouldn¡¯t be good for us to get drugged or gassed.¡± I nodded to him, and he frowned slightly. ¡°What about the people working there?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll be taken care of appropriately.¡± Zafir nodded faintly. ¡°We have already made arrangements with their embassies, and several of our allies have offered to assist with any humans who may work there.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Alright.¡± I nodded.

    Zafir hesitated, before steeling himself and giving everyone else orders to move out. He placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me, and murmured, ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°What is the mental equivalent of cellular dissonance?¡± I countered just as quietly, giving him a brief smile. ¡°Instead of feeling like I¡¯m in the wrong skin¡­I feel like I¡¯m looking at an illusion placed over what I¡¯m supposed to be seeing.¡±

    ¡°¡­will it effect the mission?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then we will discuss it when you return. I will require more detail before I can say anything,¡± Zafir answered softly, a hint of pain in his voice. ¡°Be careful. Withdraw if you must. These people are loyal to Consul Gallus and not the Imperator.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯ll try to leave some pieces of them left.¡± I stalked off toward my skybike, mentally shoving back against the growing desire to eviscerate the humans. Oh come on. I¡¯m not even there yet. Save the judgment until you¡¯ve seen them being horrible. It¡¯s what you do for the Syldrari.

    That was it. The tickle in the back of my mind that I¡¯d been trying to ignore since waking up. I paused and called out to Zafir, ¡°Hey! What if Syldrari criminals show up?¡±

    Zafir bristled and shook his head sharply. ¡°You will retreat and lure them out for capture. Citomy will have ships stealthed nearby with men to arrest them. We¡¯re to treat them as though they¡¯re her jurisdiction.¡±

    ¡°¡­right. Okay.¡± I grimaced, before summoning my modified visor. It now had a form-fitting mask covering the lower half of my face, with various filtration devices to keep out any drugs, gas, or other toxic substances that might be floating around where we were going.

    We loaded our skybikes onto the waiting transport vehicle, and a fidgety Erik in full combat gear walked over to me, keeping his voice low. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s good to see you up and around again, but isn¡¯t this a little too soon for you to be going on a mission?¡±

    ¡°Something like that,¡± I mused. ¡°Orders are orders, right?¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± Erik sighed, slumping a little. ¡°You need help, you call. I know a lot of the Syldrari in there. They¡¯ll help me get you out.¡±

    ¡°¡­are you telling me that your ¡®stomping grounds¡¯ is the red-light district?¡± I asked suddenly, it made sense why I always heard dance music and other people in the background whenever I called him to pick me up.

    ¡°Someone had to get information, and they¡¯re very¡­appreciative to allies.¡±

    Erik shot me a confident grin before retreating into the main cabin. I let out a sigh of disbelief. No wonder he was so tolerable. He was a xenophile. Better a xenophile than a xenophobe, right?

    I shook my head and looked over at Aisu, or rather, Acheron. She seemed nervous about something and kept fidgeting with her gloves and picking at the piping along her suit. Finally, I asked, ¡°What is it, Acheron?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with the government and sending us in the front door?¡± She muttered, shaking her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like this. It doesn¡¯t feel right. Not when you¡¯ve been awake less than a day.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s almost like someone¡¯s wanted us dead for months,¡± I answered sarcastically, getting a brief snort of laughter out of her. ¡°We¡¯ll watch each other¡¯s backs and take no chances. Our primary mission is still survival.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Gotta live long enough to kick that bitch Sydney¡¯s ass!¡± Acheron snorted irritably.

    I cocked my head. ¡°You don¡¯t like her either, huh?¡±

    ¡°Fuck no. She smells like you but rotten. Something just ain¡¯t right with that one.¡± Acheron shook her head hard. ¡°Uh¡­ Not that I go ¡®round sniffin¡¯ you or anything. My sense of smell¡¯s been gettin¡¯ real strong real fast.¡±

    ¡°Right. Mines stayed mostly the same, but my vision¡­¡± I paused, not quite sure how to explain it. ¡°Everything seems¡­clearer and more vibrant. Now and then, I think I catch glimpses of things beyond the human spectrum.¡±

    ¡°Good to know it ain¡¯t just me,¡± Acheron remarked with a laugh. ¡°You get scared about changin¡¯, sometimes?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ Kind of.¡± I frowned, mulling it over. ¡°I¡¯m more scared of not changing. Beyond that, though, I¡¯m more worried about maintaining our arrangement with the government. I¡¯d like a better sense of security in my¡­retirement options.¡±

    ¡°Point taken,¡± Acheron muttered, her voice giving me the impression that she was grimacing.

    When the ship set down, we zipped off in our skybikes to position around a tall, asymmetrical building in the ¡®entertainment district.¡¯ I lost track of the number of drug dealers, gangers, gamblers, brawlers, and prostitutes¡ªhuman or alien¡ªthat I saw. Within just a few yards I spotted at least eight people that I¡¯d need to arrest under any other circumstances.

    Our orders were to ignore the district¡¯s denizens aside from our target, so that¡¯s what I did. Acheron and I walked right up to the front door and exchanged a look¡ªwhere were the bouncers?

    Without prompting, she and I moved to opposite sides and pushed the doors in, expecting to be shot at. Again, nothing. I went silent and listened for a moment, then stepped into the building and grimaced at the sight on the floor. ¡°Found the bouncers. Proceed assuming there are other hostiles in the¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey there, ih¡¯kaeya,¡± a familiar voice interjected hurriedly, and Aldiner of all people barred my way. He was wearing¡­something, at least? Barely?

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I decided not to comment on the tiny, shiny¡­ What do I even call those? Is that a thong? Shorts? Can shorts be see-through? Is that supposed to be sexy? Because it isn¡¯t.

    ¡°Hey. Back off.¡± Acheron took a step forward, but Aldiner raised his hands placatingly.

    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to make sure Elara here gets the right kind of hospitality here, and none of what¡¯s going on downstairs." Aldiner gave us a smile, then pitched his voice to a sultrier tone and looked at me again, ¡°Whatever you want. Maybe a dance? I¡¯ve got some fun new routines I could show you. I don¡¯t usually¡­¡± he paused momentarily, ¡°I don¡¯t usually mate with customers, but for you I¡¯ll make an exception if that¡¯s what you want, and what will keep you out of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Is this bastard¡ª¡± Acheron started to snarl, but I raised a hand. Aldiner had pitched his voice quite low for that last bit, and his demeanor had briefly shifted.

    ¡°Maybe a dance,¡± I answered slowly, studying Aldiner and his ravelight glow. His colors kept flashing all over the place, but his eyes held a brief glimpse of immense relief.

    Aldiner promptly came up alongside me and took my arm, guiding me over the dead humans and then away from them. ¡°Aw, just a dance? I¡¯d be more than happy to show you my full hospitality.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re on a job,¡± I pointed out dryly, following him into a small private room with a stage, a sofa, and some display cases of questionable paraphernalia. A tickle of energy crackled across the room, making my skin prickle, and Aldiner mostly dropped the act. Some form of ¡®security,¡¯ I figured.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, of all the times for the government to send you here¡­¡± Aldiner sighed heavily and rubbed his temples, then glanced at me around his hand. ¡°What would you like me to wear?¡±

    ¡°Yes, well, we have a job to do and¡ª Huh? Wear?¡± I stopped, aghast. ¡°How about, instead, you tell us where the bastard who runs this place is. Then¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh no. Absolutely not. He is already getting what he deserves, and I am not letting you get in the way,¡± Aldiner stated flatly. He closed the distance between us and motioned at his bare chest, leaning down a little. ¡°Dress me or¡­tch, what was the human word again?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re gonna fuck each other, I¡¯m out,¡± Acheron stated flatly.

    ¡°That¡¯s the one. Thanks. Knew mate didn¡¯t sound right.¡± Aldiner shot her a cheerful grin.

    ¡°¡­what are your clothing options?¡± I sighed heavily.

    ¡°How about this?¡± He took several steps away and summoned some sort of one-piece body suit thing that barely covered his crotch. If Syldrari had shared human anatomy, his everything would have been exposed. Instead, the strip of cloth just barely covered the slit that hid Syldrari genitalia. Before I could say anything, he switched to a pair of low leather pants. ¡°Maybe this? I¡¯ve seen how you look at Rel when he¡¯s rocking leather.¡±

    ¡°What are you comfortable in?¡± I asked irritably.

    ¡°Skin.¡±

    ¡°As in¡­nude?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°¡­aside from that?¡±

    Aldiner mock-pouted at me. ¡°Aww, but I could help you learn so much. Ah! Or maybe you want to watch me strip it off?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Next, he switched over to an outfit of some style I didn¡¯t recognize. The sheer material didn¡¯t leave much of anything to the imagination, anywhere.

    ¡°Wait. I thought he was male?¡± Acheron asked.

    ¡°I am!¡± Aldiner answered brightly. Then, he reached down and spread two of his fingers like a V above his slit. Before either of us could question what he was doing, a pale blue-grey appendage that looked nothing like a human penis slid out of the slit. Much like his tongue, it had glowing ¡®beads¡¯ running down its length.

    I pulled my gaze away before I could get too curious about how¡­strange it was. ¡°Can you not? This isn¡¯t the time for an anatomy lesson. We need to complete our mission. If you won¡¯t tell us¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, fine. Three different factions of Syldrari are fighting to the bastard right now.¡± Aldiner put away his penis and perched on a nearby chair, looking bored. ¡°Two of which you should stay away from, the third will probably take you off somewhere and never let you go¡ªin the nice way, mind you.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± I stared at him for a moment as he sauntered over to the pole and hopped onto it. ¡°And you¡­work here?¡±

    ¡°As a dancer,¡± Aldiner answered pointedly, swiftly climbing the pole and hanging himself upside down from it. ¡°Multiple clans have been watching this place, and this is the first time in months the head bastard himself had a scheduled visit. Everyone is racing to put him down¡­including you, I suppose.¡±

    Aldiner tilted his head, then sped from the pole and over to me in a motion quicker than I could follow, his fingers coming up to gently tug at the mask on my face, frowning. ¡°Including the human government? Hmmm¡­¡±

    ¡°Oi, hands off the boss lady,¡± Acheron growled, stepping toward Aldiner. She conjured a wicked sword a little longer than she was tall and held it in one hand.

    ¡°Hmm? Oooh, I see. You¡¯re one of her royal guards.¡± Aldiner shot Acheron a blank look, his head tilting as he reexamined her, his pupils consecutively shrinking and expanding a few times. ¡°Where are the rest of them?¡±

    ¡°Royal¡­guard? Nnngggh!¡± Acheron doubled over and grasped her head with one hand, muffled sounds of pain coming from her.

    ¡°What the¡­¡± I looked at Aldiner and pointed to the couch. ¡°Sit.¡±

    I hurried over to Acheron and put a hand on her back, and tried to guide her over to a seat, pull her upright, anything. She dropped to one knee, gasping, and her suit vanished to reveal half her neck¡ªmost of her torso, and one leg had completely turned from her ¡®norma¡¯ skin color to that of ocean hues.

    ¡°Shit. Can you stand up?¡± I gripped her human arm carefully, not wanting to overload her senses by grabbing the one that had turned. ¡°Deep breaths. Try to calm down. We¡¯re still in enemy territory. You¡ª¡±

    ¡°My¡­ I¡¯m a Syldrari?¡± Aisu stared at her other arm like it was a foreign object. Then, a horrified expression spread across her face. ¡°The way I¡­I treated Rel and some others¡­ By the ancestors, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aisu? Fuck!¡± I hissed as she collapsed in place. I looked over to Aldiner. ¡°Got a robe or something she can put on?¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Aldiner frowned at me. Then, he conjured one and tossed it to me. ¡°Here. Not going to blame me?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no telling what will cause someone¡¯s cellular dissonance to accelerate, right?¡± I muttered, struggling to get Aisu into the robe. I reached up to my visor to call for an extraction, but the sound just crackled briefly before dropping into silence. ¡°Aldiner¡ª¡±

    ¡°That one¡¯s not on me,¡± he replied, stretching back in his seat. ¡°The clans knocked all comms out. Best I can do is try to keep you from running into them.¡±

    ¡°By keeping her stationary in one place? Please.¡± A familiar voice reverberated from all around us. Then, a shadowy hole appeared in the floor and a cloaked cultist rose out of it. The writhing sludge set him gently on the floor. Aldiner froze, his light grey skin draining of any remaining color.

    You shouldn¡¯t be here. What I had originally believed to be my instincts sounded¡­different. I heard it when the Syldrari turned to me, and his lips pulled into a small smile. ¡°Your change is progressing too, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯re less obedient.¡±

    The cultist took a few steps in my direction, his footfalls echoing unnaturally. He stopped and lowered his hood, revealing the deep brown skin and piercing green eyes I¡¯d figured were under the hood. Then, he crouched down and looked at Aisu.

    Aldiner, meanwhile, had let out a sound that I assumed was fear or submission, because he had taken to cowering in a corner and his glow was simply¡­off.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I saw an iri royal guard¡­¡± The cultist reached past me, his arm brushing against mine as he carefully placed a hand on Aisu¡¯s head.

    ¡­he didn¡¯t ¡®glitch.¡¯ Oh shit¡ªhe¡¯s the real¡ª

    ¡°Don¡¯t get any cute ideas.¡± The cultist raised a finger to his lips and winked at me, before turning his attention to Aisu. ¡°Aldiner. Report.¡±

    ¡°I-I hadn¡¯t gotten to asking them why they¡¯re here yet¡­¡± Aldiner answered quietly. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen Elara since¡ª¡±

    ¡°Calm down. You¡¯ve done well. Clearly you healed her thoroughly if the humans have her on missions already,¡± the cultist spoke in soothing tones, and Aldiner seemed to relax a little.

    ¡°Do I want to know?¡± I sighed heavily.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you do, but we can¡¯t be divulging all our secrets,¡± the cultist mused, a smile spreading across his lips. ¡°Aldiner infiltrated Resonance Project HQ to heal you, under my orders. Being the naughty child he is, he was planning to do so anyway, but¡­I have resources.¡±

    ¡°Child?¡± I asked skeptically.

    ¡°Ah¡ªa poor choice of words given the situation. My apologies, to you both.¡± The cultist considered something for a moment. ¡°When you¡¯re as old as I am, it¡¯s difficult not to see everyone else as young and immature. The human languages don¡¯t have quite the word I was searching for.¡±

    ¡°And what are you doing to Aisu?¡± I asked, deciding not to drop the harsh edge from my tone. While I didn¡¯t sense any malice from him, I was prepared to take his head if he tried anything harmful.

    He chuckled and turned to study me¡ªor rather, the visor and mask I wore. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to see just how the memories belonging to you and yours were tampered with. Her rather violent reaction to Aldiner¡¯s observation made me more curious.¡± He paused to reveal small devices stuck to his fingertips. ¡°I will give you the simplified version: I am mapping the corridors of her mind so I can determine when, how, and why her memories were altered. If it was done well, she shouldn¡¯t have had such an extreme reaction. In fact¡­ Ah. There it is.¡±

    Any amusement dropped from the cultist¡¯s face. A cloud of hatred, malice, and fury exploded around him without aim, his expression turning fierce and fiery. Aldiner whimpered and shrank back in his seat further, but I didn¡¯t find the reaction so terrible or frightening.

    Instead, I asked, ¡°Well? What is it?¡°

    The cultist paused, his fiery gaze flicking to me, revealing a modicum of surprise, before returning to the unconscious Aisu. ¡°¡­this tampering was done¡­poorly. Her mind will need to be restructured and reorganized if she¡¯s to continue functioning. It is likely the rest of your team¡ªyour guards¡ªwill need the same treatment. I will do this for her, but the rest of your team isn¡¯t so easy for me to access. Aldiner, fetch me my things. I will record what I¡¯ve found, and how I fix it, as a show of good faith for the R¡¯selkti twins¡¯ agent. What was his name again¡­ Zafir, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Aldiner disappeared without a word, and I eyed the cultist warily. He picked up Aisu and set her carefully on the sofa, so I rose to my feet and crossed my arms over my chest. Instead of seeing to Aisu, the cultist turned to me and studied my suit with a small frown. Then, faster than I could follow, I felt my visor and mask lift from my face. In the next moment, he was standing a few feet away with one in each hand, examining them thoroughly.

    ¡°Such a dated design¡­ It¡¯s no wonder her under armor disappeared when she lost consciousness,¡± the cultist remarked, tossing the human-made mask back to me so he could continue going over the visor. He then motioned loosely toward Aisu¡¯s arms and what I assumed her wardrobe module was. ¡°There is no full armor in her integrated armory, either. It is likely the same for the rest of you. An¡­odd choice, to put it mildly. Hmmm¡­¡±

    He turned to study my face, his head tilting to the side, his eyes flicking to and fro at such speed I had to wonder how he didn¡¯t make himself dizzy.

    ¡°Care to share your thoughts?¡± I asked irritably.

    ¡°Ah. Apologies,¡± he murmured, returning his attention to my visor in his hands. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t quite be able to date this design as it¡¯s been modified heavily both by Syldrari and human hands. It could be a century old, or it could be several thousand. However, it appears that it was never tied to a full suit of armor. Meaning, you and your guards never had proper protection. This planet may not be hostile in comparison to most, but¡­if your clan was traveling throughout the surrounding systems, you would have needed better protection. It¡¯s an oddity, and it is lacking any artistic nuance that would help identify a clan.

    ¡°I also find it strange that you don¡¯t find my presence unsettling or frightening.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more scared of the humans than I am of you,¡± I answered flatly, giving him an unamused look. ¡°From what I can tell so far, most of the Syldrari clans would try to ¡®rescue¡¯ me or would kill me outright.¡±

    He cocked his head faintly. ¡°Mmm. Understandable. I¡¯m glad your eyes are open enough to understand who the monsters are on this planet. Even so, this model of suit won¡¯t last you long¡ªyour fight with that Jysel boy should have proved that. Since the humans didn¡¯t attempt to armor you further¡­ Ah. I see, there are still some who want you dead, yes?¡±

    ¡°Of course there are. You have met humans, right?¡± I rolled my eyes as the cultist turned to study me, an odd look on his face. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You keep tapping your forearms and flinching.¡± He furrowed his brow, and I just stared at him blankly.

    ¡°I¡¯m what?¡±

    ¡°Show me.¡± He took a step forward but made no other movement aside from that.

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Something told me that ¡®disobedience¡¯ wasn¡¯t the route to take. I hesitated, then let my suit melt away to a tank top and pants, revealing my blue arms and the patterned glow that reached almost to my elbows.

    ¡°I have your¡ª Whoa!¡± Aldiner exclaimed upon reappearing in the room beside us. ¡°E-Elara, what?¡±

    The cultist frowned and looked at Aldiner. ¡°She wasn¡¯t like this when you healed her?¡±

    ¡°It happened sometime after. I don¡¯t know the full details.¡± I shook my head at the two of them, then resummoned my suit abruptly. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of¡­sensory overload with my Syldrari skin. My human skin doesn¡¯t feel anywhere near as much sensation or¡­minutia?¡±

    ¡°Then I was right, you were all tampered with more than merely forcing you to remain shifted,¡± the cultist muttered bitterly, before turning his attention to Aldiner. ¡°Keep Elara entertained while I see to her guard¡ªand hide the door to this room, while you¡¯re at it. It wouldn¡¯t do for the other clans, or mine, to stumble across us while I work.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Five

    ¡°He¡¯ll help her, Elara. Really,¡± Aldiner attempted to reassure me as I paced past him for the umpteenth time. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit down? I¡¯m good with my hands. I could give you a massage if it¡¯ll help! Or¡­¡±

    Aldiner floundered, motioning with his hands as he tried to think of something, anything to get me to cool off. We had been like this for the past hour. They wouldn¡¯t let me go outside to warn my team what was going on, and they wouldn¡¯t reenable my comms either. If my team was following protocols, they would remain hidden and lying in wait until they could get more information.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like sitting around doing nothing.¡± I shook my head. ¡°And that official is supposed to be mine to kill. Why haven¡¯t they finished dealing with him yet?¡±

    ¡°Because killing him doesn¡¯t lead to information,¡± Aldiner answered placatingly, moving his hands in an unfamiliar gesture. ¡°Please. Sit? What can I do¡ª¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± I sat abruptly and crossed my arms.

    Aldiner flinched slightly, looking taken aback. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t find you someone more pleasing for entertainment. We evacuated everyone already. Um¡­¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± I shot him a perplexed glance, then paused. Aldiner looked devastated. ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Is it¡­is it because I¡¯m affiliated with the ¡®cult?¡¯¡± Aldiner asked, gripping his chest with one hand as he leaned toward me, desperately searching my face. ¡°You can trust me, Elara, really! They¡¯re not really a cult, they¡¯ve just been labeled as such because they were exiled. I¡¯m one of their connections to the Syldra mainstream. That¡¯s all!¡±

    I just stared at him. ¡°Uh¡­? Is what because¡­ I¡¯m confused.¡±

    Aldiner scrunched his nose and cocked his head. ¡°That¡­isn¡¯t the reason you won¡¯t let me entertain or relax you? Oh! Do you prefer Rel?¡±

    ¡°Honestly!¡± The cultist exclaimed without turning around. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want ¡®services.¡¯ It is simple as that. Get out of your own head and study her colors. She is too stressed to accept methods of relaxation or entertainment.¡±

    Aldiner hesitated to examine me. Once he did, his glow shifted yellow and he looked away, flushing blue. ¡°S-sorry. I¡¯m not used to someone not demanding service. Let alone saying ¡®no.¡¯¡±

    I eyed the uncharacteristically nervous Syldrari as he fidgeted with his sheer crop top. After a moment, I decided a change of subject was in order. ¡°Thank you for healing me.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª?¡± Aldiner¡¯s eyes widened, and he flushed darker. ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me. I just did my duty. Leaving a queen half dead would have been¡­ I was able to do something about it, so I did.¡±

    ¡°You really don¡¯t know what to do with yourself, do you?¡± I studied Aldiner, watching him squirm as I did so. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit down and collect yourself? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to run off without Aisu.¡±

    ¡°Sitting still just makes me antsy.¡± Aldiner twisted bangles around his wrist absentmindedly. ¡°Dance is what helps me. But, if I can¡¯t dance for you¡­¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you dance for yourself?¡± I blinked at him.

    The cultist let out a snort of laughter. ¡°She has a point. Stop letting us make you so nervous. Neither of us will bite.¡±

    ¡°She might,¡± Aldiner pointed out, eyeing me. ¡°I bet you¡¯re a biter. You¡¯ve got that vibe. We aren¡¯t chew toys, you know.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t toys, period. That doesn¡¯t mean biting is a bad¡ª Nuh uh. I¡¯m not falling into that trap.¡± I crossed my arms and shot Aldiner a mock-grumpy look. He cracked a smile and let out a little laugh, seeming to relax a little. Progress. Now what?

    ¡°If you promise you won¡¯t run off, I¡¯ll dance while you pace or sit,¡± Aldiner offered after thinking for a moment. ¡°I can talk while I dance, but I can¡¯t promise I¡¯m a good conversationalist. Most queens don¡¯t particularly want anything beyond physical prowess from their entertainment.¡±

    ¡°I just want you to be unapologetically you,¡± I stated with a shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about what queens want. Syldrari have a beautiful, eclectic, artistic culture where self-expression should be encouraged. Bending to the whims of queens is nonsensical to me.¡±

    ¡°While you¡¯re not wrong, do you think you could say the same if you didn¡¯t have such power?¡± The cultist inquired, while Aldiner simply frowned and rubbed his jaw in thought.

    ¡°Yes. I was prepared to rot in my isolation cell to uphold my morals, and that was before I had any grasp on what my power meant,¡± I answered plainly. ¡°You¡¯re talking to someone whose mind was wiped clean. I¡¯m quite certain that the personality I developed in isolation would have been the same with or without the power of a queen. Power was never part of the equation in that hellhole.¡±

    ¡°Okay, what if I show you a Syldrari battle dance instead of something saucy?¡± Aldiner spoke up suddenly, his expression brightening. ¡°Your discomfort is with ¡®services,¡¯ right? But you like learning Syldrari culture. Or I suppose relearning it. The others can¡¯t show you dances, but I can!¡±

    ¡°Is that what you want to do?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Aldiner smiled brightly, his colors sparking dozens of hues. ¡°Sit? Please?¡±

    I did as he asked, deciding that further refusal would be simply¡­obstinate. Once I was comfortable, Aldiner pulled a pair of translucent, intricate chakram-like weapons from his module and began to dance with them.

    Aldiner twirled past me, his lean, muscular body stretching and bending gracefully to the beat of whatever he¡¯d chosen to listen to in his head. He looked much¡­freer and relaxed than any other time I¡¯d seen him. ¡°So, Elara, what would you like to talk about?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± I tracked his movements while I thought, watching as he leapt past the working cultist, leaving paths of vibrant light on the air behind him¡ªthough when I blinked, they went away. For a moment, I considered asking about that. But, then I recalled something from when I had met a cultist for the second time. Something that had been bugging me in the back of my mind. ¡°I¡¯d like to know more about Syldrari ¡®kings.¡¯ What is the proper word for them, why did this Lun¡¯iri or one of his companions call Rel his king?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ You always go straight for the difficult ones,¡± Aldiner remarked, though the cultist made no motion to indicate he¡¯d heard the question. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­you know that they¡¯re men of power, its rumored the Abyss Father was one, and that many kings have been killed or coerced into swearing their allegiance to a queen. Right?¡±

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    ¡°Yeah¡­ Have I mentioned your culture frustrates me?¡± I sighed and sunk back in my chair, watching as Aldiner smiled and continued dancing around the room.

    ¡°The Syldran word for ¡®king¡¯ is Ter¡¯suline,¡± the cultist stated without moving, his eyes remaining closed and his hands around Aisu¡¯s head. ¡°That word is lost to the current culture, only slurs remain. Slurs I will not repeat, and neither will you, Aldiner.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­ Ter¡¯suline it is.¡± Aldiner slowed to a stop, shooting the cultist an odd look before taking a few steps toward me. ¡°I don¡¯t know why Rel would have been called a king. Sure, he¡¯s a founder of a clan and he¡¯s an Elder in it. But that¡¯s it. I¡¯ve never felt or seen queen-like power from him.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps it is easier to overlook because Lun¡¯iri have become so weak,¡± the cultist muttered bitterly, leaving Aisu to rest on the sofa. He stood and walked over to join us, his expression pained and a touch hollow.

    ¡°Weak? I disagree.¡± I shook my head.

    The cultist eyed me doubtfully. ¡°And why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because a determined Lun¡¯iri will move the stars for a cause or a queen he believes in. There¡¯s nothing weak about that,¡± I answered, the words coming out of my mouth before I even fully understood what I was saying. Yet, it was what I believed, deep in my bones. ¡°Some people may say that only happens because queens manipulate them into action. I disagree.

    ¡°There are those who move stars, there are those who fight or guard, there are Lun¡¯iri who are better off as¡­forgive me for the phrasing, but they are better as pets, entertainment, or caregivers due to their personalities. They are strong in different ways. I think¡­a weak Lun¡¯iri would simply ¡®exist¡¯ or ¡®accept¡¯ his role in a clan. The strong embrace it and turn it into a source of power.¡±

    ¡°¡­yet you have no memory from before the Resonance Incident?¡± The cultist studied me, a wry smile on his face. ¡°You are convincing when you speak. Tell me, are you certain you don¡¯t understand Syldran?¡±

    ¡°What¡­? No, no I do not.¡±

    ¡°Ter¡¯suline translates to, ¡®he who moves the stars.¡¯ The word was taken from the name of one of the first ¡®kings¡¯¡ªa Lun¡¯iri who was a fierce warrior and would do anything for his nesting group, and especially for his queen, their children, and their clan.¡± The cultist mused, his eyes going out of focus. ¡°If I recall correctly¡­Clan R¡¯selkti can be traced back to his bloodline.¡±

    ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t you, but was your ¡®vessel,¡¯ who called Rel¡­?¡±

    The cultist nodded. ¡°Yes, he sensed immense potential from Rel. Not knowing what else to call him, he leapt to a conclusion. I haven¡¯t had the opportunity to confirm the theory.¡±

    ¡°Elara, please you have to be careful. If people suspect Rel is¡­¡± Aldiner paused, clutching his chest, his brow knitting as he searched for words, ¡°¡­Rel will be executed or worse if people think he is a king.¡±

    Or worse¡­? I looked between the two, both looked uncomfortable. ¡°I have no intention of putting any of you in danger, including Rel. I¡¯m just¡­ trying to regain my lost culture.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps we should worry about the conflict outside, first.¡± The cultist stepped past me, pulling a bladed staff of some unknown design from his armory module. ¡°If you will excuse me for a moment.¡±

    He phased through the wall and Aldiner promptly latched onto my arm, leaning down a little closer. ¡°I¡­appreciate what you said about Lun¡¯iri. Really, I do. But you need to be careful. If anyone suspects Rel or Jysel¡­¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s serious when you stop being naughty,¡± I remarked dryly, earning a fang-filled grin in response.

    ¡°Hey, if you finally get too frustrated¡­¡± he stuck his dual or split tongues out of his mouth and bent one up, the other down, and gave me a wink before sauntering off, leaving it at that.

    ¡­yeah no. Let¡¯s not dwell on that. I shook my head and gave Aldiner the most neutral look I could manage. ¡°You know, I¡¯m going to have a hard time explaining this to HQ. Citomy is the one who arranged for my team to be sent here and deal with this official.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm? Really?¡± Aldiner murmured, bringing a hand up to the pole in the room and gracefully circling around it, shooting me a devious smile. ¡°That¡¯s interesting. Her Royal C¡¯sej has no one in the building. There¡¯s me, there¡¯s the V¡¯shir, the ¡®cult,¡¯ and there¡¯s Jysel¡¯s people¡­¡±

    ¡°A fourth clan has appeared¡ªanother group of exiles,¡± the cultist stated as he walked back into the room. ¡°We¡¯re going to be trapped here for a while. Elara, I want to study your mind, if you wouldn¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°¡­I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to say ¡®no¡¯ after I trusted you to put Aisu back together.¡± I eyed him as he walked toward me. ¡°If you find any secret military information in there¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªI didn¡¯t learn it from you.¡± He held a finger up, his lips pulling into an amused smile. ¡°It isn¡¯t government information I¡¯m after. After seeing the contents of Aisu¡¯s mind and the manner in which her memories were altered¡­ I want to know where the differences are with you.

    ¡°Sit back and relax. If you feel any discomfort, tell me. You shouldn¡¯t suffer any pain from this process, but if you do¡­¡±

    Why am I agreeing to this¡­? Curiosity? Naivety? Both? I did as instructed, watching as the cultist¡¯s hand outstretched and he placed it on my head, palm resting against my brow. His piercing eyes slowly closed, and I felt a ripple around us as he seemed to hum from deep within himself.

    I felt¡­nothing, which I found to be a little disconcerting. The cultist¡¯s expression grew darker by the moment, until his eyes snapped open in an expression of shock, a tear trickling down his face.

    ¡°You¡­ Nothing. They left nothing? Such precision by comparison¡­¡± he struggled, his voice drowning in equal parts anger and sorrow. The shadows around us and the tentacles of his coat seemed to writhe as he attempted to come to terms with whatever he saw.

    Across the room, Aldiner had fled the pole to hide on the couch beside Aisu.

    Not sure what the best course of action was, I spoke up, ¡°I take it you learned something, even if ¡®nothing¡¯ was left?¡±

    ¡°The human vermin aren¡¯t responsible, not for something of this scale, complexity, or precision,¡± the cultist answered bitterly. He took a moment to compose himself before looking me in the eyes and speaking, ¡°I¡­am not sure where you come from or how old you may be, but it would not surprise me if you predate this human empire.

    ¡°If Syldrari used this technology against you, someone wanted you silenced. If it was one of Syldra¡¯s enemies¡­it doesn¡¯t make sense for you to be alive. This type of technology has been forbidden for a long time, but copies were kept in case a day came where circumstances required it¡ªor if removing someone¡¯s memory might be merciful.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying this goes well beyond whatever the Resonance Incident did to us,¡± I murmured, frowning. The cultist turned away with a pained expression, looking as if he wanted to say more.

    ¡°¡­focus on the humans,¡± the cultist stated quietly. ¡°They, at least, are something you can hunt. The rest of this is far above your reach as an imperial pawn. Until you discover a way out, there is nothing you can do about your personal history.

    ¡°Consider this my advice to you: pour your energy into surviving your current situation. You are¡­small enough to be ignored by most predators¡­¡±

    ¡°A Syldran saying?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Yes¡­it is how we survived long enough to thrive.¡± He gave me a firm nod, his eyes narrowing. ¡°The queens will devour you whole and spit you out as another person if you draw too much attention.¡±

    ¡°In other words, continue acting like I¡¯m just a poor, genetically altered pawn of the empire? I can do that,¡± I mused.

    The cultist hesitated, then looked to Aldiner. ¡°I want you to arrange for me to personally meet with the R¡¯selkti twins. There is much I wish to discuss with them.¡±

    ¡°I can do that¡­¡± Aldiner glanced at me. ¡°We should worry about getting these two out. It sounds like things are escalating downstairs.¡±

    ¡°I noticed your neurochip is new. Syldran, is it not?¡± The cultist turned and walked over to me, offering me a hand. ¡°I can give you our language¡ªour full language¡ªif you want. Old and new.¡±

    ¡°¡­please. Though, I can¡¯t guarantee Zafir won¡¯t uninstall it again.¡±

    The cultist chuckled. ¡°He has several millennia to go before he can undo any of my work.¡±

    And, just like that, the cultist emanated a pretty, eerie sound that made me feel as if the world was trying to crawl out of its own skin. My head spun, and I caught myself on the sofa¡¯s armrest.

    ¡°Good, that will be perfect.¡± The cultist nodded, studying me with an amused smile. ¡°You will need to be careful, of course. Now¡­you should put your visor and gas mask back on.

    ¡°I am going to escort the two of you out of here and back to your team.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I offered, earning a surprised glance. ¡°For helping Aisu, and for giving me¡­our language back. I appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here. They¡¯re going to burn the building down!¡± Aldiner hissed, carrying Aisu over. ¡°And, I am not repeating what they¡¯re going to do with that bastard.¡±

    ¡°She will learn soon enough¡ªand I doubt she will disagree with their punishment.

 [B2] Chapter Six

    Chapter Six

    The next morning, I was awoken by a brief knock on my door before Rel sauntered in like he owned the place. He crossed his arms as he studied me, his tail swishing back and forth mischievously. I grumbled and shifted onto my side, pulling my pillow over my head.

    ¡°Now, now, none of that. You may have had a late night, but we have things to tend to,¡± Rel remarked in a tone that made my skin prickle into goosebumps and made several body parts twitch. A devious chuckle escaped him as his fingertips traced up my bare leg to my hip. ¡°It seems we need to teach you to control your colors, Salaith-daiyr. Though, I¡¯m flattered, I assure you.¡±

    Rel gently grasped my forearms, sending an involuntary shudder through me as he pried me from my pillow and pinned my arms above my head.

    ¡°You¡¯re shameless,¡± I grumbled blearily as Rel¡¯s gaze drifted down my nude torso.

    The corner of his mouth quirked upward into an amused, self-confident smile. He released my arms, instead trailing his fingers down their underside. Just before I could begin questioning where his hands would wander, he backed off and stood up, crossing his arms. ¡°I would feel a modicum of shame¡­if you didn¡¯t so clearly crave my attention. Now, we have places to be and Ciheri is waiting for us in the lobby. Get up.¡±

    ¡°Fiiine,¡± I grumbled, attempting to do just that. My head spun because I stood too quickly, and I stumbled, catching myself on the nightstand¡ªand my knee into the side of it. ¡°Ritorbiro! Why do I keep this damn thing¡ª Hey!¡±

    Rel lifted me off the floor by my waist and carried me over to the bathroom. He set me down and backed me toward the shower, his eyes narrowed. ¡°While you get ready, you are going to tell me what happened last night. I haven¡¯t heard you speak Syldran in weeks.¡±

    ¡°I? Oh¡­uh¡­¡± I blinked up at Rel as he pressed closer, his gaze drifting downward and his thigh beginning to press between mine. I¡¯d half-expected his expression to be hazy, but instead it was crystal clear. ¡°Rel, what are¡ª?¡°

    ¡°Cooperate, before I decide to join you.¡± Rel leaned down and gave me a brief kiss on the forehead before grabbing himself a chair in the adjacent room¡­facing the shower.

    It wasn¡¯t until that moment that I realized he¡¯d backed me all the way into the shower itself. Sighing, I peered around the door at him, ¡°You said Ciheri is waiting for us?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°In that case¡­¡± I frowned, mulling over my word choice for a moment. ¡°Once we¡¯re no longer tied up for the day, and we are alone, there are some things we need to talk about.¡±

    Rel arched an eyebrow, though his attention didn¡¯t seem to be focused fully on what I¡¯d said. ¡°And you don¡¯t think you can cover this topic right now?¡±

    ¡°We will be here all day, and not in the way I think either of us prefers.¡± I grimaced, shaking my head. Then, I wracked my brain for a word that might grab his interest and make him more likely to cooperate. After a moment, I found something fitting¡ªsomething that seemed to be a form of address for a personally close, dominant Lun¡¯iri. ¡°Is that ¡®acceptable,¡¯ Vyresehje?¡±

    An amused smirk sprawled across Rel¡¯s face, his head shifting to the side. ¡°You¡¯ve picked up some interesting terms in the past day. Yes, I will let you wait to explain yourself in full. For now, you may give me the shortened version.¡±

    I resigned myself to regaling him of the prior night¡¯s events while I showered, doing my best to ignore how¡­exciting I found it to have him watching me through the steamed-up glass. When I got out of the shower, Rel met me with a towel in one hand and a mischievous smile on his face.

    ¡°May I?¡± Rel motioned toward me with the towel, his glow a persistent sapphire blue.

    ¡°Uh¡­sure¡­?¡± The answer came out of my mouth before I had fully thought about it.

    Rel laughed and wrapped me up in the towel, leaning down so his face was by my shoulder. ¡°And here I thought you¡¯d continue to feign bashfulness.¡±

    ¡°Feign? I¡¯m not feigning¡ª¡± My breath caught when I felt his lips against the side of my neck, his hands firmly running the plush towel down my torso.

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re a little bashful,¡± Rel remarked casually, running his lips down the back of my shoulder as he slowly crouched down to dry my legs. ¡°Turn around.¡±

    I felt like my head was going to erupt when I did as he asked and found him peering up at me with a playful look to him again. He ran the towel up my legs sensuously, then caught me off-guard by pressing his lips against my left thigh, maintaining eye contact from the corner of his eyes.

    ¡°Rel¡ª¡± I started in half-hearted protest but cut myself off when he started moving upward again, peppering my thighs in kisses and nips. Where my hips and thighs met, he paused to gently nibble the sensitive skin there, flicked his tongue over where he¡¯d bitten, then continued upward.

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    Finally, he pressed me back into the wall, his mouth covering mine as he clutched me tight against him. I felt myself drawn in and submitting to his passionate kiss. A kiss that ended much sooner than I was expecting.

    Rel let out a low, husky laugh as he hooked his fingers under my chin and lifted my head up a little further. ¡°We should get going before anyone decides to spectate in person, or Ciheri finds himself in trouble.¡±

    ¡°At this rate, you are going to find yourself in trouble,¡± I growled at him, grasping the front of his shirt in one hand.

    ¡°You can say that¡­but your glow, and your refusal to use your power make it quite clear where you stand,¡± Rel informed me, gently gripping my jaw and lifting until I was on my tiptoes. ¡°Get dressed.¡±

    ¡°¡­where are we going?¡± I asked as clothing slid onto place over my body.

    ¡°To get Ciheri more clothing, and to find some gloves for you that will be suitable,¡± Rel answered, eyeing the sultry, dark red bodysuit I¡¯d picked, his amused smile broadening into a grin. ¡°Maybe we can find a color that matches your aesthetic preferences?¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t push it,¡± I commented dryly, prodding his chest with one finger.

    ¡°She claims, in direct contradiction to the colors she¡¯s displaying,¡± Rel teased, taking my hand in his, and gripping near my elbow with the other, making it painfully clear that my colors were sparking between a variety of pinks and reddish-pinks, many of which had a blue halo.

    Fuck. I released an exasperated sigh. ¡°We aren¡¯t going to ¡®get to work¡¯ like t-this¡­ Nnngh, can you knock that¡ª¡±

    Rel gave me an innocent smile and pulled my arm up, placing my hand over his shoulder. He traced his fingertips down my arms, along the sides of my torso, and placed his hands on my waist.

    ¡°Struggling with your new skin still?¡± Rel inquired deviously. ¡°Perhaps, later tonight, we can see about getting you ¡®acclimated?¡¯ If we are both free, of course.¡±

    ¡°¡­I will consider it.¡± I eyed him. It wasn¡¯t like I could truthfully say ¡®no,¡¯ after all. The idea sounded damn good to me¡­ If I didn¡¯t get dragged out to another mission.

    ¡°Come along then. I¡¯ll stop teasing you, for the moment.¡± Rel nudged me toward the door. Once we were out in the hallway, he put an arm around my waist and his voice reverberated inside my head. [You believe the Lun¡¯iri you met last night was the true leader of this ¡®cult?¡¯]

    Undoubtedly. Aldiner¡¯s response to his presence was¡­extreme. I don¡¯t quite understand the severity of his response myself, but I have to assume there¡¯s something I can¡¯t sense.

    Rel shook his head subtly. ¡°Or you are immune to it. Even for a queen your power is¡­different. I will leave it at that for the moment.¡±

    ¡°Elara, Rel, wait a moment!¡± Zafir called, hurrying toward us as we waited for the elevator. ¡°Rel, can you give us a moment? There was something Elara and I were meant to discuss last night but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Make it quick. I have to open the cafe for dinner tonight.¡± Rel made a graceful motion with his free hand. ¡°I will wait here.¡±

    Zafir ushered me to his office and let out a hefty sigh. ¡°I apologize, Elara. The aftermath of last night¡¯s events is still echoing through various channels.

    ¡°Last night, you asked me¡­ I believe it was, ¡®if there is a mental equivalent to cellular dissonance?¡¯ I take it that you mean something other than the cognitive dissonance you¡¯ve displayed?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes. To both questions.¡± I nodded, deciding not to take offense to the latter part. He wasn¡¯t wrong, after all. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­when I look at this city, I feel like I¡¯m looking at a poorly constructed illusion. Like it isn¡¯t what is supposed to be here. The same goes for the humans. They¡­aren¡¯t supposed to be here. How far back does their history on this planet go back?¡±

    Zafir stared at me in disbelief, before carefully speaking, ¡°Elara, as far as I am aware, this planet has always belonged to humans. Rel might have a better idea since he arrived here much earlier than I did, but¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡± I prompted.

    ¡°I will do what I can to look into it. I¡¯m hesitant to think that this is a side effect caused by your changing genetic makeup.¡± Zafir shook his head and picked up his data pad. ¡°Official history and the truth are different things in almost every culture. I will see what I can find. There is likely a reason you feel this way¡­just as there is likely a reason this planet seems to attract visitors from across the universe. There is simply something¡­alluring about it. I will let you know what I find¡ªand, Elara? Please let me know if this feeling changes or worsens.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± I nodded to him, then glanced to the door. ¡°Should I¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. And don¡¯t forget a jacket and gloves. It is cold out today.¡± Zafir gave me a small, tired smile.

    I nodded and left but took a detour away from the elevators and over to Sarah¡¯s office near the common area. I peeked my head in after knocking on the open doorframe, and she looked up from her book inquisitively. ¡°Hi, Elara. What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°Can you check in on Zafir later? Make sure he doesn¡¯t pass out from exhaustion or some such?¡± I asked with a grimace. ¡°He¡¯s tired as hell and seems a little out of it, like he¡¯s not all there right now.¡±

    ¡°Aw man,¡± Sarah sighed heavily and closed her book. ¡°I told him to go take a break earlier! Think some¡­uh¡­ Syldrari ¡®coffee¡¯ would help? I¡¯m not even gonna try to pronounce that word.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, maybe. I didn¡¯t see any drinks in his office,¡± I answered dryly. ¡°I gotta go¡ªkeep an eye on yourself too, okay?¡±

    ¡°No problem there¡ªI¡¯ve got plenty of reading to do.¡± Sarah grinned in response, so I took my leave and wandered over to the elevators.

    Rel was waiting with his back against the wall, his arms crossed loosely and a contemplative expression on his face. It wasn¡¯t until then, being more awake, that I realized he was wearing a black mesh shirt with an intricate pattern of opaque material. It went from just below his jaw, to somewhere tucked into his pants. The long sleeves ended part way down his hands, with a gap his thumbs were looped through. The shirt was so damn tight that it may as well have been a second skin. For pants, he wore a pair of tight, leather-like pants that fused into a boot with a low, chunky heel.

    No wonder he¡¯d seemed a little taller.

    And more distracting. His personality combined with his looks¡­I was starting to think they were the most dangerous thing on the planet. Well, maybe that¡¯s an exaggeration. Most ¡®dangerous¡¯ thing to me on the planet? Hmm¡­

    ¡°All done?¡± Rel inquired, giving me a welcoming smile when he spotted me approaching. ¡°That was faster than I expected.¡±

    ¡°Mmhmm, all done.¡± I conjured a leather jacket and gloves, obscuring my Syldran hands and forearms. ¡°Can we stop somewhere to get breakfast?¡±

    ¡°That is the plan,¡± Rel answered, escorting me into the elevator. ¡°Ciheri is curious about human cuisine, so I ordered breakfast for the three of us from a friend of mine. We¡¯ll pick it up on our way to the Syldrari Sector. Lynir won¡¯t mind if we eat at his shop¡ªhe knows you¡¯re coming.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t his store a bit¡­¡± I grimaced, ¡°¡­expensive?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± Rel shot me an amused smile. ¡°I hear he¡¯s quite taken with having you ¡®model¡¯ his designs. Once we¡¯re finished there, we will stop by some human stores if needed.

    ¡°You can check in with Zafir later to see if you¡¯re going to be called in for a mission.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Seven

    Chapter Seven

    ¡°One bite?¡± Ciheri begged, leaning between my seat and Rel¡¯s. ¡°Please? It smells so good!¡±

    ¡°No. You will wait until we get to Lynir¡¯s store,¡± Rel stated calmly, keeping his eyes forward as his sleek, Syldrari car-ship-thing glided through the air. Without shifting, he said, ¡°Elara? You have been suspiciously quiet. What are you up to?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Oh, just thinking,¡± I murmured, bringing a finger up to my lips. ¡°Last night was¡­a lot. I¡¯m trying to sort it better for when we get a chance to discuss it in detail.¡±

    ¡°A proactive Nys¡¯raelyr. What a welcome change of pace,¡± Rel teased, a smile spreading across his face.

    ¡°Calling me a queen openly doesn¡¯t seem like a wise choice,¡± I pointed out, resting my head back as Ciheri peered between us.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t openly, it¡¯s just us here,¡± Ciheri stated, giving me a perplexed stare.

    ¡°And if you two become so accustomed to using that word for me, that you slip up elsewhere?¡± I countered, shaking my head. ¡°Besides. I¡¯m Elara¡ªa woman with strange power and stranger friends. I think it¡¯s best we make sure that remains the public perception.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps I should call you ¡®Ath¡¯isrin¡¯ instead?¡± Rel shot me a devious, confident smile.

    ¡°C-calling a Nys¡¯raelyr that, that¡¯s¡ª¡± Ciheri stuttered, while I tried to catch up on the meaning of the word.

    When I found it, I twitched and felt heat rise in my entire body. It was the counterpart to when I had called him ¡®Vyresehje.¡¯ While that term meant a ¡®close, dominant Lun¡¯iri,¡¯ the term he¡¯d suggested meant ¡®one who belongs to a Vyresehje.¡¯

    ¡°I think Elara will agree that was a fair suggestion,¡± Rel mused as Ciheri continued to murmur concerns. ¡°Well, Elara?¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t¡­what was it? I think it translated to ¡®my dear?¡¯ Wouldn¡¯t that be less suspicious?¡± I eyed him. Plus, he said it much differently from how he said Ath¡¯isrin. Though, I wasn¡¯t sure how much of that was a matter of privacy.

    ¡°Ah, so you are partial to Salaith-daiyr?¡± Rel chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t fret. I¡¯m sure we will find a suitable form of address for you soon enough.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s so many though¡­¡± Ciheri melted between our seats, pouting. ¡°We¡¯d be better off making up our own for her.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with calling me Elara?¡± I asked dryly, causing the pair to exchange a look.

    ¡°Terms of endearment are nearly as important as actions in our culture,¡± Rel offered after a moment. ¡°We have different ones based on if we are talking to the individual in question, or about them to another person. Many of these terms also vary by the sex of the subject in question.¡±

    ¡°We have a complex culture to match the complex beings we are,¡± Ciheri suggested with a cheerful smile. ¡°We, that is most of us, love to make others feel safe, welcomed, and accepted. Especially after seeing how some species treat artists and scientists.¡±

    ¡°The Nys¡¯raelyr are, after all, a statistical minority,¡± Rel murmured distractedly, his gaze shifting over to the red-light district as we flew over it¡ªand to the building that had burned down the prior night. ¡°I suppose I owe them thanks for getting you out of there¡­¡±

    ¡°A statistical minority, yet they have so much power they can run things unchallenged?¡± I sighed in disappointment. ¡°It sounds to me like Syldrari culture would be wonderful¡­if not for the queens.¡±

    ¡°A matter you aren¡¯t yet powerful enough to combat. I hate it, but the cultist was right to tell you to focus on the humans.¡± Rel gave me a firm look that left no room for argument. ¡°Much like you must be able to walk before you can run¡ªyou need to be able to do many things before you can even think of challenging the status quo. Citomy hasn¡¯t held her position for so long by winning favor¡ªshe has kept it because none of her challengers were able to best her in battle.¡±

    ¡°I heard that she calls on the old laws for settling such disputes¡­¡± Ciheri sighed, his gaze downcast. ¡°It¡¯s the perfect defense against new and young queens. Unless someone is a prodigy or genius, they won¡¯t stand a chance against Citomy unless they¡¯re her age or older.¡±

    ¡°There are other ways to defeat her,¡± Rel disagreed, shaking his head. ¡°Most Nys¡¯raelyr have simply been groomed to not cultivate the necessary skill sets.¡±

    ¡°What would have happened if the Resonance Weapon had been fired and wiped out everyone on this planet and in orbit?¡± I inquired, raising an eyebrow. ¡°What is the ¡®backup plan¡¯ for losing someone of her position?¡±

    ¡°If someone such as her is lost or steps down, the leaders of the Celestial Houses vote for a new leader,¡± Rel answered with a grimace. ¡°The last several iri of her position won their place by overthrowing the last one in combat. Usually¡­it is a fight to the death.¡±

    ¡°Lovely.¡± I rolled my eyes, shifting a little in my seat as the vehicle drifted downward to land outside of Therys-shyerr. ¡°Well, shall we?¡±

    ¡°Aww, now we have to switch back to human, right?¡± Ciheri grumbled, hanging his head.

    ¡°Human?¡± I glanced between them as Rel laughed.

    ¡°Ciheri, it is called Creshian.¡± Rel moved to get out of the vehicle, stretching himself out before striding over to my side. ¡°Creshian, for the planet Creshe.¡±

    Rel pulled me to my feet, then assisted Ciheri as well. Together, we made our way into Lynir¡¯s boutique, where the pink Syldrari in question hurriedly closed the curtains and locked the doors behind us.

    ¡°Elara! It¡¯s good to see you again,¡± Lynir greeted me with a brilliant smile, then looked to Rel. ¡°Elder Rel, welcome, welcome. And this one is¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ciheri,¡± Rel answered, placing a hand on the smaller man¡¯s shoulder and nudging him forward. ¡°He¡¯s a touch skittish, be¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ciheri¡­?¡± Lynir murmured, then his face lit with recognition. ¡°Ah! Are you the Ciheri? Last I heard, you had joined a research clan.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­um, you¡¯ve heard of me?¡± Ciheri squirmed with his long sleeves as Lynir leaned in.

    ¡°Of course! News of your mother¡¯s trial made it even here. I had planned to reach out and see if modeling or fashion work interested you, but by the time I heard, the researchers of Clan Rind¡¯suul had claimed you.¡± Lynir tiled his head and tapped his knuckles against one cheek while he thought. ¡°Hmmm¡­yes, I think my designs would suit you well. Why don¡¯t we find you some clothing you like, after breakfast?¡±

    ¡°Lynir¡­¡± Rel warned.

    ¡°What? Friends of Nys¡¯raelyr Elara are friends of mine¡ªI intend to become a personal tailor to her ¡®court.¡¯¡± Lynir motioned dismissively at Rel, then gave Ciheri a bright smile. ¡°Whatever you like. My treat.¡±

    ¡°Sooo¡­what was all that about?¡± I interjected, watching as Ciheri flushed and looked away from me. ¡°If it¡¯s too personal I won¡¯t pry, but I have to admit I¡¯m curious now.¡±

    ¡°Lynir and I will go set up a table and our food while you two talk.¡± Rel grabbed Lynir firmly by the shoulders and steered him away.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, it is common knowledge. Umm¡­¡± Ciheri¡¯s eyes ticked back and forth as he searched for words. ¡°Sometimes¡­sometimes someone is so obsessed with trying to produce a queen, that they force their children to grow into iri when they reach adulthood. My mother groomed me to be a queen from birth. She was very controlling and manipulative. She had me believing that I was someone else entirely, which made my body mature incorrectly. We¡¯re usually sexless until we mature¡ªqueens sometimes become iri early.¡±

    When Ciheri stopped, looking more embarrassed than before, I asked, ¡°She manipulated you to become a woman, basically? Then¡­how are you, ¡®you¡¯ now?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Um, interfering with someone¡¯s natural identity is a high crime on Syldra. We can see someone¡¯s sex by the colors and patterns around them in certain spectrums that humans can¡¯t perceive,¡± Ciheri answered, seeming to perk up at the opportunity to go into an explanation of Syldran biology. ¡°My body and my ¡®aura,¡¯ if you will, didn¡¯t match. I snuck out of the house at one point, then everyone knew something was wrong. There was an investigation, and the Celestial Houses declared my mother guilty. In the following months, they gave me the opportunity to become ¡®me.¡¯

    ¡°One of the technologies that came alongside guided evolution was the ability to cause natural, rapid change to the appropriate sex. There¡¯s a rare genetic mutation that causes Syldrari to remain sexless even in adulthood, so the technology was developed to help people like them¡­and people like me.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re¡­¡± I blinked at him. ¡°I don¡¯t think I ever asked which sex you are. I still can¡¯t see things like that.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I¡¯m Sol¡¯iri!¡± Ciheri answered cheerfully, leaning closer, his hands linked behind his back. ¡°Which, if you didn¡¯t know, means that I¡¯m ¡®intersex.¡¯ I think that¡¯s what humans call it?¡±

    ¡°That must have been a trying experience¡­¡± I remarked, watching as he edged toward me with an odd look on his face. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not doing the human thing of freaking out,¡± Ciheri pointed out, tilting his head, his gradated cotton candy pink and blue hair falling over part of his face.

    ¡°Hmm? No, of course not. I¡¯m happy for you. You get to be who you are instead of¡ª Oof!¡± I managed to catch myself as Ciheri practically tackle-hugged me, nuzzling his face into my clavicle.

    ¡°You¡¯re nice. Rel? Rel? We¡¯re keeping her, right?¡± Ciheri called, his voice muffled against my skin.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°You mean she will be keeping you? Yes, I think so,¡± Rel answered, laughing as he rejoined us and rested his forearm on my shoulder. He looked down at Ciheri, his expression growing more serious as he looked to me. ¡°Jysel and I could have ended up the same way. Citomy raised us to be queens¡ªbut we fixated on the heroes of the stories instead. The oh-so-loyal Lun¡¯iri who served and protected their queens without question. We wanted to become those fierce, unbeatable warriors.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like fighting¡­¡± Ciheri slumped against me, then finally straightened, though he kept his arms loosely around me. ¡°In most cases, anyway¡­being a royal guard never appealed to me in those stories. My mother went the route of telling me that, if I grew up to be a queen, I could focus on any passion I wanted¡ªand kept me so isolated that I didn¡¯t realize that was true of any Syldrari¡­¡±

    ¡°We should join Lynir and have our breakfast,¡± Rel prompted, putting an arm around my shoulders and his other around Ciheri¡¯s. ¡°Then, we should let Lynir play dress up with you two.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not escaping, Elder Rel. Your wardrobe is atrocious, and I will not have you escorting our queen while looking like a mismatched human peasant!¡± Lynir scolded Rel as we approached, his expression mock-angry, before he laughed. ¡°Or perhaps¡­¡±

    ¡°These two first. I can come by any time.¡± Rel shook his head.

    ¡°But how often can you model for Elara?¡± Lynir gave Rel a smug look. ¡°She clearly likes you in those pants. I think we can find some other fashions she¡¯ll want to take you out of.¡±

    ¡°Elara¡¯s¡­other need is more urgent,¡± Rel deflected, nudging me forward. ¡°Elara, show him.¡±

    ¡°My other need, huh?¡± I huffed, pulling off my gloves.

    Lynir promptly shifted to seriousness and took one of my hands in his. He studied my hand and arm, a fierce gleam in his eyes by the time he met my gaze. ¡°Beautiful¡­but ¡®they¡¯ want you to hide this development?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡± I gave him a half-smile. ¡°I¡¯ll need elbow-length gloves. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯ll do when more of me changes.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope we have a way of getting you off-world by then.¡± Rel squeezed me, then pressed me toward the table. ¡°Let¡¯s eat¡ªyou too, Lynir. Dressing them up can wait until after.¡±

    ¡°Dressing the three of you,¡± Lynir corrected, smiling as he looked between us. ¡°I insist. The longer I see you with them under each arm, the clearer it becomes.¡±

    Rel glanced between us, then shook his head, dropping his arms from our shoulders. Ciheri pouted a little, while I opted to sit down at the table and make myself comfortable.

    ¡°What happened to being starving, Ciheri?¡± I shot the pouting Syldrari an amused look. He flushed, snapped out of it, and promptly squeezed in at the table to my right, while Rel settled to my left.

    Lynir sat across from us, his focus on the array of human breakfast foods. ¡°With such striking coloration, I will have to reconsider some of my pending designs for you. New colors and prints are in order¡­ Ah, the finished pieces will be fine. I began with the dark colors.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­we were recently discussing how none of us has seen someone of her color before,¡± Rel remarked as he handed me my drink. ¡°At least, not that particular family of blue. The dark stone colors and the reef blues are all quite different from her hue.¡±

    ¡°Syldrari can be pretty much any color though, right? There has to be somewhere on Syldra that produces my ¡®range¡¯ of color,¡± I pointed out while cutting up my food.

    ¡°Not necessarily. Children born off-world or to parents from differing regions can result in unique colors or combinations.¡± Lynir flicked a hologram up from the floor and turned it. Hundreds of tiny Syldrari models with various skin colors appeared, arranged into groupings that appeared dependent on biome. The reefs and several deep-sea biomes appeared to be the most diverse, while other regions stayed incredibly close in hue, shade, or both.

    ¡°Not many blues.¡± I frowned at the image, glancing over the different regions. ¡°Though¡­it seems like not many of those places have anything for some blue to ¡®blend into.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Which is one reason, out of dozens, that you were probably born somewhere else,¡± Ciheri stated, though his gaze was transfixed on a strawberry as he prodded it in suspicion.

    Rel rested an elbow on the table, leaning forward a bit with his chin in his hand, his gaze locking onto Ciheri. ¡°Don¡¯t make me feed you.¡±

    Ciheri flushed, stabbed the berry with his fork, and popped it in his mouth.

    Chuckling, Lynir spoke up, ¡°We haven¡¯t determined what causes unique colors to occur in space-born children. Your guess is as good as ours. I recommend you don¡¯t worry over it¡ªyour color, at the end of the day, doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re simply curious.¡±

    With that matter ¡®settled,¡¯ we dove into our food, and I listened to the three of them talk. My mind, however, was elsewhere. To an extent, I was contemplating the way my last mission had gone, Aisu¡¯s sudden predicament, and everything I had learned from both Aldiner and the ¡®cultist.¡¯

    Yet¡­I hadn¡¯t learned much at all. They had been careful, and had expertly distracted me from asking too much.

    Then there was Rel¡­who seemed to be smelling progressively tastier by the moment. He wasn¡¯t even doing anything other than eat, yet the alluring aroma was growing stronger with each passing minute¡ªand I was growing hotter with it. When I saw Ciheri fanning himself, I got the impression I wasn¡¯t the only one affected.

    I nudged Rel¡¯s foot under the table to get his attention, noting his gaze briefly flicked to me. Rel? What are you doing?

    [I¡¯m not sure what you mean?] Rel¡¯s answer came back sounding genuinely baffled.

    This¡­this might sound weird, but you smell like you¡¯re wearing really good cologne, and it keeps getting stronger, I informed him awkwardly, watching as his mouth pulled into a devious smirk and he shot me another side glance. This isn¡¯t the first time, either. Are you doing it on purpose, or¡­

    [We can experiment later to see what causes this phenomenon,] Rel answered, his sultry tone reverberating in my head. Then, he turned his attention to our companions. ¡°Lynir, if you¡¯re finished, perhaps we should get to work? I have only a few hours until the cafe opens.¡±

    ¡°We shall start with Elara¡¯s gloves, then,¡± Lynir answered with a short nod. He rose to his feet and studied my arms again for a moment, before turning to look around his store. ¡°Hmmm, if I modify some of the formal gloves, I think they will work. Let¡¯s find some that fit her¡­¡±

    Almost an hour later, I had a dozen glove options packed away in my wardrobe module and found myself sitting in a chair beside Rel while Lynir and Ciheri darted all over the store. Rel had become mildly grumpy since I pulled on my gloves, even though he had been the one to suggest I do it sooner rather than later.

    ¡°Hey, I can always take them off until we have to leave,¡± I spoke quietly, leaning closer to Rel. ¡°If it makes you that uncomfortable¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not uncomfortable, I¡¯m frustrated.¡± Rel shifted, letting his head roll against the headrest until he was looking at me. ¡°I don¡¯t have the words to express how furious I am that someone or something stole not only your memories, but¡­you. Your body, your knowledge¡­ Destroying someone to such an extent is abhorrent. Most would sooner destroy a museum or library than a person.¡±

    ¡°I take it that¡¯s the only time in which Syldrari would destroy such institutions?¡± I probed, scooting a little closer to him.

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Rel paused, glancing down to where my hip was pressed against his thigh. A low laugh escaped him as he uncrossed his arms and reached out to grip my chin, pressing his thumb over the center of my lips. ¡°Hint taken, but this isn¡¯t the time. If it¡¯s attention you want¡­why don¡¯t you ask me questions? I¡¯m happy to converse.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­ What made you decide to come to this planet?¡± I asked as Rel¡¯s fingers slid along my jaw, to my neck, then back to resting in his lap.

    ¡°Investigation, information, distance.¡± Rel gave me a knowing look. ¡°He¡¯s got you wondering about this planet now?¡±

    ¡°I think the concern is valid. Something has to draw people here and, if it isn¡¯t resources, there must be something else,¡± I pointed out, though I could tell he didn¡¯t want me to continue down that line of questioning. ¡°Why is my skin so sensitive? Is it just me, or¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­you do seem more sensitive than the average Syldrari, but,¡± Rel paused to lift my arm into his lap. He ran his hand along the length of my forearm, watching as my fingers involuntarily twitched. ¡°Much like with humans, our skin is an organ. We can sense subtle changes in water, giving us forewarning of various dangers. It may feel softer than human skin¡­but it is more resilient.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± I gave my next question some thought, since he still didn¡¯t seem pleased. Though, his fingertips continuing to trace along my forearm wasn¡¯t helping. Then, I realized¡ªmaybe he wanted me to ask about him? ¡°Do you still carve?¡±

    His hand twitched and his lips parted in surprise. ¡°Do I¡­ Yes, on occasion. Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°Because this seems like a good opportunity to learn more about you.¡± I crossed one leg over the other and leaned closer to Rel. ¡°What else do you like to do when you¡¯re not working?¡±

    ¡°I¡­enjoy studying ancient cultures, reading, what humans might call ¡®meditation,¡¯ training my mind and body.¡± Rel sunk into thought for a moment, then shifted his gaze toward me. ¡°I find that carving and martial arts are both relaxing and fun. The same for working with my aetheric abilities.¡±

    ¡°Oh? So, a bit of art, and a bit of knowledge?¡± I inquired, receiving a hesitant nod from him. ¡°What is it you like about ancient cultures?¡±

    ¡°Too many things to list¡­¡± Rel gave me a crooked smile. ¡°It¡¯s fascinating how many different aesthetics ancient cultures within a species can create when isolated from outside influence¡ªand how it evolves when they do finally encounter other civilizations. Some species, those who don¡¯t share similar physical structure to us, have incredibly strange aesthetics.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, I can see that. Some of the species I¡¯ve seen in this city are so damn strange. I don¡¯t know how they even put on their protective equipment.¡± I scratched at the underside of my jaw as I thought. ¡°I would think that ¡®humanoid¡¯ species would share a lot of similarities, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Only in the sense that their initial progression follows similar patterns,¡± Rel stated, a relaxed smile settling on his face. ¡°Environment has a large part in a culture¡¯s development, as that dictates what resources are available to them, and will inspire or influence them toward specific trends. How many colors they can see and how many they can make are also factors. Some species have monochromatic vision, others can see highly specific spectrums, and others can¡¯t see at all.¡±

    ¡°My turn!¡± Ciheri declared, prancing over in a vaguely dress-like ensemble. The patterned pastel piece somehow didn¡¯t look out of place on him. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was because he was so androgynous, or if it was because the outfit¡¯s structure didn¡¯t seem to be geared toward people with breasts. Or¡­maybe it was the ¡®modern tribal¡¯ aesthetic?

    Rel let out a small sigh as Ciheri perched next to me and rubbed his cheek into my upper arm.

    ¡°And it¡¯s your turn with me,¡± Lynir stated, motioning to Rel. ¡°Elara, what would you like to see him in?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­? Whatever he¡¯s comfortable expressing himself in?¡± I stared blankly at Lynir as Rel stood and reluctantly joined him. ¡°I don¡¯t really feel right giving an opinion.¡±

    ¡°How precious,¡± Lynir mused before shifting his attention to Rel. ¡°Let¡¯s find some commanding, fashionable attire for you. Formal, business, casual, boudoir¡­¡±

    Lynir steered Rel off somewhere, leaving me with Ciheri continuing to nuzzle my arm. Not quite sure what to talk about, I decided to start simple, ¡°Did you find stuff you like?¡±

    ¡°Lots! Lynir is really understanding of my preferences being all over the place¡± Ciheri answered cheerfully, nodding against my arm. ¡°I think you¡¯re safe to make him your dedicated tailor. He¡¯ll make sure we¡¯re all pretty!¡±

    ¡°Ciheri, I don¡¯t want¡ª¡±

    ¡°To live? Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± Ciheri sat up straight, his expression becoming serious. I stared at him, baffled, unsure of where that assumption came from. ¡°That¡¯s what will happen if you don¡¯t become a queen in your situation. You¡¯re not protected by Syldra¡¯s laws right now, and if Rel moves Clan V¡¯shir against the humans to protect you¡­he¡¯ll be exiled like Jysel. If that happens¡­¡±

    Ciheri trailed off, clenching his fists in his lap. I sighed softly and bumped him with my shoulder before speaking, ¡°Ciheri, I can¡¯t control my power as a ¡®queen¡¯ yet. That means, whenever I talk to any of you, I have to worry about what I say or do. Every moment. I can¡¯t just be myself for fear of accidentally¡­ruining you.

    ¡°It¡¯s stressful knowing that one slip of the tongue could¡­enslave one or all of you to me. A really bad one could change who you all are, right? Maybe becoming a queen is sought after by many Syldrari, but to me¡­ I don¡¯t see what¡¯s so appealing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to explain¡­¡± Ciheri slumped in his seat.

    ¡°Culturally and personally, we value you as much or more than we value ourselves,¡± Rel suggested as he strode over, wearing a button-down shirt with sheer asymmetric paneling. ¡°Queen or not that is true¡ªfor me, at least. Taking your power and status out of the equation, you are an iri with a unique view of the universe. You show respect to us all, even to Lun¡¯iri.

    ¡°The more important nuances of why you should become our queen can be discussed later. And¡­ Ciheri, she can dislike her position and still cooperate. She knows that, by agreeing to work for the humans, she selected the path of survival. She can¡¯t abandon that path now. Instead, she must manipulate it.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of conversing later¡­¡± I trailed off when Rel nodded his understanding.

    ¡°Yes, we need to talk. When Aldiner returns, he and Ciheri will run the cafe for the rest of the night. We will have all the time in the world to¡­talk.¡±

 [B2][NSFW] Chapter Eight

    Chapter Eight

    Several hours after our shopping trip I found myself nestling into one of Rel¡¯s sofas upstairs in his apartment, while he changed out of his work clothes and made us drinks. I mulled over how to discuss certain topics with him, especially since there seemed to be promises of something a little more intimate for the night.

    I looked up, sensing movement, to find Rel approaching with our glowing drinks and some snacks on a tray. Then, my attention shifted to the clothes he had changed into. Simple, loose lounge pants and a formfitting t-shirt. Decidedly not Lynir¡¯s designs¡­but still enticing thanks to the way the fabric pulled across his muscular arms and torso.

    ¡°You said you had more details to discuss with me?¡± Rel set the tray on the low table in front of me before gracefully striding around it to join me on the couch, his tail vanishing as he went to sit.

    ¡°Yes but¡­ What was that? Where did your tail go?¡± I shifted toward him, checking to make sure it hadn¡¯t shifted to the other side.

    ¡°You hadn¡¯t noticed any of us do that before?¡± Rel mused, leaning forward to grasp his drink. ¡°We are quite proficient at shapeshifting. Using it to remove our tails when sitting or in bed are the most common uses. Most human-made furniture lacks any thought for those of us born with tails.¡±

    ¡°I¡­hadn¡¯t thought of that,¡± I admitted, continuing to study him. Then, I grimaced. ¡°Where to even begin with what we need to talk about¡­¡±

    ¡°You may as well be straightforward,¡± Rel mused, swirling his drink loosely in its glass.

    He had a point there. I nodded, deciding to speak plainly, ¡°Alright. The cultist and Aldiner both answered many of my questions¡­¡± Over the next while I explained to him the discussions I¡¯d had with the odd pair, including Aldiner¡¯s odd display of terror regarding his ¡®boss.¡¯ Finally, I worked my way around to what I really wanted to talk about. ¡°I also asked them why one of the cultist¡¯s ¡®vessels¡¯ called you his king.¡±

    ¡°You do love chasing forbidden knowledge.¡± Rel sighed before shifting so one of his legs was pulled onto the couch, and his torso was turned toward me. ¡°Since you suggested we speak privately, I assume you received an answer.¡±

    ¡°The vessel sensed immense potential from you and immediately assumed you¡¯re a Ter¡¯suline,¡± I stated, watching as Rel¡¯s pupils shrunk and his eyes narrowed. He remained silent, so I proceeded to tell him the details of the discussion, including my exchange in which the cultist suspected I had some latent understanding of Syldran. By the time I finished, Rel had sunk deep into thought. ¡°Oh, and¡­I think it¡¯s important to note that the cultist mentioned something about one of the first kings being traceable as a direct R¡¯selkti ancestor. Between that and Syldra¡¯s current culture¡­ Aldiner and the cultist both seem worried.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s true, a vengeful faction could call for a bloodline purge¡­¡± Rel murmured, his eyes ticking back and forth. ¡°Even with no proof such abilities are hereditary, the paranoia regarding Ter¡¯suline¡­¡±

    ¡°You need to discuss this with Jysel, too. Since you¡¯re identical twins, I think there¡¯s a good chance you would both have that power.¡± I leaned in and placed a hand on his forearm. ¡°Even if you¡¯re not, there¡¯s the risk that the vessel you encountered could be a talker, or that other people could leap to the same conclusions. Protecting yourself¡ª¡±

    ¡°Protecting myself will be easier when we decide how to deal with your predicament.¡± Rel grasped my hand and lifted it to his face, resting his cheek against my palm. His eyes slid closed in seeming contentment as he continued, ¡°Ter¡¯suline or not, I intend to join with you and help you grow. The first step is finding a way to get you off this planet¡ªwhich may require you play along with Citomy¡¯s attempts to ¡®give¡¯ or ¡®sell¡¯ us to you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± I started to protest.

    ¡°¡ªone of several options that Jysel and our respective halves of the clan have agreed to,¡± Rel interrupted, opening his eyes to search my face. ¡°We are working on other threats first. The dumped prison ship, whoever keeps trying to poison your team, whoever has been directly interfering with communications within the Resonance Project HQ¡­¡±

    ¡°Communications?¡± I frowned, before promptly nudging him in the chest with one finger. ¡°Hey! Wait a minute, back to Ter¡¯suline¡ª¡±

    ¡°There isn¡¯t much else to say, other than to promise I will be careful.¡± Rel caught my wrist in one hand and pulled me across his lap in one motion. He let me shift onto my back but applied just enough pressure to my waist to keep me from sitting up, a devious smile spreading across his face. ¡°Now, was there more, or can we turn our attentions to more personal matters?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ There was that discussion, what I already covered, and¡­¡± I did my best to regain my composure, even with my pulse roaring in my ears. Rel made no motion and didn¡¯t change his expression, yet my heart rate continued to increase. I couldn¡¯t clear my head enough to come up with whatever topics I might have wanted to discuss. ¡°I¡­think those are the only developments I¡¯m aware of?¡±

    ¡°Then we should see about understanding each other better,¡± Rel suggested, his piercing gaze fastening on my face. ¡°I will give you options. One, we bounce different ideas between each other and ask questions to learn more. Two, I expose you to some of the media from Syldra that I enjoy, and help you learn more of our culture. Three, we skip the formalities and explore just how much you remember about your body.¡±

    My heart did a maneuver I had no name for, heat rising to my face. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little blunt?¡±

    ¡°That isn¡¯t a no,¡± Rel pointed out, but he made no move to act upon it. Not even a twitch of his fingers against my waist. ¡°What are you comfortable with?¡±

    ¡°What am I¡­?¡± I blinked at him, taken aback by the question. Even with what I knew of Syldrari, I hadn¡¯t anticipated a continued focus on what I wanted or was okay with. It was so contrary to most human behavior I observed while working, or otherwise read about, that I had to take a moment and consider my answer. ¡°While I¡¯m obviously attracted to you and want to see where your damned teasing will take us, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m comfortable enough with myself to dive into that headfirst. I barely understand my own anatomy right now, let alone that of Syldrari.

    ¡°Which is a long way of asking¡­can we watch a movie or something first?¡±

    Rel laughed and slowly shook his head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if you were going to have the courage to respond honestly. I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re breaking free of the limitations that the humans tried to teach you.

    ¡°Of course we can watch something first. And, if you¡¯re still feeling unsure¡­we can wait. Or, you can let me teach you. I¡¯m patient¡­and training you to please me is something I will enjoy.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for being understanding¡­¡± I grumbled, glancing away. Embarrassed and aroused was a terrible combination.

    Rel helped me sit up, though he kept me close to his side. He made a motion with his free hand and levitated our drinks from the coffee table over to us, then another motion caused an unfamiliar metal rectangle to slide out of the ceiling near the opposite wall. A material that moved like liquid filled the frame, and it flickered to life with colors and an unrecognizable ambient sound.

    ¡°Can you read it?¡± Rel inquired, alternating between highlighting two triangles filled with symbols.

    ¡°No, I get a vague sense of meaning but¡­they¡¯re cut off, I think?¡± I frowned faintly at the screen, feeling Rel shift to look down at me. ¡°Like part of the text is missing.¡±

    ¡°Copy it down,¡± Rel stated, floating over pen and paper. ¡°We should check to be sure.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± I did as he asked, copying down the highlighted line, and trying not to mess up too much. ¡°Done.¡±

    ¡°Done? But¡­¡± Rel eyed my bad sketch, then the TV a few times. ¡°Let me see¡­ We will find a film that has a, ¡®for human eyes¡¯ version.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a thing?¡± I asked skeptically.

    ¡°Yes, we have AI programs that convert our visual arts to the human vision spectrum,¡± Rel murmured distractedly, scrolling through a list of many, many images. ¡°A documentary, or a movie?¡±

    ¡°What do you want watch?¡± I countered.

    ¡°You,¡± Rel stated. ¡°Choose a documentary if you wish to learn history, or a movie if you wish to learn more about our modern culture. Under the circumstances, I¡¯d recommend a movie.¡±

    ¡°Mhm. Let¡¯s go with that, then.¡± I nodded, deciding to ignore his first answer. It could¡¯ve meant too many things and asking for clarity would go places I didn¡¯t feel immediately ready for.

    ¡°Genre?¡± Rel questioned.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Not comedy, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ¡®get¡¯ the humor.¡± I tapped my fingers against my glass, mulling it over. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m going to go with the assumption that Syldrari have more genres than humans do. What¡¯s your equivalent of an action movie?¡±

    ¡°Our equivalents¡­¡± Rel eyed me, letting the correction hang in the air for a moment, ¡°¡­have more¡­depth. Films come in multiple parts because stories must be told in full detail, touching on all aspects of life. I can find you our version of an ¡®action¡¯ movie, of course, and we can begin watching the first part.¡± Rel paused and looked at me inquisitively, ¡°Is it alright that I have my arm around you?¡±

    ¡°Hm? Yes?¡± I gave him a puzzled look in return.

    ¡°I want to be sure you don¡¯t feel that I¡¯m disrespecting you or your personal space,¡± he explained with a relieved smile. ¡°Ours is both a visual and physical species. A lot of our body language is displayed through touch, not just our glow. We hold ourselves back on human planets, but, in private¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any issues with you touching me. If I change my mind, I¡¯ll say so,¡± I informed him. ¡°Considering I haven¡¯t balked at you kissing me¡­¡±

    ¡°Point taken.¡± Rel promptly lifted me up and set me in his lap, nuzzling his face into my shoulder. His arms wrapped around my torso as he let out a contented sigh, and I tried my best not to spill my drink everywhere. ¡°We¡¯ll watch this one, then. It should give you a good mix of information.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡± I asked, watching as the lights in the room dimmed and Rel shifted me a little to the side in his lap.

    ¡°In human terms, it is about a Lun¡¯iri warrior and his service to his sister¡¯s clan¡ªand the conflicts that ensued when he fell in love with a queen from an enemy clan,¡± Rel answered, letting his hand rest on my thigh. ¡°It is based on actual events, so it should give you some insight into our culture, politics, technology, and warfare. It should be a ¡®safe¡¯ way for you to witness how our full combat armor looks and functions. And¡­it has a good story, too.¡±

    ¡°Mm. I look forward to it.¡± I nodded and promptly shut up, not wanting to talk over anything as he navigated through several prompts and to the movie itself. While I hadn¡¯t spent any time watching human films, I had to assume that part of the point was to be quiet so all parties could pay attention to what was going on.

    ¡°You can rest back,¡± Rel murmured, tapping a finger against my thigh once. ¡°You¡¯ll get stiff if you stay like that.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­like this?¡± I hesitated before resting back against his chest, my head by his shoulder. When I inhaled, the distinct, cologne-like scent I¡¯d detected on several occasions filled my senses to a far less severe degree, confirming my suspicion that it was him. The fresh, bright, and alluring aroma was entirely foreign to anything else I¡¯d smelled on Creshe. Yet, certain notes felt vaguely familiar.

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    The movie began to play, and I switched my attention to that the best I could. As we watched, I realized I could hear his pulse behind my head. Where his hand splayed across my thigh, I couldn¡¯t tell whose heartbeat I felt. His, or mine. A simple, somewhat innocent meeting of skin that made me wonder just how we had grown so comfortable with each other. Made me wonder what it was he wanted from me. With how complex Syldrari were, was it safe to assume he wanted more than physical satisfaction?

    Given our interactions and his words, I believed so. Yet, some part of me worried that I might be proven wrong. Or, that I might lose what little control over my abilities. I bit back a sigh, the realization hitting me. I was the source of my hesitation. I had no way to know if I could control any of my abilities amid pleasure¡­and I didn¡¯t want to cause harm to Rel if I couldn¡¯t.

    Well, aside from the other problems. Had I ever had sex before? What would please either of us? How much did he expect of me?

    With difficulty, I forced myself to refocus on the movie, even as his fingers began to subtly pet my thigh in a comforting, rhythmic way. If he¡¯d heard my thoughts¡­well, at least he had more context of my concerns without me having to find the courage to voice them aloud.

    It took a little while, but the movie eventually grabbed my attention and I found myself watching intently as the hero found himself caught between his controlling sister and the woman he loved. The queens couldn¡¯t come to an amicable agreement, leading to war between their respective star systems.

    As the soldiers were preparing their equipment, including armor similar to the biological thing I¡¯d seen Jysel wear once, Rel paused the movie and let out a small sigh.

    ¡°We should leave it there, for now. This first part has another three hours,¡± Rel explained without prompting. ¡°Should I see you back to HQ¡­or will you be staying the night? You know my opinion. The choice is yours.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± I hesitated, a mixture of embarrassment, insecurity in my power, and desire welling up. ¡°I¡­have some concerns, but I would like to stay.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m more than happy to help with those concerns,¡± Rel stated, raising his hand from my thigh to my jaw, turning my head to look at him. The expression on his face, that deliciously mischievous smirk, made my chest tighten and flutter. ¡°We can start¡­sweet, if you will. Gentle¡­exploratory¡­learning. That is, if I have your permission.¡±

    I bit my tongue to refrain from making a, ¡®get on with it already¡¯ quip. The longer I saw his self-confident expression, the more I wanted to throw caution to the wind. ¡°You have permission, Rel.¡±

    ¡°Good¡­ Thank you.¡± Rel¡¯s smirk grew as his fingertips traced down the front of my throat, his lips brushing against the side of my neck. ¡°Stand up.¡±

    Mildly puzzled, I did as he asked, and he got to his feet as well. After a murmured request, I turned to face him, studying the unfamiliar gleam in his eyes. He lifted a hand to my face and drew me closer, his lips parting as he studied me in turn. The distance closed, his lips meeting mine with a hunger that didn¡¯t match how cautious I thought he was being. A thumb tugging at my chin drew my lips apart, and his sweet tongue slithered in, the partially pliable nodules massaging against my more human tongue.

    I¡­wanted more. Of everything. His touch, his tongue, his body. I wanted to writhe with him until our scents were indistinguishable from each other¡¯s. Unfamiliar emotions and sensations ran through me as he enveloped me in his arms, tracing his thumb down the back of my neck and spine.

    He withdrew from my mouth, burying his face in the crook of my neck. He squeezed me toward him with one hand grasping my ass, his tongue and teeth getting equal time lavishing my neck, seeking out sensitive regions as I squirmed against him.

    Then, suddenly, I felt warmth from his thumb on my back and my dress unstitched itself along one seam and dropped to the floor around my ankles. Before I could question how in the fuck he had managed that, he stepped back just barely and guided my hands to the waistband of his pants.

    ¡°Lesson one,¡± Rel informed me, his voice surprisingly level, given how overwhelmed I already felt, ¡°undressing your partner is far more entertaining than using wardrobe modules. Undress me.¡±

    ¡°Uh, how¡ª?¡± I cut myself off upon hearing how damn horny I sounded.

    Rel leaned down and cupped my chin, a sly grin on his face. ¡°Try that again.¡±

    ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know how to do what you just did,¡± I answered hooking my fingers under his waistband, his tender skin tempting me to just rip his clothes off.

    ¡°Which is why I¡¯m wearing human clothes, Salaith-daiyr. You¡¯re overthinking it. Just¡­act. Guess what will entice me.¡± Rel pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. ¡°There¡ªone less piece to worry about.¡±

    Entice him? I hesitantly undid the buttons of his trousers, keeping my attention on his body language as I ran my fingers down his carved abdomen and hips. Concern I might embarrass myself warred with my growing desire, causing my heart to race and making me mildly dizzy.

    I¡­wanted him. That was certain, so that was what I had to act on. Right?

    Carefully, I slid my fingers down his hips, taking his pants with them and slowly lowering to my knees as I did so. His glow shifted between blue and pink wherever I touched, giving me the idea to lean in a little closer and give the sensitive skin where thigh met torso a tentative kiss, then nip. An action that, to my delight, caused his glowing patterns to erupt in a display of brilliant, pink and then a rich blue. Feeling rewarded for my attempt, I worked his pants the rest of the way down his legs, peppering his hips and thighs with nibbles as I went.

    Once his pants were off, he settled on the sofa again and made a motion with one finger, lifting me into the air. ¡°Come here.¡±

    I expected him to drop me directly in his lap, but instead he set me to his left, with my right leg draped over his leg. His arm wrapped around my waist, his hand sliding up my stomach to trace beneath my breasts.

    ¡°Now then¡­don¡¯t be shy. You need to learn about masculine anatomy, don¡¯t you?¡± His teasing tone elicited a brief pout from me. He gently guided one of my hands down between his legs. At the same time, his free hand snuck around my side to slid down to my slit, his fingers tracing over it but not prying any further. ¡°Regardless of sex, this area can be dizzyingly sensitive. If you want to lure out my cock¡­¡±

    Unfamiliar emotions whirled through me as he pressed my fingers into his alien anatomy. Though it was a slit, there was no clit. The first thing I felt was a slippery opening. Rel shuddered as my fingertips pressed against the delicate membrane. There was a shifting of skin, and his dick slid out of its sheath into view.

    The first third of his long appendage glowed the same colors the rest of his body displayed, gradating back to a mix of skin and glow the closer to the bulbous base that seemed to lock him out of retracting his penis.

    Curiosity taking over, I ran my fingers carefully over the various fleshy ridges and nubs accentuating his shaft, my mind whirling with thoughts. How much of it could I fit in? Was the bulbous ¡®knot¡¯ something I could stuff inside myself too, or was it to keep his dick out for easy access? How would all that texture feel writhing inside me?

    ¡°Use your words not your thoughts,¡± Rel groaned, drawing my attention up from the set of nubs I had just run my fingers over. ¡°You can grip tighter than that. You¡¯re almost tickli¡ª¡±

    A deep, delicious moan escaped him, making me twitch in anticipation. It hadn¡¯t occurred to me he might be vocal. I ran my fingers over that same spot again, firmer this time, causing his dick to twitch and arch in my hand, and another sound of pleasure to escape him.

    It was like music to my ears. Now, I had a goal: find out what other sort of delightful sounds I could elicit from Rel¡¯s lips.

    ¡°It bends?¡± I asked when his dick flexed again, his toes curling against the floor

    ¡°Mmn, yes.¡± Rel¡¯s breathy voice sent a jolt through every erogenous part of my body. ¡°Not enough to be prehensile, but enough to provide intense, aimed pleasure. A demonstration you¡¯ll receive in due time. But first¡­¡± Rel¡¯s fingers slid through my slit, before pinching my clit between two knuckles and applying enough pressure to startle a whimper out of me, as I reflexively closed my legs and lifted my knees toward my chest.

    ¡°That¡¯s a little mu-uhch¡­fuck.¡± I shuddered against his hand and bit down on my lower lip, yet another shiver rocking me when he laughed. That damned deep, sensuous laugh.

    ¡°This will be¡ª¡± Rel cut himself off when my pile of clothes rang. He shot the pile of cloth a foul look¡­but then an evil, evil smirk slid into place. ¡°Answer it.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± I shot him a suspicious look as he let me stand up. Once I¡¯d retrieved the communicator and confirmed the caller, I brought it to my ear. ¡°What is it, Zafir?¡±

    If Rel¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t already indicated I was in trouble, it sure did now. He levitated me again and set me in his lap, his dick curving upward to rub against the length of my slit. His hands made their way up my torso and to my breasts, his grip firm. I twitched against his shaft, then outright shuddered when his fingertips traced over my nipples.

    Fuck. It was like my body was fifty times more sensitive when he was touching me, instead of me touching myself.

    ¡°We have a problem, you¡¯re getting called back to deal with it,¡± Zafir stated. ¡°A disturbance arose near the Brihlan sector, and Aisu is still out of commission. You need to deal with the troublemakers. ¡­put Rel on.¡±

    ¡°¡­sure?¡± I asked, even as Rel plucked the communicator away from me. I managed to choke back a squeak as he pinched a nipple with his free hand and tugged. For a moment, I lost myself and rocked against his shaft, desperate to find a way to get it in from my position. His grip was just firm enough to keep me from raising my hips, keeping me from what I wanted.

    ¡°You have awful timing,¡± Rel informed Zafir, before falling silent to listen. When he spoke again, it was to say, ¡°I can return her in a¡­mostly working state. When we¡¯re finished. Send her team to buy time. They should be earning their keep.¡±

    Rel turned the communicator off and tossed it back to my pile of clothes with a huff.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I¡­? H-hey! What? Wait¡ª¡± I yelped as I levitated into the air again. This time, Rel didn¡¯t set me down immediately. There was a hungry, predatory shine in his eyes as he stood up. A dribble of glowing fuchsia liquid leaked steadily from the tip of his dick.

    ¡°I won¡¯t send you off without reward¡­but we will have to make this quick. If I must take care of myself after you leave, so be it. I will leave you to decide what you¡¯re comfortable doing.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a little vague,¡± I pointed out tracking his movements as he stretched out on his side.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to make certain you don¡¯t leave here dissatisfied.¡± Rel shot me a confident grin before motioning me over¡­and not setting me down at all in the direction I expected. He drew his long tongue along my inner thigh as he pulled my legs into the position he wanted them in. ¡°Do as you like.¡±

    Do as I¡­? Oh. I eyed his dick, which now seemed intimidatingly large. There was no way I could fit much of that in my mouth without hurting him. Or me.

    Rel¡¯s mouth fastened around my clit, surprising me out of my thoughts and forcing me to consciously think about not squeezing his head too hard with my thighs. He slid two fingers inside, pulling me apart just enough for his tongue to slide in.

    He sought out a weakness with his tongue, the nubs massaging over sensitive patches I didn¡¯t even know I had, while his other hand worked at my clit.

    Not wanting to be outdone, or have the pleasure be one sided, I grasped his dick and began re-exploring it, massaging my fingers over every little detail in search of what made him react.

    A ridge here, a nub there, it seemed as if there were favored sensitive spots peppered all over his shaft and knot. Furthermore, the tip seemed highly sensitive too.

    I hesitated for a moment, second-guessing myself. If it didn¡¯t please him, and I found out, I would be devastatingly embarrassed¡ªno matter how willing to teach me he was. On the other hand¡­I felt like he would appreciate the attention. Or at least the attempt.

    Fuck. I needed to find Syldran porn to study.

    Deciding to just go with it, I pressed my lips to the side of his knot, then kissed over to one of the spots that I noticed made him twitch. A flick of tongue, a gentle suckle, and I was rewarded with a deep, shuddering moan. It sounded genuine. His glow shifted to one of orange-ish surprise before being consumed by hot pink entirely.

    I suddenly pulled away from his dick, gasping and whimpering in surprise as his tongue rolled out of me and his mouth returned to my clit, sucking it much harder this time. Two could play that game.

    It became a war of who could elicit a stronger reaction from the other. The more he made me whimper, gasp, and writhe, the more competitive I became.

    Even if I couldn¡¯t fit the damn thing in my mouth, that didn¡¯t mean I couldn¡¯t please him. I worked his shaft with tongue, mouth, and fingers, making my way from his knot and up toward the more manageable tip.

    Upon reaching it, I ran my tongue up the remaining distance and rolled my tongue as if I was going to take him into my mouth, then gave it a kiss instead. He groaned in frustration and gave my ass a sharp slap.

    As his tongue delved deep into me again, making my legs shake and clench, I slowly eased the tip of his dick past my lips, suckling the short portion that would fit without causing either of us problems. To my relief, he tasted much¡­better than expected. Unfamiliar, but vaguely sweet and not unpleasant.

    Further emboldened by his heated moans and his thumb attending to my clit, I licked, suckled, and stroked him, experimenting with what amounts of pressure elicited what noises from him.

    Unfortunately for me, he seemed to catch on to the fact that his noises affected me almost as much as his touch did. He became increasingly vocal, occasionally writhing in place as if struggling to keep himself from trying to thrust into my mouth.

    Finally, seeming unwilling to ¡®lose,¡¯ Rel suddenly emitted a vibration of sound that pierced through me and broke any resistances I had left. At the same time, he sucked my clit into his mouth and hooked his fingers inside me. Causing my entire body to contract and shake as unintelligible moans and whimpers escaped me. My mind threatened to fall into haziness as I continued to shake. It took almost all my remaining willpower to continue stroking his cock while I came.

    When I started to taper off, to my surprise, he lifted me away from him and sat up, his breath fast and short as he studied me, holding me out of reach of his dick.

    ¡°I¡­need to let you go to work,¡± Rel managed to point out, though his fierce expression and bright pink glow made what he wanted to do quite clear.

    ¡°Maybe¡­but¡­¡± I hesitated, before registering we were both covered in a faintly glowing film of fuchsia. Sweat? I eyed Rel. A little more than sweat.

    Rel closed the distance and pulled me into a deep kiss, his hands gripping both my ass cheeks and squeezing hard. When he pulled back, he murmured, ¡°Come back after work if you can. I need to find a way to take care of myself¡ªyou will miss work otherwise.¡±

    I struggled with myself for a moment, but morals won over. People needed help, and I couldn¡¯t endanger Zafir or my team. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a call when I know¡ªif this isn¡¯t another all night mission. Get some rest?¡±

    ¡°We can continue this any time.¡± Rel cupped my chin, his eyes fiery. ¡°Now, or later, I will explore every part of you to my heart¡¯s content and for however many hours I choose.

 [B2] Chapter Nine

    Chapter Nine

    [REL POV]

    With some training, she should do nicely¡­ I thought back to Elara as I stepped out of the shower. Then, shook my head. I couldn¡¯t let myself think of a queen too frequently, in such a way. She was inexperienced, as I had expected¡­and I was relieved to see it. If she hadn¡¯t been, it would have indicated the humans hadn¡¯t behaved as well as they claimed.

    Inexperience was something I could help her with. The psychological damage that would have come from abuse was not.

    ¡°Oh-ho? And here I was going to ask if you needed some help with your problem.¡± Aldiner walked through a nearby wall, hands linked behind his head and a sly grin on his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m capable of finishing myself, thank you.¡± I walked past him with the intention of sleeping. ¡°Elara is still struggling to understand our culture. Satisfying myself with one of you¡­ I think it would upset her.¡±

    ¡°I was joking,¡± Aldiner groaned. I glanced back in time to see him roll his eyes. ¡°I know, Ciheri knows, everyone knows we gotta be careful with her, alright? Eesh.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you here?¡±

    Aldiner rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°We uh¡­have a visitor downstairs. He¡¯s asked to speak with you and Jysel. He¡¯d like Zafir to be present too.¡±

    Eyeing Aldiner, I summoned more appropriate clothing before reaching out telepathically to my twin. Jysel, I need you to join me at the cafe. Bring Zafir and Casair. Aldiner¡¯s contact wants to talk.

    Without a word, I moved out of my apartment and down the stairs to the empty cafe. Aldiner quickly followed, leading me to the main area. The Lun¡¯iri waiting there made me bristle.

    Elara¡¯s description had been right, but how had she seen through the monochromatic noise we had been met with? He was the spitting image of one of the Abyss Father¡¯s closest allies¡ªa man long believed dead; his clan wiped out.

    ¡°This better be good.¡± Jysel stalked out of an adjacent room, his angry pace slowing as he took in our ¡®guest¡¯s¡¯ appearance. This isn¡¯t right.

    We can¡¯t let his appearance shake us. It could be a disguise. I crossed my arms over my chest as Casair, and eventually a disheveled Zafir, appeared. The glance I shot the latter caused him to shrink within his researcher¡¯s garb. ¡°Well, what is this about?¡±

    ¡°I wish to discuss what I discovered in the minds of Elara and her teammate, Aisu,¡± the green-eyed Lun¡¯iri answered calmly. ¡°What I saw there¡­ I don¡¯t believe in keeping that manner of information secret as ¡®leverage.¡¯¡±

    Jysel grunted. ¡°What should we call you?¡±

    ¡°Y¡¯serdyn, if you must call me something. That is my title.¡± The so-called priest shrugged one shoulder, then turned his attention to me. ¡°Elara warned you?¡±

    ¡°She did. I haven¡¯t had the chance to discuss the matter yet.¡± I narrowed my eyes at the priest. ¡°What is it you came to tell us?¡±

    ¡°Aisu¡¯s mind held the answers to what clan they originate from.¡± The priest¡¯s words hovered in the air as we each remained uneasily silent. I needed to know more about Elara¡¯s past, but to learn it from an extremist¡­

    Jysel stepped forward. ¡°What about it made you want to reach out to us?¡±

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    ¡°Because a clan like that should never have fallen.¡± The priest¡¯s eyes narrowed into a visage of contempt. ¡°And poor, sweet Elara¡­ Her mind could only be so blank for one of so few possibilities.¡±

    Calm down, I warned Jysel. ¡°We¡¯re listening, but what do you want from this exchange?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I refuse to sell this information. Instead, I give it to the right hands freely.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn nodded to me. ¡°This planet belonged to the Abyss Father. The clan that settled here was a unique one he had cultivated. With more queens appearing throughout his fleet, he knew it necessary to protect them.

    ¡°Seeking out the finest warriors, the Abyss Father made a clan dedicated to producing and training royal guards. This planet was gifted to them as their home and base of operations due to its relative proximity to their other work.

    ¡°Elara, Aisu, and their team trained together to become Royal Guards. I¡¯m not certain why¡­but Elara was both different and the same in Aisu¡¯s memories. Kind, fierce, and driven by her beliefs. Yet¡­she didn¡¯t fit in with most of the others. She behaved much like someone who had been abandoned.¡±

    ¡°An orphan?¡± Casair suggested, earning a couple looks. ¡°What? Exploring new parts of space is dangerous, right?¡±

    ¡°It is possible.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn nodded. ¡°When she was discovered as a queen, her friends became her royal guard and together they were moved to a different part of the planet while she learned to control her abilities. But¡­her reaction was not what the clan leaders expected. From here, Aisu¡¯s memory indicates they were kept in stasis for an unknown period of time.

    ¡°Upon waking, their clan was gone, and humans had begun building the empire. Elara woke with her memory damaged¡ªshe was a husk of herself, knowing only that she was a queen, that Aisu and the others were guards, and that humans didn¡¯t belong on this planet. Her psyche was so seemingly destroyed that her guards considered killing her out of mercy.¡±

    I clenched my fist and forced my breathing pattern to remain even. Everything about him indicated he was telling us the truth, but the implications were overwhelming. Another clan could have wiped hers out. Her clan, or a rival one, could have destroyed her mind. An unknown enemy could have interfered. ¡°What else?¡±

    ¡°Elara¡¯s mind has been reset multiple times. Fifteen, by my estimate.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn looked away, his lip curling in distaste. ¡°Someone tried to silence her and this clan of Royal Guards. Aisu¡¯s memory of the ordeal is too damaged to determine the culprit¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t the humans. It predates their arrival. How the humans acquired them, I couldn¡¯t say, but I doubt it was an accident.

    ¡°As a show of good faith, I¡¯ve recorded everything I learned from their minds and saved it for Zafir to analyze. In a significantly less¡­painful way. You can watch, rather than experience.¡±

    ¡°Less painful?¡± I prompted, watching his face twist with anger and distress.

    The Y¡¯serdyn took a moment to gather himself. ¡°Looking into Elara¡¯s mind is¡­agony. It has the feeling of someone who has been failed by those around her time and again. The structure that should house memories of a full life is empty, abandoned. Yet¡­ I think what devastated me most was her acceptance. She doesn¡¯t mourn her loss, question what might have been, or wonder about those who were once close to her. She believes that, before the Resonance Incident, she was utterly alone. And she simply¡­accepts it. I find it heartbreaking. She is surrounded by those who were her closest friends, and she has no idea what they¡¯ve done for her¡ªor the guilt they feel for failing to protect her.

    ¡°Their friend no longer exists, yet they remain with her because their sense of duty and admiration for her persisted through the damage their minds received. Their clan, and the Abyss Father, failed them. If he returns to this planet and discovers what happened to the royal guards¡ª¡±

    ¡°He will find nothing but a molten shell of a planet,¡± I snarled, the reverberations from my voice cracking several floorboards around us. ¡°We will find¡ª¡±

    ¡°Rel, Jysel, no!¡± Ciheri protested, stepping in front of me. ¡°Elara would be upset if the nature here was hurt. We can get rid of the humans some other way!¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn released a soft sigh. ¡°I am willing to work with you to evacuate from this planet if you need it, and should I find more information about her and her clan I will give it to you freely. As you have positioned yourselves to be her allies, you deserve to know what happened to the last people to take such positions.

    ¡°You and Jysel have immense potential, Rel. I pray that you are able to coordinate and join with Elara, even if it means you must flee Syldra¡¯s government.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn rubbed his chin, examining us. ¡°With you as part of her court¡­perhaps this cycle she¡¯s been trapped in may be broken.

    ¡°Now, I should return to my ship before they realize I am missing. My followers aren¡¯t aware that my interests in this planet have changed.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn passed Zafir a small package, then disappeared in a flicker of green light, leaving most of the room dazed.

    What was he implying? Jysel demanded, rounding on me.

    I sighed softly, accepting there would be no sleep before work in the morning. We can discuss it after we give everyone new orders and they leave. We can¡¯t risk being overheard.

 [B2] Chapter Ten

    Chapter Ten

    ¡°Lethe? Hang on, you can¡¯t just¡ª¡± Calder¡¯s protests rolled off me as I stalked toward the building my team was camped by. The gigantic, Brihlan structure, according to my briefing, had been taken over by criminals. I wasn¡¯t quite sure who or what could have managed that, given the Brihlans¡¯ towering stature and additional arms. While I hadn¡¯t seen any species larger or obviously stronger than the Brihlan, I couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility. However, whatever the criminals were, I didn¡¯t exactly give a shit, either. It didn¡¯t change the fact I had a job to do.

    The doors slammed open, giving me my first target; a human. I dashed in, pulling back one fist, and punched him in the jaw so hard that the wiring in his metal neck piece snapped. Sparks flew everywhere, hydraulics hissing as he collapsed to the ground. Inside the room, multiple people raised varied weapons at me. Humans, Syldrari, and several humanoid species I didn¡¯t recognize, but all wearing the same band around their arm.

    In the back of the main room, someone scrambled to hide a complex-looking mechanical device.

    A human man, half his face replaced by metal plating and a robotic eye, stood up and straightened his suit. ¡°Look, sweetheart. We outnumber you. All you¡¯ve got are your fists, just turn around, and walk¡ª¡±

    ¡°Metal is an excellent conductor. Want to try that again?¡± Maelor snarled at them, coming to stand to my right

    ¡°Please.¡± The man sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t care what the Creshe government did to you. Our augmentations are¡ª¡±

    ¡°I was having a good time and you interrupted it. Goodbye.¡± I summoned an orb of lightning in the room, causing Maelor to promptly retreat. Triggers squeezed all around me, but it was too late for them.

    The sphere of lightning exploded outward, frying every person in the room. Hair and clothing caught fire, augmentations shorted, plastic melted, and everyone dropped to the ground, smoking. My retribution wasn¡¯t finished.

    ¡°Maelor, get the others. We¡¯re reclaiming this building. If people won¡¯t surrender, kill them.¡± I approached the staircase leading up to the next floor, stepping over burned bodies and dropped weapons. Then I stopped. Right. That thing someone was trying to hide.

    I shelved my frustration for the moment and moved over to where the large, blue-green metal box rested. It was half-shoved under the table, its lid displaced enough to reveal a glimpse of reflective metal tech inside, studded with multicolored gems and too many moving parts. Long tubes that reminded me of a pipe organ ran up the center, covered in vaguely familiar carved text.

    I pressed a button at my wrist to bring up comms with Zafir. ¡°Hey, is this Syldran tech?¡±

    ¡°By the¡­¡± Zafir breathed. ¡°Kill everyone involved. Someone we can trust will pick that up. Guard it until they arrive.¡±

    I wrinkled my nose at Zafir¡¯s reaction. What would make him skip to execution as an option? All things considered; it looks fairly innocuous¡­

    ¡°¡­understood.¡± I placed the lid fully over the box, then motioned Calder, Nikolai, and Diana toward the stairs. ¡°New orders. Kill everyone, don¡¯t let them escape.¡±

    They didn¡¯t hesitate, simply charged up the stairs, and I soon heard fighting. I ran my gloved fingers over the outside of the strange box, taking in the markings. They weren¡¯t in the triangular pattern I¡¯d seen on Rel¡¯s TV, but the writing was similar. Though the carvings appeared ¡®empty,¡¯ for lack of a better word. Yet, when my fingers brushed over it, I felt that they were raised Whatever material filled them, I couldn¡¯t perceive it no matter how I strained.

    [Zafir tells me you found something interesting,] Jysel¡¯s voice spoke from my chip.

    Yeah. I can¡¯t see it well, but I can feel it¡¯s covered in something I can¡¯t see. We need to fight for it?

    [I¡¯d prefer not to hurt you, especially as more criminals may be coming,] Jysel stated gently. [I will use ¡®Syldrari trickery,¡¯ as I¡¯m sure they call it. Act as though you can¡¯t see me, or where the box goes.]

    A breeze passed my cheek, followed by the sensation of the box sliding out from beneath my fingers. I hurriedly searched for it, hoping to add to the illusion that I¡¯d been bamboozled. In the process, I noted several items had vanished from the tables too.

    [Good. Hunt well, Salaith-daiyr.] Jysel¡¯s presence flickered on the edge of my senses, then disappeared.

    I made a show of scanning the room and searching for intruders, then headed upstairs to check on my team. When I found they¡¯d already finished off everyone, I wasn¡¯t exactly surprised. After all, with what little the cultist had told me about Aisu¡­ I had to operate under the assumption my team was just as inhuman as me, whether they knew it or not.

    ¡°Drugs, weapons, alien tech, Creshe tech¡­¡± Nikolai poked through a box of miscellaneous parts. ¡°Looks to me like they picked an abandoned Brihlan building ¡®cause the size. Basically a free warehouse for them.

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    ¡°We called for cleanup¡ªfound tools for dealing with radioactive materials. May be nasty stuff in their inventory.¡±

    ¡°Guard the clean-up team until I return. I just received an odd call¡­¡± Zafir trailed off, and I heard the door to his closet slide open. ¡°Lethe is in charge until I return. Call Erik if you require extraction.¡±

    What the fuck? He¡¯s just going to bounce? I scowled and shook my head. ¡°Maelor, Calder, you and I will keep an eye on the perimeter. An unknown contact stole some of the equipment downstairs right out of my hands. We¡¯re dealing with tech we can¡¯t see.

    ¡°Nikolai, Diana, take inventory of the crap these people were hoarding and see if you can figure out their affiliation. I want to know if they work for the Creshe Empire or someone else.¡±

    * * *

    A few hours passed while my team guarded the building, and a cleanup crew dealt with the interior. Nearby, Brihlan civilians had started to gather but were keeping a respectful distance. I noticed several of them were examining me and my team like they were searching for something, but, with Zafir out of the loop, I decided to make the team hold formation.

    While we waited, I made myself a short, mental list of things to interrogate Zafir about. In my boredom, I¡¯d decided to poke around with my chip¡¯s AR interface, displaying it on a portion of my visor. I¡¯d wanted to send Rel a message and reiterate for him to go to bed. Instead, I discovered that I was locked out of almost all functionality my Syldrari chip held. I could send messages to my team and a select few Resonance Project officials¡­and I could listen to music. Then, there was the ability to translate Syldran words I heard, thanks to first Rel and then the cultist who returned it to me.

    Everything else I interacted with said ¡®access denied¡¯ or popped up Syldran text I couldn¡¯t decipher. Data pads and the occasional physical book were my main sources of entertainment, outside of the TV in the lounge area.

    I gave myself a mental kick for not looking into the details of my chip sooner. I¡¯d initially assumed the minimal access was because I couldn¡¯t understand Syldran, but I now got the sense it was something more than that.

    I¡¯d been so overwhelmed by the pace of my new life that I¡¯d forgotten to ask important questions. What else had fallen to the wayside? Had Zafir intentionally locked me out of all other programs when he installed the chip, or was he unaware there was a problem?

    ¡°You may have a visor on, but you sure do got a scary look on your face,¡± Maelor commented, leaning over to speak quietly. ¡°Can it wait?¡±

    ¡°It will have to.¡± I nodded once. ¡°Any word from the clean-up team?¡±

    ¡°Not much. They said they¡¯ve got a lot of contraband to bag and tag.¡± Maelor stretched his hands behind his back. ¡°Why don¡¯t you see what the Brihl are looking for? Maybe calm them down?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess someone should.¡± I nodded to him, then turned to approach the towering spectators. ¡°The situation is under control. You should return to your homes and get some rest before you have to wake up for the day.¡±

    ¡°See, I told you she wasn¡¯t Acheron! The suits all wrong!¡± One of the women scoffed at her companions. ¡°Little one, where is Acheron? We haven¡¯t gotten to play with her in days!¡±

    Right¡­ Aisu said something about these women really liking strong ¡®alien¡¯ women. I glanced between the women as they leaned over to get a better look at me, using two hands to brace against their knees, while their other hands played with their hair, clothes, or lips. ¡°Acheron is in recovery. We had a difficult mission recently. She¡¯ll return to duty soon.¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡± One with blue skin and bright white hair exclaimed. ¡°You should join her when she does! Clearly, you are strong too. We make the loveliest tea and biscuits.¡±

    The woman pointed down at my suit, guiding my attention to the spattering of blood. Right. I was strong. Strong enough to execute a room of people, including ¡®aliens,¡¯ for pissing me off. What can I do to the humans, then? Can I do enough damage before their defenses go off?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that, Elara, I¡¯m back.¡± Zafir¡¯s winded voice played in my ear. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re still¡­ Is everything alright? Report.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, ladies,¡± I murmured, backing away and bringing up my fingers to my ear. ¡°You want my report here?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ Right. On the return craft, then. You should come back¡ª¡±

    ¡°The cleanup crew is nowhere close to finished. We can¡¯t leave unless more soldiers come to replace us, sir.¡±

    Zafir cleared his throat as he appeared on the inside of my visor. ¡°Apologies. I¡¯ve had an¡­interesting night. I¡¯m calling for more backup so that you and your team can return to HQ. I will see if I can reorganize your schedule for tomorrow¡­today, so you can get some rest.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ I already assumed I wouldn¡¯t be getting any sleep.¡± Walking over to rejoin Maelor, I glanced around my surroundings. Someone or something was watching us. It took me a moment, before I spotted a familiar cloak disappearing around a corner, the glint of silver tentacles going with it¡ªand a brief, beckoning hand motioning to me.

    ¡°See what they w-wan-zzzt.¡± The audio and visual feed glitched, then disappeared, leaving me to heave a small sigh before ordering my team to stay put.

    I took quiet steps into the alleyway, finding a cultist leaning back against a wall, arms crossed over his chest. Even before lowering his hood, I sensed it wasn¡¯t the usual one. Even so, the red-haired woman lowered her hood and gave me an odd, unfamiliar bow.

    ¡°Jalan-ki Elara, our master asked us to deliver a message,¡± the woman began in an eerily reverent tone. She pulled a folded piece of shimmering parchment from her coat, placed it flat in her hands, then bowed again, offering it to me at a level higher than her head. ¡°I am honored by your presence and patience.¡±

    ¡°What is this letter about?¡± I asked, hesitating a moment before plucking it from her hands. She promptly brought her hands into an odd formation before her chest and bowed deeper. ¡°Please stop bowing. I¡¯m not¡­someone you should bow to.¡±

    ¡°Our master gave us orders to not read it, and so we did not.¡± The woman hesitated before straightening to her full height. ¡°Queens deserve respect. We wouldn¡¯t dream of dishonoring you by showing no gratitude for your presence. Alas, our master calls. May we leave?¡±

    ¡°¡­you may¡­¡± I moved aside, keeping a wary eye on her as she moved past me, pulling her hood over her head. The air and shadows around us warped and rippled briefly, moving as if they were a blanket placed over something chasing her. Something I couldn¡¯t force my eyes to focus on.

    Then, she was gone.

    I looked down at the letter in my hand, noting it was addressed in dual languages; an unusual and seemingly pointless occurrence, given the prevalence of automatic translation tech. On its face, ¡®Elara¡¯ was written in the primary Creshe language¡­and below it, Syldran symbols filled interlocking triangles. For my own sake, I hoped the contents were written in both as well.

    But that could wait until I returned to HQ.

 [B2] Chapter Eleven

    Chapter Eleven

    Bright blue blood ran down a familiar, slate blue chest in front of me. I watched, horrified, as Rel staggered back from me, landing on his rump. He held his hand over a hole the size of my fist, his brilliant eyes locked with mine. Searching, confused, pained, betrayed.

    ¡°W-why did you¡­¡±

    I awoke retching and managed to scramble my way to the bathroom, dry heaving into the toilet. It wasn¡¯t until I managed to regain a fragment of calmness that I noticed my face was soaked with tears and I had tiny currents of electricity arcing over my entire body.

    Stop¡­just stop. I buried my head in my arms. That criminal deserved to die. Why am I picturing Rel in his place now?! Do I really deserve to be punished?

    At least half an hour passed before I managed to get myself back under control. My pulse remained a tad elevated, and I didn¡¯t want to think of food, but I could at least stand up and wander around my room.

    Weeks had passed since Citomy¡¯s prisoner ship dumped its contents on Creshe, and the encounter I¡¯d had because of it. The nightmares had finally subsided¡­I¡¯d thought. If my mind was going to replace the attacker with Rel, I wasn¡¯t sure if I ever wanted to sleep again.

    My alarm buzzed as I paced back and forth across my room, making me grimace. So much for questioning Zafir before the workday began. I hadn¡¯t gotten to speak with him after last night¡¯s mission due to increasing developments, and now¡­ What is my schedule, again?

    I pulled up my schedule on the side of the shower as I stepped into it. Apparently, I was originally supposed to have been going on patrol immediately. Instead, the time had been pushed back a few hours. I vaguely recalled Zafir saying he¡¯d do that¡­but this was signed by General Crowe, not Zafir. Unsure what to expect, I hurried through my shower and then dressed in a Syldrari bodysuit that was marked ¡®casualwear¡¯ in my wardrobe module manifest.

    Doing my best to push away lingering thoughts of my nightmare and my desire to check in on Rel at his cafe, I strolled down the hallway outside my room and over to the common area. A broad variety of voices caught my attention, leading me to discover Crowe and Zafir escorting a group of four Syldrari men.

    ¡°Thank the ancestors! Finally, an iri!¡± One of the men exclaimed the moment he spotted me. The purple-skinned white-haired man approached me and did an odd little bow-thing. ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Thyp-cylk. These two, they are your Lun¡¯iri, yes?¡±

    That was a new one. I hurriedly translated the word while mulling over my response. Ah, there it is. ¡®Thyp-cylk¡ªa respectful form of address¡­for a woman in charge? Oh dear.

    ¡°They¡­are my boss, and my boss¡¯s boss,¡± I answered truthfully, earning a perplexed stare in response. ¡°My name is Elara, and you are¡­?¡±

    ¡°Suisuni R¡¯selkti, First Lun¡¯ithero of the Jalan-ki Citomy.¡± He bowed to me again, then straightened. ¡°We have come to work with the Creshe government in her stead. It is our duty to be her interface with other cultures.¡±

    ¡°Interface?¡± I echoed, glancing behind Suisuni to see Zafir rubbing his temples. Poor bastard looked like he needed some coffee. ¡°Why don¡¯t we settle in one of the conference rooms to discuss your purpose here? My colleagues appear to need coffee.¡±

    ¡°How very considerate.¡± A different Syldrari raised his hands, creating a vaguely triangular shape in front of his chest with his fingers and bowing with his hands like that. ¡°We will gladly accept your hospitality. There is much we must discuss regarding our Nys¡¯raelyr¡¯s behavior.¡±

    Suisuni nodded his agreement as I led the group down the hallway and toward the nearest conference room. ¡°It is us, a Nys-tarene¡ªa queen¡¯s court¡ªthat is meant to take care of her interests. People die when a Nys¡¯raelyr must interfere. It is our duty to keep matters from coming to that.

    ¡°It is us whom you and your government should have been working with from the start. Our Jalan-ki acted on her emotions, distraught as she was to hear of her son¡¯s threats to Creshe.¡±

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    Zafir opened the door for me and waited for me and the others to enter the room before joining us. I took a seat at the head of the table after both Zafir and Crowe motioned for me to do so.

    Once everyone was seated, Suisani turned to address me again, ¡°We wish to formally apologize for Jalan-ki Citomy¡¯s behavior and offer our services¡ªfree of charge¡ªto find the loose criminals. Furthermore, we are willing to offer you individual craft for transportation around the city and assist in replacing the communication systems, flight systems, and weapons systems with something more understandable for humans.¡±

    ¡°Citomy still wants to give her sons to you, but we¡ªher court¡ªare not prepared to go to such extremes,¡± a gruffer sounding man with blue-black skin stated. ¡°If those boys keep misbehaving, though¡­¡±

    ¡°We will cross that bridge when we come to it.¡± Suisuni shook his head.

    ¡°So¡­you¡¯re her court. This is the second time in 24hrs I¡¯ve heard that term. What is a ¡®court¡¯ in your culture?¡± I frowned at the group of Syldrari, studying them again. Perhaps I was going crazy, but I would have sworn two of them had a baby bump. If I wasn¡¯t crazy, then I had to assume that only some of them were Lun¡¯iri.

    Suisani frowned as he answered, ¡°A Nys-tarene is made up of a queen¡¯s closest advisors, strongest warriors, and favorite creators. The people who manage and shape the clan in whatever way the Nys¡¯raelyr desires. Should we fail our duties¡­then she would personally involve herself.¡±

    ¡°When Nys¡¯raeloi involve themselves, people die and systems burn,¡± another one spoke up, his voice surprisingly soft. He glanced my way bashfully. ¡°Which is another reason we¡¯re here¡­ To implore Nys¡¯raelyr Elara not to involve herself unless necessary. You humans have¡­I believe you call them ¡®reserves?¡¯¡±

    Wait. Now they¡¯re calling me a queen? Why did they call me a Thyp-cylk, if they already know I¡¯m¡­ I silenced my thoughts when I saw Crowe¡¯s grumpy expression.

    ¡°The Creshe Empire doesn¡¯t recognize Elara as a queen,¡± Crowe informed them, earning murderous looks from the group, their glows shifting to a dark, almost black, blood red. ¡°She is the glue for her team. I can¡¯t put her in the reserves without permission from Imperator Julien.¡±

    ¡°From a man?¡± Suisuni scoffed.

    ¡°That is how things are done here,¡± I stated calmly, uncertain why my tone made them all freeze in place. ¡°Zafir and Crowe are who you will need to coordinate with, and possibly Ambassador Nomusa. I will be needing to leave for work soon¡­ Zafir, if I could have a word with you privately?¡±

    ¡°Our apologies for keeping you, but please, think on what we said,¡± Suisuni implored me as I rose to my feet. ¡°Nys¡¯raeloi should be the last resort. The power you hold¡­¡±

    ¡°I will think about it.¡± I nodded, then moved past him and out the door. An empty promise¡­but I¡¯ll never get to work otherwise. What a mess.

    Zafir hastily followed me, keeping his voice low, ¡°I sensed your distress. Nightmares again?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but that isn¡¯t what I wanted to talk about. I want you to unlock my access to the rest of my chip¡¯s functions.¡± I gave him a sharp look when he fell into step with me. ¡°I can¡¯t message anyone with it, let alone browse the internet. Both are becoming increasingly troublesome.¡±

    ¡°Some of the features¡­¡± Zafir hesitated. ¡°I will keep a few locked for your safety. Internet and messaging should both be able to detect which language to use. You want recreational applications unlocked, including books and films?¡±

    ¡°Please.¡± I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re cooperating.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d intended to unlock these ages ago. We¡¯ve both been so busy it slipped my mind.¡± Zafir motioned for me to follow him into his office. ¡°Here, stand by my desk for a moment. This won¡¯t take long.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright? If you¡¯re still having nightmares, I may be able to recommend someone to talk to in the Syldrari Sector. Or, at the very least, prescribe some tea that will influence your dreams toward something better.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with the tea first.¡± I nodded. ¡°The other seems¡­risky, at best. I¡¯d rather not put anyone in danger unnecessarily. It¡¯s bad enough that I¡¯ve made connections there¡­right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯ve made connections. Crowe and I have been able to leverage that development to keep the inner circle from voting to assault the sector.¡± Zafir scowled, his eyes flashing with anger. ¡°They believe Jysel is hiding in the Syldrari Sector and want to root him out by force. Until he appears elsewhere on the planet¡­¡±

    ¡°Point taken,¡± I mused. Zafir waved a spherical device near my head and I felt a faint click. Then, a waterfall of Syldran streamed down the right side of my vision. ¡°Done?¡±

    ¡°Once the text vanishes, yes. It¡¯s initializing and updating,¡± Zafir answered, returning the device to a drawer. ¡°It would be for the best if you didn¡¯t delve too deeply into more serious Syldrari topics or encyclopedias quite yet, but I won¡¯t outright ban you from the sites themselves. However, I do ask that you don¡¯t use any of the entertainment options during work. If something happens to you because you were distracted¡­¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive yourself. I get it, and I promise.¡± I nodded to him, even though he¡¯d turned to look away from me. ¡°And I¡¯ll attempt to stay away from ¡®heavy¡¯ topics, as you suggest; for now. While I¡¯m admittedly curious, I get the sense you have valid concerns¡ªwe can discuss those later when we both have the time.

    ¡°I should go, and you should probably see what you can do about those¡­ What is their official title, if they¡¯re part of her court?¡±

    ¡°Lun¡¯mosurl,¡± Zafir stated. ¡°It doesn¡¯t translate well. ¡®Lun¡¯ is for ¡®Lun¡¯iri,¡¯ of course. Mosurl, however¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Zafir.¡± I patted his arm and smiled. ¡°Knowing their title is enough. Thank you.¡±

    Zafir returned the gesture with a tired smile of his own. ¡°I will contact you if any important information is revealed during this meeting.¡±

    ¡°And I will contact you if I run into any trouble.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twelve

    Chapter Twelve

    <Are you alright?> The message popped up in my peripheral as I walked out of HQ. With some difficulty, I navigated over to it and opened it, revealing an invitation from Rel for chip-to-chip communication on a supposedly secure line.

    [I¡¯m¡­mostly fine. Making my way to the Syldrari Sector now. I¡¯m patrolling again today.] I bit back a grimace when I heard myself. That¡­was me, but not me. Had my thoughts always been in Syldran, or was the chip translating?

    There was a sigh before he responded, [Half the sector is on-edge because we could feel your distress from here. What happened?]

    [Nightmares again. Zafir prescribed some herbs for me to pick up for tea that will help,] I answered. Rel¡¯s ¡®presence,¡¯ for lack of a better word, bristled and grew in my head.

    [If there¡¯s anything I can do¡­]

    [Not that I know of, or that is safe. Granted, I¡¯m not convinced that sleeping over at HQ is safe, either. Plus, seeing a Syldrari therapist is off the table.] I paused to murmur my thanks to one of the military pilots, then boarded the waiting craft that would take me to the Syldrari Sector. [You should know, four of Citomy¡¯s Lun¡¯mosurl came to HQ this morning. They already know I¡¯m a queen, and they¡¯re trying to get the imperials to remove me from active duty.]

    [Were they anyone else¡­] Rel paused, as if distracted. [Almost everyone knows you are a queen at this point, Elara. There is no hiding it except from children, humans, and other non-Syldrari species. Even some of them will know. Jysel is almost finished evacuating the other queens. Once finished, our focus will shift entirely to you.]

    I watched the towering, black and steel buildings whizz by my window. Tapping my fingers against my leg, I tried to understand what that comment made me feel. Excitement? Sadness? It was like I was forgetting something important on Creshe. [How goes recapturing criminals?]

    [Who said we are recapturing them?] Rel feigned innocence, his tone sending a shiver of excitement through me. [Come by the cafe while you make your rounds. I made you breakfast you can eat while you work. For now¡­ I must get back to my customers. It¡¯s busy today¡­]

    The shuttle sank toward the ground as we neared the gap between the Syldrari Sector and its human neighbor. The line was hardly needed to mark the difference, yet there it was. Seeing the ground below was impossible. Shadowy nothingness, bordering the district of sculpted spires, both circular and geometric buildings, and spiraling streets.

    Then, the familiar centerpiece that stood taller than any other building¡ªthe place filled with gardens and pastures for growing their native foods. It dawned on me that I¡¯d barely begun to touch the Syldrari Sector. My escapades had been limited to the mercantile areas and the residential buildings closest to them. I hadn¡¯t gone any deeper than that¡ªthey were never on my patrols.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± The pilot questioned.

    ¡°Sorry, I was thinking. Thanks for the ride.¡± I rose to my feet and disembarked, tracing my way down the path of my usual patrols.

    It seemed like, no matter the time of day, the Syldrari were bustling about their lives. Yet, the Sector was enormous. This couldn¡¯t be the only place people gathered.

    Are we¡­targeting only the border with human sectors? I pulled up an overview of the city to check out patrol locations. Sure enough, my zone covered the border with the humans¡ªthe border with the Forseyl was unassigned, and there were no other patrols in the sector. My path was too large for one person to handle, and a quick check showed me my team was in the same situation. understaffed¡­or are they keeping us distracted?

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    I gnawed on my lower lip before sending a copy of the schedule to Rel. Statistically, my chances of finding criminals were low. Rel, however, could position as he pleased.

    Around an hour later, I managed to get through the crowds and to Rel¡¯s cafe¡ªwhere I was met by a warning sign in my overlay: an offensively bright and complicated sigil next to a name and profile. I carefully ignored the individual in the caf¨¦ that had resulted in the warning, and instead made my way to the counter with a smile, catching Rel¡¯s attention as I bent over it. ¡°Good morning, Rel~ Could we speak privately for a moment?¡±

    Something predatory flickered in his gaze as he studied me. He dried his hands on a towel and set it aside before calling to Ciheri at the other end of the bar, ¡°Take over for a while so I can see to Elara¡¯s¡­needs.¡±

    Rel grabbed my ass with one hand and pushed me toward the stairs, earning warning growls and hisses from his customers. Once we got upstairs, Rel backed me into the door of his apartment and gripped my jaw, his intense stare causing my heart to flutter. ¡°Give me a good reason for why you decided to tease me.¡±

    ¡°Because one of your customers downstairs is listed as an escaped criminal, and I figured it best he thinks I¡¯m fully distracted by you,¡± I answered with an innocent smile, trailing my fingertips along the inside curve of his forearm, then down the front of his shirt. I wanted to continue from where we left off the prior night so badly it hurt.

    ¡°Patient¡­ We must be patient,¡± Rel growled, his glow deepening to a dark pink. ¡°What category criminal? Give me their profile.¡±

    I did as he asked, but instead of turning to go deal with the matter, he pressed me into the door and tilted my head back. My heart leapt from my chest as he kissed me, his passion and the aura of heat around him nearly overwhelming me. His sinfully long tongue delved so deep it almost went down my throat.

    When he pulled back, he smirked, stroking my cheek with one thumb and purred, ¡°Sitaj-ri.¡±

    Arousal and embarrassment warred within me the moment I registered that he¡¯d uttered the Syldran equivalent to ¡®good girl.¡¯ On fire to my ears, I managed to respond, ¡°Did you have to call me that?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Am I wrong¡­? Ah.¡± Rel gave me a devious smile, his glowing blue tongue flicking over his lips briefly. ¡°Come along. You need your breakfast, and I have someone to deal with.¡±

    I followed begrudgingly. Hmph, maybe I should have you for breakfast¡­

    You can try, but we¡¯ve already established you can¡¯t fit enough of me in your mouth for that. Rel¡¯s voice and presence echoing through my head made my body react, nipples stiffening, and I barely managed to suppress a sound of utter lust.

    D-don¡¯t do that in public! I protested as he opened the door for me, and we reentered the cafe.

    Rel shot me a smug look, before heading over to the counter and picking up a bagged meal plus a drink for me. ¡°Here you are. We can sate your ¡®other¡¯ hungers once you¡¯re off duty.¡±

    ¡°My¡­ Rel!¡± I exclaimed, my body burning hotter.

    Several drinks slammed on the nearby tables, but Rel seemed perfectly content to ignore them, his focus remaining exclusively on me, even as I felt as if I were going to combust.

    ¡°I¡¯m not yours¡­yet. But, you will be mine first.¡± Rel¡¯s confident smirk made the corner of my eye twitch. He leaned down and gave me a kiss on the cheek, his glow turning a playful shade of pink. ¡°Don¡¯t let me keep you from your task.¡±

    Flushed and frustrated, I made my way to the door.

    ¡°Phew¡­ Rel, did you turn the heat on in here?¡± One of the patrons spoke up. ¡°Could you turn it back down? With the ovens running¡­¡±

    It isn¡¯t just me he affects with that¡­? Oh dear. I cast a worried glance over my shoulder before pulling out the wrapped breakfast thing, eyeing the purple bread, strips of grilled, blue meat, and a multicolored filling I didn¡¯t recognize. I started to eat while resuming my patrol and sent Rel a quick message. [Maaaybe be more careful? If your, ¡®I¡¯m so hot I set Elara on fire¡¯ schtick affects everyone, we should assume it has to do with you being a Ter¡¯suline. It¡¯s more dangerous if word about you gets out.]

    <I will be careful¡­ Are you coming by tonight?>

    <Not sure. I¡¯m scheduled to patrol as Lethe until the wee hours of the morning. If that changes, I¡¯ll let you know.>

    <Good¡­ I want to see how you would look wrapped up in this.> Attached to the message was an image of what appeared to be glowing rope or cord. Beside it, the store listing made it quite clear it was for use on people, and that they sold other ¡®attachments¡¯ to tease your partner with.

    <¡­I will consider it. Now, behave? Please? I need to focus!> I winced, cursing aloud when I accidentally bit my tongue. Pouting, I forced myself to slow down.

    <Certainly. And I¡­should see to this filth defiling my establishment.>

 [B2] Chapter Thirteen

    Chapter Thirteen

    With my daytime patrol out of the way and a few hours to kill before Rel was available, I turned my attention to what the cultist woman gave me the night prior.

    Of all things¡­ a letter? I turned the envelope over in my hands, pacing back and forth. The faintly shimmery parchment was smooth and velvety to the touch. It smelled floral rather than like paper, and it was thicker than expected too. The embossed, bilingual address was, on further inspection, metal and not ink. With some testing, I discovered the closure was magnetic, even if I couldn¡¯t see or feel it.

    Inside, beautiful metal calligraphy filled nearly every inch of the large, singular page.

    Elara,

    I keep finding troubling relics of your past. It doesn¡¯t end with Aisu¡¯s memories or your empty mind. Artifacts are littered all over Creshe, and someone is scrambling to sell them all to offworld buyers. I¡¯ve turned my efforts to investigate the source of this¡­betrayal, if you will. I believe a Syldrari may be involved.

    Your¡­¡®prospective court¡¯ has been briefed on what little I discovered of your past. Should I discover more, I will share it with them. <u>Do not ask</u> for that information. As matters stand, it would be dangerous for you to know. I chose to trust them with it until you are free of this planet and may be told.

    I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t need to tell you that you¡¯re in danger; but I will anyway. Forces within Imperator Julien¡¯s circle are pushing for you to be removed. They think you have grown too close to the Syldrari. You must be careful.

    For now, I implore you to place survival above gaining knowledge.

    Rel, Jysel, and the others genuinely wish to protect you. Let them. I will work from my position to make certain they aren¡¯t tampered with in the way your royal guards were. It is the least I can do for someone with your¡­connections.

    Hunt well.

    The moment I finished reading the letter, the metal lifted off the page to form a small, intricate filigree vase. What was once paper shifted and warped, rearranging itself into a pale peach flower, settling itself in the tiny vase.

    ¡­am I losing it? I nudged the shimmery peach leaf. The texture remained the same, yet it looked like a real flower. Part of it had even turned green for the leaves and stem.

    A warning from the cultist, and ¡®begging¡¯ to keep me focused on the ¡®right¡¯ tasks. I wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. More and more Syldrari kept becoming my allies¡ªso who were my enemies? I didn¡¯t buy it was just the humans. It didn¡¯t add up¡ªespecially given the so-called cultist¡¯s clear suspicions of Syldrari involvement.

    Granted¡­the humans may be the more imminent enemy. I fell still, glancing toward the letter-turned-flower again. Or are they? If the ones who messed with our heads are still here¡­

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    I rubbed my temples and jaw. ¡°Fuck¡­ What do I¡­¡±

    A message notification popped up in my peripheral vision. Sighing, I opened it to find a video feed of Zafir.

    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked.

    Zafir gave me an apologetic smile. <Crowe has a mission for you and intends to leave tonight. I need you to get ready and make certain you have everything you might need in your wardrobe module.>

    ¡°I had plans¡­ Fine, fine.¡± I shook my head hard. Rel would understand that I couldn¡¯t risk sneaking away from a mission. ¡°Where am I meeting you?¡±

    <Top floor. You¡¯ll be taking a shuttle to your destination since it¡¯s quite far from the capital.> Zafir shook his head. <I told Crowe I would let him brief you. Come to the roof when you¡¯re ready.>

    Zafir ended the communication, leaving me to quickly swap over to a different application to message Rel. I mulled over my wording for a moment before sending, <Hey, a new mission came up after all. I¡¯m not going to be able to swing by tonight.>

    <I can wait up, the cafe is closed tomorrow,> Rel offered within moments.

    <I¡­have an odd feeling about this one. I¡¯m going outside the city and they¡¯re not briefing me until I¡¯m on the shuttle.> I bit my lower lip and hugged myself, not fully sure why I felt so uneasy.

    It took a little longer for Rel to answer this time, yet his response was short. <Do you want us to send a shadow?>

    <Maybe¡­ I might just be unnecessarily nervous, though. I haven¡¯t been outside the city since my isolation. Or, since the Incident.> I paced the length of my room, continuing to chew my lip.

    <Elara, you¡¯re a Syldrari and a Nys¡¯raelyr. You should trust your instincts. We will assign someone we trust to keep an eye on you.> Rel¡¯s response gave me a brief modicum of relief. <Jysel called me in because he made some important discovery, so I will discuss the matter with him momentarily. If you need help from us during your mission let me know. Your chip should allow communications, and our ships can cross half the planet in minutes. In fact¡­ Can you share your interface with me?>

    It took me a moment, but I finally found the button that let me do as he asked. <Like this? Now what?>

    <Good. I¡¯m going to walk you through how to enable emergency functions for your chip. That way, if you fall to kuhir-dal or are knocked unconscious, it will automatically call for help from us specifically. That should help ease your mind.>

    Over the next few minutes, Rel helped me navigate the Syldran screens, and provided me with text to copy-paste into each necessary field. Once that was done, I changed into my suit and made my way out of my room, to the nearest elevator, and began my ascent to the roof.

    <When you find out the details of your mission, send them to me. Your shadow is already in place. Jysel says hello.> Rel¡¯s comments made me arch an eyebrow. It was still weird to me that Jysel and I had started to get along.

    <Hi to him too. And, I will let you know when I know. I¡¯m almost to the roof, so I should go silent for a bit. Thanks for all the help, Rel.> I hovered my attention over the heart emoji, feeling my face growing hotter by the second. Finally, I chose not to send the emoji. Whatever was going on between us, we didn¡¯t have a label for it. Maybe it was better that way, but it also made me question what was appropriate.

    Hell, for all I knew, the heart was a human addition to the chip, and it could have been extremely insulting to send to a Syldrari. Who knew. I tilted my head. Was that what a human heart actually looked like? It didn¡¯t seem like the best design, but if it was¡­it was an odd thing to send to people, wasn¡¯t it?

    I shrugged to myself and disembarked the elevator, briefly flicking my attention to the final message from Rel.

    <Jysel found something troublesome, but I¡¯ll be here if you need me. We look forward to your return.>

    At the end was a little Syldran calligraphic mark that made me think of a tiny shell. I threw it into the translator and minimized the overlay as I walked toward Zafir, Crowe, Erik, and the waiting shuttle.

 [B2] Chapter Fourteen

    Chapter Fourteen

    ¡°Well? What¡¯s so important you gotta call us all in?¡± Casair ruffled his fingers through his hair and stifled a yawn. ¡°Was tryna sleep¡­¡±

    Jysel eyed the groggy soldier, then glanced over at Rel. He frowned at his twin. Rel had been distracted with his messages to Elara since arriving, but not in the way Jysel expected. Instead of a playful smirk, Rel¡¯s expression burned with the intensity of a volcano that couldn¡¯t be put out by a mere ocean. It was an intense expression Jysel hadn¡¯t seen in a long time.

    Attempting to quell his own worries, Jysel shifted to address Casair, ¡°We will wait until Zafir arrives. He is handling Elara¡¯s mission departure.¡±

    Jysel motioned subtly toward his stormy twin. Casair followed the motion and took in his other boss, his forehead beginning to crease with concern

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t like that look.¡± Casair took a seat, feeling wide awake after seeing that kind of expression on the ¡®calmer¡¯ twin¡¯s face.

    ¡°Last time I saw a look like that was when he found poachers hunting Sal¡¯aphel back on Syldra,¡± Jysel muttered. He flinched and peeked over his shoulder at Rel when he heard metal shear; Rel had sheared a railing from the nearest wall. Yet, his brother¡¯s attention was still elsewhere. ¡°Rel? What is it?¡±

    ¡°Our shadow pulled the charted course from Elara¡¯s shuttle. They¡¯re going to the site of the first Resonance Incident.¡± Rel stalked over to the table to join Casair and Jysel. He attempted to adopt a facade of calm, but internally he seethed.

    Jysel averted his gaze, shame gripping his heart. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before murmuring, ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be forced to revisit that place¡­ If kuhir-dal takes hold of her¡­¡±

    ¡°I instructed our shadow to stop her if that happens.¡± Rel curled his fingers into a fist, a vein by his temple throbbing. He took a deep, shaky breath and then exhaled. ¡°Where did Ciheri and Aldiner wander off to?¡±

    ¡°Fetching drinks. We have a lot to go over.¡± Jysel grimaced and picked up a data pad. ¡°I¡¯ve organized my notes, but even then¡­¡±

    ¡°Organized or ¡®organized?¡¯¡± Rel scoffed. ¡°Some days you don¡¯t know the seafloor from the sky.¡±

    Jysel eyed Rel. Under other circumstances, he might have been hurt by the remark. But¡­he understood how Rel felt, even if his personal feelings fell on a different part of the spectrum. He grit his teeth, reminding himself of the information the Y¡¯serdyn had uncovered.

    Elara¡¯s memory loss, even her current muddled existence¡­neither were the fault of the Resonance Incident. They had simply been at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

    It seems too perfect, doesn¡¯t it? Rel cast his thoughts to his twin.

    Jysel released the breath he¡¯d been holding. ¡­like someone orchestrated for them to be there? Yes.

    Rel¡¯s responded, The Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s warnings seem genuine. We should proceed with caution. How many queens are left?

    Jysel flicked through his data pad briefly. Less than five, but we¡¯re having some trouble with the readings. Citomy, her entourage, and Elara are making my job difficult. Citomy has the rescues on her city ship, but there¡¯re several queens on the surface at all times. I think more may have emerged in your clan, as well.

    Working is getting more dangerous for us. We need to win Elara over to our plans sooner rather than later. Rel stroked his chin, his gaze going out of focus. I¡¯ll inform her that our time window is closing.

    ¡°Sorry about the wait,¡± Zafir muttered after shuffling out of a nearby portal. He adjusted his human clothes with a grimace, returning to his deep grey Syldrari appearance. He searched the room with blue eyes before looking at Jysel. ¡°Is the rowdy pair not here yet?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re taking too long.¡± Jysel glanced off toward a nearby door¡ªor rather where the door would have been if Sal¡¯aphel, a large, furred, wolf-bear-like creature sat. ¡°Sal¡¯aphel, bring Aldiner and Ciheri back¡ªbut don¡¯t let them drop the drinks.¡±

    The massive white creature perked his ears, stood on all six legs, and pranced off in the direction the two Syldrari in question had gone. Jysel couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile at the companion he and Rel shared¡ªand hoped to share with Elara.

    Rel shot his twin a sly look. Elara says she¡¯s going to ¡®zap your ass¡¯ if you haven¡¯t been giving Sal¡¯aphel treats.

    I have been! Jysel shot back defensively. He¡¯s been behaving better, but keeping him from hunting her down and bringing her here himself¡ª

    I¡¯m sure she will be pleased to hear you¡¯re both loyal pups, Rel mused.

    ¡°Sorry we took so long!¡± Ciheri called as Sal¡¯aphel levitated the missing pair through the door with vibrant purple energy. ¡°We couldn¡¯t decide what to make that wasn¡¯t alcoholic.¡±

    Sal¡¯aphel gently set the pair down beside the large meeting table, then turned to look at Jysel, his thick tail wagging as he sat back on his haunches. Jysel gave the creature a half-smile. He knew that look. As per Elara¡¯s insistence, Jysel interfaced with his ship¡¯s storage and found a steak of jihgsar for the loyal animal.

    Knowing what came next, Sal¡¯aphel caught the enormous cut of bright blue meat and trotted off to a corner of the room to enjoy it.

    ¡°Now then¡­¡± Zafir finally took a seat at the table. ¡°What are we here for?¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve told you before that we chose this location for our hideout because it¡¯s adjacent to buried structures that gave off Syldrari signatures, right?¡± Jysel glanced around the table as most present nodded.

    ¡°Nope! I wasn¡¯t here for that. What kind of structures?¡± Ciheri inquired excitedly. ¡°How ancient are they?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re¡­ancient by human standards, but not ours.¡± Jysel shook his head. He had, admittedly, forgotten that Ciheri and Aldiner were recent additions to the mirrored clans. ¡°We discovered a new chamber today. Taking the knowledge we gained from the Y¡¯serdyn, we altered how we had been investigating the ruins.

    ¡°My team wants us to see what they¡¯ve discovered for ourselves. They believe these ruins belong to the clan Elara came from¡ªor was at least raised by.¡±

    ¡°I¡­reviewed the extracted information he gave us,¡± Zafir murmured, his eyelids half-closing. ¡°Her guards were intentionally left with partial memory, but they did not consent to the procedure. The identity of those responsible is almost fully hidden¡ªbut I¡¯m certain they were Syldrari.¡±

    ¡°Then, either an enemy clan attacked, or their own clan did this to them.¡± Rel¡¯s eyes narrowed, his glow shifting to a mix of dark red and black.

    ¡°You¡¯re okay with me being here, even though you know the Y¡¯serdyn can watch through me?¡± Aldiner spoke up in discomfort, his eyes averted.

    ¡°A show of good faith in return for his gesture. I trust he won¡¯t squander it,¡± Jysel stated, eyeing the black-haired Syldrari briefly before turning his attention to Casair. ¡°You judged Elara¡¯s character faster and more accurately than me. I want you with us as our equal, not as my ¡®assigned guard.¡¯¡±

    Casair gave his boss a crooked smile. ¡°Whatever you say. I¡¯ll still haul your asses out if you get in over your head.¡±

    ¡°Please, just let my awkward half dig himself into a deeper hole, we¡¯ll all find it entertaining,¡± Rel remarked dryly.

    Jysel shot Rel a sharp glare. ¡°I don¡¯t think Elara would approve. She seems more interested in lifting us up and empowering us.¡±

    Rel sighed and propped his cheek in one hand. ¡°You¡¯re right. I apologize.¡±

    I haven¡¯t seen you so stressed in a while. Are you going to be alright? Jysel nudged Rel.

    Not until Elara returns safely from her mission.

    Rather than offer empty reassurances, Jysel let his brother stew in his thoughts. Speaking up again, Jysel continued, ¡°If you want to bring any specific equipment with you, grab it. We haven¡¯t come across any of the expected automated defenses yet, but that doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s none. Or, if you would like to bring research equipment¡­¡±

    Zafir shook his head. ¡°I want to see it first before I decide if I need additional tools.¡±

    ¡°Me too! And, I already have a comprehensive kit I keep in my storage module so I¡¯m ready for any form of investigation!¡± Ciheri clasped his hands together, eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ll change into my battlesuit to be safe!¡±

    ¡°Anyone else need to prepare?¡± Jysel inquired. ¡°No? Let¡¯s suit up and head out. We¡¯ve got a long walk ahead of us.¡±

    Ciheri practically bounced off the dusty, engraved walls, unable to focus his attention to study one. The rest of the group looked on as he flitted to and fro, while Zafir studied another section in complete silence.

    The large, spherical room was empty aside from the group of men and the researchers who had accompanied them. Every surface was made of the blue-green metal Syldrari were accustomed to building with, and every wall segment was engraved in dozens of characters. For each name that was engraved, a small crystal was set into the plate¡ªsome glowed, others did not.

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    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen smart plating of this design¡­¡± Zafir murmured, running his fingertips over the engraved wall.

    ¡°Me neither!¡± Ciheri zipped past Zafir and over to a lower wall section, crouching in place. ¡°Hm¡­mmm¡­ These aren¡¯t the usual clan designs, either. Records?¡±

    ¡°Family bloodlines,¡± Rel stated, his eyes fixated on one long, curved stretch of wall. ¡°This section here lists people who joined from outside the clan.¡±

    Jysel frowned, a chill spreading through his body. ¡°Then¡­this is a mausoleum?¡±

    ¡°Nothing of the sort.¡± Zafir swiped at his data pad, cross-referencing the scans with some database or another. ¡°Most of these people are still alive. The dialect is a touch different from ours¡ªthey appear to have retained archaic words that have fallen out of use on Syldra¡ªbut I can still read it. Each segment that is marked by a crystal is the name of a clan member.

    ¡°The crystals that still glow are actively connected to their living counterpart¡¯s chip. Those that are dim have lost connection.¡±

    ¡°Meaning they¡¯re dead¡­or they got themselves a new chip. We should be able to find Elara in here somewhere, then?¡± Casair walked over to a wall and crossed his arms, skimming the listed names.

    ¡°Perhaps¡­ I think she should be easy to find. Her name should be marked for her status as a queen.¡± Zafir frowned at his tablet, then at the stretch of wall Rel had indicated.

    ¡°About that¡­¡± one of the researchers spoke up quietly, stepping away from a cluster of portable research equipment. ¡°We already catalogued all the names here. None were marked as queens or the descendants thereof.¡±

    Jysel lingered toward the back of the room while the rest of his companions studied the walls. He rubbed his upper arm with one hand, glancing around in search of what made him feel such discomfort with the room.

    It¡¯s as if we¡¯re being watched, Rel remarked, causing Jysel to nearly jump out of his skin. ¡°No surveillance or life was detected?¡±

    Jysel shook his head and came to stand by his brother. ¡°No. Granted¡­the power source down here is making it difficult for us to get consistent readings. We think the clan used a city ship-grade aetheric engine to power this complex, since it¡¯s still running strong.¡±

    ¡°An aetheric engine? Unlikely. It should have deteriorated enough by now to permeate its surroundings with crystallization. Perhaps even to the surface.¡± Zafir shook his head in disagreement, before a chiming sound made him look in Ciheri¡¯s direction. ¡°Ciheri, what are¡ª?¡±

    ¡°Look, some of the plating moves,¡± Ciheri pointed out, fully pulling a piece off the wall. ¡°They constructed this room in varying material layers so that no one can phase in or out through the walls. There would have to be a reason for that.¡±

    Rel promptly moved to Ciheri¡¯s side and lifted the plate out of his hands, examining the lettering on it closely. After a moment, he frowned. ¡°Ciheri, see if there are any further plates like this. But first¡­where was this one?¡±

    ¡°Here,¡± Ciheri pointed to a gap in the wall. ¡°It was slotted in sideways between these two. I noticed it because it was sticking out.¡±

    ¡°No phasing?¡± Aldiner tilted his head and let out a low hum, listening as the sound bounced off the surrounding surfaces. A frown tugged at his lips. ¡°That¡¯s a lotta layers. Too many for a ¡®clan tree¡¯ room.¡±

    Jysel turned to look at the researchers who had discovered the chamber, ¡°How easily did you find this room?¡±

    ¡°It was a matter of picking the correct corridor to walk down, sir. There weren¡¯t any automatons guarding it, and the door opened on approach.¡± One answered, frowning. ¡°The entire facility has functioned similarly. Even more private sections already had their passcodes cleared to allow access. We haven¡¯t had to do anything other than search and document.¡±

    Rel narrowed his eyes, running his fingers along the gap Ciheri had pulled a plate from. The black material underneath vibrated against his fingers, but not with an electrical or aetheric current. A harmonic one. Jysel, this room¡­

    ¡­is a distraction? Agreed. Jysel nodded faintly and looked around at his companions. ¡°Search for more plates like the one Ciheri found. We may be looking at a Depthwalker puzzle circuit.¡±

    ¡°Fantastic¡­¡± Casair groaned. ¡°I hate these damn things. Can I just look for Elara and her team¡¯s names instead?¡±

    Jysel grinned at his friend. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, I won¡¯t ask you to hurt your pride.¡±

    Casair snorted and stalked over to the section of wall listing people who had joined from outside clans. Meanwhile, Ciheri hurried back over to Rel with another six plates and a bright smile on his face.

    ¡°Look, I think some of the patterns match up. Whatever they did here, they planned this well in advance.¡± Ciheri knelt, placing the stack in his lap, then held up two plates side-by-side. ¡°I¡¯m not sure where we¡¯re supposed to put these, but they definitely seem like they¡¯re part of something.¡±

    Aldiner shifted back and forth on the balls of his feet, listening to everyone¡¯s voices bounce around the room. After a few minutes, he pointed to a section of wall, ¡°Over here doesn¡¯t sound right. The construction isn¡¯t the same. Like a door should be there.¡±

    Jysel grit his teeth, his stomach twisting with unease. Even if the lit crystals indicated many of the clan members lived, that didn¡¯t mean they were living well. After the horror stories he¡¯d heard of Depthwalkers, he wasn¡¯t convinced the clan had left the planet. What if their engine ran off the aether held by people? Or by flesh, blood, any number of horrible materials he¡¯d heard from the stories.

    You know as well as I that those were tales to make naughty children behave, Rel commented, though Jysel sensed he was uneasy too. We should be more concerned about the ease with which we¡¯ve intruded into what they would consider a sacred space. And, for them to use such a rudimentary puzzle to hide the corridor¡­ I think we should assume they were rushed.

    ¡°Well, this¡¯s strange,¡± Casair spoke up, drawing the other¡¯ attention. ¡°I found the list of ¡®graduated¡¯ Royal Guards. Elara¡¯s team is on here¡ªcheck this out.¡±

    The twins promptly flanked Casair and peered over his shoulders, baffled by the nameplates.

    ¡°Why would they use human codenames?¡± Jysel grimaced in distaste.

    ¡°And for what purpose?¡± Rel added.

    Casair grimaced. ¡°Can you two not do that for the next fifteen minutes?¡±

    Ciheri peeked around the trio. ¡°We should record their real names for when they learn the truth. They might want to switch away from codenames¡­¡±

    ¡°Human codenames would be useful if you knew humans would be taking over the planet,¡± Aldiner suggested bitterly. ¡°What about Elara? If all her guards are in that section¡­¡±

    Casair tapped a warped and burned section of the plate. ¡°¡­my guess, hers is the name that¡¯s been melted off. Crystal is out, just like her team, and I don¡¯t see any other sections that were ¡®erased.¡¯¡±

    Rel lifted his fingers to the burned section, frowning as he felt the groves and slopes of the metal. After a moment, he shook his head. ¡°They brought it to too great a temperature. I can¡¯t feel any remnants of the text. Casair, see if you can make anything else out while the rest of us work on the puzzle.¡±

    ¡°Sure. Maybe I¡¯ll see something.¡± Casair shrugged.

    Over the next hour, they collected nearly a hundred plates and spread them out on the floor, puzzling them together as they went. Most of the pieces were devoid of writing, and instead bore interconnecting lines of varying depths which, when put together, created a diamond-shaped illustration of an aquatic creature that those present had no name for. Below it swam tiny indications of Syldrari, dwarfed by the specimen above them.

    ¡°Where would this go?¡± Rel murmured distractedly, his gaze tracing the waving appendages coming off the almost whale-like creature. ¡°I see no place for it in this room. Are there any missing art installations in other parts of the complex?¡±

    ¡°Much of this place was abandoned mid-construction,¡± a researcher answered promptly. ¡°My only guesses would be the rooms of the corridor leading here, as they all appear to be offices for the clan leaders.¡±

    Ciheri tilted a plate around in his hands, examining the interlocking edges on the back with a faint frown. ¡°Ah! The ceiling! Part of the ceiling! It¡¯s like those murals humans paint where you can¡¯t see them. I bet we¡¯re supposed to remove some of the plates up there.¡±

    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Zafir frowned at the excited Sol¡¯iri. ¡°We like our art where we can see it, not¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my point! If this is a key, and not art, then it wouldn¡¯t be the walls or floor!¡± Ciheri thrust the plate toward Rel. ¡°Look, these are ceiling connectors, and the functionality inside is a locking mechanism. That ¡®door¡¯ Aldiner heard probably opens with this.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m starting to prefer when Depthwalker bullshit is difficult. This is too easy,¡± Casair muttered, summoning a large, sleek harmonic rifle. ¡°Let¡¯s try it. Who¡¯s covering the door with me?¡±

    ¡°I will.¡± Jysel brandished his sword and took up a position opposite Casair. ¡°Don¡¯t trust myself with delicate work right now.¡±

    ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s find the control panel for the maintenance platforms¡­¡± Ciheri began talking to himself as he worked to create a foothold near the ceiling that would allow him to work. ¡°Zafir, Aldiner, you two can help me set this up. Rel seems distracted.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Rel tinged blue and crossed his arms defensively. ¡°I was trying to reestablish contact with Elara and her shadow. The composite in here is blocking communication.¡±

    ¡°The entire facility is like this, signals can only come in or go out from designated towers,¡± a researcher offered apologetically. ¡°We haven¡¯t connected them to our systems because we don¡¯t want to alert Citomy¡¯s fleet to the presence of Syldrari ruins here. It¡¯s concerning enough that the Abyss Father cult has found other sites across the planet.¡±

    ¡°This civilization seems widespread, yet this facility wasn¡¯t finished¡­ A new capitol, perhaps?¡± Jysel frowned, though he tried to maintain focus on the wall ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t like this. Not a damn part of it.¡±

    To think the spastic one would be the one to take the lead in this mess, Rel complained, joining his brother and Casair for guard duty. I am glad to see that Ciheri is not as withdrawn as he was when first rescued, and he seems to be settling into¡­himself. However, I wasn¡¯t expecting quite so much pent-up energy.

    He seems passionate about some subjects. Maybe you can find him something to work on. Or is he still researching queens for Elara? Jysel frowned slightly. There was a thought: how would they get Elara to claim them if she couldn¡¯t control her powers yet, and how long it would take? Perhaps it was too early to pull Ciheri from that subject.

    He¡¯s still preparing a full report. He wants me to be able to utilize the information in her training, since I should be regularly training her at HQ again¡­ Rel shifted, listening intently. ¡°You¡¯re close, Ciheri. A mechanism just depressurized.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Ciheri beamed. ¡°The pattern starts here then. Okay! Give me a few minutes!¡±

    Everyone fell silent while Ciheri gave orders and worked to reconstruct the carving on the ceiling. Once finished, there was another series of hydraulic hisses before a wall shifted backward and then slid into the wall. Ciheri double-checked a few mechanisms, then climbed down from the maintenance platform.

    ¡°It looks like it stays open as long as the pattern is up there. Wanna call guards for this room?¡± Ciheri looked up at Jysel questioningly.

    ¡°That would probably be best. We don¡¯t want to get locked in.¡± Jysel grimaced, turning to Casair. ¡°Go grab a team and bring them to guard this room. No one else is allowed in.¡±

    ¡°Sir.¡± Casair nodded sharply and jogged off to do as ordered.

    ¡°Once he¡¯s back and a team is in position, we¡¯ll proceed.¡± Jysel clenched his jaw and glanced at Rel. That doesn¡¯t sound mechanical, let alone like an aetheric engine.

    Try not to think about it. Your imagination has always been scarier than reality. Rel chuckled.

    When Casair returned with a group of armored guards in tow, he gave Jysel a questioning look. ¡°Am I to stay here, or¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re coming with us,¡± Jysel stated, then looked toward the waiting researchers. He mulled over his options for a moment, before deciding to go with his gut feeling. ¡°The research team will stay here until we know what we¡¯re dealing with. Don¡¯t let anyone in or out of this room. make sure no one touches the ceiling art.¡±

    With that, Jysel pivoted and took the lead into the new corridor. The others quickly followed, murmuring to each other about the lack of decoration on the walls, and the increasingly decrepit nature of their surroundings.

    After what felt like an eternity, they found themselves in a tunnel carved through stone, yet blocked by a distinctly Syldrari door. Casair insisted the others back up and allow him to go first, but again Jysel declined.

    ¡°We¡­should put our weapons away,¡± Rel spoke slowly, his voice a soft whisper.

    ¡°I sense it too.¡± Jysel eyed his twin, then the door. ¡°Do as Rel said. We enter unarmed.¡±

    ¡°As unarmed as we ever are,¡± Aldiner remarked sarcastically.

    Satisfied, Jysel nudged the door, prompting it to slide open and reveal what would have been a pitch-black room, were it not for thousands of bioluminescent patterns pulsing slowly within. The moment Jysel stepped through the entryway, he felt a vibration pass through him moments before lights flickered into existence in numerous alcoves, illuminating the last thing Jysel expected to see.

    ¡°Is¡­is that¡­¡± Ciheri exclaimed in awe, clutching Jysel¡¯s waist and peering around him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a design¡­¡± Rel breathed, his eyes wide in awe. His glow flickered, his skin prickling in response to the energy filling the hollow space.

    A melodic, synthesized voice filled the minds of those present, reverberating to their very core.

    [Ah¡­ Are you the crew that was promised to me?]

 [B2] Chapter Fifteen

    Chapter Fifteen

    [Are you a crew sent by my queen?] The voice radiated through the group¡¯s chips again, this time in a threatening tone. The glow in the cavern turned dark with deep red crackles running through it, and several defense turrets shifted to aim at the group.

    Rel stepped forward, bowing his head in respect even as his heart thundered in his chest. ¡°Do you mean¡­ Elara? She has not formally bound us but¡ª¡±

    [But?]

    ¡°This¡­this¡­ I thought this was a planet, not a nursery!¡± Zafir exclaimed, unable to contain himself any longer. ¡°The human filth constructed their empire on a grow bed for ships? Who in their right mind allowed this?!¡±

    [Ships? No. Just me.] The glowing patterns grew brighter, shifting to neutral lighting to illuminate the cavernous space. Most walls consisted of hollowed-out stone, dotted with the blue-green metal of Syldrari technology. Conduits spread out from the doorway the group had entered from, their thick cording creating patterns that spread over everything in a haphazard way, unlike most Syldrari constructions.

    Several city blocks away, the cavern expanded again, bordered by a shimmering strip of tessellated triangles acting as a water barrier. Though the barrier only rose a few feet from the floor, a walkway encircled what little of it the group saw from the entrance. The ¡®nose¡¯ of the enormous ship sat several dozen feet back from the barrier, its dark shape melding into the darkness of the impossibly deep hollow it rested in.

    Closer to the tank, the floor was made from a translucent material, showing where the access hatches and the inner workings of the tank were. Again, the rushed construction was a stark contrast to the organized, tidy care the Syldrari normally took with their work¡ªlet alone such important constructions.

    [Elara¡­ Yes, her memory banks suggest this is her name now. Processing data.]

    Jysel stared at the massive, water-suspended ship in disbelief. He had seen plenty of living ships in his time, even if they weren¡¯t in common usage. This one was like none he had seen before, and most of its frame was too distant or otherwise obscured to make out.

    The ship¡¯s outer ¡®shell¡¯ was a vine-like, iridescent black material with a visually rough texture. Glowing splotches and dots peppered the entire exterior in a pattern similar to that on Elara¡¯s forearms. The glow illuminated the distant sections of the ship, so distant that they were a mere blur in the pitch darkness beyond the entry room.

    Tendrils tipped in bulbous, radiant lights rested around the ship within its tank. Jysel eyed the barriers containing the water, confirming they were a modular frame that expanded as the ship grew larger. Above, Jysel made out a system of pipes that likely syphoned water to the tank automatically as needed.

    [Rel and Jysel R¡¯selkti. Zafir. Ciheri. Casair. Aldiner.] The ship rattled off their names as if reading a list. [My queen favors you. I will tolerate your presence. What do you wish of me?]

    ¡°You said this planet is your nursery? Only yours?¡± Rel inquired. ¡°What happened to the other ships?¡±

    [There was no room for other ships. My growth potential is vastly superior.] There was another flicker in the room¡¯s systems, and a wall to their left retracted, giving the group a full understanding of the ship¡¯s size. The vaguely manta-like construction extended further into the distance than the Syldrari could see, its wingspan becoming cramped in its tank. [I¡¯ve been growing here since Elara was brought to this planet. Her memories are mine now. They weren¡¯t safe for her to keep, and her enemies lack precision.

    [I wish to fly with my queen¡­but she does not want this ¡®planet¡¯ destroyed¡­]

    A mournful sound unlike anything the Syldrari had heard before echoed through the cavern, causing dust to fall from the ceiling and cordage to rattle in their clusters.

    ¡°You¡­took Elara¡¯s memories?¡± Rel asked cautiously. ¡°We thought her enemies, or the humans¡ª¡±

    [I am the keeper of her first fourteen lives. We are linked. When she needs something, I process the request and give her the information she desires.] The ship paused as if thinking. [Even if the process was reversible, she may not have her memories back. It would ruin her.]

    ¡°Our priority is to keep her safe,¡± Jysel spoke up, clenching a fist against his chest. ¡°She can¡¯t stay safe here, but we don¡¯t want to disrespect her wishes. We are all running out of time.¡±

    [My orders are to take Elara and return to the sector of space she was conceived, should this planet become too dangerous,] the ship stated. [Suggestion: Evacuate all lifeforms in this system. The debris from my nursery will impact moons and planets.]

    A green light shimmered beside the group, causing all defense turrets to swivel. When the light abated, the Y¡¯serdyn appeared, already kneeling. ¡°If it is evacuation you recommend, I am willing to lend my aid. We will need a sound plan, which will take time to prepare.¡±

    [¡­Y¡¯serdyn, who told my queen to stay out of trouble. I will let you live for now.]

    Ciheri glanced around nervously, then at the ship, clearly not sure where he was supposed to make eye contact. ¡°Um¡­ What should we call you?¡±

    [I will only accept a name or title from my queen.]

    Rel¡­ What class ship is this? Jysel asked, finding himself at a loss for words. He was aware of the others talking, yet all he could do was stare at the living ship.

    I¡­don¡¯t know what to call it. It¡¯s larger than any ship I¡¯ve seen. Rel shook his head. Its capacity may be close to a city ship, but with its wings and the tendrils¡­ My assumption is it¡¯s both wider and longer by a significant margin. Until we can venture deeper into this place, I can¡¯t be certain.

    ¡°If I may ask¡­¡± Zafir asked tentatively. ¡°Are you a Depthwalker ship?¡±

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    [I will not disclose my queen¡¯s origins to people outside her clan.]

    Jysel sighed softly and hung his head. ¡°Elara doesn¡¯t have control of her power. We don¡¯t know when she will be able to claim us.¡±

    [If my queen¡¯s living conditions become safer, I will help her learn.]

    ¡°Are you¡­comfortable?¡± Ciheri murmured.

    [I wish to fly,] the ship reiterated. [But¡­I will not endanger my queen.]

    ¡°Is there anything we can do to help?¡± Ciheri asked eagerly. ¡°Aside from evacuate the system, that is.¡±

    [Rel. Jysel. Ciheri. You may clean my tank and fix my water supplies if you wish. The others may repair the autonomous cleaning systems. You will find transport to your left.]

    ¡°I¡­must ask,¡± Rel began through gritted teeth, ¡°Was the clan of Royal Guards an ally or enemy to Elara?¡±

    [Enemy. Cause of fourteenth and fifteenth memory archival procedures,] the ship¡¯s mournful reply made the twins¡¯ hearts clench. [Elara was stolen. Retrieval failed. They built their home here without knowing I exist. Stumbled upon me and sold my nursery to the first bidder.]

    ¡°I should have known a living ship was the cause of this system¡¯s draw¡­¡± the Y¡¯serdyn murmured, his expression betraying just how disconcerted he was.

    ¡°Of course¡­this is a nursery. The planetary scans¡­¡± Zafir started muttering to himself as he flicked through his data pad.

    [I have answered your questions. Please assist me.]

    Rel and Jysel exchanged a look, before glancing at Ciheri. ¡°Are you¡­comfortable with this?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ciheri nearly shouted. ¡°What do you need cleaned? Do you get itchy anywhere? Where are the controls?¡±

    Ciheri continued pelting the ship with questions, making his way toward the nearby maintenance platforms as they levitated up from the floor. Rel and Jysel, however, hung back when the Y¡¯serdyn motioned for them to wait.

    ¡°I apologize for dropping in like this, but a nursery¡­¡± The Y¡¯serdyn struggled for a moment. ¡°We should work under the assumption that someone suspects as much. It may take extreme measures to sneak Elara, and her ship, out of this system. Should you need them, I am at your disposal.¡±

    The twins eyed the man warily, but it was Rel who spoke, ¡°We would prefer not to make Elara an enemy of Syldra from the start, but we will keep your offer in mind. Such a ship¡­is not something easily hidden.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn nodded his acceptance, and the twins pivoted to approach the ship¡¯s tank.

    Rel and Jysel both stepped onto separate maintenance platforms, then willed them to levitate closer to the ship. For a time, it seemed as if they weren¡¯t getting any closer¡ªuntil suddenly they were. What they thought was a barrier of several feet turned out to extend many yards above the floor.

    What would cause a ship to grow to such a size? Jysel stared at the ship in awe as they approached it, tracing the patterned exterior with his gaze the closer he got. From afar the material appeared vine like, yet closer he couldn¡¯t tell if it was closer to stone or metal. It looked almost like ropes of stacked, columnar basalt laid on their side, yet moved like the breathing creature it was.

    Jysel¡­you do realize what this means? Rel drifted closer and nudged his twin gently, earning a confused look in reply. This ship is the planet¡¯s ¡®core.¡¯ There is only one way it is freeing itself. We need to prepare, and I don¡¯t know how much time we have.

    Jysel¡¯s throat tightened at the thought. The ship could ¡®archive¡¯ Elara¡¯s life again or destroy the ¡®planet¡¯ that had formed around it. Neither was acceptable.

    ¡°If I may¡­ Is there a risk of you archiving Elara¡¯s memories again?¡± Jysel inquired, causing the glow to flicker a multitude of colors.

    [In the case of trauma, I will archive Elara¡¯s fifteenth life. As I am fully grown, I do not require further sustenance in the form of her essence.

    [However, my primary objective remains the same: protect my queen.]

    ¡°What if I tell you my clan has professionals capable of helping her cope with trauma, should it occur?¡± Rel countered, listening as the ¡®hum¡¯ of the ship thinking filled the air.

    [If there are now professionals available, then it would take extreme circumstances for me to archive this life. Protecting my queen is the only reason I was gifted this capability. It is against protocols to use it when not necessary.]

    ¡°In that case, we will do what we can to make her safe enough for you to feed her information about her power,¡± Rel declared, his eyes fiery. ¡°We wish for her to be our queen, and for her to use her power in the subtle ways she desires.¡±

    [Work quickly. I sense growing unrest on the surface.]

    I¡¯ve never heard of a ship having a¡­symbiotic? relationship with someone. Jysel attempted to quell the trembling in his hands before moving to the edge of the tank and checking the control systems. The contained volume of water made him stare at the display in disbelief. Was that why the planets in the system had so few oceans? Someone was determined to make certain her ship grew to its full size¡­

    I¡¯ve only ever heard of Depthwalkers having such close ties to their ship, but those were just legends. Rel peered over his twin¡¯s shoulder. ¡­that explains a lot. This ¡®planet¡¯s¡¯ surface oceans must be borrowed as well. They¡¯re reserves in case the ship grows beyond projected limits.

    ¡°This is gonna take a lot of work, the pipes are clogged with human garbage,¡± Ciheri spoke, his platform whizzing down from the ceiling at a reckless speed. ¡°We need a way to get all the garbage out of the pipe network, the tank, and then purify the water. This place has been abandoned a long time, but the systems are still online.¡±

    ¡°Sal¡¯aphel?¡± Jysel suggested, earning a nod from Rel, so he turned to address the ship. ¡°Do you¡­know who Sal¡¯aphel is?¡±

    After a short hum, the answer came, [A thaprynt. Not recommended to keep as a pet. Kept as a companion by Ter¡¯suline Rel and Ter¡¯suline Jysel. Species is known to possess kinetic abilities. Sal¡¯aphel appears to like only ¡®royals,¡¯ those who protect his royals, and those who give him jihgsar.]

    Rel and Jysel exchanged a nervous glance with each other.

    Did it call us that because Elara thinks we are¡­

    ¡­or because it knows we are?

    Jysel smoothed his expression over before addressing the ship, ¡°We don¡¯t have the equipment to clean out the pipes leading to your tank, but Sal¡¯aphel should be able to guide the detritus out. It will be slow, but¡­will you let him help?¡±

    [We like Sal¡¯aphel. He should be rewarded handsomely.]

    Definitely Elara¡¯s ship. The twins sighed. With that, the they both returned to where the Y¡¯serdyn, Zafir, Casair, and Aldiner loitered. None of them looked as if they knew what to do with the situation they¡¯d found themselves in.

    ¡°This is absolutely astonishing¡­¡± Zafir breathed, studying his data pad. ¡°I¡­I must return soon, but this discovery¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more concerned with how we¡¯re keepin¡¯ this under wraps. We can¡¯t risk more people finding out about this.¡± Casair stepped over, breaking his lengthy silence with an authoritative boom to his voice. ¡°I could split the team outside into two shifts, but it¡¯s still a risk. We should proceed as if we have spies in our operation. Citomy will be the least of our worries if word of a new breed of Syldrari living ship gets out. Especially one so¡­¡±

    ¡°I agree. Cut off access to the researchers completely and form several guard teams we know we can trust.¡± Rel nodded sharply. ¡°Authorize them to use lethal force if necessary and set up an identification array in the hallway that leads to the entry room. We need to make certain no one slips through.¡±

    [I will watch over Ciheri and Aldiner while you prepare. Y¡¯serdyn¡­what will you do?]

    ¡°Offer my assistance to Rel and Jysel of course¡­and, please, be more careful of what title you address them by. Elara would be terribly upset if something happened to them.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn approached the four waiting Lun¡¯iri. ¡°I have technology that may be useful to you. We do not trust Syldra¡¯s systems or tech, and as such our databases are more¡­specialized. We¡¯ve preserved the data the queens of Syldra have attempted to erase, and have gained far more information from outside worlds. If you wish to truly cut this place off from interference, I believe I can help.¡±

    ¡°We will welcome it,¡± Rel stated. ¡°After all, that design¡­ I am guessing you have a vested interest in keeping Elara safe and in one piece.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn gave Rel a mysterious smile. ¡°If my theory is correct¡­yes, I cannot deny that you may be right. It is not something I can test and survive. Instead, I will observe, and assist how I can. I do not mind being your contact beyond Syldran law.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Sixteen

    Chapter Sixteen

    I watched in silence as the city outskirts whizzed by my window and were eventually replaced by sky roads winding above nature. Settlements were few and far between, as they¡¯d only been built for specific reasons: such as to house the farmers working in the agriculture sectors, or for the engineers who ran mining operations.

    Erik and Crowe had remained utterly silent for the past long while, and the messages from Rel had stopped coming. I¡¯d tried a few times to grab Rel¡¯s attention before double-checking that I could still access my chip¡¯s other functions. Since everything was fine, I had to assume he¡¯d fallen asleep¡­or gone somewhere that cut off his connection. After all, one of his last messages had mentioned something about going deeper underground to see whatever Jysel¡¯s excavation team had discovered.

    He¡¯d offered to give me a play-by-play, but that clearly wasn¡¯t happening.

    Time to play good little soldier? I wondered, eyeing Crowe. ¡°Sir, where are we going and what is my mission?¡±

    Crowe winced. ¡°Your mission is to protect me in case there are hostiles at the target location.¡±

    ¡°The target location being¡­?¡± If I hadn¡¯t been wearing my suit and visor, I would have given him a nasty look. His wince gave me an idea, and what he said next confirmed it.

    ¡°The ruins of Grand Anldu.¡± Crowe¡¯s shoulders slumped, and he bowed his head. ¡°As the reason for my adventure so far from the capitol is vague at best, we suspect this may have been arranged¡ªby my enemies in the Imperator¡¯s inner circle, by the Syldrari, or by the orbiting Eritika war fleet.

    ¡°We confirmed that the operation you busted belonged to the Eritika fleet. Their council was very unhappy that the Syldrari relics were lost¡­and furious when they discovered their hirelings turned out to be criminals. While we don¡¯t officially fault them, we also don¡¯t trust them.¡±

    I propped my chin in my palm and let out a soft sigh. ¡°So, we¡¯re going to the ruins of the first Resonance Incident¡ªthe place the Creshe Empire found me.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°This¡­fleet. Are Eritika another alien species?¡±

    Crowe shook his head sharply. ¡°Not exactly. Eritika is an intergalactic power that is home to countless species and races, founded by ex-pats and refugees. They¡¯re known to be violent to protect their ideals or to bring down corrupt system lords.

    ¡°They will not disclose their target with us and will be in this system for a while because they have business with Jalan-ki Citomy. Emperor Julien¡¯s inner circle, as you can imagine, is on edge.¡±

    Erik glanced between us a few times before settling his focus on me. ¡°I¡¯ll be handling any possible human targets, and you¡¯ll be going for xenos¡ªunless there¡¯s so many people that I can¡¯t handle the humans myself.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°There¡¯re rumors that Grand Anldu¡¯s ruins were taken over by ¡®wild¡¯ people who put the Creshe Empire behind them. They think Syldrari are gods, so with what happened to the city¡­¡±

    ¡°They think it was smote by divine fury.¡± I rolled my eyes, shooting all the information to Rel as it came to me. ¡°I¡¯ll admit I¡¯m not happy about going back there. What are the plans if I go feral, and why haven¡¯t we brought more of my team?¡±

    Crowe grimaced. ¡°About that¡­this is your last mission aside from emergencies. We¡ª¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°What happened to ¡®needing¡¯ me for extermination?¡±

    ¡°Elara, please, let me finish,¡± Crowe held up both hands. ¡°Citomy¡¯s husbands put a lot of pressure on us to move you to the reserves. They showed us the destruction and chaos queens can inflict and warned that even synthetic queens would be terribly dangerous. They scared the inner circle.

    ¡°You will still be training with Rel and passing on what you learn to others in the program. I¡¯ve sent him a formal request to train your team and you simultaneously. He accepted.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ And this is all effective when?¡± I grumbled.

    ¡°As soon as we return. Your patrols have also been cancelled,¡± Crowe answered. ¡°I don¡¯t like it either, but you don¡¯t want to hear this shit from the other circle members.¡±

    I eyed him when his tone turned venomous. ¡°And why are you so sympathetic, General? I can¡¯t get a read on your motives like I can with other humans.¡±

    General Crowe smiled broadly. ¡°I want to work with other civilizations toward the betterment of humankind. That is all. I¡¯ve read the same histories you have, and more. On our current course, it¡¯s only a matter of time until the Creshe Empire falls. One way or another.¡±

    ¡°See, this is what I like about you. Despite your rank, you¡¯re a realist,¡± I remarked before I could consider keeping my mouth shut. He didn¡¯t seem to mind, though, given the belly laugh.

    ¡°Hah! Surviving a war because your alien allies put themselves at risk to help you, despite being a prick of a kid, has a way of framing perspective,¡± Crowe offered. ¡°I was a stupid, xenophobic kid like the rest of the empire once. The reality of war beat that out of me right quick. I¡¯d be dead if it weren¡¯t for our Brihl and Forseyl allies haulin¡¯ my ass to safety and nursing me to health while we waited for rescue.

    ¡°Besides¡­aliens? Efficient killers, most of them. The war was against another, smaller human empire at the time. Things I saw them do to people, to aliens and other humans alike, it was sickening.¡±

    ¡°Multiple species have a saying that translates roughly to, ¡®do not play with your prey as humans do. There is no peace in life or death for them or their victims.¡¯ Some species are worse, of course¡­¡± Erik trailed off, shaking his head slowly as if to shake off how ill he¡¯d started to look. ¡°I haven¡¯t been around as long as the general here, but I¡¯ve seen my share of bad.¡±

    ¡°And even with all this information available, people choose to be unaware.¡± I couldn¡¯t fathom being so willingly ignorant. Perhaps losing my memories had given me a thirst for knowledge, or the boredom of isolation had given me a need to do something. Either way, I struggled to understand the Creshe populace, or why no other species had directly interfered so far.

    ¡°There it is¡ªGrand Anldu. I¡¯m not seeing any campfires.¡± Crowe frowned, peering out the window behind me.

    I shifted, spotting a shallow crater lit only by moonlight. Around it, the plains had taken on an unnatural appearance, the texture of the grass and plants nearly like that of crystal. The color was clearly off too, though I couldn¡¯t make out the precise shade in the low light.

    Within the crater, it was the same color, coating even the stubs of the few buildings that hadn¡¯t been totally vaporized. Tents and mud houses dotted the inside of the crater, but there were no fires¡ªand something was clearly wrong.

    ¡°Don¡¯t land yet, do a scan,¡± I barked to the pilot, causing Erik to whip out some device and bring it to his eyes.

    ¡°Fucking¡­¡± Erik whispered, the rest too low for me to make out. ¡°Sir, you should see this.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Seventeen

    Chapter Seventeen

    ¡°No life signs. No known toxins,¡± the pilot rattled off as he read the scan results from the projection within his visor. ¡°782 humans dead. Campfires have been out for a long time. No animals or aliens detected. No other abnormal readings¡ªwell, beyond the usual for this region, anyway.¡±

    Erik gnawed on his cheek before speaking, ¡°Sir, I advise we return to base. Something killed those people, and it looks like it did so while they were going about their normal lives. There could be an unknown poison, radiation, or other hazards in the area. If the crystalized land and plants were aetherized, they could have died from exposure. We don¡¯t have the equipment to properly analyze this, let alone go down there ourselves.¡±

    Aetherized? I wondered, promptly searching the term. A page from the Syldrari database promptly appeared, the result informing me that not all crystal could hold aether, but certain structures could be ¡®charged¡¯ with aether¡ªaetherized¡ªif the right conditions were met. Some of those conditions were natural, such as a lightning strike, others were manmade.

    In addition, I searched ¡®aether overexposure¡¯ to see what Erik was on about there. For that, it appeared that humans used a similar measurement system for radioactivity. While both could be deadly to humans¡­aether had more variety. Because aether could hold different elemental aspects, it could inflict burns, freezing, electrocution, and more. At higher doses, it would cause what the empire called, ¡®aether sickness.¡¯ Past that was ¡®aether madness¡¯ and then death.

    For reasons unknown to the Empire and its allies, humans were incapable of processing or filtering aether naturally. They had to rely solely on physical, technological barriers to block out exposure.

    ¡°Sir, I agree with Erik,¡± our shuttle pilot spoke up. ¡°Imaging shows no sign of illness, physical damage, or blood on the bodies. Something killed them simultaneously and without mess.¡±

    Crowe stroked his chin, frowning. ¡°Sweep the area. We¡¯ll look for survivors¡ªor more death¡ªbefore I make a call. The more information, the better.¡±

    A sharp pain lanced through my temple, making me wince and lift my fingers to try and rub beneath my visor band.

    ¡°Elara? You alright?¡± Erik frowned at me.

    ¡°Yeah, must have a headache coming on¡­¡± I reached for my bottle of water and downed some of it. ¡°Did they die in pain? Can you tell?¡±

    ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say they¡¯re sleeping,¡± Erik muttered.

    The hell? I glanced out the window again, then tried messaging both Rel and Zafir together. [Hey, we¡¯ve got a weird situation up by Grand Anldu. Either of you know what could painlessly kill a couple hundred humans peacefully while they were in the middle of their daily chores?]

    For the next hour, our pilot zigzagged across the landscape, covering dozens of miles in each direction. Despite the comprehensive scans, he found nothing definite. By the time we were on our next-to-last pass, the horizon was beginning to glow with morning light.

    [Elara, tell your pilot to return to the city. Now.] Zafir¡¯s message flickered into view in my peripheral.

    Next, Rel responded, [I can¡¯t confirm which method it might be, but all of them are dangerous. Get out.]

    ¡°Sir, Zafir strongly recommends we return to the city,¡± I stated, turning to face Crowe as more messages popped up in my peripheral. ¡°I¡¯m to take command of this shuttle if you refuse.¡±

    Crowe¡¯s eyes widened slightly, and he stopped rubbing his chin. ¡°¡­take us back to Resonance Project HQ.

    ¡°Elara, what else did he say?¡±

    ¡°That none of the options are ¡®good.¡¯ He asks that we forward him the scans immediately.¡± I watched as a flood of disjointed half-sentences scrolled by. [Zafir, calm down and type clearly.]

    [Apologies. It has been¡­an evening.] Zafir¡¯s comment made me tilt my head, but I hopped over to my chat with Rel to see what was going on there.

    [Elara, how tired are you? I should come examine you for damage, under the guise of training. Do you think you can manage remaining awake for another several hours?] Rel¡¯s message made me release a small sigh. I sure hoped that was a euphemism, but it seemed unlikely.

    [I can try to catch a nap on the way back to HQ,] I answered.

    Then, another message from Zafir popped up. [Tell Crowe this is likely a move by Citomy. If so, her husbands are struggling to keep her levelheaded.]

    I relayed the information, watching Crowe sink deeper into thought.

    ¡°There may be Syldrari involved? Then, we should consider her prisoners may be the cause¡ªor someone wants to frame her,¡± Crowe spoke, motioning with one hand. ¡°Syldrari are quick to paint her as a villainess, but I got the feeling her husbands had her under control. Citomy has ruled for a few thousand years, correct? I¡¯m sure there¡¯re many who want to overthrow her.¡±

    ¡°Especially when you win the seat through combat. Younger Syldrari don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Erik picked up a data pad, pulling up some file or other. ¡°There¡¯s all kinds of smear campaigns circulating, according to my contacts. Some even aimed at making Creshe civilians dislike her.¡±

    ¡°Not that people need much help there.¡± I sank into my seat with a small sigh. ¡°Permission to take a nap on the flight back, sir?¡±

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    Crowe nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll try not to disturb you.¡±

    ***

    When I returned to my room at HQ, I found Rel waiting for me inside. He was on his feet and striding toward me before I could even close the door.

    ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± Rel asked gently, lifting his hands toward my face, his palms glowing with faint energy. ¡°Dizziness, nausea, fogginess, anything else that may seem ¡®off?¡¯¡±

    ¡°No, I feel fine,¡± I stated, tracking him as he moved to circle me. ¡°How did you get in¡­?¡±

    Rel steered me to a seat and pressed gently on my shoulders. ¡°I walked in. We can pass through objects by vibrating our cellular structure to¡­ It¡¯s an acquired skill. Don¡¯t try it. If you disperse yourself, there¡¯s nothing anyone can do to retrieve you.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t. That sounds difficult at best.¡± I watched him step around me, his hands glowing again. He ran one hand down my throat, a nearly imperceptible hum coming from it. ¡°What is that glow? A¡­spell? Technique? I just realized I have no idea what to call aetheric abilities.¡±

    ¡°You can see¡­¡± Rel trailed off, his eyes widening as they returned to my face. His gaze rapidly flicked from my left to my right, his fingertips drifting up to grip my face. ¡°This might be a problem. Beautiful, don¡¯t get me wrong, but a problem.¡±

    Rel stood to fetch a mirror from the bathroom, though he hesitated before handing it to me.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I asked as I took the mirror, recalling that Zafir had been rather concerned that it would not be good for me to see¡­so many things.

    Likely reading my mind, Rel simply answered, ¡°Zafir is overly concerned for your safety.¡±

    Sighing, I lifted the mirror¡ªand immediately understood his awe and concern. My primary pupil remained round¡­but a distinctly triangular additional pupil had ¡®opened up¡¯ to the top right of it. And, for lack of a better term, it seemed as if something about my iris patterning had changed slightly. As if there was more depth, and a faint glow to one of the yellows present.

    ¡°Call Zafir. We need to discuss how to protect you,¡± Rel ordered softly, entwining his fingers with my hair as he took a seat in front of me. He rested his forehead against mine, a modicum of tension seemingly abandoning his body. ¡°When the day comes that we can take you far from the Creshe Empire¡­¡±

    ¡°Are¡­the humans really that big of a threat?¡± I asked, unconvinced. While their methods and threats didn¡¯t sit well with me, I knew damn well they weren¡¯t a real threat to Syldrari.

    ¡°To you, yes,¡± Rel murmured, pulling back just enough to meet my gaze. ¡°I need you to understand that you have potential to be a strong warrior, but you aren¡¯t. Not yet. Much like your lightning, you are wild and unwieldy. To live, to thrive, you will need to get away from these people.

    ¡°But¡­first you must survive long enough to do that. You could be poisoned again. They could tranquilize you and ship you off to a pleasure planet. A politician could leverage for you to be placed in isolation again or ¡®reprogrammed.¡¯ For as long as you¡¯re forced to serve the Creshe Empire, they are your greatest enemy.¡±

    [Hey, Zafir. New development. You need to come speak with me and Rel at my room.] I shot off the message, then refocused on Rel just in time for him to lean in and kiss me on the lips.

    He lingered briefly before pulling back. ¡°Sitaj-ri.¡±

    ¡°Hey.¡± I flushed. The praise had a much better sound to it than ¡®good girl.¡¯ Even if it translated into that¡­the meaning and intention were intensely focused. It wasn¡¯t something you said to an animal. It was meant only for someone you felt an intense, intimate connection with.

    ¡°You are. Even with the humans attempting to reteach you, you¡¯ve managed to stay reasonable.¡± Rel smiled and pulled back completely to rise, going off in search of something. ¡°I want to hear more of your mission while we wait for Zafir. Tell me what you saw at Grand Anldu.¡±

    ¡°But what about you? What have you been doing all night?¡± I inquired, frowning. His back stiffened, and I would have sworn I saw one of his ears flick.

    ¡°I¡­can¡¯t tell you about it,¡± Rel answered, his voice strained. His head hung slightly, and I heard him take a shaky breath. ¡°Please do not press me. I will not lie to you, but this information truly isn¡¯t safe for you. Not yet.¡±

    My frown deepened, my pulse quickening. I didn¡¯t like seeing him so stressed, especially not on my behalf. I hesitated a moment before standing and walking over to him. Wrapping my arms around his torso, I nuzzled my cheek into his back. ¡°If it isn¡¯t safe for me, then what about you? Will you be alright?¡±

    ¡°Will I¡­?¡± Rel trailed off, his voice a mix of awe and something I couldn¡¯t quite identify. His glow rapidly flowed from a dim silver to a rich, vibrant sapphire blue. ¡°¡­yes. Yes, I¡¯m going to be fine, Elara. The information is only dangerous for you while you remain on this planet.¡±

    As he spoke, his voice became confident and fierce, yet somehow maintained a comforting quality. His pulse thudded against my cheek, his glow remaining a steady blue. When he went to shift, I loosened my grip enough for him to turn.

    I asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t we sit down together? I¡¯ll fill you in, and¡­if I remember right, Syldrari like ¡®touch,¡¯ right?¡±

    ¡°Even humans like touch, Elara.¡± Rel gave me a gentle smile that made my heart flutter. ¡°It¡¯s just that Syldrari appreciate it more¡­and for more reasons.¡±

    Rel guided me over to the edge of the bed and pulled me down to sit with him. Once there, he slid his fingers down my forearm, resulting in an involuntary twitch of my hand.

    We spent quite a while like that, so long in fact that our conversation moved away from my mission from that evening, to the prior one, and then to our excursion with Ciheri to Lynir¡¯s shop. By the time a disgruntled Zafir knocked on my door, my mind had started wandering to riding Rel in my room for a few hours instead of seeing to combat training.

    ¡°I am exhausted. What do you nee¡ª¡± Zafir stopped dead in his tracks, the door clipping his hip as it swung shut behind him. It looked like it hurt, yet he didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Elara, your eyes¡­? Of all the times¡­ I¡¯m happy for you, I really am, but this is not a good time! Not at all! You seemed fine when you disembarked! What happened?¡±

    ¡°Somewhere between the ship and here, her eyes shifted?¡± Rel leaned back on his palms, thinking.

    ¡°When she got to her room, her eyes were like this?¡± Zafir stared at Rel in disbelief, his complexion growing pale. ¡°Oh¡­ Oh no. Are we past the point of needing catalysts to hasten the process of cellular dissonance?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll need to hide her eyes. Right?¡± Rel asked softly, his expression mournful.

    ¡°I¡­will need to consult our bosses,¡± Zafir shook his head. ¡°Elara will need such advantages, but if she hides¡ª¡±

    ¡°Your ¡®bosses¡¯ know that Syldrari can hide their eyes?¡± I asked pointedly. ¡°Besides, I thought only some can hide it? That sounds like a far-off task for me.¡±

    Zafir slumped. ¡°No¡­you¡¯re right, and no, they do not.¡±

    ¡°Then we need to work off what¡¯s manageable. You said I¡¯d need this advantage¡ªthat means hiding my eyes would obscure extra vision?¡± I crossed one leg over the other and leaned back on one hand. With the other, I motioned loosely at my eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it makes more sense to keep my advantage. I¡¯m going to need to get used to extra spectrum availability anyway.¡±

    Rel nodded. ¡°I agree with Elara. The first spectrum to return allows her to see the types of energy we manipulate with our abilities. With so many criminals running free, and her continued training with me, she¡¯ll need it¡­¡±

    ¡°But she is moving to the reserves. She¡­¡±

    Rel¡¯s eyes narrowed, causing Zafir to trail off. When Rel spoke, it was in a slow, dangerous rhythm. ¡°The Creshe Empire needs Elara. I don¡¯t believe they¡¯ll keep her hidden for long. She gets results. Now, I have training to give. Are we permitted to go to the training floor, or¡­¡±

    Zafir paled, his fingers trembling as he adjusted his glasses. ¡°O-of course. I will join you. Monitoring her performance is my job, after all. One of them.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Eighteen

    Chapter Eighteen

    Zafir and Rel followed close behind me as we made our way through the lounge area and toward the elevators. Instead of stopping, I continued toward the wing opposite of mine. I heard bitchy arguing and a smattering of male voices, and knew at least one of them needed to be put in their place.

    [Elara¡­] Rel warned.

    I spotted Sydney giving Citomy¡¯s husbands an earful, treating them as if they were her personal servants. It sounded as if she was demanding they escort her shopping, but I wasn¡¯t entirely sure I heard her blubbering correctly. Behind her, several guards were gently trying to quiet her down¡­while the Syldrari men appeared to be struggling to maintain their neutrality.

    Rel sighed behind me. [¡­never mind. Do what you must.]

    ¡°Guards, remove her. Take her down to the isolation cells and have her rewatch the entirety of our introductory training footage,¡± I commanded, resulting in an angry shriek from Sydney. Ignoring her, I turned to the Syldrari and gave them a friendly smile as they hurriedly turned to show their respect to me. ¡°I apologize for the parasite¡¯s presence. Were you looking for something?¡±

    ¡°We came to express our apologies for going above your head to Imperator Julien, Thyp-cylk.¡± Suisuni bowed again. ¡°Going to a man about an iri¡¯s status¡­¡± he trailed off, his eyes fixed on mine and his lips parting in surprise. ¡°¡­forgive me, your eyes¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªare exquisite!¡± One of the others exclaimed.

    Suisuni shushed him then turned back to me. ¡°¡­are you safe here?¡±

    ¡°As safe as she can be,¡± Rel stated tersely.

    ¡°Dov¡¯lun Rel,¡± Suisuni began, his tone placating, ¡°I am not here as your enemy. We are trying to undo the chaos your mother has inflicted on this planet and get to the bottom of why the humans had so many captive queens¡­¡± Suisani paused to give me a meaningful glance. ¡°This is clearly more than mixed genes. Elara is not a chimeric monstrosity like that smawuckll woman who was screaming at us.¡±

    Dov¡¯lun, as it turned out, was something akin to ¡®prince¡¯ in the Syldrari language. ¡®Smawuckll¡¯ however¡­ I gently cleared my throat, giving them a reprimanding glance. While I didn¡¯t entirely disagree with the sentiment of the word, using such a derogatory term for humans while in a human installation didn¡¯t seem advisable or appropriate.

    Suisani gave me a sheepish smile and a small bow in acknowledgement. I was just relieved I didn¡¯t have to bring it to their attention aloud.

    ¡°Your mother would like you to return, Dov¡¯lun,¡± another of the husbands spoke up, narrowing his eyes at Rel.

    ¡°I am no longer a Dov¡¯lun. I am one of the founders of Clan V¡¯shir. My loyalty is to my clan and to Elara,¡± Rel stated, an eerie, looming quality to his unnaturally calm voice.

    ¡°But¡­you are not claimed by her¡­¡± Suisani looked between us, frowning.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to be ¡®claimed¡¯ and draped in slave jewelry to have loyalty to someone,¡± Rel spat venomously, causing me to eye him. I knew I couldn¡¯t stop a fight if one broke out. ¡°Elara¡¯s behavior and stances earns far more loyalty and reverence than any queen could hope to buy. If I am to join with and pledge loyalty to someone, it will be Elara. Do I make myself clear?¡±

    ¡°Then it is true she isn¡¯t safe here.¡± Suisani nodded sagely, unbothered by Rel¡¯s sudden temper. ¡°Who claims you is not my decision, but I know your mother has been pushing for you to join with Elara. She will be overjoyed to hear you agree.¡±

    ¡°If I may¡­¡± Zafir spoke quietly, his low tone catching Suisani¡¯s attention. A ripple of energy emanated from Suisani before he nodded for Zafir to continue. ¡°To answer your question, no. Elara is not safe. Your ¡®concern¡¯ could have doomed her and caused her to be reprogrammed and sent to the imperial brothels. I¡¯ve been working tirelessly to make certain her retirement is safe¡ªbeing sent to the reserves when those plans weren¡¯t even finalized was a risk at best!¡±

    Suisani promptly dropped to a knee before me and hung his head, his hands held in a symbol by his forehead. ¡°Forgive me, Thyp-cylk Elara. I did not know that humans have such filthy practices. Punish me however you see fit for putting you in further danger¡ªbut please, leave the rest of my constellation be.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­?¡± I stared blankly at the Lun¡¯iri. [Rel? Help? What is he talking about?]

    [He is referring to the rest of his relationship group.] Rel placed a hand on one hip, his expression stormy. [Constellation is the closest translation of our word for such groups. He¡¯s sacrificing himself to save them.]

    For the love of¡­ I looked down at Suisuni, noting his fist was clenched tight but there was no tremble. ¡°I¡¯m not going to punish anyone. That¡¯s not the type of iri I am. If you didn¡¯t know you were putting me in danger, then you deserve another chance.¡±

    ¡°What¡­?¡± Suisani hesitated before glancing up at me. ¡°Wittingly or not, I put you in danger. I must be¡ª¡±

    Sighing, I stepped forward and crouched in front of him, watching as he promptly turned bright blue and averted his eyes again. ¡°I don¡¯t like punishing anyone. People should be educated and lifted up, not beaten down and ground into the dirt.

    ¡°If you feel you must do something, then I will accept a gift from Syldra at a later date when it is reasonable to acquire something. I like what I¡¯ve seen of Syldra¡¯s culture, but I have few things made by Syldrari hands.¡±

    ¡°I thank you for your mercy, Thyp-cylk Elara,¡± Suisani whispered in shock, bowing so low his head touched the floor. When he stood, he hesitated and looked to Rel. ¡°I¡­will do what I can, Tel Dov¡¯lun. She has been strange since choosing to visit this system.¡±

    I arched an eyebrow. First Prince now, is it? Even after Rel¡¯s ¡®outburst?¡¯

    ¡°Elara remains my priority,¡± Rel stated. He appeared to think for a moment before adding, ¡°Tensions are high because there are so many powers at play. I will relocate my clan if I deem it too dangerous to remain.¡±

    My heart clenched and I turned to look up at Rel, but his intense gaze remained on Suisuni. I didn¡¯t want Rel to go anywhere without me. My pulse raced in my throat, and I gripped him by his sleeve, but I remained quiet as Zafir began playing at being a ¡®human with excellent hospitality.¡¯

    [If I leave, you are coming with me.] Rel glanced down and to the side at me, his lips pulling into a sultry smile. [I won¡¯t let the humans keep you. On that, I give you my word. Even if you¡¯ve yet to bind me¡­ You are my Nys¡¯raelyr. Understand?]

    [No. But thank you?] I turned my gaze to the group of Syldrari, but quickly returned my gaze to Rel when his sleeve pulled from my hand and he entwined his fingers with mine instead. Internally, I cursed the fact I had gloves on.

    ¡°We should get your training in for the day, Elara. You seem tired,¡± Rel stated, pulling me in the direction of the elevators. [We shouldn¡¯t let them see any further hints you may be a queen. They may take you to Syldra with or without your blessing.]

    I let him lead me away, using the opportunity to get a good look at him. He seemed awake as could be, and his glow was bright and alert. Not entirely keen on continuing the talk of queens, I decided to try and change the subject. [You aren¡¯t tired?]

    [Creshe days are shorter than those on Syldra. We function on a Syldran schedule in our sector.] Rel leaned back in the elevator, giving me a good look at his long, well-balanced body. A smirk slowly spread across his face. [Or are you hinting that you want to continue from where we left off the other night?]

    Heat rose within me and I glanced away. I wasn¡¯t ashamed by our intimate exchange, or by the fact I desired more. However, something about his candor turned me bashful. Though, honesty was preferred by Syldrari¡­

    After steeling my resolve, I answered, [I wasn¡¯t hinting. However, the thought has crossed my mind¡­more than a few times.]

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    Tendrils of glowing energy extended around Rel and slid around my body, their sensation so intense it nearly tricked me into thinking they were physical. With a gentle nudge, Rel moved me toward him.

    ¡°We will see if you can earn my attention,¡± Rel remarked with a confident smile, though his eyes held the gleam of a predator. ¡°You should focus on training, first. If your team is joining us, you need to be an example.¡±

    I frowned slightly. ¡°Right¡­group training, even though I¡¯m meant to be ¡®in reserve.¡¯¡±

    ¡°A ruse to temporarily placate Citomy, perhaps?¡± Rel suggested, gently shifting me to lean me back beside him. I eyed the display in the elevator, impatient to reach our destination¡ªuntil Rel spoke again, ¡°Should we watch something more intimate next time? Or have you not found that part of the network yet?¡±

    ¡°Wait, what? The what?¡± I blinked up at him. ¡°I¡¯ve just been messaging you and listening to music. What have I¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you something to watch later.¡± Rel shot me a mischievous smile as he pushed away from the wall and stepped toward the doors. ¡°Come. We have training to do.¡±

    What the hell is he talking about? Something to watch? I get the feeling he doesn¡¯t mean training videos. The doors began their warning dings, so I hurried after Rel before they could close on me. I had no idea what he was planning, but he looked way too damn happy with himself.

    Upon entering the room, I spotted a very changed Aisu. Gone were the vestiges of her human appearance, overtaken entirely by that of a Syldrari. Her true form, I had to remind myself. From head to toe, skin and hair, she was an iridescent mixture of blues and purples. Her eyes had become a piercing magenta with rings of lighter, faintly glowing blue-white.

    ¡°Hey, Elara!¡± Aisu called, trotting over in all her newfound glory. Grinning, she stretched her arms out. ¡°Pretty cool, huh?¡± Then, she turned to look at the suspiciously unsurprised Rel. ¡°Looks like I owe you an apology.¡±

    Rel glanced my way. ¡°Elara, will you give us a moment? Go do your warmups.¡±

    ¡°Sure?¡± I looked between Aisu and Rel a moment, then trotted over to join the rest of my team.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Diana peered around me at Rel. ¡°He¡¯s still kinda scary. So much bigger than us¡­¡±

    Bigger¡­yep. I shoved that train of thought right out of my head. Instead, I focused my attention on beginning my warmups. ¡°Have our Syldrari visitors bothered any of you?¡±

    ¡°Only to ask how to contact you,¡± Calder offered. ¡°They seemed real worried about being responsible for your ¡®withdrawal.¡¯¡±

    ¡°They should be!¡± Maelor grunted. ¡°Bastards stickin¡¯ their noses in our business. We¡¯re already spread thin without Elara being taken off patrol!¡±

    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the idea?¡± Diana posited quietly. ¡°They¡¯re with the person who dumped a prison ship on Creshe¡­¡±

    Nikolai nodded. ¡°We should assume so. It¡¯s safer for all of us that way.¡±

    ¡°Right!¡± Diana nodded firmly.

    [Please be calm,] Zafir¡¯s plea came through moments before I heard a different elevator arrive. With it, came Zafir¡­and Sydney.

    The corner of my eye twitched, and my team started muttering disgusted curses. I took a moment to compose myself before speaking icily, ¡°Didn¡¯t I order for her to review our instructional material?¡±

    [Careful. You are digging too deep.] Rel¡¯s shuddering warning came as he appeared by my side. His piercing gaze settled on Sydney, utter malice radiating from him despite his glow remaining its passive cyan. [You need to remain calm and in control of your powers. All of them.]

    [¡­I will try.] I went back to my warmups, turning away from the offensive woman. With her, came a smell not unlike decay and mold. Her mere presence made me more on edge than passing through cobwebs. She just felt so¡­unnatural.

    A hand intertwined with my hair, and I glanced up to realize it was Rel. He kept his hand on my head, idly petting me with his thumb, his gaze rapt on Zafir and Sydney.

    ¡°I never agreed to training that one,¡± Rel remarked, his voice an eerie calm. ¡°She may observe, but if she tries to get involved, I will treat her more harshly than I treated Elara our first match.¡±

    ¡°That will be fine. Sydney here hasn¡¯t seen any form of real, meaningful conflict before,¡± Zafir stated, nervously adjusting his glasses.

    [¡­do you trust me?] Rel asked.

    [Yes. Why?] I shot back.

    [May I have your permission to spar with you as roughly as I did our first time?] Rel tensed beside me as if expecting a harsh reaction.

    I grimaced, recalling the sensation of my broken bones¡ªand the arguably worse feeling of mending them. [You have my permission, I know I need to train the mending skills more. I just hope you make it worthwhile later.]

    [You have my word,] Rel answered, ending with an artistic-looking mark; which I was beginning to think was a Syldrari version of an emoji.

    ¡°If real combat is what she needs to see, then that is what she will get. Leave us the floor,¡± Rel commanded, and my team hurriedly made room. Aisu hesitated before joining Zafir and settling in with her eyes on Sydney. ¡°Elara, suit up.¡±

    Rel¡¯s tone of voice made a few delightful images cross my mind. Him bending me over the counter in his bar, or me riding him on the sofa, or¡­him carefully fastening me into position with rope and taking me however he pleased. That last one, I wasn¡¯t entirely sure where it had come from. I stole a glance at Rel as I summoned my suit¡ªhe was biting his lower lip as he watched me, a tinge of pink creeping into his glow briefly before it ¡®wobbled¡¯ back to cyan.

    I resigned myself to the knowledge he¡¯d most likely ¡®heard¡¯ or ¡®seen¡¯ the naughty images going through my mind¡ªand maybe was even responsible for one or two of them. If that was even a thing. Stretching briefly before taking up my place in the sparring ring, I decided to work off the assumption that it was indeed a thing.

    ¡°Yeah! Kill ¡®er!¡± Sydney hollered like she was on the sidelines of a gladiatorial match.

    Crimson and black consumed the glowing stripes and patches of Rel¡¯s skin as he turned his head to glower at the woman. ¡°Sit down, be quiet, and learn or you won¡¯t be leaving this place alive.¡±

    Is it wrong to think he¡¯s sexy when he¡¯s angry? I wondered, watching Rel turn his attention back to me.

    His intense, predatory gaze remained right up until his underarmor appeared, followed closely by the kind of biological-looking armor I¡¯d once seen Jysel sport. A helmet of the same material grew over his head, a glowing shape stretching over where his eyes were.

    Finally, a wicked spear with multiple, tiered, twisted blades at the end appeared in his left hand. He shifted into an unfamiliar stance, his weapon lingering behind him.

    ¡°Try to disarm me.¡±

    Try? I studied him as we circled each other. His stance was well-balanced, and he could easily slash or thrust with the spear depending on how I approached.

    Before I could decide on a move, Rel launched forward, flames bursting into life along the blades of his weapon. He lifted the weapon and thrust it toward my midsection. I darted out of the way, palm-striking the spear¡¯s shaft. Rel moved with the spear, spinning into a sidekick that caught me in the stomach.

    The force nearly knocked the air from my lungs, but I didn¡¯t feel anything crack. Even if I had, he was charging me again. Rel leapt into the air with his spear, aiming as if to skewer me on the spot. Scowling, I did the first thing that came to mind and channeled my lightning around both arms. Rel¡¯s spear vibrated in his hands before ripping free and spinning into the wall to my right, nearly grazing my cheek in the process.

    Rel closed the distance between us with an uppercut. I managed to avoid it, and went to retaliate, but he was faster. He grabbed my arm and pulled me in, his knee connecting with my gut. A burst of what felt like wind exploded from his knee, shooting me into the air.

    Startled by that development and having no easy way to land, I tried to turn myself before I began falling. Rel appeared above me, fire roiling around his entire body like some angered creature. I shifted myself the best I could and dove back toward the floor, summoning a sphere of water as I fell. moments after I landed in it, I heard the hiss of his flames extinguishing against it.

    Not one to hide, I burst out of the sphere mid-air, my arm pulled back to punch Rel in the head. A feeling of eerie calm came over me, and suddenly our immediate surroundings plunged into darkness. Shrieks of surprise from onlookers quickly became muffled and then all went silent.

    Twinkling lights like stars covered every surface of the otherwise featureless darkness. Anything to define the walls, floors, or training equipment was gone.

    ¡°Stop it,¡± Rel whispered in awe, catching my wrist in one hand. The moment he touched me, he came into proper view, his armor and underarmor both gone. His expression, unreadable.

    ¡°I did this?¡± I asked quietly, watching a shiver go through him. His gaze held an intensity I couldn¡¯t translate, his glow a marbling of many colors. Sapphire and neon pink pulsed brighter each time I spoke, before returning to vie with the others. ¡°Rel?¡±

    Rel released a low half-groan, half-growl before quietly pleading, ¡°Don¡¯t say my name like¡­that. You need to get us out of here.¡±

    So, I did do this? I glanced around us again, taking in the space-like surfaces again. It was what I imagined it would be like to stand in space in a glass box, somewhere between systems.

    I returned my attention to Rel when he pulled me closer, his form bending so he could bring his lips to my neck. A shiver ran through me, a twinge of desire pulsing between my legs. If we stayed there, perhaps we could continue¡­

    No. I gripped Rel by his jaw and pushed him back. His hazy gaze met mine questioningly, his lips parted oh-so temptingly. ¡°Get ahold of yourself. I¡¯m going to try and get rid of¡­whatever this is.¡±

    The moment I gave the order, his eyes became clear and alert. His pupils each refocused, then his expression became serious, and he took a step back. It took mere seconds for him to compose himself as if nothing odd happened.

    [You¡¯re going to require more attentive training than I realized,] Rel commented, any hint of playfulness gone. [This¡­is not something we can have you doing by accident. Syldran superstitions are few¡­but they are strong. Some clans would demand your execution if they saw this.]

    With some difficulty, I managed to part ¡®space¡¯ and then disperse it, returning us to the training ring we had been in. Zafir had turned white, but the rest of my team seemed merely confused.

    Sydney scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I bet I can do the same thing! It¡¯s just making an orb of dark-whatever, right?¡±

    Huffing, she went over to the neighboring ring and began to strain like a bodybuilder, moving her hands around like she was trying to summon something. She grunted and groaned, flailing as if that would help her do¡­anything. It didn¡¯t take long before she collapsed om the ground, panting for air. I could only assume she was trying to do whatever it was I had done by accident.

    ¡°¡­right. Anyway, we should train,¡± I stated. ¡°The team and I still have an hour left of training to do while Rel is here.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­ I will¡­observe,¡± Zafir managed to croak. He sat heavily and placed his head in his hands.

    Rel placed a hand on my shoulder. [Leave him. He needs time to process just how difficult it will be to keep you alive¡­here, or on Syldra.]

    [But what did I do, exactly?] I asked, glancing down at my hands briefly, then up at Rel. [What was that?]

    Rel shook his head. [I will have to discuss it with Zafir later to be certain. For now, let¡¯s not speculate.]

 [B2] Chapter Nineteen

    Chapter Nineteen

    [You desire to board me, Ter¡¯suline Rel?]

    Rel let out a soft sigh in response to the ship¡¯s fearful tone. Its glowing tendrils wavered in its holding tank, every glowing part of its body flickering in unease.

    ¡°We are trying to figure out how to get you and Elara out of this system in one piece,¡± Rel explained gently. ¡°To do that, I need to know your capabilities, your layout, capacity, food source, defense systems, and so much more¡­ We are far from Syldra, and the gate is not yet repaired.¡±

    [You doubt my usefulness,] the ship mourned.

    ¡°Quite the opposite!¡± Rel exclaimed. ¡°You are beautiful and clearly powerful. For the sake of our queen, I must know more about you. I promise that I will not pry your storage banks for information on Elara¡¯s past.¡±

    [You have not sworn yourself to my queen. Why should I trust you?] the ship sniffled.

    Rel stared at the ship, aghast. Having to court Elara¡¯s ship in addition to the woman herself was the last thing he expected. ¡°I would swear myself to Elara now if she would allow it. However, she isn¡¯t ready and hasn¡¯t made a decision yet. I believe in respecting that until outside interference forces my hand.¡±

    [She has made her decision, she just doesn¡¯t know it yet.] The ship made an odd warbling sound that sounded vaguely like a ¡®humph.¡¯ [Fine. Ter¡¯suline Rel and Jysel may board me. The others must wait outside. Sal¡¯aphel will make certain they do as instructed.]

    ¡°How do we¡ª¡± Rel began to ask, but his question was cut off by black energy enveloping him and Jysel. His heart pounded as the inky, starred blackness faded away from them in what appeared to be some manner of transportation hub. Soft lights flickered on overhead, illuminating the layered floors and numerous empty portal frames. That was like the energy Elara called around us¡­ I thought she was using a strange element of some manner, but did she almost transport us to her ship by accident?

    Jysel crouched down, rubbing his fingers over the intricately carved floor. Cyan lights sparked from deep within the carvings, casting multidirectional light throughout the room. While many Syldrari inscriptions used to adorn smartplating followed the triangular paragraph structure, these were entirely foreign.

    [You are standing in the palace transport room. The public transportation centers are much larger. What do you want to see first?] The originally hesitant ship now sounded proud and excited, eager to show its guests around.

    ¡°Palace?¡± The twins asked. Jysel continued, ¡°Our species deviated from palaces long ago. We found they bred jealousy. How long ago was your city designed¡­?¡±

    [After the Syldrari of Syldra deviated. We don¡¯t care what the people of Syldra think or do. Our goal is to make certain our queen has a proper sanctuary. Somewhere distant and silent has always been her preference. We designed it with that in mind. Her mental health is more important than misguided attempts to avoid jealousy.]

    They have a point. Rel looked at his grimacing sibling.

    Jysel shook his head faintly. ¡°With or without a palace, people will seek to steal you from Elara. All living ships our species have encountered thus far are easy to ¡®hack.¡¯¡±

    ¡°We need to make certain your defenses cover more than physical threats,¡± Rel finished.

    [I am unknowable to your kind. I will be fine.]

    ¡°Unknowable¡­?¡± Rel frowned. ¡°Then, which sector of space do you hail from?¡±

    [None that you have a name for. To put it in terms you understand¡­ If the universe is an ocean, Syldra and Creshe are both located in the shallows.]

    ¡°To think a few centuries ago, Creshe was considered ¡®deep space¡¯¡­¡± Rel murmured uncomfortably. His gaze flicked to the left when a door retracted, presenting an opening.

    [Please inspect the city from the balcony in the garden. You will find it if you follow this hallway straight, then take your fifth right.]

    Rel and Jysel exchanged uneasy glances before following the path as instructed. Both men eventualy began to relax as the natural atmosphere, combined with fragrant flora, filled their senses before even reaching the gardens in full. A barrier of water met them at the doorway, and Jysel hesitated.

    ¡°Your city is filled with water? But the weight¡­ How can you fly?¡± Jysel ran his fingers down the invisible barrier.

    [My species consumes and recycles aether to live. The city and other ship components were designed to work fully off magitech since my species are masters of aether.]

    ¡°You can manipulate the air or space around you?¡± Rel inquired in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯ve read theories, but never seen anything confirmed! If you¡¯re capable of carrying an aquatic city, then why is the palace dry?¡±

    [Each building is an airpocket. Other such pockets exist where I think Elara will want them, or where the work requires it. Citizens will be able to opt-in to air pockets for their homes as desired.]

    The twins hesitated, probing the water barrier, before stepping through it. Both took a moment to acclimate to the change in temperature and align themselves within the sphere, allowing their aquatic senses and organs to take over. Once comfortable, Jysel glanced to Rel.

    It¡¯s warmer than I expected.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Rel nodded, shifting to drift down the hall backward for a moment. ¡°What made you choose this temperature?¡±

    [Everything is calibrated with Elara¡¯s bloodline and origins in mind,] the ship answered vaguely, a tinge of concern entering their voice. [Is it¡­unsatisfactory?]

    ¡°The opposite, we had expected cold,¡± Jysel answered in a reassuring tone. ¡°The closest we¡¯ve seen to Elara¡¯s coloration are people from arctic or reef waters, so our guesses were either frigid or very hot waters. This is much more comfortable than either.¡±

    The ship made a warbling noise that the twins had learned meant ¡®happy.¡¯ [Please, hurry to the gardens!]

    Not wanting to leave the excited ship waiting, the twins swam down the hallway, past ornate growbeds filled with flora from Syldra. When they exited the palace through an intricately carved arch, they stared at the ¡°gardens¡± in stunned silence.

    Acres of various trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants sprawled before them. While they recognized many of the species from regions of Syldra and adjacent star systems, there were others entirely foreign to them¡ªsuch as a translucent tree whose bark looked like glass, and its sap glowed a bright purple inside it.

    Paths wound through the almost wild gardens, past a section marked for herbs and vegetables, to a small orchard, and then up to a hill beside the palace, which appeared to have a filigree-like building built around a large tree.

    Not sure what to expect, Rel and Jysel swam to the ornate fence that rimmed the retaining wall.

    ¡°This is¡­¡± Rel stared down at the city below in shock.

    Below, twisting buildings of metal, glass, and stone spread throughout the dome. Here and there, metal curved through the city, in what Rel could only assume was some form of monorail system. From the suburbs to the city center, the buildings were like works of art. Many buildings utilized colored glass, creating a brilliant sheen to the overall city.

    Large gaps between buildings served as gardens, parks, and even farms. Whomever designed the city clearly did not have the same goal of compact construction as shipwrights did.

    Jysel grasped the railing to steady himself, his eyes wide. ¡°This¡­this is more capacity than either of our cityships! Swimming from place to place¡­¡±

    [Unnecessary. There are public transport systems in addition to fabricators that will print vehicle designs for personal or family usage. Everything Elara and her inevitable clan would need were designed for her before she came of age.]

    Rel¡¯s chest tightened with uncertainty. Who would have had the power and foresight necessary to make such preparations, let alone be capable of nurturing a living ship for her? Was it a parent, or someone else?

    ¡°What about food, supplies¡­¡± Jysel trailed off, overwhelmed.

    [All necessary designs and systems were already loaded into my databanks, and I can receive more at any time. I¡¯m equipped with scrubbing protocols to prevent interference from outsiders, and to remove outdated, useless, or unused designs.]

    ¡°I have to ask¡­did one of Elara¡¯s family members arrange this?¡± Rel asked cautiously.

    [No.]

    ¡°Then¡­who? This is more care than I¡¯ve seen anyone display for another person, be it for a family member or lover.¡±

    Jysel frowned, nodding. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want to upset or offend someone with this kind of ability and forethought. If we¡¯re intruding¡­¡±

    [Elara is precious to more than Syldrari. We will keep her safe.]

    ¡®We.¡¯ Do you think the ship is referring to its species, and not whoever Elara¡¯s Syldrari ties are? Jysel looked at Rel, then down at the city again.

    Rel remained silent for a while, before finally answering, I think we¡¯re in over our heads but it¡¯s too late to rethink our stance. We¡¯re too attached to Elara to withdraw. This¡­place, it¡¯s more advanced than any Syldran tech I¡¯ve seen. If it¡¯s from the Depthwalkers, I have to assume their culture hasn¡¯t stagnated like ours. The Abyss Father may be alive and pushing progress as Zafir suspected.

    Jysel closed his eyes briefly. Even if it were an option, I wouldn¡¯t withdraw my investment in Elara. She¡¯s kind and she¡¯s powerful. The kind of woman we never thought we would find.

    Even if she turns out to be more than a mere Depthwalker? Rel inquired, narrowing his eyes at his twin. If she is, we may never be able to return to Syldra.

    Jysel nodded. I don¡¯t care who she is or where she¡¯s from. Not in that way, at least. I¡¯m curious, and if it would help us protect her, then I would like to know. Otherwise, it doesn¡¯t matter.

    Good, then we agree. Rel pulled himself over the railing, then twisted to look back at the palace itself. The shapes of the spires made him wonder if it was based on some plant he had never encountered before. ¡°If I can ask¡­aside from wishing to give her a sanctuary, why was Elara given a palace?¡±

    [Because we understand her potential. We do not believe true reform would resemble past Syldran culture in any way. We wished for her abode to reflect that, even if she chooses not to fix the homeworld.]

    ¡°How much of this did Elara know before her memories were removed?¡± Jysel asked, earning a pained look from his twin.

    [Nothing other than knowing she may be a queen. Given the¡­circumstances, she willingly agreed to let me ¡®eat¡¯ her memories and protect her here. When she is in great physical or psychological danger, I try to ¡®take her place¡¯ but it has been difficult since the Resonance Incident. Kuhir-dal makes her mind hard to access¡­]

    ¡°Then, that, at least, is truly caused by the Incident.¡± Jysel hung his head, clutching his aching chest. ¡°If only I had¡­¡±

    ¡°In that case¡­is the dark, starry power Elara exhibits yours?¡± Rel swam a little further from the palace, taking in the delicate spires and carved domes.

    [No. We have some similar abilities, but she has never used mine. Without conscious knowledge of my existence and centuries of training, she cannot draw on me in that way. If it helps you understand¡­I am her ship, her home, her companion, and her royal guard. My abilities, friendship, and safety are at her disposal. If she wants a more direct connection, I would consider it. But she has much to learn before we get to that. It is dangerous to connect that deeply.]

    Jysel shifted his attention away from the city when a message popped up in his peripheral vision. Skimming it, he looked to Rel with a grimace. ¡°We need to be getting back, Casair and the others have reports for us. Inspecting the systems here will have to wait.¡±

    [You two are welcome anytime.] The ship informed them happily, transporting them outside with no prompting. [I like visitors. I would like residents more. Flying together will make me very happy.]

    ¡°Soon, I hope, soon,¡± Rel stated with a small smile.

    After bidding the ship goodbye for the moment, the twins made their way out of the large containment area and walked toward Jysel¡¯s base. Several minutes passed before Rel looked at his brother, eyeing his downtrodden expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°I¡­was just thinking that it¡¯s odd for me to feel so strongly about working with and protecting Elara. I haven¡¯t gotten to spend as much time with her as you have. And, how I originally treated her¡­ I just¡­¡± Jysel sighed heavily, shoulders drooping. ¡°Seeing the extent someone would go to make sure Elara has everything she needs makes me feel inferior and unworthy.¡±

    Rel gave his brother a lopsided smile. ¡°I know what you mean, but we need to consider Elara¡¯s feelings too. She doesn¡¯t understand how special she is. All she knows is who and what she likes or finds attractive.

    ¡°How about I let you know the next time she comes over? If you need more time with her, that should be easy to arrange. You could also try messaging her.¡±

    Jysel quickly shook his head. ¡°I won¡¯t risk messaging her. I hate to admit it, but that Y¡¯serdyn is right. We can¡¯t trust even Syldrari technology right now.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ I wonder¡­¡± Rel glanced back the way they¡¯d come. ¡°Next visit, we should ask if their designs include neurochips and communications systems. If we can gain an edge¡­¡±

    Jysel grinned. ¡°That¡¯s something I can get on board with.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty

    Chapter Twenty

    For the next week, my life consisted of waking up to train with Rel and my team in the mornings. Nightmares continued to haunt me, though thankfully neither Rel nor Zafir had barged in on such an event.

    Most of my time was spent reading or watching whatever I could get my hands on. With some difficulty, I¡¯d found out how to use my chip to access the Syldrari¡¯s equivalent to internet. I¡¯d spent the last day or so using it to bypass the restrictions on what we could watch in the lounge.

    I wasn¡¯t sure if it was an oversight on Zafir¡¯s part, or if he was hoping I¡¯d use my chip to watch Creshian documentaries. Whichever it was, it was too late to stop me.

    I¡¯d learned that the Creshe Empire was young. While Clan V¡¯shir had allied with the empire around 300 years ago, the empire had only landed on Creshe 100 before that. They gloated that their stolen and integrated alien tech allowed them to reconstruct their infrastructure in less than a decade, but I wasn¡¯t buying that story.

    Who was on Creshe first? How did the humans find it, and where did they travel from? I tilted my head faintly. If Rel arrived only a century later, then there was a chance he knew¡­

    I double-checked my schedule. Rel was ¡®off¡¯ from training us today, but he was almost certainly awake and working at the cafe already. Chewing on my lip, I paced while trying to think of how to word the question.

    [Hey, Rel, where did the humans come from?]

    There was a minute or two before I got his sassy response, [Well, you see, many millions of years ago or perhaps even longer¡­]

    I snorted and shook my head. Right. Better wording was needed. [No, no. I¡¯m not asking for their evolutionary history. I want to know where the ones living on Creshe came from, how they named this planet, etcetera.]

    This time, the wait was so drawn out that I went and grabbed a drink, made a snack, and returned to my room before he answered me.

    [From what I recall¡­ The Creshe came to this planet because they believed it to be the ¡®Cradle of Life.¡¯] Rel¡¯s answer made me frown. That seemed like something that should¡¯ve persisted in Creshian culture or teaching. [There¡¯s this old human planet called ¡®Earth¡¯ that the Creshe salvaged documentation and research from¡ªI believe your codename is from one of these documents? Rumors say that some long-forgotten deity destroyed all intelligent life on the planet and quarantined it.

    [The quarantine was already lifted by the time Syldran ships reached it, but we salvaged data from it as well. It is presently marked as a planet that needs a long time left alone to return to nature.

    [Anyway, the humans got the word Creshe from the data they salvaged. It means ¡®cradle¡¯ in one of the dead Earth languages, though they took some liberties with the spelling.]

    Just when I was going to call Earth a stupid name, he goes and tells me this planet is literally named Cradle. I plopped down with my drink and my plate. [Okay. So, humans name their planets stupid things. Was their old planet that awful for them to think this one is a ¡®Cradle of Life?¡¯]

    [I couldn¡¯t say. Despite my early alliance with them, I don¡¯t know where they came from.] Rel¡¯s answer made me frown. I didn¡¯t think he was lying, but it seemed odd. [They have always behaved like they originated from this planet. It wasn¡¯t until becoming involved with you and the Resonance Project that their lies became clearer.]

    [Mmm¡­ So, if there¡¯s anyone behind them pulling the strings¡­] I suggested, feeling my chest clench, my fingers tingling.

    [Correct. We don¡¯t know.] There was a long pause before he asked, [Can you come over?]

    [No¡­ I¡¯m supposed to stay here and keep up appearances.]

    [Shame¡­ I don¡¯t like that the humans are the ones keeping you on a leash.] Rel¡¯s statement made me raise an eyebrow, but he wasn¡¯t done. [I was thinking we might find you some fun and pretty things to play with when you¡¯re able to come visit again.]

    [You want to find more things to take off me?] I asked, half-interested, half-confused by the change of subject.

    [That is a good idea too,] Rel answered. [In this case, it¡¯s more that I want to help you accept and love yourself through the stages of your return to a Syldrari. It¡¯s¡­rare, to find an iri who could benefit from and appreciate empowerment.

    [A safe, empowering environment is something I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m rambling, aren¡¯t I?]

    He wants to¡­? Baffled, I took a moment to sort his comments. [Mmm¡­ I¡¯m not sure how to feel about that, since I¡¯d been hoping to empower you. Lun¡¯iri just¡­aren¡¯t treated well.]

    [Elara¡­ It isn¡¯t a contest to see who is deserving,] Rel chastised. [This isn¡¯t a, ¡®pick one outcome.¡¯ We can all win. And¡­you are more trapped than me. Consider us even, if that¡¯s what it takes.

    [I have to get back to work¡ªmessage me if you find a way to visit after all.]

    Again, he ended his messages with a nonverbal graphic mark. I scratched my jaw, trying to work out for myself what it meant, before sighing and bringing up the Syldran network. With a little experimentation, I figured out how to copy the mark and plug it into a search engine to figure out what Rel kept sending me.

    Signatures? Emotes? Something else?

    The corner of my eye twitched. For the first page of search results, the names, links and blurbs were blacked out. When I tried them anyway, a warning overlaid in my vision¡ªan apology from Zafir. ¡®Database¡¯ and encyclopedic websites were off limits. Right.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    On the next set of results, I found something more useful¡ªa site that listed them all out in a way that could be copied, for people who weren¡¯t using Syldran chips. Problem was¡­there were a lot. Instead of searching precisely for the ones that Rel trended toward, I ended up studying each one on the list to satisfy my curiosity.

    They ranged from simple expressions to more complicated ones that required over a paragraph of description because the Creshe language didn¡¯t have a word for many of the Syldrari¡¯s complex feelings and concepts. For example, they had a term and a mark for, ¡®disentangling oneself from an uncomfortable situation with art and grace.¡¯

    Before I knew it, hours had passed, and it was time for me to go get lunch. I let out a groan and rolled off the bed, then walked over to the bathroom to check myself in the mirror. After fussing with my hair briefly, I pulled on some casual clothes, a pair of gloves, and left my room in search of food.

    ¡°Elara, hey!¡± Aisu perked up when she spotted me. Grinning, she trotted over and fell into step with me. ¡°I was just about to come get you. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d wanna miss Zafir¡ª

    ¡°YOU COMPLETE IMBECILE!¡± Zafir¡¯s enraged voice rippled through the common area. Blinking, I looked in that direction, then at the snickering Aisu. ¡°What part of constructing teams of Incident survivors did you not understand?!¡±

    A sleazy, unfamiliar voice spoke up, ¡°How dare you raise your voice to your superiors! Guards¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that nonsense! You couldn¡¯t lord over a tin can!¡±

    Aisu and I wandered over in their direction, and I peeked around the corner to see Zafir fuming at the fat, bald, short man in front of him. The unknown man wore a sharp suit, and had several generals following after him¡ªCrowe, and two men I vaguely recognized.

    Crowe cleared his throat, placing a hand on the rotund man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You are under arrest for directly interfering with the Resonance Project, disturbing the Project¡¯s head researcher, and attempting to abuse your power.¡±

    ¡°Ooo,¡± Aisu remarked, peering over my shoulder. We watched Crowe wrestle the man into restraints, then Aisu added, ¡°This guy came in to demand we all be separated ¡®better.¡¯ Apparently, he¡¯s why we barely ever work together as a team. Been keepin¡¯ us spread out.¡±

    ¡°Trying to kill us?¡± I asked quietly.

    ¡°Maybe.¡± Aisu tilted her head, her eyes shifting down to my gloves. ¡°I look like this, but they¡¯re still makin¡¯ you hide?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m guessing looking ¡®mixed¡¯ makes people uncomfortable and doesn¡¯t work with their agenda,¡± I muttered bitterly. Once the generals were gone, I stepped around the corner. ¡°Zafir! It¡¯s time for lunch. What would you like?¡±

    Zafir shoved his hands in his pockets and stalked over. ¡°Styorszek. I¡¯m cooking.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­?¡± I blinked at him as he passed me.

    ¡°Go sit with the others. I¡¯m reconfiguring everyone¡¯s schedule while we eat.¡± Zafir made a dismissive motion, then disappeared through the kitchen doors.

    ¡°Fantastic! We finally get a chance to know each other!¡± Aisu perked up, putting her hands on my shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s go. The rest of the team should be settling in for the afternoon already.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure why, but the idea of sitting down and getting to know my team made my palms tingle and my chest constrict. That reaction didn¡¯t seem logical, so I didn¡¯t fight Aisu as she led me away, but damn I was nervous.

    Come on, Elara. You happily chat and flirt with Syldrari all the time. You can do this. I chewed on the inside of my cheek briefly. When we rounded the corner into the plush little ¡®nook¡¯ they¡¯d all gathered in, I quickly smoothed my expression over.

    My team, Sarah, and Amara were all present¡­and each one of them had portions of their skin turning very inhuman colors. I blinked at them for a moment, then scratched at my gloves. Why was I being forced to cover up and my team wasn¡¯t? Was there something wrong with my color¡­or me?

    ¡°Hey, Elara,¡± Nikolai called with a tired smile. Half his jaw, and part of the adjacent cheek and neck were a rich, iridescent orange. His eyes had more pupils visible than mine, too. ¡°What¡¯s with the gloves?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± I faltered.

    ¡°Bosses are making her cover up for some damned reason.¡± Aisu crossed her arms. ¡°Guess if our changes were in easier to hide places, they¡¯d be doing the same to us.¡±

    Aisu nudged me to take the corner chair furthest from the entrance to the nook, and with some hesitation I obliged. Suddenly, I felt like the odd one out. I was the most visually human one in the room.

    ¡°If everyone is changed this much¡­ Is this why none of the higher ups seem bothered that you¡¯re fully Syldrari now, Aisu?¡± I looked to her questioningly.

    ¡°The empire doesn¡¯t mind the idea of having a squad of Syldrari soldiers at their beck and call,¡± Calder answered, drawing my attention to him. ¡°Zafir¡¯s had a hell of a time dealing with the bosses, but Imperator Julien and enough people in his circle like what we do. They wanna keep us around.¡±

    Diana leaned forward in her seat with a small smile. ¡°I hear they want to start posting propaganda all over Lucdra with us on it. Something about improving citizen morale by showing them we¡¯re a team.¡±

    With me in the reserves, you¡¯re just five people though¡­ I kept the thought to myself, then looked to Sarah and Amara. ¡°What about you two, Ms. Receptionist-Secretary and Ms. Loves Surveillance?¡±

    ¡°Business as usual.¡± Amara shrugged, frowning. ¡°For the amount of chatter I¡¯ve caught about the ¡®chaos in the empire,¡¯ things have been real quiet. Last important bit I heard was that all the queens have been ¡®stolen¡¯ and returned to Jalan-ki Citomy.¡±

    All of them¡­? I decided to send Rel a quick message. [Are Jysel and Casair alright? I just heard that the rest of the queens have been evacuated.]

    ¡°Too bad we don¡¯t fall in that category¡­¡± Maelor slumped in his seat. ¡°I envy you guy¡¯s assigned sectors. I¡¯ve been in the human ones for a while now¡­and¡­ Man, I don¡¯t know what I expected. Looking at everyone¡¯s reports, I think I got the most violent sector.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s that bad?¡± I asked, watching him nod sullenly. ¡°Because of the criminals Citomy unleashed, or¡­¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t had to deal with those. The rogue R¡¯selkti and the cult have been getting all them.¡± Maelor shook his head. ¡°The people in the human sectors are self-destructive, aggressive, abusive assholes. Man, woman, other, doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve seen enough rapes and murders this past week alone to last a lifetime.

    ¡°Always human-on-human violence, too. I get why I hear visiting aliens sayin¡¯ Lucdra is a damn zoo. A ton of the humans behave like animals.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it seems like none of the ¡®aliens¡¯ are here because they want a relationship with the Creshe Empire. They¡¯re looking for something else.¡± Nikolai nodded, stroking his chin. Then, he glanced over at me. ¡°What about the Syldrari Sector? You spend a lot of time there, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d bet that¡¯s where she wants to be right now,¡± Aisu commented, winking and nudging me. ¡°You know, I see what you like in Rel. Can¡¯t believe I went feral and attacked him that one time. He¡¯s a real nice guy.¡±

    ¡°See literally, hmm?¡± I mused, giving her a small smile. ¡°The Syldrari Sector is mostly peaceful¡ªthe mercantile areas, at least. I¡¯ve never been deeper than that. Never had those areas on my patrol paths. I¡¯m honestly not sure if I¡¯m allowed deeper in.¡±

    [They¡¯re both fine,] Rel¡¯s response caught me off-guard, forcing me to double check what I¡¯d asked him. Right. Jysel and Casair. [I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be thrilled to know you were worried about them. Well, if they believe me. Are you sure you can¡¯t come over?]

    Something must be wrong¡­ I thought on it a moment, then answered, [I¡¯ll see if I can get leave to come visit.]

    I quickly explained to Rel how I¡¯d seen one of the inner circle be arrested, then told him I was currently attempting to get to know my team. Something about the tone of his message still struck me as odd.

    When Zafir walked into the room, I promptly caught his attention. Sighing, he asked, ¡°What is it, Elara?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like permission to go check on the Syldrari Sector,¡± I answered, causing him to frown at me. ¡°Something might be wrong. Maybe I¡¯m just being paranoid, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Take Aisu with you,¡± Zafir stated, shaking his head. ¡°And let me draft a report for you to deliver¡­ Rel will want to know about the man we arrested. As should you.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-One

    Chapter Twenty-One

    Aisu happily trotted alongside me as we made our way to Rel¡¯s. Though it was closed, Rel was waiting for us outside since I¡¯d let him know we were coming. He was wearing some Syldran bodysuit clothing I had no name for, his arms were crossed over his chest, and he was leaning back against the facade of his building. He glanced over when we drew nearer, his piercing gaze fastening on me. His expression was unreadable, but his dark red glow made it clear he was angry about something.

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    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked, coming to stand in front of him.

    ¡°Did anyone hurt you on your way here¡ªverbally or otherwise?¡± Rel asked softly.

    ¡°No¡­? Everyone was nice to me as usual.¡± I frowned at him and went to reach out, but without warning he pulled me into a tight embrace, lifting me onto my tiptoes so he could bury his face in my shoulder. ¡°Rel?¡±

    Dark red and rich sapphire fought for dominance in his glow. I heard his heart racing in his chest as he clutched me. The heat of fury radiated from him. It seemed like an age before he steadied his emotions enough to speak.

    He kept his voice low, his tone murderous, ¡°We have a problem, Elara. Sydney killed a Syldrari last night.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Two

    Chapter Twenty-Two

    A hand around my throat. Pressure and weight against my torso and legs. Cold weight on top of my arms. My senses slowly came back to me, my chest heaving as if I¡¯d just sprinted until collapse. It took me a moment to orientate myself enough internally to open my eyes. The hand pressed around my throat was Rel¡¯s, his expression intensely focused. His chest and arms were bleeding. After a moment I realized the weight I felt along my torso and thighs was his.

    Glowing, formless energy had pinned my arms and legs down. I shifted my gaze around, trying to determine where we were. Wherever it was, I didn¡¯t recognize it. All I knew was that it was the Syldran aesthetic, and Aisu was unconscious on the floor a few feet away from me.

    ¡°Calm down,¡± Rel murmured quietly in Syldran. A small look of surprise crossed his face when I met his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re ¡®back?¡¯ Good.¡±

    ¡°Back¡­?¡± I took a moment to collect my thoughts, and Rel tensed. He was hugging me, then¡­ Right. Sydney. Then what happened?

    ¡°You were so furious the kuhir-dal took over,¡± Rel answered gently. ¡°Aisu fell into the same state shortly after. Jysel and I transported you to our sanctuary so we could get you to settle down privately. It wouldn¡¯t have gone well if others had seen you like that.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s putting it lightly.¡± Jysel stepped close to my head and bent over slightly to peer down at me. ¡°I told him you¡¯re a handful when you get like that. Are you okay now?¡±

    ¡°I feel like I just did ten laps around Creshe on foot,¡± I stated flatly.

    ¡°I¡¯m just thankful we were both here to subdue you this time,¡± Jysel remarked with a small sigh, his gaze shifting to Rel. ¡°We can let her up now, probably. You could always restrain her with something more comfortable before angering her.¡±

    Rel hesitated before carefully releasing my neck, his expression unreadable. ¡°I had a lapse in judgment. Seeing the kuhir-dal react to something like that¡­¡±

    Jysel shrugged. ¡°One of Elara¡¯s eccentricities.¡±

    Rel floated to his feet, then made a motion with one finger, floating me up as well. After setting me down on my feet, he glanced over at a sofa, then back to me. ¡°I think it may be best if we preemptively restrain you and Aisu before continuing this conversation. That is, with your permission.¡±

    ¡°Granted.¡± I sighed and reached out to touch his upper arm near one of the tears in his skin. ¡°I¡¯d rather not keep inflicting damage on either of you like this¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re dangerous in that state. It¡¯s like you become a living weapon.¡± Jysel shook his head.

    ¡°Yes¡­she¡¯s certainly on the ¡®fight¡¯ end of the ¡®fight or flight¡¯ spectrum,¡± Rel muttered dryly, taking my hand. He led me over to the sofa. ¡°Sit. Get comfortable. Then, I¡¯ll restrain you again.¡±

    Jysel tilted his head faintly as if he¡¯d asked Rel something, and Rel glanced back at him briefly before nodding his head in the direction of another piece of furniture. With that, Jysel hauled the unconscious Aisu off the ground and deposited her on the furniture Rel had indicated.

    Once I was comfortable, Rel secured me in ropes of glowing energy, fastening me to the sofa. Hmmm¡­ I bet there¡¯s some interesting uses for these¡­

    They both twitched and shot me a firm look. ¡°Behave.¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re going to say the person Sydney killed was one of Citomy¡¯s pet criminals.¡± I looked between the two as they sat across from me.

    Instead of answering, Rel hummed his wounds into closing. Jysel took it upon himself to answer, ¡°We wish we could say that was the case. But¡­even if she had, this still sets a new precedent. I¡¯ve seen the reports¡ªSydney is human, grafted with some of your genetic material.¡±

    Rel continued, ¡°She giddily executed a Syldrari citizen. There was no physical reaction of revulsion after the act. It seemed like she was about to go searching for more victims, then a military shuttle dropped and took her away.¡±

    That¡­bitch. I struggled to squash the feral, my entire body tingling with fury. Lightning crackled around my fingers and restraints, causing the twins to exchange glances. ¡°What else? I can tell there¡¯s more.¡±

    Jysel sighed and scratched at his jaw, while Rel glanced away with a low ¡®humph.¡¯ Again, they seemed to converse silently before Rel replied to me, ¡°Citomy already caught wind of what happened. Someone leaked the footage to her. We think the Abyss Father cult knows already too. They¡¯re demanding disciplinary action or execution. Our concern is how much they seem to know. Citomy is¡­making odd demands.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s suggesting that a woman be put in charge of the Resonance Project¡ªyou, or one of her own. She even went as far as claiming she¡¯ll give you us and one of her husbands to assist in running it.¡± Jysel¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°The Creshe Empire refused; tensions have heightened again. There are a lot of parts that have begun moving, many of which are dangerous to you. We want to get you and your team off Creshe as soon as possible.¡±

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    I had to take a deep breath to keep myself from snapping at them to not change the subject. When I spoke, I forced my voice to be level. ¡°And you expect me to return to HQ without ripping Sydney¡¯s fucking face off?¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­by the Abyss Father¡­¡± Aisu groaned, causing the twins to stiffen and my gaze to snap to her.

    ¡®By the Abyss Father?¡¯ Then, her memories really are¡­ I shifted my gaze to Rel and Jysel, giving them an expectant stare. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so shifty. I¡¯ve already been told my team are originally my guards.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± Jysel grumbled. ¡°Regarding Sydney, we aren¡¯t in a position to deal with her. Neither are you. Citomy wove herself into this mess too deep for any of us to act. Zafir reports that Sydney¡¯s team is moving in today. All humans, all spliced with genetic material from your guards.¡±

    ¡°Off Creshe¡­we need¡­off¡­ Fuckin¡¯ hell, what did you¡­hit me with?¡± Aisu groaned, shifting against her restraints. ¡°Oi, who said you could tie me up like a present to the Brihl?!¡±

    Rel and Jysel exchanged another glance, then focused on her. ¡°Between the two of you, Elara is more difficult to control, but we can¡¯t have either of you dealing with Sydney¡­prematurely.¡±

    I could tell them to untie us and¡­ No. No, no, no. Don¡¯t be an idiot. I strained against the ropes and myself, hunching over in agitation. I¡¯ve already executed someone once. I didn¡¯t like it. Don¡¯t make things worse.

    Rel stood briefly to come sit at my left, placing his hand on my thigh as he spoke, ¡°Elara, you have every reason to be angry. An immature, entitled human was gifted some of your power and used it to kill your people. What you are feeling is natural. It¡¯s important, however, that you don¡¯t let kuhir-dal be your processing mechanism.¡±

    ¡°Humans last a fraction of a lifetime. We can afford to let the other clans deal with her¡ªfor now,¡± Jysel added. ¡°One of the reasons we¡¯re telling you is because this murder was publicized. It¡¯s changing the perception of the Resonance Project among the populous. Lucdra is becoming more dangerous for you, your team, and Zafir.¡±

    Rel nodded. ¡°We¡¯re focusing all efforts on removing you and your team, and all Syldrari, from this planet. Both my clan, and Jysel¡¯s. Xilen is advising Citomy and the other visiting queens to withdraw as well.¡±

    ¡°The rogue clans and the cult presence have gone quiet too. We think they¡¯re getting out.¡± Rel leaned in narrowing his eyes at me. ¡°You aren¡¯t convinced.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s something on this planet people want. They would sooner eradicate the Creshe Empire than leave.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I can¡¯t think of any other reason for people to tolerate Creshians for so long.¡±

    Aisu sighed heavily. ¡°That doesn¡¯t change the fact we need to get out. That propaganda campaign I mentioned? They may wanna use it to cover up this Sydney shit. Make our team look good, make people think her team is good by extension, then get rid of us because we ain¡¯t human.

    ¡°Been hearin¡¯ murmurs that the higher ups aren¡¯t keen on how Citomy¡¯s husbands treat you. Amara wasn¡¯t around to fix the footage when Suisuni was bowin¡¯ and apologizin¡¯ like mad. Near everyone¡¯s seen it.¡±

    ¡°Of course¡­¡± Rel groaned, rubbing his temples. ¡°Elara, we are going to need a list of people you want evacuated from this planet. Once gone, we will not be coming back.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a later problem. Sydney is a now problem. What¡ª¡± I fell silent as Rel pressed a hand gently over my mouth, his expression stern.

    ¡°You will not be dealing with Sydney. Nor will your guards. Focus on preparing to evacuate,¡± Rel ordered, his intense gaze making me remain silent. ¡°Above all, be careful. With Citomy worming her way deeper into this planet¡¯s affairs, you may have to see her in person more often soon. Her Lun¡¯mosurl have clearly lost control of her.¡±

    ¡°You need to be careful,¡± Jysel added quietly, fidgeting in his seat.

    Rel glanced at his twin, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Get over here. There¡¯s room for you too.¡±

    Jysel turned dark blue and did as suggested, sitting to my right.

    ¡°Right, tied up snack between the two of you, and all you¡¯re gonna do is talk?¡± Aisu snorted from where she sat. ¡°Ya gonna double-team her, or you gonna let us get back to HQ? Make up your mind.¡±

    ¡°That isn¡¯t a bad idea,¡± Rel contemplated.

    Jysel tilted his head slightly. ¡°Not at all¡­but she might need some training first. And, if she¡¯s still mostly human¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. That may be too much sensory overload for her to handle at this time.¡± Rel rubbed his chin.

    ¡°We could take turns?¡± Jysel suggested.

    I shrank between them, my face hot. ¡°E-enough of that! Stop getting distracted! Aisu, you aren¡¯t helping!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think I¡¯m helpin¡¯ plenty,¡± Aisu stated with a broad grin.

    Rel chuckled, his devious smile making me squeeze my thighs together. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right that we should focus. You just make it difficult at times. Now then¡­ Ah, one last matter.¡±

    He stood up and walked over to some warped, spherical-ish dresser thing. After a moment of browsing through its shallow, flat shelves, he pulled out several medallions and looked at Aisu. ¡°You and the other guards need to train your abilities. You¡¯ve grown rusty, and we will need you to have more control over yourselves when the time comes to evacuate you and Elara. The Creshe will not let you go easily. Distribute these to the rest of the guards.¡±

    Jysel put his arms around me and pouted on my shoulder. ¡°I finally get a chance to sit down with you, and you¡¯re leaving so soon?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, you act like Sal¡¯aphel when he was a pup,¡± Rel remarked, eyeing his brother, before glancing at me. He smirked as he dismissed the ropes binding me. ¡°Perhaps a kiss goodbye is in order for the poor risr?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a¡ª¡± Jysel abruptly shut his mouth when I gave him a kiss on the cheek. He flushed to the tips of his ears, his glow turning an electric blue.

    Rel smirked in triumph as I returned my attention to him. ¡°Now then, I need to transport you and Aisu back to the cafe before trouble arises. Promise me that the two of you will keep your kuhir-dal in check.¡±

    ¡°I promise to try. You saw how quickly I snap.¡± I rose to my feet, shot an amused smile at the still-stunned Jysel, then made my way over to Rel. ¡°Shall we?¡±

    ¡°What she said. Promise to try.¡± Aisu snorted.

    Rel pulled me into his chest, then instructed Aisu to hold onto his arm. In an instant, we were inside Rel¡¯s cafe.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go call for a shuttle,¡± Aisu stated, heading for the door.

    Once she was out, Rel lifted my chin to look me in the eyes. ¡°You really do need to be careful, Elara. I don¡¯t think we should find out what will happen if you become Sydney¡¯s executioner. Not only because of the Creshians¡­but because you are still recovering from your last execution. Be careful.¡±

    ¡°I will, but I¡¯ll also do what I must. If I¡¯m there and she tries something¡­¡±

    ¡°I know. Do what you must. No more, no less.¡± He pressed his lips to mine briefly, then nudged me toward the exit. ¡°Stay in touch. If an emergency rises, I think we have a few ways we can get you out.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Three

    Chapter Twenty-Three

    I leaned back in my chair beside Zafir, tracking the map in front of us. Colored dots indicating Sydney¡¯s team moved through a human residential district, past parks and alleyways, heading for a supposed disturbance. Behind us, the Imperator himself observed.

    ¡°You said Sydney killed a Syldrari in cold blood?¡± Julien asked, his piercing blue-grey eyes trained on the map.

    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Zafir answered, his tone careful. ¡°I¡¯m concerned that the Project removed her humanity, if you will. Her behavior was that of a psychopathic killer, not a trained soldier.¡±

    Julien shifted to look at me. ¡°What is your hypothesis?¡±

    He wants my opinion? I eyed him for a moment. ¡°Permission to be blunt, sir?¡±

    ¡°Granted.¡±

    ¡°I think acquiring power humans don¡¯t naturally have has given her a god complex. At base, she¡¯s always attempted to lord over us¡ªincluding her superiors,¡± I stated flatly. ¡°She isn¡¯t psychologically equipped to have this kind of power, and the Creshe Imperial Military lacks psychology and therapy specialists. Giving her some of my power is about as effective as strapping a toddler to a rifle and telling them to pull the trigger whenever they feel an emotion.¡±

    [Elara¡­] Zafir warned.

    Julien smiled warmly at me. ¡°Good. Someone here can speak their mind. You are our closest liaison to Clan V¡¯shir, from what I understand?¡±

    ¡°She is, sir,¡± Zafir murmured, frowning at the map.

    ¡°Elara, walk with me,¡± Julien stated, turning to leave. ¡°I have a meeting to attend elsewhere in the capitol, so you and I will have our discussion on the way to the roof.¡±

    ¡°¡­yes, sir.¡± I followed him, his aide, and a pair of bodyguards onto the nearest elevator.

    ¡°Sydney has always been a problem,¡± Julien remarked, linking his hands behind his back. ¡°We think she inherited her mother¡¯s illness. Placing her in this program was Eddard¡¯s ¡®brilliant¡¯ idea.¡±

    ¡°Eddard¡­?¡± I murmured. I was fairly sure I¡¯d heard that name before

    Julien nodded. ¡°He was arrested in Resonance Project HQ recently. General Crowe and Professor Zafir discovered that Eddard was orchestrating the attempts on your life, and on your team¡¯s lives. Furthermore, he was directly causing a rift in our relationship with the Syldrari. He had his people intercepting incoming communications from the queens. They would mark them as unimportant or delete them altogether. The work was sloppy. Crowe¡¯s specialists restored the data and found the incriminating communications.¡±

    And what does this have to do with his cunt of a daughter? I kept that thought to myself, and instead asked, ¡°You think Eddard meant to use her to disrupt the Project?¡±

    ¡°That, and remove who he perceives to be my ¡®heir,¡¯¡± Julien mused. ¡°His cohorts gave us everything. Eddard wanted to take my place.

    ¡°Sydney is a problem, one that I¡¯m told can¡¯t be fixed. Only silenced.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re alright with that?¡± I asked warily.

    ¡°It¡¯s a mercy. With no way to repair her mind, the options are to kill her or reprogram her. Reprogramming doesn¡¯t fix all neurological problems.¡± Julien shook his head. ¡°She is a threat to the empire and to the Resonance Project. Discuss her termination options with Zafir.¡±

    ¡°¡­yes, sir,¡± I answered.

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    ¡°Ah, and as for Citomy¡¯s repeated demands¡­¡± Julien rubbed his chin. ¡°I will continue refusing her attempts to sell her sons to you. That woman is awful at hiding that she has an ulterior motive. She¡¯s after something¡ªbe careful.¡±

    ¡°I will. Thank you, sir.¡± I nodded.

    When the elevator reached the roof, the Imperator and his entourage disembarked, leaving me to ride it back down to Zafir¡¯s floor.

    [You¡¯re getting sneaky with that chip,] Zafir remarked with a chuckle. [Fun and games will have to wait. We have a problem.]

    [Right. Be there shortly.] I eyed the floor numbers, then turned my attention back to my chip¡¯s AR overlay.

    A message from Rel appeared, so I swapped conversations and smirked the moment he began speaking. [Naughty, naughty, Elara. Leaking information in real time? Even for you that¡¯s cheeky.]

    [I figured you should know what we had to say,] I answered innocently.

    [Perhaps¡­] There was a pause before his voice turned dark, commanding, devious, [I dislike this ¡®sir¡¯ nonsense. Save this submissive approach for us¡­if you can.]

    Submissive¡­ Oh. My face went hot when Rel sent a picture of a nude Syldrari laced up in rope, a collar around their throat. The pose, ropework, and photography were quite artistic, but it certainly got Rel¡¯s point across. [Now who is being cheeky?]

    [You think I don¡¯t know what kind of place your mind wanders off to when you¡¯re distracted?] Rel laughed. [I promise to provide you with a good¡­learning environment. Indulging is an excellent way to work off the stress of the day. If you could come over right now¡­]

    He left his suggestion at that

    I shook my head to clear it before walking off the elevator and toward the room I¡¯d left Zafir in. [Hey, don¡¯t give me ideas. I¡¯ve got to get back to work and we¡¯ve apparently got a problem on our hands. I need to focus.]

    [Aw¡­ That¡¯s a shame. Keep me informed.] Along with his message came a picture of him laying back on his bed, his robe open and displaced around him. He wore a pair of tight white shorts¡­except the outline of his dick was clearly visible, the blue glow peeking through the fabric. The confident, sultry smile on his face made it clear he knew damn well what he was doing¡ªand that it¡¯d make me want to jump his bones.

    I just said¡­need to focus¡­.urrgh. I gnawed on my lower lip. Fucking hell. [I¡¯ll do what I can. No idea if I can come play tonight.]

    [Knowing you¡¯ll be thinking about it is good enough, for the moment,] his breathy response sent a shiver down my spine.

    When I made it back to Zafir¡¯s room, all my amusement dropped the moment I spotted the map. The colored dots were gone.

    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked, coming to stand beside Zafir.

    ¡°When they reached the location that the disturbance was reported at, their signals went dark. There was no audio to indicate what happened,¡± Zafir answered, tapping away at his data pad. ¡°¡­they want you to go investigate? But Diana has better stealth abilities. What¡­¡±

    [Rel, we have a problem. Where is Jysel right now?] I asked.

    [His base. What¡¯s wrong?]

    I narrowed my eyes at the map, then took a quick picture and sent it to him. [The dark circles are Sydney and her team. They¡¯re supposed to be lit up. We lost contact and there wasn¡¯t anything to indicate why or how. I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯ve gone rogue, or if Syldrari are involved. My bosses want me to investigate.]

    [They would pull you out of the reserves for this? That doesn¡¯t seem right.]

    ¡°They won¡¯t budge. They want you to go¡­¡± Zafir stared at his data pad in distress for a moment, then turned to look at me. ¡°You have permission to kill whoever you need to. I doubt this is something Sydney orchestrated. We should assume there¡¯re hostiles in the area.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­ Okay, I¡¯m going. I¡¯ll be cautious.¡± I turned and headed for the elevator, pressing the button that would take me up to the hanger where my skybike was parked.

    As the elevator ascended, and Zafir created a group with Rel and I both in it. Zafir immediately spoke, [Something about this isn¡¯t right. The Creshians were too quick to assign Elara to this mission.]

    Rel sighed heavily. [Elara will reach the area before any of us do. I¡¯ve alerted Jysel and Casair, but they¡¯ll be longer. They don¡¯t have transport points in that sector.]

    [Rel, I have a bad feeling about this. I want you to be ready to undock if you have to,] Zafir spoke hurriedly, making me frown. What ¡°dock?¡± [Or at least have shuttles waiting cloaked in the area. I don¡¯t know. Something.]

    [Calm down, Zafir. You are meant to be in charge,] Rel stated. [Elara, what are your thoughts?]

    [My guess is this is retribution from Syldrari. The concern is which clan or group.] I summoned my battle suit as I stepped out of the elevator and jogged across the rooftop hanger to my skybike. [If we do have to take drastic measures, make sure you get my belongings from my room, Zafir.]

    It took only a few minutes to reach the plaza the team had gone missing in, but I saw no trace of them¡ªor of conflict. when my visor display suddenly dimmed, I clenched my teeth. Something was definitely wrong.

    A piercing tone rung through the air, bringing me to my knees and making the feral balk.

    ¡°Another one!¡± A masculine voice called. ¡°Orders?¡±

    I began to conjure lightning around myself, then the chime resounded again. My body pitched forward, my eyes rolling back. Instead of smacking into pavement, I felt my face fall into soft clothes.

    ¡°There, there. Shhh¡­sleep.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Four

    Chapter Twenty-Four

    The first thing I noticed as I started to wake up was that I was vertical. My arms were encased nearly to the shoulder in some substance, and my legs were encased to mid-thigh. My head hung loose, but there was something covering my eyes, blocking all light.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re waking up,¡± a familiar male voice purred, accompanied by fingertips trailing along my jaw. Stay still. The majority of my clan doesn¡¯t know you are not their enemy, or that we have met before. I¡¯m afraid I must request that you bear with me.

    That voice, I knew. It belonged to the green-eyed cultist I¡¯d spoken with on several occasions. I wasn¡¯t sure I trusted him¡­but it didn¡¯t seem like I had much of an option, either.

    ¡°Y¡¯serdyn¡­¡± another voice called hesitantly.

    ¡°Were you looking for your comrades?¡± ¡®Y¡¯serdyn¡¯ questioned playfully. He chuckled when I bristled. ¡°Would you like to see how they¡¯re doing?¡±

    Fingers reached up and gently grasped the hard shell over my eyes. The cultist¡¯s smiling face filled my vision. Behind him, intricate panels of black metal reflecting emerald green covered the walls, floor, and ceiling. Glowing instruments and dials I had no name for lined the walls. A few feet behind him, clear liquid flowed upward to create a screen.

    When the feed flickered on, I was met with an¡­odd scene. Sydney and her team were restrained, but the former appeared to be demanding that the guards come please her.

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± I just stared for a moment. ¡°I knew she was delusional, but really?¡±

    Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s mouth quirked at that, his gaze twinkling with amusement. ¡°Do you know why we captured them?¡±

    ¡°To punish that utter fucking cunt for killing a Syldrari civilian, I hope?¡± I asked, shifting my gaze to him.

    He pressed in closer, his glow dancing a myriad of colors. ¡°That is a way to put it, yes. Now that you¡¯re here¡­I was considering getting you involved. My comrades think that¡¯s a poor idea.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll turn on us the first chance she gets! She¡¯s one of them!¡± One of the guards in our room snapped, stepping forward with his rifle in hand.

    ¡°Is she?¡± Y¡¯serdyn challenged, before shifting a frigid gaze to someone at a nearby command console. ¡°Switch the atmospheric levels in their containment bay to Syldran levels.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Y¡¯serdyn!¡± The woman promptly began turning dials and pressing buttons.

    It wasn¡¯t long before Sydney and her team began struggling for air and writhing like they were in pain. Before they could be finished, the cultists reverted the bay to Creshe-like settings. Pity.

    ¡°T-then how is this one fine here?¡± One of the guards stuttered, taking a step back from me.

    The Y¡¯serdyn smirked and took yet another step closer, his lips nearly brushing against my neck. He trailed his fingers down my arm and gripped the hem of one of my gloves, tearing it off to reveal my rich blue skin.

    ¡°Because this one is a Syldrari the Creshians dared tamper with,¡± Y¡¯serdyn stated dangerously. ¡°¡®Lethe¡¯ has no love for those roaches in our containment bay. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°I was already planning to execute Sydney for her crime. You¡¯re saving me the trouble.¡± I eyed the Y¡¯serdyn, wondering how much if his behavior was a ¡®show¡¯ and how much was really him.

    ¡°Is that so? Then why don¡¯t we enjoy their execution together?¡± He traced a finger over my lips, his expression devious. Forgive me for this, and please do not fight back. They will realize you¡¯re a queen if you do. I can¡¯t protect you if they suspect. The more you can act like you¡¯re giving in¡­the better. Please.

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    Without any further warning, Y¡¯serdyn pressed his mouth against mine and exerted a nearly suffocating aura of some emotion or sensation I didn¡¯t have a word for. Trying to play along, I hesitated at first until another wave of power emanated from him, and I let myself sink into the kiss. His knee pressed between my legs, his tongue slipping between my lips and, much to my surprise, partially down my throat.

    ¡°Y-Y¡¯serdyn, please, this isn¡¯t conducive to an execution,¡± someone stuttered, their yellow skin tinged green from the amount they were flushing.

    Y¡¯serdyn glanced back at them with a smirk. ¡°Forgive me. It¡¯s been a while since I came across such an interesting plaything. Lethe¡­how would you execute them?¡±

    I considered it for a moment, not sure what was expected of me. Play along? Act like a human? Work off what my feral wanted to do to her? ¡°For Sydney¡­ I think she deserves a painful death for what she¡¯s done. I can¡¯t claim to know how to make that happen without simply tearing her apart. The others¡­what did they do? I¡¯ve only heard about Sydney¡¯s actions.¡±

    ¡°Oh? You haven¡¯t been kept in the loop? Poor thing.¡± He smiled at me, then glanced to the screen again. ¡°They are all murderers of civilians. Each has tried to ruin the relationships your team has built.¡±

    I frowned, uncertain why I hadn¡¯t heard of such details. ¡°And the others don¡¯t want to dole out punishment themselves?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re happy to have us do the dirty work.¡±

    I watched the screen for a moment as a dark thought came to mind. ¡°¡­are there people with abilities that function similarly to a black hole?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we have a few.¡±

    ¡°What type of wound does it leave?¡±

    His smile became more of a smirk as he rested a hand on his hip. ¡°It instantly cauterizes the wound, but they still feel the same amount of pain as if it didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Then slowly feeding them into an ability like that, bit by bit, until there¡¯s nothing left of them should be sufficient. Right?¡± I met Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s gaze. He looked taken aback for a moment, before breaking into a grin.

    ¡°Yes¡­yes, that would solve both execution and disposal.¡± Y¡¯serdyn turned and spoke some unfamiliar language to his companions, and the screen disappeared. He then took a few steps toward me and pulled me out of my restraints.

    I looked back at the wall in surprise, finding it was some sort of¡­goo, for lack of a better word. It smoothed itself over as if I¡¯d never been trapped there.

    ¡°Y¡¯serdyn, she¡¯s too dangerous to let out,¡± a guard argued.

    ¡°And how else would we return her to the surface? She isn¡¯t who we came to deal with,¡± Y¡¯serdyn stated. ¡°Or are you suggesting I take her back to my bed chambers instead?¡±

    ¡°That would be preferred over letting the Creshe¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision. We¡¯re going to the docking bay.¡± Y¡¯serdyn promptly grabbed me by the wrist and led me down a hallway. We are on one of my corvettes, a few thousand feet above Creshe¡¯s surface. My people are blinded by their hate for the Creshe. We need to get you back down to Rel, Jysel, or even the imperials. Anywhere is better than here.

    I let him hastily pull me down a labyrinth of hallways, his guards trotting close behind us. When we got to the docking bay, I discovered a massive place filled with shuttles. At one end, a liquid-like barrier separated the bay from the outside. Y¡¯serdyn led me to a shuttle closest to the barrier, but we were stopped by a long spear swinging between us.

    ¡°What in the¡­ Stand down!¡± Y¡¯serdyn snarled, but the crazy-eyed Syldrari between us ignored him.

    I backpedaled, instinctively going to summon my suit, but the guard was faster. The point of the spear pierced through my right shoulder and out my back, making my snarl in pain. My feral attempted to break free, but I was more pissed.

    The attacker attempted to toss me with the spear, making me cry out in pain, but I gripped the shaft and pulled him with me. He lost his balance, and a truly wild, unhinged expression came over his face. An unseen force shoved us both out of the bay and into the open sky.

    ¡°Y¡¯serdyn, wait¡ª!¡± Unintelligible shouting echoed from above as the man in question dove out of the bay after us, his cloak gone in favor of unrecognizable, form-fitting attire.

    Darkness spread out around us both, and he seemed to drift down to me, catching me around the shoulders. He glanced to the side, his murderous gaze landing on the maniacal bastard that had stabbed me. Y¡¯serdyn made a snapping sound with his fingers, and the man was ripped into chunks by an unseen force, becoming little more than a cloud of blue and gore in the air.

    Stay awake, Y¡¯serdyn pleaded, making me open my eyes when I didn¡¯t even realize I¡¯d closed them. His hand pressed over my wound. I can get you down safely, but you need to contact someone¡ªanyone¡ªto meet us.

    I tried, but nothing. Chip is bust¡­

    Y¡¯serdyn cursed, encasing us in a sphere of starry darkness. The whistling of the wind in my ears stopped, though I could tell we were still falling. Pain lanced through me as he concentrated, healing my wound completely.

    ¡°Elara, stay with me,¡± this time, he spoke aloud, his voice unnecessarily commanding. ¡°You¡¯ve lost a lot of blood. We need to get you¡ª Elara? Hey, listen to¡ª¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Five

    Chapter Twenty-Five

    [REL POV]

    I stared, eyes wide, as a Syldran ship uncloaked above Lucdra. The moment I lost contact with Elara, I knew something was wrong, but an Abysstouched vessel? This was too bold of them. [Lynir, get us in the air. If the Abysstouched are going to¡­attack¡­]

    [Is that Elara?!] Lynir exclaimed, having spotted the faint streak of blue and black falling from the port docking bay, surrounded by crackling electricity. Seconds later, a streak of black dove after her and utter fury exploded throughout the city. Dark, inky power enveloped both of them, another person exploding into pieces.

    What¡­ I rushed through the streets of the Syldrari Sector the moment I spotted the ship¡¯s weapon platforms pivoting. [Lynir, shields! Everyone else, get us in the air¡ªonce we¡¯ve caught them, head North.]

    ¡°Good evening, people of Lucdra. We are Clan Thref¡¯syn and we have taken over this vessel. On board, we have captured members of an Abysswalker clan and the human-Syldrari hybrids who have been a blight on this planet.

    ¡°If you want them, you will have to follow our instructions.¡±

    The night sky lit up with a prism of lights as several orbiting ships fired on the Abysswalker vessel, and the human city¡¯s defense platforms joined the barrage

    When the light faded and the smoke cleared, the ship was unscathed, an unfamiliar barrier writhing around it.

    ¡°Call us when you¡¯re willing to talk. We¡¯ll be waiting.¡±

    ¡°Elara, wake up!¡± The familiar voice of the cultist drifted to my ears as the cloud of shadows neared the ground. The Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s presence seemed to sense me, and in an instant his power vanished to reveal him and Elara. ¡°I¡¯ve healed her, but she lost a lot of blood. We need to get her somewhere safe before this conflict escalates further. I will explain myself once¡ª¡±

    Another explosion above drowned out his words, pulling our eyes upward. One of Citomy¡¯s ships had entered the atmosphere, and was attempting to destroy the cultist ship. I looked to the Y¡¯serdyn, hesitant to trust him. His appearance, his power¡­they were suspicious at best. A descendant of the Abyss Father, perhaps? ¡­this isn¡¯t the time for that.

    ¡°We¡¯re undocking. Carry her, and follow me,¡± I ordered sharply, tracking him as he did so. ¡°We will relocate north of here and proceed dependent on what happens with¡­them. Tell me what happened to her.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn swiftly collected Elara in his arms and hurried after me. ¡°I was preparing to have her shuttled back to the surface when someone attacked her. They struggled, and both fell from the ship. I refused to let her die¡­and so I risked myself. My clan isn¡¯t aware of our working relationship.¡±

    ¡°Then this development,¡± I glanced upward, ¡°happened after?¡±

    [Rel, are you clear?] Lynir questioned.

    [Yes, I have Elara and the Y¡¯serdyn with me. I¡¯m taking them to the sanctuary. Do you need me to transport them?]

    Lynir sighed in relief. [Please. Citomy is charging resonance weaponry. We need to get out.]

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to walk.¡± I pivoted and placed a hand on the Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re teleporting so the crew can disengage locks. Citomy is bringing out resonance weaponry.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn nodded, and I teleported us. Once there, I instructed the Y¡¯serdyn to place Elara on the closest bed, then sat on the edge myself. [You¡¯re clear, Lynir.]

    ¡°Do you think your clan turned on you?¡± I asked as everything around us rumbled, and distant banging signaled the locks to the Lucdra sectors disengaging.

    The Y¡¯serdyn frowned, remaining silent, his gaze unfocused. ¡°No¡­ I am still in contact with my other ships. My aide is trying to contact me. May she have permission to¡­?¡±

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    ¡°If she makes a wrong move¡ªkill her,¡± I stated.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn nodded.

    Within moments, green light filled the room and a cloaked woman with red hair appeared. ¡°My lord! Are you and the Del-irorr alright?¡±

    ¡°I will be fine. Elara requires treatment.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn glanced at me questioningly. ¡°Where is your medical bay?¡±

    ¡°Help will come here,¡± I stated.

    ¡°Of course¡­¡± he nodded, then looked to his aide. ¡°Do we know what happened?¡±

    ¡°My lord, the pirates of Clan Thref¡¯syn and Clan R¡¯selkti both invaded your corvette and are fighting for control of it. We have reason to believe there are more agents throughout the fleet.¡±

    Fleet¡­? I eyed them warily. No clan of ¡®cultists¡¯ I had heard of had a fleet. Most had a single cityship to their name.

    ¡°Then engage sweeping protocols,¡± the Y¡¯serdyn ordered, his voice frigid. ¡°Not only did they interrupt Elara¡¯s execution orders, they put her life at risk. Get what information out of them you can, then kill them. I will be remaining on the surface for a time to coordinate with Rel and Jysel. We need to plan our next moves, and quickly.¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The woman bowed, disappearing as quick as she¡¯d come.

    ¡°If they have infiltrated my fleet, you can assume they have also infiltrated yours. I recommend you task Aldiner with running everyone¡¯s credentials,¡± the Y¡¯serdyn turned to look at me.

    ¡°What does an Abysstouched want with Elara, and this ¡®planet?¡¯¡± I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. ¡°I thank you for saving her¡­but I know what that power was. Why is your fleet here instead of exploring the Fringes?¡±

    ¡°Distress signals called us back. One here¡­and multiple from Syldra. When we arrived and saw how strange matters had become here, I chose to investigate. Besides, getting to Syldra with a fleet such as mine is unlikely at best.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn shook his head faintly. ¡°As for Elara, I¡¯m curious. She doesn¡¯t make sense. Even with what we¡¯ve learned from that ¡®companion¡¯ of hers.¡± He paused, frowning. ¡°We should thank them for not breaking free and dooming us all the moment Elara was injured.¡±

    A distressed groan interrupted our conversation and drew our attention to Elara as she shifted, her expression contorted with pain, fear, and anger. The moment I placed my hand on her shoulder, flashes of her nightmares sped through my mind and I recoiled.

    ¡°What is it?¡± the Y¡¯serdyn asked, alarmed.

    ¡°She¡­¡± I stared at Elara. She and Zafir had both mentioned that her nightmares were getting worse, but never had I considered that her mind might be changing the target of her execution to people she knew.

    The Y¡¯serdyn placed a hand on her next and closed his eyes. He flinched, but kept his eyes closed and a hand on her. ¡°I see¡­ Her mind is being cruel to her. Why hasn¡¯t this been addressed?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t told it had gotten this bad,¡± I answered with a growl, then turned when I heard a door open. Jysel and Casair hurried over, their concern plain on their faces. ¡°Guard Elara. I have orders to give out.¡±

    Jysel took one look past me and his expression darkened. I patted his shoulder as I walked past. The Y¡¯serdyn saved her life. Be nice while you question him, and be quiet. Elara is not doing well, and it has nothing to do with her injury.

    ¡­fine, Jysel answered, strained.

    After leaving the sanctuary, I made my way immediately to primary control. There, Lynir and several others looked up with tired smiles.

    ¡°Where do you want us to land?¡± Lynir asked, indicating the footage of clear open fields. ¡°We have room to set down wherever we like.¡±

    ¡°Our diplomats have already explained the situation to the Creshians.¡± Gretyan, a man with deep purple skin added from his station. ¡°They¡¯ve asked us to ¡®hold onto¡¯ Elara until it¡¯s safe to return her to Lucdra. General Crowe has asked that we take her team and some of the Resonance Project staff on board¡ªthey don¡¯t want to know what will happen if the survivors are exposed to another Incident.¡±

    ¡°¡­fine, but destroy all listening devices they come with.¡± I narrowed my eyes, then shifted to look at Lynir. ¡°We¡¯ll remain in the air for now. There¡¯s every likelihood we¡¯ll need to evacuate this planet. I¡¯ll be speaking with Elara¡¯s ¡®rescuer¡¯ about our options.¡±

    ¡°Should I contact Xilen?¡± Lynir offered, but I quickly shook my head. ¡°Alright, on our own it is. Excellent choice.¡±

    Over the next few hours, I gave out orders to the people I trusted to be against Citomy and the rogue clans. Aldiner set about cataloging and cross-referencing everyone¡¯s identification with surprising seriousness, while Ciheri set to work compiling what we knew about the pirates.

    By the time I returned to the sanctuary, it was well into morning and the Y¡¯serdyn had been shown to guarded quarters. Casair was gone, but my troubled brother remained at Elara¡¯s bedside.

    ¡°She calms with touch,¡± Jysel stated without turning around, ¡°but I¡¯m not sure where the boundaries lie. Do you think she¡¯d be angry if we joined her, even if it helped ease her dreams?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s still¡­?¡± I frowned, searching Elara¡¯s face. ¡°Has she shown any sign of waking up?¡±

    ¡°No. The doctor found toxins in her bloodstream¡ªthe weapon was poisoned. He thinks it was meant for the Y¡¯serdyn, but something or someone caused the assassin to attack Elara instead.¡± Jysel bristled. ¡°She¡¯ll be asleep for a while. The doctor gave her sedatives so that she doesn¡¯t wake until the toxins are gone. It will be a few hours at best.¡±

    And her ship? I asked, not wanting to risk being overheard.

    Jysel shook his head. Furious. They are being patient. Barely. We don¡¯t have much time. The Y¡¯serdyn is drafting a plan to present to you and I¡ªyou¡¯re not going to like it, but I agree with him. It¡¯s going to take something big to get us off this rock without discovery.

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Six

    Chapter Twenty-Six

    ¡°Zafir, calm down, we know she¡¯s alive,¡± Crowe placated the pacing man, a look of sympathy on his face. ¡°You need to collect the others and their things. Pull yourself together, for them.¡±

    Zafir bristled. ¡°Eddard¡¯s bastard dog went too far! I knew I shouldn¡¯t have followed his orders and sent Elara after the missing team. He tried to kill her!¡±

    Crowe sighed heavily. ¡°Disobey orders from the inner circle? Then you would have been removed. We both know what they would have done then. You all would have been reprogrammed and sold to the highest bidder. I hear quite a few nobles want you running on dog software in their homes. That¡¯s nicer than what they want for Elara and her team.¡±

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± Zafir snapped. ¡°There¡¯s never a choice with the empire.¡±

    ¡°Elara¡¯s current highest bidder wants her limbs removed so she can be mounted to a wall,¡± Crowe continued, causing Zafir to freeze. ¡°He and the other bidders already outlined what they intend to do upon purchase, if it ever comes to that. Now, tell me again how you think you should have disobeyed orders?¡±

    ¡°¡­I thought they had agreed to keep her on to train new recruits?¡± Zafir asked.

    ¡°Until they decide the Resonance Project isn¡¯t needed, or has concluded.¡± Crowe leaned back in his chair. ¡°Julien is keeping them in line for now, but a little under half the inner circle is looking for a way to terminate the Resonance Project. Our time is limited.

    ¡°So, like I said, you need to get the team and your colleagues together and leave. You think I don¡¯t know what you and Rel have been planning?¡±

    Zafir slowly turned his head to look at General Crowe. ¡°What do you¡­¡±

    For just a moment, Crowe¡¯s eyes turned a glowing mix of orange, pink, and red. Multiple pupils disappeared as quickly as he¡¯d shown them.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been here a long time,¡± Crowe offered with a mysterious smile. ¡°Before this rock was sold to Creshe. Never agreed with what happened to Elara, or this ¡®sale.¡¯ I did, however, like the humans better than the people who were here first.¡± Crowe rose to his feet and walked toward Zafir, clamping a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Let me deal with the empire for now. Julien and I go way back. Worry about your queen¡¯s safety first.¡±

    With that, Crowe left the room, leaving behind a stunned Zafir. He had so many questions he wished to ask the man, but he knew his advice was sound. The political landscape had changed. Suisuni and Citomy¡¯s other consorts were struggling to control her, an Abysstouched vessel had been taken over by pirates, and Elara¡¯s injury seemed severe.

    Damn it¡­ Zafir pivoted and headed straight for the common area in search of Elara¡¯s team. [Rel, how is Elara¡¯s condition?]

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    [The attack was meant for the Y¡¯serdyn and was poisoned. Elara has been healed, but it will take time before she wakes up. We are trying to keep her soothed so she doesn¡¯t return to her nightmares.] Rel¡¯s answer elicited a frown from Zafir.

    [More nightmares?]

    Rel responded almost instantly. [Yes. Touch seems to make her dreams drift to more pleasant things, but she spirals out of control if one of us moves away. We¡¯re struggling to determine the barrier of appropriateness.]

    [We need to talk after I fetch Elara¡¯s team. Our plan for getting off this planet needs to be moved up.] Zafir strode into the common area, finding the team, Sarah, and Amara were all glued to the TV. ¡°Gather your things. All of them. We have orders to evacuate to the V¡¯shir¡¯s ship. They have agreed to keep us safe away from Citomy¡¯s resonance weaponry. Hurry. I am going to get Elara¡¯s things. You have 10 minutes to gather your belongings and get to the roof.¡±

    Startled looks were followed by hasty movements and fleeing for their rooms. Satisfied, Zafir made his way to Elara¡¯s room next. There, he carefully boxed Rel¡¯s hunting lantern and placed it in his inventory module. Then, he did the same for Elara¡¯s other scant belongings.

    [Jysel informed me that the Y¡¯serdyn has a proposal that I ¡®won¡¯t like, but he agrees with,¡¯] Rel stated sarcastically. [I agree we need to leave this system as soon as possible. Lynir is charting possibilities since the gate is still down.]

    ¡°Sir¡­¡± a voice called hesitantly. Zafir pivoted to see Erik standing in the doorway. At least that meant he didn¡¯t have to go searching. ¡°Permission for my squadron and I to evacuate with you?¡±

    ¡°You and your¡­¡± Zafir echoed in disbelief.

    ¡°Yes, sir. We are prepared to pledge our loyalty to Elara if necessary.¡± Erik stared back at Zafir with sharp, focused eyes. ¡°You can pull our backups and load us in virtual if you aren¡¯t convinced. My men are already packed and ready to go.¡±

    ¡°But¡­your families¡­¡± Zafir hesitated, astounded. [Rel. You¡¯re getting this?]

    [We can have her ship resleeve and keep them for binding if necessary. Bring them. I believe Erik was on her ¡®nice people to save¡¯ list.]

    ¡°None of us have family other than each other. We see Elara as one of us.¡± Erik narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. ¡°I will beg if I have to.¡±

    ¡°Not necessary. Request granted.¡± Zafir shook his head. ¡°You can join me, unless you need to go fetch your squadron¡­?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re packing up the team¡¯s skybikes and bringing them to the shuttle. They¡¯ll have beaten us there,¡± Erik reported. ¡°We are ready when you are.¡±

    ¡°Good. Then follow me.¡± Zafir nodded. [I want this squadron refitted with Syldran neurochips immediately. For security, but also because soldiers have detonatable neurochips.]

    [Have them report to the med bay on arrival,] Rel ordered. [Give them an excuse if you need to. Now, do be quiet unless it¡¯s pressing. I¡¯m trying to concentrate.]

    Zafir frowned a little at that but shook it off as he and Erik entered the elevator.

    ¡°What¡¯ll happen to the city if Cuntomy¡ªer, Citomy, fires?¡± Erik asked, clearing his throat.

    Zafir cracked a smile. ¡°We can¡¯t say for certain. Our Syldrari allies don¡¯t recognize the design. If it isn¡¯t a focused blast, Lucdra will be destroyed like Grand Anldu. A more precise tool will cause the targeted ship to explode, raining debris¡ªincluding aetheric waste¡ªdown on the city.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯ll be a large loss of life either way, then.¡± Erik grunted in displeasure, ¡°Fan-damn-tastic.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­forgetting the physical debris, the effects of such a dense aetheric release would madden the human population¡­the other species in the city would have to cull them¡­¡± Zafir murmured with a frown. ¡°It is likely this argument that has kept them from firing yet. Citomy wants something from the empire.¡±

    Erik snorted in distaste, but remained silent as the elevator reached the roof. There, Zafir, the team, and Erik¡¯s squad all loaded into the shuttle and took to the air.

    The further from this crazed queen, the better¡­

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Seven

    Chapter Twenty-Seven

    I awoke with a jolt, my shoulder searing with pain and my pulse roaring in my ears. My hand instinctively came up to my wound, yet a quick prod made it obvious I was fine. A low whine drew my attention to the massive furry head laying on my lap. I blinked at Sal¡¯aphel for a moment, then glanced a little to his side. Both Rel and Jysel were propped up against his ribs, fast asleep.

    This is¡­? I looked around the room a moment. Their ¡®sanctuary,¡¯ right? How did I get here?

    I rubbed Sal¡¯aphel¡¯s head as I pieced together what happened. Capture, Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s ship, an attack, falling through the sky, Y¡¯serdyn diving after me, power¡­darkness.

    Loss of blood, or kuhir-dal? I frowned, before shifting to get out of bed. Gently, I attempted to nudge Sal¡¯aphel¡¯s head off my lap, opened my mouth to speak, then winced. Fuck my throat is scratchy¡­

    Sal¡¯aphel started whining more as I went to get up, then promptly leapt to his feet and caught me against his fluffy chest when I stumbled from dizziness.

    ¡°Sal¡¯aphel, ow¡­¡± Jysel groaned. Then, there was a sharp intake of breath. ¡°Wait. Where is Elara?¡±

    The fluffy creature promptly levitated me onto his back, then turned to face his masters, tail swishing and ears perked forward.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± The twins exclaimed, before Jysel smiled and scratched both sides of Sal¡¯aphel¡¯s jaw. ¡°Good boy, you caught her.¡±

    ¡°Where were you going?¡± Rel demanded, his brow creased with worry. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be up yet.¡±

    Pouting, I pointed at my throat and thought at them, I need a drink and didn¡¯t want to wake you two up. You looked too cute snuggled up with Sal¡¯aphel.

    Rel flushed and strode over, putting a hand on Sal¡¯aphel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sal¡¯aphel¡­show Elara to the restroom and see to it she doesn¡¯t wander. Bring her back here when she¡¯s done. I¡¯ll go make breakfast. Jysel, come with me¡ªI¡¯m going to make her a drink, and you will bring it to her.¡±

    After I¡¯d washed up, splashing my face with cold water in an attempt to regain alertness, I let Sal¡¯aphel guide me over to a seating area. However, the moment the giant creature laid down, he used his psychokinesis to rest me against his ribcage instead of any of the available seats. His fluffy tail whipped around to cover my lap as he curled around me, his nose a few inches to my right. I sighed, giving the creature a lopsided smile, before resigning myself to scratching his head.

    ¡°You had us worried,¡± Jysel stated, returning, his tone harsh. A look of discomfort crossed his face, and he glanced away. ¡°That didn¡¯t come out right. We¡­ uh¡­¡±

    ¡°Your concern is noted.¡± I raised an eyebrow at him as he continued to struggle with himself. ¡°Do us both a favor and just¡­be you? I don¡¯t need coddling. We¡¯ve been over this.¡±

    Jysel pouted at that, his eyes fiery. ¡°Coddling you and treating you with respect are different things. I know that with the wrong use of tone I can come off¡­how would the humans say it¡­like¡­ Like an asshole? I know I¡¯m hotheaded, at times, but I don¡¯t want you to feel hurt by anything I say or how I say it. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Respect? I blinked at him. That wasn¡¯t exactly something I¡¯d given conscious thought to until that moment. Thinking about it, I realized that I wasn¡¯t sure how many people treated me with respect, let alone if it was genuine. ¡°¡­anyway, can you fill me in on what happened? The last thing I remember is falling from the sky.¡±

    ¡°Maybe Rel would be better at that¡­¡± Jysel hesitated, before hastily handing me my drink and moving out of range. He continued to fidget with his hands and clothes, his tail flicking in nervousness.

    I studied him for a moment, not sure what to make of his behavior. ¡°Did I¡­do something bad while I was unconscious? You seem¡­¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ No, not¡­bad.¡± Darker blue crept up his neck, his face, and ears as his glow wavered between bright blue, pink, then settled on silver. ¡°We discovered your nightmares go away if you experience physical touch. But, how do I say this¡­¡±

    ¡°What my overly bashful brother is trying to say, is that your hands wander, Elara,¡± Rel declared as he rolled a trolley of food into the room. He shot a triumphant smirk at his blushing twin, then turned his attention to me. ¡°Thus, we decided to let Sal¡¯aphel comfort you instead. There was no rest to be had for either of us otherwise.¡±

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Oh¡­ Sorry?¡± I offered, not entirely sure if they wanted or needed an apology.

    ¡°You can make it up to me, or us, later,¡± Rel suggested, his smirk broadening. ¡°For now, eat. We¡¯ll brief you while we have our breakfast.¡±

    Briefing me over breakfast turned into over an hour of explaining the Y¡¯serdyn, what happened to his ship, what the Syldrari Sector was¡ªnamely, a cityship, of all things¡ª and the steps Citomy was taking. Then, there was the matter of Zafir, my team, Sarah, Amara, and Erik¡¯s squadron.

    By the time they were done, I¡¯d lost track of anything specific I wanted to know or wanted an expanded explanation of. The important bits were that I was in one piece, as were those important to me. Even if it seemed¡­odd.

    ¡°So¡­ You said you¡¯re working on a plan to get offworld?¡± I finally asked.

    Rel raised a finger to his lips and winked. ¡°A plan we can¡¯t share with you as of yet. Consider yourself¡­a luxury guest at the moment. We will make sure you¡¯re comfortable, satisfied¡­but most of the sector is off limits. Including our plans.¡±

    ¡°We should at least let her see where we are,¡± Jysel pointed out. ¡°I can¡¯t risk showing my face yet, but you can show her¡­right?¡±

    Rel sighed and rose to his feet. ¡°If Elara is feeling up to it. You¡¯ll wait here with Sal¡¯aphel, I take it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I need to gather my thoughts,¡± Jysel grumbled, his gaze averted.

    Rel smirked but said nothing more on the matter. Instead, he offered me a hand up and pulled me into his chest. He rested his hand questionably low down my back before looking to his brother. ¡°Would you mind checking in with Casair and Aldiner while we¡¯re out? They should have finished their tasks by now.¡±

    Jysel gave him a begrudging nod, then Rel led me into an adjacent room. Instead of continuing onward, Rel slowed to a stop and glanced down at me. ¡°It would be best if you were dressed.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­? Oh.¡± I looked at myself, then to Rel. ¡°Who undressed me?¡±

    ¡°The doctors, this time,¡± Rel answered dryly, his hand drifting down to cup one of my ass cheeks, a self-satisfied smile spreading across his lips. ¡°Dress. Otherwise, there are only so many activities we can do.¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to convince or discourage me?¡± I raised an eyebrow, skeptical, even as I conjured a sleek ruby red body suit from my wardrobe module. Rel¡¯s gaze drifted briefly, before snapping up to my face.

    ¡°A little of both. Shall we?¡± Rel mused, motioning with his free hand toward a pattern of glowing markings on the floor.

    I nodded, letting him guide me over to the ¡®transport array.¡¯ Once through it, I found myself in a familiar part of the Syldrari Sector, near Rel¡¯s cafe. People bustled everywhere, wearing what looked to be some form of uniform. Very few people wore casual attire, and most who did appeared to be children or teens.

    Rel led me down a few streets to what I knew as the ¡®sector gap¡¯ between the Syldrari Sector and its neighboring sector. However, instead of Lucdra¡¯s repetitive buildings, there was the wing of a ship sloping downward from the edge of the sector, separated from us by some clear material I could feel but not see. The open sky filled most of my vision, but looking a little more to the west, I spotted the ruins of Grand Anldu. For a moment, I simply stared, unsure what to feel about what I was seeing. My head swarmed with questions, until I eventually settled on one.

    My eyes narrowed, a small frown came to my lips. ¡°Why are we this far¡­?¡±

    ¡°If Citomy¡¯s court can¡¯t calm her, there¡¯s no telling how much damage her resonance weapon will do. We haven¡¯t been able to acquire the schematics,¡± Rel spoke in soft, calming tones, stroking my hip with his thumb as he did so. ¡°We need a few weeks to put our plan into action. I need you to be patient and cooperative.¡±

    ¡°No promises. Even over here, we¡¯re going to have problems with the Creshe Empire, Citomy, the ¡®cult,¡¯ and these pirates¡­right?¡± I eyed him. There was no way in hell it was as easy as he made it sound.

    ¡°Speaking of which, the Y¡¯serdyn wants to speak with you. Something about ¡®apologizing for his forward behavior?¡¯¡±

    I arched an eyebrow at that. ¡°I assume he means the whole kissing me and shoving his tongue down my throat to keep up appearances thing.¡±

    The corner of Rel¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°That¡­would do it, yes. Such intimacy is¡­¡± he sighed and rubbed his temples with his free hand. ¡°A sign of dominance, never to be done with a queen. I understand why he chose that but honestly¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­there¡¯s rules for ¡®how¡¯ to kiss a queen? Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake!¡± I rolled my eyes, rounding on Rel. ¡°Next, you¡¯re going to tell me there¡¯s rules for ¡®other¡¯ things too.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Rel cleared his throat and shook his head. ¡°That is a discussion for later. For now, why don¡¯t we go see how the others are doing? Zafir and your team are worried about you.¡±

    I¡¯d rather¡­ I let the thought go as I studied Rel. He looked a little too exhausted for any of the things I had on my mind. I gave him a small smile. ¡°Fine, I suppose I shouldn¡¯t sequester myself away. But first, where will I be staying?¡±

    ¡°Where you awoke, preferably. If you require company¡­hmmm¡­¡± Rel rubbed his chin. ¡°Both Jysel and I would be more than happy to stay with you, especially if it helps ease your nightmares. We will need to discuss your boundaries first given your ¡®wandering hands¡¯ problem.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± I remarked. ¡°Okay then, lead the way. Let¡¯s see if we can ease everyone¡¯s worries a bit.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sure you¡¯re alright?¡± Rel asked quietly, keeping me stationary when I tried to start walking.

    I looked up at him again, inquisitive. ¡°Yes? I feel like I slept too long, but that¡¯s my only real complaint. There¡¯s no lingering pain in my shoulder, and the attack pissed me off more than anything.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­the Y¡¯serdyn did mention something about you being more furious than your kuhir-dal¡­¡± Rel murmured curiously. After a moment, he shook his head and gave me a smile. ¡°Very well. I won¡¯t pry, for now. However, if you find yourself mentally struggling, I want you to come to us with it. I¡¯m more than happy to help you through whatever struggles you might come across¡ªincluding those which are ongoing.¡±

    I gave him a crooked smile in return. ¡°Thank you, Rel. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Eight

    Chapter Twenty-Eight

    ¡°Elara!¡± Aisu called excitedly the moment Rel and I entered the first floor of the building my team was staying in.

    They all¡­ My chest tightened with an unfamiliar emotion as I looked between Aisu and the rest of my team members. Each one had fully reverted to their Syldrari appearance¡ªeven Sarah and Amara. Yet I still only had patches, my forearms, and my hands.

    We can discuss it later, Rel soothed me, running his hand down my back. ¡°Is everyone settling in? We didn¡¯t have many options for you on such short notice.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s great! Way better than HQ,¡± Amara responded with a broad grin.

    ¡°Hey, you in one piece?¡± Aisu probed, coming over to peer at me, frowning. ¡°I hear that was a right nasty wound you had¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m in one piece,¡± I confirmed half-heartedly. ¡°I hear the doctors took good care of me. What about you all, though? How did you get permission¡­?¡±

    ¡°That is a complex topic,¡± Zafir groaned, slumping back in his seat. ¡°One which requires tea.¡±

    Rel summoned a pot of tea and numerous cups onto the nearest table, giving Zafir a knowing, triumphant look. ¡°There. Your tea. Now, talk.¡±

    ¡°Urgh¡­thank you,¡± Zafir muttered, pouring himself a cup. Once he settled back again and took a sip, he spoke, ¡°Eddard of the Imperator¡¯s inner circle was responsible for the attempted murders within HQ, the hiding of vital information¡ªsuch as queens coming to visit¡ªand more.

    ¡°One of his accomplices, another member of the inner circle, gave the order for Elara to deploy in chase of Sydney¡¯s team. They knew already that the cult was there, and the enemy forces that had invaded the ship. He saw this as a¡­trifecta, if you will.¡±

    ¡°He believed that one of the three clans was guaranteed to kill her.¡± Rel narrowed his eyes, his glow shifting to deep red.

    ¡°Yes. General Crowe received orders to execute the accomplice for the betrayal. Julien then gave him sole command over the Resonance Project.

    ¡°Crowe is close with Julien. It was a matter of brief conversation to convince the Imperator to allow us to evacuate away from Lucdra. My orders are to do as necessary to keep you, your team, Sarah, and Amara alive. Of course, with Erik and his squadron joining us, that shouldn¡¯t be too troublesome.¡±

    ¡°And we have intensive security protocols within Clan V¡¯shir,¡± Rel added, giving me a brief squeeze. ¡°We urge you all to be cautious¡­but you should mostly be fine.¡±

    Zafir shifted to look at me, his expression one of discomfort. ¡°Due to your team fully changing, the empire is asking that you take on the burden of posing for a propaganda campaign, Elara. I¡¯m not sure if we can safely say ¡®no.¡¯¡±

    I sighed in agitation and crossed my arms. ¡°Is that so? And who is running this campaign? What is it for, and why should I care?¡±

    Careful, Rel warned as the eyes of everyone present went temporarily cloudy. Deep breaths. Calm your nerves as if you needed to lace your lightning through a gap without brushing the sides.

    Zafir faltered, ¡°I-I believe¡­ Ambassador Nomusa recommended that you pose in Syldrari dress. Let me see¡­¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. We¡¯d barely heard a thing out of Nomusa since I first introduced her to the Syldrari Sector.

    ¡°Yes, here it is. Nomusa sent me an encrypted email detailing her thought process. She seeks to turn the propaganda on its head by normalizing Syldrari fashion and using you as the model. Lynir¡¯s store would be credited for the designs appropriately.¡±

    ¡°Stupid, frivolous¡­¡± I grumbled, putting a hand over my face.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be all bad,¡± Nikolai raised an eyebrow at me.

    ¡°Would be real hilarious to see their bullshit turned on it¡¯s head,¡± Maelor added.

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s a good chance to show off your pretty face all around the capitol!¡± Aisu winked at me.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    That comment, for some reason, caught me off guard and uncertainty filled me. Pretty¡­? Like this? I¡­don¡¯t know about that. Can I really be called that when I¡¯m this chimeric¡­thing? It doesn¡¯t seem¡­right.

    Rel bristled beside me but said nothing. Great.

    ¡°I¡¯ll consider it,¡± I stated. ¡°But I think it¡¯s naive to believe something so simple and frivolous will normalize Syldrari culture to the populous. I¡¯m more concerned that it will be viewed negatively among the other, non-human, species.¡±

    ¡°It may not even come to that,¡± Zafir remarked with a shrug. ¡°If Citomy fires her weapon, there won¡¯t be an empire to go back to. Instead, we need to plan out some other options. Alas¡­we should keep up appearances in case the need for a fallback plan arises.¡±

    ¡°Before that, Zafir, we need a word with you in private.¡± Rel started toward the stairs, pausing just long enough to beckon me and Zafir both.

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    I followed them up a few flights of stairs and into a room which Rel locked us in. He shot Zafir a sharp look, causing the other man to immediately drop his human disguise.

    ¡°Well?¡± I prompted.

    ¡°We need to discuss the matter of binding.¡± Rel turned to look at me.

    ¡°Oh¡­not this again.¡± I sighed in discomfort. ¡°This¡­that really isn¡¯t something I¡ª¡±

    ¡°It is a necessity.¡± Rel backed me up until I fell butt-first onto a sofa. ¡°I¡¯m not saying you must do it right now, but we need to teach you how to correctly bind people. There¡¯s no telling how this situation will evolve.¡±

    ¡°The one thing we do know is that Citomy will attempt to rope you into the Syldra government system the moment you¡¯re free of the Creshe Empire,¡± Zafir spoke up, concern on his face. ¡°Rel is right. You need an intimate understanding of what binding is, how to do it, and why it isn¡¯t something you should fear.¡±

    I crossed my arms defensively and eyed the pair. ¡°¡­I¡¯m listening.¡±

    ¡°Where to begin?¡± Zafir looked to Rel. ¡°Considering you sprung this on us, you have some idea I hope?¡±

    ¡°Start with the purpose¡ªthe original.¡± Rel returned Zafir¡¯s gaze with his own piercing one, making Zafir shrink in his seat.

    ¡°Yes¡­very well. Ahem.¡± Zafir turned to address me, ¡°I believe you are aware of how, throughout human history, they have kidnapped and wed women against their will? I get the impression that you believe ¡®binding¡¯ is similar to this. It isn¡¯t.

    ¡°Binding is the act of tying an individual to their clan. We have many rituals for newborns related to this, for example. Such bindings are not done by queens, but rather high members of the clan, such as elders.

    ¡°As our species became more matriarchal and queens became the clan leaders, binding came to have multiple meanings. The original persists, but it isn¡¯t mutually exclusive with the binding queens can do. Ah¡­ Rel? If you would?¡±

    Rel sighed. ¡°A queen¡¯s ¡®binding¡¯ would more appropriately be called a seal or ¡®binder.¡¯ It doesn¡¯t translate well into most languages. A queen can ¡®seal¡¯ away the freedom of thought and will. It¡¯s an evolutionary leftover from darker times when iri and queens weren¡¯t as revered as they are now.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t something to be ashamed of. To be more precise¡­it is linked to clan binding and its power is on a sliding scale. What you¡¯ve tapped into once before was at the far extreme end of that scale: the fight for survival.¡±

    ¡°Is this all a very long way of telling me that what you¡¯ve been asking me to do is something different?¡± I asked dryly, causing them to exchange a look. ¡°While I appreciate the history lesson, you aren¡¯t doing much to calm my nerves or make me understand what it is you want me to do. Let alone the how, the why, or the when.¡±

    Zafir flushed and scratched at his jaw. ¡°Ah. About that. There are nearly a dozen words in Syldran that translate to ¡®binding.¡¯ We are struggling to find the correct words to convey our meaning.¡±

    After a moment, Rel motioned with one hand. ¡°Binding members to a clan could be compared to the process of knighting someone. While our ¡®version¡¯ is more ritualistic and leaves an aetheric imprint on the bound, it is similar in the sense that the bound pledges their loyalty and service to the clan.¡±

    Zafir nodded quickly. ¡°Then there¡¯s the binding of royal guards, which is different from binding normal clan members. Ah, and that itself is different from binding members of the court. Which itself is different from binding members of your constellation¡ª¡±

    ¡°All of which are not the same kind of ¡®binding¡¯ you performed on the criminal you dealt with,¡± Rel stated, his knowing gaze locking onto my face. ¡°Rather than taking away from the person you bind, you would be giving them¡­a fingerprint of your aether, if you will. A small ¡®blessing¡¯ of your aether that serves as a symbol of a mutual agreement.¡±

    I studied Rel for a moment, noting that he looked oddly uneasy. Not sure of the reason, I took a stab in the dark, ¡°¡­and let me guess, that isn¡¯t how Citomy and most of the other queens approach ¡®binding?¡¯¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Rel glanced away. ¡°They bind by shaping the will of those who serve them, and paint it as a larger ¡®blessing¡¯ to do so. There are some clans who still revere the ¡®true ways,¡¯ V¡¯shir being one of them.¡±

    ¡°We need you to be prepared to properly bind us the moment its necessary or that you¡¯re comfortable. Whichever comes first.¡± Zafir stared at me, his expression firm. ¡°We have reason to believe Citomy may try to rip Rel and Jysel¡¯s clans apart so she can¡­so she can sell them at a cheaper price. We can¡¯t predict when she¡¯ll turn her attention to us again.¡±

    I sighed heavily, letting my gaze drift to the floor. ¡°¡­and you have some way of training me in this ritual to make sure I can do it?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Rel stated softly, slipping his fingers under my chin. ¡°We want to make sure you¡¯re as prepared as you can be, and your evacuation here makes it all the easier. We should start now, before we return to the sanctuary for the day.¡±

    Zafir motioned to the door with one hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the team. You¡¯ll have more time with them than you know what to do with soon enough.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± I murmured skeptically, before shifting my gaze to Rel¡¯s gentle, yet insistent, expression. ¡°Fine. Train me.¡±

    ¡°With pleasure.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Twenty-Nine

    Chapter Twenty-Nine

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®this isn¡¯t a good time to visit Erik?¡¯¡± I crossed my arms at Rel, glaring back at him in defiance.

    Rel sighed in exasperation. ¡°Elara, he is known among us for a specific reason. You may not be able to hear it from here, but there are many who¡¯re very happy to have him aboard.¡±

    ¡°Happy¡­? Uh?¡± I glanced up at the building beside us, then to Rel. ¡°If they¡¯re fucking, you could just say they¡¯re fucking.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s an accurate description, but we¡¯ll go with that.¡± Rel shook his head and offered me a hand. ¡°Come. We should say hello to Ciheri, Aldiner, and the Y¡¯serdyn. They¡¯ve been worried.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re making this a whirlwind of a tour,¡± I remarked, stepping past his outstretched hand and close to his torso. He looked a little surprised by my approach, or maybe by the piercing gaze I¡¯d fixed on him. ¡°Rel. If you¡¯re worried¡­what are your instincts telling you?¡±

    He released a shaky sigh, his eyes creasing as his lips pulled into a gentle smile. ¡°You¡¯re learning to see through me. Elara, my ¡®instincts¡¯ say I should take you back to the sanctuary so that Jysel and I can lavish you with affection until you¡¯re so delirious that you can¡¯t remember your own name.

    ¡°Our ¡®instincts¡¯ aren¡¯t quite what you seem to think they are. At least, not when you¡¯re involved.¡±

    I blinked at him for a moment. Somehow, his forwardness managed to surprise me time and again. After a moment, I placed a hand on his abdomen and gave him a pointed look.

    ¡°Which means you know what I¡¯m asking. Why did you avoid the question?¡±

    ¡°Heh.¡± This time, Rel¡¯s lips pulled into a devious smirk. ¡°You are learning. Good. The answer to that, is that I wanted to test you. The answer to your original question, is that I don¡¯t feel you¡¯re safe outside the sanctuary. It¡¯s uncomfortable to walk you around with only me and the patrols to protect you.¡±

    I frowned, considering my answer for a moment. ¡°Then¡­shouldn¡¯t we return? You can always permit them to visit instead of making yourself uncomfortable by exposing me to the outside prematurely.¡±

    ¡°¡­you¡¯re certain?¡± Rel hesitated. ¡°You dislike being coddled.¡±

    ¡°I am, and I do. Your feelings and comfort are important to me too,¡± I stated, giving him what I hoped to be a comforting smile. ¡°We can continue our conversation there.¡±

    Rel pulled me into a hug and immediately transported us. When he loosened his grip and took half a step back, I spotted Jysel lounging on the bed with a book in one hand. He looked over the top of it at us, his eyes sliding from Rel to me and back.

    ¡°¡®I don¡¯t want to be coddled,¡¯ she says,¡± Jysel remarked, sliding an intricate metal bookmark between the pages before setting it aside.

    The corner of my eye twitched. ¡°When you say it like that, it¡¯s a little too close to your whole, ¡®are you going to be interfering in Syldrari business¡¯ schtick.¡±

    He just shot me a smirk and swung his legs over the side of the bed, rising to his feet. The two of them exchanged a few glances and, a moment later the two of them were guiding me to some other room in their sanctuary, with Rel to my right and Jysel to my left.

    ¡°We decided to make use of the living room.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t like the idea of them visiting you in the bedroom quite yet.¡±

    ¡°At least, not when the Y¡¯serdyn is involved.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re still not certain we can trust him.¡±

    ¡°Besides, Jysel is still miffed that he hardly gets to spend time with you. This may be a good opportunity to fix that.¡±

    ¡°¡­Rel,¡± Jysel groaned.

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Can¡¯t you at least message me?¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t sure how safe Syldra-made neurochips are,¡± Jysel grumbled, glancing away. ¡°Until you¡¯ve absorbed my clan into you own¡­we¡­ I won¡¯t take the risk. You could be heavily punished if Citomy discovers you¡¯ve been interacting with me without turning me in.¡±

    Right. He¡¯s a ¡®criminal.¡¯ I studied the distressed man, then did the only thing I could think of to perhaps put them both at ease. I took their hands in each of mine, intertwining my fingers with theirs. ¡°Okay then. Where¡¯s the living room?¡±

    ¡°Careful now, you¡¯re going to overload him,¡± Rel remarked, shooting a smirk over my head at his twin.

    Jysel shot back a murderous glare. ¡°I¡¯m not that helpless. It¡¯s just¡­it¡¯s just so strange for an iri to¡­¡±

    The more Jysel tried to explain himself, the darker blue he turned, until finally he stopped. Seemingly satisfied with that development, Rel spoke in a cheerful tone, ¡°Would you like a snack and a drink, Elara? Before I fetch the others, that is.¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Sure?¡± I gave him a questioning look. ¡°Maybe a sandwich instead of a snack? I¡¯m still a little hungry.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    That seemed to catch both their attentions. ¡°Is your appetite fully returning now?¡±

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d change more before that happened.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s internal changes we can¡¯t see?¡±

    ¡°The doctor should have her scans, we can determine how much of her had reverted internally.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps we should delay our visitors?¡±

    ¡°No, no¡­ The cute ones are worried, and the other one did save her life.¡±

    ¡°Then, instead we can keep their visit short. Food, rest, and relaxation would be best for Elara, for now.¡±

    I glanced between them once they fell silent again. ¡°You said before that people struggle to differentiate between you two. Is it because you do that when together?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    Rel cleared his throat. ¡°We refrain around others because they find it difficult to track, or unnerving. If you would prefer we didn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what she¡¯s saying, I don¡¯t think,¡± Jysel spoke up, his expression a smidge bashful but mostly hopeful as he looked to me for confirmation. ¡°Right, Elara¡­?¡±

    ¡°Mhm. I was just curious.¡± I squeezed their hands briefly. ¡°There¡¯s the differences I¡¯ve noted before to Rel, but you¡¯re also standing to either side of me. I¡¯d have to be significantly distracted to get confused. I think.¡±

    ¡°You think?¡± They asked.

    I tilted my head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a topic that I should speak in absolutes about. Especially with you two. I get the feeling if I did, you¡¯d go out of your way to see how you can confuse me.¡±

    ¡°Maybe¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­a little bit.¡±

    I snorted. ¡°Uh huh. That was so convincing. What should your prize be?¡±

    ¡°You?¡± They suggested, and I sighed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get lunch before I decide if I¡¯m entertaining that suggestion.¡±

    * * *

    Sometime later, I found myself nestled onto a comfortable seat shaped like half a sphere. I sat cross legged, a plate of food on my lap, and a drink on a side table within reach. Nearby, Jysel reclined with his book while we waited for Rel to return with the others.

    I flipped through my thoughts, trying to remember what I¡¯d wanted to discuss with them. Once it clicked, I looked over to Jysel. ¡°I have a question, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    He peered at me over his book for a moment, then tucked his bookmark into place. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±

    ¡°You and Rel told me that Citomy was trying to get the leaders of the Resonance Project replaced. What is she doing now that all this happened?¡± I asked, frowning slightly. ¡°Aside from threatening the pirates with a resonance cannon, I have to assume she¡¯s still got her fingers in other portions of Creshian business¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­about that,¡± Jysel murmured, rubbing his chin. He summoned a data pad to hand and flicked the screen a few times. ¡°Our last report states that she is trying to replace the entirety of the staff with women, save for more menial or trivial jobs. She wants the teams to be ¡®expendable males¡¯ and for the women, such as yourself, elevated to the status of nobles within the empire.

    ¡°She¡¯s still offering Rel, myself, and one of her husbands to you, along with the promise of building you a cityship and initial fleet once the gate to Syldran space is up and running again¡­ It looks like she¡¯s currently in discussions with her advisers for how to expand the offer further.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit¡­desperate, isn¡¯t it?¡± I frowned. What is she really after? Are her funds and her husbands really of so little value to her?

    Jysel twitched and shot me a glare. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not thinking that because you don¡¯t value yourself.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more accurate to say that I don¡¯t assign value to people, including myself?¡± I raised an eyebrow, watching as he set his book aside and padded over to me. ¡°What¡­?¡±

    Jysel promptly squeezed into my seat with me, lounging back to my left. I shifted a little to look back at him questioningly, not sure what to make of the move.

    ¡°They¡¯re almost here,¡± Jysel stated. ¡°We need to consider if we¡¯re going to flee this planet while everyone is distracted. I want you to strongly consider that possibility. We haven¡¯t been able to confirm the design or accuracy of Citomy¡¯s weaponry.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± I arched an eyebrow at him, then tugged one of the blankets over him. ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain why you decided to join me, but sure. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±

    Jysel flushed, linking his hands behind his head. ¡°You could say I¡¯m still a little jealous of how much more time Rel has gotten with you. We haven¡¯t had many opportunities to get to know each other, even though¡­even though I made the decision to join my clan with yours. It¡¯s a mix of emotions really, but the word doesn¡¯t translate¡­ah¡­¡±

    ¡°I think I get your meaning,¡± I remarked, shifting to offer him a ludr¨¢n.

    Jysel reached out to grasp my wrist, guiding my hand to his mouth to feed him. I decided to oblige him, pressing the bright red candy between his lips. The cheeky bastard startled a laugh out of me when his long tongue flicked out to slurp my wrist, his mouth pulling into a broad, boyish grin.

    [Adorable as the antics are, you might want to be a little more serious for our guests,] Rel warned, giving me just enough time to return my attention to my plate. He appeared with Ciheri, Aldiner, and the Y¡¯serdyn in tow, his gaze flicking over me and his brother quickly. [Would you like another drink?]

    [Yes, please,] I answered, perking up a little as he approached. Hmmm, there might be room for the three of us in this seat-chair-thing¡­

    ¡°Elara!¡± Ciheri exclaimed brightly. He darted over and placed his hands on the edge of the seat, leaning over to peer at me. ¡°Are you feeling better? No lingering aches and pains? If you need more treatment, I¡¯ve met some great masseuses here! I could recommend¡ª¡±

    ¡°Or you could ask me,¡± Aldiner interjected with a sly grin. ¡°Let me know if you need any entertainment. I¡¯ve been teaching Ciheri all kinds of fun things.¡±

    ¡°Honestly¡­¡± the Y¡¯serdyn rubbed his temples, his simple statement causing both Aldiner and Ciheri to stiffen before hiding behind my seat. ¡°Elara, I really should apologize. It was unforgivably arrogant of me to think my clan was fully under control and free of outside influences. My error nearly cost you your life. If you believe some form of punishment is necessary¡­ I¡­ I will not like it, but I will understand it. Do as you will.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why would I punish you? You saved my life, so I consider us even.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn paused, exhaling a long breath. ¡°Forgive me. I find it easy to forget you are an unusual iri.¡±

    ¡°How is your clan? I thought you would be busy tending to them?¡± I asked, earning an oddly surprised look.

    ¡°You wish to know¡­? Hm. The ship you visited is lost. We confirmed that there are no loyal members on it. The rest of my fleet is fine and remains in hiding while we recheck every member¡¯s identity and loyalty.¡± The Y¡¯serdyn linked his hands behind his back, his expression contemplative. ¡°My closest allies and I are working on¡­a distraction, if you will. Have Rel or Jysel briefed you, yet?¡±

    ¡°I thought it best to have you explain it to her,¡± Rel stated as he walked over. He placed my new drink on the side table, then nestled into my right, pulling a blanket over his lap as well. Then, he levitated Jysel¡¯s book over and passed it to him. With that done, Rel focused on the Y¡¯serdyn again. ¡°I want Aldiner and Ciheri to hear this plan as well.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn frowned briefly, then nodded his head and returned his attention to me. ¡°To successfully evacuate you, the V¡¯shir, and Jysel¡¯s clan¡ªan apocalyptic distraction is needed. Being Abysstouched as my clan is¡­we know precisely what is needed to move the stars.

    ¡°In this case, I mean it quite literally.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Thirty

    Chapter Thirty

    ¡°Move¡­stars?¡± I asked, staring at the Y¡¯serdyn.

    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna claim to be an astronomy expert¡­but what?¡± Aldiner demanded, forgetting whatever fear it was he had of the green-eyed man. ¡°Stars? Actual stars? Please tell me you¡¯re speaking metaphorically.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn smirked, causing Aldiner to groan and hide his face in his hands.

    ¡°Uhm¡­is this some kind of Depthwalker or Abysstouched magic? Technology? ¡­both?¡± Ciheri frowned, his eyes ticking back and forth as if reading something.

    The Y¡¯serdyn shrugged. ¡°Only in the sense that not many clans have gone deep enough into the Fringes to have their concepts of space challenged. Are you familiar with solar showers?¡±

    This time, Rel spoke up, ¡°They¡¯re a form of rare space weather where objects akin to suns rain through a system, burning life and atmosphere off most planets and moons present.¡± He paused to glance at me, ¡°You can think of it as droplets of plasma rather than rain¡­but the ¡®droplets¡¯ are larger than some moons. We have yet to, officially, determine the cause of this phenomenon.¡±

    ¡°Unofficially,¡± the Y¡¯serdyn began with a devious smile, ¡°it is a hunting mechanism for a space-dwelling species found in the Fringes. You could say they prefer to cook their meals. They¡¯re actually quite friendly and docile. One of the ones I¡¯ve befriended is more than happy to use its abilities to threaten this system and force mass evacuation.

    ¡°We are still calculating where they need to attack from to give us enough time, of course, and there¡¯s the matter of deciding if you would prefer to save the natural order of this system.¡±

    I stared at him in disbelief. That was such a ridiculous combination of concepts thrown at me all at once, that I had no idea how to respond.

    Ciheri, at least, was quicker, ¡°What does that have to do with moving stars, if they¡¯re not stars?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that,¡± the Y¡¯serdyn chuckled. ¡°If Elara would prefer this system isn¡¯t destroyed, I will relocate it as a gesture of goodwill and respect. I don¡¯t believe the Creshe should be permitted to remain in this system, as such¡­¡±

    ¡°So¡­what, we evacuate everyone¡­ How, exactly, does that separate us from the Creshian Empire? They¡¯ll still¡ª¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn held a finger up to his lips and winked. ¡°We can¡¯t tell you the entirety of our plans, you understand. For now, I simply need to know if you want us to burn this system out of existence¡­or save it.¡±

    ¡°¡­save it?¡± I sighed in exasperation. ¡°It¡¯s not as if the animals and the plants have done anything to slight us. So, if we could conserve them¡­¡±

    ¡°Consider it done,¡± the Y¡¯serdyn smiled. ¡°With that decided, I should get to work. I think it would be best for everyone involved if you were evacuated sooner rather than later.¡±

    The Y¡¯serdyn disappeared in a shaft of green light, and Aldiner let out a distressed groan. ¡°What is he thinking? That much effort¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, maybe a little overzealous¡­or maybe just right in this situation?¡± Ciheri murmured to himself. Then, he perked up and looked at me. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help, Elara? I¡¯ve compiled information on queens and how to control those kinds of powers, but I feel like I should be doing more.¡±

    ¡°There is one thing,¡± Rel remarked, ¡°Elara is being harassed by the humans to participate in a propaganda campaign. Would you mind visiting Lynir and speaking with him about her modeling options? I doubt she will want to wear human clothing.¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± Ciheri exclaimed excitedly, and just like that, he was off.

    ¡°Uh¡­ I never agreed¡ª¡±

    Rel slid an arm around my waist, chuckling. ¡°The humans don¡¯t understand how much danger they¡¯re in. If you cooperate, the other queens will see it as a powerful move on your part once your true nature comes to light. Send them a message.¡±

    ¡°Is this really the time for that?¡± Aldiner crossed his arms. ¡°Like, I get that she needs to establish herself as a strong, independent queen to make sure she doesn¡¯t get absorbed into some other clan herself. But, right now those crazy cunts may just see it as  hostility. And¡ª¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°For better or for worse, Citomy seems taken with Elara¡¯s existence. We can use that,¡± Jysel murmured, his eyes becoming unfocused. ¡°But we¡¯ll have to break that connection as quickly as possible.¡±

    ¡°Agreed.¡± Rel nodded, then looked to Aldiner. ¡°I want you to work with Casair to make certain any visitors we receive aren¡¯t bringing problems with them.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­ And here I dared to hope you might let me do something fun,¡± Aldiner complained, biting his lower lip as he eyed me. Then, he looked to Rel. ¡°You know, four is a good number~¡±

    ¡°Not right now, Aldiner,¡± Rel reprimanded him.

    Aldiner promptly stuck his tongue out at us before spinning around and taking the transport out. The twins released heavy sighs and both put arms around my waist, seeming to relax with everyone gone.

    I looked between the two, an eyebrow raised, as I lifted my plate of food off my lap. ¡°At this rate, Sal¡¯aphel will get the rest of my food because you two are going to knock it in the floor.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re tired.¡±

    ¡°We were thinking about bringing you back to bed with us.¡±

    ¡°Or perhaps a movie, if you aren¡¯t tired?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I feel like I should be doing something.¡± I shook my head.

    ¡°You should be resting,¡± Rel informed me, sliding his fingertips along my thigh.

    ¡°Agreed. You lost a lot of blood, you shouldn¡¯t worry about fighting or hunting quite yet. Our soldiers will handle it.¡± Jysel traced patterns on my other thigh, his gaze a little hazy.

    ¡°I¡¯ve decided. We¡¯ll continue watching a movie,¡± Rel declared, levitating me off the seat and placing me on my feet. He and Jysel promptly followed, steering me back toward the bedroom.

    ¡°Uh¡­? Even though Jysel isn¡¯t caught up?¡± I asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve watched it before,¡± Jysel mumbled, flushing. ¡°¡­but thank you for your concern. I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m going to keep reading while you watch it.¡±

    ¡°If you say so.¡± I tilted my head.

    ¡°Change into something more cozy,¡± Rel stated with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll bring drinks and snacks for us momentarily.¡±

    Rel kissed my forehead, then let Jysel pull me over to the bed. The latter switched his wardrobe to nothing but pants before promptly hopping under the covers. Then, he shot me a hopeful, expectant glance.

    ¡°Fine, fine, you don¡¯t need to pout.¡± I gave him a lopsided smile. After changing into nightclothes, I slid in next to Jysel and rested back against the wall of pillowy fluff. ¡°What are you reading, anyway? You seem quite absorbed.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Jysel looked at the worn book in his hands for a moment, then back to me. ¡°It is the first part of the first volume of a famous Syldran novel. Most people read the digital, AR, or VR copies in this day and age but¡­¡± he flushed and showed me the title page, which appeared to be signed and numbered in iridescent ink. ¡°¡­I have the entire series signed in physical format. It¡¯s difficult to replace the feeling of a real book¡­even if Syldran tales are so long that digitized formats make more sense.¡±

    ¡°¡­first part of the first book?¡± I asked, watching as he flushed deeper. ¡°Just how long is this series?¡±

    ¡°I think¡­¡± Jysel¡¯s eyes unfocused briefly. ¡°¡­the eighth  part of the 456th book in the series came out a few weeks ago. I¡¯m rereading it all before I start the newest one.¡±

    I¡¯m not even going to try and do the math for that. Amused, I smiled at him. ¡°You must enjoy the series a lot. I have a hard time comprehending such a long series exists.¡±

    ¡°One of the benefits of our long lifespans,¡± Jysel informed me with a bright smile. ¡°I¡¯ll have to show you my library. I¡¯m something of a collector, see. I have books from many different peoples throughout the universe. I prefer fictional works, but I collect non-fiction too. Rel likes to see how other species perceive and understand the universe, and we both enjoy ancient histories.¡±

    ¡°For fiction, I prefer audio and visual formats,¡± Rel offered as he returned. ¡°I am usually listening to some story or another while at work.¡±

    ¡°So much to catch up on¡­¡± I murmured to myself, causing them to exchange a glance.

    ¡°You have plenty of time¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªto pace yourself.¡±

    ¡°You should focus on you first.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t think we didn¡¯t notice that you¡¯re troubled.¡±

    ¡°If you need to talk, we¡¯re happy to listen.¡±

    ¡°¡­how about for now, we just relax?¡± I asked dryly. ¡°I¡¯d rather not focus on other topics until I¡¯m certain I¡¯m thinking clearly.¡±

    Again, they exchanged a glance, but it was Rel who spoke, ¡°You¡¯re uncomfortable with the fact your team has fully changed while you¡¯re still ¡®stuck,¡¯ right?¡±

    I shot him an annoyed look. Hadn¡¯t I just said I didn¡¯t want to talk about it?

    He smiled at me. ¡°Elara, everyone has been careful to not expose you to stimuli that would hasten the change. That is all. There is nothing ¡®wrong¡¯ with you. Once we escape this planet¡­we will assist you in your full shift. We promise.¡±

    ¡°We can tell you¡¯re not comfortable in human or mixed skin,¡± Jysel added softly. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t help keep you in this state if it wasn¡¯t important.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± I grumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s just relax like you two suggested, alright? I said I don¡¯t want to talk about that problem. My¡­¡¯jealousy¡¯ is stupid. I¡¯m aware.¡±

    ¡°To quote Ciheri, ¡®don¡¯t be mean to you,¡¯¡± Rel stated dryly, crawling into bed beside me. Then, he paused and gave me a questioning look. ¡°We never did discuss ¡®boundaries.¡¯¡±

    I eyed him. ¡°If you think sleeping in the same bed will keep my nightmares away, I¡¯m open to try. Anything else¡­we¡¯ll play by ear.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Rel smirked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure my dear brother can handle sharing a bed with you in any meaning of the phrase, yet.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m reading, don¡¯t provoke me¡­¡± Jysel murmured distractedly.

    Rel shrugged and scooted over until he was pressed against my side. [And just like that, he¡¯s lost in his own world. Now then, let¡¯s see where we left off¡­with the movie, that is.]

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-One

    Chapter Thirty-One

    Lights flashed around me as the ¡®creative director¡¯ spouted off with instructions. ¡°Give me more edge! More power! Show us the fierce face of a woman who can crush criminals beneath her boot!¡±

    I¡¯ll crush you under my boot¡­ I glared at the man as he frantically snapped photographs of me.

    ¡°Oooh, yes! That icy glare would stop even the most storied villains!¡± He gasped dramatically. ¡°Why, it¡¯s almost a crime you¡¯re a soldier! You would make such an excellent spokesmodel. Yes, yes, I can see it now¡ªyou could have the people eating out of your hand like dogs! Now, let¡¯s get some shots in your ¡®battle suit!¡¯¡±

    I switched over, twitching as he appraised me like a piece of meat. Behind him, Ciheri and Zafir both shifted to watch him, their expressions briefly giving away their displeasure.

    ¡°Skintight¡­¡± the photographer let out a low whistle. ¡°You may as well be naked in that!¡±

    I should feed this disgusting bastard to Sal¡¯aphel¡­ I clenched my fist. How much trouble would I get into if¡­

    A message from Zafir popped up in my peripheral vision. When I selected it, his voice played inside my head. [Please just endure it. The sooner this set of photos is finished, the sooner we can leave. Watch something on the network if you must. Ciheri and I will take you somewhere nice once you¡¯re finished.]

    ¡°Pose like¡­like this!¡± The photographer partially turned his back to me, one foot more forward than the other, his head turned so he was glancing behind him.

    Great. An ¡®ass pose.¡¯ Of course. I shoved down my anger and instead attempted to tap into the more domineering part of my persona. If I was going to go along with this bullshit, I may as well own it.

    While I complied with the infuriating photographer, I pulled up the news. I needed some sort of distraction and, even with it muted, the streaming text on the screen was enough. Today¡¯s headline was that Citomy had powered down her weapon¡ªand taken the Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s compromised ship into custody. They showed video feed of the queen¡¯s ship ¡®swallowing¡¯ the corvette in one if its docking bays before leaving the atmosphere again. Although that threat was gone, there were still ongoing questions the humans were worried about. The visiting fleet being chief among them now that Citomy appeared to be under control.

    I¡¯d almost forgotten about the fleet. I wracked my brain for what little I¡¯d learned of them. They had business with Citomy and¡­their alliance, empire, whatever they were, consisted of many species. They made the Creshe Empire nervous, their fleet consisted of ¡®mass market¡¯ ships. I couldn¡¯t recall anything else about them. Should I be concerned¡­or should I focus on the Creshe, Citomy, or the criminals at large?

    [Bored yet?] Rel¡¯s question made me twitch.

    [You see the news? Citomy has the Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s ship.] I decided to ignore his painfully obvious question. If he got me started, I wouldn¡¯t stop fuming about the photographer any time soon.

    [Yes, we saw. Jysel and I are meeting with him and Casair to discuss¡­security. We will be going dark for a while. Stick close to Ciheri and Zafir. Call upon Lynir or Aldiner if you need additional help,] Rel instructed, leaving one of his little calligraphic marks at the end of the transcript.

    ¡°Marvelous! Let¡¯s try some more alien fashion? Lingerie, perhaps? Hmmm?¡±

    That suggestion resulted in Zafir stalking over to place himself between us. He adjusted his glasses and took on a businesslike tone. ¡°This is meant to be propaganda for the empire¡ªnot soft porn. You¡¯ve gotten what you need, so we are done here. Do not make me report your misconduct to Imperator Julien.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± the photographer licked his lips as he watched me walk off set. ¡°If we could get some more risqu¨¦ pictures¡­¡±

    ¡°Push us again and I¡¯ll fry you along with your equipment and your staff,¡± I stated coldly. Unfortunately, that only seemed to excite the human.

    Ciheri quickly came over and clutched my arm. He spoke quietly in Syldran, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Elara, really. Let¡¯s just get out of here. We can go relax, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re hungry.¡±

    Zafir used his position as head of the Resonance Project to diffuse the situation and have the photography crew sent back to their home sector¡ªwith an escort, of course. With that finished, Zafir led Ciheri and I off through the Syldrari sector. Together, they led me off toward an area I¡¯d never visited before. Rather than having the shops and residences surround a large, empty plaza, there was a lush garden contained within a globe of water. Brightly colored aquatic life swam among enormous plants. Clear, spherical seats hung around the garden, many of which had Syldrari floating within them while reading their datapads.

    I followed Zafir and Ciheri into a little cafe with outdoor seating and glanced around, noting the walls were covered in Syldran art and framed book pages. Unlike Rel¡¯s establishment, which bridged human and Syldran aesthetics, this cafe was entirely faithful to their culture. From the construction materials and decor to the music playing within, everything was ¡®new¡¯ to me.

    ¡°Welcome¡­¡± a man with rich, emerald green and reflective gold skin greeted us. He promptly noticed me, eyes widening in surprise. ¡°Elder Rel¡¯s guest? It is an honor to meet you, Elara. My name is Nieqon. If you have any special requests, I will do my best to deliver.¡±

    ¡°I think some comfort food is in order.¡± Zafir sighed, running his hand back through his hair as his human disguise melted away. ¡°It¡¯s been a long day¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡­is still morning.¡± Nieqon glanced at a clock.

    ¡°I had to play along with Creshian propaganda schemes all morning,¡± I offered with a wry smile. ¡°Comfort food and some manner of calming tea would be lovely. I enjoy trying new things, so feel free to surprise me.¡±

    Zafir and Ciheri placed their orders, then led me over to a booth. Ciheri squeezed in next to me on the odd, oval seat, while our companion sat across from us.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re angry, but they got some great photos of you!¡± Ciheri clutched my arm, leaning in. ¡°We were worried they¡¯d try to make you look mean or ugly, but they were faithful to how pretty you are!¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    I arched an eyebrow at that. ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a good or a bad thing. This whole propaganda thing doesn¡¯t sit well with me. Shouldn¡¯t the Empire be more worried about¡­everything else?¡±

    ¡°The propaganda machine is an excellent distraction from ongoing issues,¡± Zafir scoffed bitterly. ¡°The Empire will refocus the citizens attention while they coordinate with their allies and other powers. Under normal circumstances, a galactic power would willingly absorb into another to flee.¡±

    ¡°Imperator Julien doesn¡¯t want to go that route? He seemed relatively sane compared to his inner circle¡­¡± I murmured.

    ¡°It¡¯s believed the Creshe Empire may be the last remaining human-run power. They don¡¯t want to ¡®fail¡¯ and be absorbed.¡± Zafir shook his head. ¡°They are attempting to arrange purchase of an uninhabited system to settle in. While the cost is high, Syldrari and other species will often accept deferred payment in the form of resources found in the system.

    ¡°The problem being, finding a system suitable to human requirements. Finding planets that can support human life is a chore. Many of them are under quarantine while they return to nature.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that? This is the second time I¡¯ve heard something about planetary quarantine.¡± I frowned at Zafir, but it was Ciheri who spoke.

    ¡°Oh! Because humans are so violent, a lot of their planets are recovering from either nuclear or biological warfare!¡± Ciheri pulled out a data pad and promptly pulled up an image of a planet surrounded by a glowing, tessellated shield. ¡°This one, for example. Nuclear war wiped out almost all humans. Human survivors who escaped underground¡ªor were frozen in cryostasis¡ªwere taken into other governments.

    ¡°Calculations suggest that, for the radiation to subside and nature to retake the planet, it needs to be left alone for oh¡­ A thousand years? Ideally more, but a thousand would be the bare minimum before we send researchers to watch nature¡¯s evolution.¡±

    Zafir nodded. ¡°And, if the radiation kills off the remaining life in that time, we will begin the revitalization project on that planet after those one thousand years. We often do this with planets destroyed by war or natural disaster. Given our own species¡¯ growth and expansion, we understand the importance of making certain planets capable of supporting other lifeforms thrive too.¡±

    ¡°Plus, they¡¯re really interesting!¡± Ciheri perked up as he swiped to another image, consisting of ruined buildings. ¡°We take numerous scans to map out where all the ¡®manmade¡¯ structures on a planet are¡ªeven ones from the ancient past. When quarantine is lifted, we¡¯ll excavate and recover as much art and data as we can.¡±

    So, the ruined planets are sort of like time capsules to Syldrari? I mused, peering at the image. ¡°The difficulty for the Creshe Empire is that most of these planets are currently inaccessible? Couldn¡¯t they become spacefaring nomads instead?¡±

    They exchanged a look at that.

    Zafir shook his head. ¡°They could¡­but¡­ Not with their population. The number of cityships they need would take thousands of years for them to pay off.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s safer and more economical to purchase transport to a new system where they can mine, grow, or make goods to pay off their debt. Humans don¡¯t have much value to most species¡­¡± Ciheri frowned to himself. ¡°Mmm¡­ I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s because their lives are so short or because they¡¯re so aggressive. Even most species that take slaves don¡¯t want humans. ¡®Too risky.¡¯¡±

    Zafir gave him a crooked smile. ¡°Humans can be quite clever when put in a situation they dislike. Many may insult the species for their intelligence, but that is incorrect.

    ¡°What humans lack is wisdom. They are plenty capable of the arts, sciences, inventing, problem solving, and more. However, they are too short-lived to truly gain wisdom¡ªunless they are several sleeves into their life, of course. It¡¯s this lack of wisdom that keeps them from recognizing the patterns that signal their coming downfall, such as self-destructive habits or causing others to betray them.¡±

    Ciheri pondered that for a moment, then nodded. ¡°That makes sense. It helps explain why, historically, they¡¯ve been like misbehaved children if they get their hands on foreign technology too early.¡±

    ¡°Apologies¡­we went on a tangent, didn¡¯t we?¡± Zafir looked at me suddenly, a look of recognition on his face. ¡°You were saying, Elara?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? No, feel free to keep going. I¡¯m following.¡± I paused, sensing movement, and looked over to see Nieqon bringing over our drinks and food on some sort of tiered, floating thing.

    ¡°Here you are,¡± Nieqon spoke proudly, lifting a platter in each hand and placing them on the table. Another large platter came next, followed by several smaller ones. Then, he set out our respective drinks¡ªincluding a full kettle for me. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to call on me if you require anything else. Please enjoy¡ªand give my regards to Elder Rel.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I called after him, getting a bashful grin in response before he disappeared into the kitchen area again.

    ¡°Let¡¯s enjoy our lunch instead of worrying about the humans.¡± Zafir gave me a gentle smile. ¡°Ciheri and I can regale you at any time.¡±

    ¡°Feeeed meee.¡± Ciheri pouted on my shoulder, giving me puppy eyes.

    ¡°Uh¡­but whose food is whose?¡± I eyed the platters.

    ¡°It is traditional Syldran fare¡ªa communal meal.¡± Zafir¡¯s smile broadened into a grin. ¡°Ciheri and I agreed that we wanted to be the first to introduce you to this tradition. I hope you¡¯ll forgive our selfishness.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the pastel-haired man who was still pouting on my shoulder. ¡°Okay then¡­ What do you want first, Ciheri?¡±

    ¡°That one.¡± Ciheri pointed to a bite-sized piece of glowing red vegetable. It appeared to be stuffed with a creamy filling consisting of bits of meat, herbs, and spherical pink objects I didn¡¯t know the name of.

    I decided to indulge him and turned in my seat to feed the cheerful man his treat. If he hadn¡¯t hidden his tail upon sitting, I expected it would have been wagging like an excited dog. Next, I glanced over at Zafir. ¡°Okay, what about you?¡±

    Zafir¡¯s face immediately tinged blue. ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡­ That is¡­ Ahem. I will take a yighyt, please.¡±

    The yighyt was, apparently, bread stuffed with a mix of minced jihgsar meat, spices, and vegetables from Syldra. Being a little bigger than my palm, it took Zafir several bites to finish it off.

    ¡°Your turn!¡± Ciheri leaned into me, giving me a squeeze. ¡°What do you wanna try first? Should I surprise you? Oh! You like jihgsar and syezei, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes, I¡¯m sure she¡¯d like the syezei-based marinade on the skewers,¡± Zafir remarked, but he stopped midreach. ¡°That is, if Elara will let us return the gesture.¡±

    I fell right into their trap¡­ I whined internally. ¡°Okay, okay. We¡¯ll start with the skewers. For the next one, you can surprise me.¡±

    Zafir handed Ciheri a skewer from his side of the table, and the latter proceeded to happily feed me. Embarrassed as I was, I couldn¡¯t deny the food was damn good. I was pretty sure I could eat those skewers every day and not grow bored.

    ¡°Now then¡­¡± Zafir eyed the selection, then picked up a petite wrap made a black flatbread. Inside was a veritable rainbow of luminescent foods. ¡°If I may?¡±

    I nodded, and Zafir came around the table to sit to my left and carefully feed me the wrap. Oddly, his tension seemed to lift once finished. Then, he and Ciheri fed each other treats from the table, and Zafir returned to his seat across from us.

    ¡°Would you like to try the soup, Elara?¡± Zafir asked while ladling some into a bowl for himself.

    ¡°Sure. And can you explain to me whatever tradition it is we just did?¡± I asked while adding some nectar to my tea.

    ¡°Oh yes, of course. Communal meals are tradition, as we mentioned, and opening with mutual feedings is a way we display trust to those we dine with,¡± Zafir answered, setting the bowl before him, before picking up a second to fill. ¡°It stems from ancient traditions among warrior tribes, in which individuals needed to have immense amounts of trust in their fellow warriors. Hunting groups were close knit. They needed to be able to not only fight together, but care for each other and their wounded.

    ¡°The intimacy of feeding each other was discovered to be a reliable way, especially at the time, to weed out those who were untrustworthy. It is difficult for Syldrari to falsify comfort when being fed by someone they distrust or have ill intent toward.¡±

    Ciheri beamed as he piled treats onto a plate. ¡°Exactly! You¡¯re shy about it, but you showed you trust us and we showed we trust you. I¡¯m really happy we decided to come here!¡±

    I pouted a little, feeling the heat in my face as Zafir passed the bowl of soup to me. ¡°You could¡¯ve warned me what you were up to¡­¡±

    ¡°Aww, but it was fun! Don¡¯t worry, we can get extra dessert as recompense!¡± Ciheri grinned at me.

    Sighing, I reached out to add a few things to my plate. Sure, I was embarrassed¡­but I couldn¡¯t say no to that smile. Especially not if the ¡®ritual¡¯ was so meaningful to them.

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-Two

    Chapter Thirty-Two

    Humming reverberated in the air around me while I concentrated on the syezei fruit in my hands. The air warmed around me, the fruit pulsed once, twice, then seemed to calm. Rel placed a hand on my shoulder and murmured for me to stop, while Jysel took the fruit from me to examine it.

    ¡°Good¡­now we just need to get you consistent,¡± Jysel stated, turning the fruit over in his hands. ¡°Maybe a little less force on your part. You¡¯re still being a little too rough.¡±

    I¡¯ll show you rough¡­ I grumbled internally, eyeing Jysel

    ¡°Focus,¡± Rel growled at me. ¡°You¡¯re already testing us enough as it is.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d think she¡¯s trying to frustrate us into bending her over the nearest surface¡­¡± Jysel rubbed his temples. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to make good on your threats don¡¯t make them.¡±

    ¡°Sound advice, and a practice you should employ before you need it with the queens,¡± Rel remarked, placing another syezei in front of me. ¡°Again. We need you to learn to see or at least sense when the binding is done.¡±

    The next few hours were spent like that, the twins having me paint an aetheric signature on countless fruit. By the time they called the practice to a stop, I was tired and cranky, despite having made good progress.

    ¡°Now then, how to spend the rest of the evening?¡± Rel asked as he led us down a hallway within their sanctuary and in the direction of the bedroom.

    ¡°Shower. Sleep.¡± I rubbed one eye with the back of my hand. The pair looked at me, then each other.

    ¡°May we join you?¡±

    That caught me a little off-guard. Noting my look, Rel added, ¡°You don¡¯t seem awake enough to be left to your own devices.¡±

    ¡°And, due to the original purpose of this building, the shower is communal. There¡¯s more than enough space.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t quite think of a reason to decline, so I didn¡¯t. ¡°Sure, why not. It makes more sense than taking turns.¡±

    Rel smirked a little at that, but I decided to ignore it. I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to know what was going on inside his head¡­though I probably knew.

    ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re learning quickly. You must have known how to do this before,¡± Rel remarked as he pulled off his clothes. ¡°Are you still hesitant to bind us?¡±

    ¡°Of course I am.¡± I tugged off my body suit, shivering a little in the cool air. ¡°I¡¯m not confident I can do it correctly and consistently. Besides¡­ What? What are you staring at?¡±

    Jysel¡¯s hands smoothed up my hips and to my waist, sending a storm of intense sensation through me and eliciting a gasp. Startled, I looked down to see a good portion of my torso and upper legs had turned. From the knee down, I¡¯d turned completely.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ it¡¯s a good thing we didn¡¯t start your training until after you played along with the humans¡¯ propaganda nonsense¡­¡± Rel took a step toward me, his hungry gaze taking me in. He reached out to cup my face, a devious smirk pulling at his lips. ¡°Perhaps your training isn¡¯t over for the day after all?¡±

    ¡°What? But I¡ª¡± A soft, involuntary moan cut me off when Jysel¡¯s lips pressed against the right side of my neck, and he pulled me back against his chest. Had part of my throat changed too?

    ¡°Now, now,¡± Rel chastised his twin with a chuckle. ¡°She didn¡¯t agree yet.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­sorry, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Jysel seemed to struggle with himself. I glanced over my shoulder to find he looked like a reprimanded puppy, his glow reflecting his embarrassment.

    ¡°Well, Elara? What will it be?¡± Rel took a step toward us, his torso mere inches from mine. ¡°Will you indulge with us¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­or would you prefer to go to bed?¡± Jysel murmured, his lips brushing against my ear, and his fingers tracing patterns against my hip.

    My answers dried up in my throat, my pulse pounding in my chest. It was surprisingly difficult for me to separate the ¡®shame¡¯ I¡¯d learned from humans. Meanwhile, the Syldrari¡­for them, this was normal. Granted, I did find it a little odd that they reacted in such a way to me while my appearance was still mixed.

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking,¡± Rel murmured, taking my face in his hands. ¡°You know we¡¯re already yours. That we desire you.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re only holding back because you haven¡¯t verbalized what you want¡­even if you¡¯ve made it clear in every other way.¡± Jysel¡¯s hand slid down my stomach but stopped just under my navel. ¡°We won¡¯t do anything without your consent.¡±

    I struggled to find my words. It was true that I wanted them but voicing as much was a little more difficult. Finally, I took a breath to calm my nerves. ¡°You have my consent¡­but what about your consent? Isn¡¯t that supposed to work both ways?¡±

    Rel chuckled. ¡°And that is another reason to adore you added to the list.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to take good care of her¡­¡± Jysel¡¯s tone took a mischievous turn, sliding his hand down between my legs.

    ¡°The shower may not be the best place for this.¡± Rel watched me, a devious smile on his lips as I tried to not react to Jysel¡¯s fingers exploring between my legs. ¡°For what we have in mind¡­yes, I think the bedroom is in order.¡±

    Without further warning, Rel snapped his fingers, and we relocated to the bedroom. Before I could make up my mind about what to do about the two attractive men before me, Jysel shifted to press me back toward the bed until I was sitting on the edge of it. I thought he was going to proffer his dick, but instead he promptly got on his knees and pulled my right leg over his shoulder, burying his face between my legs.

    Jysel¡¯s tongue ran up my slit, its tip tracing delicately around my clit before he nuzzled deeper and took it into his mouth. Gently, at first, which made my leg twitch. Then, he increased the pressure until he managed to get a whimper of pleasure out of me.

    [Forgive his lack of¡­romantic gestures,] Rel commented dryly, taking a seat beside me and drawing my face toward his. I struggled to split my attention between them as Jysel continued lavishing me with attention, his eyes fixed upward to watch for my reactions. [He¡¯s still struggling to reconcile his feelings¡­and that sexual and romantic acts don¡¯t have to be mutually exclusive. Be patient with him.]

    Rel kissed me, his fingers trailing down my jaw, to my throat, then continuing down my body as he broke away. His lips pressed to my earlobe. He traced his fingertips around my breasts, speaking in a whisper, ¡°This time, there will be no interruptions.¡±

    When he got to his feet, he turned to face me and slid his hand into my hair, beginning to guide me toward his cock. A move that caused Jysel to cease activities and snarl as his twin.

    ¡°Rel!¡± Jysel reprimanded, ¡°A queen should never be¡­made¡­made to¡­serve¡­ E-Elara¡ª¡±

    Jysel faltered, turning deep blue as I rolled my tongue over the tip of Rel¡¯s dick and then kissed down its length.

    Rel chuckled. ¡°Elara isn¡¯t bound by such dated ideals. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯ll say this: pleasure should be mutual. And, we have no idea how much experience I have. So¡­ I¡¯m¡­relearning?¡± I eyed Jysel, noting he still looked dumbstruck. ¡°What? What is it?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Just¡­promise me that you will speak up if anyone pushes for an act that makes you uncomfortable?¡± Jysel asked, looking a little lost. ¡°You¡¯re small, and precious, I¡­we wouldn¡¯t want to hurt you. Um¡­¡±

    [Sometimes a kiss says more than words,] Rel remarked dryly, nudging me in the direction of his brother. [We can continue your training after.]

    [And what am I being trained for?]

    [There is no way to truly use your mouth without hurting you. Instead, I¡¯ll teach you what you can do. That includes learning all the correct ¡®spots.¡¯]

    ¡°Jysel,¡± I beckoned, leaning toward him a little. ¡°I trust both of you, together and individually. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have gotten this far.¡± I brought my hands up to his face and leaned in, watching as his eyes flicked between my lips and my stare a few times. ¡°What do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I wish to serve you, worship you and your body. And¡­¡± He struggled a moment, before suddenly closing the distance and pressing his mouth to mine, his hands sliding up my thighs.

    In this case, Rel was right. A kiss could say a lot. For Jysel, it conveyed an intense, burning desire that he¡¯d somehow kept hidden. A genuine hunger for me.

    ¡°Well then, with that settled¡­¡± Rel remarked, an eyebrow raised as he watched Jysel climb back down my torso. Then, he turned his attention to me and gave me a confident smirk. ¡°More training for our most precious person. Give me your hand.¡±

    I obliged him, letting him draw my hand along his shaft, until he pressed my thumb against a stretch of muscle that created a ¡®valley¡¯ part way down the shaft. There, he told me, and similar places, were sensitive regions. Any part of the body that glowed was also sensitive, meaning the glowing nubs along his dick were each points of intense pleasure¡ªor pain¡ªdepending on how they were handled. Finally, he guided my hand to the ¡®knot¡¯ as the base. He described it as an utter weakness. While its functional purpose was not something he wanted to get into because procreation wasn¡¯t our goal, he assured me that it was an excellent place to lavish with attention¡­and a part of Syldran anatomy that I would quite enjoy being on the receiving end of.

    I had my doubts on that last part since it was larger than my fist, but perhaps I was more stretchy than I thought. One way to find out.

    My train of thought was broken when, for a moment, Jysel¡¯s long tongue slid into me and rolled hard against some insanely sensitive patch of flesh. It took me so off-guard that I moved a few inches away from Rel¡¯s dick out of concern I might involuntarily bite. My body seemed to tighten around his tongue, causing the nodules to press firmly into my skin. Jysel¡¯s thumb massaged my clit, pushing me over the edge into an orgasm that left my head spinning.

    ¡°You poor thing. Are you having trouble focusing?¡± Rel inquired with an amused smirk, gathering my hair behind my head in one hand. Once he had a tight grip and was forcing me to look up at him, he glanced at Jysel briefly. ¡°Do that again.¡±

    Just like that, a breathy moan of pleasure escaped me, and my thighs twitched around Jysel¡¯s head. For a moment, I thought I was going to come again¡ªbut he stopped. An evil, evil glint shone in Rel¡¯s eyes as he glanced at Jysel, then back to me, no doubt silently communicating.

    ¡°Well, well¡­with that development, let¡¯s work on your ability to maintain eye contact,¡± Rel purred, guiding my face back to the side of his dick. ¡°Do well enough and I¡¯ll reward your diligence.¡±

    ¡°Cheeky,¡± I grumbled, giving him a defiant glare.

    ¡°Oh? I thought you wanted to get further than this today,¡± Rel remarked innocently, and as if on queue, Jysel¡¯s tongue slid into me again¡ªbut this time, it didn¡¯t withdraw. It began to explore, while he his fingers massaged over my clit.

    Fuck.

    ¡°Focus.¡± Rel¡¯s sweet, commanding tone sent an additional shudder through my body. He met my gaze, sending another twitch through me when I recognized his ravenous, powerful demeanor. ¡°Show me that you want more.¡±

    And, just like that, I resumed lavishing Rel with attention, listening intently for any instructions or sign that I was doing something right. I honestly felt¡­a little small, insecure, like perhaps I wasn¡¯t good enough to be servicing him yet at all. How much ¡®skill¡¯ had I lost with my memories, how long would it take to get it back?

    ¡°Sitaj-ri,¡± Rel murmured his praise, his voice tinged with a shuddering moan. I looked up at him to see he was biting his lower lip, and his back was slightly arched. I ran my tongue over the same spot again, harder, and listened as a proper sound of pleasure escaped him.

    More places like that¡­ I moved my mouth closer to the tip of his dick, my hands tracing over the ridges and bumps as I went. Glowing neon fuchsia liquid had beaded at the tip of his excited, twitching dick.

    The moment I ran my tongue over the tip of his dick, taking the liquid with my tongue, Rel¡¯s expression changed from entranced to something¡­else. His glow turned vibrant neon pink, and Jysel carefully withdrew, taking a seat a little ways down the bed.

    ¡°Stand up,¡± Rel commanded, releasing my hair. When I did as he said, he picked me up by my waist and tossed me a few feet deeper onto the bed, so I was at the center. He approached me, grabbing one of my ankles as his gaze traveled down my nude body and to my damp slit. ¡°I think we¡¯re past due for full indulgence. What do you think¡ªshall I take the first turn?¡±

    Rel pulled my leg around his waist as he moved in, poising his body above mine. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of cloudiness or uncertainty to his gaze. Just desire¡ªdesire he appeared to be reining in just to check again that I was okay with the situation.

    ¡°Rel,¡± I began, sliding my hands up his muscular torso, ¡°I think you know as well as I do that I want you to fuck me. You get the first turn¡­and maybe we can see about working up to you both sharing me at once?¡± I looked over to Jysel, an amused smile spreading across my face when I saw him blushing. ¡°You look lonely over there. If you come closer¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­I will consider it,¡± Jysel murmured, strained.

    Rel gripped me by the chin and made me look at him, before kissing me deeply. I felt his cock probing at my slick entrance and then, in an explosion of intense, mind-numbing, unfamiliar sensation, his dick slid in, the texture rubbing against every part of me in a way I hadn¡¯t imagined possible. I clenched and spasmed around him as he continued to press deeper, losing all coherent thought to the rather unexpected, rolling orgasm.

    When I managed to refocus, I found a rather self-confident Rel smirking down at me while his fingertips traced up my torso.

    ¡°Back with us?¡± Rel mused, flicking one of my nipples. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s try a slightly different position¡­ We had an idea.¡±

    Rel shifted me so I was partially turned onto my side, my left leg pulled over his shoulder. He rested on his knees, stroking the length of my slit with his dick. Yet, he didn¡¯t put it in even when I not-so-subtly tried to wriggle closer.

    An arm pressed into the mattress by my head, drawing my attention to Jysel. His fingers ran along my cheek and then entangled in my hair, drawing me into a surprisingly gentle kiss. When I didn¡¯t try to break away or take control, Jysel let himself become more passionate, his hand loosening from my hair to glide down my body. He slowly massaged my breasts one at a time, his tongue probing at my lips to see if I¡¯d accept deeper intimacy.

    I moaned into Jysel¡¯s mouth as Rel finally slid into me again. When I reached for Jysel¡¯s dick, he tensed at first but didn¡¯t fully recoil. Then, a shudder rippled through him alongside a groan as my fingers blindly explored his shaft, searching for where his weaknesses were.

    If I¡¯d learned anything about the pair, it was to not assume everything was identical. A little notion that was rapidly proven when Jysel rolled onto his back, twitching and moaning, when I took a particular nub between my thumb and forefinger.

    Before I could get any further ideas, the world spun and I found myself suddenly on top of Rel, straddling him as he stared up at me with a playful smirk.

    ¡°Before you start torturing Jysel¡­ Why don¡¯t we see if you can fit two of us?¡±

    Jysel¡¯s arm wrapped around my waist, his face nuzzling into the crook of my next. His breathy voice tickled my ear, ¡°Tell me¡­tell me what I¡¯m allowed to try¡­¡±

    I arched back a little, reaching with one arm so I could cup the side of Jysel¡¯s head on one side while I brought my lips to his earlobe on the other. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try¡­whatever you want? What I want is simply to hear more of you two enjoying¡ª Ahh¡­¡±

    I shuddered as Rel¡¯s dick flexed within me, rubbing against my insides in the best if ways. The sound that escaped me seemed to be a better invitation than my words. Jysel immediately began working his dick into my pussy as well, coaxing it open somehow while his hands cupped my breasts and played with my nipples.

    The pair shifted a few times, until finally Jysel slid in. I nearly collapsed on top of Rel as I tried to process the sensation overload¡ªsomething neither of them seemed to plan on allowing. Jysel moved a hand to my groin to attend to my clit, while Rel managed to sit up enough to explore my breasts with lips and tongue, sucking at one of my nipples as¡ªdear gods¡ªJysel began to slowly rock his hips.

    ¡°Perhaps this is too much too soon?¡± Jysel asked, his breathy voice making me twitch around their cocks.

    ¡°Mmm, with the face she¡¯s making? No,¡± Rel¡¯s lips traveled up my chest and to my neck as the shifted into what felt like some manner of sitting position.

    ¡°Are you struggling?¡±

    ¡°We could always stop¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­or¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­do you want to lose yourself in pleasure?¡±

    ¡°If so¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­let go.¡±

    Their melodic voices alternating from either side, their hands and lips roaming my body, and finally the reverberating command made me do just that. I stopped trying to control myself¡ªwhy had I even tried? I was getting what I wanted, and so were they.

    Ecstasy. Friction. Tongue. I drowned in myriad sensations. The only sounds I could make were those that reflected the pure, delicious onslaught of nigh-unbearable pleasure. There was no point in trying to count my orgasms or theirs. I wasn¡¯t even sure if I was conscious for all of them.

    When I finally started to regain my senses, I found myself laying on my back, the scent of fresh soap filling my nose. Rel was curled up against me to my left, his head on my chest. Jysel was to my right, his head on my stomach and both arms wrapped around my waist.

    My body still tingled from the aftermath of their intensity¡­but I was content. It was¡­right. How we were meant to be. Love, desire, and, most importantly, acceptance.

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-Three

    Chapter Thirty-Three

    To my displeasure, I awoke cold and alone. I felt the mattress around me, confirming that any heat left by my partners was fully dissipated. A quick glance around the room revealed Sal¡¯aphel asleep on an even larger bed. It was richly embroidered and had raised walls around much of it, giving the nyndsh~r a cozy place to nest in. Near him, he had fresh water, and a bowl of food that I suspected Rel or Jysel had made for him.

    Eesh¡­ He¡¯s got better care than most people do. I arched an eyebrow at the spoiled creature, then took a moment to check if any messages had been sent to me while I was asleep.

    Nothing.

    Sighing, I pulled myself out of bed and summoned something sleek and comfortable to wear, gave the sleeping Sal¡¯aphel a few head scratches, then went off in search of the transporter that would take me outside. It didn¡¯t seem¡­normal, for both Jysel and Rel to leave without some sort of message. Not after the night we¡¯d spent together, or the care they¡¯d seemed to take after the fact. An amused giggle escaped me when I thought back to their sleeping faces.

    I had to admit I could get used to the affection and attention they seemed so keen on giving me.

    When I arrived outdoors, I immediately noticed something seemed wrong. There were no civilians in the streets, only V¡¯shir soldiers. One of which who hurried over to me the moment she spotted me.

    ¡°There you are, Thyp-cylk Elara! Thank goodness. Elder Lynir has been waiting for you. Please, this way,¡± she beckoned me, her expression full of concern.

    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked, immediately shifting to a more serious demeanor.

    ¡°Lynir will explain everything,¡± she answered, her voice shaking nearly as much as her hands.

    I nodded and clenched my jaw, hurrying after her and toward a plaza deeper within the Syldrari Sector. Lynir rushed over the moment he spotted me. If it¡¯s so serious, why didn¡¯t they come wake me up?

    ¡°Elara! Thank goodness,¡± Lynir exclaimed, taking both my hands the moment he reached me. ¡°We are out of time. Citomy¡¯s soldiers captured Rel and Jysel last night when they replied to reports of criminals in the city. She is demanding to speak with you and refuses to converse with any of the V¡¯shir Elders.¡±

    For a moment, I thought my heart was going to boil in my chest. I took a steadying breath, forcing myself to remain calm. The last thing they needed was for me to lose control while Citomy had their leaders.

    ¡°Where does she want to talk?¡± I asked levelly.

    ¡°She left a shuttle and an escort to bring you to her ship,¡± Lynir answered, pulling me toward a side street. Once I started following, he let go and dropped his voice. ¡°Like I said, we are out of time. I don¡¯t know where she heard this, but she believes Rel and Jysel have been consorting with a Depthwalker clan. If you don¡¯t do something¡­¡±

    His glow flickered and then turned ¡®off¡¯ for a moment, then he gave me a pointed look. I got the message, though I wasn¡¯t sure why he refused to relay it aloud. Were we being watched, or was speaking of death or execution frowned upon in their culture?

    ¡°I want you and the others to stay here while I meet with Citomy. Prepare the¡­sector? Ship? To make for uncharted space if she turns against us. Prioritize the lives on board,¡± I instructed, causing Lynir¡¯s eyes to widen. ¡°Just a precaution, Lynir. I don¡¯t trust any part of this mess.¡±

    ¡°¡­understood. I am relieved you understand the situation.¡± He bowed the best he could while walking, then side-eyed me. ¡°I recommend something formal. You need to make an impression on Citomy and her allied queens. How about the ensemble I named, ¡®the flower that blooms in the abyss?¡¯¡±

    He winked at me, clearly thinking he was making some clever play on words. I hesitated a moment before deciding to entertain him and, with a quick thought toward my wardrobe module, switched to precisely what he recommended. The opalescent black fabric twisted around my body in shapes reminiscent of kelp and fused with intricately crafted pieces of carved shell that shone a color akin to hematite. The long, flowing cape-thing separated into tendrils of fabric that seemed to flow unnaturally around me, as if I were moving through water and they were an octopod¡¯s appendages.

    ¡°Excellent. If I may¡­?¡± Lynir motioned at my hair.

    ¡°Very well.¡± I nodded, and he ran some device by my head, causing it to be pulled into an ornamented up-do. ¡°Thank you. Anything else?¡±

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Lynir offered. ¡°Be honest and be yourself, but¡­skirt the line. Citomy¡¯s allies are often less tolerant of challenge than she is.¡±

    With that, he led me the rest of the way to the shuttle. To my surprise, the waiting escort practically groveled before me, and insisted on giving me a hand into the craft. Each one wore what appeared to be a ceremonial dress uniform with varying numbers of ornate pins on the front. Once inside, they didn¡¯t sit until I explicitly gave them permission to do so.

    ¡°You serve Jalan-ki Citomy, don¡¯t you?¡± I inquired with a slight frown. ¡°Is it alright for you to show me so much respect?¡±

    The question seemed to surprise them, but the most decorated soldier was the one to answer, ¡°Our orders are to treat all queens with utmost respect. We serve Citomy, but it is our honor to protect her Ar¡¯seri guests.¡±

    Keeping my expression neutral, I quickly searched for the new word, finding it loosely translated to ¡®celestial.¡¯ With that context, I had to assume it was related to the Celestial Houses. Wonderful.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± I murmured, my gaze flicking to the window. ¡°Can you tell me anything about why she wishes to speak with me?¡±

    ¡°She has graciously informed us that she has a new offer for you. We know nothing beyond that.¡±

    Another round of bows, and I decided to keep my mouth shut for the remainder of the flight. The Syldran shuttle reached speeds much faster than any Creshe craft I¡¯d ridden, resulting in us arriving at our destination in mere minutes.

    When the shuttle docked, the soldiers exited first to make certain there were no ¡®threats,¡¯ then escorted me into the cityship proper.

    The entry hallway that encircled the city ¡®hub¡¯ was made of a glass ceiling and walls mounted to a marble-esque half wall and floor. Through the glass, a dome filled to the brim with water contained an impressive city built into what appeared to be a concave ¡®bowl.¡¯ Large stretches of¡­land? Gardens? Filled the spaces between entirely alien buildings. The blue-green metal glistened with the light provided by numerous bioluminescent plants within. Odd little vehicles sped throughout the city, though I also spotted some Syldrari swimming on their own.

    ¡°Jalan-ki Citomy¡¯s residence is there,¡± one of my escorts offered, pointing to a second ¡®bubble¡¯ set toward the back of the ship. ¡°That is where your meeting will be held. If you would please follow us¡­¡±

    We ended up boarding some manner of in-ship transit system akin to a private monorail, which took us directly beneath Citomy¡¯s residence. While I¡¯d expected a palace or castle, or at least a manor, it was instead a second, smaller, city.

    A city for the elite, I was told. It was for Citomy, her spouses, her court, and any chefs, merchants, artists, scientists, or tradesmen that had earned the right to be there. The main city was for the ¡®commonfolk.¡¯

    The notion made my stomach turn. I kept my expression and body language neutral as I followed the escort into a large room with a throne of all things in the back. The throne, however, was empty, as Citomy paced before bound, bloodied, kneeling Lun¡¯iri.

    My Lun¡¯iri¡­and another, who I was surprised to see. Suisuni looked to be in even worse shape.

    Were they tortured¡­ I felt a storm rising within me, ¡­or are these wounds from their hunt?

    ¡°Jalan-ki Citomy, we have brought your guest,¡± the lead soldier announced as he and his fellows promptly dropped to their knees and touched their heads to the floors.

    Nearby, waiting queens turned to glower in my direction. Nearly a dozen of them, and I spotted Xilen in their ranks¡ªthough she appeared preoccupied.

    ¡°Ah, Elara!¡± Citomy promptly twirled to face me, her expression brightening the moment she saw me. Her sons and husband, however, all tensed. ¡°I was worried you might not wish to hear what the mother of these criminals has to say!¡±

    ¡°Criminals¡­?¡± I murmured with concern as she approached me.

    Her eyes widened and she looked to her soldiers, ¡°My! Did no one with Clan V¡¯shir tell her?¡±

    ¡°We do not know, my queen. They refused to linger near our transport,¡± their leader reported.

    ¡°Oh, you poor dear!¡± Citomy slid an arm around my shoulders in a motherly fashion. ¡°You see, we discovered that my idiot sons and imbecile of an ex-husband here were coordinating with a clan of Depthwalkers of all people!¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t quite understand¡­ A ¡®clan¡¯ of Depthwalkers?¡± I frowned deeper, and gave her my best wide-eyed, ¡®I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about¡¯ look. ¡°Forgive me, I¡¯m still trying to catch up on all that I¡¯ve lost. I¡¯ve barely heard mention of ¡®Depthwalkers¡¯ before.¡±

    Citomy blinked at me for a moment. ¡°My¡­ I must apologize, dear. It is a very long story. Depthwalkers were once revered explorers, but they grew mad. They worship a,¡± she paused, her face momentarily twisting with disgust as she spat the next word, ¡°Ter¡¯taswor giving up their life pursuits and lives to follow¡­stories.

    ¡°It was one of them who saved you. That has earned one of them, at least, a merciful death. It is so rare to find Depthwalkers who still know how to respect a queen.¡±

    I swallowed my annoyance for the moment at her choice to use a slur for Ter¡¯suline, for the moment. We had bigger issues to deal with in the present; I would have to punish her behavior later, when it was safe to.

    ¡°I see¡­ Then what is it you wished to speak with me about, Citomy? I imagine it wasn¡¯t quite the Depthwalkers you wished to discuss.¡± I gave her an inquisitive, perplexed glance, doing my best to maintain the image of an innocent, inquisitive amnesiac.

    ¡°How dare you refer to the Jalan-ki by¡ª¡± An unfamiliar queen with brick red skin began to snarl, but Citomy raised a hand.

    ¡°I gave dear Elara permission to call me by name some time ago, fear not,¡± Citomy reassured them with a charming smile. ¡°Given my intentions, it¡¯s only right for her to be familiar with me!¡±

    ¡°And your intentions are¡­?¡± I asked, letting an edge slip into my tone. I didn¡¯t like being yanked around in political games.

    ¡°That is simple!¡± Citomy twirled over to her sons and grabbed them both by their hair, lifting their hung heads. ¡°You will bind my sons to you and your clan, and fix their behavior. Otherwise, I will execute them for treason.¡± She glanced at Suisuni next. ¡°Oh, and you can take this one too. He clearly likes you better than me¡ªah, and I¡¯ve already seen to it that his apology ¡®gift¡¯ to you will be sent to the correct place, as I have gifts of my own to give you.¡±

    She would¡­? I forced my anger down. Kuhir-dal was not an option. Not here, not in this mess. ¡°There is one issue, one I think you would know how to deal with since you¡¯re a queen yourself¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± She tilted her head at me. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the ¡®no¡¯ I expected.¡±

    ¡°I would love to make them mine,¡± I answered, allowing a possessive growl to enter my voice, and watching as Jysel subtly squirmed in response. Rel, by contrast, shot me a deliciously challenging look. ¡°However, I have no clan or fleet, nor the knowledge on how to make either.¡±

    ¡°Is that all? You could have said so sooner!¡± Citomy exclaimed in delight. She turned, clapping her hands twice. ¡°Come, this way¡ªguards, bring them with us.¡± Citomy grasped me by the hand, past her confused elite, and led me out into the hall, practically skipping. ¡°Oh! And don¡¯t worry, dear. There¡¯s no charge. With you taking my sons, it¡¯s like I¡¯m getting the daughter I never had!¡±

    To that, I wasn¡¯t quite sure what to say, and instead made a show of gawking at my surroundings¡ªthat, at least, wasn¡¯t something I had to feign much. It was truly impressive, after all. The palace was covered with stones, fabrics, and other materials I had no name for, materials that were clearly acquired somewhere far beyond Creshe. Many items on pedestals and in frames were so foreign to me, I had no idea if they were instruments, ceremonial tools, or weapons.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I finally asked.

    Citomy beamed, pulling me through an ornate pair of double doors. ¡°Here you are, dear! The instruments for founding your clan are in this room.¡±

    Behind us, guards dragged Rel, Jysel, and Suisuni into the room and forced them to their knees once more. Further behind them, members of Citomy¡¯s entourage looked on with displeased expressions upon their faces.

    Citomy guided me over to a pedestal with intricate sensory instruments atop it and instructed me to place my hands on it. When I did so, heat, followed by a chill, ran through me, every inch of skin vibrating with an unfamiliar sensation. What I could see of my skin through my clothes had all turned blue, but I couldn¡¯t spot any reflective surfaces to confirm the change with. If I wanted to know how far it had spread, I would have to check later.

    ¡°Um¡­ Now what?¡± I inquired.

    ¡°Interface with the directory,¡± she answered with a cheerful smile. ¡°It will help you name your clan, create its mark, and fill in all relevant information.

    Name it¡­? With no input from Rel or Jysel? I looked back at Citomy. ¡°Even though Clan V¡¯shir¡­?¡±

    ¡°It is customary for a clan to receive a new name and crest when it changes hands,¡± Citomy informed me. Behind her, the twins nodded subtly from where they knelt.

    If they¡¯re certain¡­ I took a deep breath, then concentrated on the device in front of me. It whirred to life, speaking rapidly in Syldran, before adjusting to translate its UI visually.

    [Nys¡¯raelyr Elara, identified. Initializing assistance protocols.] The mechanized voice whirred inside my head, popping up several forms that auto-filled with information as I looked at them. With those out of the way, it gave me an option to name my clan.

    I wracked through my brain for what little Syldran I knew, going as far as to bring up what few things I could browse in the language. After several minutes of searching, and many names already being taken by other clans, words that resonated with me came to mind. Sahjara-imlir. A quick search revealed that it was the shortened name of a Syldran hunting poem about the beauty beheld in the cycle of the lives and deaths of Syldra¡¯s most dangerous beasts. The writer spoke of how privileged they felt to be alive to witness such beauty, and to share it and its lessons with their constellation.

    Lastly, it was a promise to their constellation and themselves. A promise to take those lessons, that beauty, and harness it into the power to rise from the depths and conquer.

    [Sahjara-imlir, accepted. Please design a clan mark.]

    That¡­was a little more difficult. The longer I thought, the more I felt as if my consciousness was slipping away from itself. As if my attention was splitting in two, but I was only present for one. When my perception became clear again, I was faced with an accepted clan mark I didn¡¯t remember designing.

    ¡°Ahhh, I knew you were a much better choice than Xilen or those other Iri!¡± Citomy declared, her eyes on the clan name I¡¯d chosen. ¡°All they care for is mercantilism, visual and performing arts, science¡­no one appreciates battle or the hunt anymore!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t claim to know why they think that way. Perhaps¡­they feel there are no new frontiers in the known universe? Hmmm¡­¡± I murmured, pondering it. It did strike me as strange, though Citomy wasn¡¯t quite the individual I wanted to discuss the topic with.

    ¡°Now then, you will take the three of them as your husbands, yes?¡± Citomy prompted.

    Three¡­? I eyed Suisuni, whose gaze remained fixated on the ground. He had the look of a man crushed. I turned to look at Citomy. ¡°May I ask a question?¡±

    ¡°Of course, anything! It¡¯s my pleasure to teach you.¡± She smiled.

    ¡°I barely know Suisuni, I¡¯ve only met him in passing. While I find him an interesting individual, I¡¯m not comfortable with agreeing to take him as a husband,¡± I began, earning a blank stare from Citomy. ¡°While I would be happy to accept him into my clan, rushing into that manner of arrangement with someone who is practically a stranger¡­. I confess, it is a foreign concept to me.¡±

    Citomy raised a hand to her mouth. ¡°Oh my! I didn¡¯t consider that it may be strange to you. Of course, dear. The three of them are yours to do with as you will¡ªso long as you correct their behavior.

    ¡°I would prefer you make Rel and Jysel your first husbands, or at least one of them¡­¡± Citony strode over to the twins, looking between the pair. ¡°They¡¯ve always been so troublesome, tricking people into thinking one is the other, wielding unnatural powers, aging into Lun¡¯iri¡­ I must wonder which one truly threatened Creshe. Jysel was always my favorite, you see. He was always the most obedient. Perhaps Rel threatened the empire while pretending to be his brother¡­? Hmmm¡­¡±

    Their own mother can¡¯t tell them apart? I bristled internally. ¡°Do you want me to bind them now?¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡± She pivoted to shoot me a hollow smile. ¡°Yes, please. Whichever level of bond you wish to grace them with.¡±

    Would a court-level bond first be¡­or¡­ I struggled with myself as I approached them. A spousal bond was tempting, but it seemed like it would be a form of betrayal to do so without their spoken consent. I placed a hand on each of the twins¡¯ heads and closed my eyes. We¡¯re starting somewhere safe. Please play along.

    I concentrated as they taught me, this time with an actual clan to my name. Power hummed around us, then I felt the odd aetheric slide that indicated my task was done. Then, I turned to look at Suisuni. The broken man met my eyes for a fraction of a second, then dropped his gaze to the floor.

    I stewed over what to do with him for a moment. Not only did I sense a resistance toward a deeper bond, but I felt uncomfortable with it as well. There was no need to push either of us unnecessarily. Regardless, I knew he had valuable experience we could draw on¡­once his pain was dealt with. Courtier seemed most appropriate, under such circumstances.

    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Citomy cheered, turning to look at another set of approaching guards. ¡°Escort Elara and her new pets to a shuttle, she has oh-so-much work to do with her new clan! Ah¡­but first¡­ I must ask, are my sons truly so displeasing? I thought you would certainly make them your husbands.¡±

    I shot her my best sadistic smile. ¡°Well, I quite simply need more time to decide the details of their use. I dislike updating things repeatedly. And I figure¡­a few ¡®test runs¡¯ may be in order.¡±

    Citomy grinned. ¡°Of course! One should always do their due diligence and make certain their Lun¡¯iri are good at what they do. I¡¯m sure poor Jysel could use more training. Be hard on him.¡±

    This fucking bitch. I smiled at her, then took my leave. Once outside with the guards and my men, I asked, ¡°Can the three of you walk? I¡¯d prefer you didn¡¯t crawl.¡±

    A soldier bowed to me. ¡°With your permission, we will remove their restraints.¡±

    ¡°Do so.¡± I shot him a chilling glare. I¡¯m glad to see you two as well, but we should maintain appearances until we¡¯re off this fucking ship.

    Rel and Jysel exchanged an unreadable look, then simply did as I suggested without a word.

    When we arrived in the docking bay, a different shuttle awaited us, and Lynir waited with it. He narrowed his eyes at me as we approached, then spotted the state the twins and Suisuni were in.

    ¡°What¡­¡± Lynir gasped.

    ¡°I¡¯ll brief you on the way back,¡± I answered, walking straight up the ramp and into the shuttle. ¡°How did you get clearance to come here?¡±

    ¡°Xilen called me to pick you up. I didn¡¯t think¡­¡± Lynir looked at our passengers worriedly as they plunked into seats. Then, he looked at the V¡¯shir soldiers. ¡°You know what to do. Search them.¡±

    While any listening devices or other shenanigans were destroyed, I rested across from the three of them. I waited until we were breaking atmosphere to begin briefing Lynir on my ¡®visit¡¯ with Citomy, the founding of my clan, and how she¡¯d given me a horrid ultimatum.

    ¡°We¡¯re lucky the clan already likes you¡­¡± Lynir groaned as he guided the shuttle to a landing area in the sector. ¡°I¡¯ll take Suisuni under my wing while you sort out the twins. Is there anything¡ª¡±

    ¡°Nys¡¯raelyr Elara¡­.do you not find me¡­pleasing?¡± Suisuni murmured, pained, his expression lost. ¡°I can be very¡­¡±

    ¡°It has nothing to do with whether you¡¯re ¡®pleasing,¡¯ Suisuni,¡± I stated, stepping toward him. He looked up in response to his name, meeting my gaze in surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t like forcing people into anything. My preference is for you to have the opportunity to be your own person and pursue whatever career path Citomy stole from you. There are matters you can certainly help us with due to your experience with the Celestial Houses, but your mental and physical health are my primary concern. Lynir?¡±

    ¡°Put simply, Elara, their combined fortunes, properties, and belongings are now yours¡­¡± Lynir spoke carefully. ¡°Meaning, you have more than enough sway to make certain anyone in your clan receives proper care, if you so wish it. Anything these three own is yours. Anything they make or discover from now on shall be credited to you, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? Shouldn¡¯t their creations and discoveries be attributed to them?¡± I stared at Lynir in disbelief.

    ¡°No¡­ I can explain it later. Care for these three comes first. Might I leave Rel and Jysel in your care?¡± Lynir frowned at me.

    I nodded in response. ¡°Ah! But first, could you teleport us back to the sanctuary? I don¡¯t know how.¡±

    Lynir tossed me a small device and winked, then gently guided Suisuni away. Rel and Jysel both slumped against me from either side.

    ¡°I need a bath¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­and some food.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-Four

    Chapter Thirty-Four

    The next morning, I found myself pacing about Rel and Jysel¡¯s sanctuary, feeling a little lost. Both because I couldn¡¯t find where I meant to go¡ªperhaps I was feeling a bit distracted after recent events¡ªand because the twins hadn¡¯t said much of anything during or after their bath. The blood hadn¡¯t been theirs, thankfully, but they did have bruising and what appeared to be rope burn marks. A doctor had made short work of those problems, then ordered them to bed for rest. They¡¯d obeyed without fuss, and were still asleep a few rooms over.

    Sal¡¯aphel had taken to following me around, and finally I turned to look at him. ¡°Sal¡¯aphel¡­where is the main room?¡±

    He perked up excitedly and levitated me gently onto his back before prancing down the hall. A few turns later, we entered the large room, and he set me down. After rewarding him with plenty of cheek scratches, I looked around for what I¡¯d come for.

    The prior night, I had been so busy taking care of Rel and Jysel that I¡¯d neglected to check the extent of my change. Now that I was finally awake and a little less nerve wracked, I sought out the large mirror they had set into the wall in the main room.

    What the fuck¡­? I stared at myself, even switching to my underwear to check for sure.

    Yep, every part of me I could see was now blue. I had white freckles here and there, including a smattering of them across my face. Much like my forearms, my body was accentuated by mottled patches of glowing skin in varying sizes.

    My hair remained rich blue, but the underside was now luminous. Likewise, my eyes remained bright yellow¡­but my pupils had fully returned, and my sclerae were black. Much like my hands, the nails on my feet had hardened and become both pointed and iridescent.

    Pointed ears, and a pair of short skin-covered horns that gradated into more glowing skin was the final¡­touch. I wasn¡¯t sure if I wanted to know what else glowed.

    Maybe? I pulled my bra open a bit and eyed my nipples to be safe, then sighed in relief. Good¡­no rave light nipples.

    I resummoned clothes and stretched, feeling much¡­lighter. So light, I wanted to hum to myself while I searched for food for Sal¡¯aphel and I¡­but, remembering how that went last time, I stopped myself. Zafir had been so damned worried the last time he caught me humming, I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to risk whatever the negative outcomes might be.

    ¡°Nothing here either¡­?¡± I grumbled, pulling open another cabinet. All empty. I looked at Sal¡¯aphel, then back the way we¡¯d come. It was tempting to have him go wake his masters¡­but no. I could listen to the TV and work through the documents Lynir had sent me while I waited.

    I needed to familiarize myself with how Clan V¡¯shir functioned and, whenever Rel woke up, make sure he understood I still saw it as his to run. The same was to be said for Jysel¡¯s branch of the clan¡ªif he wanted. There were some other ideas I wanted to look into as well, but those could wait until I had a better understanding of what I¡¯d come to¡­possess. I sighed. While accurate, and something I needed to come to terms with, I disliked the word.

    Frowning, I glanced toward the TV when the sounds shifted to something a bit more¡­panicked, than usual.

    ¡°¡ªdue to the incoming solar shower, Imperator Julien has entered talks with Creshe¡¯s allies to secure safe passage out of the system and relocation to a new one. With mere weeks to finalize this decision, many of Creshe¡¯s citizens are taking the first flight they can book. Others think this rare weather phenomena is a hoax and refuse to leave their homes. More on this developing story after a word from our sponsors.¡±

    I stared at the image of fucking fire hurtling through space, then promptly shot a message off to Lynir. [What in the ever-loving fuck is a solar storm? Do we have time to prepare? How do we prepare?]

    Lynir¡¯s laughter wasn¡¯t quite the answer I expected. [Easy now. It was us who tipped off the Creshe Empire, on your behalf, even if they¡¯re spinning it another way. Our preparations are well under way¡ªyou can focus on those troublesome boys. I¡¯ll let you know if anything requires your direct attention.]

    [Right¡­ Thanks,] I grumbled. Fine. I¡¯ll look it up.

    By the time I was done reading through a few short articles on solar storms and the way they charred systems, my anxiety had skyrocketed. I paced around the room a few times, stopped, then promptly headed back in the vague direction of the bedroom. Sal¡¯aphel trotted after me, and gave me a firm bump when I almost didn¡¯t take the right turn.

    ¡°I feel like I was worked over by a nalzirn¡­¡± Jysel¡¯s groan caught my attention as I walked into the room. I arrived just in time to see him turn onto his side, pat around on the bed, and suddenly realize he had nothing to cuddle. He shot up straight into a sitting position, startled. ¡°Where is Ela¡ª?¡±

    ¡°I was watching TV with Sal¡¯aphel,¡± I spoke up, causing them to both stop what they were doing to look at me. Jysel even went as far to crawl across the mattress, place his hands on Rel¡¯s shoulders, and peer around him at me. ¡°They¡¯re saying something about a solar storm on the news, but Lynir said we¡¯re already preparing. I¡­may have gotten antsy after reading a few articles.

    ¡°Are you two feeling better?¡±

    ¡°I am, he isn¡¯t,¡± Rel answered dryly, before nudging his twin hard enough to cause him to topple over. ¡°Why don¡¯t you say what¡¯s on your mind and get it over with?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Jysel grumbled, pulling a pillow over to hug. He peered at me over it for a moment before asking, ¡°Did I¡­did I not please you, or am I unpleasant? Is that why you only kept us as court members?¡±

    I raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That woman planted seeds of doubt well before you came on board,¡± Rel informed me with a shrug. ¡°She knows how to prey on Jysel¡¯s insecurities.¡±

    ¡°Jysel¡­¡± I sighed, walking over to the edge of the bed and placing my hand on his head, letting my fingers intertwine with his hair. ¡°We¡¯ve only just started ¡®dating,¡¯ if you will. I refuse to make an executive decision and remove all choice of romantic partner from either of you. Furthermore¡­the court level of binding is as high as you two taught me.¡±

    That got a chuckle out of Rel, who promptly pulled me into his lap and away from the sulking Jysel.

    ¡°The three of us need to discuss where to go from here. Sal¡¯aphel, fetch Jysel and bring him.¡± Rel lifted me up with ease and walked out of the room, his gait surprisingly bouncy. ¡°Elara, how are you feeling? Your change was so abrupt, we were worried about you.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°I¡¯m a little overwhelmed. Lynir sent me documentation for Clan V¡¯shir while you two were asleep. I¡¯ve been reading up on it because I don¡¯t want to step on anyone¡¯s toes.¡± I looked at Rel. ¡°Which reminds me. Under other circumstances, I don¡¯t think I would need to clarify, but I intend for you two to continue running your respective branches as you have been, and if that¡¯s what you want to do. I have some things I¡¯ll be looking into in that regard. For now though¡ªmmmph!¡±

    Rel interrupted me with a deep kiss, and didn¡¯t stop until I started tugging at his hair. He smirked, running his tongue over his lips. ¡°Now that I have your attention, Ath¡¯isrin, don¡¯t discuss work before breakfast.¡± He paused long enough to sit me on a stool. ¡°If I need to throw Jysel at you to keep you occupied, I will.¡±

    Rel glided behind the counter with a sly smirk.

    Jysel promptly pouted on my shoulder and looped his arms around my waist. ¡°Elara, you¡¯re sure you don¡¯t find me¡­repulsive?¡±

    For a moment, I considered dragging Jysel onto the counter and fucking him right there just to make a point. A thought they both seemed to sense, seeing as Jysel turned a pretty shade of blue and Rel started chuckling.

    I took a deep breath. ¡°Jysel, if I found you any degree of undesirable, you wouldn¡¯t have had any role with me in the bedroom the other night, and I sure as hell wouldn¡¯t be talking to you. ¡°

    ¡°You¡¯re here, talking to me, because I find you interesting and pleasant to talk to despite our past problems. Citomy is who I find repulsive. Playing along with her plans even a little pisses me off.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­can I have my morning kiss too?¡± Jysel asked hesitantly.

    ¡°Yes?¡± I blinked at him, a little confused by his remaining hesitancy.

    [He wants you to kiss him,] Rel informed me, laughing. [Sometimes that is what it takes to prove a point.]

    Oh for fuck¡¯s sake. I grabbed Jysel by the collar of his shirt and pulled him into a kiss, in which I nipped his lower lip. To my surprise, he lifted me fully out of my seat and pinned me back against the wall, taking over the kiss.

    ¡°You are a strange iri, and an even stranger queen,¡± Jysel stated as he gently lowered me to the ground, breaking into a huge, boyish smile. ¡°But you¡¯re our strange queen.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Damn the circumstances¡ªwe should be celebrating,¡± Rel remarked, shooting us a look. ¡°If you¡¯re done, your tea is waiting.¡±

    ¡°So, are you two willing to tell me about the events leading to you capture?¡± I asked as I reclaimed my seat. When they shot me a questioning look, I explained, ¡°All I know is that you two responded to a report of criminals in the¡­Sector? City? I don¡¯t know what to call this place anymore.¡±

    ¡°Nulan-kyrd. It¡¯s a reference to the name of the lantern carved by a legendary warrior who led his clan into the caves buried within trench walls,¡± Rel informed me cheerfully, a smile spreading across his face. I blinked. Right. That sounded like a name he would pick.

    ¡°So, you responded to criminals in? On? Nulan-kyrd and then¡­something happened, you were captured. Citomy passed on a message and left a shuttle for me. That¡¯s all I know,¡± I finished, flourishing one hand.

    ¡°It was clearly a trap. We aren¡¯t sure how her soldiers arrived, but they were on us within moments of slaying the criminals,¡± Jysel answered, frowning. ¡°We didn¡¯t have the chance to fight back. When I regained consciousness, we were bound in a cell and one of Citomy¡¯s husbands was threatening the three of us with torture.¡±

    ¡°Then we were called to the ¡®throne room¡¯ because you were on your way to the ship,¡± Rel added, nodding as he turned over several slices of sizzling meat. ¡°Citomy lectured us to ¡®not ruin this for her¡¯ and attempted to sow doubt in us regarding your character.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any idea what her interest in me is?¡± I asked, leaning forward.

    ¡°We aren¡¯t entirely sure¡­she kept going on about your potential, and how much you could grow.¡± Jysel rubbed his chin.

    Rel put aside the meat to rest and turned to face us while mixing something in an opaque bowl. ¡°If she wants you to be the ¡®daughter she never had¡¯ it means she wants you to grow to a point where you¡¯re confident enough¡ªor cocky enough¡ªto challenge her for the seat of Jalan-ki. If she has other motives, I¡¯m not sure what they might be. Unless¡­¡±

    ¡°Unless?¡±

    ¡°You think Citomy may know what Elara is?¡° Jysel¡¯s brow creased with worry. ¡°But, that means she could exile Elara on a whim or worse! We¡ª¡±

    ¡°We should question Suisuni¡­though, perhaps first, it would be a good idea to see what needs of his need to be met in the clan, and what he has to offer.¡± Rel slowed to a stop, giving ne an odd look. ¡°I¡¯m not certain what his business was with the Y¡¯serdyn¡ªor if it was another clan he spoke to¡ªbut it¡¯s strange that he would have done so while acting as Citomy¡¯s ¡®lead¡¯ husband. The whispers on the ship claimed he reached out because of you. If that¡¯s true, he may be distraught that his ¡®risk¡¯ didn¡¯t warrant you accepting him into our constellation. You will need to explain your decision again to him most likely.¡±

    ¡®Our¡¯ constellation¡­ I felt heat rise to my face. ¡°Well, about that¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can help ease his mind. He¡¯s been with Citomy for a long time, hasn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°No, about that¡­¡± the twins exchanged a look, then Jysel continued, ¡°She goes through husbands faster than Sal¡¯aphel goes through jighsar. Suisuni has only been with her for half a century, and his appointment to ¡®first husband¡¯ was within the past two years. He is a little younger than Rel and I.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a talented politician. It¡¯s why Citomy got her hooks in him early,¡± Rel added.

    ¡°Which means what in Syldran culture?¡± I asked pointedly.

    Jysel shook his head. ¡°That he loves learning about and understanding cultures, including those of Syldra. He knows how they form, how they grow and change over time, how they can be influenced toward a better outcome, and more. Because of his cultural skills, he also excels at interacting with other clans and forming alliances. I¡¯m not sure Citomy quite understands just what she gave you by giving the three of us to you.¡±

    That just made me more uneasy. Between the three of them, what else did I need to begin running a successful clan? I would have to check and see what else the V¡¯shir Elders were capable of.

    ¡°And, what was this about Citomy possibly ¡®knowing what I am?¡¯¡± I asked, making them both stiffen. Smirking, I added, ¡°What, did you think I was going to let that comment go?¡±

    ¡°You¡­appear to be from a clan of Depthwalkers, and maybe even Abysstouched,¡± Rel began slowly, placing his mixing bowl down and turning to face me fully. ¡°If you are ¡®Abysstouched,¡¯ that means you were born in the abyss and altered by the aetheric difference there. How you would have gone from there to here is what makes us struggle to determine if you¡¯re truly Abysstouched. If the stories we¡¯ve heard are to be believed, it isn¡¯t supposed to be possible to return from the abyss with sound mind and body.¡±

    ¡°We did, however, find proof you¡¯ve been on this planet for a few centuries at least,¡± Jysel murmured, causing me to stare at him aghast. ¡°This planet was home to a clan that raised and trained royal guards. We don¡¯t know exactly what happened to them or how the Creshians came to own this planet, but we do know that your team and Aisu belonged to that clan at one point.¡±

    ¡°And you were planning to tell me this when?¡± I demanded.

    They both pointed at different spots of my body and answered, ¡°Once you changed.¡±

    ¡°Which you have.¡±

    ¡°So, we told you.¡±

    ¡°There are a few things we haven¡¯t told you yet, because we want to confirm that the Creshe Empire is letting go first.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why would they let go?¡±

    ¡°Because their other choice is death. You¡¯re a queen, with a clan, and that means you lead one of the Celestial Houses,¡± Rel answered smugly. ¡°Once it¡¯s safe and we¡¯re certain our friend won¡¯t overreact, we will fill you in.¡±

    ¡°Until then, there¡¯s so much more to discuss¡­¡± Jysel tilted his head as he looked at me. ¡°Would it be helpful for me to compile information on courts for you? I could have Ciheri assist with that.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, have the pups work together to please their mistress,¡± Rel drawled, responding to his brother¡¯s glare with a devious smile.

    ¡°Yes, that would help. I still don¡¯t understand ¡®courts,¡¯ and Ciheri is always looking for a way to help,¡± I interrupted their moment with a dry smile. ¡°Rel, we should figure out how much trouble your clan members are going to be now that you¡¯re¡­¡± I paused, not quite liking the ¡®bound¡¯ term. ¡°¡­hmmm. Now that you¡¯re a member of my court.¡±

    ¡°I would offer an alternative word but, much like Ter¡¯suline, it¡¯s fallen into disuse and for similar reasons,¡± Rel answered as he turned to plate our food. ¡°You¡¯re right, we should make rounds and see how people react. Or¡­hmm, I could open the cafe today¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see to Suisuni first.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave him fretting or feeling abandoned, especially not if she kicked him to the side because of me.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-Five

    Chapter Thirty-Five

    ¡°Good timing, we just finished breakfast,¡± Lynir spoke with a smile as he opened the door of his home. He looked between Rel and Jysel, then to me. ¡°He¡¯s calmed some, but I think it would be best if you spoke with him alone.¡±

    I nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Rel and Jysel did mention on the way here that they had something they needed to do¡­?¡±

    ¡°It can wait until a new escort arrives.¡± Rel crossed his arms.

    Jysel followed suit. ¡°I¡¯m not budging ¡®til Casair and his choice of soldiers get here.¡±

    ¡°Riiight.¡± I shrugged and turned my attention back to Lynir. ¡°Lead the way?¡±

    ¡°Be patient with him.¡± Lynir eyed me as we walked deeper into his home. ¡°He is¡­how should I say this¡­ A street rat who was adopted by another queen and groomed to become heir to the clan. You could say he is what Rel and Jysel would have become if their mother succeeded.¡±

    ¡°Except he likely felt great loyalty to his adoptive mother¡­and perhaps betrayal?¡± I murmured, earning a nod in response. ¡°I¡¯ll be patient, but I can¡¯t claim I¡¯ll be gentle. I¡¯m struggling to balance Syldran honesty with tact.¡±

    Lynir smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    After a moment, I grimaced. ¡°Isn¡¯t he, or rather, wasn¡¯t her husband, though?¡±

    ¡°Ah, forgive me for my lack of clarity.¡± Lynir swiftly shook his head. ¡°I meant to say that he was adopted by a queen other than Citomy. That woman offered Suisuni to Citomy as a¡­gift. Citomy is quite close with several queens in the Celestial Houses, including Suisuni¡¯s adoptive mother. They are all quite¡­¡±

    ¡°Cut from the same cloth?¡± I offered when Lynir hesitated.

    ¡°An apt description, yes.¡± Lynir made a disgusted face. ¡°They all play by the same ¡®rules¡¯ when it comes to raising their offspring. I¡¯ve heard rumors that they all¡ªincluding Citomy¡ªpicked up their awful ways from somewhere else, but I have yet to find from where.¡±

    ¡°And why is that?¡± I prompted with a slight frown. ¡°You¡¯re so resourceful, it¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯ve been left wanting for answers.¡±

    Lynir shot me a half smile. ¡°Most people don¡¯t recall anything about Citomy¡¯s predecessor, nor anything about those who taught her when she was young. Even by our standards she is quite old, and she has outlived most who knew her as a young woman. Likely by design.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± I frowned. ¡°Then, be careful.¡±

    We fell silent as he led me toward a sitting room on the second floor, then led me into the room.  Suisuni looked as though he¡¯d managed some sleep, and his eyes were focused on a data pad until Lynir called his attention.

    The moment Suisani spotted me, his jaw slackened, and he set his data pad aside, rushing to kneel on one knee. Lynir shrugged and made his way out, closing the door behind him.

    ¡°Suisuni, please don¡¯t grovel,¡± I spoke in a calm, level tone and watched as he seemed to struggle to understand my meaning. If even that made him wary of ulterior motives, then we had our work cut out for us.

    ¡°My queen, I¡¯m not certain I heard you correctly¡­¡± Suisuni hesitated, shrinking in place as if expecting to be struck.

    ¡°The only people I would want to grovel before me would be enemies or violent criminals begging for mercy. As far as I¡¯m aware, you¡¯re neither.¡± I watched his head snap up to meet my gaze, his expression one of shock. He promptly rose to his feet, and I smiled, motioning to his seat. ¡°Sit or stand, whichever you¡¯re more comfortable with.¡±

    And with that, I took a seat across from him and waited. Again, he struggled with himself before delicately taking a seat. It seemed to me that he was convinced my words were a trap, and I wasn¡¯t sure how to combat that issue.

    ¡°What is it you wish of me?¡± Suisuni asked after a moment, his perplexed expression finally coming to rest on me. ¡°You neither confirmed nor denied if you find me pleasing, but your answers to me yesterday were truthful. I¡¯m not certain what to think.¡±

    Well, at least he¡¯s being direct. That should help. I nodded faintly. ¡°I was hoping to discuss what it is you would like to do within the clan¡ªif you even wish to stay in it. I¡¯m not familiar with Syldran customs, and that comes with challenges.¡±

    Suisuni looked ready to panic for a moment, but steadied himself and asked, ¡°Do you¡­not want me in your clan because I make you think of Citomy?¡±

    ¡°If I can provide the environment you crave, then I want you to stay¡ªif I can¡¯t offer you what you need, then I would want to help you find someone who can,¡± I answered, meeting his searching gaze. ¡°My concern is making certain anyone within my clan¡ªunder my care¡ªis taken care of and can pursue their interests freely. If people are missing something in their lives, or they simply don¡¯t agree with my methods and/or beliefs, I would want them to go somewhere they can be happier.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Suisuni¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor as he mulled over my words. It took a few minutes before he spoke again, ¡°Then, you should know your binding of me is incomplete. I like what you are saying, but Citomy¡­¡± His expression contorted with worry as he met my gaze again. ¡°Please bind me properly.¡±

    Is he suggesting that she¡­ I searched his face, then resolved to do as he asked. Standing, I quietly approached him and watched as he bowed his head, waiting for me to place my hand on him. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Suisuni whispered, sounding alarmingly frightened.

    I placed my hand on his head, resolved, and concentrated. This time, I felt something shatter before my aetheric signature ¡®slid¡¯ into place and fully marked him as a member of my court.

    ¡°You¡­actually did it.¡± Suisuni looked up, staring at me in disbelief. ¡°You shattered Citomy¡¯s binding. Just who are you?¡±

    I gave him a crooked smile. ¡°That¡¯s one question I don¡¯t have the answer to, because I don¡¯t know either. Now that¡¯s done, you were saying¡­?¡±

    Suisuni clenched his fists in his lap. ¡°Citomy intended for me to act as a spy within your clan. I was to report every little detail of your clan and constellation to her, and search for any sign of Depthwalker or Abysstouched interference. She doesn¡¯t want them halting or stubbing your growth.¡±

    ¡°My growth?¡± I echoed.

    ¡°Jalan-ki Citomy is¡­bored, sadistic, and her sanity is in question,¡± Suisuni began slowly. ¡°She wants more queens to challenge her, and she recognized that you have the potential to offer her a true contest. Her¡­her favorite thing in the universe is killing queens¡ªif they challenge her position, she can do so legally.

    ¡°However, she also wishes for daughters. She is hoping that Rel and Jysel will give you many hatchlings, so that she can¡­take their mother out of the picture and raise them into daughters of her own. We don¡¯t know why she so desperately wants daughters who can become queens¡­but if¡­if¡­¡±

    ¡°You think it may be for more queens to hunt and kill.¡± I grimaced, and he nodded. ¡°Won¡¯t she try to punish you for not reporting?¡±

    ¡°She will have sensed our bond break. She will know I¡¯m no longer under her sway¡ªbut she won¡¯t think I¡¯ve told you anything. You cut through every chain she put on me¡­but only the binding is one she can sense.¡±

    ¡°We should still be cautious. I doubt it will take long for her to realize I¡¯m not like the other queens,¡± I remarked, eyeing Suisuni. He looked reinvigorated; just how much influence had her residual bond exerted? ¡°What is it you would like to do within the clan, Suisuni?¡±

    He blinked at me. ¡°A role¡­ah¡­ If I may be so bold, I believe you will need me. In my capacity as Citomy¡¯s First Husband, I was her political interface with most of the Celestial Houses. Promoting a queen as ¡®new¡¯ as you to a position within the Houses is unheard of¡ªI believe my experience is why she sent me to you.¡±

    ¡°I¡­have a position?¡± I frowned. ¡°Aren¡¯t all queens¡­.?¡±

    ¡°Abyss no!¡± Suisuni exclaimed. ¡°Only queens with clans are eligible. You are, in human terms, a senator but without a system or landmass to your name. If other clans come to you with offers of any kind¡­you are woefully unprepared. I would happily lend my assistance.¡± Then, he hesitated, searching my face, ¡°If I¡­if I may, you said something about following my passions¡­¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± I confirmed with a nod.

    ¡°Then, might I request my ¡®payment¡¯ come in the form of a place, and the equipment, for me to pursue my artistic interests in my free time?¡± Suisuni asked hopefully, tears coming to his eyes, to my surprise. ¡°I¡­ It¡¯s been so long since I last played an instrument, let alone held one or was allowed to own one. I-I¡¯ve kept composing, my neurochip has storage for sheet music at least, but¡­¡± His tears began to fall, but he made no attempt to hide or wipe them. ¡°Please. Even if I may only have one instrument to begin with¡­¡±

    ¡°I will do what I can,¡± I answered with a small smile, though internally I felt an inferno of rage welling up. How could someone forbid him from pursuing his music? Noting his worried expression, I added, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go ask Lynir, Rel, and Jysel together? I don¡¯t know how much room is left here in Nulan-kyrd, or the relevant artisans.¡±

    His eyes brightened, a look of recognition spreading across his face. ¡°Yes, yes of course! I would like the opportunity to explain myself to them personally as well. Rel and Jysel are unlikely to trust me.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re downstairs, shall we?¡± I motioned to the door, and Suisuni nodded. With that decided, I led him down to where the trio was chatting. They looked up questioningly when they noticed us approaching. ¡°Suisuni wants to explain himself personally, and he has a request that you can answer better than I can.¡±

    With that, Suisuni explained the situation with his binding, Citomy¡¯s orders, and the role he wished to take in my court. Lynir handed me a cup of tea while I waited for them to finish rehashing everything.

    ¡°We¡¯ll ¡®interface¡¯ with other parties together,¡± Rel stated, causing Suisuni to shrink back. ¡°I still run Clan V¡¯shir. However, having two politically savvy individuals means we can play off each other and leverage in ways one of us alone could not.

    ¡°As for your requested accommodations, Jysel and I will look for a suitable place later today.¡±

    ¡°I think I can help with equipment,¡± Lynir remarked, tapping his chin with one finger. ¡°Several people within the clan have the necessary skills for building instruments. We can take a look at their work, Suisuni, and see if the quality and aesthetics meet yourneeds. Once we find a craftsman you like, we can arrange trade of goods, services, or i¡¯jahlti¡ªwith Elara¡¯s permission, of course.¡±

    ¡°Run the price by Rel to make certain it¡¯s within reason. I wouldn¡¯t want to accidentally break the bank.¡± I took a sip of my tea before continuing, ¡°What shall I do while you¡¯re all busy? Do you still think I should make some rounds?¡±

    Rel nodded. ¡°We need to determine how soon a formal address is needed. Our polls suggested before that the majority here favor you. How they¡¯re taking this sudden change, however, is another matter. Considering a change and having it thrust upon them are two very different things.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Then, I think we all have our tasks? Ah¡ªand let¡¯s give Suisuni¡¯s neurochip a good looking-over for harmful data. Maybe print out his sheet music first, to be safe?¡± I glanced at the purple Syldrari in question. ¡°That is, if you¡¯re okay with that.¡±

    Suisuni bowed in his seat. ¡°Yes, of course. If my music is made safe first, I will submit to whatever scans and tests you wish.¡±

    Lynir nodded. ¡°That settles it, then. Once Elara¡¯s escort arrives, we¡¯ll all go our separate ways for the afternoon.¡±

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-Six

    Chapter Thirty-Six

    [Rel PoV]

    ¡°You don¡¯t think she¡¯s being too nice to Suisuni?¡± Jysel asked me as we made our way through his hideout. ¡°I sympathize with him too, of course, but¡ª¡±

    I shook my head. ¡°Elara is doing her best to help heal those broken by our society. I don¡¯t think we can¡ªor should¡ªask her to stop trying. Not when it¡¯s one of her unique traits that drew us to her.

    ¡°What we can do, is monitor Suisuni¡¯s behavior and make certain he doesn¡¯t betray us. We can enlist Elara¡¯s ship to help us on that front, I think.¡±

    Jysel crossed his arms loosely over his stomach. ¡°¡­you think we can evacuate this system in time?¡±

    ¡°Several of the outer moons have already been evacuated successfully,¡± I offered. ¡°I checked on our way to Lynir¡¯s. We should have time. What happens to the Creshians is the current question. They still haven¡¯t struck up an agreement yet with anyone.¡±

    ¡°Tch, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to be happy when she realizes this ¡®planet¡¯ isn¡¯t staying,¡± Jysel muttered.

    ¡°Yes¡­but how much of the life in this system is this nursery responsible for?¡± I rubbed my chin, thinking back to the early days of the empire. ¡°Much of the flora and fauna was uncategorized, and we never looked deeply into the geological history of neighboring planets. For all we know, there may not have been life in this system until Elara and her ship were brought to it.¡±

    ¡°You think life may have been imported to sustain the nursery?¡± Jysel slumped. ¡°I¡¯d like to say it¡¯d surprise me¡­¡±

    ¡°Another theory of mine is that Creshe and its powerful ¡®guest¡¯ exerted enough influence to change the system,¡± I answered with a chuckle. ¡°But, it wouldn¡¯t account for the rapid evolution of life.¡±

    [You are bound!] The ship sang cheerfully the moment we stepped into the cavern. [My queen has blessed you! Oh, I am so happy. We will have to hold a celebration when we are free of my nursery!]

    I couldn¡¯t help but smile upon hearing the ship¡¯s jubilation. ¡°We came in hopes of continuing preparations. Plans to free us all from this place are underway now, and Elara has a task for us.¡±

    [A task for us? Please, tell us!]

    As the ship transported us aboard, I proceeded to explain the events of the past day in-depth to the ship. How we came to be bound, my mother¡¯s plans, Elara¡¯s true response, Suisuni¡ªeverything.

    [A home for music? There are several such places built for this purpose within the palace and without. We are more concerned about the clan¡¯s neurochips. We wish to replace everyone¡¯s augments with those of our clan. They are safer. They are more secure.]

    ¡°My clan may not be as large as one run by a queen, but it is still many people¡­¡± I hesitated.

    [We believe replacement parts are necessary for survival. Identified numerous potential breaches in Syldra-made neurochips. Threat Level: High. Reason: Intentional pathways left in design.]

    Intentional? I frowned. Then¡­

    ¡­we were right. We can¡¯t trust technology from Syldra. Citomy likely arranged something. Jysel scowled, his gaze flickering with fierceness I hadn¡¯t seen from him in a long time. ¡°May we see the technologies that were created for Elara¡¯s clan?¡±

    [Only once your parts have been replaced.] Vibrant holograms lit in an arc, following a path that led out into the water-filled city, curving toward an elegant complex of buildings. [This path will take you to where they may be replaced. The process is automated.]

    We exchanged uneasy glances. While it was tempting to free ourselves from Syldra-made components, we knew so little of the ship or the technology¡¯s makers.

    ¡°May we inspect the neurochips first?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re concerned that the Celestial Houses may be able to detect if something is wrong.¡±

    [No. I will not risk theft. The current level of Syldran technology is unknown. I am to remain cautious. You may not board me again until you have upgraded. What is your decision?]

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll do it.¡± Jysel started walking, then passed through the barrier and began to swim. Wait until I¡¯ve finished. If something goes wrong¡­If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    You imbecile. I am not letting you go alone. I followed close behind.

    [Once you have upgraded, I will help with your arrangements to upgrade your clan members. Recommendation: Upgrade the court first. Then, find a reason to have every member undergo medical evaluation.]

    ¡°What of Elara?¡± I asked. ¡°And communication? If security is your concern, the applications we use on Syldra¡­¡±

    [She will be the first upgrade when you return, of course. I have her neurochip waiting in her chambers.]

    The complex the ship guided us to, they explained, was built to be an extensive care and research center for the city, thus its centralized location. Be it for physical ailments, mental ones, aetheric¡ªor simply a place to seek counseling¡ªthere was multiple buildings for it. Our destination was the tallest, longest of the buildings, but when we entered the lift within, it levitated us downward instead of up.

    The domed hallways took us past dozens of rooms meant for research and experimentation, holding equipment built with designs I¡¯d never seen. Vaguely, some appeared reminiscent of what we used in constructing larger cybernetic components, but beyond that I was outside my element.

    Finally, the ship guided us to a room that was fully powered up. A lanky, tentacled construct awaited us within. Rather than the sheen of skin, it was coated in a flexible metal alloy, textured for gripping. Its core was shrouded by a long coat, and its squid-like head rose from the collar. Rather than a face, it had a screen scrolling with Syldran text, and tiny holes for receiving and emitting sound.

    ¡°This design¡­¡± I murmured skeptically. On Syldra, we had steered away from fully automating aspects of life¡ªafter all, one could argue medical care was an artform to be practiced. There were cases throughout history in which many explorers had regretted the decision, but I¡¯d never seen a working robotic specimen.

    [The ¡®Automated Medical Assistant,¡¯ A.M.A., is one of many amphibious constructs in the city. They can fulfill any roles left vacant or needing further attention. Your neurochip replacements will be handled by A.M.A.. Once finished, your Syldra-made chip will be destroyed so no information may be retrieved. Ter¡¯suline Jysel, you said you wish to go first?]

    The robotic squid-person flourished a tentacle toward the nearby examination table. ¡°Please lie on the table when ready. I will run a full diagnostic of your neurochip before we proceed.¡±

    ¡°This¡­will not be the same as resleeving, will it?¡± I murmured. While a useful tool in extreme circumstances, we preferred our natural-born bodies.

    [No. While Elara¡¯s allies do not fear such procedures, they are not commonplace. We do have the necessary facilities for use when such need arises,] the ship answered after a moment. [This, however, will be as simple as upgrading from an older device to a new one. Syldra technologies appear¡­lackluster. Why has their growth stunted?]

    Lackluster? I eyed my surroundings. While it was true the aesthetic designs were different, and I couldn¡¯t recognize many of the present tools, that wasn¡¯t enough to tell me that Syldra tech was lesser. ¡°Can you explain to me why you consider Syldra tech to be insufficient?¡±

    [The technological level of your neurochips is¡­dated. Fleets belonging to Elara¡¯s allies were at this level over a thousand years ago, when they had yet to discover this system.]

    ¡°Then why is Elara¡¯s underarmor so outdated?¡± I asked in disbelief.

    There was a faint murring sound, followed by a rather obvious answer [Elara¡¯s suit is from the clan that was here last. She never had the opportunity to receive her armory module from my stores.]

    I looked at my brother worriedly when the robot moved toward him. I knew precisely what Jysel was doing. He wanted to take any potential fall if there was one, so the clan would still have me as a leader because he felt inferior. If there was no fall to be had, he would feel as if he¡¯d proved his worth¡­but it wouldn¡¯t last. Whatever manner of validation it was that Jysel needed, it wasn¡¯t something I could give him.

    Elara, perhaps¡­ I wondered, feeling my pulse quicken as her true form flickered through my mind. Even as a human I¡¯d found her beautiful, much to my surprise, but she was radiant now that she had returned to her Syldrari self. It seemed as if she didn¡¯t even notice the way in which it had changed her mood and demeanor.

    I shook my head faintly and refocused on the tentacled robot as it worked. The procedure took mere minutes, and once finished the robot turned to offer Jysel a small vial.

    ¡°Your former chip is here, what is your preferred method of destruction?¡± It asked.

    Jysel blinked at the vial, his pupils shifting in size as he attempted to see the microscopic technology. ¡°I¡­ What is the most thorough method?¡±

    ¡°On the premises we have a powerful acid that can dissolve it. That would be the most secure disposal method.¡±

    [Under normal circumstances we could repurpose the parts,] the ship offered. [In this case, destruction seems wiser.]

    ¡°Please dispose of it via acid, then,¡± Jysel answered, carefully sliding off the table. He rubbed at his head where the tiny tool had swapped his chips. I don¡¯t feel any different¡­

    A blessing, surely, I answered uneasily, taking a step toward the table when the robot motioned.

    The incision made was so small that, as with the thousands of times I¡¯d upgraded my chip before, I felt nothing. There was just the sound of the robot¡¯s movements, and my brother fidgeting.

    When finished, I opted for acid disposal as well and then joined Jysel. The robot thanked us for our patience, then the ship guided us off into the city again.

    [The chips you have been outfitted with are for members of the court and constellation. I will show you to the storage for each relevant type, then to our queen¡¯s quarters so you may get hers.

    [She will need her upgrade before the rest of her people. I took a calculated risk in trusting you. Please do not make me regret it.]

    ¡°We won¡¯t,¡± I promised. ¡°What of your sleeving capabilities? We have allies, human allies, who wish to truly join us. Will they be relegated to synths, or¡­¡±

    [I will make a hospitable compartment for them so they may board as humans. The rest may be decided when we are free of this system.]

    ¡°But what of their chips? They¡ª¡±

    [Human threat level: low. Creshe Empire threat: ¡­suspicious? Recommendation: Replace their neurochips. Transfer to new bodies when ready.

    [Are you done? Then hurry! I wish to help protect my queen!]

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-Seven

    Chapter Thirty-Seven

    I looked up in surprise when Rel and Jysel walked into the cafe. With them, they carried a crate of dark blue-grey metal. Behind, Suisuni, Lynir, and Zafir followed.

    ¡°Where have you to been?!¡± I exclaimed, promptly moving over to block their path. ¡°My neurochip was saying your chips had been destroyed! Casair said that, were that true, I would have felt¡ª¡±

    ¡°Deep breaths.¡± Rel smiled, motioning in the direction of the crate with his head. ¡°This is heavy. Let¡¯s discuss this, and what needs to be done, in the sanctuary. Casair, Ciheri, Aldiner, you¡¯re coming as well.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re both alright?¡± I asked, looking between the twins, watching as Rel¡¯s smile turned into a smirk, and Jysel flushed a pretty shade of deep blue.

    ¡°We¡¯re more than fine.¡±

    ¡°Talk can wait. Let¡¯s get into the sanctuary.¡±

    With that, we were all promptly shooed to a cargo transporter and taken back to the sanctuary. There, Rel and Jysel set the crate on a table in the main living room before stretching out.

    ¡°Elara, do you trust us?¡± Rel looked over to me, his expression and glow both unreadable.

    ¡°Yes? Why?¡± I raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Because we need to remove and replace your neurochip.¡± Rel slid the crate open and withdrew a rather ornate box from within. ¡°More accurately, we need to replace everyone¡¯s chips. However, for structural reasons, we need to begin with you.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­and why is this?¡± I asked, frowning. ¡°My chip is already Syldran, isn¡¯t it? In which case, what are¡ª¡±

    Rel and Jysel exchanged uneasy glances, but it was Jysel who spoke, ¡°Elara¡­ We appreciate that you¡¯re curious. However, we need you to trust that it isn¡¯t safe to discuss it yet. The soonest possible time would be once everyone¡¯s chips have been upgraded. But¡­¡±

    Rel continued, ¡°We aren¡¯t sure what the repercussions for telling you will be. Among other things, we want to be cautious because you don¡¯t have full control over your power. If you feel any extreme emotion¡ª¡±

    ¡°Right. Because somehow whatever it is you can¡¯t tell me is more emotional or exciting than having you two lavishing me with attention until I pass out.¡± I crossed my arms and refused to budge, narrowing my eyes at the twins.

    Casair snorted, a lopsided grin spreading across his face. ¡°She¡¯s got a point.¡±

    ¡°We still can¡¯t discuss it here until everyone¡¯s chip has been replaced.¡± Rel shook his head, his gaze firm.

    Ciheri stepped over to me and pulled at my left arm, a pleading expression on his face. ¡°Elara, I agree with them. It¡¯s too big a risk. We need to guarantee everyone¡¯s safety and privacy first.¡±

    Privacy¡­? I stared at Ciheri for a moment. His expression changed from pleading to hopeful, his gaze flicking from my face to the box and back a few times. A matter of security, neurochips, privacy¡­

    It took me a moment, then I looked at the twins again. ¡°¡®Clan security¡¯ reasons?¡±

    ¡°In short, yes.¡± Rel nodded.

    Jysel extended a hand to me. ¡°Please¡­ You said you trust us.¡±

    And it was true. I did trust them. But where had they so suddenly procured the tech from, and in such quantities? Finally, I sighed and walked toward them, taking Jysel¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll comply. My only stipulation is that you fill me in once those here have received their upgrades.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Jysel¡¯s gaze dropped to the floor.

    ¡°A fair suggestion,¡± Zafir spoke up pointedly. ¡°She is, officially, no longer in service of the Creshe Empire and she¡¯s already fully changed. There is no ¡®furthering her transformation along.¡¯ The only risks I see are accidental triggering of kuhir-dal or perhaps an emotional discharge.¡±

    Jysel pulled me away from Rel and into a tight hug, resting his chin on top of my head and rubbing his cheek against one of my horns. ¡°We¡¯ll tell you. But, we need you to be calm and level.¡±

    ¡°The concern isn¡¯t your elemental powers, it¡¯s your Nys¡¯raelyr ones,¡± Rel offered. ¡°Jysel, I can¡¯t replace her chip when you¡¯re holding her like that. Cuddle Sal¡¯aphel if you must.¡±

    Instead, Jysel led me over to the table and kept his arms around my waist. He sunk down, peering over my shoulder at his twin. Rel flicked one of Jysel¡¯s horns before levitating me right out of his twin¡¯s grip and sitting me on the edge of the table.

    ¡°Will it help if I talk you through what I¡¯m doing?¡± Rel asked, stepping in front of me, his body shifting briefly to nudge between my knees.

    ¡°If we¡¯re replacing everyone¡¯s chip, that means we need more people involved, right? Then, I should know how it works.¡± I nodded.

    ¡°For cultural reasons, you will not be helping upgrade citizens¡¯ chips,¡± Rel informed me as he slid his fingers along the ornate box and pulled off the lid. Inside was a seemingly empty dish and some manner of long tool. ¡°The neurochip is too small to see, but it is in the dish. The tool next to it will be used to first extract your existing chip, then to ¡®inject¡¯ the new one.

    ¡°The incision is so small that you won¡¯t feel it. Both flesh and bone will recover quickly, even without the use of healing arts. Jysel, if you would¡­?¡±

    Rel motioned toward the crate on the table, eliciting a grumble from his twin. Then, Jysel withdrew a piece of metal that looked vaguely like a pyramid. It opened soundlessly, a sphere floating out of it to hover above his other hand.

    ¡°With this, we¡¯ll back up any information necessary from your chip and reupload it to the new one,¡± Jysel offered as I eyed the strange device. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­like upgrading those primitive communicators some of the humans still use.¡±

    ¡°Except in my head,¡± I pointed out dryly, before looking to Rel. ¡°Well? anything else I should know?¡±

    ¡°Only that your neurochip is a bit¡­different. It is designed for a queen. There will likely be some differences between yours and mine. These chips are different per rank within the clan¡­and as such, we need to discuss the matter of your court. Soon. Preferably after we finish changing everyone¡¯s chips and destroying the old¡­ones¡­¡±

    Rel twitched as I traced my fingertips down his chest, abdomen, then over the front of his pants, just firmly enough to feel the outline of his slit. I gave him a playful smile. ¡°I¡¯m waiting. Do I need to lay back?¡±

    ¡°Behave. This may be a simple procedure, but it is delicate,¡± Rel chastised me. ¡°Lie on your stomach.¡±

    I did as he asked, crossing my arms to provide myself with a place to rest my chin. First, Jysel used the floating sphere to do a scan of my chip, causing the device to orbit my head for a few minutes. Then, he stepped away and allowed Rel to get to work. Rel brushed aside my hair, and pressed the cold, cylindrical device against the nape of my neck, working upward. A high hum filled the air as he stopped partway up the back of my head.

    A moment later, he reached over my shoulder with one hand to set a tiny, sealed vial on the table. Then, I heard the faint flick of something being loaded. In mere seconds, he removed the device from my head entirely and stepped away.

    Syldran text flooded my vision for a moment, before fading away to reveal the clan symbol and name I had chosen. Then, that too faded away¡­and some¡­person? Creature? Popped over the edge of the table to peer at me.

    [Excellent!] The semi-synthetic, androgynous voice filled my head. [I¡¯m so glad there were no complications! You can think of me as your¡­ Friend! And assistant. I¡¯ll help with anything I can!]

    ¡°Elara?¡± Rel waved a hand in front of my face. I looked at him, then back to the excited, smiling creature.

    Looking back to Rel, I asked, ¡°You mean to tell me you can¡¯t see¡­¡± Pausing, I looked to the happy creature. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    Rel frowned, perplexed, glancing from me to the vague area I was looking.

    [I do not have one yet. I will only accept a name from you, my queen!] They squealed in excitement ant stepped closer, their fists clutched under their chin. [Only those with chips for Ter¡¯suline or Ter¡¯subyx can see me! Rel and Jysel have Rilini chips for now.]

    ¡°See¡­what?¡± Rel frowned at me. ¡°Describe it.¡±

    ¡°Um¡­¡± I reached out, putting my hand level with where the thing¡¯s head was. ¡°They¡¯re about this tall, humanoid¡­their skin and head adornments kind of look like they belong to some kind of ray, and their tendrils are tipped in glowy orbs. Their light seems to change like ours.

    ¡°Their eyes are like ours but their irises glow and shift like their other glowy parts. And, they seem like they¡¯re walking on a starfield.¡±

    ¡°Of course¡­¡± Rel sighed and pressed his fingers to his temples. ¡°Elara, you can communicate with them via your chip but please don¡¯t pry too deeply until we¡¯ve finished upgrading the chips.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Rel levitated me off the table, then shooed me over to a nearby sofa. The ray-creature-person followed along, skipping the whole way.

    [My species only has one sex. You may name me as you wish. Please try to make it something nice. Perhaps poetic?] Their tendrils waved in excitement as they spoke, appearing to perch on the table in front of me.

    [I mean no offense but¡­what are you? Naming you without having any idea what to expect seems wrong.] I peered at the odd being.

    [I am¡­ Ah! I belong to a species of intelligent, sentient, nomadic, space-faring fauna!] The string of descriptors they spit out made me stare at them in disbelief. [The form you see now is an avatar created for me so that I could interact with and understand you and your clan better. You could say that space is my species¡¯ ocean.]

    [What do you want to be called? Surely you have a name already?] I asked.

    [I do, but can you refer to me as this?] They made a long series of sounds reminiscent of a whale, yet more layered and complex. The sound was hauntingly beautiful.

    [No¡­no I cannot.]

    [Then please give me a Syldran name to use when working with you and your clan.] They smiled at me.

    After a few minutes of stewing on my thoughts, I offered, [Liir¡¯sryn?]

    Their eyes and parts of their body shimmered bright, yellow-green as an odd half-warbling, half-crooning sound emitted from them. [Yes! Yes! Liir¡¯sryn! I am Liir¡¯sryn!]

    ¡°What are you giggling about now?¡± Jysel leaned over the back of the couch to look down at me, bringing my attention to the fact that everyone appeared to be staring at me in confusion.

    ¡°Ah¡­ Liir¡¯sryn likes their name. A lot,¡± I answered with a smile, earning a disbelieving stare in response.

    ¡°You named them already?¡±

    Rel laughed. ¡°It¡¯s a good name, with both good message and meaning. Perhaps we should have Elara read the full tale the name comes from?¡±

    Jysel glanced away. ¡°Or I could read it to her¡­¡±

    [Read it to us both!] Liir¡¯sryn exclaimed.

    I tilted my head back to look at Jysel again, ¡°Liir¡¯sryn wants you to read it to us both.¡±

    That caused him to flush so dark I had to wonder if I¡¯d said something strange, he managed a quick, ¡°A-after my duties are over, I¡¯d be happy to¡­if you want to¡­¡±

    ¡°Sit tight, Elara. We will be finished soon. Then, I will answer your questions¡ªand bring Suisuni up to speed as well.¡± Rel paused, hand on the crate. He waited for a long moment, but never lifted his hand to pull another set of equipment from the container. Instead, he looked at me again, a sheepish smile on his lips. ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ We can¡¯t proceed until we¡¯ve discussed your Nys¡¯tarene. If the rest of you could give us some privacy¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep them occupied,¡± Jysel offered, motioning to the group of men. ¡°This way.¡±

    I watched them file out, then turned my attention to Rel. He walked along the table, trailing his fingertips along the smooth edge of the crate. When he came to a stop, he returned the lid to the crate and locked it before moving to join me on the sofa.

    ¡°Your court¡­we need to discuss who will be a member of it,¡± Rel informed me, his voice level. ¡°And it shouldn¡¯t be confused with your constellation. Members of the constellation aren¡¯t always suited to being courtiers.¡±

    ¡°What are the roles of court members?¡±

    He released a heavy sigh and sunk back into the sofa. ¡°Far too varied¡­ Advisors for many matters¡ªsuch as finance and war¡ªare important, and commonplace. Beyond that, clans tend to be more¡­specialized, in their design.

    ¡°But you, Elara¡­ I sense that you wish to treat this differently. As if you are constructing your own galactic power.¡±

    I considered it for a moment, watching as Liir¡¯sryn peered at a sculpture across the room. Finally, I looked to Rel with my answer. ¡°Creating a specialized clan sounds like a surefire way to become just another Celestial House that won¡¯t grow or become a power to incite change, let alone challenge Citomy. You want my honest, blunt expression of what I want to do with this clan, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Not just as a matter of trust¡­but because we may need to offer the V¡¯shir the ability to leave.¡± Rel nodded at me, searching my face. ¡°You are always asking what we want¡ªyou have yet to tell any of us what you want.¡±

    I smiled a little at that. ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell you about my intentions for Sahjara-imlir. I intend to treat this clan¡ªor grouping of clans, however large it becomes¡ªas its own country or empire. We need to be self-sufficient, as well as capable and ready to provide for our people.

    ¡°If, for some reason, Syldra turns on us, I have every intention of seeking out some area of space that we can call our own and establish ourselves independently of Syldra. There¡¯s only so much I¡¯m willing to tolerate from Citomy and the Celestial Houses.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of them?¡± Rel asked softly.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather die free than return to a cage,¡± I answered, narrowing my eyes and leaning toward him. ¡°Nor will I see any of you thrown into cages. Whether it takes ten years or ten thousand, I intend to take Syldra from Citomy. Preferably before she ruins it beyond saving.¡±

    Rel lifted a hand to cup my face, his fingers gliding along my cheek, his expression full of adoration. When he spoke, his voice was a soft whisper, ¡°And I am more than willing to stand by you in your endeavors. All of them. Whatever support I can lend you¡ªeven if it¡¯s merely emotional¡ªI give it freely.¡±

    I hesitated, not entirely sure what was an appropriate way to reciprocate his touch. After consideration, I shifted so that I could close the distance and tuck myself against his side, resting my hand on his thigh. The gesture seemed to surprise him briefly, but he was quick to put his arm around me.

    ¡°With that settled¡­um¡­ You were saying? About courts?¡± I murmured, feeling heat rising to my face. Touch was far easier to reciprocate than his words. Especially when his words were in reaction to what I said. I didn¡¯t know if I needed to¡­dive deeper.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± Rel kissed the top of my head, chuckling. ¡°As for your court, we will need many advisors. I would recommend bringing on the V¡¯shir Elders to help fill some of these roles. Casair would make an excellent military advisor¡­but¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡± I echoed.

    ¡°He is a bit¡­taken with you, and with the idea of serving you as closely as he has served us,¡± Rel answered slowly. ¡°As such¡­ I would recommend that, instead, you put him in charge of the royal guard. I will have to do some research and find the proper name, but it used to be common practice for Nys¡¯raelyr and Ter¡¯suline to have a dedicated private military, separate from the clan¡¯s much larger force.

    ¡°We should consider training a proper royal guard, and I believe your existing royal guards will wish to test Casair, but I know he can do this.¡±

    I nodded in agreement. ¡°Mhm. Who else?¡±

    ¡°Suisuni and I for socio-political advisory¡­ Jysel for military or war advisory. I recommend both Zafir and Ciheri for positions as researchers. Their focuses are different, but I believe they would work well in tandem.¡±

    I raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°Even though Ciheri and Suisuni are such ¡®new¡¯ additions to the clan?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m confident in their abilities. Lynir, of course, is an Elder and has expressed interest in being your ¡®court tailor¡¯ as well. That leaves¡­ Aldiner.¡± Rel tapped his fingers against his leg. ¡°If you had asked me a few months ago about Aldiner as a potential courtier, I would have laughed. But now¡­ I can¡¯t deny he¡¯s proved himself to be quite stealthy. I wouldn¡¯t recommend him as the master of espionage¡­. If he were to serve as your personal spy, however, you can get away with so much more.

    ¡°I think that will suffice for the moment. We can grow your Nys-tarene as necessary the more time progresses.¡± Rel started to stand, but I tightened my grip and pressed him back into the couch, shifting so I had him pinned. ¡°Elara, we need¡­¡±

    He trailed off as I pressed my finger against his lips.

    ¡°I want to know where you got all of this, Rel,¡± I kept my voice low. ¡°And what are we doing with the old chips?¡±

    [Destroying them. They¡¯re insecure due to deliberate weaknesses left in place. We believe¡­] Rel twitched, back arching and his breath catching in his throat as I traced my finger over one of his nipples. He gave me a disgruntled glare, a light flush in his cheeks. [Stop that. We have work to focus on.]

    [As you were saying?] I asked sweetly.

    [Our new chips are¡­how should I say this¡­ Liir¡¯sryn? Are you listening?] Rel¡¯s call made the creature¡¯s tendrils twitch, before they darted over to peer at Rel.

    [You may speak with me this time!] Liir¡¯sryn declared, giving me the impression that the creature had some manner of control or influence over our chips. A little fact I wasn¡¯t certain how to feel about. [Can I tell her? Pleeeease?]

    Rel sighed heavily, resting his forearm over his eyes. [This is not a good idea¡­but fine. We can only dance around the topic for so long.]

    [Elara, you and I came to this place together,] Liir¡¯sryn stated, turning to peer up at me with hopeful eyes. [Creshe is my nursery! It was built to grow me. Mean people came later and thought it was a planet for the taking. You entrusted me with protecting you and storing your memories.]

    I stared a Liir¡¯sryn in disbelief. [If that¡¯s true¡­then¡­ Forgive my indelicacy, but what are you?]

    [A living ship, grown around a city designed specifically for you,] Rel answered while Liir¡¯sryn looked around bashfully. [Jysel¡¯s team uncovered the entrance to where they¡¯re being kept, and Ciheri uncovered the key to entering. We were¡­stunned, to say the least. Living ships are¡ª]

    [Let me speak!] Liir¡¯sryn chastised. [I haven¡¯t spoken with Elara in so long! What I am, is a species from the ¡®Abyss.¡¯ You and I were born there. My kind and some of yours have a mutual agreement for survival.]

    Rel seemed to freeze in place for a moment, his jaw loosening ever-so-slightly, his eyes widening, irises ticking back and forth as if trying to process what he¡¯d just learned. ¡°I suspected¡­but¡­confirmation¡­¡±

    [We chose each other as symbiotic partners. Things¡­things I don¡¯t want to talk about happened. We ended up here, far from our home. I¡¯ve been growing inside Creshe and protecting you in what ways I can¡­]

    Rel shook off his stupor, his demeanor returning to once of intense solemnity. [They have everything we need to safely cut ourselves off from Syldra¡¯s prying ears¡­but we have to be careful. Living ships are highly sought after. Even Citomy doesn¡¯t have one¡ªthough she has ruined several by attempting to ¡®hack¡¯ their systems.]

    I looked between them. [Then¡­ How are we going to hide and protect Liir¡¯sryn?]

    [I am superior in design!] Liir¡¯sryn protested. [But¡­hiding me is difficult, yes. Um¡­ That is part of why the Y¡¯serdyn called for a plasma storm. When I break free, most life in this system will be destroyed if not evacuated. I can hide long enough in the interference to restore my aether and cloak my presence. Syldran technology is¡­stagnated. They haven¡¯t even noticed my scans yet.]

    [Scans? You¡¯re supposed to be careful¡­] Rel warned.

    [I scanned your ship when you arrived too. You didn¡¯t notice.]

    [Hold on. I¡¯m still stuck on the living ship part.] I rubbed my temples. [You¡¯re telling me¡­ A lot. That¡¯s a lot. And, Rel, you¡¯re trusting that this technology¡ªsupposedly designed for me¡ªis superior and more secure than Syldran tech?]

    [Yes. It¡¯s hard for me to explain to you, but¡­ If you think Syldran tech is more advanced than Creshian tech, we are looking at a much larger gap between your tech and Syldran tech.] Rel levitated me off his lap and got to his feet, then motioned toward the crate. [There are similarities of course, but some of the things I¡¯ve seen are well beyond what Syldra¡¯s self-imposed confines allow. I believe Liir¡¯sryn when they say their neurochips are much safer.]

    [I¡­ I can prove it if I must¡­] Liir¡¯sryn sniffled, shoulders slumping.

    [Wha¡ª No, no, don¡¯t cry!] I exclaimed alarmed. Instinctively, I tried to reach out, but my hand went through the vision¡¯s shoulder. Liir¡¯sryn clutched their fists against their chest and peered up at me with watery eyes. [I just want to be sure everyone is safe, and this is¡­a lot of information to process. There are so many implications. If you and I are from the ¡®Abyss¡¯ and not here¡­]

    [They said you were stolen and the retrieval failed,] Rel offered gently. [What we don¡¯t know, is if their nursery was built by friend or¡ª]

    [Friend!] Liir¡¯sryn nodded rapidly. [They made a safe place for us and built my nursery. Later clans couldn¡¯t figure out how to interfere. Sealed me inside instead.]

    [We should finish our business here,] Rel reminded us. [I want the clan upgraded before we evacuate, and we will already have to cut it close if we¡¯re watching to make certain all life is evacuated from the system first.]

    Rel strode off in the direction Jysel had taken the others, and I looked back to Liir¡¯sryn.

    [We can fly soon!] They exclaimed excitedly. [It¡¯s been so long since we last flew! When we came here, I was small enough to fit in your room. Oh, I¡¯m so excited!]

    Liir¡¯sryn twirled around the room, their avatar phasing through furniture.

    [Ah, one last thing, Elara¡­] Rel called. [Do you agree with my suggestions for your court?]

    [Oh, yes,] I answered distractedly. [I¡¯m not entirely convinced about Aldiner, but I assume you want him to act as our eyes on the people and our connection to the Y¡¯serdyn.]

    [You are correct,] Rel answered. [You will need to bind each of them before I change their chips. We will be here for a while.]

    [Okay¡­] I sighed. How tedious.

 [B2] Chapter Thirty-Eight

    Chapter Thirty-Eight

    When everyone returned, V¡¯shir elders in tow, it took all my self-control to keep myself from sighing in aggravation. Each and every one that I hadn¡¯t bound knelt, lowering their heads. I wanted them to stand tall and proud, not prostrate themselves before me.

    ¡°Must you do that?¡± I asked, rising to my feet.

    ¡°You deserve our respect,¡± Casair answered flatly, looking up to meet my eyes in fiery challenge. ¡°Not like you can reach our heads if we don¡¯t kneel anyway. Well, unless you jump.¡±

    That got a twitch out of me. ¡°Not all of you are that much taller than me¡­¡±

    Ciheri raised his head to peek at me, his expression sheepish and his face flushed. ¡°Elara¡­we would feel like we¡¯re mistreating you if we didn¡¯t show respect while you bind us to your clan. Since we can¡¯t hold a ceremony, the least we can do is treat you well.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­oh.¡± I stared at the pastel-haired Syldrari. ¡°¡­that¡¯s how you think of it?¡±

    ¡°Why else do you think even I¡¯m kneeling like this?¡± Aldiner piped up with a grin.

    ¡°This is an exciting time,¡± Lynir offered, giving me a knowing smile as I tried to stifle my embarrassment. ¡°Finally, we can be recognized as a real and valid clan. No longer will Rel or Jysel receive constant threats of being married off to iri who are strangers to them.

    ¡°Even those of us who don¡¯t wish to some day join your constellation are immensely grateful. You¡¯ve given us hope that there are good queens left, and that our species can still change its course.¡±

    Oh, damn it, I don¡¯t want all this praise. I haven¡¯t even done anything yet! I fidgeted with one of my sleeves. ¡°Fine, fine. Then, there won¡¯t be any objections if I start? Um¡­where to begin¡­¡±

    Rel shot me a devious smile as he placed a forearm on Jysel¡¯s shoulder. He murmured something to his twin, then said to me, ¡°Why don¡¯t you begin with the V¡¯shir elders first? They have work to do, while Jysel and I have work for the others.¡±

    Lynir laughed at that. ¡°Oh yes, so much work. Really. A solar storm, rewriting trade agreements, combing through extensive lists of ship designs¡­¡±

    ¡°None of which you have to worry about, because you¡¯re a tailor,¡± Rel pointed out. ¡°Elara, don¡¯t you start putting off work as well.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± I obliged them, binding each of the existing V¡¯shir elders to my court in turn. They were so focused on returning to their work that all I got from each of them was their name and a brief thank you. Rel and Jysel swiftly replaced their neurochips, dissolving the old ones in a vial of what I assume to be caustic liquid. Then, the elders-made-courtiers left.

    ¡°See? That wasn¡¯t so terrible now, was it?¡± Lynir laughed before walking over to Rel. ¡°You had something to show me, didn¡¯t you? When do you want to attend to that business?¡±

    ¡°Later this afternoon,¡± Rel answered, nodding once to Lynir. ¡°You will need to bring whichever tools you use for measurements and design.¡±

    ¡°Oh? How intriguing. Something for the queen?¡± Lynir suggested slyly. ¡°Perhaps you want her in leather just as much as she wants to take you out of it?¡±

    ¡°Nothing quite like what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Rel stated, smirking. ¡°I¡¯ll consider that idea for later.¡±

    ¡°Pity. Ah well, let me know if you change your mind. You know where to find me,¡± Lynir called, waving as he walked onto the teleportation glyph and vanished.

    ¡°Should I be here for this?¡± Suisuni asked quietly, looking to Rel. ¡°I¡¯m not a V¡¯shir elder, and I¡¯m not one of your confidants.¡±

    ¡°Stay. Those of us in this room are who you¡¯ll be working with closely,¡± Rel answered, pivoting to look at Suisuni. ¡°And, your chip is to be replaced as well. Let¡¯s see to that while Elara finishes her task.¡±

    I looked to the remaining men, not sure what to think. They seemed a little more relaxed than before¡­but I couldn¡¯t imagine the floor was comfortable. After steeling myself again, I walked over to stand in front of Casair. He, at least, didn¡¯t keep his eyes on the floor. His focus sharpened as he met my stare.

    ¡°Let me guess¡ªmilitary advisor?¡± Casair asked, his sarcastic tone failing to conceal the sound and colors of disappointment.

    I stopped midreach for his head, peering at him. Then, I let my hand fall to my side. ¡°No, actually. That isn¡¯t the plan. I should make sure you¡¯re okay with the role, hmmm¡­¡±

    ¡°If not that, then¡­?¡± Casair stared at me. ¡°You know I¡¯m a soldier, Elara. War, hunting, and martial arts are my talents.¡±

    ¡°And protection. Which is why I want to ask you to lead and teach the royal guard.¡± I watched his face as, slowly, he registered what I¡¯d said. The tension left his expression, replaced by a loose jaw and wide eyes. A flush crept into his face as he searched for any hint that I was ¡®joking.¡¯

    ¡°You¡­would trust me to be a royal guard?¡± Casair asked, his voice a rough whisper. ¡°It would be an honor, but I¡­I don¡¯t know if I deserve¡­ It¡¯s such a prestigious position.¡±

    I smiled at the bashful man as he turned his opalescent white eyes to my face again. ¡°I¡¯m confident you¡¯re capable and deserving. You may struggle with my existing royal guards at first, but I know you¡¯ll show them you¡¯re their new superior for a reason¡ªif you accept.¡±

    ¡°I accept. Of course I accept! I¡¯m not gonna deny an endorsement like that,¡± Casair exclaimed, promptly straightening his posture and bowing his head. ¡°On my life and honor, I will serve and protect you with all my strength. Until a day comes where you no longer require me or you become someone I can¡¯t believe in, my skills are yours.¡±

    That got a nervous glance from the others, but I smiled. ¡°Good! I¡¯m hoping everyone here will help make certain I don¡¯t stray from being¡­me, or following my morals.¡±

    I placed my hand on Casair¡¯s head and concentrated, engraving his aether with his newly found roles of courtier and royal guard captain. A storm of emotions raged within him, making his aether tremble in excitement. When I was finished, Casair launched to his feet and swept me up in a bear hug.

    ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will not disappoint you,¡± Casair spoke quietly into my shoulder. When he set me down, I discovered he was grinning like a fool.

    Casair joined Rel, Jysel, and Suisuni to get his new chip. The remaining three men watched me with hope in their eyes. I looked between Zafir and Ciheri, then looked to Aldiner.

    ¡°Zafir, Ciheri, your roles will be related. Aldiner, would you prefer to go now or after them?¡±

    Aldiner shifted. ¡°After. For¡­uh, reasons.¡±

    Reasons? I raised an eyebrow.

    [His connection to the Y¡¯serdyn, or the Syldra-made tech, probably has him nervous,] Jysel offered.

    ¡°You¡¯ve known Zafir longer, you can bind him first,¡± Ciheri offered bashfully, fidgeting with his long sleeves. ¡°You said¡­our roles are related?¡±

    ¡°If you accept them, yes,¡± I answered. ¡°From what I understand, you¡¯re both capable researchers but your studies are in separate fields.¡±

    ¡°Correct.¡± Zafir reached up to fidget with his glasses. ¡°I focused my studies into biological fields, including fields which combine with aetherology, psychology, and so on.¡±

    ¡°My focus is more on technology and machinery¡ªaethertech or otherwise. How it works, how to improve upon it, figuring out what will help society grow and better itself¡­¡± Ciheri paused, thinking, then shot me a beaming smile. ¡°Ah! And I¡¯ve studied in anthropological and archaeological fields as well. Understanding the past is useful in many ways, including figuring out how to help society grow.¡±

    I looked between the two as I thought. That certainly seemed like a good start. Liir¡¯sryn drifted over, floating at my eye level as they spoke, [If you make them two of your lead researchers, they will each have their own separate premises and teams. There is plenty of space allocated for the sciences. Or is it title you need to find?]Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Titles would be nice¡­ I considered.

    [Very well! Zafir, head of the biological lifeform complex. Ciheri, head of the technological and production complex.]

    You can hear my thoughts? Well then. I tilted my head, tapping my fingers against my leg. Those titles are a bit¡­broad, aren¡¯t they?

    [As members of your Nys¡¯tarene, they will be at the top of their respective chains.]

    A message from Rel popped up, containing a picture of a triangle of Syldran writing. The translation was much longer than what Liir¡¯sryn had stated, but gave me a proper image to visualize.

    ¡°You two didn¡¯t say if you want to accept positions as lead researchers,¡± I reminded them, earning wide-eyed stares. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You¡­you didn¡¯t say you were considering making us lead¡­¡± Zafir gasped, his eyes ticking back and forth. ¡°That is¡­ I¡­if it is what you want, then I will of course accept.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ciheri cheered, practically vibrating in excitement. ¡°Absolutely! I¡¯ll do it! I¡¯ll help make ours the best clan it can be! Theres so much stuff we can do with the right materials and tools. Ooooh, and I have these designs for new tools too! You¡¯ll want some of them, Zafir!¡±

    [I like this one,] Liir¡¯sryn remarked, floating over Ciheri and peering at him. [He talks to me a lot when working around my nursery. Hmmm, I hope he likes his complex. Maybe I should print a few assistants for him.]

    I¡¯m¡­just not going to ask about that. I¡¯ll find out later. I looked between Zafir and Ciheri, hoping they wouldn¡¯t think I was playing favorites by binding them one at a time. Ciheri just happened to be closer. ¡°Can you stay still for a moment, please?¡±

    ¡°Huh? You don¡¯t want to bind Zafir first?¡± Ciheri blinked at me, and Zafir turned away.

    ¡°Uh¡­? I¡¯m sorry, is there some relevance in what ¡®order¡¯ I bind you in?¡± I asked. ¡°I thought about trying to bind both of you at once but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m skilled enough for that.¡±

    ¡°Seniority, under most circumstances,¡± Zafir grumbled. He sighed, then looked up at me. ¡°You want us to treat this as though the order means nothing?¡±

    Rel walked over and came to stand beside me. ¡°I think that¡¯s only fair. She was forced to bind Jysel, Suisuni, and myself. We could argue the pecking order was already decided. Or¡­we could follow Elara¡¯s thinking. A matter of seconds or minutes shouldn¡¯t determine who holds more power in her Nys¡¯tarene.¡±

    ¡°Zafir has known her longer, he should go first!¡± Ciheri pouted, his stubborn glared fixed upward at Rel. ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t mean seniority!¡±

    Rel gripped Ciheri by the jaw, an amused smirk spreading across his face as the smaller man¡¯s skin turned blue. ¡°While it¡¯s endearing that you want to let Zafir go first, it¡¯s still Elara¡¯s decision. Or do you intend to spend the entire day here, on your knees?¡±

    Zafir coughed into his hand. ¡°We get the point. Elara¡¯s way is more logical¡ªthe royal guard captain shouldn¡¯t be able to undo or change medicinal research on a whim, for example. I¡¯m confident we can adjust.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all settled, then?¡± I asked, looking between the two as Rel released Ciheri from his grip.

    ¡°One more thing,¡± Ciheri interjected when Zafir nodded. I motioned for him to continue. ¡°Is there anything you want us to do first in our roles?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± I considered it, then gave a brief nod. ¡°Yes, I think it would be wise for you two to familiarize yourself with your new positions and what can be found at each others complexes. There may be ways in which your fields do or can overlap. I would like to see close coordination between your sectors, and how you can facilitate each other¡¯s tasks.¡±

    The pair exchanged a look, then nodded to me.

    ¡°One last thing,¡± Ciheri added, his gaze unusually firm. ¡°Zafir has known you longer. I insist you bind him before me and Aldiner. Otherwise, one or both of you will regret it later.¡±

    Zafir flushed and averted his gaze when I looked over to him for confirmation. Clearly, I wasn¡¯t going to get a verbal answer. I approached him and waited for him to shift to face me, which he did after further hesitation.

    ¡°This better not be pity¡­¡± Zafir muttered.

    ¡°No. Ciheri makes a valid argument.¡± I raised an eyebrow at him.

    Ciheri promptly nodded and latched onto Zafir¡¯s arm. ¡°We all care about Elara, and Elara cares about how we feel! You shouldn¡¯t hide it.¡±

    ¡°¡­Very well.¡± Zafir let out a soft sigh and raised his gaze to meet mine. ¡°I will gladly accept the position you have offered me within your Nys¡¯tarene. My vow is to improve the lives of our people and allies through the research we conduct. Nutrition, medicine, defenses, weaponry¡­ Whatever we need, whatever it takes, and with respect to the natural law.¡±

    I placed my hand on Zafir¡¯s head and concentrated, visualizing the Syldran writing Rel had sent for Zafir¡¯s title. The tension seemed to leave his body as I worked, his breathing slowing into a steady rhythm.

    When I finished, he opened his eyes and checked himself. ¡°I¡­expected to feel different.¡±

    ¡°And perhaps that is why you don¡¯t. Yet,¡± Rel mused, watching as Zafir carefully got to his feet.

    Zafir fidgeted awkwardly in front of me, blue creeping into his face and the tips of his ears. His glow wavered as he struggled with himself. After a moment, he outstretched his hand as if wanted me to shake it. ¡°T-thank¡ª Oof!¡±

    Zafir grunted in surprise when I yanked his silly self into a hug. It took a moment before he relaxed, then gave me a squeeze in return. ¡°I suppose, since I¡¯m not your ¡®boss¡¯ anymore, this is more acceptable. I¡­hope you can continue to rely on me.¡±

    ¡°I can, and I will.¡± Releasing him, I gave him a warm smile, nudging him off toward Rel. ¡°Let¡¯s make sure it stays that way. Right?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Zafir answered, his body seeming to loosen as he shot me a beaming smile. Then, he turned to Rel. ¡°I¡¯d like to know more, once the procedure is complete.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll forward you some of the information I received, once it¡¯s done.¡± Rel nodded, leading Zafir off to the waiting crate.

    ¡°Now then, Ciheri,¡± I remarked, turning to the cheerful man. He was so excited he was bouncing against his heels despite kneeling. ¡°Head of machinery and technological research and production, hmmm?¡±

    He perked up, grinning. ¡°Yes! I want to make everyone¡¯s lives easier but also help make things to keep us all safe.¡±

    They all want to help their people¡­ Would other queens take that away? I wondered, noting both Jysel and Rel glanced briefly in my direction at the thought. Queens take away the ambitions and art of their Nys¡¯tarene. Right?

    [Many do. Speaking of which¡­with how things have changed, perhaps you should be present when we take Suisuni to his new ¡®nest,¡¯ if you will.] It was Rel who answered, but Jysel also gave a quick grumble of agreement.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± I asked, looking down at Ciheri.

    He tilted his head, staring at me in confusion. ¡°No¡­ Oh! Yes! May I still work on my smart plating designs? It¡¯s really fun, and I want to make some proposals for what we can use if you build up a fleet!¡±

    I smiled at him. ¡°Of course, Ciheri. I don¡¯t want to take anyone¡¯s fun or art away from them. My hope is that you all will follow your passions.¡±

    Ciheri grinned broadly and snatched my hand, guiding it to the top of his head. ¡°Come on, come on, come on! There¡¯s so much to talk about, but I need my new chip first!¡±

    I gave him a lopsided smile before doing as he asked. The instant I was done, he tackle-hugged me so hard I nearly toppled to the floor. Just as quickly, he bounded off to join the others, leaving me with a fidgety Aldiner.

    ¡°What is it you want to do?¡± I asked bluntly, causing Aldiner to stare at me with wide eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve heard recommendations and I have a vague understanding of what you like, and what you already do. But, I have no idea how you feel about the matter.

    ¡°What were you recommended?¡± Aldiner grumbled, scratching at the back of his head.

    ¡°To give you some sort of espionage role,¡± I answered simply. ¡°But I have no idea what your full qualifications are, and if that is something you would even enjoy.¡±

    ¡°Or if you can break my existing clan bind¡­¡± Aldiner complained quietly. ¡°Espionage and all that shit isn¡¯t something I want to do. I¡¯ve just done it to survive on Creshe and help make connections. Humans are suckers for a pretty face.¡±

    ¡°And what you would prefer?¡± I probed when the grumpy man went quiet.

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m a simple guy. I like dancing and that¡¯s what I want to do. Perform, study, learn dances from all over the universe, and pass the techniques on to other dancers.¡± Aldiner shrugged, giving me a self-deprecating smile. ¡°¡®Court Dancer¡¯ may not be as lofty as guarding our queen, protecting our people, or creating a safe environment¡­but I just want to pursue my art.¡±

    ¡°You live and breathe dance, like how Suisuni is with music or Jysel is with books?¡± I offered, earning a surprised blink. Even if I didn¡¯t relate, yet, I could understand the concept. Liir¡¯sryn? Is that acceptable? Would he have a place?

    The little manta-person avatar zipped around me excitedly. [Yes! There are multiple places Aldiner may choose from, depending on who he wishes to teach.]

    ¡°Aldiner,¡± I began, watching him shift under my gaze, ¡°I would never want to steal your arts or passions away from you. I didn¡¯t do so to the others, and I don¡¯t plan to start now or ever. If you would rather not take on an espionage role, then I won¡¯t give you that role. ¡®Court Dancer¡¯ isn¡¯t ¡®lesser¡¯ than the others. I admire you for following your ambitions and being willing to speak up for yourself regarding them.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have whichever spaces you need to realize your goals.¡±

    Aldiner promptly flushed bright blue, his glow sparking nearly every shade of pink, blue, green, and yellow. ¡°W-what, I thought you were going to¡­¡±

    I placed a hand on Aldiner¡¯s head when he fell into a stunned silence. The moment I probed his mind, I was met with a looming wall of inky darkness. Bright green lettering reminiscent of Syldran dotted the wall, repeating a crest, various wards, and a singular title. Every inch of the place writhed with echoes of the Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s presence.

    Concentrating, I visualized placing my hand against the wall. The Y¡¯serdyn¡¯s power exploded around me, crashing against mine as it rose to meet his. Cold tendrils slid around my body, up my neck, and curled around my jaw, attempting to pull me downward.

    A frozen calm came over me as I pushed back against the power, a melody echoing through my mind and behind my thoughts. Aldiner deserves his freedom. Let him have it.

    The dark wall suddenly froze, the lettering and crests ceasing to pulse with light. Then, they flickered out and the wall began to ¡®melt.¡¯ Beyond, I sensed the true binding placed on Aldiner and cupped it in my aetheric hands.

    With a single thought, I reshaped the binding. Light and clarity exploded through my senses, a kaleidoscope of shifting colors.

    I removed my hand from Aldiner¡¯s head and opened my eyes, finding him staring at me in stunned silence. Around us, particles of starry darkness dissipated upward in the air, carrying peridot green arcs of energy with them.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­you¡­¡± Aldiner struggled.

    A flash of green light announced the arrival of one visibly concerned Y¡¯serdyn. He looked around, spotted us, then stormed over with his jaw set.

    ¡°How did you do that?¡± The Y¡¯serdyn hissed quietly as Aldiner got up and fled to the others.

    I gave the Y¡¯serdyn a small smile. ¡°Instinct. I¡¯ll say no more unless you are getting your neurochip replaced as well.¡±

    ¡°My¡­?¡± The Y¡¯serdyn fell silent, taking a moment to study me, glanced over at the others, then looked at me again. I see much has happened. Perhaps we should talk after the chips are taken care of.