POV: Lyra
Orion's smile morphed into a frown as he leaned in to hold me in his arms. "That's what you've been worrying about? Lyra, if offspring really mean that much to you, we could always consider genetic adoption protocols."
"You mean...you don't mind...not having your own genetic successors?" My voice came out coarse and broken.
He held me tighter, whispering, "I only mind not having you, Lyra. I don't even care if we didn't have any offspring."
"But you wanted...a daughter."
Orion sighed, already regretting how much enthusiasm he'd expressed about having a little girl with my genes that I now felt like having a daughter was essential when it wasn't. He pressed his lips to my forehead before declaring firmly, "Star-heart [endearment], a daughter with your genetic code would have been magical, but my life isn't any less magical without one. I meant what I said the other solar day, I just want to be with you. That's all I need."
"What about an heir to the Empire?" I asked in a small voice.
Orion answered matter-of-factly, "Well, if we do adopt, then that youngling would be next in line. Otherwise, it would be one of Juan's offspring, hierarchically-speaking."
My saddened expression turned contemplative. "Juan's offspring?"
Orion explained, "Yes. When the Emperor and High Commanders have no successors, the next in line would be the next closest family member. In our case, it'll be Juan's family since he's like a brother to the Empress. Greg is already disqualified from all those corruption charges against him. So, after us, Christian and Annie, Juan's younglings are technically next in line."
"They're Kaelari though." I noted the obvious.
Orion chuckled lightly at my worried look. "Well then, my love. We have a lot to do in our cycles as Emperor and Empress to make sure there's little to no disparity between our species for a harmonious succession of your niece or nephew."
My eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. "You're not joking? That's really what would happen?"
Orion shrugged like it was just logical reasoning. "Yeah. That's just how it goes in Imperial succession."
"Huh." I internalized what I'd just been told.
Orion kissed my forehead to smooth the creases there before whispering, "Now that that's out of the way, can you please just enter sleep mode, Lyra? When you wake, I'd like to know the inside joke between you and Annie. I don't like being left out."
"What inside joke?" I asked.
Orion narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't play void-dumb [stupid], sweetheart. Annie was never as fierce as she was today. You two must have said or done something between yourselves to get her to speak the way she did."
"Oh, that." I responded in realization before snuggling deeper into the rest platform's cushioning, slowly letting my eyelids fall.
"Wait, you're really not going to tell me, star-heart?" Orion asked in mock annoyance.
My eyes opened slightly as I muttered sleepily, "You said you wanted to know after I wake up."
Orion chuckled at my clever retort and kissed my temple before whispering into my ear, "I love you."
He only left my side after I muttered, "I know. I love you, too." After deactivating the illumination panels, he crawled under the thermal sheets next to me and, like the last time, I snuggled into his chest before we both entered rest mode.
When we woke a few hours later, Orion got the devastating confirmation from Dr. Yeil that the neural toxin was indeed one that damaged reproductive systems indefinitely. On the seating module, I was numb as I sat on Orion's lap. He stroked my arm in soothing motions while he asked Dr. Yeil through the comm unit, "Any possible cure?"
"We could have the Empress take genetic modification treatments during the gestation period, but I must caution you, my Emperor, that a healthy offspring would be unlikely." Dr. Yeil said. There was a pause when Orion became distracted with me turning away to wipe my optical fluid [tears].
Orion held me closer to his chest and pressed a kiss on my wet cheek before Dr. Yeil's voice came through the line, "What happened to the Empress was unjust and wrong, my Emperor. I wish I could be of more help. I have sent her bio-samples to our largest research facility hoping they'll manufacture a cure, but I must admit that...I'm not sure if a solution would present itself in the near future."
"I see. Thank you, Dr. Yeil." Orion uttered.
"It's a pleasure to be of service, Your Eminence. Do give my best to the Empress. She's a gem that the Empire cannot afford to lose." Dr. Yeil responded, knowing fully well that my situation resulted from fighting off Rogues and saving countless lives.
Orion tried to speak steadily. "Will do. Thank you." It was so unfair that I had to bear the consequences of ruthless attacks when I'd done so much for everyone.
After Orion disconnected, he kissed my temple and I muttered in a choppy voice, "I just th-thought that...since I could heal from plasma burns and neural disruptors...I could somehow heal from this."
Orion pressed me into his chest, responding in a whisper, "I know, star-heart. I know."
We sat in silence. Since it was time for evening consumption, we called station service, and soon the staff walked in with Orion's protein synthesis and my nutrient compound. I didn't fight Orion this time when he placed me on his lap and caged me between his arms when he divided the compound into small portions before feeding them to me.
Suddenly, Orion's communicator on the armrest started signaling, showing 'Yarrington' on the display. My hand went underneath Orion's arm to reach for his device before he uttered, "Put him on speaker, sweetheart."
After activating the connection, I put Yarrington on speaker and held the device near him as Orion put another portion of compound into my mouth.
"Yarrington?" Orion's firm voice transmitted through the line.
"Your Eminence, Weaver and I have just heard about the Empress at the medical facility from the news feeds. May I ask...is she alright?"
I nodded while processing the food in my mouth. Orion's voice was softer when he responded, "She's holding up better than anyone can expect."
There was a sigh of relief from the minister's end before he said, "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be too shocked. She is stronger than most Lyrokans we've heard of, males and females alike. But there's another reason why I called, my Emperor. The uh...the inappropriate conduct complaints have been compiled but..." he sighed, "There appears to be a complication."
"What complication?"
Yarrington was visibly nervous when he said, "W-Well, Your Eminence. Ten complaints have been made against the High Commander."
It was zero surprise for Orion that Greg would be one of the perpetrators of this kind of offense. The Emperor continued dividing my food while responding to the minister like it was no big deal, "That's hardly a complication, Yarrington. That cousin of mine doesn't have a reputation of being respectful, much less to females."
"No, my Emperor. I wasn't talking about the High Commander from your father's side." Orion's hands on the utensils halted, and my chewing paused as our eyes converged on Orion's communicator.
With the sudden silence, Yarrington assumed the Emperor wanted him to continue speaking, so he did, "Ten complaints have been made accusing the other High Commander, the second-in-command, Christian Blackfur."