POV: Lyra
To Orion's and Christian's relief, Greg didn't appear for the evening sessions. I continued introducing station representatives to the Emperor and his second-in-command as they recorded each station's requirements. The Kaelari were shocked and grateful for actual audience with their Emperor.
They're not used to being heard. Centuries of being second-class citizens will do that.
Whenever I stood alone to refill my hydration or grab nutrient supplements, station members I'd never met would approach with their problems. They felt safer meeting me first—the mining colony Commander—before facing the Emperor himself.
Bridge between worlds. That's what I've become. The acceptable face of Kaelari poverty.
The honor of helping wasn't lost on me. What I minded were the conceited station leaders who saw opportunity rather than aid. With these, I'd ask simply, "What specific assistance does your station require?" Their answers determined whether the conversation continued. Some Commanders and Specialists just wanted to meet me—the curiosity factor, I supposed. Those conversations stayed professional, so I engaged.
Everyone wants to see the freak show. The Rainbow Commander who caught an Emperor.
Midway through the evening cycle, Orion and Christian were discussing Moonhowl Station's needs after the Rogue Collective destroyed their perimeter shields. Seeing the station members no longer needed encouragement to speak directly to Orion, I rose for another hydration refill. After filling my cylinder, I leaned against the dispensing station, taking a moment of solitude.
Then, warm breath touched my ear. "Hey."
I jumped sideways, recognizing that voice instantly. Hydration solution splashed across the floor's absorption panels.
Sebastian. Of course.
"Void, I'm sorry. Are you functional, Lyra?" Sebastian's pathways flickered with guilt.
"Excuse me, there are beings requiring my attention." My voice stayed flat, emotionless.
Sebastian moved to block my path. "I just want to communicate."
"You have no right to make demands." The words came out sharp, cutting.
He looked at the floor, his modified pathways dimming. "I know. Not a cycle passes that I don't wish I'd acted differently, treated you better. You were a gift, and I was too void-blind [stupid] to see it."
Match number three, trying to rewrite history. How original.
"Noted. Appreciated." My tone conveyed neither.
I tried circumventing him. He blocked me again. "I know forgiveness is undeserved. I was scum." His bitter laugh made his pathways flicker. "I'm Lyrokan but what I did was beneath any species. I'll keep apologizing until you forgive me. Time is irrelevant."
My eye facets rolled—all six of them. "Conserve your energy, Cummings. I've already forgiven you. For myself, so I could progress forward. If you think it was for you, you're critically mistaken."
One step sideways. Another block. The hurt in his eyes was almost satisfying. "Just... here." He lifted something I hadn't noticed—a data pad. "I acquired this. I remember you mentioning interest in combat psychology advancement. I thought of you when I encountered it. Consider it a gift from... a friend."
A gift. Like the gifts before the betrayal. Before the warship theft.
I noted the title and author for personal acquisition later. "We're not friends. Step aside."
"Just take it, Lyra. Pretend it's from anyone else, please." His desperation made his pathways pulse erratically.
My peripheral sensors caught Orion approaching—his gait radiating fury. "Sebastian Cummings," I kept my voice low, "if you possess minimal intelligence and survival instinct, you'll move now. Damage is imminent."
He clearly hadn't detected Orion's approach. "I was already damaged when you rejected me, Lyra."
The audacity. The revision of history.
"Interesting word choice." Orion's voice came like ice, his arm sliding around my waist possessively. "Given you provided Lyra excessive justification for her actions."
Sebastian's teeth ground audibly. Before escalation, I intervened. "You should depart."
Sebastian's smile turned sad and longing as he nodded, retreating. Orion's lips found my temple. "Are you functional?"
"Why wouldn't I be? So, will Moonhowl Station receive aid?" Deflection, my oldest friend.
His smile was knowing. "They'll manage, star-heart [sweetheart]. I'm more concerned about you. You don't need to suppress your issues to manage everyone else's constantly."
My facets rolled again. "I've witnessed station crises. Compared to their struggles, my issues are negligible."
"No." His hands gripped my arms firmly. "I won't allow that thinking. It's my function to ensure you don't bear troubles alone."
Function. Like I'm a system to maintain.
Despite being moved, my contrary nature emerged. I tilted my head with a small smile. "That's in the Emperor's function description alongside extensive Imperial duties? Sounds taxing."
He smiled, engaging with my game. "Extremely taxing. Why do you think I need you as my Empress?"
Mock realization crossed my features. "Ah, so you required another processor to handle workload. And I thought I was significant to you. This is rather mortifying, Your Eminence."
"Mmm..." His playful tone continued, "Seems I've misled you."
"Indeed you have."
His pathways shifted to that particular purple—desire. He leaned close, his breath warm against my ear, voice dropping to that frequency that scrambled my neural pathways. "Perhaps you should consider disciplining me, my love. What will you have me do?"
That's when his pheromones hit—arousal, thick in the air between us. My playful mood evaporated.
Oh void. Not here. Not with everyone watching.
I gasped at how far our charade had progressed. His lips remained by my ear, his satisfaction palpable through our bond. "What's wrong, my dear? Still mortified?" He began inhaling deeply at my neck, taking in my scent.
Stop. The entire hall can sense this.
Not allowing further escalation under hundreds of watching eyes, I gently took his head in my hands, drawing it back while stepping away. His eyes still held that predatory playfulness. His arousal pheromones intensified, and I knew intervention was necessary before every being in the hall noticed.
I smirked, using bravado to mask discomfort. "Mortified? Please, Your Eminence. I was considering your discipline." I released his head, crossing my arms defensively. Perhaps eliminating skin contact would cease his arousing thoughts.
"Is that so?" He reached for my waist, pulling me against him, still smirking. "And your decision, my Empress?"
Stop calling me that. I'm not your Empress. Just match number six.
Fighting discomfort at the title, I said, "Perhaps separation for a cycle would prove beneficial."
All playfulness drained from his expression. His arousal halted abruptly. He looked like a youngling whose favorite possession had been confiscated. He pressed me desperately against him, pleading in my ear, "No, don't leave. I'll behave, I promise. Don't separate us, Lyra, please."
I pulled away wordlessly, leading him toward our table by his hand. His worry was palpable. "You won't actually avoid me tomorrow?"
I snorted at his seriousness. "No, Orion. But control your arousal. We're surrounded by your subjects, for void's sake. I hope I alone detected it."
He glanced behind us momentarily. "From the Kaelari grins, they definitely detected it too."
"Oh, void." Both hands covered my face in mortification.
"This was your fault. You initiated the game." His accusation held amusement.
"Me?!" I stopped, whisper-yelling, "I didn't lose arousal control!"
Hands raised defensively, he said, "In my defense, resisting arousal around you is extremely difficult."
"How is that even a defense?!"
"When you looked at me that way, spoke that way... it activated me." His innocence was almost believable.
My eyes narrowed. "I used direct language. You twisted the conversation with inappropriate thoughts. My communication was perfectly standard."
His lips curved upward. He kissed my forehead briefly, whispering with a head shake, "No, it wasn't." Taking my hand sweetly, "I'll control it. No promises, but I'll attempt control."
I groaned in frustration, shaking my head disapprovingly before returning to our seats. Moonhowl representatives had departed, leaving just Orion, Christian, and me.
Before Orion could sit, Christian addressed me. "Don't blame him, my Empress. Just as Station Commanders experience heightened neural drives compared to standard Kaelari, Lyrokan Emperors experience the same compared to standard Lyrokans. Common knowledge. Though I'm uncertain why I'm explaining." He turned to Orion. "Though cousin... it was your fault. Unlike Commanders, Emperors supposedly exercise superior control."
Orion glared playfully. "Did you actually intend supporting me when asking the Empress not to blame me?"
Dramatically, Christian placed a hand on Orion's shoulder. "I support truth and justice, Your Eminence." He ended with an exaggerated bow.
My laughter escaped involuntarily. Orion gazed at my profile, gently moving my cranial strands behind my shoulder to see my full face. "Nothing to contribute, my dear?"
Everything to contribute. Like how this is getting too comfortable. Too real. Too dangerous.
But I just shook my head, letting the moment exist without my usual cynicism.