POV: Lyra
I kicked backwards, aiming at his vulnerable lower plating where the bio-suit had gaps for mobility. Orion groaned in anguish, his neural pathways flashing from purple to pained orange. His grip on my waist loosened and I elbowed his chest plate, pushing him back by a few steps. I turned to face him, pain and guilt filling my eyes as I stood there watching my match's reaction.
When Orion regained his bearing, his pathways shifted back to playful violet. He looked at me with only humor and playfulness as he teased out loud, "Why the anguished look, my love? I haven't even landed any blows on you yet."
The guilt in my eyes vanished. I watched him get into combat position on the training mat, and I asked, "Do you really want to do this, Orion?"
"You're not afraid to lose now, are you, sweetheart?" Orion challenged, and enthusiastic murmurs came from the Lyrokans gathered around the training facility's main sparring ring.
I smiled as I shook my head while looking at the polished metal floor before lifting my head back up. "I honestly don't know which one of us is going to regret this more once it ends." I took my position, ignoring Christian who was saying, "Stars above, I should've brought snacks."
Orion seemed to have learned to wait for the opponent's attack, something I did the first time we sparred. He waited for me this time. I charged at him and his strike came, but I knew this was his style so I dodged with ease, and Orion hit empty air. I slid through the gap between his legs which he left too wide open—perfect escape route for smaller opponents like me.
His height advantage becomes a disadvantage when he doesn't guard his lower zones.
Although I managed to climb onto Orion's shoulders, I couldn't pin him down since he expected it after watching me fight Phelton earlier. He grabbed one of my legs and brought my entire body in front of him. I hung by my leg for less than a second before grabbing onto his arm like a support beam and pulled myself back up, my foot turning and forcing his fingers to twist to the point they couldn't bend further without breaking.
Before I could escape, Orion pinned my body on the training mat with my back down, pressing my arms firmly against the surface. His face hovered over mine, his pathways pulsing with cocky confidence. "This position seems very familiar, my dear. Last I remember, you couldn't break free from me when we were like this."
I mirrored his smirk, feeling a glint in my eye before my knees bent and kicked in full force at his vulnerable plating again, harder than the first time. Some Lyrokans cringed visibly at my attack, their own pathways flickering in sympathetic pain. Christian was already laughing hysterically and holding Toby's shoulder for support. Orion's grip loosened, and I elbowed his body to the side before climbing onto him instantly, my legs positioned across his chest. Without allowing Orion to recover, my hands reached for his head and neck, applying pressure to the neural pathway junction at the base of his skull—a Lyrokan weak point.
Orion took a moment to process what just happened. When I loosened my grip, he let out a chuckle as he took both my hands and pressed his lips to them affectionately. With nothing but pride and awe radiating through his pathways, he said, "You're amazing."
A shy smile graced my features, my skin shifting to that embarrassing pink. I rolled my eyes before trying to get up. But Orion held me firmly by my thighs, keeping me pinned to his chest.
I smirked. "Want round two already, my King?"
He scoffed. "Not until my Queen enlightens me on my mistakes from round one."
"Let me go, and I'll tell you," I said simply.
He smirked. "What's wrong with the position we're in? I kind of like it actually." His subjects around him were already grinning and smirking at his coy response, their pathways flickering with amusement.
My eyes turned stern. "Behave, my King."
Orion let go of one of my thighs and took my hand before pressing a kiss to my wrist, right where the neural connectors were most sensitive. "As you wish, my Queen."
I got up and so did Orion. I explained about watching the space between his legs and how his failure to pin my lower limbs when he pinned my arms enabled me to launch my counterattack. I also mentioned he should've quickly pinned me to the mat when he held me by my leg. Although I was just speaking to Orion, the Lyrokans around us were listening attentively. Weaver and Yarrington looked like they were recording everything on their neural implants.
When I started to walk away, Orion pulled me against his chest. "The first time I caged you in that position with your back on the mat. You weren't really trapped, were you? You could escape but you didn't. Why?"
I shrugged. "Because our spar had already ended by that time. It wouldn't be fair if I beat you up then." Christian started laughing again, the sound echoing off the training facility's metal walls.
Orion ignored his cousin. "You let me think I could trap you?"
With an innocent smile, I said, "No. I never said anything. You came up with that thought yourself."
Orion squeezed the flesh on my waist, and I tried my best to swallow the giggle. But through our bond, I felt his consciousness purr with satisfaction at seeing my shy smile widen and my skin shift to deeper pink.
Christian came over and patted his cousin on his back. "Cuz..." he turned around to let out another stream of chuckles before continuing, "Oh, stars! That was precious! Should've made a holo-recording."
The Duke really didn't make it easy for the rest of the audience to hold back their laughter. Like Toby, many didn't feel comfortable laughing at their Emperor who just lost to their Empress.
"You should go next, Christian," Orion suggested.
Christian's humor died instantly. "Hah. Nah-ah. No way. Not that stupid. My most heartfelt congratulations to you, my Empress. But no, not today. Maybe not even in this lifetime." A few people around us started laughing subtly at the Duke's refusal to go up against the Empress.
"Your Majesty," Langford's voice came from behind. I turned to see the General stand before me, his white pathways dimmed with reluctance. He swallowed before gritting his teeth. "Forgive me... and sh-should you have any suggestions on how we can improve, I—I hope you can share them with us."
My lips curled upward and my eyes sparkled as I glanced at the confused Toby before looking back at Langford. "Since you mentioned it, General. We do have a suggestion." I waved Toby over.
He came in slow, bewildered steps, his opalescent skin shifting with confusion. I said, "Since the Rogue Lyrokans attacked the Jewel Station, many of us Kaelari have an idea of how we should alter our training to adapt to future threats. Toby, tell the General about our discussion with Raden and the others from last night."
Toby's mind clicked and he exclaimed, "Ah, that!" Now he knew exactly what I was talking about. He and several other specialists, including myself, had discussed the issue. I was supposed to ask Orion about it the night before, but it slipped my mind after what happened with Caunterberg.
Langford looked at Toby with less hostility than before. Toby began, "We were hoping to have inter-species combat training." Shocked gasps came from some Lyrokans around us. But half looked contemplative, and Weaver and Yarrington's pathways brightened with excitement.
Toby continued explaining, "Since we're now dealing with Rogue Lyrokans, many of us would like to train with actual Lyrokans, especially in close combat scenarios. Your superior strength and those pathway-enhanced reflexes—we need to learn to counter them. And in return, our Kaelari can help your Lyrokans gain speed and agility. Lyra and I have observed many well-built Lyrokans here, and we say this with no disrespect, but most of you are too slow for real combat. Your strength means nothing if you can't land a hit. Meanwhile, we Kaelari lack the raw power to match a Lyrokan's enhanced physiology, so we want to practice with you to develop new defensive techniques."
It's true. The species have trained separately for too long. The Rogues showed us that isolation makes us all vulnerable.
Langford was pondering seriously, and Orion's thumb stroked my waist in slow motions as he processed Toby's words through our bond. Toby added, "And just to be clear, General and my Emperor, we won't force every Lyrokan to pair with a Kaelari." He looked at me and I gave him an encouraging nod. "We'll only train with Lyrokans willing to learn from us. We're not asking for mandatory inter-species training."
Langford looked at the Lyrokans around us, then told Orion, "I have no issue with that, Your Eminence. If there's room for improvement, our species should be open to it."
Orion's pathways pulsed with determination. "Perhaps it's best for mandatory inter-species training sessions. The Rogues threaten all of us. Two of the Kaelari's best warriors have already been generous enough to show us our weaknesses. It's foolish to refuse their offer to help."
Weaver spoke up enthusiastically, his pathways bright yellow with excitement. "I'm all for it! But with much respect and admiration for you, my Empress, I do not want to pair with you. I'll take anyone else. Just not you." His match and the others, including Orion, laughed at the environment minister. Christian's laughter was loudest, as usual.
Orion looked at me, his pathways shifting to that deep purple that meant desire, his voice dropping to a husky tone. "Well, Lyra. Time to get the Kaelari forces over here."
I looked at Toby and said, "Let's send the message, then."
In an instant, Toby's and my consciousness reached out through the station's quantum communication network, connecting with our respective Commanders across the galaxy. Through the psychic link enhanced by the station's amplifiers, we transmitted the coordinates and the new training protocol approval.
This changes everything. For the first time in two hundred cycles, Kaelari and Lyrokans will train as true allies, not just coexisting species.
The revolution wasn't just in our romance anymore. It was spreading to every aspect of the Empire.