“[Dzartha, Friend. How is work?]” I ask in my best Herrati accent.

  “Kimber, it is nice that you show interest, but using your translator or allowing me to speak Astorian is much preferred.” The large cat raps his fist against his chest in greeting, his ears flick back briefly in deference to my relationship with the Empress. Politics with the Herrati suffuse their whole culture.

  “That is a kind way to say my attempt was offensive. Thank you. Aside from that, I have brought a sister and her mate to determine if they will be moving here and working on Atropos.”

  “Is the frowning one your security chief?” I look back to see that Marcella is indeed at maximum frown and Danielle is loving this exchange.

  “Indeed. She would be the best to know what to expect a black market organization would do to steal my drugs.” Marcella almost sneers at me. Daang she has some severe independence insecurities.

  /Jesus, Marcie, you’re only thinking about working for Family, calm the hell down. That cat works with me, not for me./

  My mentor immediately corrects her posture and fixes the sneer on her face. Maybe she was offended for me? Interesting reaction I suppose.

  “My apologies Dzarath, I though you were being a very disrespectful employee instead of a convivial co-worker.”

  “Ah! This makes sense! Thank you for explaining, as I would have been honor-bound to challenge you if you continued. Haha! Relations with other cultures can be a challenge greater than this Alchemist’s build list!” He grabs me on the shoulder and gives me a shake that is jarring due to our weight differences.

  “Now that we have gotten some culture out of the way, to business!” I give a warning smile to Dzarath and Marcella, hoping she understands. “You have structures to discuss for personnel and armament? Also, if you could recommend a booking service for accommodations, I would appreciate it.”

  “Ah, business, always pressing. The service has already been arranged, and they will be sending their allocation as soon as their Swarm ID’s are registered. The agencies interested in the Doctor’s research will also reach out as her ID synchs with the Imperial Data Network.” He turns back to me, “Have your concerns been met?”

  “I was wondering if the security slash emergency network is connected to an independent backup utility?”

  “That is usually handled per company, Kimber.” I nod at that.

  “I’ll authorize an alternate power plan should my security chief want one.” He nods. I tap my fist to my chest and he returns the gesture as I depart. I really like that guy. Competence and respect? He’s the kind that you want to keep around and keep happy.

  Walking back to my shuttle, I consider how uncomfortable Marcella must be, but she’ll be talking to a professional with Danielle by her side, should be fine.

  “Our next stop is to see your girlfriend. She stays at the Imperial Castle?” Aria asks.

  “Aria, you shouldn’t share this, but Zia is the Empress’ daughter.”

  “I now see why Tova thinks your feelings of inadequacy are ridiculous.”

  “Aria, not you too!!” I squawk. They’re conspiring against me!

  “Face it, you have a lot going for you. For whatever reason you’re not seeing it, but the rest of us do. Please, just trust us.”

  I wipe my face with my hands and then run them through my hair in an attempt to collect myself. “I’m trying Aria. I don’t fully know why I feel this way, but I’m trying.” A comforting ‘brrip’ comes through my audio implant. “Thanks Aria. You too Tova.”

  Aria takes us out of atmo as I relay with Supiter Traffic Control—the gas giant that Asphodel and Elysium orbit in the Hades system. We travel perpendicular to Supiter’s elliptic and warp out when apparent gravity decreases to one quarter. This is apparently a rule to prevent atmospheric interactions with old Antimatter Jump Drives that are equipped on some civilian vessels—and the Dreadnaught Galilei.

  The Galilei was the ship that Penny and its crew originally arrived on Astoria in. The very atmospheric interference we avoid was the reason that Galilei jumped more than ten times the programmed distance on their first test of the Jump drive on a ship scale. It has since been repurposed as an energy cannon using the old accelerator as a massive laser focusing array. Reading about the Herrat War with Astoria, I see how completely outclassed my explosives are on the Macro level, and how needed better, more focused explosives are in CQB situations where uncalibrated destruction was more dangerous than doing nothing at all.

  “Kimber, I would like to form a sensor map of the area around Aelea, and synch with the details of this planet.” She states as we appear in a loose Mercy orbit, the large moon that is tidally locked to Astoria planet.

  “Sounds good, Aria. Get within a few hundred meters above the Garden Castle and I’ll pilot my suit. Make sure you connect with the various flight controllers in the area, cities here are more sensitive about airspace than in Nevahrado.”

  She chirps at me and tells Astorian flight control that she intends to teleport into low Astorian Orbit and pilot to the Castle. My Nova Chem credentials get us through and the transit from the outer orbit of Mercy to the terrestrial Castle, takes about twenty minutes. Aria opens up her rear hatch and I do one of my favorite things—Fly.

  I low-key wish she’d dropped me off at 10km, but at 600m, I have to pilot myself almost immediately instead of letting gravity and aerodynamics take control. Perhaps I need to spend more time actively piloting in space. I find that kind of barely controlled flight freeing.

  I land on the garden ramp and walk up to the upper Shop Entrance of the mall at the base of the Castle before finding the elevator to the upper floors. I am lucky that Penny keyed me in, which is questionable as I’ve only known her for . . . years. Holyshit. Am I old? I’m 18, practically ancient. Back to how stupidly trusting the Empress has been, why would she give me a key?

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  The elevator opens to the habitation level of Penny’s suite and an Elf-shaped missile slams me into the back of the elevator. Her lips hit mine with a furious disregard for location or propriety. I smirk as I bite her lip. The moan and the nails in my back almost make me collapse, but I keep my feet and push the button for the upper terrace with the hot tub, and Oren the Bartender.

  “Nice to see you too Zi.”

  “Kimber, how can you think enough to talk right now?!”

  I pin her to the bar and she moans at me again. Oren makes to go back in his cubby, but I wave him forward as I nibble down her neck and she digs her hands into the back of my vest. To my surprise, he remembers our preferred drinks and though I am appreciative and text him so, I want something more adventurous.

  I pour a local berry liquor into her mouth and share it with her while pushing my thigh between her legs. I hear a few buttons pop on my vest and shirt as she desperately grabs at my body.

  “Kimber, what are you doing. You’re confusing me about what you want.”

  That is not what I want. I was questing for the answer of what she wants. “Tell me how to make you happy.”

  “Share, Kimber. We can’t both be in control all the time.” She sighs as she shoves my hand down her pants. “Now stop teasing me and fuck me.”

  ***

  “If you two are going to be that loud every time, you need your own place, like today.” Penny says while I’m sipping and subsequently choking on coffee. “It’s not that I don’t get it, but I don’t want to be forced to think of my kid doing that stuff.”

  My blush is furious and I attempt to tuck my whole face in my coffee cup. Well, Penny’s cup. Gods, I just got comfortable having sex again, but very much still don’t want to talk about it with my girlfriend’s mom.

  “I’m so sorry!” She’s serious, but still laughing at me.

  “And now that we’re done talking about disturbing the peace, I’d like you to meet Alphea.” She looks down behind her. “Come out dear.”

  A tiny blue pixie girl shuffles out from behind Penny’s legs and looks up with big eyes and reluctance in her posture. I immediately smile.

  “Hi there Alphea. I’m a friend of your mom’s and a special friend of your sister Zia.” I give her a little wave. “I didn’t even know you’d been pregnant.”

  “Yeah, not long after I met you in person, actually. I don’t really show when I’m pregnant, as the growth is just in aether-capacity until there’s enough to manifest their first form. Phea is only a few weeks old.”

  Dang, weeks old and looking like a three-year-old. “Do you have parts of your mother’s memory Alphea?” She nods. “Good. Means you’re going to grow up a smart and capable woman. Just like everyone else in your family.”

  “If you’re going to be so sweet, I know who I’ll look to for a sitter.”

  “Interesting test for our viability to be parents down the line.” I say it jokingly, but the idea of having a family with Zia puts a little flutter in my belly.

  “Not funny, Kimber. I couldn’t handle another one of my kids disappearing on me.”

  “I wasn’t thinking of kidnapping her, weirdo! But yeah, I wouldn’t mind looking after her sometimes.” I smile at Alphea again, and her frown seems to lessen. Might be my imagination though.

  “Trying to replace me already, Mom?” Zia blinks in, hugs her Mom and picks up Alphea to raspberry her belly. The little blue pixie’s giggles are musical just like Penny and Zia’s. Must be a pixie thing.

  “Of course not, but if Kimber’s okay with it too, then Phea won’t feel like she’s interrupting your together time.” Her smile of adoration shifts to displeased Empress in a flash. “You’re also moving out. Some of the two-story condos on the 40th floor are available.”

  Zia’s eyes go wide at her mother’s assertion. She changes her gaze to me, narrowing her eyes before sending \What did you do?\

  /We. Very loud sex and an awkward conversation with the Empress of Humanity about not wanting her newest daughter traumatized by her oldest one./

  Zia starts laughing. \Serves her right. I don’t hate the idea of having a place for us at the Castle, but I’d still like to hang out here a lot. Especially with little Phea being such a cutie.\ I watch as she pokes and plays with the toddler’s face while Alphea tries to bat her fingers away.

  Seeing her play with her little sister makes my feelings all mushy and reminds me of why I want to be in law enforcement, or more importantly for me, carrying out justice. The Empire itself doesn’t have a ton of Laws: the Empress’ Edicts and a Vassal agreement for foreign powers being the most prominent.

  Like the Bill of Rights from the old US Constitution, she delineated that people have free speech, press, establish religion and assemble; except in cases that endanger public safety or foment the violent overthrow of the Empire. She also keeps protections from search and seizure except warranted by the Imperial Court. The way it differs, is she levies the trial and due process requirements to city-states and vassalages. That, and there is no inherent right to bear arms, and leaves it to the component governments to regulate their own militia.

  The most punishable, and first of her Edicts, is that every Citizen has the right to Life, the pursuit of progress, and freedom from enslavement. It is further mentioned by the Draft of Consuls that life is considered sustenance and shelter, progress is considered to be access to the Matrix and to the Exchange; and the enslavement part gets a bit wordy when it comes to punishments by law.

  Local governments are where all the nitty gritty and petty bullshit comes in, but that’s a topic for when my girlfriend isn’t being adorable with her sister.

  “What’s your day looking like Zi?”

  “Ugh, studying. Mom thinks I should get familiar with Earth and modern North American culture before I come stay with you.” She groans, turning Alphea around and setting her up with a coloring activity.

  “It’s a good idea. Getting offended and going vigilante would get you a bunch of attention. It also depends on why else you might be studying. I also need to study and practice. I was hoping that your mom had a workspace I could occupy for most of the day.”

  “I do!” she says from across the room as she fusses with the coffee maker. “If it’s not too messy or dangerous, you can use any of my workspaces here. I’ll be focusing on contracts today. A bunch of resource access stuff is up for renegotiation in the next two months.”

  “Don’t you have a Consul for Trade?”

  Penny snorts, “I do indeed, but he and the Consul of Foreign Affairs don’t get along, so I go to the meeting to mediate their disputes. Plus, it’s the easiest way for me to know what’s new and profitable on the fringes of my space.”

  “It is the oddest part of my existence when I hear you casually discuss running the Empire I live in.” Penny smiles at me.

  “And yet my daughters take it for granted. Well, Zia does. Alphea is too young to care, and the other three are off doing their jobs for the Universe, or whatever.”

  “Begin the pouting that her kids have important jobs and are too busy to visit.”

  That sheds some light on why Penny doesn’t want me to treat Alphea like a daughter. Getting some heavy abandonment trauma vibes from her. Funny that she should teach them such powerful independence if she wanted to keep them around. Then again, with hereditary memory, it’s not like she could hide her history from them.

  I expect a scowl from Penny, but I see eyebrows pinched upward and the corners of her lips turned down. It’s probably not wise for me to get up and walk over to the short woman, the confusion on her face showing it’s at least unexpected.

  I pull the powerful woman into a hug, “No one I’ve loved has stuck around either. I don’t know how long Marcella is going to want to keep in touch once she moves out.” She wraps her arms around me in response.

  “You’re a pretty nice person for a drug dealer.” Penny sniffs. I chuckle at her quip and think about making one back, but my filter finally catches an outburst before I say it.

  “You took a chance on me when I really needed the support. I want to help you too, if I can.”