S.P.E.C.T.O.R – [A Sci-fi space adventure with fantasy elements]

“A rank F? What is this Earthling race? I’ve never heard of it, and where the hell is the Milky Way galaxy?” The older woman asked.

“No idea.” The younger woman replied while shaking her head.

”So what’s the issue? It’s just a rank F.”

“The issue lies in the fact that this Adam Spencer is the individual who saved Diva Lorelie and so got promoted directly to rank F upon joining the guild at Palaxia.” The young woman replied.

“It’s strange that the TISF is targeting the hero who saved Diva Lorelie, or perhaps they don’t know, since they didn’t mention his information in the bounty post. How did you find out it’s this guy there after?”

“The ship is the same one he registered when he joined the guild.”

“Ah, well, regardless, this is not our concern. Being part of the guild does not make you immune from becoming a bounty target yourself…. well, unless your SS rank or above.”

“So we’re really going to post it?”

“We are neutral in this case, I know you’re grateful to this Adam Spencer since you’re a Diva Lorelie fan, I feel the same, however we can’t refuse the posting just because of that, he is in the end only a rank F. All we can do is hide the fact that we know his real identity.”

💫💫💫

“So what do you plan to do once we reach Terrana Five? I doubt the TISF will give up that easily.” Stacey asked as she snuggled up to Adam in bed after completing their most recent round of intercourse.

“We pick up Diva Lorelie and your grandmother as quickly as possible and leave. I have no interest in staying on a planet where the military is hunting me; in fact, I’m tempted to leave Terran space until this whole thing blows over.” Adam replied.

“Doesn’t the imperial family still want to meet you regarding you saving Diva Lorelie?”

“So, I never accepted their invitation and only said I might visit the crown prince if my explorations ever brought me to Terrana Five. Why would I want to meet a family who can’t keep their word when they said we would be free from repercussions after we attacked the Sky Towers on Trillion?”

“You have a point.” 

“Is there any way for you to contact your grandmother and arrange for her and Diva Lorelie to meet us away from the imperial palace?”

“That’s possible, but how do we all get back to Spector without getting too much attention? You might not have noticed, but my grandmother and Diva Lorelie are a bit famous and tend to attract a crowd when they go out in public.”

“I think ‘a bit’ is an understatement.” Adam replied with a small chuckle before continuing, “As for transportation, I have a solution in mind.” 

“You don’t plan to tell me?”

“And ruin the surprise.” 

“Boo.” Stacey pouted before she sent her grandmother a message on her uniband, after which she kissed Adam on the lips and the two soon started another intimate round on the bed.”

💫💫💫

“I’m relieved to know that he is still heading here, as it seems he plans to accept my offer,” Lorelie said before taking a sip of her drink.

“Maybe he just plans to bring my granddaughter here so that she can discuss whatever is on her mind with me,” Rowena replied while giving her signature smirk.

“Do you really believe that?” 

“Of course not, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to tease you about the man you like; this is a first after all.”

“I wonder if he will let me take a look around his ship?” Tephe asked with curiosity.

“I hate to disappoint, but it’s unlikely.” Malacross replied before continuing, “While he has shown us some things about his ship, he is still keeping much of it a secret.”

“Yes, he seems to like realising small tidbits of information about him and his ship at a time, I must admit it certainly keeps us interested and wanting to know more,” Rowena commented.

“Is your mother really planning to ask him to be her bodyguard for the upcoming Supreme Speaker selection?” Lorelie asked with interest.

“I have no idea, I only mentioned that initially so that I could have more fun by staying here longer,” Tephe replied with a shrug.

“Anything to prevent you from having to go home?” Malacoss replied with a sigh.

“Can you blame me?” Tephe retorted defensively before continuing, “I have been cooped up on that planet for over five hundred years, and I can count on one hand and still have fingers to spare how many times I’ve been able to leave it only to return a few days later.”

“It must be hell being stuck in one place for so long,” Rowena commented while nodding.

“I know, right?”

“Please don’t encourage her,” Malacoss stated.

“I’m only being honest, I could never imagine myself being stuck on one planet for five hundred years.” 

“Didn’t you live on a planet with one of your previous husbands for almost a thousand years?” 

“Sure, but we took regular vacations off-world, and when we were at home, we kept ourselves busy if you know what I mean?” Rowena replied with her smirk and a playful wink.

“Busy how?” Tephe asked curiously, causing the other three to sigh at her lack of common sense.

“Maybe Tephe should be allowed to roam around more, I mean, being cooped up for so long has given her a severe lack of common sense.”

“Hey, I have common sense.” Tephe retorted with a pout.

“About some things, sure, but many things you are lacking in since no one has taught you about them, take mating, for example. That’s a common practice engaged in by almost every known race and species in the universe, and you knew nothing about it before we explained it.”

“It does sound interesting and enjoyable the way you described it, Diva Roweana. Maybe I should find a mate to engage in it with.” Tephe replied thoughtfully.

“Good idea,” Rowena replied.

“No!” Malacoss replied while Lorelie sighed and shook her head before saying.

“Taking a mate is not something to be rushed into Tephe; you need to take your time and find that someone special to you. Look at me, I’m over a hundred and fifty years old, and yet I have never mated.”

“You might be right, Diva Lorelie,” Tephe replied as she considered her advice.

“Why are you not allowed off your planet anyway? All Malacoss is said is that you have special circumstances.” Rowena asked curiously.

Before Tephe could answer, Malacoss said, “And that’s all you need to know.”

Rowena was about to reply when her uniband notified her of an incoming message, and as she looked to see who it was, she showed a surprised expression before her face showed a loving smile.

“That’s a look I haven’t seen from you in many years,” Lorelie said as her interest was piqued about who could be messaging her to get that response.

“My granddaughter just messaged me for the first time in many years,” Rowena replied with a happy smile.

“Did you not try to contact her after you first learned that she ran away?” Lorelie asked.

“Of course, however, she never replied. Eventually, I decided that maybe she just needed some space, and so I only messaged her on her birthday each year after that, though I never received a reply.”

“It must be important if she has just decided to message you now, also, she plans to discuss something with you in private, doesn’t she?”

Rowena nodded before reading the message that Stacey had sent her with great attention, as if dreading the thought of missing anything.

Lorelie and Malacoss smiled at each other as they saw the focus on Rowena’s face, something she really showed anyone since she liked to keep her signature smirk up most of the time to mask her true thoughts and feelings.

As she finished reading, Rowena showed a look of surprise and interest as she muttered, “Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?” Tephe asked curiously.

Rowena turned to Lorelie before saying, ”Apparently, the streamer wants to meet us both away from the imperial palace so that we can leave the planet immediately.”

“He doesn’t play to stay and see the sights?” Tephe asked as Lorelie smiled, since this meant the streamer had basically accepted her job proposal.

“After the TISF attack, he does not want to take the risk of starting on the Terran home world for a long period of time.”

“What about Empress Victoria and my mother? They both want to meet him after all.” Tephe asked.

“He makes no mention of your mother, most likely since he does not know about her wanting to meet him. However…” Rowena replied, but stopped as a playful smile graced her beautiful lips.

“However, what?” Malacoss asked.

“To quote the streamer.” Rowena began before adding, “Why would I want to meet a family who can’t keep their word when they said we would be free from repercussions after we attacked the Sky Towers on Trillion?”

After she finished speaking, Lorelie’s eyes widened in surprise as Malacoss let out a low whistle.

“Wow, so cool,” Tephe said with sparkling eyes.

“Why is it cool?” Rowena asked.

“I wish I could be that direct when it comes to refusing my mother; maybe the streamer can teach me how.”