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

“While I’m happy to hear that you’re finally going to stop hiding your identity so much, are you sure this is what you want?” Lorelie asked.

“Well, from what you have all been telling me, this was bound to happen sooner or later,” Adam replied with a shrug.

“So you do listen to us after all,” Lorelie teased.

“Then I suppose I shouldn’t keep the senate waiting any longer and go meet them,” Revi said before looking at Elemence and asking, “Do you mind keeping them company until I get back?”

“Of course not,” Elemence replied.

“Then I will be back soon,” Revi said before turning and leaving.

“Is she heading back to the palace?” Adam asked curiously.

“I doubt it. There is a government office not far from here, so she will probably go there.” Elemence replied with a smile which turned into a smirk as she added, “Besides, I doubt she can bear to be apart from you for too long.”

Adam rolled his eyes and was about to reply when Tephe grabbed his arm and started pulling him off towards one of the nearby stalls while saying, “Adam, Adam, look at this.”

The others began to follow, but Elemence stopped Lorelie by placing a hand on her shoulder before asking, “Can I discuss something with you for a moment?”

Lorelie raised an eyebrow quizzically before asking, “What’s up?”

“Well, what are we supposed to do now?” Stacey asked as she slumped into a chair in Spector’s mess hall.

“Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do until the twenty-six-hour cooldown expires and we can jump back to Fenix Nest,” Rowena replied as she sat down opposite.

“At least he managed to help the Imperial Down escape, though it’s a shame he couldn’t stop the solar bomb and Alpha Kemel and its solar system were lost,” Aphrodite remarked as she joined them.

“I feel sorry for the Gargolian race; most of their race must have been wiped out,” Rowena said with a sad sigh.

“I never had the pleasure of meeting one,” Stacey remarked.

“It’s not surprising, most of them preferred to remain on their homeworld,” Aphrodite replied.

“Yeah, that’s what I heard,” Stacey replied before asking, “What do you think the Universal Senate will do about it?” 

“There isn’t much they can do since no one recognised those ships and doesn’t know where they came from,” Rowena replied.

“I guess for now all they can do is offer support to those of the Gargolian race that remain,” Aphrodite added.

“Here we are stuck in subspace while the others are enjoying the festival,” Stacey complained as she read a message she had just received from Lorelie.

“We knew that would happen when we agreed to go help the Imperial Down,” Rowena replied.

“Yeah, I guess,” Stacey admitted.

“So, since you’ve had time to think about it, why don’t you tell me what you plan to do about Amalia?” Rowena asked.

“You think with everything that’s been going on, I’ve had a chance to think about those bitches?” Stacey asked with a frown.

“Then consider it now that you have some free time,” Rowena replied before continuing, “I agree that Renne, Merle and Tierney deserve to die for their actions, especially Renne. But Amalia refused to partake and that should be taken into account.”

“She still chose not to reveal the information about what Renne did to me, making everyone in the family think that I was making the whole thing up to get attention,” Stacey argued.

“She did and I agree that she deserves to be punished for that, but her crime is not as severe as the other three and you need to consider that,” Rowena replied calmly.

“I get it, I get it, I will consider sparing her life and think about what other punishment she deserves instead,” Stacey replied while waving her hand.

“That’s all I ask,” Rowena replied with a warm smile.

“Hmph,” Stacey pouted while looking away from Rowena, making the latter smile even more as she looked lovingly at her granddaughter.

“Why are you so insistent on sparing this Amalia after what she did to your granddaughter?” Aphrodite asked before adding, “She may not have been directly involved, but an argument can be made that she’s even more responsible than the other three for your estrangement with Stacey.”

After hearing her words, Stacey shot her grandmother a sidelong glance while waiting for her answer.

Rowena didn’t reply immediately as she took a few moments to think about how to phrase her answer before she said, “Because of Levana.”

“Amalia’s mother?” Stacey asked.

“Yes, I’m assuming you remember who her father and husband are, right?” Rowena asked.

“Her father is Tobias, who is a member of the Brood council, if memory serves, while Darius is her husband and your great-nephew,” Stacey answered.

“Don’t tell me you’re doing this on behalf of your great-nephew?” Aphrodite asked with a frown before adding, “If that’s the case, why not save all four of them since you’re all blood related in one way or another?”

“Of course not,” Rowena replied while rolling her eyes before saying seriously. “I’m advising this because while Stacey is estranged from the family, I don’t want her to make her position in the family worse than that if possible.

The death penalty is a suitable punishment for Renne, Merle and Tierney after their attempted assassination of Stacey, and while their parents will try to argue that fact, the majority of the family should side with Stacey.

The same, however, can’t be said for Amalia. The majority of the family will not agree with that and with Tobias’s position and connections as a council member, you would most likely become an enemy of the family, if not worse.”

“You’re saying this Tobias could use his position as a member of the Brood council to turn other families against Stacey and, through her, Adam and the rest of us?” Aphrodite asked.

“That’s my greatest concern right now,” Rowena nodded before turning to Stacey and saying, “While I’m sure Adam wouldn’t care about making the entire Brood race his enemy if it meant getting revenge for you, is that really what you want? And what if the progenitor decides to get involved and Adam is forced to face him?” 

 “Ok, ok, I get your point, I already said I would think about it,” Stacey replied.

Aphrodite was about to say something when her uniband suddenly notified her of an incoming call and as she looked at who it was that was trying to contact her, her eyebrows raised in surprise as she asked, “Why is she suddenly calling me?”

“Who?” Rowena asked curiously.

“Astarte,” Aphrodite replied, causing Rowena and Stacey to show surprised looks.

“Do you think she’s calling about the toys?” Stacey asked.

“I guess,” Aphrodite replied before accepting the call and sending it to the mess hall’s console, causing a large holographic screen featuring a beautiful green-haired woman to appear.

“Hello Aphrodite, it’s been a while,” Astarte greeted with a small smile.

“Indeed it has, Astarte, how are you?” Aphrodite replied.

“I’m good,” Astarte replied before looking towards Rowena and Stacey and asking, “Did I call at a bad time?”

“Not at all, we’re just sitting around talking since we’re stuck in subspace,” Aphrodite replied.

“Stuck in subspace?” Astarte repeated in confusion before asking, “I thought you were on Fenix Nest? USNN just reported that Diva Lorelie is performing there.”

“Well, some stuff happened and we had to leave all of a sudden,” Aphrodite replied.

“That sounds… suspicious. What reason could Diva Rowena and her granddaughter have to suddenly leave their boyfriend behind?” Astarte asked as she looked at them suspiciously.

“How are things, Andria?” Tessa asked as Andria entered her quarters on the Imperial Down and sat on the sofa opposite her.

“There are multiple things to discuss, Tessa. Where would you like to begin?” Andria asked.

“With Adam’s mech, obviously,” Becky stated as she sat on another sofa eating snacks again, while Emma, who sat next to her, occasionally stole one.

“I wasn’t asking you,” Andria replied while glaring at Becky.

“It’s fine, we might as well start there,” Tessa replied before asking, “Has the crew been informed of my order to steer clear of Mr. Spencer’s mech as he requested?”

“Indeed, however, crew members are still occasionally gathering in the docking bay to admire the mech,” Andria answered.

“Observing it is fine since Mr. Spencer said nothing about that and we can’t exactly restrict access to the docking bay for the remainder of our trip because of it,” Tessa replied. 

“Remainder of the trip?” Andria asked in confusion.

“Mr. Spencer is going to kindly leave his mech with us for the time being in case we get attacked again,” Tessa explained before asking, “What about the subspace drive?”

“Engineering Chief Sidney estimates that the subspace drive should once again be operational in a little under two hours. At that time, we will continue on to the Galamedees Galaxy in subspace,” Andria replied.

“Good, now what about the investigation into the traitors?” Tessa asked.

“The search of the traitors’ compartments and work stations is still ongoing. Security Chief Benson estimates that it will not be complete until at least tomorrow,” Andria replied.