“What is the meaning of this, Raizxl?” Idris demanded as he entered the observation deck, Erlyn trailing behind him. “We were on our way back from the hangar’s Control Room.”
The observation deck was a single floor that surrounded a rectangular arena from above. The ground floor was split into twenty rooms, each with its own viewing window and set of control panels. The room’s occupant could train in simulated combat scenarios, while the staff could adjust each individual’s experience from above.
The battle arena was equipped with a living AI technology, immersing the trainee and forcing them to respond to a simulated attack. Each occupant wore a black living-cloth suit capable of realistically mimicking any battle injury. The suit left the wearer’s head and neck exposed; if the system determined the user was struck there, the living AI environment would automatically end the test program, signaling the occupant’s failure.
This set-up allowed experienced warriors to burn off their anger without injuring others, as well as new soldiers trained in hand-to-hand combat.
Idris was surprised when Raizxl paged him and requested his presence here. Not only was the guard showing a part of their advanced technology to a human, but a diplomat should have had no use for the living arena.
Raizxl glanced behind him and stood next to the only viewing window with an active light on. The single occupied room was dark, the only light coming from a single figure battling an AI projection of Raizxl.
Raizxl nodded his head in greeting before returning his attention to the battle arena. “I wanted to show you that I wasn’t wrong about his capabilities, Sire.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the glowing fighter. “I knew you would have to see it to believe it, but it seems like our diplomat possesses more skills than just a sharp tongue.”
Idris would have called him a liar, if not for the fact that Aydin Lian was the only person aboard the starbase without horns and a tail.
“What brought this on?” He asked, studying the short-haired male as he seemed to dance around Raizxl’s projection.
Something about the pale male stirred a reaction to life within him, making Idris question everything about himself. There was a familiarity about Aydin that he couldn’t wrap his tail around. Idris knew they had never met outside of the starbase, so he couldn’t explain why even his name felt familiar.
“Our little assassin—”
“Don’t call him that!” Erlyn hissed.
“I would like to remind you that Aydin Lian is here as adiplomat. Using such language may jeopardize the goodwill we’ve worked so hard to earn the last few days,” Idris challenged. “He has skillfully designed a fair peace treaty for both of our species and has never shown any signs of aggression during our talks.”
“I agree with Idris.” Erlyn shot a glance at the rest of the observation deck, making sure it was still empty before continuing. “If word of your theories spread, you’ll cause problems we all can’t afford at this point. Not when our starbase’s main fleet is dying on the front lines.”
“How else would you explain his skillset?” Raizxl asked. He winced and covered his crotch when Aydin stabbed the same spot on his projection. The AI disintegrated Raizxl’s doppelganger and manifested as a blue sphere in the air, waiting for the next test run.
“My mother, the Overseer, wanted me to follow in her steps. I probably would have just to make her happy, if it wasn’t for the endless barrage of females bugging me every waking moment. They tried to sweet-talk mother to get to me, but I wouldn’t allow that.” Idris shivered at the memory of a female who had broken into his chambers and tried to climb into his bed as he slept. After that shock, he had demanded that his father, the Sovereign, allow him to join the Fleet Academy on Azophi 1 and support his sister Ushyaz on its starbase. He’d been here ever since, protecting the star system while she was away fighting with the main fleet. “I am here now acting as our species representative because my earlier studies gave me the right experience for the job. Perhaps he has a similar story that we don’t know about.”
“You are just upset that he bested your AI projection,” Erlyn chuckled. “Once the treaty is signed, and he goes home, you can return to your starstorm and the rest of the fleet.”
“We will see about that,” Raizxl chuckled as he worked the control panel.
The blue sphere materialized into an AI-projected copy of Erlyn.
“Sire, this is an abuse of power!” Erlyn shouted with a blanched face.
“I don’t see a problem.” Idris squeezed his assistant’s shoulder. “Plus, I would like to see how our diplomat fares with a new opponent.”
Erlyn sighed in defeat as the room fell silent, focused on the performance below.
Idris watched as Aydin tried to calm his breathing. He stood in a defensive stance, ready for Erlyn’s copy to attack.
The green light that twinkled from his bodysuit almost tricked Idris into believing he was a Daextru. The fiery glare he gave his opponent sent his mind back to his starstorm’s chair. He had seen that same glare before—on the battlefield when he had come across a certain captain and her wing.
“Erlyn, what do you know about Aydin Lian’s twin sister?” he asked, unable to pull his gaze away from the graceful male as he ducked and swerved, dodging every attack the AI threw at him.
Erlyn pulled out his tablet and worked the controls, glancing at the display a few times. “Nothing much about his sister, but . . .” He frantically typed some commands before looking up. “I knew the last name sounded familiar. Yueji Lian was on the original diplomatic vessel sent to establish peace with us.”
“What are you saying?” Idris asked as Aydin tackled his opponent to the floor.
He couldn’t rip his gaze away from the male; he had pinned the projection, both of his legs straddling him as they joisted. Something about the display was erotic, and he could feel his cock starting to harden.
“Humans use secondary names to distinguish familial ties, just as we use beading between starmates.” Erlyn paused, and Idris followed his gaze until he saw Aydin being flipped onto his back with the AI pushing a dagger to his neck.
“Stop getting distracted and answer your Prince,” Raizxl snapped.
“Oh, sorry.” Erlyn jerked his gaze away from the battle and returned to his tablet. “It seems like Yueji Lian was the mother of Aydin Lian, and the admiral who declared war on us twenty-five years ago was his father, Admiral Lian.”
A loud growl roared from the room below, pulling everyone’s attention back to the battle just in time to see Aydin flip Erlyn’s projection over, kneeing the figure in the crotch as he plunged his dagger into its neck.
In an instant, Aydin returned to his feet, leaving the dagger lodged in Erlyn’s lifeless throat and pumping his fist into the air triumphantly. The AI form disappeared as he shouted his victory to the room. “I want you to look into his family’s history,” Idris commanded, studying the intriguing male. “His behavior during our negotiations has been acceptable, and he has shown nothing but kindness and respect to those around him. I don’t want to believe he is here for nefarious reasons but protecting our people must be our priority.”
“Understood.”
