“There are the brave soldiers!”Bron called out in Stellarian the instant we walked through the doors.
This friendly greeting was in sharp contrast to the intimidating vibe of the last Astrum Force Command lineup. It helped that the twelve raised thrones they’d perched on to loom over us had been removed so everyone could be on equal footing during an audience. The walls of the audience chamber were still made of a stone so black, it sucked the light from the room, but Zig had explained this material was mined from deep within Stellaria’s core, so it was meant to be more a show of pride than anything.
Whatever you say, Space Daddy.
It’s still creepy.
Even with the new Head Commander being his maker, Ziggy had still worn his Stellarian armor for the occasion—which I greatly approved of—and of course, the commanding officers had done the same.
“No more Zeanidions?” I joked in English, knowing they could understand me even without my harp.
I only play that for Ziggy.
Bron was nothing but a swirl of stars behind the open visor of their helmet, but I could plainlyfeeltheir amusement.“We grew tired of those terrestrial forms,”they replied as Honnor wrapped up their nearby conversation with a Star Unit squadron leader and joined us.“So back to the communal skinsuit closet they went!”
I cringed and glanced at my stellar collision. I’d gotten a little tipsy during our last dinner with the space dads and let slip how much I enjoyed browsing Ziggy’s closet and making him try on different outfits for me.
While I hadn’t outright saidwhywe played dress up, I'm sure the subtext had been loud and clear. Zig had beenhorrifiedby my confession—what else is new?—but Honnor and Bron responded by cackling their starry little heads off before dragging us both to the “communal skinsuit closet” for a family field trip.
The closet was located a few levels below the audience chamber—only accessible by star hopping, of course—and the sheer selection was awe-inspiring.
And boner-inspiring, if I’m being honest.
Since Honnor and Bron were as patient with my endless questions as Ziggy was, I also learned why a resource of this magnitude needed to exist. Star Units typically traveled to their destination together, either by star hopping or aboard a generic carrier ship with no room for the massive closet they’d need to outfit everyone, so they suited up before they left. This meant thousands of vessels were needed at any given moment, and those that weren’t being used were left vacant, awaiting possession beneath our feet.
Which is weirdly…notcreepy.
You might think there’d be mixed opinions on the ethics of Stellarian body-snatching habits, but besides the understandable fear this top predator inspired, the intergalactic consensus seemed to be that they were simply following their natural instincts.
It is what it is.
Hot, in my opinion.
I’d also discovered most Stellarians preferred their starry true form, either free floating or encased in their cozy, leather-lined armor. That is, unless they’d discovered a perfect candidate for their true purpose in life—as a muse melded with their ideal vessel.
Zig and I had accidentally discovered this arrangement during our final boss battle with Astrum Force Command, but most Stellarians weren’t aware it was an option.
Because their leaders hid the truth from them.
And continue to…
The “True Stellarians”—as the rebellion called themselves—knew the truth, but even after returning to their home planet, they’d been hesitant to share with their less-enlightened brethren. Honnor explained it was too risky, that most Stellarians had been conditioned to believe conquest was their birthright, soencouragingthem to take over someone’s body with the hopes they’d leave them alive had the potential to go horribly wrong.
So, until it was deemed safe to spill the tea, the current focus was on goodwill missions—like rebuilding Kaalanesea—to educate these katana-wielding murder machines in the fine art of empathy and emotional intelligence first.
Dr. Micah has been consulting on an unofficial basis.
I would have been more involved in this mass deprogramming project, but Zig didn’t want to risk me being asked to stay while he flew off on missions of his own.
Even if I was left behind on the ship for this last one…
“How did the extraction on Marox go?”Honnor asked, pure parental pride radiating from them as they observed Pedro perched on Ziggy’s shoulders.“No casualties, I see.”
Well…
I glanced at Ziggy, remembering how he’d advised wenottalk about the Maroxian I fought and killed. Our mission was supposed to be covert—with no bloodshed—and an unnecessary trail of bodies would not look good for the new Astrum Force.
So, the old in-and-out is what we did.
