“If you need me, tap it. It is a direct communication to me.”
She raised her eyebrow. “What kind of range does it have?”
“I do not think it would reach me from the Galactic Alliance headquarters across the galaxy, but at least a couple of sectors.”
“What if I just wanted to talk to you?”
“It works for that,” he said.
She smiled and tucked it into her robes.
From the ship, one of the pilots came to the ramp to see what the delay was. That was what Harbin thought from the pilot's posture.
“You need to go,” Harbin told her.
She took a few steps toward the ship before she glanced back at him. “I look forward to seeing you again, Harbin.”
“And I, you, Lady Bianca.”
She stepped onto the ship, and the blast doors started to close.
He watched the ship’s engines start building as it lifted off the platform.
“What was that between you two?” Reedek asked. “You seemed quite familiar with her.”
“It happens.”
“Was it the Craving?” he asked.
He glanced at the young cyborg.
Did not answer.
Instead, he walked away.
With visions of Lady Bianca in his mind.
And hopes that she reached out to him.
5
The Imperial capital went about the day, regardless of whether the Terran Empire was at war or at peace. Ships flew around the palace just beyond the perimeter of the fly zone like ants, all on their missions to do whatever job they did.
The palace sat in a centralized location in the capital city. Ornate and exquisite design, the palace architecture was old. Yet, it still managed to match the lines of the newer architecture all around.
Most of the buildings combined the old structures of history and the modern lines of new technology flawlessly. The Senate could be seen in the distance, resembling a half a sphere, hanging in the sky. It balanced the palace’s spires stabbing at the skyline.
All together, it was a beautiful sight to behold. If one could look past the military ships protecting the palace.
Bianca wondered what Harbin would think of it.
Would he like the look? Or would he prefer his volcanic planet? Did he even know beauty? Could he appreciate it?
She kept thinking about him, even though she should have been fully engulfed in preparing for the peace talks.
Did she have a crush on the large Rhimodian? Probably in some form or another. He certainly kept her attention—his build was enough to fill her nights with erotic dreams, to say the least.
But she’d also enjoyed just speaking to him. He was kind and respectful and seemed to listen to what she said before responding.
