Camacho arrives with Naomi and Speth goes off into the city to do whatever people do when they’re not working. Naomi briefs me on my schedule today, telling me that she was glad I was already in the city, as our last fitting at the tailor is in fifteen minutes. She goes on to say that we need to go through the script, review guests that I am scheduled to meet this afternoon after the opening ceremonies, and that I’ll have to select some events I’ll attend throughout the week.

I nod in appropriate places as I walk to my new bike and power it up. As it unfolds and energizes, Naomi’s eyes get wide. Camacho sighs and pulls strap-on skates to her boots. Nice, Speth must have told her. She pulls out a line and carabiner to attach to the back of my seat and she’s ready to be pulled along.

“Empress, I don’t know if that’s quite necessary. Perhaps we should just walk quickly?” She looks as though it might run her over right here.

“No dice. There’s no way you can guarantee we’ll be on time for everything if we walk, and my shuttle doesn’t fit everywhere we’re headed. Hop on.” I tap a few screens and a helmet pops into my hand and I offer it to her.

She reluctantly puts it on, tucks her tablet in her front and grabs around my waist like a python. I pilot in the bike lane and take us halfway around the loop to the tailor. No way we would have made it walking. I wonder if the hover could have taken us across the Lake? Maybe I’ll take that route to punish Camacho some time. I grin at the mental image. The people walking by scatter when the see my teeth showing. That feels bad, but I’ll work on that when Bill finds me an image consultant.

“The way Jenna complains about your driving, I was expecting a lot worse.”

I chuckle at that, “Well, with you tethered, I would have clothes lined too many people if I steered for adventure. Next time I’ll try the Lake and see how your skiing skills hold up.”

I get a genuine laugh out of her this time. “You fucking would too! I’d put bees in your hats for months, but it’d be funny afterward.”

I agree, but I don’t tell her that. What I do is think of Jenna.

/Hey baby, you make it back to Elysium okay?/

/Yes, but I was surprised how much extra I had to pay to find a pilot to jump me straight there. You jump around so casually in your shuttle/

/Oh, shit./ I laugh, /Yeah, I forget that not every shuttle has Navy warp and power systems. I can reimburse you for some of that, since it’s partially my fault./

/I can hear you laughing by the way. And no, I shouldn’t expect my rich girlfriend to fix everything for me, despite how convenient traveling with you is. Thanks for checking up on me, but I gotta go hon, love ya/

/Love you too/

Naomi hands me back the helmet, which I rest on the folded up bike. It would be convenient to carry if it didn’t weigh 500 pounds. Then again, if I aether enhanced my musculature, I could backpack the folded machine. Camacho enters first, gives the gallery a brief once-over then nods me into the shop.

I’m assaulted by bold lines and even bolder colors featured on vests, brocades and dresses of a dozen different fabrics. I am immediately overwhelmed as the smell of fussing and tedium assaults my nose. I unknowingly take a step back and Naomi is there, with her hand on my back to prevent me from escaping. She deftly ignores the pout emerging on my face.

“Oh, my Empress!” The thin man in a stylish slacks and vest pair bows with a flourish before walking up to me with measuring chord in hand. “Your features are more exotic than I expected.” In half a second, he’s got the tape around the back of my neck and in half more Camacho has a hand around his.

“Camacho, we’re here for a fitting, the man has to touch and measure me to get the clothes right.”

“Needed you to give permission, your Majesty.” Camacho growls.

“Sorry Master Tailor,” I checked, “this arrangement is new, please forgive my guard.”

“Oh, no trouble, I just get so excited with unique clients that I forget that some of them are important. Under different circumstances, I may have even enjoyed it.” He winks at Camacho and blows her a kiss.

He takes us immediately behind a changing shade and a suspended array of mirrors. He directs me to strip down to my bottoms. When I get down to my sports bra and panties, I give the man a death glare as he motions for me to continue and I peel of my bra. He takes a measure of me with just this eyes, from a few angles and then nods.

“You will not be able to fit all of the outfits I have prepared, but there are still good options remaining.” I wonder which measurement was so out of proportion that we couldn’t try it.

Ah well. He comes out with some of the more business casual outfits in a variety of colors outside of my typical Astorian Navy triplet. The suits were easy to love, but most of the dresses felt too billowy and voluminous for my tastes. This Imperial bitch wants Imperial lines! My favorite of the outfits was a hybrid that had a conservative sleeveless dress top that had a high split on my left hip that curves around and down towards my opposite thigh to reveal crisp slacks cuffed below the knee into a light wedged knee-high boot.

“Guiseppe, the lines and cut of this ensemble is by far my favorite of the day, but the neck doesn’t move right across my slightly scaled skin. Perhaps a ribbon edge or an integrated silk priest collar to reduce the catching?”

“What jewelry will you be wearing Highness?”

“A pendent that Naomi has a picture of and” I reach into my clutch sewn to my belt and pull out a faceted and engraved corundum crown. “And this crown.”

Guiseppe marveled at the ornament and symbol of power. Naomi and even Camacho spared a few extra moments looking at it. “I must capture an image with you in this before you leave.”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“Get me a suit coat and capris of any type to leave the shop with, and you’ve got a deal sir.”

He comes out with a heather suit coat with decorative stitching and purple slacks and I know he’s playing to my interests. I put my sports bra back on and the suit coat over it, slacks and low, black slip-ons. I put on the crown and I immediately feel like a boss. I pull out my scepter of disintegration to complete the picture.

“How’s this for a picture Guiseppe?” I quirk an eyebrow and point my scepter at him.

“Very regal your Majesty. Hold that pose. Please.” A short fashion shoot later and I’m bearing my midriff for the Empire to see, but stylishly.

“You know Empress, it’s times like these I get a glimpse of what Jenna sees.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Camacho. Nice to see your human side for once.” We both laugh at our own jokes as we walk away from the tailor’s shop.

“What’s next Naomi?”

“Meeting at the Governor’s office. He’s gathered the different dignitaries that are coming to the festival.”

“Where’s my list, Naomi?” Her eyes widen, “I swear, if I’m surprised by any of the people I’m about to meet, all of the relationship capitol we’ve built will be spent.” She slumps at that. I power up my hoverbike and get on. Naomi hangs her head and refuses. I shrug and wave at Camacho.

Camacho hops on, smashes the helmet on and we take off down the road. I’m a bit angry that I’m about to be blind-sided but what can you do when your secretary is ashamed and silent?

I’m still wearing the crown when I walk into Aelea’s government building. People avoided my gaze as I stormed through the building. I reach the front office and storm through despite the secretary’s protests. I look around the Governors office as he sputters in outrage until I level a glare at him, daring the small man to challenge my authority.

As soon as I see Katie talking with Melissa I groan internally and plop next to Melissa. If only Katie hadn’t sat at the end of the row.

“Oh, uh, I p-Penny. Good to see you looking hot, oh, I mean well?” she buries her face in her hands. If I wasn’t furious, she’d be adorable.

“Thank you. How’s your husband?”

“Ugh, happy with my parents on Earth? Part of the reason I agreed to come here, when I have to deal with you.”

“Mmm, yes, perhaps today will be as difficult for you as the day you left me.”

“Penny, I know she hurt us, but try to play along for a few days? Neither you nor I need the stress.”

“Sorry. The governor seems to think it’s funny to deny my aide a guest list just to watch my reaction.”

>P] You still receptive after I took out the perma-link?[<

>M] I’m a Mentalist, Penny, of course. You want to talk later?[<

>P] Yes and no. But we should anyway. You free for late cocktails and snacks? [<

>M] Yes. [<

I can tell Melissa meant to say more, but stopped herself. She was already being unduly familiar, and I am centimeters from snapping at everyone.

“Governor, we will talk later on why you decided to surprise me with guests. For now, proceeded with your description of events.”

The governor intends to open the event and introduce the four “founders” of the Empire. Each of us will have a short chance to speak to the crowd, then a brief period of questions from the crowd? Oh dear, that is going to get out of hand guaranteed. He’s intended to invite Francesca and Melissa to be the guests of honor at a lot of events, but Katie and I are distinctly absent from those invitations. I ask the Governor if the slight was intended.

“No ma’am, I just . . .”

“I have many titles, Governor, use one when you address me.” The room goes silent and the side conversations stop.

“My apologies, Empress. I merely assumed you would go to any event you choose and we would accommodate your choices.” He basically spits my title at me.

“Yes, thank you. Oh, here’s a letter I gave to a shop owner this morning. You should know in case you get complaints from other shop owners.”

“I don’t think it’s good for public order to have furniture in the road.” Is this man serious? Perhaps this is why Rich and Naomi say I should be more visible.

“It’ll be good for business and it’s good to have the festival on banners around Lake street.” He finally looks at me, the person he’s addressing and see’s the dare in my eyes. See what happens you muppet.

He nods instead of saying anything. He then looks at Francesca and thanks her for all the flower arrangements, thanks his cronies for putting on the different events of the week. He smirks at my visible frustration. Well, it seems he wants to duke it out in the court of public opinion, so be it.

>P]How are you feeling today Kay? [<

>K] I didn’t like seeing the notifications of my permissions being re-arranged, but I know it comes from a place that lets me have the space I want to my portion of our house before diving back in. This isn’t you trying to cut me out is it? [<

>P] I don’t mean to offend. And yes, it was to allow you to take the time you need, and if you want to come back to governing, you’re still the First Consul, Katie, you can put your fingers in as many pies as you want. Hell, we can make a new job for you, or kick Mercer to the curb if you like, I would actually enjoy that [< Katie snickers in my mind.

>K] I haven’t been in a situation that made me feel this vulnerable in a while, so thanks for being around, but not being intrusive. [<

>P] I’m sorry you’re hurting Katie, anything I can do to help, just ask. [<

She nods in acknowledgement, then stares at the governor.

I school my features, stand and straighten my dress out. The room is still silent when I say. “If there is nothing else of import, I will be leaving.”

Silence persists as I walk out and they don’t begin talking again until I close the door quietly.

I don’t need that portly man’s bullshit heaped on my existing tower of poop, thank you.

“That face isn’t for me is it?” Naomi raises her tablet like a shield.

“No, it’s not. You’re not fired, and I could use your help. The Governor seems to be keen on petty slights, like ambushing me with an ex-girlfriend. So, I don’t think he wants me at any of the events and has likely not planned to accommodate my presence. See what the official party accommodations look like and talk to the sound engineer and see what freq’s their mic’s are operating at, etc.”

“You’re just trying to make my life hard aren’t you?”

“Nah, just being the big ego, self important bitch Aelea expect me to be.”

I order snacks and drinks for the three of us while Naomi paces back and forth while chattering on her implants. Camacho stands close to me, constantly scanning the area including the exit of the Aelean Government building.

Well, if I’m going to be waiting outside, might as well do it by the lake. I pop out a lounger and stick my feet in the water and a floppy hat on my head, sipping a new juice from a fuzzy puppy commune coreward and spinward from here about 15-20k light years from here. It’s sweet and a little chewy, like an aether infused Jell-O drink.

“I appreciate not having to scan 360.”

“You are most welcome, my cantankerous caretaker.” I smile at her with big dopey sunglasses on.

“Alright, good news is that the opening ceremony is at the steps of the government building, bad news is, what you see is what you get.”

“Well that’s entirely unacceptable. Where is the money that I budgeted for this week-long event going? Send a message to Mr. Mercer congratulating him on his new position. Also include a second email from me with Consul Mercer’s first task to investigate Founder’s week spending and have the Report ready the day after festivities end.”

“Camacho, how wide would I need to make a set of bleachers to seat a thousand people?”

“Tessa, quick building-sized mock-up on Founder’s day banners for the government building. Me and Katie on one side, Francesca and Mel on the other. Astorian Navy-colored bunting. Lets just call that Astoria’s colors.”

>P] Mel, want to help me make a ruckus?[<

>M] Uhh, I don’t really want to offend the Governor? [<

>P] Okidoke. [<

Who else can I call?