“So, you thinking a military member or one of them hunter survival types?” Solari asks between chips and sips of beer, relaxed next to me on the picknick bench with the snack platters.

“Mm, I think I’m going with the Olympic Target shooter who does overwatch for the hunting crews.”

“You want to be out there don’t you?” She turns to look at me.

“Well, yah, I do. But I struggle with the fact that one, I am the Empress and sponsoring this competition, and two, I’m not as good as some of these folk, at least not yet. What kind of optics are those?” My beer sloshes as I wave my hands about.

“One of the reasons I’m glad I get told what to do and where to go a lot of the time. I’m twenty years old and the world fell down around our ears. I join the Marines to get some direction in my life and wham, that starts falling apart. Six months later, I find an open call for citizens and jobs for Navy and Marines in space? Hell yeah, I can put off panicking for another few years.”

“Plus, with us only engaging in ‘stabilizing’ operations, the military is a pretty chill gig right now. How long do you figure I have to work to get a house out here?”

Solari must be feeling pretty comfortable if she’s talking about life aspirations with me. It’s a bit strange, and makes me want to share a bottle of whatever with Francesca, but it’s nice all the same.

“Not long, really. Nobody is really buying now, trying to figure out what they want in this new life and all. Around Aelea, maybe ten years. Near Cottonport? Two maybe? On one of our other systems, I’ve been letting people work-lease land around our industrial centers.”

“Work-lease, that sounds a lot like corporation indenture.”

“Hey, hey. None of that. They stay there for free while they work, and if their contributions are over their quotas, it goes towards paying off their lodgings.”

“Oh, yeah, that does sound pretty good for people just starting out.”

“And don’t forget that people can live in the high-rises completely free if they want. So no more of this slavery business.” I start breathing heavy, feeling a small need to lash out and retaliate.

“No harm intended Admiral, probably need a new phrase for the program though.” She raises her arms stands up and backs away.

Great. Go me. Putting the fear of my Imperial tantrums into others. Bah.

About half an hour in, Speth texts me instead of coming over to talk.

/Admiral, DE Speth. Civies are asking if they can come on the patio for a drink and to eat their lunches./

/Let. ‘em in. Reserve a table for our crew./

Feeling down after my interaction with Solari and Speth, I walk over to the edge of the platform and dangle my feet over as I sit. Staring off into the marksmanship course, I see someone of moderate skill attempting to be ‘fancy’ by rolling and sliding and full on running and shooting. I can’t help laughing for how silly it looks, and how much my [Gun Fu] skill cringes at the shooting technique.

I feel like I would have done well on the course, but there are two folk I have no doubt would have smoked me. They were steady, relentless, and accurate. Their roll-step and hunched movement keeps their firing platform as steady as possible while directing the force of their firearms into their cores instead of just their arms and shoulders. It’s not a technique I currently use as my pulse pistols don’t have recoil like that, but I have practiced with it.

“So, Solari seems pouty.” Naomi says, sitting next to me with a bubbly drink of some kind. Good call.

I summon a drink of my Belgian-top fruit beer. “Yeah, she got me talking about housing and the various programs we have for housing and owning land and such and the work-to-own project on Clotho came up.”

“Ah, she alluded to slavery didn’t she.”

“Corporate indenture, like the old coal and automotive ‘company towns’. Triggered me and I explained why it wasn’t slavery, probably aggressively.”

“After the Forum questions this morning about it, I get it, but remember she wasn’t on duty then. You don’t need to defend yourself all of the time, Empress.” She shoulder bumps me.

“Yeah, but as much of my brain knows that, my emotions are still raw from talking about my emotions all week. Calm isn’t an easy thing for me this today.”

“Working with Mercer can’t make that easier. I’m surprise he’s working so calmly after you cut him down a peg.” I appreciate that he didn’t say father.

“Something is probably coming back at me, but from what I know of him, he’s not the type to let the work suffer to even a score. He’ll do the work, and as long as he isn’t prevented from using his power to gain more, he’ll be reliable. I worry more about the Governors than my Consuls or obvious reasons.” I take a swig and take a quick look at my mail.

Some requests to move in to the Castle, some Merc Industries inquiries for tech and engraving services. Astoria Gems and Enchanting I set up as a different company for some reason. I see some star flags on a few of the tech and engraving requests that give me pause.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Tessa, is that you starring my messages?

Yes, it was the easiest way to show I had looked at them and taken the job. Should I use a different system?

Mmm, I think that we should keep the star as a priority marker? Earth based email used to have a flag system. Can you pick a color to flag the messages instead? Keep the stars for you and Naomi to use as prio markers.

Easily done. I’m just surprised you’re checking your messages for once.

Ha hah, such a funny person you are. I see you’ve been keeping the proceeds in a different account as well.

We talked about this, Penny! You’ve encouraged me to be my own person and . . .

Chill Tessa. I’m happy that you’re finding some independence. Take some getting used to though. And, I need to put some engraving work in and try to get a Master rating.

I would tell you some things about what that’s going to take, but I’m going to let you read your tome. Besides, you need to make a new crown now that your head size has changed.

Damnit! I was close to finishing that damn thing too. I hear chuckling in my head.

You should spend some time thinking about your tier upgrade and what changed. You also have a gift to open. I am almost ashamed to be associated with you.

AHHHHH! I forgot about the gift! TESSA!!!! It’s been all day you twit!

“Naomi, I’m going to check out for twenty minutes or so. Don’t let anyone push me off.”

She chuckles at that, “That will give us ten minutes before are due to congratulate the winner. I’ll be vigilant.” With a sloppy salute she takes the watch.

Okay Tessa, hit me with my options.

I think you’ll like the theme.

Storage Jewelry 2EEB 3-piece set of earrings and ring that contain pocket-space-based storage 5 cubic meters total (1,1,3). Partially filled Storage Bin 2AEA Requires installation and is only accessible through the available door. 30 cubic meters. Partially filled. Storage Vault 2MMS Requires portal tech, aether-based skill, or other space-time based skills to access. Coordinates and memory device provided for reference. Volume unknown. Contents unknown.

I have been begging for better options. My fanny pack is nice, but it’s always full! Each of these options would be a huge advantage. That last one seems too good to be true. Feels like it was added after I picked my title too.

It is entirely possible. It has clearly been waiting for someone to access it.

The second one is a throw away. I don’t need 50 cubic meters that stays put. I suppose I could install it on a shuttle. Plus, it isn’t all that much space in a building or a bigger ship. The first would be super useful for giving me more weapon and clothing space on my person. However, if I can turn my space manipulation into actual magic, then I could just teleport and send, and . . . wait. How is this different from free transfers from Andromeda to and from my moon warehouse?

Oh! That question unlocked some data from the Matrix. The help file discusses the method and mechanism that the Matrix uses to transport items and connect to users. Even for you, childe of the Matrix—odd distinction with the spelling by the way—it uses communication pings to locate and deliver because it is an astronomical power savings than identifying an absolute position and sending it there, using primarily technology to do so.

Technology is relatively simple to block with Magitech shielding, scalable with tier. Aether-based skills and spells are not.

I get ya. The first two are tamper resistant, but the last one, is nearly tamper proof, and it would take someone more skilled and more powerful than me to block me from it? Having to go find it is a huge turn off, though.

Penny, it is the best crafted item we have ever seen. Don’t pretend.

But the other two said “partially filled” like there are extra gifts!

The Vault could be the size of a moon, with a moon in it.

Arguing with someone who knows me this well is not very satisfying. You’re right though. That vault is Penny bait. Imma get it.

As soon as I agree I physically experience an alien landscape with a colossal building edifice standing before me, a cold and menacing breeze tickling the hairs on my neck. The taste of the air is of earthen salt and bitter regret, old aether and even older grudges. A displaced hand touches the door on the edifice and the coordinates change into a code, imprint into the wall and the wall flashes open. A radiant glow emits from the hole, bright enough that I can’t see inside.

The vision (?) ends as abruptly as it starts and I’m back sitting on the edge of a platform in front of the marksmanship course.

“Admiral? You okay?” a familiar voice asks.

“I think so? The system just gets weirder everytime I . . .” I look over while talking and I see concern on Solari’s face. “Oh, Solari. I thought Naomi was still there.”

“Oh, yeah,” she says, dejected, “I can go get her.” She starts to stand up, but I grip her arm in protest.

“Hey, no. It’s okay. I was just in a different place or a second is all. And I’m sorry I went off on you about the indenture thing. My morning was the Governors asking about prison work programs and I was still a little spun up about it.”

“Huh. Okay. As long as I’m not about to get spaced, I can deal.”

“Pah, I haven’t spaced someone in over a year. Worst I would do is not let you use the apartment. That’s a bit more ‘petty bitch’ than I’m prepared to be though.”

“Eh, you’re still pretty scary though, Ma’am. This package be damned.” She gestures at all of me.

“But I’m supposed to be cute, not scary.” I protest.

“They’re not exclusive, you can be both.”