Fine. I admitted it.

The Royal Dawn was a really nice hotel.

And the best part was, after my... demonstration to the Administrative offices today, I didn't have to order the Hotel to give us some rooms! They just offered the minute we walked in!

I was given 'The Empress Suite.' I giggled at the name. I wondered if this had something to do with the royal retinue back in the day. Between the opulence, the name and the theme it feels possible.

It is possible. There was always more than just the Throne for you and your retinue. Every Starbase competed to offer you the most luxurious accommodations. After all, if you didn't like them, you could just rest on your starship.

My room - my suite of rooms actually - were easily the nicest place I've slept in my entire life. I made sure Omar, Ava, Um'reli and I each had our own rooms and while I'm glad that they had their own space, I'm too used to being around other people in the close quarters of Far Reach or Starbases back home. I rattled around the rooms opening cabinets and drawers until I saw it in the corner near a window overlooking the promenade.

They had a bath here!

It was made of some kind of white stone flecked with gold, and was carved to look like it was weathered by the wind and water over millions of years. I figured out the taps, and set a bath going.

Once it was finished, I took off my outfit - Ugh, I wish I packed, these are my only clothes unless I used the Nanites to make more - or demanded a local tailor make me some - and slipped into the bath. It was blissfully relaxing.

I'm laying back in the tub, just floating, and I wished Ava was here with me. Where did that come from?

I thought for a split second about calling her in, but decided against it. I'm sure she'd come running if I called, I'm sure she'd be... enthusiastic about it, but I didn't think I was ready yet. I comforted myself with the thought, and soaked for nearly an hour.

After, I dried and climbed into the bed naked. I'll deal with clothes tomorrow.

More wild dreams.

My ship, operated and led by my most trusted Builder, Aeche, carried us to her prized Starbase. Built on her order for me, it was beautiful. She took me on a tour, and we visited all of the highlights. She is especially proud of the transit system, the largest off planet in the Empire.

A team of 10 Builders lived and worked on the Reach operating in shifts to make sure all the needs of the residents and builders that live here were taken care of. It's one of the most complex Starbases yet and one of the most impressive.

That night, she came to my rooms while I was in the bath. She asked to join me, and I accepted. For her, this was a culmination of months of jockeying and positioning to catch my eye, it's the realization of a goal years in the making. For me, it was a fun night. She was easy on the eyes though, I saw no harm in keeping her around for a while. The next day, she led me to the Throne. The only one larger existed back home on Imperia and I got the impression that this one was smaller only out of courtesy. Sitting upon the Throne, with a full contingent of Builders behind me, I was able to instantly take stock of my Empire. Things were going well. There were new reports from the frontier, and I sent them to my ship, Worldshaker, so I had something to read while en route to the K'laxi.

This was the last stop before I go see the K'laxi, turn their Gate back on, and remind them what the price of insubordination was. Worldshaker was getting provisioned and refreshed as the trip was longer than normal and I wanted to make sure we could stay a while if needed. On my way out, I'll touch the Gate, and commit an upload.

That night, Aeche visited me again, and we had more fun. After, we went to bed and I laid awake thinking about next steps. Aeche sighed and rolled over in her sleep next to me. I stroked her hair gently. Yes, things were going quiet well. It was nice to have some quiet.

I woke up in my bed alone, in the hotel room, fully myself again. Not only was that the most... idyllic dream I've had as Empress yet, it was the first that I felt like it was me doing the things, not some other Empress.

Yes, your integration was going well. You could probably integrate with the Throne completely if you were to try. It's up to you. But remember you told The Smell of Soil after Rain to bring everyone today. We should head over there.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Hmm, good point. Okay, let's get up, get dressed, grab everyone and head over. I looked over at my outfit from yesterday. It's nice, and it's impressive, but if I'm going to be presenting as Empress to everyone, I needed something... more. I concentrate and thought about what would be right. I didn't think about specifics, I let the Nanites take my whims into consideration and see what I got. The fog cloud of them surrounded me and my outfit from yesterday and I when they finished I turn and looked in the mirror near the bath.

I'm still in royal blue - good, I liked that color - but the outfit now was more of a... strapless ball gown? It's rather severely low cut - I wonder if that was from dreaming about Aeche, or thinking about Ava - and the dress clung on the top half and billowed and flowed on the lower half and ended in sparking stars and nebulae on a train that flowed behind me, rippling gently as if a breeze was blowing it. I checked and... yes, it's not touching the ground. That was a neat trick for fashion. I'm wearing taller heels than yesterday too, but at least they're comfortable - for now. It's not something that Lieutenant Mullen would ever wear, but it seemed... right for Empress Melody The First. I'll roll with it. In deference to who I was, there was a way to mount my rifle on my back. I clicked it in place and felt complete. I wonder how many Empresses were armed?

Many were. We even have records of one or two who would carry a battle rifle with them.

That brought me some happiness. Even after how different we were, there were still some things that I shared with Empresses across time. As I opened the door to leave, I saw Omar, Ava and Um'reli in the hall dressed and ready. They turned to see me and Ava and Um'reli both gasped and blushed. Omar grins wickedly. "Melody, I have to say that this is the first time since you told us you were an Empress that you look the part. That is an amazing outfit."

I curtsied, "Thank you Omar. Did you all sleep well? I have a hunch with the Nanites you had... intense dreams?"

Ava whipped her had back to me. "I did! I dreamt that I was running a Starbase. We were preparing for your visit and I had so much to do, but I knew how to do all of it, and I had a really strong team, and you complimented our readiness when you arrived!"

Um'reli looked at me with an odd expression. "I did too, but... I dreamt I was a human. A Builder. I was operating a Starship, the Sunrunner. We were tasked by you directly to tour the frontier worlds and build a report about how they were doing, if they needed anything and if we thought there was any unrest. We were very proud because you had personally asked for us."

"What about you Omar?" Ava turned and looked at him.

"Yeah, I had a vivid dream too. I dreamt that I was a planetary administrator. I ruled over more than a billion people on a world with two suns. One was white and the other was larger and redder. I remembered clearly the odd shadows it cast, and how everything had an odd coloration. You had requested an increase in the delivery of Magnesium. We were able to meet the new quota this time, but I was worried that if you had requested to keep the quote high, how we would be able to make it without overworking the miners."

"Wow, so not only did you dream about being a Builder, not only did you dream about being a powerful Builder, but you all were in direct contact with the Empress. I wonder if that's because you received your Nanites from me directly."

"Who knows?" Um'reli looked at all of us. "But I for one am starving. Let's get some breakfast and go back to the Throne. Melody has a performance to give."

We headed downstairs and sure enough there was a restaurant attached to the Hotel. We sit down and immediately I asked for a carafe of boiling hot water to be brought. While we waited, I took out my hand grinder and scale and made some coffee. By the time the water arriveed, everything was ready. The Mariens who brought me the water is watching curiously as I made the coffee. Soon enough, it's finished, and I took the first sip of coffee in nearly three days.

Ahh, now, I could rule.

"Pardon my asking, Empress, but what is that?" The Mariens pointed to my beverage.

"It's called coffee; it's the roasted seed of a plant that's native to the planet we originated from. I like an extraction of it made with boiling water. It does have a chemical, called caffeine that offers a stimulant effect to us, but we've found it to be toxic to other Sapients, like our friends the K'laxi here. You can smell it if you'd like though." I held out the cup.

The Mariens leaned in and gently inhaled. They leaned back sharply and looked at me. "That smells amazing." Their body language expressed wonder. "Truly, the Builders do amazing things. Now, what will you be having for breakfast?"

We order and ate and walked towards the Throne. As we're walking this time, people were not ignoring us. Children waved, and the people followed us with their eyes. They didn't seem to be fearful of us, more respectful this time. As we turned a corner, I saw Rapid River Roaring and The Smell of the Ocean. They looked worse for wear. Both of them had matted feathers, even a few bare spots. Wild eyed they're looking around. River is clutching a bag of some kind.

Uh oh.

They turned and saw me. Relief washed over them and they ran up to me. "Empress! My Empress!" They both approached me and bowed low, head touching the ground. "We have completed your task. We have found Vivvix and Zemmlin and brought them to you."

Ava looked around. "But, where were they?"

I know where they were.

River opened the bag they're carrying.

Inside were most of Vivvix and Zemmlin.

"I see..." I tried to not look unsettled. Omar's face darkened and he turned away. Ava looked in and nodded, satisfied. Um'reli doesn't look in, but she wasn't unsettled by this development either.

Well. What's done was done. "I would have preferred they be brought to me alive, but my fault for not specifying that. Where were they?"

"The cowards were hiding in the docks. They were attempting to board another ship and catch up to that traitor, Ottarn. We were able to surprise them, and carried out your order, Empress."

"Yes, I can see that. Er, thank you both for your hard work. Go to High Line and find Starlight on a Moonless Evening. After this presentation, I plan on visiting the ship to assess it for refitting."

They both bowed again. "Empress."