It took a moment for Kiera to remember where she was, the soft mattress and feathery pillow was unfamiliar and she had never woken up with strong arms wrapped around her. She closed her eyes and let out a happy sigh. Everything about the previous had been incredible, especially sleeping with Zax. It wasn’t ravenous passion like on some of the holo-vids she had seen, but a slow exploration of two people who wanted each other but at the same time it may have been her first time, but she wasn’t his first.
Zax’ breathing was deep and steady, she felt his chest rise and fall with each breath and was in no hurry to get out of bed. He slipped out of bed, giving her a kiss. When he turned she admired him, the scars on his face weren’t the only ones he’d had. There were plasma burns on his ribs, claw marks down his arms and across his stomach.
“Good morning,” Kiera said as he climbed back into bed and pulled her close to him. She leaned up and gave him a long kiss.
“Good morning,” he replied when their lips parted, “Sleep well?”
“Mhm,” Kiera said, snuggling into his arms, “You?”
“I did, you’re dating the girl with the dyed hair, right?” He whispered.
“I am, but if you’re thinking—”
“No, no,” he laughed, “Why don’t you go let her wake up with a beautiful woman in her bed. It’s one of the best ways to wake up.”
“You’re amazing,” Kiera said, giving him a long kiss. She slipped out of his arms and walked to the bathroom. After a quick shower she left her room and walked down the hallway. Kinsley was still asleep when she slipped into her bed, snuggling up to her.
Kinsley stirred, her eyes fluttered open, “Kara?”
“Good Morning, beautiful. Zax thought you’d like to wake up next to a beautiful woman.”
“How considerate of him,” Kinsley said, giving Kiera a long kiss, “I think that is one of my new favorite things.”
Kiera grinned, “How about sleeping with one?”
-[]-
The ride back to the palace was full of chatter and some slight arguing between Mias and Talah, Kiera couldn’t understand them, but the way their eyes flashed between red and green was enough to know they were arguing. She could feel their emotions more intensely as well, her empathy was growing stronger since yesterday. Their kids ignored it for the most part, Almat was trying to flirt with Emily and Lariat ws engaged in her own conversation with Kinsley and Tamalyn. Isaac seemed more comfortable than he did last night and managed to have a conversation with her. He didn’t look directly at her, but they had a conversation. This was the last part of her birthday celebration: a quiet breakfast with her friends and family. Well, as quiet as it could be with seventeen children, five spouses, six grandchildren, Amadeus, and her mother. Her father had other consorts but many usually declined to attend the breakfast. The only one who attended was Abigail, the human mother of three month old Darius.
Breakfast would also be the time when any of her friends or siblings would give her gifts; they weren’t required and Kiera felt that her father granting them any wish was more than enough. It was a tradition that was left over from her father’s parents who had passed long before any of Amadeus’ children had been born. Unlike the previous night, the breakfast was a casual affair, Kiera wore a red sundress due to the MidSummer heat; fortunately there was no humidity at the palace. The meal would be taken in the Garden dining room, which overlooked the garden Kiera had admired the night before.
When they arrived, Kiera’s father was waiting for them, he helped each one out of the car, Lariat’s eyes turned a deep shade of scarlet while her eyes turned into a bright shade of orange and rose. He led them across the palace grounds into the Garden Dining room, where several round tables were assembled and filled with her waiting family. The only person who wasn’t present was Darthian. Lariat and Almat sat down at the grandchildren’s table, leaving their parents to sit with Kiera, her friends, and her parents.
It was a much more relaxed atmosphere, the servants chatted with the royals and their guests, Amodeus struck up a conversation with Kinsley which Kiera made note of and found interesting. At the next table over Tiberius was teasing Tamerial that holding their youngest sibling, who had been born last month, would infect her with baby fever. His mother had joined them for breakfast, which didn’t bother Kiera; she liked the woman even if she couldn’t remember her name.
When breakfast was finished came the presents. Her younger sister, Nikita who was seven brought Kiera a bouquet of Sun Dragon Orchids, Kiera’s favorite flower. Her youngest brother, Fuer who was four, made her a paper card. Both were excited to give their gifts to Kiera and bickered over who would be allowed to give theirs first. Tamerial gave her an energy sword, the blade was amethyst when ignited. Kiera let Nikita hold it since she was learning swordsmanship from their father, but denied Fuer. An energy blade in the hands of a hyper four year old was just a bad idea.
Energy swords were built using terrax crystal, which both powered the blade and generated the unique energy that made up the magnet field containing the beam. By adjusting the strength on the magnet field that formed the blade they could be adjusted into a hard light weapon that could be used for sparring or a weapon of deadly force that could cut through nearly anything. Most blades used in battle were a balance of the two as the weaker the magnetic force the more likely an accident was to occur. A small battery gave the terrax enough energy to generate the beam and if the pressure activated igniter was released the beam would automatically shut off. It was a safety feature that couldn’t be bypassed. The hilts had a safety to prevent accidental ignition.
“Favoritism huh?” Her nephew Arthur scoffed. He had turned sixteen in the spring and had received an explorer’s kit from Tamerial. She loved to dote on her younger siblings, nieces, and nephews and her gifts were always tailored to their interests.
“Nikita knows how to use a sword, or were you complaining that I gave Kiera a nice weapon and didn’t give one to you, nephew? Kiera actually knows how to wield it.” Tamerial retorted, “Which reminds me. Father, can she open her exam results?”
“I had almost forgotten,” Amadeus said, setting a datapad in front of Kiera.
Kiera put away the sword and activated the pad.
Examinee: Kiera Sol
Site: 34 - Albus (Albion), Alderaan System
Results:
Events:
* Ten Kilometer Run - PASS: 100%
* Demonstrated Leadership
* Demonstrated willingness to aid others
* Adapted to circumstances
* Demonstrated Teamwork
* Fitness Test - PASS: 100%
* Provided Morale
* Demonstrated Ingenuity
* Demonstrated Teamwork
* Obstacle Course - PASS: 80%
* Failed to complete Balance Maze
* Demonstrated Teamwork
* Demonstrated willingness to aid others
* Demonstrated Leadership
* One kilometer swim failure exercise - PASS
* Completed 400 meters
* Demonstrated acknowledgement of limitations
* Mock Combat Battle - PASS
* Demonstrated ingenuity
* Demonstrated leadership
* Demonstrated Teamwork
* Objective Achieved
* Mixed Cohabitation - PASS
* Written Exam - PASS
* Practical Exam - PASS
* Mechanized Combat Corp Scenario
Branch Officer Qualification Earned:
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* Armored Special Forces
* Imperial Royal Navy
* Mechanized Combat Corps
There was only one option as far as Kiera was concerned. The enrollment options appeared beneath the results. Kiera immediately selected the Mechanized Combat Corps. The screen changed showing which academies had offered admittance. Kiera didn’t hesitate and enrolled in the Danelar Naval Officers Academy. All the training with Jac had paid off, she had achieved her goal.
“Sorry, Liri, but I chase the MC instead of the Navy,” Kiera said looking up from the datapad.
“Well, there’s no accounting for taste,” Arthur said, shaking his head, “Did you not get accepted into the Army? It has better specialty options.”
“The difference is, you’re going to have to enlist and apply for those specialty options,” Galad, Arthur’s father, said. “I am still furious with you for the manner in which you failed.”
Kiera arched an eyebrow, “You knew it was coming up, how did you fail?”
Arthur bristled, “I was having an off day,” he said.
“I’m sure the raid on the officer’s dinner had nothing to do with it,” Liandra said rolling her eyes, “The lasagna was actually really good, but no, you and your barracks had to attempt to go after the proctor’s prime rib.”
Kinsley burst into laughter while both Kiera and Tamalyn cringed. Gargax tilted his head at Arthur, a questioning look on his face. Robyn rolled her eyes, and Isaac shook his head solemnly. “And to think they call ASF the idiot branch, which is odd considering that you have to take an exam to join at all.”
“We succeeded,” Arthur snapped, “It was just bad timing that Uncle Marak chose that moment to walk into the mess. Wouldn’t even give his nephew a pass,” he shot a dirty look to his uncle.
“A pass? You’re lucky we didn’t fail all of you right there,” Marak said, “You would have passed despite your low scores on the fitness and the written, although the latter might have been my fault since I was the one that ordered you to clean all the dishes from the mess hall. That stunt failed your entire barracks.”
Kiera shook her head, Marak was the ninth born and Arthur the eldest son of Galad, her second oldest brother. Arthur was impulsive and lacked self control, and had an entitled attitude that his parents strove to whittle down. The complete opposite in personality than his father. He refused to learn the sword despite his father being the reigning champion of the Gladiatorial Swordmaster League. “What about you, Lily? Did you get into your academy? I hate saying this and losing favorite Aunt status but I don’t know which one you were going for.”
“Danelor Naval Officers Academy, Bridge Officer, helmsman, track. After the first semester I can transfer into NSF. My interviewing officer said if he could he’d put me in there immediately,” Liandra beamed, “I owe it all to you and Aunt Liri. When I heard you were allowed to train with Uncle Jac, Dad let me contact her and she set me up with Captain Wyn, a retired starfighter pilot. He was more than happy to teach me. There’s no racing league for starfighters but I got to learn both atmospheric and space flight. There is nothing like being among the stars.”
“Stay a bridge officer,” Tamariel said, “Once you graduate as an Ensign I can get you assigned to my ship.” She looked at Kiera and smirked, “Your favorite Aunt status was lost two years ago.”
“That’s great! At least I’m still Percy’s favorite Aunt,” Kiera grinned. She winked at Percy who was very interested in his crepes and not wanting to get into this before addressing her friends, “What about you guys? You got your results, right? Isaac, are you going in as an officer?”
He looked at her to reply and his cheeks turned pink, “Y-yeah, I-um, the teamwork…h-helped..” He stammered quickly looking away from her. Robyn, Kinsley and Tamalyn reported they had gotten into their first choices as well; Danelar Naval-Bridge Officer track (Tactical / Operations), Sleipnir Academy - Intelligence, and Tallakessia Medical Academy -Medical Corps, respectively. Tamariel made a comment about keeping an eye on Robyn’s progress which made Robyn’s eyes widened. Kiera loved how much her siblings cared about her friends. At Tiberius’ prompting Kiera continued to scroll down the datapad and was surprised to see Gargax’s scores. Her eyes flickered over them a growing smile on her face.
“Gax, you passed,” she said excitedly, beaming up at him.
“I pass tribunal. Citizen. Come live with Sunbeam on Albion,” he said happily.
“Sweetheart, you passed the test. You can choose an officer academy,” Kiera said, watching his smile turn to confusion.
“The ork took the test!” Arthur shouted, “He passed it!?”
“The tribunal challenge was if he could work alongside imperials. He passed that with flying colors. Then everything else was examined. The only parts of the exam that he failed were the written and the swimming test. The academies are places to learn; we don’t expect you to know everything otherwise there would be no point. Special Forces and the Army were willing to bring him in based on the teamwork he demonstrated and the trust he showed. Even when fully enraged he didn’t attack anyone, on the contrary. He allowed Kiera to calm him down. He also put a stop to an attempted lynching without causing any injuries.
“After the test he demonstrated protective behavior to those he considers friends and only fought those who attacked him first.” The Emperor’s voice filled the room as he spoke, “Gargax has impressed me, very much. Do not believe you know everything about someone based on their race. That you were astonished by his success because of his race deeply disappoints me, Arthur.”
Gargax stood from his seat and then bent his knee and bowed his head to the Emperor before taking his seat again. Arthur had the presence of mind to look ashamed, but he didn’t offer an apology and just sat back down. Any tension in the room was dissolved by the four year old Feur.
“Gar is an ork!?” he asked with all the astonishment that he could muster. Laughter filled the room.
“What did you think he was?” Elise asked, a smile on his face.
“A monster!” Fuer replied, getting another round of laughs.
“Starshine, I hope you enjoyed your birthday celebration. You are a radiant young woman and I am extremely proud of you. You have chosen good friends and are already taking steps to your own independence.I am formally granting you the MidSummer Palace as your own. Your friends may stay with you as long as you wish,” Amadaus said, rising. He lifted a glass into the air, “I wish you joy, challenges, and enlightenment. To Kiera.”
Everyone but Kiera stood, raised their glasses and toasted Kiera. The Emperor and Tiberius left immediately along with several of the others. Tamerial lingered to talk with her sister, and insisted that they go for a walk together through the garden. Afterwards, Kiera said her goodbyes to her family and only a few hours later was back in her condo with a promise to be at the Saturtarian for dinner.