23:45, January 17th, 2135

Kayden exited the shuttle with Dawn, Ali, and Anna in tow, resisting the urge to turn on the ship’s newly installed active camouflage systems – an unintentional gift, courtesy of the Vrul executors they’d killed. He took a deep breath of the cold air, drinking in the view of the mountains around them. Given that the Athenium Spire had been destroyed, they’d been instructed to go to the president’s private sanctuary – one that was apparently built into a mountain, and included a landing pad large enough to house a fleet of shuttles.

Good thing too. Kayden thought to himself. Hopefully this is where the important folks are staying. It’s a lot harder to destroy from orbit.

All around them were snow-topped peaks devoid of plant life larger than waist-high bushes, and the sky above them was a clear, sunny blue. The atmosphere mirrored Kayden’s good mood – unifying the Vrul was well underway, and reinforcements were streaming from Sanctuary to the front lines. While they hadn’t won the war yet, their recent victories had given him cause for more optimism than he’d had in a long time.

Even the fact that he had to wear a suit for the occasion didn’t dampen his spirits. Selina spent at least an hour before landing fussing over what he was wearing, making sure every detail was perfect. He thought the tailored black suit he was wearing made him look far too much like a politician for his liking – especially when paired with the blue tie, white shirt, and polished shoes – but Selina assured him it was appropriate for the occasion.

At least this thing lets me hide a few drones. He thought to himself, feeling them press reassuringly against his back.

“Kayden, we have company.” Dawn said, the tension in her voice breaking him out of his thoughts.

He looked up to see 20 of the president’s elite guard march in perfect unison out of the tunnel leading to the underground complex. Each of them were wearing their signature black armour that covered them head-to-toe, and Kayden couldn’t help but notice that they carried a variety of weapons with them – assault rifles, pistols, and even some heavier weapons.

Raising one eyebrow he turned to Dawn. “Looks like they’re coming prepared for trouble.”

“It’s probably just a show of force, to try and intimidate us into a worse negotiating position.” She replied.

“Or it could be the fact that you threatened to send them home in pieces the last time you saw them.” Ali added.

“Ah.” Kayden nodded. “Yeah, that might have something to do with it.”

“At any rate, that’s not what’s going to happen this time.” Dawn continued. “We’re going to go in, get the support we need, and finally free Earth.”

When the column of Kel troopers finally neared Kayden spread his arms and smiled in an attempt to seem non-threatening. “Hi folks! No hard feelings about last time, I hope.”

“You.” One of the guards at the front said, pointing accusingly. “Come.”

“Where is Elara?”

“Delayed.” The guards said, seemingly unwilling to say anything more than the bare minimum number of words to get their message across.

“We can wait for her.” Kayden replied.

“No. We must go now.” The guard insisted in a frustratingly laconic fashion.

“Sure?” Kayden shrugged. “You know, I can speak Kel, you don’t have to be so-”

Without waiting for the rest of his sentence, the guards made an abrupt about-face and began walking back towards the tunnel entrance – one which featured a thick steel door which was slowly closing. Not seeing many other options Kayden followed, with his women close behind. As they entered he saw yet more guards stationed around, and resisted the urge to summon his nanobots in defense.

[“You are not without defense.”] Ali said privately. [“And we are capable of defending ourselves.”]

I know. I just don’t like the idea of being this heavily outnumbered and outgunned.

[“This is a peaceful mission.”]

That’s how all violent missions start. Kayden reminded her as the door slammed shut behind them, trapping them in the compound. Can you try to get in contact with Elara?

[“Of course.”]

They walked for several minutes, passing deeper into the labyrinth. During the walk Kayden saw at least 100 more of the guards, each of them posted stoically at various intervals and crossroads to other passageways. The tunnel they were in was large enough to allow a troop transport vehicle filled with guards to pass them without needing to move aside – something they had to do several times.

“Looks like you’ve got this place locked down tight.” Kayden said, trying to make conversation with the nearest guard. “I’ll bet you’ve got some pretty powerful anti-air cannons around here too, am I right?”

“Quiet.” The lead guard said without turning around.

“I’m just trying to be friendly!” Kayden countered, causing Anna to giggle.

“Quiet, both of you!” The lead guard said again, this time turning her head.

“Damn, I didn’t realize you were the fun police too.” Kayden replied, this time causing Dawn to cough to cover her laughing.

[“I believe a human saying is apt here: don’t poke the bear.”] Ali said.

Alright, alright. Fine. Kayden replied mentally before going silent.

The rest of the walk was uneventful. The grey concrete tunnels around them blended into one long monotonous line, punctuated only by side passages, doorways, and yellowish overhead lights. The entire structure stood in stark contrast to the Kel’s typically artistic aesthetic – something that bothered Kayden far more than it should have. In addition, there seemed to be more guards in these tunnels than there were in the Athenium Spire, and their shared body language practically screamed that they were on edge.

Ali, something is off. Kayden said privately. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this feels wrong.

[“What would you like to do?”]

Tell Selina we might need a quick exit. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

[“Understood.”]

Have you been able to get in contact with Elara?

[“Not yet. She is not responding to her communicator.”]

Devote more resources to it – bring in Celestia and any of the Kel crew. Get them to call AJ and his wives too, and start scanning for their ship.

[“It is likely hidden, given the covert nature of their mission.”]

Do what you have to do to find it.

As if she could hear their conversation, Anna spoke up. “Hey babe? Can you carry me? My little legs are getting tired.”

“Sure thing.” Kayden said, scooping up the busty goblin woman with one hand before letting her crawl on his back.

She pressed her breasts against the back of his neck comfortably before leaning over and whispering in his ear quietly enough that nobody else could overhear. “I saw the look on your face. Talking to Ali?”

When Kayden nodded almost imperceptibly, she continued. “I can feel it too.” She said, without naming the feeling.

“Think you can warn Dawn?” He asked.

“Absolutely. Kiss me for good luck?” She whispered.

Without breaking stride, Kayden shamelessly kissed Anna. She raked her fingers down his torso and pressed herself against him. Through the thin material of the short black dress she was wearing Kayden could feel her nipples hardening and pressing into his back. When she groaned slightly he broke the kiss and grinned.

“Down girl. We’ve got a job to do.”

“What can I say?” She bit her lip. “I like you in a suit.”

“You can take it off me later.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” She replied before turning to Dawn. “Hey babe? Want to carry me before Mr. Handsome and I get carried away over here?”

Dawn laughed in reply before nodding. She stole a kiss of her own from him before smoothing the front of her matching black dress – one that was cut low enough to reveal a substantial amount of cleavage. She winked at him before Anna scrambled onto her back, wrapping her arms around his succubus girlfriend and leaning into her ear.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

At least now we’re on the same page. He thought to himself.

Finally, the procession stopped at a pair of double doors. The lead guard pressed her palm to a scanner beside the door before it swung open to reveal a far more ‘Kel-looking’ waiting room. A receptionist with green skin sitting behind a stark white desk stood and smiled at them, beckoning them in.

“I guess this is where we part ways.” Kayden said, looking at the guards. “And here I thought we were all getting along so well.”

“Kayden.” Dawn said disapprovingly, rolling her eyes. “Come on.”

“My apologies for my more taciturn colleagues.” The receptionist said, walking around her desk as she gestured to a nearby set of couches. “They are trained to fight, not necessarily to speak.”

“I see.” Kayden replied, moving into the room with his women but remaining standing.

“No apologies needed.” Dawn added diplomatically as the door behind them swung closed. “We are looking forward to a fruitful discussion.”

“As is the president, I am sure.” The receptionist responded before taking her position behind the desk again. “I will inform them that you are here. It will only be a moment.”

Kayden took the time to look around the waiting room. On the wall to his left was a door that presumably led to the president’s office. The walls were painted a light blue color, and there what looked like paintings in various shades of purple all around them. He stepped closer to one of them and pretended to examine it while surreptitiously trying to see what the receptionist was typing on the workstation at her desk.

“The president will see you now.” The Kel woman announced before he could see anything. “Please go inside.”

As she said it, the door beside them swung open. Looking across at each of his women he caught their eyes one by one and held their gaze for a moment, ensuring they’d received the message to be ready for anything. With a final deep breath he then led them across the threshold into the president’s office beyond.

As they walked in they saw the president herself seated at an enormous metallic desk. Behind her was an even larger screen showing a view of the mountains outside, and both sides of the room were lined with bookshelves, art, and various décor. Narrowing his eyes slightly against the glare he saw that there was a secondary entrance to the room at the back – presumably for the president’s private use.

Focusing on the woman herself, Kayden saw that her tentacles were tucked neatly underneath the desk. She was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and the hairlike tendrils on either side of her face were adorned with various jewelry and painted patterns. She drummed her purple-skinned fingers against the desk as her all-black eyes locked onto his.

“Asha’dara.” She said, acknowledging his presence.

“Madame President.” Kayden replied. “I trust you remember my companion, Dawn?” He said, gesturing to her.

“Of course. Welcome. And your friends?”

“This is Ali, and Anna.” Kayden said, introducing them in turn once they neared the desk.

“A pleasure.” The president said, nodding to each of them.

Kayden suppressed his confusion at how pleasant the president was acting to focus on Dawn addressing the issue at hand. “Your guards outside said we can’t wait, so I’ll get to the heart of the issue: Elara told us you’ve reconsidered your stance on lending us your fleet’s support?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.” The president said evasively.

Kayden furrowed his brow. “I would have thought you’d have your advisors here for this discussion. If we’re negotiating a military matter, they’ll probably have opinions.”

“They’ve been recently replaced by a new advisor. I’d introduce you, but I believe you’ve already met her.” The president replied.

The door in the back of the room swung open at her words, and a leg covered in purple carapace strutted through. It was quickly followed by an equally-armoured body and a pair of metallic wings. Kayden’s eyes shot open, realizing that the Voidborn Queen was walking into the room.

“Fuck!” Kayden shouted, summoning his nanobot swarm.

Before he could use it to form armour around them though, hidden nozzles from the ceiling began to spray a thick green gas. Even the smallest amount made him, Dawn, and Anna cough and stumble as their eyes, nose, and lungs began to burn painfully. Even through bleary eyes Kayden saw the Voidborn Queen dart forward and pin Ali to the wall, binding her there by stabbing the sharp end of one wing through her arm. His drones shot out from underneath his suit and towards Ali, but they were quickly swatted out of the air by her other wing dismissively before they could do anything useful.

An anti-human virus. Kayden thought to himself as he saw the Queen and the President were both unaffected by the gas.

Through the haze of pain he managed to encase Dawn, Anna, and himself in armour but the effort proved to be too much for him to bear. He collapsed onto the floor next to them, sucking in the filtered air as heavily as he could in an effort to clear his lungs. Even through his labored breathing though, he could hear the traitorous president speaking with the Queen.

“I trust this satisfies our arrangement?” The president said, turning to the queen. “You can do what you want with him, and in exchange you’ll leave the Kel alone?”

“That was our arrangement, yes.” The queen grinned.

“Was?” The president questioned.

“Well, the arrangement was made before I saw this lovely little world of yours. Now that I’ve seen it for myself though, I quite like it. I think I’m going to take it for myself.”

“What?”

[“Kayden!”] Ali screamed in his mind. [“I can’t get out!”]

What…do I do? He asked, his mind still foggy.

[“Keep breathing deeply! Your enhanced lungs will clear the gas, but it will take a moment!”]

Even through their neural link, Kayden could feel the emotional pain Ali was in. She’d obviously turned off the pain receptors in her metallic body, but her feelings of frustration and hopelessness still echoed through their connection. Kayden glanced up at her to see her hammering away at the spike impaling her – unfortunately, to no avail.

“Mine.” The queen said, interrupting Kayden’s conversation as her grin turned savage. “I want this world, so now it’s mine. It’s a very simple concept to grasp, even for a small-minded being like yourself.”

“But you promised!” The president screeched, pulling herself up to full height using her tentacles. “We had an arrangement.”

“I lied.” The queen admitted as she moved slowly towards the president while summoning a swarm of nanobots to continue pinning the struggling Ali to the far wall. “What are you going to do about it? You have no power to stop me.”

“I’ll…guards!” She shouted. “Guards!”

“They can’t hear you.” The queen said, moving closer menacingly. “It seems that there’s been a minor communications malfunction. No signals are getting in or out of this facility.” She paused for a moment. “You know, you should really have kept a closer eye on me.”

“Why?” The president croaked out, backing herself against the wall.

“Because by doing this I risk nothing, but I get everything. Even if you manage to kill this body, I’ll have destabilized the Kel and killed him.” She said, pointing at Kayden’s still prone body. “Because I refuse to be held to any agreements made with a woman who sits on a throne of lies. But mostly, because I can.”

With that, the Queen brought her razor-sharp wings in front of her, crossing them so that the metal points were facing the president. Then she sliced outwards faster than Kayden could see, raising them to either side when she was done. The movement was fast enough that for a moment, the only evidence she actually touched the president was the blood currently dripping from her wingtips.

Then the president’s head toppled to the floor as she slumped over.