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Deathworlders Should Not Be Allowed To Date! 50
🕑 Added 2024-09-07 05:11:37 +0000 UTCLuna VI query: Set the source to the leaked files of the first reconnaissance operation of Irisa.
Done!
Luna VI query: Tell me the aftermath of Amara’s incident in the meeting.
***
Nathan was only a few steps from Amara, who sat quietly as Queen Khala stood beside her, when an unusual wave of whispers and bursts of exotic colors rippled through the elders. The queen, lost in thought, gripped Amara's hair—her touch far less gentle than Nathan would expect from a mother.
The meeting had fallen into stunned silence after Queen Khala's bold announcement, claiming her daughter was pregnant. Nathan hadn’t fully grasped the implications. In a state of avoidance, his mind refused to entertain the possibility of fatherhood, clinging instead to the hope that there had been some mistake.
Still, watching Amara being held against her will was deeply unsettling. Nathan knew she could easily free herself if she chose to. Her claws, though not raised, were rigid, and he could almost see the turmoil playing out in her mind. The scene brought flashes of Zandrid taking Amara hostage in the valleys, and Nathan, fueled by a growing rage, moved toward her, held together by sheer willpower.
He approached her from behind, ignoring the hostile stares from guards of various factions. With one arm, he held Amara protectively from behind, and with the other, he pushed Queen Khala’s arm away. The queen’s look of disbelief was immediate, but the guards’ reactions were even more telling—guns were raised, some aimed at Nathan, others pointed at one another as tensions escalated.
“I’m sorry for touching you,” Nathan said, his voice steady despite the chaos brewing around him. “But I don’t think Amara is in any condition to attend this meeting right now.” He was so focused on his words that he forgot he was still gripping Queen Khala’s arm.
"Touching me is the least of your offenses," Queen Khala snapped, withdrawing her arm with a sharp, fluid grace. Instead of addressing the elders or guards, she turned toward the three screens displaying the VIPs. "How can a species as powerful and advanced as yours choose this man to represent you? My son, brutally murdered, and now my daughter..." Queen Khala's voice faded, her gaze lost on Amara's belly.
Nathan had been so focused on the Queen that he had momentarily forgotten about the three screens. When he glanced at them, the Martian Prime Minister caught his eye, shaking his head with a stern expression that hinted at disapproval. More pressing to Nathan was Sally, the elderly woman who might actually be his boss. She was typing on her antique wooden keyboard, her entire demeanor suggesting that she found this sort of drama beneath her.
Unexpectedly, it was Zara’s father, Robert, who truly stood out from the others. He had burst into uncontrollable laughter, so loud that it drowned out the murmurs of the elders. Even Zara, reduced to a small square in the bottom corner of the screen, rolled her eyes and sighed, which finally prompted Robert to rein himself in.
“We never blamed you for your obvious schemes to seduce our people,” Robert said between fits of laughter. “So perhaps you should extend the same courtesy.” After another burst of laughter, he added, “If anyone's at fault, it's your daughter—for seducing him far too well.”
Under normal circumstances, Nathan might have found Robert’s comment amusing or leapt to Amara’s defense. But since he saw the situation as a massive misunderstanding, his mind immediately sought reasons why it was impossible. As someone well-versed in biology, he quickly got lost in the complexities of genetic barriers that would make Amara's alleged pregnancy implausible.
While his thoughts raced to find the perfect argument to disprove the absurdity, he suddenly felt a tail coil around his arm. Before he could fully register who it belonged to, he noticed the same thing happening to Amara. Two guards were gently helping her up from her chair. His train of thought shattered as he realized he wouldn’t get the chance to argue. Nathan’s gaze shifted, and then he saw Aldrinch overseeing the group of Irisians, clearly intent on escorting both him and Amara away from the meeting.
Despite Aldrinch's advanced age, Nathan could see the elder’s neck turning red as he argued heatedly with a group of guards nearly twice his size. Even Queen Khala, usually commanding, could only watch as more elders converged around Aldrinch, offering their support. The confrontation quickly escalated into a mass departure, with Nathan and Amara at the center. Aldrinch's guards formed a protective circle around them, escorting them through a towering door.
Nathan’s last glimpse of the room was of the three glowing screens. Queen Khala remained motionless in her spot, surrounded by just a few elders at the now nearly empty table, which felt larger and more hollow than ever.
Amara was by his side, but they were moving too quickly and were surrounded by too many people to speak. Even if privacy weren’t an issue, breaking the silence of such a large, solemn group felt wrong—something unimaginable if the group had been composed of just humans. Still, Nathan’s gaze met Amara’s for a brief moment. Her skin, mostly a mix of blue and black, caught the dim light, but he couldn’t overlook the faint emerald hue around her eyes—the very feature Queen Khala had pointed to as proof of Amara’s pregnancy.
Nathan was usually able to pick up on hints of what Amara was thinking, but this time her gaze felt completely neutral. What did she make of this massive misunderstanding? That question consumed him as the group came to a halt in front of an unremarkable door. Aldrinch ordered the others to step aside, unlocked the door, and said, "What are you waiting for, human? Take her inside!"
It took Nathan a few shameful moments to realize Aldrinch wasn’t speaking to the guards—he was talking to him, the only human there. Once it sank in, Nathan stepped forward without a word, gently holding Amara by the shoulders to help steady her. Without hesitation or questioning why they were there, he guided her into the room, accepting his role in the moment.
The room they entered was stark and functional, a sharp contrast to the ornate palace corridors. The walls were smooth and metallic, with nothing but a faint blue hue decorating their surfaces. A cold, bluish light emanated from fixtures embedded in the ceiling, casting a dim glow over the sparse furnishings. A large, slightly warped mirror dominated one wall, reflecting the room in an unsettling, distorted manner. Simple benches lined the walls, and shelves held neatly folded garments in muted tones. The floor was soft and rubbery, absorbing the sound of their footsteps.
The scene was so unexpected that Nathan whipped his head around and saw Aldrinch inside the room with them, sealing the door and leaving everyone else outside. "What is this place? Why did you bring us here?" Nathan asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
Aldrinch, with his gaze directed at the locked door, exuded an air of quiet wisdom. He seemed almost oblivious to Nathan and Amara's presence, his mind lost in thought as his colors shifted in solitude. Nathan couldn't comprehend why this frail, elderly Irisian had risked angering the queen to aid their escape from the meeting.
"This is where the servants store their uniforms," Aldrinch spoke, his voice carrying the weight of countless experiences. "I chose this place because it's the one sanctuary within the palace where I'm certain the queen's watchful eyes won't penetrate."
Amara’s colors revealed nothing of her inner feelings, but her voice had at least regained some strength after the incident at the table. "What is so important that you could not wait until we left the palace to tell us, Aldrinch?"
"It’s not I who needs to speak, young one—it’s both of you," Aldrinch replied, his voice softening when addressing Amara. "Does the human understand what will happen if the tale of those emerald rings in your eyes is true? Because if it is, both of your lives will change course forever, and the fate of Irisa might change with it. The elders left your mother alone because they can see this change coming. You must be ready for it, whether you and the human like it or not."
Nathan's eyes widened, his mind swirling with questions. He opened his mouth to ask them, but before he could, Aldrinch abruptly opened the door and left, leaving him alone with Amara. His eyes and body language practically screamed that he wanted to talk, but Amara missed all the cues. With a flick of her tail, she brushed his hands aside and immediately rushed toward the mirror, her skin showing hints of purple as she caught sight of her reflection.
Amara's shoulder-length hair draped over most of her elongated ears, with only the tips peeking through the strands. Her face, though largely impassive, displayed a pair of wide, orange eyes surrounded by emerald rings. Her pupils had dilated as if she were standing in complete darkness, giving her the appearance of a tribal warrior adorned in ritualistic makeup, preparing for battle.
As she touched her face, inspecting her swollen lips, Nathan broke the silence. "You don't really think you are pregnant, do you?"
She stopped looking in the mirror, a trace of red appearing on her skin. "I am not aware of how pregnancy looks for you humans, but for us, it looks like this." Her tail pointed to her face as her eyes met his.
Nathan had never discussed this topic with her, but he was not about to be convinced easily. "Come on, this could be anything. We haven't exactly been careful, and for all we know, this could be some allergic reaction. The way your people jumped to conclusions just because your colors changed is ridiculous."
The red on her skin deepened, transforming her into a crimson tigress. "You may know more than me about how the universe works, Nathan, but do not ever assume you know my body better than I do."
An inner voice warned Nathan that he was being an idiot, but he ignored it, pressing on. "I'm just saying it is too soon to set anything in stone. We need to get a few doctors involved and explore different opinions. I don't understand how Aldrinch can accept something so unlikely as the truth and suggest we need to change our entire lives over it."
Her skin now flashed with both red and gray, the latter squeezing her black spots like an encroaching shadow. "You were already scared when I called you my chosen, so I am not surprised you would say that. Do you think this is any easier for me, Nathan?" The gray overtook the red as she gripped her tail with both hands, looking him in the eyes. "Do you think I do not fear you might one day decide that I, and this planet, are too much work and just leave without even explaining why?" She averted her gaze as she finished.
Her words cut through him like a barrage of arrows, leaving him no choice but to see the raw vulnerability she had laid bare. For a moment, Nathan felt less like a man and more like a scared boy who had freaked out upon learning his girlfriend might be pregnant—a boy who had just hurt someone he deeply cared about, the woman he had yet to admit to himself that he loved.
But could he do it now?
As he wrestled with that question, a pop-up window suddenly appeared in thin air. It was an invitation to a group call, and the host was none other than the old lady from before—Sally. More surprising than the fact that there wasn't supposed to be a network connection in this place was the other name on the call, Amara.
One glance at Amara, and he noticed her feelings were now completely hidden. That was all the confirmation he needed to accept the call.
Sally’s face appeared on a floating window, her features softened by age but still sharp with wisdom. Her gray hair was neatly pulled back, revealing the lines etched deeply into her skin. She sat at a table cluttered with papers and an ancient-looking wooden keyboard, her fingers resting lightly on a pink mouse. The contrast of such outdated technology with her sharp, analytical gaze was quite noticeable.
"Greetings, Princess Amara and Nathan," Sally began, her voice calm and measured, carrying the authority of someone who had seen and understood far more than most. "I have read a few reports about your… unusual relationship. I must say, it's not every day that we encounter such an intriguing and complex situation as yours."
Nathan was caught off guard by Sally's directness, leaving him momentarily speechless. Amara, however, seized the moment. "You are the representative from Earth in the meeting," she observed, her tone steady and composed. Despite their unresolved argument, she moved to stand beside Nathan as though the tension between them had never existed. "May I inquire as to the purpose of your contact?"
Sally, seemingly uninterested in formalities, shifted her gaze from the ancient keyboard to Amara. "It is my understanding that the rules of succession in Irisa's monarchy differ significantly from anything we have on Earth." She adjusted her glasses, her voice sounding more like she was stating a fact than asking a question. "Is it true that the eldest daughter succeeds her mother, not upon her mother’s death, but when this daughter gives birth to her first heir?"
"You are correct," Amara responded without a hint of surprise, her answer immediate and steady. "This rule dates back to a time when our huntresses could not afford to be led by an aging leader. The elders see this as a rite of passage, and it remains in place, even though it is no longer as necessary as it once was."
As Amara spoke, Sally began typing, her fingers moving deftly across the ancient wooden keyboard. Nathan could not shake the feeling that he was the only one out of the loop.
"Earth believes that future discussions regarding our shared interests should involve you directly," Sally continued, her tone as blunt as ever. "We are also sending a doctor to assess your condition. If this is some sort of scheme, I suggest you come clean now. A diplomatic relationship that begins with deceit will be disastrous if Nathan is not the father."
"Amara would never do that!" Nathan interjected impulsively, the words escaping before he could fully think them through.
Sally remained unfazed by his outburst, her expression unchanged. "I believe she wouldn’t either, but not everyone shares that opinion, sweetheart."
Amara, maintaining her composure, responded with grace. "Aldrinch is likely contacting a doctor as we speak, but I welcome the examination by a human doctor and appreciate your concern for my well-being."
Sally paused her typing, her gaze softening slightly. "Not only are you young and beautiful, but you are also quite intelligent," she remarked, offering a small, genuine smile—the first Nathan had seen from her. "Nathan, you are a very lucky man."
"That I am," Nathan replied, the only response that felt right in the moment.
Sally nodded, then shifted the conversation with practiced ease. "I understand you must be exhausted, and this might not be the best time to continue. But I would like to hear your perspective on the Alliance’s involvement in the incident with your brother. I suspect your views differ from your mother’s, and I promise this will be my only question today."
"They likely promised him advanced technology, and he accepted without hesitation," Amara replied, a faint hint of red appearing among her black spots. "He was always a coward, never believing our planet was worth saving."
"We are aware of his motivations," Sally continued, clarifying her earlier question. "What I truly want to know is what you would do if you had the power to eradicate every trace of the Alliance from this planet. Your mother mentioned she could not do that, believing it would leave your species vulnerable to us. But I wonder if you share that opinion. Keep in mind this conversation is being recorded, and others will hear your words."
Amara paused, carefully weighing her response. "The Alliance has exploited us for over two hundred harvests. If I had the power to erase them not just from Irisa but from every planet in this galaxy, I would not hesitate."
"That is indeed a different perspective from your mother’s," Sally observed, smiling for the second time—this time, the measured smile of a politician hearing something they can use. "It was a pleasure speaking with both of you. I look forward to our next meeting."
Just as Nathan thought the call would end, Sally added, "Ah, and one of the doctors currently caring for Yelara’s sister will be leaving the space station tomorrow. He has experience with your species’ physiology and should be able to assist you."
With that, the floating window collapsed, leaving Nathan and Amara alone once again. As soon as they were, she let her emotions surface, her skin instantly washed in a wave of deep purple that spread even to her hair strands.
"Scary woman," Amara whispered.
"Yeah," Nathan agreed, but Sally lingered in his mind for only a moment before his thoughts returned to their previous conversation. "Amara, about what we were talking about before..." His voice faltered as he noticed the red beginning to creep back onto her skin.
"What about it?" she urged him to continue.
Instead of answering right away, Nathan stepped closer, placing his hands on her shoulders and gently guiding her toward the mirror, despite her slight resistance. Once they were there, he said, "I'm sorry, Amara. You can call me your chosen from now on if you want. And no matter what happens when we see the doctor tomorrow, I will still be here with you."
As they watched their image in the mirror, the color on her body shifted from red to yellow. Nathan felt her stiff posture relax as he moved his arms to hold her from behind. Her tail wrapped around his leg as she murmured, "This is all I wanted to hear."
Silence filled the room, but it was a comforting kind. Nathan lost himself in the reflection of her emerald-ringed eyes while she leaned back against his chest.
Minutes later, when the next word was finally spoken, Nathan had already captured the moment through the sensorial output of the integrated system—a picture stored in a private folder, far from the files related to the mission.
***
This was an account based on the aftermath of Amara’s incident in the meeting. The previous narrative is based on the events of the forty-seventh day of the exploratory mission of Irisa. According to your current settings, no queries will be suggested.
