Chương 113: Chapter Ninety-Seven - Playing Catch Up

"That was surprisingly fun," Twenty-Six said as they made their way out of the dining room and into the Emperor's foyer. She was carrying a large basket filled to the very brim with leftovers and was smiling bright enough to compete with the sun.

"That was tense," Aurora replied.

"I can't believe I almost had words with the president of the League." Her eyes narrowed and she stared at Ivil.

"Over you, of all people." Ivil smiled smugly.

"I, for one, appreciate you rising to my defence. It was very sweet of you." Aurora's lips pursed, but she only blushed when Twenty-Six let out a little squeak of a giggle next to her.

"Oh, shut up," she said. It was uncertain who that was aimed at.

"What about you, Pixie?" Ivil asked the shorter woman.

"Possibly one of the most stressful dinners of my life," Pixie said.

"I still haven't had time to process who you are, or what's going on, and then bam, dinner with the president of the League of Free Moons and the god-damned Emperor of Jupiter. And Eleanor... who might be scarier than the other two. Did she have, like, an Emperor's level of cores or something?"

"No. Not a single one, in fact. She's pure human. Though... Well, a woman shouldn't speak of another this way, but I think it's suffice to say that she's had some work done. She's quite fit," Ivil replied. Pixie looked at Ivil with one eyebrow quirked.

"Uh-huh. Should we be worried that you were checking out the Emperor's wife?"

"I wasn't checking her out. Merely... sating my curiosity. The Emperor was surprisingly cordial, and so I didn't feel it appropriate to pry any more than I did. She's a tough woman though."

"So many kids," Aurora said.

"Don't you want kids?" Twenty-Six asked.

"What? No. Maybe. This isn't something I'm willing to discuss so openly," Aurora said. Twenty-Six shrugged.

"I wouldn't mind a few," she said easily. Ivil paused for a moment as her mind traveled the obvious path. Little Twenty-Sixes, all small and cute, with their mother's features. And of course, they'd have Ivil's eyes and determination. Little princes and princesses, to rule over the entire system... they could have one for every planet. But that was for later.

"Let's set aside the baby talk for the moment. While I am quite enamoured with all three of you, talk of children seems like something that requires a... due amount of consideration." Aurora rubbed at her face.

"You are incorrigible."

"I don't actually know what that means," Twenty-Six said.

"But I feel like I've heard the word before."

"It means that Evelyn here never learned proper manners," Aurora said.

"I'm sorry," Ivil said. She even meant it, a tiny little bit.

"They didn't have courses on good manners in the lab I was grown in." Pixie almost tripped, which was strange as there was nothing to trip on.

"You were grown in a lab?"

"I believe that's the current most-popular theory as to my origins," Ivil said.

"The second place is that I clawed my way out of hell. The third is that I was too evil for hell. Surprisingly, the fourth theory as to my origins is that I had a simple, fulfilling life with loving parents, a dog and a cat, and that one day I just decided to say 'screw it' and warlorded my way up to Empress. I'm rather fond of that one."

"Is it real?" Twenty-Six asked.

"Hmm? Oh, no, not even a little," Ivil said.

"I never had pets." They rode up the elevator to the floor on which the Sappho waited for them, filling the time with much discussion and speculation as to Ivil's origins. She kept mum about the truth, mostly because the stories the girls came up with were far more entertaining.

"I still like the idea that she's an orphan raised by a team of child-less spec-ops," Pixie said.

"No officer in any modern army would allow their soldiers to raise a child," Aurora said.

"My theory is better."

"Your theory isn't even possible," Twenty-Six pointed out.

"I don't think Mars has nobles for Ivil to be a lost princess of."

"You are technically incorrect," Aurora said.

"There was a small monarchic dynasty that was somewhat powerful in the Martian sphere."

"When was that?" Ivil asked.

"Sometime after the first intersystem war. For about half a decade," Aurora said. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"I'm not that old," Ivil said.

"I didn't say it was a concrete theory, only that it was better. Better in the sense that it makes for a greater story," she defended. Ivil glanced at Twenty-Six, and the young woman gave her a quick wink. That was right, Twenty-Six knew about Ivil's past. At least to some small degree. They'd had a short chat about it at that arcade which felt like ages ago.

"I'm afraid that once the truth comes out, you're going to be the most disappointed of all," Ivil said. Aurora shrugged.

"I'm sure the truth is out there. No offence, but I imagine that a lot of your life is part of the public record."

"I suppose so," Ivil said.

"The same could be said for you, no? And I at least have the benefit of an entire intelligence agency working to keep my information private and disseminate enough falsehoods to muddle any truth."

"So people lie about you a lot?" Twenty-Six asked.

"And they've made a career of it," Ivil replied.

"I think there's even one or two tabloids that make a business of besmirching my name just enough that it doesn't bother me to the point that I pay them a visit while also being titillating enough for the masses."

"Oh," Twenty-Six said.

"You girls know that if you, we, date her in any fashion, that same kind of attention will be levelled at us, right?" Pixie asked. She crossed her arms.

"I know I can handle it. I've been good about keeping my private stuff under wraps, since anything getting out could mean a pirate getting revenge, but past that, my rep is... good."

"You mean super cool?" Twenty-Six asked.

"As like, the number one pirate hunter of the Jupiter system?" Pixie looked away, as if that would hide her pleased flush.

"Yeah. But you two?"

"I'll be quite fine," Aurora said.

"If anything, this would be... an interesting boon for my political career."

"I'm happy spending time with me furthers your ambitions," Ivil replied. It was only a little sarcastic. Aurora seemed to view things in a more political light than most, for obvious reasons, and increasing her own political worth might help her feel like she was closer to being Ivil's peer.

"I guess Twenty-Six would be the worst affected," Pixie said.

"I would?"

"Yeah. No offence meant. But do you have any idea how to handle the public? I mean, we could keep things private, but you were just seen with us just now. I'm sure the Emperor of Jupiter's staff is nice and discreet, but that doesn't mean that rumours won't fly anyway," Pixie said.

"Oh," Twenty-Six replied. She glanced up to Ivil, then back.

"I think it will be okay? I don't think I have anything to hide. And if any journalists want to talk, I can chat for hours about stuff that interests me." Ivil nodded.

"You should always attempt to weaponize your special interests."

"Isn't your special interest murder and mayhem?" Aurora asked.

"I feel like that's unfairly easy to weaponize, isn't it?"

"I won't apologise for my perfect hobbies." They arrived at the Sappho safe and sound only to find Sonic Spectre and Pepper waiting for them. The Tech Maid seemed as calm and unruffled as ever, though the same couldn't be said for Pepper. Still, they went through the usual greetings while climbing aboard the ship, and it took some time for Ivil to discreetly peel Pepper away from the conversation to ask the obvious question.

"Has anything noteworthy happened?"

"Noteworthy," Pepper repeated. She ran a hand through her hair and seemed to resist the urge to sigh.

"That is one way of describing things, yes. The entire Jovian fleet was put on stand-by. They tried to be subtle about it, which is to say that every intelligence agency in the solar system found out before the last of their admiralty was awakened."

"Oh? Now that's interesting. Any idea why they're being put on alert?" Pepper nodded.

"It looks like half of the fleet is being given marching orders. Destination Uranus. They'll be rushing to get their things in order, but you can expect the entire fleet to be in motion in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours."

"Ah, so our visit here was somewhat fruitful, then? I suppose it's only kind to let the League of Free Moons... navy, or whatever they have, know that we'll be spearheading their efforts. If they can catch up, they're welcome to try and assist."