The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 100

POV: Lyra

At training, the Lyrokans were showing improvement. The alliance didn't fight. They watched and gave feedback, much to the dismay of Juan, Tate and Zeke, who all preferred to spar than watch and talk.

I watched and gave feedback to the Lyrokan specialist, Phelton, and Specialist Benedict. After losing two matches to Benedict, Phelton finally came out victorious in their third match. Benedict shook his hand and congratulated him graciously on the win before I did the same. After thanking his opponent, Phelton knelt and kissed my hand before standing back up to convey his thanks.

After watching another three pairs, Juan came up to me and mind-linked, Lyra, just one. One spar.

What? No! We talked about this. Hale even...

C'mon, Lyra. One wouldn't hurt. I'm bored out of my circuits!

Does Hale know about this?

You both said I'm not to overexert myself. One spar doesn't do that.

I hesitated as I locked eyes with my desperate Commander. I then sighed in defeat as I gave in. Partner is going to terminate us both for this.

Juan's face lit up, You're the best sister ever!

I smirked as I went to a mat with a pair of fighters who were taking a break, "Hey, guys. Mind if we borrowed your space for a few time-units?"

"N-No, of course not, my Empress." They immediately moved aside.

Juan exclaimed, "Wait, what?! Lyra, I didn't mean sparring you! I was going to ask Tate or Zeke."

"What are you two doing?" Tate asked with suspicion, coming over from where he was after just finished watching a match.

I stood on one side of the mat and responded casually, "Juan is bored. He asked for a spar."

Juan exclaimed, "But not with you!" His volume garnered the attention of everyone around them. "Tate's here. He can do it."

Before Tate could respond, I said, "Nice try, brother. Unfortunately for you, I don't trust you to not overexert yourself when you're with him. Your spars with Tate and Zeke tend to go very far."

Zeke came out of the blue, "Says who? You're the one who's able to take him down the fastest."

I replied, "The fastest spar will leave him the least exerted. C'mon, Juan. We've only got a few time-units."

Juan uttered to Tate in regret, "I should've been more specific about that request." Tate patted him on the back as a form of wishing him luck, throwing a cheeky smirk in my way while he was at it.

Juan took his position and I charged towards him but before he could land a strike, I flipped backwards, kicking his jaw while I was at it. Juan groaned and Tate and Zeke tried their best to suppress the laughter threatening to erupt from their beings.

After two time-units, I got Juan to surrender. I helped my brother up and patted him on the arm as I said, "Good fight, Commander."

Juan narrowed his eyes my way, mocking a look of irritation. He then looked at Tate and Zeke, who were still trying their best to not laugh at him. Juan said, "Can you two at least take my side? That wasn't even fair! You saw those new techniques she used on me!"

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Since when was using new techniques unfair?"

"Did you guys spar?!" Toby exclaimed when he reached them after a jog from the far end of the training ground. His look showed nothing but betrayal. "I thought we agreed that..."

Tate filled him in, "Juan got bored. Not sure if he still is though."

Juan sighed when Tate threw him a taunting look. Juan then muttered, "Taking my Specialist's side like he always does. Of course."

Toby then said, "Still, we agreed..."

I then offered, "We could go next if you want, Toby."

Toby's expression of betrayal turned into one of horror when he said firmly, "No. Not today. Not when I'm in this state."

Suddenly, a pair of large hands made contact with my waist from behind, and a deep voice spoke, "Star-heart, I thought the alliance wasn't fighting today."

I stiffened when I was caught doing something I shouldn't have done. I turned and showed him those doe orbs again as I said in a gentle voice, "It was just one spar, darling. Juan needed an adrenaline rush."

Juan then said, "She cheated, your Eminence. Used new techniques to cut our spar short."

"New techniques?" Toby asked in surprise. "That's not possible. She said she taught us everything she knew."

I then spoke like an excited youngling, "I got new data files and I learned a few new tricks!"

Toby's eyes widened before looking at Juan who was still massaging his left shoulder, then returning his sights to me and concluded, "So you did cheat."

I rolled my optical sensors and explained, "I only learned it yesterday. I was going to show you guys this morning but our physiques aren't exactly up for it after the rest deprivation from last night."

Orion then asked, "But how did you even perfect the techniques before today? We were out the entire cycle yesterday."

I shrugged, "I read when we got back, before the 50-page report came. And I just rehearsed the techniques in my chamber."

"In your chamber?" Orion asked in worry and disbelief. My chamber was filled with data files. I could've hurt myself.

"Yeah. I moved the files to the side, gave myself a space and just copied the moves from the data. I'm really small so I didn't need that much room to practice."

Everyone around me was lost for words. Juan then broke through the silence, "See! She cheated!"

Orion sighed in disbelief before looking at me in adoration and said, "Unbelievably amazing." He then pressed a kiss on my forehead before looking at me as sternly as he could manage, "But no more for today, Lyra. Save your strength for now, okay?" I pouted for a second before I said, "Fine."

Though internally proud of me for taking him down faster than I had ever done before, Juan continued to complain playfully, "Will it terminate to get one of you on my side here? I mean, I know she looks small and cute and all but c'mon! Are you guys still falling for that?"

Tate patted him on the back and said, "Lyra just saved you from being lectured by your Partner for breaking your promise to her, Juan. Let it go."

I smirked victoriously at Juan, and my brother uttered, "You know, Lyra. Sometimes I feel that Blue Crescent only has so many allies because you somehow charm stations to like us, especially their leaders and their Specialists."

I mocked a look of revelation, "Really? I thought it was because I cheated when I showed them new techniques!"

Juan threw me an annoyed look before speaking to Orion, "Just so you know, your Eminence. My sister is more than meets the optical sensor. You have no idea what she has up her sleeves sometimes. Try not to fall for those things would be my advice."

Orion chuckled before pressing a kiss on my cheek and telling Juan, "I'm afraid that advice came much too late, Juan. I've fallen for everything about her from the moment I laid my sensors on her. This void-beast has long been under her spell." I stared at the ground with a shy smile as Orion watched my cheeks flush purple.

"Of course." Juan muttered in mock annoyance as he continued massaging his shoulder.