The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 70

POV: Lyra

I snorted before asking, You caught up to me within sixty seconds from when I floated away, didn't you? You just let me think that I was winning.

He smirked as he adjusted our projections so that mine was beneath his, his energy hands on either side of my consciousness form. There was a glint in his eye when he said, No. I never said anything. You came up with that thought yourself.

His projection nuzzled mine and I giggled through our link before he continued, And if I said that I caught up to you within thirty seconds from the moment you left me behind, do I get a reward? His pheromones continued to fill the air.

The reward your consciousness is implicitly asking for is quite a demanding one, Your Eminence.

Hm... I wasn't going to ask for that.

Well, what a gentleman you are.

His Lyrokan consciousness interfaced with my energy signature as it greedily absorbed my psychic pattern. He then linked, Careful, my love. I'm in control now. But if you keep communicating with me like that, I'll have to wrestle with my Lyrokan for dominance. And we don't want that now, do we?

I made myself hold back a response from the hungry manner Orion's consciousness was interfacing with mine before I asked, So, wh-what were you going to ask for, dearest?

His projection pulsed with happiness as he asked excitedly, Can I examine your energy signature patterns more closely?

Oh, that. Be my guest. If you can, tell me if you've heard any theories about what they're supposed to mean.

Now who's the demanding one? Orion linked rhetorically with a chuckle as he released his hold. I positioned my projection in a meditative pose and extended my energy patterns for Orion to examine.

He studied the grey striations in my otherwise white-silver energy. Instinctively, he examined my entire projection but noticed the grey patterns were unique to specific areas. He seemed to read my thoughts. It's just in certain signature points. There isn't grey anywhere else in my projection. I don't know why. No one does.

After a short moment, Orion anxiously linked, D-Do you mind if I... interfaced with it directly?

I was surprised but shyly whispered, Okay.

His large Lyrokan projection hands carefully interfaced with the grey striations of my energy signature, gauging my reaction. He then gently traced the entire pattern, which made me emit a soft harmonic frequency. Adorable, Orion thought to himself. As he continued interfacing in slow motions, he linked, I wonder why the density of each grey striation is subtly different.

Wait, what? Is it? I shifted my projection to examine the patterns using the meditation garden's reflective surfaces.

As he was processing what he felt, I linked, I guess I never noticed it because I've only used natural reflections to see what my projection looks like. I've never used proper scanning equipment. And with the energy fluctuations, I never examined them closely enough to notice the density differences. Hmm... the number of striations is still the same though. It has only ever been five.

Sweetheart, Orion began, How strong are your energy manipulations?

What do you mean? I asked, tilting my projection as I looked at him.

Orion tried not to get distracted by how adorable my projection looked when it did that as he explained, When you shifted your patterns away from my interface, it felt like they had more force than they should.

I looked surprised and bewildered. I dove into my thoughts before I asked, Do normal energy projections have less force?

I don't know about Kaelari but when I interface with Christian's projections or any other Lyrokan's in training, I don't normally feel that high degree of force when they pull their energy away from my grip.

Huh. I responded meekly as I continued to ponder.

He came to float beside me and started interfacing with my projection lovingly as he asked gently, Have you ever used your energy patterns in combat?

Yeah, all the time. It's easier to destabilize opponents with them.

Do the others do that, too?

I thought hard before I linked. Yes, but... not many can. Very few Commanders can do it. Juan himself can't. Neither can Zeke nor Zelena. Tate can but it took him years of practice. Combat Specialists... Hmm... I tried to teach Toby, Raden, Sylvia and others but they aren't able to destabilize larger Rogues yet. The smaller Rogues also have to be already unstable before they can actually affect them that way.

Orion continued interfacing as he helped me ponder deeper. Have you ever had problems destabilizing the larger Rogues?

After I recalled the times I fought with my energy patterns, I uttered, No, I guess not. I turned to study the mysterious patterns as I said, I always thought it was because I trained longer. Since there are others who could do it, I didn't think the strength was anything special.

Orion scoffed. Darling, every part of you is special. The cosmos is probably going supernova in madness right now with what you're saying. You've been given so many gifts to stand out from your species and mine yet you still think you're less than extraordinary.

I rolled my eyes and linked sarcastically, Oh yes, I'm very extraordinary. Who else have you heard went through five match-bond severances?

He pulled my projection closer to his as he linked gently and sincerely, Exactly. No one else could have survived them. The pain would have been too much for a normal creature. The fact that you're alive and well now is only further proof that you are anything but normal, Lyra. Christian was shocked when he heard it. Many of us were. Not the fact that you were rejected but the fact that you're still living and thriving after the five severances.

Orion's projection interfaced completely with mine, our consciousnesses merging briefly before he pulled back slightly to look into my energy eyes. You keep telling me that I'm more than what I think of myself, Lyra. I'm telling you right now, you're so much more than what you think of yourself. He nuzzled my projection before staring back as he uttered, You're amazing, Lyra. Don't let anyone tell you differently, not even yourself.

My consciousness pulsed with warmth at his words, and I moved deeper into his projection's embrace. It was his consciousness's turn to pulse with bliss.

For the first time, I didn't dash back when the station's day cycle began. I remained in my match's embrace as his energy gently interfaced with mine. After a long moment of quietly enjoying each other's company, I linked, Orion, can you tell me more about your family? Who you're close to, who you love, that kind of thing? I mean, I already know about Christian and Annie but I'd like to know more.

Orion chuckled. I'm close to you. And I love you.

I argued in an irritated tone, my projection pulsing red. Orion, I'm serious!

He responded firmly. So am I, Lyra! I groaned, and was about to float away before he strengthened his hold around my projection. Aw, sweetheart, don't get upset. It's not like I wasn't going to tell you. But since we don't have any training today, how about I tell you over morning nutrients at a nice establishment?

I looked into his purple energy eyes gleaming with anticipation. I smirked. Well played, my Emperor. Well-played.

He held me closer and his projection shifted to a pleading expression. Oh, come on, baby. Just say yes.

Why do I get the feeling that this date is going to stretch over mid-cycle and evening nutrients as well?

He gleefully admitted, Maybe it's because I was hoping you'd say yes to those, too.

I shook my projection slightly with a smile. Like I said, Orion. That was well-played. I managed to phase out from his grip and float away. But he caught hold of my projection again and lifted it effortlessly. He looked deep into my energy as he linked excitedly, Is that a yes?

Release me, Orion.

Not until you say yes.

I rolled my consciousness and said, I was already going to say yes when you first asked anyway.