Building Better Worlds II

Streets of Gold (inspired by Aviators)

---

I see the golden years behind us.

I'm getting scared to move along.

My inspiration has subsided /

Without a muse to keep me strong.

I can't remember our last victory.

Was it the past, or just a dream?

The world we grew to love has crumbled /

With my own efforts losing steam.

---

Royal Delegation Hall, The Grand Palace, Luxor

Neo Egypt, Planet Vasily (YG-4), Yangu-Grurra System

08:44, 22/3/1, 25 XP

---

"Tesem! Hey, nephew!" A well-built otter bounded forward, ignoring an outstretched paw in favor of giving the king a hearty hug. "It's been too long, bud. How're you holding up?"

"Iolvin!" Excelle stormed forward and tugged her husband's arm in an attempt to pry him from the fledgling leader. "Diplomacy, Yoyo. Remember people you represent."

"We're all family here, honey. Don't get your panties in a wad." Yoyo relented after a short stare-down, giving his wife a kiss on her forehead to soothe her nerves. "Alright, I'm done. Business time. So, why are we here, Sem? You made it sound urgent."

Tesem took a deep breath as he noticed more people from the large doors across the hall. "I'm making some changes for my people, but that hinges upon everyone agreeing with me."

"Everyone?" Yoyo checked the noise behind him and quirked his head to a curious slant. "Is that Carbon? I thought he was on his way back to Earth. What in the world do you have planned? We don't have another war on our paws, do we?"

"If only it were something so clear cut. Excuse me, will you?" Sem moved from his seat to greet Carbon and Sydney, but hesitated when he noticed Dani's eyes scanning a wall instead of him. "I'm pretty sure the tapestries aren't hiding assassins, Dani."

"O-Oh, yeah. Sorry, Sem. I'm a bit distracted."

"You're not used to this sort of work. Don't worry about it, Dani. My wife should be here soon if you need to be relieved." A tension in the meerkat's whole being kept gnawing at the otter as he resumed his course. "Uncle Carbon. Sorry for calling your ship back so suddenly."

"The flight was hitting delays, actually. We weren't taking off for another day while they reloaded some key cargo." Carbon reached out for a pawshake and pulled Sem into a shoulder hug. "I'm not here for UNEO, officially. Still, I'm hopeful I can at least interpret for you. What's the big deal?"

"Hm. This may need to wait for an official response then. Thanks for coming anyway, and have a drink while we wait on the others." Sem smiled as Sydney locked eyes with his, the two coming together for a softer kind of hug. "Nice to see you again, Aunt Cid. I didn't know you were even here."

"Oi, you didn't even mention me, Carbon? Maybe I'd like to spend time with the kid." The ottkat gave her pseudo-nephew a good slap on the back and slid away to greet the others. "You've been avoiding me too, Yoyo!"

"I live on a planet that wants to eat me. Excuse me if I don't invite you for tea." Yoyo hunched down and snagged Sydney for a hug. "I guess I could use a crack shot, though. You still practice?"

"I might pop off a few rounds with Leannan at the range now and again. Violence isn't quite my bag anymore, however." Sydney leaned around the huge otter and took notice of the meerkat hiding in the corner. "New help? What have I said about growing this harem of yours, Semmy?"

Sem hunched forward as a wave of panic surged through Dani's veins. "I don't... Abyss..." The otter caught himself flinching, only more confused when Dani now faced the others with some sort of head covering obscuring her vision. "Dani is a friend, not a belonging. Please show her the same courtesy you'd show me."

"Dani, eh? Short for Daniel? I know Sem likes his nicknames, after all." Rose sauntered into the room with a curious interest upon the numerous knives visible to her from beneath Dani's clothing. "She's well equipped. New bodyguard, Sem?"

"Something like that." The otter bowed politely for Rose, eliciting a faint chuckle from the oddly suspicious Yangurra. "Thank you for coming. I know the 'Gurra don't exactly have clear leadership."

"After the war the Ors family garnered the most respect. Carbon and I are probably the closest thing to representatives for now." Another piercing glance through Dani's clothes lingered before Rose gave her brother a hug, rocking her masked forehead into his affectionately. "Weren't you supposed to be heading home to those saplings of yours, Carbon? How's the family?"

"They're doing well. Luma has been fascinated with appearing older than her brother lately."

"I'll never get used to that shapeshifting you and yours can perform. That's nice though. And the girls?"

"We'll likely go to see them after all of this, if all goes to plan." Sem made his way back to his seat, noting Dani tensing even at that simple act. "I'd really like to have the favor of Cait's Druids. Is Lea still protecting her?"

"She's actually taking after her mother. Lea founded a private military group specifically to give the Druids support." Carbon tugged Sydney into the embrace. "She was even thinking of some silly name to make fun of Paladin, right?"

"She told me it was to complement Paladin. Warlock, she named it."

"This is getting very nerdy, very fast." Flux entered the room with her mother in direct tow, smiling and frolicking to her father upon eye contact. "Daddy!"

"Princess! Damn, it's good to see you." Yoyo picked up his armored daughter with moderate difficulty, straining with a smile for her sake. "You holding up okay, Princess? Tesem treating you well?"

A familiar pain stabbed Sem's mind, causing the otter to sever his link to his wife. "Yeah... He's good to me, sure."

"That is not what I--"

"Mom." Flux broke away from her father, her mother taking her spot while the armored Gnome sidled against her king. "Could... we have a moment? Maybe a short recess?"

"Flux, this is important. I'm sure whatever you need can wait, considering how hard it's been getting this meeting arranged."

A mass of need and frustration laced with anger flowed from Flux as she fought to keep her composure with a lowered voice. "Sem, you've avoided me way too long. You can't just fuck the staff and ignore me. It's... getting painful, and I'm starting to choke a bit."

"...Oh. You know I don't mean to do that to you, honey." That frustration notched up a hint, Sem's queen reading his intent long before verbal confirmation. "I'm not kidding here, Flux. This might be my only chance to set things up for a long time. Can you hold out until after the meeting? I'll try to be quick."

"You're always quick." Flux recoiled at the sound of her own spiteful voice. "I... didn't mean that. Sorry."

"No, I deserve that." Sem tried to deepen his mental link with his wife, sinking into his seat when she refused his access. "I'm sorry, Flux. Why don't you wait in your bedroom? I wouldn't want your parents picking up on this."

"It's a bit late for that. My mom is all over me. Keen nose." Flux looked back to her parents and shared a knowing stare with her mother. "I'll wait for you. Just know that it fucking hurts, Sem."

"Thank you, Flux. Let me get this started, then." Tesem slowly rose to the occasion and cleared his throat with a grumble. "Alright. I think that's about it. Yoyo, is Adrian here too?"

"He had to stay at home. There's a new product launch or something and he's strapped for time."

"Crap. I was hoping for a little tech backing here too. My only hopes were Metareal and Volk Industries and it looks like neither are here. This delays things..."

"Volk is a bit of a pipedream, eh?" Sydney tilted her head as Sem held his confident expression. "Wait, you know someone? The upper staff are ghosts. They even refuse to go public to keep themselves secret, especially the Founder. Even my resources can't get any leads."

"Well I happened to luck out. I know their enigmatic CEO."

"That's... questionable. Be careful of espionage, Sem." Carbon turned his eyes to the side and evaded proper eye contact with his wife. "What? Eve figured it out a while ago and we link every now and then."

"Oh, this is going to be juicy. Spill it, rudderbutt."

"Why not hear it from the source?" A significantly more advanced, robotic Arctic wolf opened the heavy doors with only a hint of resistance. "I hope you have a good reason for this, Hunter. My time is valuable."

Sydney went a little weak in the knees upon spotting an old friend. "You're... Ashe is the Founder? Bloody..."

"Artemis!" Iolvin sprinted to his son for a hearty embrace, only to freeze in place as his boy pulled his pistol out in pure reflex. "Son... I don't know..."

"...Dad?" The panthott slowly slid Matilda back into her holster and cautiously walked into open arms. "It's..."

"...been a while, yeah." Yoyo crossed his arms around his son and hugged him tightly, damping his hair with welling tears. "I thought I lost you, boy."

"I... did what I had to do. I kept my daughter safe." Arty slid out of the hug and helped the young lady in question through the door without her touching it. "I'm sorry, dad. I know you miss her."

"I barely know my own granddaughter." Yoyo tried to greet Cassie but froze as Arty gripped the hilt of his pistol. "At least I taught you how to keep your family safe. Can I at least--?"

"No. You know she's not good with touching people."

"I can touch who I like, daddy." Cassandra gingerly reached out and offered her paw to her grandpa. "I barely remember you, gramps."

"That's... Yeah." Yoyo cautiously took that paw and enjoyed the rare touch, his eyes darting around to take in the grown woman's progress. "Damn, you've grown. You're beautiful, Cassie."

"And delicate."

"Daddy." Cassie shot her father a stern look and he resumed his makeshift bodyguard duty. "Thank you, gramps. I rarely get to talk with anyone, so you're hitting pretty high on my list with that smooth talk."

"I mean it though. You're gorgeous. I'm sure if I knew your mother I'd be thanking her for your good genes."

"Good, huh? I feel like my hindpaws are being tased right now. Not exactly the--" Cassie squinted and reeled her paw back slowly. "Wait, you don't know my mother? But I could have sworn--"

"Cassie, remember what I said earlier?"

"Yeah, but why would they think I'm crazy? That's--"

"Nobody's calling anyone crazy. What's insane is that you actually came out of that bunker of yours. I'm astonished." Tesem walked over and gave Cassie a strong hug, causing several in the room to gasp while drawing surprise from Yoyo when his son remained completely calm. "You doing alright? Care to talk a little bit about Volk today? I can visit later if you're feeling too weak."

"I didn't come this far for nothing, did I?"

Yoyo looked to Arty in utter befuddlement. "What...?"

Sydney rubbed a temple in her confusion. "Hold on here, just one minute. Ashe isn't the Founder?"

"Nope, Cassie has that honor. I'd like to introduce you to the owner and proprietor of Volk Industries. Well, not that Ashe didn't play a big role in that either." Perhaps straining himself too far, Sem retained his other links while also toning down Cassie's burning nerves to a mild simmer as they moved for the planning table. "With this, I think we're good to start. We have the industrial, the commercial, the technological..."

"Sem, what is this all about?" Iolvin leaned over the table and demanded answers. "Even I couldn't bring my own son out of hiding, yet you casually call him over for coffee? How the fuck does that work?"

"I ran into him by accident. Calm down, uncle." Sem fought extremely hard to maintain his focus, but a surge of anxiety severed his link to Dani and only took away more attention than it returned. "I was going to make a big speech and all that, but I'm suddenly a bit pressed for time. The simple answer?" Sem settled his focus some as Cassie found a seat, lending him the concentration needed to link to the hologram projector in the table and pull up a series of hierarchies. "I want all your stuff."

"What, now?" Carbon slid a strangely tinted visor down over his gas mask so he could better read the hologram. "These are command structures of the UNEO... Civil structures for the Vaiinu tribe..."

"It's the entire infrastructure of everyone present, though I already managed the blessing of the Vaiinu supposing we can find a representative for them; Grandma sends her love, by the way."

"You managed to get mom to give up part of our tribe?" Yoyo looked over the diagram himself and shook his head in confusion. "What part? This is the whole social ladder."

"Exactly. She's given me the right to declare the next chieftain in addition to a representative here in the palace. I'm still working out the details, admittedly." Sem took a character representing his name and hovered it over the whole chart. "I intend to take all of this, every bit."

"Wh... What? Sem, that sounds like--"

Sem shook his head and held out a paw for Yoyo. "It's not war. This is all contingent on the peaceful cooperation of all parties." He manipulated the charts and divided them into sections of civil life, with his name now parallel to the other slots. "I'm proposing a sort of federated empire. Representatives will be in charge of areas of production and civil servitude. Each will have an equal vote on matters regarding the empire as a whole, as well."

"That sounds like a republic though." Carbon delved deeper into the structure by linking to the console with the queii in his paw. "Ah, I see. Instead of physical territories for each voting party it has departments like a business. Each is sovereign to its members but doesn't cross boundaries."

"Exactly. Each minister represents a resource of the empire and each department can't interfere and gum up the system. However--"

Excelle struggled to read the printed language but found her own kingdom in the chart. "Why, eh, people agree with this? It sound like a nice experiment, but people like... erm... own countries. Homes."

"They wouldn't give up their homes. Territory is not owned by the empire, only a portion of the resources produced by that land. I very much want ownership to be an individual right. It promotes independence and self-growth, after all." Sem slid the hologram to the side and conjured another, circular one holding the ministers of state. "The people petition the appropriate ministers when things don't work out. Then we can vote to change things on a grand scale, or to correct the actions of one department if need be."

"And everyone has an equal say? Then what's this?" Cassie pulled the diagram closer to her with her own technomancy and highlighted a section taking up just over a third of the board. "The Ministry of Defense, Exploration... the Ministry of External Policy? Why are those grouped in this one block?"

"Because that's my purview." Tesem sat in his seat and steeled his nerves for an onslaught of complaints that never arrived. "Uh... I... I wanted to focus on fixing a lot of very deeply rooted issues in our territories, but I can't do that while maintaining the rest of my kingdom. By splitting tasks into dedicated departments, we can share the workload with the best suited for the jobs, not one man ruling everything."

"I'm impressed. That actually sounds like a good idea, which is surprising coming from you." Flux bit her tongue at that unintended jab. "Let me know how it works out. I have... other matters."

"Sure. Take it easy, honey." Yoyo watched his daughter leave for a moment, then switched his brain into a long-forgotten ambassadorship role. "Supposing you take the top position here, I'm guessing it's set up like this so we can still overrule you. I'll admit, without that concession you'd have a hard time getting anyone's vote. Mine though? What can you offer me? My kingdom is already a pawful and a half."

"As head of the Ministry of Defense, I would send what was necessary to secure your borders. Once we get a grip on things, we can even think about expanding if it's in the cards." Sem pulled up the larger hierarchy and lit up a few pertinent connections. "It's not just a single effort though. Your Gnomes are the highest quality manufacturing force we have, and as Minister of Industry your representative would supply the materials needed to build the defenses. Cassie, your representative for Ministry of Technology would design the weapons and fortifications we'd build. It's a joint effort, one that doesn't leave one planet to fend for itself."

"A joint effort." Yoyo sighed as he gauged his wife's favorable take on the matter. "We'll need to work on the details a little, but Darius might be willing to participate. You've got my vote, kid."

"I'm down." Cassie looked over to Ashe and shook her head as the android performed calculations on her Slate. "I think we'd want to keep Volk Industries independent, though. Ashe has a lot invested in her work there, a lot that would ruin her life's work if some committee told her to stop."

"I was hoping Metareal would take that spot, actually. I never expected you to actually show up, frankly." Sem nodded and ran through his plans again. "If we could find a suitable taker for the tech position, we might be able to work out exclusive contract deals with Volk instead. I'm just trying to stick to people I trust as first appointments."

"Then these ministers are going to be voted into power after this, I'm assuming?" Carbon flipped up his visor and shook his head slowly. "I think UNEO is going to have a hard time accepting a system like this. Their government is almost purely democratic now. This could be a hard pill to swallow."

"I appreciate your honesty. Actually, expecting UNEO to join in was a long shot anyway. That's why I lined up the Vaiinu for the Civil Services and Residential candidates. Maybe the Legislative and Judicial ministries could both go to the Yangurra?"

Rose stepped forward from a spot in the far corner. "So that's why I was called. You do know I have a big presence on Earth, right?"

"And I was thinking we'd likely want an embassy. That estate of yours could do the trick, if you're up for the task."

"That might be a bit much for just me. I'll consider it with my husbands, though." Rose slowly sighed into her mask. "I can probably find a good candidate or two from Yangurrar, though. Give me some time to contact the various families."

Sem nodded as he went over the whole of the diagram. "Then... I think this was a rather successful meeting. I look forward to the details."

"Not so fast, love." Sydney slowly approached the young king and stared him down. "You mentioned my daughters earlier. Where do they figure into this grand scheme?"

"Oh, right. Well... I forgot to show you the spark that lit this fire under my ass. One moment." Tesem hopped out of his seat and scurried to a resting room behind the large rear wall. After a ponderous moment he emerged with his newest guest in close tow. "Everyone, this is Liu."

"That's... I've never seen her kind before." Carbon stepped around the table and gave the Corelian a closer examination. "Where did you find her? Oh, she's a female, right?"

"Yes, a little girl from what I gather. And I found her here in Luxor--in a brothel. More specifically, I bought her freedom from that place." Sem placed Liu in his royal seat, a gesture that backfired when she curled into a ball out of embarrassment. "I've been trying to figure out how she got in that position, but communication is a little tedious. From what I make out, her home planet was attacked and she was captured as a slave in the commotion." Sem very gently rubbed a thumb along the base of one of Liu's head tails. "I want to find those slavers and bring some justice to all of this. If possible, I'd like to rescue or otherwise aid the Corelian people as well."

"And to do that you'll need resources like healers. That's where Cait and her Druids factor into this. Aha." Sydney played with her long hair and slowly built up a series of nods. "At least she'll feel good about helping so many people. Let me propose the idea, would you? I'd have to make it sound less perilous if Lea is going to allow it."

"All yours, auntie."

Carbon chuckled as his wife cringed from the title. "So we have ourselves a potential emperor, or whatever you want to call it. Emperor Tesem does sound rather good though." He slowly built up a nod as well, leading into a grin. "I guess the harder part is what we'd call the empire itself. With half of all known life in this, it's got to be good."

"And guess who just volunteered to pick it." Sem giggled for a second, taking longer than expected to settle himself for an honest proposal. "The way I see it, none of us would be here if not for you. Do you know how many stories Aunt Ari tells me when she visits? You brought everyone together when we needed it the most. It's only fitting that you name the eventual result."

"That's... a heavy burden and a wonderful gift all in one package. Spirits..."

Yoyo tossed up a paw. "Well I could always--"

The bulk of the attendees unanimously groaned, "No!"

"Well I sometimes nail a good name or two. Shit."

"No, I think I have something. And you're wrong about me." Carbon shut his eyes for a pause, coming out of it with a wholesome smile. "My mother gave us all a chance to survive, grow, and live happy lives. We should name this after the name she had to hide, Entropy."

Sydney pursed her lips as she tried to play that out in her head, falling to the point of mumbling the idea. "The 'Federated Entropy Empire'? 'Empire of Entropy'? Bit of a mouthful, otter."

Tesem noticed a symbol of Horus on a tapestry, the burning phoenix lighting an idea in his mind. "The Flame of Entropy."

"It's... catchy. Maybe, yeah." Iolvin gave the newly minted term his seal of approval with a slap to Sem's back. "I like it, kid."

"I think it's fitting. Mom always tended to her work like a firekeeper to a pit. Oh, and I guess fire does result in the actual buildup of entropy."

"I think my wee brain is about to give out. Please, no more science for the day." Sydney lifted her mask and gave Carbon a kiss on his jaw. "Save it for later. You'll need all the science you can muster, I promise."

"I'll just forget I heard science was a quantified resource. At least you're pretty." Carbon smirked as he dodged a swiping paw aimed for his face. "A sexy woman with a brilliant love of explosives?"

"You're bloody right, I am." Sydney pounced her mate onto the floor and pinned him with a squeak. "Maybe my gift can wait. Sem, dear? Might we borrow a room?"

"Be my guest." Tesem disconnected his mind from the two, leaving their sensual thoughts to themselves. With a hearty smile he shuffled into his seat with Liu in his lap. "I have similar plans, myself."

---

---

I think I need your hands to lift me.

I think I need your light to shine.

There lies a trail of fire behind us /

From a warstruck, weary time.

I'm going to need a guide to show me,

To walk me through the streets of gold.

When death will meet us at the end /

Of our own lost and broken road.

---

Royal Bed Chambers

09:11, 22/3/1, 25 XP

---

"What is matter, Flux?" Excelle sat along the edge of the excessively large bed, looking at her daughter through the mirrored top panel. "You say husband is... good to you, but also he is not. Which of these is true?"

Flux sprawled out, ruffling the comforter. "<Mom, you don't need to speak Standard for me. That can't be fun.>"

"<Sorry. I've been making an effort to get better at it for your father's sake. He knows a similar language to Gnomon but I can see he hates the constant misunderstandings.>" Excelle reached over to rub her daughter's shoulder through her full bodysuit. "<You're changing the subject. What's wrong, honey? You haven't looked happy this whole time.>"

The invisible Gnome tugged at the tight collar of her suit, groaning at the pain of her blood pact seal clamping beneath it. "<I have an image to keep, mom. Promise you won't go telling anyone?>"

"<Sorry about earlier, honey. I'll try to be discrete.>" Excelle slid her hand to that collar and brushed a thumb over it. "<Is it something to do with your bonding?>"

"<In a way, maybe. I wish it were that simple. If I could fuck my way out of this I would have at this point.>" Flux sighed and stopped her fidgeting as she realized her mood was souring. "<Sem and I are having problems. It's been a while since we've had sex and it's taking its toll on me.>"

"<Then bed your husband. That's not too complicated, is it?>"

"<For you, maybe...>" Flux ceased all movement and clasped her hand around her mother's. "<How do you do it? You were claimed by dad, right? How do you make it work?>"

"<I resisted at first. But after your father started showing he cared for me and our people...>" Excelle paused a moment to cup another hand over her daughter's. "<I think the real turning point was when I became laden with you. Your father wants a happy family, and it made me happy helping achieve that. I really fell in love with your father then, especially after seeing how he put every bit of his effort into raising you. He has a big heart.>"

"<I wish the love angle was so easy... and kids are out of the question.>"

"<Tesem refuses to give you a daughter? Or is there something else?>"

"<Oh... I'm not sure if he wants kids or not. We're both really young after all.> Flux rolled onto her side, still cradling her mother's hands. "<He isn't attracted to me anymore. We barely have sex, and even then it's only because I'm in pain from this damned pact.>"

"<Honey...>" Excelle leaned over her child and looked up and down her very plain, padded bodysuit. "<I don't think you're giving yourself the best odds. Do you ever dress up for him? You do own more... intimate clothing, right?>"

"<Why bother? I'm invisible.>"

"<That's probably a big part of your problem right there. You have to show him what you want.>" Excelle found hidden the zipper on the front of the collar and tugged it downward. "<Come on. Let's see what we can do about that. What do we have to work with?>"

"<Mom!>" Flux grabbed the halves of her suit as it splayed down to her waist. "<What are you doing? This is... wrong.>"

"<We can't get you dressed for the bedroom with this thing on, can we?>" The mother feeled down the crotch of the suit to check for underwear, only finding an invisible slime warming her paw. "<Oh... Just how bad is it? How long have you been like this?>"

"<A f-few days...>" Flux wrestled her mother's hand away and folded her suit against her exposed skin. "<Sem has been with several other women recently. I can feel it get noticably worse whenever he finishes without me... and after a week of that...>"

"<He sleeps with other women!? That bastard-->"

"<He can't help it, mom. He gets riled up when I do. He just doesn't want to relieve himself with me for... a few good reasons.>"

"<So you're fine with that? I don't approve when you obviously need that intimacy more than some random tart... but I won't deny your choice.>" Excelle gave up on her attempts to redress her daughter, flopping onto her back beside her. "<Why doesn't he want you? Help me understand this.>"

"<I know he hates that he can't last long with me. I think he feels everything stronger with me and can't hold out long.>" Flux rolled around and cuddled against her mother. "<It's a pride thing with thesepeople. A man has to be able to please his woman properly or he's broken.>"

"<So is that what these are for?>" Excelle discovered a string of condoms hidden in a ledge of the headboard and dangled them above the pair. "<Are you trying to dull the sensations for him? Oh, that's it. Does he want kids and this is maybe upsetting him?>"

"<No, those were my idea... specifically so we don't have kids.>"

"<Honey... Flux, why would you deny him a child? Hells, how can you do that with your bond?>"

"Because I don't like giving her commands like some pet. Your daughter is an equal to me." Tesem noticed his queen tighten her grip on her mother and he let out a sigh of frustration. "Flux doesn't want my children. I'm not sure how I feel yet either. I figure it's fine for now, but there's more to it that I'm not comfortable revealing."

"More? Flux, what's is he saying?"

"<He can understand us, mom. He understands all too well with that mind trick of his.>" Flux sensed the tension they were causing and snatched the condoms, hiding them in her suit but forgetting they could be seen through her. "<He's being a gentleman about it. Mom, I don't... I want to love him, but it goes against everything I am.>"

"<Honey... what are you saying? You're the cause of this? Why can't you love him back?>"

"<I don't think he can ever love me, if we're being honest. He knows I'll never fully come around.>" Flux slowly breathed in through her nose, then exhaled a small lick of blue flame from her pursed mouth. "<Mom, I'm gay. I like women.>"

"<Flux...?>"

"<I have feelings for Sem. We're close in some ways.>" Flux broke from her mother and rolled to the edge of the bed. "<We're just... only intimate out of obligation, I suspect.>"

"I like making you smile, too. Sometimes I draw a grin out of you when I perform a little better." Sem sat beside his wife, somehow easily finding her eyes to wipe away sobbing tears. "That's becoming harder and harder. You only seem happy when you share a bed with one of the maids or servant girls. How can I compete with that?"

"You... just have to--"

"No, I don't want that! I don't want to just be a tool to sate you, especially when you're only horny because of me!" The king's stature crumpled as he caressed his wife's face. "You're not happy with me, nor of the pact we share. And I'm... not happy forcing you to fuck me when you're not into men, I think."

"<Flux, you're attracted to women and not at all to men? Not a little bit?>" Excelle watched Sem's paw rocking up and down and took that as a silent affirmative. "<Can't you have both?>"

"She already does. Some of the help here like to assist their queen..."

"<No, you're misunderstanding me. I'm asking if you've ever compromised. No, that's not quite right...>" Excelle reached over to her daughter's crotch as well as Sem's groin, groping both sensually. "<Have you considered sharing a woman? Would you... like to try, perhaps?>"

"<W-Wait, mom!?>"

"<You're suffering, honey. It's a mother's duty to help her children.>" Excelle slipped her hand into Sem's pants, the stunned otter freezing in all but his hardening manhood as she softly stroked him to full mast. "You... like it? I can keep, uh...?"

"...Keep going. Your hand is so warm, Queen Obr--"

"Excelle. Call me my name." The gnome stroked as much as she could manage, then took a moment to unfasten Sem's pants and give herself more room. "So... very big. You put this in my Flux?"

"Oh, damn..."

"<Yes, mom--It fits. Now can you quit playing around? This joke isn't funny.>"

"<It's not a joke. I'm serious, honey. You should try anything at your disposal to make your husband enjoy himself, if only for your own health.>" Excelle resumed her stroking, staring down the abnormally long cock as it began to throb and drool. "<What does he like to do? Is there something you don't like?>"

"<...He really likes my tongue.>"

"<Ah. Does he know how our people feel about that?>"

"<That's why he doesn't ask for it unless things get desperate.>" Flux averted her eyes, unintentionally settling upon a very splayed slit in her mother's dress. "<Mom, this is one thing but... if you're not careful he'll see your... um...>"

"<Oh, this isn't enough? Here...>" Excelle fumbled with her dress, and after a bit of difficulty with the waist she instead reached for her panties and tugged them down. "You like, yes? It is good view?"

"Oh, it's enticing. I think maybe you shouldn't just show me, though." Sem crawled onto the bed, then rotated his wife by her legs until her face was within nosing range of Excelle's nethers. "That a good view, Flux? Or is that asking too much?"

"It's my mother, idiot! What, are you getting off on this?"

"Would you rather the alternative? You can barely breathe, right?" Sem ran his paw over his wife's drenched cunt, then guided Excelle's face down toward that steaming spring. "Just watching this might do the trick." He rubbed the tip of his cock between Flux's slick lower lips, then backed away to lube himself with the hot lubrication. "You'd rather her than me anyway. Let's make it work."

"...Whatever. I'm not listen--Hrk!" Flux lurched in pain, the request having come out more as a direct order by whatever magic bound the two. She reluctantly spread her legs and guided her mother's head lower, gasping as upon surprise contact the older gnome immediately slithered her tongue into her daughter. "J-Just... g-get it over with..."

"Ah, Spirits... I can feel that too, you know. Just... close your eyes and relax or something. Imagine it's your favorite maid, maybe." The king straddled his wife's face for a moment, then found her mother's snatch and pressed a bit of his cock inside. "This might speed things up. Oh, shit. I'm sensing this is fine, but can I take you like this, Excelle?"

"Y-Yahs-s..." The busy gnome slipped her considerably thick and long tongue out of her daughter just long enough to secure her rear and lick her lips. "Take what you need of me. Just... not very deep. Iolvin claims that."

"Ah! Yeah, not sure I want my dick scorched off from your core either. Fuck, I forgot how hot it is without a good condom." Sem slid in further until he felt an inner barrier, the false womb he was typically accustomed to breaching. "That... Hah... That's good, right?"

"Yes!"

A pit formed in Flux's stomach as she watched her mother receive a quickening pounding, her enthusiastic slurping tainting her enjoyment. "Sem..." A familiar shared sensation of bliss burned as it tried meshing with Flux's displeasure. "Sem, could you... not...?"

"Huh? Ah, damn. You're--" Tesem lurched forward and cradled Excelle from above as she shook with an unexpected orgasm, the act nealy setting the otter off in turn. "I might... Fuck, I'm gonna cum, too."

"What? No!" Flux tapped her husband's thighs, not wanting to hurt him lest she incur the wrath of their blood pact. "Sem, don't you dare! Not inside!"

"Ah, fuck!" Sem yanked himself free of the searing confines of Excelle's quivering folds. He briefly considered plowing his cock into Flux's mouth, but upon focusing deeper upon her the well of subdued disgust sprang forth. "Shit. Damnit." A heavy shiver of frost ran down his spine, and the combined mix of hormones and endorphins sent him gagging on acid as he fought to hold back his lunch. "I'm... Fuck, I didn't..."

"Sem... just go." Flux slid out from beneath her mother's trembling body. "Please, just... We all need to calm down."

"I thought you..." A mix of concern and shame added to the emotions in the room as Sem's wife had time to let her mind wander, each sight of the otter drawing more negatives. "R-Right. I'll leave."

"Sem, I didn't mean it like that..."

Those feelings were sincere, if confused. "It's fine. I let these emotions take control." Sem slid off the bed and adjusted his clothing, never quite stopping his creep out of the room. "We can take care of you better later. I, uh... I should check on Liu anyway."

"What? Leaving?"

"<It's fine, mom. Let him go.>" Flux slid her mother into her lap and protectively snuggled her close until her husband had gone. "<What were you thinking? I don't see you like that, mom.>"

"<I only wanted to help. You looked desperate, and when you said you liked women I didn't know how to help quickly enough.>" Excelle fought to be the one doing the cradling, but lost out to her slightly larger daughter and her iron will. "<It did help, didn't it? You're not breathing hard.>"

"<That's... true. I guess Sem was enjoying himself and I was contributing... somehow.>" Flux went a bit limp as her mother ceased struggling and relaxed as intended. "<I have specific tastes, mom. I appreciate the attempt, but I think joining us has only hurt things further.>"

"<You prefer women, but how exactly do you feel about Tesem? Is it not possible to share what you enjoy together, even if that is another woman?>"

"<I don't know, mom. I'm not sure I'll have the chance or willpower to try again, either.>"

"<I trust you'll find your way, honey. You need to trust yourself... and if your marriage is going to work, you need to trust in your husband as well.>" Excelle nudged her flat chest against her daughter's comparatively massive rack. "<He needs to be able to trust you, too. How can he understand you want to work things out if you show no desire for him?>"

"<What, by flashing my see-through tits his way?>"

"<Trust is earned, honey. It takes the occasional gesture of good will.>" The mother squeezed one of her daughter's breasts curiously before tugging the fabric of her bodysuit taught over it. "<If there's anything I learned from your father, it's that your assets might be nice but your enthusiasm to show them off is what truly excites.>"

Flux focused on that area and her breast tissues became visible layer by layer until the outer skin sat flush with her mother's hand. "<It's not like he can see it, mom. Besides, it's disgusting when I make myself opaque.>"

"<You aren't listening, honey.>" Excelle frowned at the disparity between the two, then covered that breast again with a nod. "<He doesn't need to see a thing. He just needs to know you want to be seen. Tesem might be near blind, but he's not out of his senses either.>"

"<I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, mom.>" Flux adjusted her mother so she could zip her suit closed. "<Now let's find your panties and hit the baths. And... maybe never speak of this again?>"

"<Oh, your father would get a kick out of this story.>" Excelle grinned at first, then took note of her daughter fidgeting her hands. "<I won't tell if you won't. If either of my husbands ask though, you know I'm bound by blood to tell them.>"

"<Just... buy me some time to cope first. I know dad is into the whole family thing, but...>"

"<It's not for everyone. I even try to avoid it myself. I totally understand.>"

Flux slid off the end of the bed and helped her mother do the same. "<I love you, mom. Er... But, not like...>"

"<Agreed, my lovely daughter.>"

---

---

I've made mistakes that devastated.

Too many battles lost to tell.

If I could turn back to time to find you /

I'd find our confidence as well.

So please forgive the tears and whispers /

If you are only in my head.

Sometimes I want to think you're listening /

When every other voice is dead.

---

Palace Garden Court

14:06, 22/3/1, 25 XP

---

"Honey, we can't stay. We've got to go home and... consider packing."

"I'm done running, daddy." Cassie basked in the warmth of the sun on an otherwise chilled day, taking a deep breath to settle her mind. "I have an opportunity here. If you just want to keep running forever, I'm not going to stop you. Just promise me you'll question why you even need to flee."

"Cassie, that's simple. I'm keeping you safe."

"Unless I'm gone. Then what?"

Artemis perked up at that query, almost to the point of recoil. "I... But..."

"I'm not trying to be mean, daddy. I love you. I trust you. I just want you to trust me for once." Cassie approached her father and gripped his paw with a slight grimace of pain. "Sem is helping me cope with my issues. Now he's opening up the possibility for me doing more than suggesting ideas for gizmos while locked in my room. I want to explore the world. Sem needs scouts." She focused on her breathing and lowered the pain reception in her paw so she could grip down harder. "Daddy, I need you to trust in Sem now. We'll watch each others' tails."

"I don't like it. I certainly don't approve of you joining such a vulnerable and public cause when that psycho killer is after us." Arty relented, softly clasping his daughter's paw for such a rare touch. "But I taught you how to be safe. I trust you'll put that to use, honey."

"...Really? Just like that?"

"I might be stubborn, but I'm not an ass. How can my little girl grow up if she isn't challenged?" The panthott slowly released the grip, allowing his daughter to stand on her own. "Give it your best, and stay safe. I'll always be waiting for you to return home, even if that ends up on the other side of the galaxy. Abyss, that's not a bad idea. Might draw that killer away from you, actually."

"Daddy... maybe she's not as bad as you think. You're still alive, right?"

"Only because I'm last on her list. If I don't run, she'll start targeting family again. We've been on this rock too long already." Artemis looked around for Ashe and shook his head at the sight of a large mechanical beast lumbering into the courtyard. "I should probably let her know how much attention that's grabbing, huh?"

"Yeah, probably. Although... it does look like it's armed to the teeth."

"Bloody right it is. Only the best for my otter." Sydney strode out into the paved center court and stood tall, at least for one of her minimal stature. "I see my order wasn't impossible?"

"Well it sounded that way when you tacked on half of a battlecruiser payload on the standby list." Erin waved from atop the bipedal hulk, persuading the battle mech into position with the lightest of mental coaxing. "I'm not doing this again. I had to put a dozen projects on hold for this, grandma."

"And I appreciate the gesture, lovely. Your grandpa is going to be thrilled." Sydney waited for the metallic golem to halt before approaching with a low whistle. "I see the launcher and cannon made the bill. Didn't expect them to be on the back, admittedly."

"If you knew how much of a pain in the tail balancing was, you'd made compromises too." Erin slid off the upper hull and landed in a crouch. "And speaking of, you couldn't agree to deliver this at the shipyard? Why did it need to be here?"

"Carbon and I were held back from our flight for business. We didn't know if our ship would still be here when we finished." The ottkat gave her pink and blue grandotter a hug. "A large chunk of family is here. Why don't you stay a while? I'm sure a few people are wondering where you've been lately."

"I'd rather not. I wouldn't have come at all if not for demonstrating how this works." Erin slapped the hull and the central cockpit parted open, showcasing thin yet intricately layered armor plates and a special guest further inside at the helm. "You think you could handle the explanations, Eve? You've had some time with her."

"I think I probably could." Evelyn poked her head out of the golem, grumbling and averting her gaze upon spotting Sydney. "Uh... It's still better if you do the talking yourself, though. I only know the 'how's, not the 'why's."

"Great... Better get this done before I draw attention, then." Her head now cradled by a grease-stained glove, Erin groaned and looked toward the palace doors and their guards. "There something going on? Tesem usually lets people in the gardens and atrium, doesn't he?"

"We had a busy day. Maybe he wanted to keep out distractions." Cid took a better look at the extra security and frowned at her next thought. "I hope he's not fretting over the coming changes. He even hired a dedicated bodyguard."

"Really? Someone other than Flux? She's alwaysstrutting around him with that spear of hers." Erin headed for the front doors, a bit more pep in her step as curiosity drove her. "Grandpa is with him?"

"He's been popping questions and concerns all day, so that's my current bet."

"Yeah, thanks. I'll... be back in a bit with him." Erin stood still as the guards crossed their large halberds to bar her entry. "Come on, guys. You know who I am. Right, Pelel?"

"Sorry, Erin. The king gave us a strict guest list today."

Sydney leaned into the cockpit of the mech and waved her paw blindly. "Let her pass, boys. I'll vouch for her as my guest. She's family."

"I'm not sure we can do that, ma'am. It's more than just my head on the block if we break orders."

"Now you're takin' the piss, mate. Erin's no harm to anyone. The bollocks you must--"

"Save your breath... Sydney, was it?" Dani slipped from behind one of the doors, propping it open for the younger ottkat. "So you're Erin? Come with me, lass. I'll escort you through."

"Oh... thanks." Erin waited for the guards to stand down and headed for the door. "Are you new here?"

"And goal. I think I owe that girl a pint." Sydney chuckled to Eve with a smirk. "Fingers crossed?"

"Hm? What are we cheering for here?" Carbon strolled from around a stone fence, a slow and low whistle rolling from his tongue as he noticed his mates around a golem. "Is it this beauty? She having trouble starting? I've never seen this model before so I'm not sure I can help."

Eve burst into giggles with Sydney as she put the pieces together. "Oh, nothing. Our wife is just brilliant is all."

"Hm? Did I hear grandpa...?" Erin jolted her gaze forward as she was suddenly led by her arm. "I appreciate the assist back there, but I know my way around."

"Sorry, lass. I'm charged with keeping the king safe and I'm not sure how to handle this."

"You could start by explaining who you are. Tesem hired you? That's rare." Erin wrested her arm free and caught up to the meerkat on her own steam. "Hello?"

"Oi, my bad. I was checking the door." The meerkat took a breath and held her paw to the large door of Tesem's study, then slowly turned to face Erin once confirming the handle was still locked. "Sem did hire me, just a few days ago. He's been agreeable if a little determined, but he seems to have loosened a few screws."

"'Sem', eh?" Erin gauged the woman's demeanor, shaking her head at a shemagh shielding her lower face. With a sigh of her own she held out a paw. "Erin. And you are..."

"Oh, right. Dani. Cheers." The concerned bodyguard pressed a full-access card to the door lock and groaned when the lock persisted. "I was checking on Sem and couldn't get in. I was about to kick down the door if I couldn't find help, and then--"

"Let me though, please? I'll clean out your cache when this is over, little guy." Erin simply mumbled to the lock and it responded by lugging open. "Thank you, buddy."

"How in the bloody blazes...?" Dani followed Erin through the door, fluttering her eyes in the shift to dark and shadows. "Sem? Why are the lights down?"

"I'm fine. You can leave me." A huddled mass over the massive desk near the back waved a dismissive paw. "Everyone can just leave me..."

"Oh... Okay, then. Erin?"

"I'll stay, thanks."

"I'll be... right out here, I guess."

Erin lowered her gaze to the floor and shuffled closer. "Tesem? What's wrong?"

"I've only been over this a million times now." The ruler reached out very blindly for something at the corner of the desk, too lazy to sit upright and have a proper reach. "My kingdom is crumbling out of sight. That's a start."

"That's... a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it? Your people love you."

"Love? Me? Fuck, you're harsher than usual." Sem nudged the indistinct item further away with a growl of disapproval. "I don't have any friends! I can't find anyone to hold me! Fuck, I'm even... losing my wife..."

"Tesem?" Erin finally approached closely enough to resolve the item on the desk, a halfway finished bottle of whisky. "Look at yourself. You're hiding away in your little palace, getting drunk over having everything. You left me to fend for myself, for a year, for this?"

"Fuck!" Sem smacked the bottle with the back of his paw and sent it shattering against a chair. "I didn't mean to! I've been pushed to my limits! I don't sleep anymore! What the fuck do you want from me?"

"Tesem! Get ahold of yourself!" Erin shook her paw over her clothes, hoping to remove spattered booze and glass in the low light. "I can't help that you fucked up your life. I'm not sure I'd care to anymore, either."

"No! You can't leave me too! I'd... have nothing left..." The king draped his head in his paws and heaved with panicked sobbing. "I'm such a fuck up... I can't even make myself like me."

"It's like you want to be miserable and alone. I can't believe I held out hope for a whole year..."

"If only that were true..." Sem slipped and let his snout slam into the table, the pain not even registering enough for him to care. "If only you were really here, maybe I could ask. Maybe I could make things right."

"What? I am here, idiot."

"Just... shut up. I don't need my own mind fighting me too."

Erin inched backward in recoil as she grew concerned. "Sem..." She scurried through fragments of glass and draped her arms around her lost friend. "I'm here for you, Hunter. I'm here."

"You're... real?" The surge of memories and emotion that fed through that simple touch bled out a deluge of tears, the otter convulsing with sniffles and coughs. "Erin... Erin, I--"

"Shush, Hunter. I know." Erin slid behind Sem and hugged him from behind, draping herself over her friend like a protective blanket of pink and blue. "I forgive you, Hunter. Just... bleed it out. I'm here for you."

Tesem wrapped his thick tail around Erin's waist and held her tight as he rode out his emotions. "Thank you, Erin."

"Now I know you're messed up." The ottkat curled her own fluffy tail around Sem and squeezed him tightly. "You haven't called me some sweet nickname yet."

Tesem finally eased into more controlled breathing, fighting back gasps and sobs as he focused on that much needed embrace. "Candy Cane..."

"Aha. So my friend is still somewhere in there." Erin squeaked in pure embarrassment immediately upon realizing she just kissed atop her friend's head. "G-Glad to have y-you back."

"Y-Yeah..." The pair held still in the dark, enjoying each other's presence in silence. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too."

---

The last survivor of the fall /

Without a will to live at all.

The sun is setting as /

No one remains to hear my weakened call.

I've come a thousand miles alone.

Passed every kingdom's empty throne.

And I can't shake the feeling /

You'll arrange the stars to lead me home.