“Pretend?” Kasta asked.
“Yeah,” Zea answered as she uncrossed her arms and looked at everyone. “What’s going to make them consider allowing us to land? Most civilizations try to help ships in distress, and the ones who don’t still try to salvage ships. What if we make it look like we are limping out of warpdrive with a battered hull and a distress signal set on loop? Then we can ask them for permission to land or a repair crew.”
“If a repair crew comes on board, they might find out we aren’t who we say we are,” Paula said.
“Hey, I’m just trying to get to the next step!” Zea laughed. “I’ve already said a few hundred times that I think this plan is crazy. If another ship docks with us and comes on board, Adam can always do that thing he does with the violence, and we can hop on their ship.”
“That’s a great idea, Zea,” I said as I considered her plan.
“Wait,” she laughed. “No it isn’t. You can’t be serious.”
“Ughhhh,” Shivaha growled. “I wish I was coming. Imagine the look on the faces of the fools who try to rescue you when you destroy them and take their ship.”
“We will try not to kill them,” I said. “People that try to help others when in need do not deserve death. Especially if I wish to bring the Jotnar under my rule. Zea’s plan is great though. Best case, they let us land. Worst case, they come aboard when we are in orbit, and then we can take over their ship. We might even be able to hyper or warpdrive out before they attack.”
“This isn’t my plan,” Zea sighed. “You all keep saying it’s my plan. I think it’s crazy.”
“Juliette, can you tweak this corvette so it looks battered?” I asked.
“I can have the shipwrights try,” she said with a shrug.
“I will send help from Persephone,” Madalena said.
“We’ll help too,” Kasta said as she gestured to her sister.
“So that’s the plan,” I said as I looked at the Prime Valkyrie. “We’ll need to give them the rhodium for the ship.”
“I will take care of it,” Madalena answered. “We will also need to buy supplies for your new ship, at least enough to last you for the fifty hours of travel. I will take care of that as well.”
“I’ll go with you,” Sivaha said. “Since I feel like we are going to be bored together for the next few weeks.”
Madalena smiled slightly and nodded at the silver-haired queen. Then both women moved as if to stand.
“Adam,” Juliette said as everyone stood, “can we talk privately?”
“Sure,” I said, and then I told my wives I would meet them all back on Persephone. It took half a minute for everyone to exchange goodbyes with the red headed cop, and then I sat back down.
“They keep promoting me,” she started as she gestured to the walls around us.
“You are good at your job,” I said.
“Naw,” she scoffed. “I’m terrible, but everyone else is worse. Who is going to fly your corvette? Is Blondie still flying Persephone?”
“No,” I said. “We have a Vaish pilot named Nikki. She’s very skilled. I was thinking Zea could fly the corvette, or Kasta.”
“Blondie was right you know,” Juliette said. “Your mission is crazy. I’d say it would be suicide, but this is you, and you seem to accomplish the impossible.”
“Yeah,” I said, “but there are a lot of unknowns with this. We are going to be entering Nsling - 24 system blind.”
“Yeah, and then you are going to try to find a ship you can steal. Then you are going to this Jaylar--”
“Jotnar,” I corrected.
“Whatever. Their home system. I’m guessing that will be filled with ships. You’ll have to figure out a way to get into this battle fortress.”
“That’s the plan,” I said.
“So what if I told you that I knew of a way to increase your success? Would that be of value to you?” Her lips curved up into a pretty smile, and she batted her long eyelashes at me.
“You want to come with us?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “You need a good pilot. Someone that is used to flying a variety of different ships. I’m the best, and I’ve had my hands on at least fifty-six different types. Blondie is smart with computers, but I have thousands of hours under my belt. I was pretty much born in a ship’s pilot chair.”
“What about Queen’s Hat?” I asked as I thought through her words.
“So it’s all part of my evil plan,” she chuckled. “I keep telling them to get someone else, but they haven’t taken me seriously. So I’ll go on a month sabbatical, and either one of two things will happen: You and I will end up fucking each other a bunch, and I can join your harem of sexy wives, or I come back after a month, and they’ve either found someone, or they will give me a huge raise. I win either way.”
“Or we could all die,” I pointed out as I felt a smile pull at my lips.
“Doubtful, but you didn’t mention anything about the sex or me joining your wives, so I’m thinking there is a pretty good chance that will happen. Can I have a hundred diamonds in my crown and one giant ruby at the top?”
“I’m gonna go now,” I laughed as I stood. “Madalena is going to get you the money. Let me know when the ship is ready.”
“Hmmm,” she said as she smirked at me. “Of course, your majesty. Whatever you want, and I mean... whatever... you want.”
“Oh, stop,” I laughed again and then stepped back to the door, “and thanks for your help.”
“No, problem,” she said. “But remember that I wanted you before I knew you were rich.”
“Yeah,” I opened the door and then walked out into the hallway.
“I mean, I’m a rhodium digger, but at least I’m being hone--” she started to say as I closed the door behind me and cut off the rest of her words.
Then I shook my head, chuckled, and made my way out of the police station and back to Persephone.
Chapter 7
The walk back to Persephone was uneventful, other than the strange feeling of being without any of of my lovers. No one gave me a second glance as I strolled Queen’s Hat’s streets, and I was able to let my mind wander a bit as I walked. I had a lot to think about, but instead of focusing on the upcoming mission and the hundreds of different things that could go wrong, I found myself thinking about having dinner with Aasne. I was really looking forward to getting to know the auburn-haired beauty, since we hadn’t spent much time talking alone.
Thoughts of dining with Aasne brought me to thoughts about Elana, Paula, Kasta, Eve, and Zea. All five of them thought they were supposed to cook me dinner. I didn’t really think it was necessary, but I knew they wouldn’t want to break the custom. Especially since Paula, Kasta, Eve, and Zea had just spent two weeks working to become Nordar.
Dragon greeted me when I came aboard Persephone again, and he asked if he could walk with me a few moments. I agreed, and guessed that he was going to talk to me about Rin, Yui, Kalan, and Vikana, but the first words out of his mouth surprised me.
“I am very proud of you, Tiger,” he said as we walked by some crates.
“Huh?” I asked.
“You have gathered many powerful women to you,” he said. “This is adding to your magic.”
“Ahhh,” I laughed. “We are going to talk about women again. Here I thought you might have been proud of me for other reasons.”
“You seek my approval?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“No, you are my friend,” I said with a shrug.
“I see,” he said as he bobbed his head. “The amount and quality of women that a man attracts is his sole measurement. You have achieved that by being a great ruler. I have no doubt that the Jotnar will soon fall under your heel. Then you will set about to challenge our true foe.”
“You’ve been a bit cryptic about the Draugr,” I said. “Yu mentioned something about you and I being closer to understanding ‘mass,’ while the Grays and Draugr are closer to ‘time.’ Do you know what he was talking about?”