Crystal Knoll Point of View
The Eighth Sector, a place of crazy aliens and a weird looking Commander. Vincent's footsteps could be heard on the gravel as the people stopped in their places and dipped to the ground showing the back of their necks to Vincent as he walked past with his eye facing forward, not even a single glance given to the people.
Looking around at the people I see all kinds of... species? Some people have a pale blue skin tone, while others have a fiery red, the last that freaks me out being the tail people. Nothing too crazy about them except the massive skin tail that comes out of their ass.
I could live my life never having seen that.
Their different colors is an interesting look as they stand up from their deep bows. Our car dropped us off as close as possible to the main hub where the commander is supposed to lead, but the influx of men standing to challenge made the situation more difficult than it should have been.
The building that he walks us to is a simple blue, rectangular style almost like a home you would see in a popular subdivision on earth. Cozy, but obviously used well. The entrance is simple enough, just a patio with a main screen door that we walk through without anything extra being required. A butler looking man leads us to a door on the second floor, the butler knocks twice and walks off leaving us to stand in the hallway. As he walks off, I see a tail sticking out of his ass.
That just ain't right.
When the commander stood, I was able to get a good look at him over the arm of Vincent, looks to be seventy years old, and he slobbers no matter what letter he said when he's speaking. The old man could not even walk straight because of his age. While all of it seems convincing, I watch his limp switch legs, or have an inconsistent pattern. The slobber seems a little focused and he still has great muscle mass for his age. Interesting.
A simple conversation takes place between him and Vincent, one I don't bother to care to much about except for the fact that his name is Tashkent, a name that sounds a little too close to trashcan for my liking.
Tashkent leaves the room to get the paperwork for Vincent and I groan Vincent trying to cover my mouth as he watched the back of the commander leave the room.
"Do you want to explain a little bit about what's going on? And maybe what's the fuck up with the tails?"
"Commander Tashkent, since he has decided to resign from his position, has left a void in this sector that usually only a birthright can fill. He never met his mate, and that has led to a problem. Now the sector either must fight for a new commander or be split into two others. However, on Hedium sectors are like tribes, while we work together well in day to day lives, when newcomers are thrown into new sectors it's a fight to the death."
"Kill or be killed? Over simple tribe alliances?"
"While we have become more civilized over time, we still have our more animalistic tendencies." He runs his hands over my arm as Tashkent re-enters the room papers in tow.
"My King, here are the papers that are needed for the removal of my position, I wanted to speak with you about the sector. I have found the men and women here to be close friends. Would you be able to spare them from the split?" Tashkent spits into the trashcan nearest to us cleaning out some space in his mouth.
"And why should I help you when you are choosing to leave your position?"
"The people of this sector did not impact my decision, my old age and lack of ability to run it has. I simply ask that you can speak with the people of the sector, see if you find anyone suited to run in my place, my King." Vincent looks over the commander clinking his tongue. He glances down at me while I sit there waiting, his eyes scanning my face for any indication of what I could be feeling him getting a blank stare in return.
Vincent holds me and turns around leaving Tashkent standing watching as we go. We exit the building and survey the men that are bowing to us as we pass. Soon after crossing through houses and fighting areas, we reach the stage that is placed in the middle of town. Vincent walks on the stage and forces my head into his chest his protectiveness starting to show more than normal.
"People of sector eight, your commander has stepped down from his position. As you know this could lead to a split into the other sectors. You commander has requested that I try to find a replacement in hopes to avoid this. My mate, your Queen, seems to be in agreeance. Do I have anyone bold enough to step into this position?" No one spoke up and it felt like no one was breathing at all. What is so bad about this sector that no one want to run it, isn't position and status a big deal to these people?
"Either someone steps up or I start the split." His voice carries over the men, no one stepping forward but a single soul that is shoved forward by his friends.
"I present myself, my King. Jackson Fritters is my name."
"Since you have no opposers, you will be appointed the position, thank your commander for this. I would have preferred to throw you to the wolves."
"Th-Thank you King. I hope not to fail you."
"I hope that is true, but I have no hopes in someone like you. No courage to step forward when I called first."
Jackson smiles in respect, backing away slowly to stand next to the old commander who lightly pats his back.
Vincent nods at everyone, them dropping into bows as he walks up back through the town to the waiting car. My eyes continuing to travel over the weird looking people, almost jealous of how well some of them can pull off the blue tone skin.
While this small adventure was interesting and kept me on my toes, how quickly it happened and how people just fell in line was alarming. No say in anything, the King is the law. Is this how the people run their lives? Vincent is the final say, the final everything it seems.
The car ride is silent as Vincent drops the privacy screen letting me shift into my own side of the car.
"That was some adventure there." I finally mumble tossing my hair over my shoulder, Vincent biting the edge of his lip.
"The people expect me to be the bad guy, so I have to step up and be there."
"Oh, what planet do you have to be the bad guy? These people listen to you without fail. Don't you think it would be nice if you listened to them for a change?" I toss my hands in the air, huge amounts of frustration taking over me at his lack of care. While he may be panty dripping hot, he can be period cramp annoying as well.
"I have run this kingdom for a long time, there isn't much that people want to change."
"Is that because you haven't asked them? Don't care to ask them? How would you feel if your Queen wants a complete reform of the way women are treated and deserves as such?"
He huffs, looking over me and running a hand through his hair letting it stick everywhere, "That just isn't possible Crystal, that would shake the entire social system."
"And what if it needs to be shaken?"
Vincent Lyson Point of View
My head aches at her proposition. Changing the way that the women are handled in the world would leave a huge gap in the social norms that would take ages to fix.
Women are meant to be provided for, served, and held close. Why would a woman ever want to work for herself when she can have a man to do it for her? Many women on the planets agree, waiting day in and day out to find their mates so they are taken care of, but then comes my little vixen who challenges me at every turn, questions me, and demands to know the why to everything.
She truly is a little earthling with no concept for our customs, but is that such a bad thing? Looking at her now, in all her beauty she holds an elegance of power that demands to be heard. A beautiful queen that doesn't need to be tamed.
"While you might feel that way, many women in our world don't."
"What about choice?"
"Choice?"
She rolls her eyes crossing her arms across her chest, "It's a concept that includes letting women decide what they want. Me, I want to be able to walk around and stand equal to you compared to whatever the fuck that was with the commander."
"You really like to state your opinions huh?" I tsk turning to the window to see us getting close to the castle. I reach over and pull her into me our touch becoming an addicting touch of energy.
"I do have them."
The car stops, doors flying open as I drag her out with me her little body shifting into a more comfortable position. Letting her find her place, she looks out to see a couple standing in front of the main castle entrance.
"Well, if the stars align! Good friend, nice to see you what brings you here?" The man smiles, his mate smiling as well with a small wave at Crystal who waves in return.
"Ah! Brother, my King! I have come with matters that need to be discussed, may we take this to the office and let the women mingle?"
"Of course, darling this is Chase and his made Stella," He waves towards them and begins to walk inside, the couple following behind us as Chase carries his mate, "We can drop them in the side foyer while we talk in the office. And please, ladies, if you need anything just knock on the door and the guards will send for us."
Stella nods letting Chase set here down on a love seat while Vincent drops me on the other chair in the room, both the men nod to us walking out their matter to discuss being, as Chase put it, imperative.
Crystal Knoll Point of View She points to herself. "Stella Franti, Mate of Chase Franti, Klataz."
"Oh wow, that sounded way more formal than I was anticipating. My name is Crystal, people call me Crys." I stick my hand out for her to shake, her eyebrows creasing as she analyzes my hand. Instead of the normal hand shake that people attempt she pokes my palm a couple times then stops looking at me.
"I um... I have no idea what you are doing right now."
"It's called a handshake. It's how people on Earth greet each other. You wrap your hand around mine like this," I grab her hand that was against her thigh pulling it into the air between us setting up a mock shake, "And then you go up and down. This is like a simple hello."
"You touch each other to greet one another?"
I use my fingers to grab a knot at the end of my hair watching as she moves uncomfortably across from me, "Oh yeah, it's custom, or tradition or whatever you people say here. Some even give a light kiss on the cheek."
"You have to be kidding!"
"I am not!"
Stella slaps her mouth with her hand laughing as she thinks about someone coming up to kiss her as a greeting her face turning as red as a tomato, "You realize that would be death for anyone that tried right?"
"I am slowly realizing that yes. Now tell me about yourself!" I squeal happy to talk to someone that isn't the overbearing male in the next room.
"Oh? Tell you about me? I guess I am the mate of a Chase, a high-level male who serves almost directly under the king." Her shoulder shrug upsets me a little and I lean back trying to figure her out.
"No, I mean about you. Not the male, or mate, or whoever the hell is he is. You."
She gives me a light smile, her face getting a slightly more comfortable look when she realizes what I am asking about, "Oh, me? I used to work in the gardens with my mom back on Klataz! I love flowers and all things plants. One of my favorite things to do is collect new things I find with Chase on our travels around the planets. I actually have this..."
Her stories go on for at least an hour, her heart pouring into every detail as she tells me step by step how she waters each of her plants. Even though it's something I could never care for, the way she lights up to talk about it is mesmerizing, and as a hopeful friend I need to know all about it. The conversation soon shifted to how she met her mate, a little angrier tone about her.
"He just ripped me up from my home! Took me to his place and demanded I take his mark, had me fucked by the end of the month using the mate touch against me. The mongrel. While I love him know it took me time to get over that feeling of being used."
"Tell me about it! I was practically naked when Vincent jumped in the ship to get here. Didn't even have time to ask what was going on before I was marked."
"So, you two haven't mated?" She places her hands under her chin, her body moving slightly forward to get a closer look at me, a deep inhale following, "Oh, you definitely haven't mated."
"Wait can you all smell it?" I sniff my pits to see what they are smell but smell nothing but the soap I used to clean myself.
"Perks of being blessed by the stars I supposed, so you have been able to avoid him. All of us assumed since he is the King and old as dirt that you would have been practically raped the moment, he found you."
"Definitely not the case. Thank you, whatever stars you all talk about. He is just a tease. We have had a couple close calls, but he mostly leaves me hanging."
"He's edging you. It sounds like he wants you to beg for him! The dominate asshole." She groans throwing the pillow against her head in frustration.
"Tell me about it." I groan with her falling back onto the couch to see the ceiling, "Do you happen to be hungry and be in a mood to piss someone off?"
"Oh bitch, please. I am always in the mood to piss someone off."