Captain Andrew Dawes,

You are hereby commanded to meet with Calista Solaris (Monarch in waiting) to be catalogued and tested to confirm the classification of Scandare. The results of these tests will decide your future service with the Galactic Monarchy and are not optional. The Master System AI has the autonomy to place your abilities into remission if you choose to decline this meeting. Upon agreement, Calista Solaris will be alerted of your whereabouts and will arrange a suitable meeting place to perform the testing and cataloguing of your powers.

Do you accept the terms of testing and cataloguing? Yes/No

I looked at my friends regretfully. I didn't want to be pulled away from them again. I didn't want to do anything other than train and spend time getting stronger. I didn't have a choice, though. I was almost free of Randi, and I couldn't give him a reason to remit my powers now. I shook my head, sighed frustratedly, and mentally selected Yes.

Immediately, a hologram materialized in front of me, phasing in and out as it appeared directly over Tiff's body.

"Andrew? What is going on?" Tiff asked as she stepped to the side and allowed the hologram to fully form.

I looked around the room as the rest of the crew had now gathered around where I stood. "Guys, let me introduce you to Calista Solaris, Galactic Monarch in waiting."

Calista smiled intensely as she turned to see her audience. She was still beautiful, dangerously beautiful, and she knew it. Her blonde hair hung around her bare shoulders, falling into thick curls effortlessly. Her amber eyes were glowing with delight as she smiled and began the show.

"The crew of the mighty Bloodhound. I must say this is quite exciting! Andrew, I knew we would meet again, after all, you left quite the impression after our first meeting." Calista slowly slid her fingers from the base of her neck, down to her ample cleavage, as she turned and locked eyes with me. I unintentionally moved my eyes to Tiff, worrying that she was taking the bait. Calista pounced on the mistake like a lioness attacking her prey.

"Oh, apologies. I meant no offense to the Sapere. I wasn't aware you had connections." She turned to face Tiff. "I suppose she fills the gap nicely, for now."

Tiff's eyes began to glow as electricity crackled from her fingertips. I held out a hand to calm her. "Her name is Tiffantrimore, and that will be enough social commentary. What do you want, Calista?"

"Oh, apologies, Captain. I surely did not mean to offend," she glanced back at Tiff, "I just assumed a man of your power and influence had more, refined tastes. I am quite happy that you seem to be settling for a more grounded situation."

My hair began to stand on end as Tiff became angrier, the room filling with a static charge from her powers. "Calm down, Tiff. This is what she does. It's all she knows. Headgames and politics are her currency. Don't let her win."

Calista smiled and chuckled softly as she walked up in front of me. "I see you have become a bit more measured, Captain. I must say that is a bit, boring."

"What do you want, Calista?" I growled again.

"Well, Captain. It is protocol for all Scandare to be tested and catalogued. We can't very well have powerful, world-breaking beings running around the galaxy unchecked, now can we? Now, I assumed there was something special about you, but I did not think you, of all people, would become Scandare. Imagine my surprise when I received the message from the Master System AI. So, I am here to arrange a meeting place to perform the testing and cataloguing."

"And I am supposed to just trust that the Galactic Monarch doesn't want to use this as an excuse to snatch me up and bury me in a deep, dark hole? C'mon, Calista. You are gonna have to do better than that."

Calista smiled, and her smile was frustratingly beautiful. "Andrew, I understand your trepidation. After all, a few months ago, you and your little band of outlaws here would have been a grand prize. Things, however, have changed. The True Havokium have managed to drive the majority of the Galactic Council, along with it military contingent from Boutlerien. They have begun offensive military action on the outer rings, which are primarily controlled by the Rerek factions. Honestly, we have had to prioritize the defense of our citizens over common squabbles with uninitiated species and backwater planets. In short, there may be a day when you answer for the crimes you committed against the monarchy and Council. Today, fortunately for you, is not that day."

I glanced at my crew before continuing. "So, you just want to do some tests? That's it?"

Calista's eyes betrayed her excitement as she answered. "Of course, I don't have a white flag on me, but I would be happy to waive it if I did. Generally, a newly initiated Scandare would be ordered to Dunamis for the testing and cataloguing process, but as a sign of good faith, I will allow you to determine the location of our meeting."

"And what about the part of the message that referred to my service to the Galactic Monarch?" I asked.

"Normally, the royal family would employ and train Scandare as our personal guard. We currently have several in our employ or deployed on missions of…import. I understand that you might have some reservations about working with our family, Andrew. I do believe we are now working toward a common goal, though."

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My face twisted in anger at her words. "We have nothing in common, Calista. You and your family and your Council of puppets have done nothing but try to eliminate me and my species since those orbs landed on Earth. You have no mercy, no empathy, no regard for the citizens of this galaxy. I told you the last time I saw you that I would kill your father, I would end this reign of terror, and I intend to keep that promise."

Calista chuckled and smiled as a crazy, intense desire filled her eyes. "Oh my, that Sapere must be positively eating you up." She turned her head and winked at Tiff, who was on the absolute verge of going nuclear. "I understand why you feel the way you do, Andrew. Truly, I do. I have never known hunger, fear, or wanted for anything in my life. I have had a truly privileged life, and my only desire is to continue to rule and solidify the Dantaris line. With that being said, I have some information that might change your mind."

"What information could you possibly have that would make me consider willingly meeting with you and a bunch of your goons?"

Calista smiled again. This time it was different, though. I felt her trap; I knew that I was wriggling in her web, and she was approaching like a deadly, venomous spider, ready to sink her fangs into me.

"I know where your friend is, Andrew. I can help you find Elvis."

Plasma rounds flew silently through the void, hotly splattering onto various pieces of mining equipment as BD-001 exited the drop ship amidst a cloud of dust. He had not lost count of the number of missions he had been on, as his cranial cortex allowed him to store and recall memories with perfect clarity. Well, almost perfect as he had recently started to recognize that there was a sizeable gap in his digital memory, a gap of several months in fact. No, he knew this was his 43rd mission, and his 11th time assaulting a Rerek mining facility. Nevertheless, he exited the drop ship with the maniacal intensity that he was quickly becoming famous for within the ranks of the True Havokium infantry. BD-001 was never alone; he was always being watched, always deployed to areas of tactical import, and he never failed. His commanding officer was Karis el Aetos, a recently disgraced member of the True Havokium elite. Karis was always watching, always plotting from his perch high above in his personal command ship, the Emerging Sun. Elvis hated Karis, but served nonetheless. He couldn't fight his programming, after all. Todays mission was to eliminate any Rerek resistance and destroy all of the mining infrastructure. This Asteroid was a crucial part of the Rerek weapons manufacturing process. Precious metals and exotic ore were mined from this and numerous other asteroids in this sector of the Galaxy and Karis made it clear that the primary objective of his contingent was to hinder or, best case scenario, stop the Rerek's ability to produce more weapons and ships in their defense against the True Havokium assault. Elvis didn't care about why. He only cared about killing; he only cared about proving himself worthy of standing among the most powerful beings in the Galaxy. Unfortunately, he had seen little progress in his level since most of the sites they were attacking were manned by uninitiated soldiers. Elvis began to grow restless; he yearned for a challenge, and so far, he had found few worthy opponents. Elvis gripped his axe in his right hand as it began to glow, blue, then yellow, the orange as plasma began to form on the edge and drip to the rocky surface of the asteroid as he ran toward the complex he was targeting. "BD-001, do you read?" the voice crackled to life through Elvis's internal comm. "I read you, Karis," Elvis replied through a grunt as he climbed a large jagged rock and leapt toward the Rerek complex. "Commander Karis. Be sure I don't have to remind you of that again, droid." Karis hissed in response. "Understood, Commander Karis." Plasma enveloped Elvis's hands and arms as anger boiled within him. This Karis was nothing, untested, unproven, and unwilling to lead his men on the ground. Still, he was powerful. Elvis knew he was not capable of challenging him at his current level, but the gap was shrinking, and Elvis was patient. "BD-001, ensure that you completely destroy all vital infrastructure and leave no Rerek alive. This mining outpost is responsible for approximately eight percent of the total Rerek weapons production yield. It is imperative that we don't leave an operational site when we are done. Do you understand?" Elvis simply grunted as he landed amidst a group of three Rerek fighters. Uninitiated, almost not worth killing, almost. Elvis growled and landed a straight kick directly to the chest of the first Rerek, sending him flying into the wall of one of the outermost buildings of the compound. The two remaining Rerek soldiers, to their credit didn't flinch, one pulling a plasma lined knife, the other opting for hand to hand combat. Hand to hand was a bad choice, the Rerek swung with an overhand right fist that Elvis simply caught in his left hand. Elvis channeled power into the hand and the heat of his plasma covered hand exploded as the Rerek'ss arm simply melted away, chunks of charred red flesh and bone crumbling to the ground beneath him. The second Rerek swiped at Elvis's mid-section and found success as a deep gash formed across Elvis's ribcage. Elvis simply looked down, unfazed and swiped his axe in the direction of the remaining Rerek, removing him of the burden of his head. After ensuring he was not being pressed by more Rerek soldiers, Elvis swung the head of his axe into the ground, knelt and pressed his burning right hand to the wound, searing the artificial flesh and closing it safely. Picking his axe back up he looked ot his left to see a contingent of True Havokium infantry entering a warehouse and followed. Upon entering the warehouse Elvis saw several Rerek soldiers on their knees, hands behind their heads. These Rerek had given up, surrendered so early in the battle. Elvis was part of the second wave of the assault, landing aproximately ten minutes after the first. His priority was ensure the site lead was eliminated and the infrastructure had been destroyed. The three guards outside had been proof of how sloppy these Havokium soldiers had become. "Is the site lead in this group?" Elvis asked without emotion. "Yes, BD-001. In the middle, She is unarmored and not wearing a military uniform." one of the True Havokium soldiers answered. Elvis walked up quietly, staring at the site lead intently. The Rerek woman looked disheveled. Her deep black hair hanging in tatters, one of her horns broken. She looked at Elvis defiantly as he approached. "This mining site is property of the Rerek Empire, do you know who you attack…" her words fell silent as her head tumbled to the floor with a bloody wet thud. Elvis turned and took a few steps. "Finish and prepare for exfil." he walked out of the warehouse to the sounds of plasma rounds thunking into Rerek flesh.

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