A good night’s sleep

One week of nightshifts in a row is never a good idea. Especially not when the nightshifts somehow bleed into the dayshifts, create a never ending circle on naps in the office or the car. This investigation sucks and so does the cheap coffee that does nothing to keep me awake.

“If nothing happens in the next few minutes I will just walk out of here,” I state, only for Tennoji to nod his head. It was a blur of red hair and fatigue.

“Yeah. Stupid mobsters could really be more cooperative,” he yawns, grabs the bag with chips lying on the dashboard of the messy car.

“When will our replacement come?”

“Hanai and Asano should be here in-“ he checks his watch, “-half an hour.”

“Good, my bum is numb already.” I shift in my seat, feeling stiff and icky. “Can’t wait to get a shower and some hours of sleep in a real bed.”

“Yeah, can’t wait for you to get a shower either.” He holds his nose with one hand, waves in front of his face with the other.

“You’re one to talk,” I laugh and jab my elbow in his ribs. “You’re smelling like a cage full of lynxes.”

Another 30 minutes of stakeout later Asano finally shows up and I can get out of that car, can stretch my legs and make my way to the PD to clock out for the day.

“Well, hello there,” the deputy chief greets me in the hallway leading towards our office.

“Nomura,” I nod briefly.

“I thought you were having a double shift and yet here you are, looking as cute as always,” he keeps talking, joins me on my way to the office.

“I’m looking as if I haven’t slept in 36 hours,” I reply with a huffed laughter.

“And? Did you?”

“No, it’s more like 40 hours, but with short naps in between,” I explain, hide a yawn behind my hand.

“Then why are you here and not at home?” He opens the door for me, follows me inside.

“Paperwork. Better drop some stuff off now before I get an angry call from Hanai later. But once that’s done I’m off and on my way back home and will sleep ten hours in a row.” That’s the only thought keeping me sane for the last 12-ish hours.

“Your boss is working you too hard,” he casually states but my sleep deprived mind twists his – probably – completely innocent words into something else.

“I wish,” I mutter before my brain kicks in again. “Uh, I wish I could say you’re wrong, but you’re not.” No need to spill the truth about the hots I have for boss. I mean, he’s gorgeous, tall, smart and kind. What’s there not to lust after?

“But you know that I’m your boss’ boss, right? I mean, I could tell him to be nicer to you.”

Okay, this now really sounds as if he’s hinting at something but I don’t rise to the bait.

“No, it’s okay. I can pull my own weight. That’s why you put me in this unit after all, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s one of the reasons.” His sideway glance lingers longer than an innocent look should but I don’t mind. He’s handsome and charming, and a little bit of flirting can’t hurt.

“I would love to ask about the other reasons, but I’m afraid right now I’m not able to appreciate your explanation fully.” I stumble, my body feels strangely floating, numb.

“Easy there, detective.” His hand on my arm steadies me, I flash him a sheepish smile.

“See? It’s about time for me to get to bed.”

“Mhm, time for bed indeed.” He doesn’t let go of me and I just stare at him. I must be broken, hearing things and stuff. Definitely the lack of sleep.

I don’t even hear boss coming out of his office until he clears his throat.

“And what is going on here? Detective? Nomura?” Oh shit, he never calls me detective unless it’s serious.

“Your detective here is a bit shaky on her feet. I better make sure she gets home safely,” Nomura smoothly explains and tugs at my arm lightly. “That is, if she’s okay with it.”

Okay, seriously, that can’t be only me reading invitations into his words.

“She is, as you pointed out, one of my detectives and I am responsible for overworking her. I am going to take her home.” Boss nods, he has made a decision.

“Hiroshi, you don’t want her to sit on your bike in that condition, do you? She might just fall off.”

My head turns back and forth, from one of my superiors to the other. What is happening here?

“I’m afraid your car isn’t much safer for her,” Kirisawa points out and I think he’s not talking about safety belts and airbags.

“Uhm, guys? Sirs? Dunno what to call you right now, but – is this still about a ride home?”

They both look at me now and I want to squirm under their intense gazes. Well, actually I want to squirm under their touches and kisses, but a girl can’t get everything.

“It depends on what you want,” Nomura’s voice drags me out of my daydreams. He stares at Kirisawa now who only tilts his head lightly. “Usually the lady has the last word in these matters.”

Maybe I passed out from exhaustion at some point and this is only some dream. In that case I got nothing to lose, right?

“Deputy chief, you can take me home. And boss, you can come with us and make sure I’m safe.” I bat my lashes at them, not exactly a move I’m familiar with but it seems to work.

“Are you sure? I mean, you can always change your mind, but you do understand what we are offering here, do you?”

It’s funny how Nomura does all the talking.

“Not sure. Are you offering to take me home to have sex with me? In that case, yes, I’m sure. If I’m mistaken… well, excuse me, I’m just off to find a hole to crawl in.”

Boss chokes and coughs, cheeks tinted red. Oh god, I misread the situation. Oh god… this is going to be awkward.

“No, you got that right. This is what we’re talking about.” Nomura’s confirmation sends a wave of relief through me – and butterflies.

“Good, my answer stands. How about you?” Yes, I can choose ambiguous answers, too.

“I’d say we better get you home, princess.” They flank me, basically escort me out of the office, towards Nomura’s car. We greet officers left and right, try not to raise suspicion.

“You don’t have to,” Kirisawa says when we reach the car.

“You don’t have to, either. But I want to,” I make clear and he nods, opens the door for me. To the backseat.

“You’re not going to start early on the backseat,” Nomura says and Kirisawa frowns.

“And I’m not letting her sit next to you so you can start fondling her on the way.”

“Guys, how about I stay here on the backseat, boss rides shotgun and Nomura takes the wheel. And you better figure out how to get along otherwise it can get awkward later.” I give Nomura my address and slink into the backseat, doze off after only a couple of minutes.

 

I wake up when the car comes to a stop, just I time to get the last part of a conversation they are having.

“But she needs to sleep. I think we shouldn’t wake her up, just get her to bed.” Kirisawa, bless him, is worrying about my condition.

“As much as it pains me, and believe me, some parts of me are really in pain right now, I guess you are right.”

“Nooo…” I weakly whine and rub my eyes. “I just dreamed of all of us in my bed and now that’s exactly what I want.”

“But you are tired, princess. You know what they say, after tired there’s only stupid. We don’t want you to do anything stupid and regret it afterwards.”

“True, we would have made you drunk ages ago if that was our goal,” Kirisawa adds.

“Wait, that’s an option? I mean, you are actually thinking about this for a while?” I’m wide awake now, heart thumping and stomach tingling.

“Maybe a few weeks. Not more than a couple of months,” Nomura casually confirms.

“Then what are we talking about here? Get out of the car and into my apartment. And out of your clothes there.” I scramble out of the backseat, stretch my numb and tired arms and legs, aware that they stare at me, both still standing with the car’s doors open.

“I need a shower first. You can hash out the details and make yourself comfortable.” Confidently that they will follow me I walk over to my door, unlock it just in time for them to arrive. My brain feels strange, like drunk, but better. I’m high on anticipation and arousal, start stripping in my living room. Not graceful, but effective enough to hear a groan from behind me. Kirisawa for sure. Without my shirt but still in my pants I turn around to face them.

“Bedroom is over there, kitchen is here. I won’t need long, so you better start talking. And yes, I’m game for almost everything but heavy bdsm and some creepy roleplay.”

Nomura hisses, but nods. Kirisawa’s eyes widen, he glances at Nomura who winks at him.

“In that case I’m calling dibs on those pretty lips,” he says only for me to shrug.

“Fine. But I expect you to return the favor – once I’m clean again.” With that I hurry off to the bathroom, strip naked and jump under the shower to quickly but thoroughly wash myself.

I’m almost done when there’s a knock at the door.

“Hey, so, uhm, Nomura wants to open your drawers to look for – supplies, I guess.”

“What?”

“I said, Nomura is looking for condoms and stuff!”

“Come in here, I can’t hear you!” I can, but starting early doesn’t sound bad at all. Kirisawa opens the door, slips into the bathroom.

“Is it okay for Nomura to look for condoms and lube?”

“Yeah, sure. Tell him bedside table, bottom drawer. He can take what he finds appealing.” Which hopefully also includes me. “Hey, boss? Can you come and wash my back?” I look at him over my shoulder, my naked backside turned to him.

He quickly relays the message to Nomura, already taking off his jacket. But only his jacket. He pushes up his sleeves and takes a step closer.

“So, uh, your back? You sure about that?” He rubs the back of his neck, has this adorable blush that can be because of the heat in here or – the heat in him.

“I’m sure there are some dirty spots that need washing and I’m also sure you should get in here to do so. Thoroughly.”

So I turn around, present my naked front to him, firm boobs and the sight of my neatly trimmed private triangle.

“Yeah, uhm, okay.” He nods slowly, undoes the buttons of his shirt, allows me a good view of his naked upper body now. I had a glimpse once or twice, but never up close. Once he has reached his pants my mouth is watering already, good thing I’m in the shower so it doesn’t show.

“Drop those pants, detective,” I purr, loud enough to be heard over the sound of the water, and with a last, drawn out breath he complies. I should have done this ages ago. Should have just climbed him like a tree in the office.

He quickly jumps into the shower, joins me under the warm water until I’m pressed against the tiled wall to give him room.

“I – I won’t be able to wash your back like this,” he stammers, still not completely comfortable, but he stays where he is.

“You could start with washing my front,” I suggest, grab a bottle of body wash and squeeze a generous amount into his waiting palm. He lathers it up before sliding his hands over my shoulders, down my arms, over my sides from there.

I step closer, with foamy hands myself, and mimic his motions. One more step and I’m directly in front of him, chin raised in an unspoken challenge, a plea, a demand. It doesn’t matter how he takes it as long as he acts on it.

The first brush of our lips, with droplets running down our cheeks, is sweet and short. The next kiss is deeper already, I wrap my arms around him, press my body tightly against his. His hands fall on my butt, squeeze it gently and I can feel his desire for me pressing against my thigh.

Panting I break away from him, turn around again and wiggle my butt.

“Don’t forget, be thorough.”

Again he squeezes my butt in his hands, his lips and teeth busy with my neck. The first brush of his testing fingertips between my butt cheeks has me jump a bit, but I reassure him he’s on the right track before he can pull his hand away.

A few ragged breaths later he starts working me open with one finger, helped by some of the water, while his other hand grips my hip tightly. I rest my forehead against the wall, try to relax but it’s so damned difficult when I feel like buzzing out of my skin in arousal.

“Hey, you started without me?” Nomura saunters over, faking a pout.

“I would invite you in, Deputy Chief, but the shower is too small for three of us. You can take a quick shower once we are out,” I let him know, not going to play along. Not yet. “Start undressing already.” I turn the water off, wait until Kirisawa pulls his hand back.

“Soap’s over there,” I tell him and drop a kiss on his lips before I get out of the shower, dripping and giddy.

Wrapped in a towel I hand another one to Kirisawa, lay one out for Nomura. He’s naked before I can even dry off, presses me backwards against the counter, his nose follows a droplet from my temple down to my collarbone.

“You playing favorites?” he asks lowly and I can’t help my chuckle.

“I would be unable to choose if my life depended on it, so no. Just going with the flow.”

A thoughtful him and he flashes me a smile. “Good. Just keep doing what you did, I’m taking a quick shower and be with you before you can even miss me.”

“Not so sure about that.” My voice is breathy already, my heart hammering in my chest. “Maybe I need a little something to tide me over?” I part my lips in invitation and he swoops in for a kiss like a hawk. And dammit, that man can kiss! His tongue sweeps over mine, plays and teases until I’m breathless and he pulls back again.

“Is that enough?” His eyes twinkle, someone likes to tease.

“For now,” I agree, let my towel drop on the way out.

Kirisawa is already in my bedroom, looking lost.

“Hey you,” I greet him, take in what Nomura did to the room while I was in the bathroom. Dimmed lighting, condoms and lube on the bedside table. A small selection of my toys.

“Hey.” He smiles, almost relieved that he’s not alone in here anymore. Not that any of us will be alone for long tonight.

“You want to go on?” I sit down on the bed, give him a chance to change his mind. Instead of an answer I get a heated gaze, he comes over and joins me on the bed.

“C’mere,” he drawls, eyes half-lidded while his cock is already at full mast. I crawl into his lap, tantalizing close to where I really want to be, but I decided that I will wait for Nomura with the real fun. That doesn’t stop me from kissing Kirisawa some more. I gasp when he picks up where we left earlier, drags one curious finger up and down my buttcrack.

The cap of the lube bottle clicks behind us, I look up to see Nomura, naked, only covered with a light flush from the shower.

“It’s easier with this.” He holds the lube out to Kirisawa who only stops stroking me long enough so Nomura can dump a dollop of cool gel on his fingertips. The coolness is a small shock but quickly forgotten when Kirisawa works the finger in and out of me.

“Now that’s quite a sight,” Nomura says and I crane my neck to see him, his cock in his hand, slowly stroking it while his eyes are glued to where Kirisawa is prepping me.

“Get the pink one,” I instruct him, motion towards the small selection of toys he set up on the bedside table. Nomura grabs the buttplug, shows it to me and waits for my nod before he lubes it up.

“What are you planning?” he asks, comes over to us.

“You put that in me, sit down on the bed, I’ll suck your cock and Kirisawa fucks me a bit. We can switch things up later.” I want to sound seductive and confident, but the words come out rushed, ragged.

“Princess, I should wash your mouth with soap for that kind of language.” He chuckles, shoos Kirisawa’s hand away.

“Is there any left on your cock?” I bat my lashes at him, kiss Kirisawa a last time for now and climb off his lap, kneel on the bed with my ass in the air.

“You’re going to find out,” Nomura promises me, slides the buttplug in place and starts pushing it in, slowly, inch for inch. I shudder and moan, hang my head, hands buried in the sheets. It’s not exactly the smallest plug I chose, but I will need the preparation later if we are going to do what I have in mind. Once it’s safely nestled inside of me I just focus on breathing, slowly sit up and wriggle my hips lightly to get used to the feeling.

“Then come and show me,” I demand, impatient now to get all I’m dreaming of. He drops a kiss on the small of my back, pats my bum and sits down on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

I crawl up to him, maybe not as graceful as a cat but definitely focused on him as if he’s a mouse. One I want to swallow whole. Before I can go down on him he stops me, though, beckons me closer with a smile. I settle in his lap, very much like I did earlier with Kirisawa.

“I said I wanted these lips,” he whispers, brushes his thumb over my mouth. I catch it, suck it between my lips, let my tongue circle it. He groans, but doesn’t pull back. Instead he lifts my face towards his, his thumb still in my mouth, and starts kissing my cheek, my temple, my jaw until he reaches my lips again, slides his thumb out and kisses me deeply. The mattress dips behind us and a second set of hands and lips starts caressing me, my neck, over my shoulder and back up.

It’s driving me crazy. I turn a bit to kiss Kirisawa some more while Nomura’s hands find my breasts, cup them, squeeze them lightly, thumbs rubbing my nipples into almost painful stiffness.

“I can’t wait anymore,” I pant, turn my attention back to Nomura, kiss down his body. A firm chest, a hint of abs. Not too much, just right. Kirisawa gives me some space and I settle between Nomura’s legs, on my knees, and run first a fingertip from the base to the tip of his cock. It’s completely hard, bobs a bit as if to follow my touch which makes me chuckle.

“You having fun, princess?” His voice is strained, words pressed out, ending in a moan.

“A lot. And you are going to have some, too.” Finally I open my mouth, let the tip of my tongue connect with the tip of his cock. Salty, slightly bitter, but not unpleasant.

I slide my lips down his cock, tongue pressed tightly against it so I can feel the vein on the underside, the ridges around the head. Eagerly I devour him, my spit and his precum making a mess I don’t mind.

A few choice words join his moans and grunts, most of them variations of mild swears. I grin, show off by taking him in as far as I can, blocking off my air supply for a moment.

The light touch on my pussy makes me pull back, I turn so I can see Kirisawa behind me, two fingers sliding through my folds, spreading lube and my own wetness.

“Can I-?”

“Gosh, yes!” I wiggle my hips, luring him in. With relief I notice that he has already put on a condom, I couldn’t wait now for him to do it anyway. I rest my forehead on Nomura’s thigh, his hand cards through my hair soothingly when Kirisawa lines up and slowly, oh so slowly pushes into me. His cock stretches me just right, with the plug is it a tight fit. One, two careful thrusts and he gains confidence, momentum. Every slap against me drives him deeper into my, and at the same time adds some pressure on the buttplug. Good thing I don’t have a cock in my mouth right now, I clench my teeth at the new sensation.

“Hey princess, you okay?” Nomura tips my chin up, stares at me intently until I grin dopily.

“I’m… fucking perfect…”

“That you are,” Kirisawa grunts, both hands on my hips. He finds a good rhythm and I return my attention to Nomura’s cock. I simply open my mouth, suck him in a bit and let Kirisawa push me back and forth. Nomura’s hand is still tangled in my hair, he helps with my bobbing without forcing me down too far.

I can’t even think straight anymore, much less coordinate all this. I just let them rock me between them, breathe when I have to, moan when I feel like it. It’s heaven. Not thinking, only feeling. I lose track of time, enjoy the building pressure in my belly. The strain on my muscles, the sweat on my skin, the taste of Nomura in my mouth.

“How about… switching it up now?” he says, pulls my mouth off him. Kirisawa’s thrusts turn into a dirty grind, both are waiting for my signal.

“Yeah, sounds… sounds good…” I try to catch my breath, prop up on my elbows. “You guys decided who goes where?”

Kirisawa pulls out, that’s enough of an answer for me. I grab a condom from the stash, throw it towards Nomura who grins at me.

“Thank you, princess.” He motions to Kirisawa, a glance, a nod and both men move. Nomura sits down on the bed again, pats his thighs so I crawl over there. But when I want to straddle him he shakes his head, says ‘Nu-uh’, guides me so that I’m lying over his legs. His hand follows the curve of my ass, wander inwards.

“Arch your back a bit,” he instructs and I comply, catch Kirisawa’s gaze, return his smile. I hold my breath while Nomura tugs at the plug, slowly removes it. Once it’s out he unceremoniously drops it on the ground, exhales in time with me.

“You still sure about this?” He helps me up, brushes some strands of hair from my face.

“Stop talking and start fucking me,” I demand, slide into his lap, just so far so I have room to take the condom, open the packet and roll it over his cock.

“So impatient?”

His hands find my hips, he guides me further into his lap, right above his cock. With one hand I steady it, slowly sink down. He feels different than Kirisawa, or maybe it’s the angle and the lacking plug now. He feels great, no complaints here, but now that I know I can have both of them I feel betrayed when it’s only one.

“Boss, you wanna join us here?”

He stares at me with wide eyes, rubs the back of his neck briefly.

“Could you – not call me that? Not right now at least.”

“Hiroshi feels conflicted doing this with a subordinate,” Nomura explains, lips close to my ear.

“Oh. Okay, sorry. Uh, Kirisawa-san, you wanna join?”

Nomura’s chuckle tells me that my choice of honorific is not the best, but I’m too distracted to think about how to address the man who’s going to fuck my ass while his best friend fucks my pussy.

Either way, it works. He crawls onto the bed behind me, kisses the nape of my neck, his hand smoothes over the curve of my ass. One testing finger turns into two, it’s tight but I’m ready after rocking between Nomura and Kirisawa’s fingers for maybe a minute. Maybe longer, I lost track of time.

More lube, some soothing words and encouragements from both of them and we are ready. A bit shifting is necessary to give us enough room and get us into the right position, I lean over Nomura more, he wraps his arms around me, strokes my back reassuringly.

“Just tell us if we need to stop, okay?”

I promise him, give Kirisawa the green light and take a deep breath. Holding my breath is exactly what I shouldn’t do so I focus on finding a good rhythm when I feel Kirisawa’s cock pressing against me, into me, only for an inch at first, stretching and angling.

“Keep it shallow,” I press out, get a grunt as answer. My skin feels too tight, too hot. I want him to move, want them both to fuck me senseless but I can barely stand them in me like this.

For now we all breathe and that’s about all the movements we make. Rising and falling chests, racing hearts.

“Doing so good, princess. Taking us so well…” Nomura praises me, and I’m dizzy with want, need, so close to my physical limits.

“You okay?” I can feel Kirisawa tremble, feel every shudder, every jittery motion.

“Yeah, I – shit, this is intense.” Goosebumps cover my skin, sweat joins it. “Okay, I think – you can try to move. Careful, though.”

Nomura rubs my arms, whispers sweet nothings while Kirisawa grips my hips tighter, pulls back just the tiniest bit to slide deeper into me.

I won’t be able to walk tomorrow. Or sit. But I will be damned if this isn’t worth it.

Slowly we make progress, I help as good as I can by rocking back and forth, careful not to let any of them slip out of me or accidentally take them in too deep. By the time they are both fully buried inside of me we are a sweating mess, grunts and groans make up most of our communication.

My body is alight. Every nerve ending is singing, my legs are trembling as are my arms, the effort of keeping me upright has never been so torturous and sweet at the same time. We fall into a rhythm that works for all of us, Nomura – with the least amount of actual freedom to move – teases me with fleeting touches and kisses. Kirisawa mostly keeps us in synch while I only follow their bodies back and forth.

“Wanna take it up a notch?” Nomura asks with a sly grin, slips a hand between us only to add to the pressure and fireworks between my thighs by finding that bundle of nerves that has been neglected so far.

“Holy…! I – I can’t…” Speak. Think. Breathe. I can’t do anything from the moment he touches me there except for wailing and holding on to sanity. Barely.

“Just let go, princess,” he coos, baiting me to give up control. Not that I have much of a choice, my body can’t take any more stimulation at this point. My fingers dig into his shoulders, just like Kirisawa’s dig into my hips.

“I – fuck! This is – ohhHHH!” Not sure where the sound comes from that leaves my throat, but it’s primal, guttural, earthshaking – just like the pleasure that washes over me, has me writhing in between them, runs like fire through my veins only to leave my body through my ragged breath. Boneless I slump into Nomura’s arms, he kisses and soothes me, tells me how beautiful I am – I doubt that, I’m a mess but I don’t mind. All I want is to sleep now.

Kirisawa speeds up, now that I had mine he’s chasing his own high, and even Nomura changes his position a bit to thrust up into me.

Everything is too sharp, too tight, too hot, but I don’t want them to stop either. I want to stay trapped between them, or both of them trapped inside of me. I want to feel like this forever.

Nomura buries his face between my breasts, his thrusts already out of synch with Kirisawa’s.

“Now, Deputy Chief, I guess it’s your turn to let go,” I whisper, using his words earlier against him. But it’s not him who comes, it’s Kirisawa. His thrusts stutter, grip is even tightening, he growls, pants, rocks against me a few more times before he presses a messy kiss between my shoulder blades and pulls out. With my recovered room of movement I ride Nomura harder, ignore my numb legs and the strange feeling of loss after Kirisawa’s disengagement.

He joins us on the bed again after getting rid of the condom, just watches me fucking Nomura with the last shreds of my strength. Nomura’s hands on my hips dictate my pace and it’s not long before he tenses, heels digging into the mattress, and shouts out his own completion.

My neighbors will be traumatized for life after this night, but who cares? My mind is fuzzy, unable to hold a thought, I just follow when Kirisawa helps me off Nomura and onto the bed. A bit of shifting and scuffling and all I want is to fall asleep. Someone forces a glass of water into my hand, tells me to drink, but I’m not sure who it is. I obey, barely register the spilled drops on my skin.

“Are you okay?” Sounds like boss. I hum.

“Are you even awake, princess?”

My second hum gets answered with some laughter, but someone pulls a blanket over me and from that point on I’m out like a light.

 

Disorientated, muddle-headed and sore I wake up, it’s still dark in my bedroom. Or again, I don’t even know what time it is.

“Back in the land of the living?”

I jump at the voice that sounds right next to me, sleepy and warm. “D-deputy Chief?!”

“I think after last night you can just call me Nomura. At least out of the office.” He snuggles closer, nuzzles my neck.

Oh shit. What have I done?

“It’s only 5am, how about you both go back to sleep?”

Wait, Kirisawa, too? Did I drink last night? Got high? Was I drugged? And how the hell should I sleep now?

Another arm comes to rest over my waist, right next to Nomura’s.

“Not sure if I can sleep now,” I admit, my voice tiny, shaking.

Kirisawa sighs. “Fine. How about I make us some breakfast and coffee. You can just relax a bit and we talk afterwards.”

I squirm, notice the stickiness between my legs and butt cheeks. “I think I’d like to shower.”

“Want me to give you a hand? Hiroshi can take care of the food and I can take care of the treats.” I can hear Nomura’s wink, although that should be impossible.

I will go to hell. I slept with both of my superiors, at the same time. That considered there’s not much I can do to make this worse, right?

“Uh, okay. Yeah, actually that sounds good. And once we are done – I have to call in at work. I don’t think I can come to my shift today. I’m almost unable to move.”

Both of my superiors are here and well aware of my condition. I hear a chuckle from my right, must be Nomura.

“Almost?” he asks, fingertips dragging over my skin.

“Yeah, almost.” This will be a good morning, for sure.

Snakes and Starships: V

There was simply no mistaking the suggestion in Miho’s tone, nor the way her gaze lingered on certain parts of his anatomy before she made purposeful eye contact.

“Just how often do you get an open invitation from a princess?” she sighed out, and Orion could almost see those words: a sinuous line of seduction dropping a noose around his neck.

“Not often,” he admitted, fingers tensing into fists. “But I’m…”

“Not interested in girls like me?” she finished for him cheekily, and gave a shrug before turning toward the other end of the cabin. “That is a terrible shame.”

“You like to put words in the mouths of others, don’t you?” he said, close behind her, and Miho grinned.

“I do,” she agreed, playfully, and when she lolled her head back, she was satisfied to find it nestled quite snuggly against his shoulder at the crook of his neck. “Are you feeling the need to reciprocate?” she purred, speaking against his throat. “Or is there something other than words you’d like to put into my mouth?”

“Among other places,” he hissed, hands falling against her hips and digging in lightly.

The taste of adrenaline was still bitter on his tongue, and though he was not oblivious to the dangers of becoming entangled with a woman like Miho, she was right. There had been many times, close calls – some far too close – he had returned to the Promise wound so tightly he thought he’d shatter. And there was little release but for his own company, which was a far cry from the intoxicating promise of a woman’s delicate flesh beneath his fingers.

“Go on then, Captain,” she whispered, grinding back against him. “Don’t be shy, take what you want – I won’t complain… unless you disappoint me.”

She had barely uttered the last taunting word when Orion pushed her forward, forcing her to brace with her hands against the cold, metal shutter.

“That’s a start,” she sighed, the heat of his fingers sliding from her belt buckle to curl over the top of her leggings and drag downwards to her ankles.

“Shame you didn’t get to wear your new outfit very long,” he said against the top of her shoulder, his hands snaking over her breasts to the zipper of her jacket.

“Damn shame,” she grinned, spinning around the moment her jacket hit the floor and crushing her lips against his.

This brought back the rush of their retreat, and with the pressure of an entire city looking for a killer squeezing them tightly, their bodies released control and inhibition. In a frenzy of clattering peripherals and the rustle and fling of fabric, both ignored the possibility of the shutters suddenly opening, and enjoyed unconstrained exploration of each other’s bodies.

Orion was unsurprised Miho was no shrinking violet, meeting the urgency of his own mounting want with equal fervour. He put aside the idea she had won her way like this in other circumstances, for it honestly didn’t matter. Instead, with chest heaving and eyes smouldering, he watched as she slid down his body and settled on her knees.

“Sit,” she commanded, wicked smile adding to the already prominent sense of danger twisted with desire in Orion’s stomach. “Or you will fall,” she added, smoothing her palms up his thighs, her thumbs grazing sensitive flesh until her hands fell completely away.

She sat before him, but Orion was under no illusion that she had the power. The slightest touch of her tongue against the tip of his shaft was excruciating, a fleeting shock of exquisite sensation that caused him to shudder and inch forward. When he reached out to cup her cheek, then comb his fingers into her hair, she seemed pleased, and rewarded him with the full, moist warmth of her mouth and the delicious force of her lips around his cock.

Dropping his head back, Orion let out a low groan, tightening his grip in Miho’s hair and drawing her back and forth against him with increasing fervour. And even trough watering eyes, Miho’s focus remained fixed on him defiantly, challenging him not to cum embarrassingly soon while doing everything she could to push him right over the edge. Her tongue swirled purposeful circles each time he passed her lips, and though she braced herself against the bench with one hand, the other encouraged his arousal with playful fingers.

“Grrr, enough!” he barked suddenly, and actually caught Miho off guard when he pushed her backwards.

Just as it seemed her head would crack against the floor, she felt it cushioned by the curl of Orion’s arm beneath, followed by his weight on top.

“Reached your limit alr…” she began cheekily, but her triumphant chuckle was muffled unexpectedly by a kiss so fierce, so deep and probing, when he allowed her to surface she was gasping for breath.

“Ha,” she hissed out. “A man who’ll kiss a girl who not moments ago had her lips around his cock?”

“No doubt they’ve been worse places,” he volleyed, burying his face in her neck and his free hand between her legs.

An intense shock burst through her, so sharp and delightful her back arched against the firm massage of his thumb on her clit, while his fingers curled within.

“Ahh, not the first time you’ve done this,” she exhaled heavily, lips quivering as he dragged his teeth over her shoulder before returning ravenously to her mouth.

His erection pressed insistently into her inner thigh, and she wanted it, wanted to feel full, but Orion was now trailing kisses down her body – over her breasts, pinching one nipple between his teeth before settling his face between her legs and lapping over the inflammation of her sensitive bud.

“Ohhh… yes…” she moaned, sifting her fingers through his hair as he worked magic into her flesh.

A strangely familiar, oddly nostalgic sense flickered within her, along with the intricate motion of Orion’s tongue, but it was fleeting – overwhelmed as she lifted to her pelvis to meet each skilled thrust and the determined suckle over her clit.

“Give me more!” she demanded hoarsely, digging her fingernails into his shoulders and trying to pull him back up.

Orion lifted his head, licking his lips, his chin, and his expression told Miho he was both drunk with carnal desire and fighting it at the same time.

“We can’t,” he panted, shaking his head, but there was a persistent glaze in his eyes that Miho knew well – and it begged him to throw caution to the wind.

“Oh, yes we can,” she growled, shoving against his slightly sweat glistening chest with enough force to push him back into a crouch. “And we’re going to.”

“Miho, wait,” he insisted when she crawled forward against him, curling one arm round his neck.

“You think covert operatives don’t take chemical precautions?” she rasped before biting down on his lower lip, drawing it into his mouth and dragging away slowly, all the while grinding her hips against his lap, coiling her legs around him. “Or is it you think I’m the danger here?”

“Oh, you’re a danger,” he grimaced, his hands gripping her waist, but his efforts to keep her from working his shaft to her impatient entrance, were at best half-hearted.

“Your doctor,” she whispered against his soft earlobe, “gave me a clean bill of health.”

Orion hadn’t thought of that, and it was true.

“Are you sure?” he managed, voice strained, brows knitted, and again Miho had cause to look amused… then extremely serious.

“Let me sink down on you, Captain,” she breathed, speaking the words from one corner of his mouth to the other. “Let me swallow you whole, squeeze you – I want you pulsing inside me, pounding until I cum so hard I forget my own name.”

That was waaaay too much for Orion, who instantly pulled her down onto him, full force penetration, a deep sense of satisfaction and the reckless abandon of his animal instincts.

There were no more words to spare, just the frantic ballet of Miho’s body undulating against Orion, the joining of their bodies a passionate, rhythmic dance set to the sound of heavy breathing, the slap of skin on skin, and the mounting inevitability of each other’s climax.

And when they had rocked the boat – and each other – most thoroughly, Orion drew Miho into his arms and held her as they both tried to catch their breaths, lightly stroking her arm, across her collarbone, her throat, with feather-light fingertips.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly, brushing moist hair from her forehead.

“Oh yes,” Miho grinned languidly, bathing in the afterglow. “Is it bad of me to hope this lockdown continues so you can regain some of your stamina?”

Orion exhaled a husky chuckle.

“Yes,” he answered, humming a little before making another addition. “And… no.”

“And for a bounty hunter you came across as such an upstanding individual,” Miho laughed, and stretched out her legs a little, legs that Orion promptly entwined with his own. “Mmm you know, there is only one other man in all the galaxy I know with that tongue technique,” she mused, tracing her fingertip around one of Orion’s nipples, the sharp edge leaving a light scratch mark among many much deeper. “And I guarantee he isn’t enjoying himself nearly as much as you are right now.”

“Tongue technique?” Orion repeated, on the verge of expressing her lack of manners talking about another man while he still held her in his arms, but he shuddered a little as Miho slithered her tongue front he nipple she’d been torturing, to his Adam’s apple.

“Don’t look so offended, Orion,” she breathed, kissing lightly along his tensed jawline. “It’s a compliment of the highest order – believe me…”

A little awkwardly given the compact nature of the cabin, Miho wriggled until she laid on top of Orion, and settled back against his chest.

“Very few can make me see stars like that,” she sighed blissfully. “I almost want to keep you.”

“I’m not a pet,” he frowned, but Miho simple placed her lips over each crease.

“No, but you could be a delectable periodic pitstop in my travels,” she pointed out, the tip of her nose touching his as she peered down into eyes she felt now were also quite familiar.

This time, however, she chose to say nothing on the subject, and kissed him again – this time so very gently, almost tenderly. It made Orion’s head spin a little at how quickly this woman changed gears, but while they continued to be in lockdown, there were worse things in the universe to do… than her.

 

Returning to the Promise after the end of the lockdown proved to be a non-event. No one had come to search the water taxi in which Miho and Orion had taken refuge, and Miho found this curious though obviously convenient. She and the captain didn’t talk about what they had done, and they sure as hell weren’t holding hands and singing love songs, but there was an oddly comfortable familiarity between them; both had enjoyed the unexpected interaction, and Miho marked Orion down as definite ‘contact’.

If only Jaxon knew how detailed her ‘little black book’ of names was, he’d be floored.

“You look well rested,” Jazz noted, seeming a little tired herself, rubbing her eyes.

“And you don’t,” Orion frowned. “Everything alright?”

“Well, that depends on your definition,” she shrugged, and opened her mouth to continue when Jenna came racing up to them, Atlas trudging behind her more slowly – probably because he was carrying several heavy looking bags.

“You’ll never guess what happened!” she exclaimed giddily, and Miho arched a brow at her enthusiasm. “Atlas and I got locked into the apartment Jaxon’s source sent us to, and there was only one bed!

By the time Atlas had stomped to Jazz’s side and dropped his cargo, Jazz was looking at him with interest.

“Don’t gimme that look, Love,” Atlas rumbled, leaning closer to her. “Made her sleep on the floor.”

“Only one bed, huh?” Miho chuckled. “Wow, Orion and I didn’t even get that lucky.”

Orion coughed, then cleared his throat.

“So long as everyone is back in one piece,” he said in a bit of a rush, which awarded him inquisitive looks from both Jazz and Atlas.

“Don’t celebrate just yet,” Jazz edged in. “There’s someone waiting for you. Soon as he saw the Promise, he refused to leave.”

Even before Orion’s head snapped to Miho, she knew who he was referring to, and she rolled her eyes.

“Ugh, well I have questions for Commodore Fairchild myself,” she grunted, and began stomping up the ramp.

But before Miho could reach the bridge, Orion caught her wrist.

“Wait a second,” he exhaled, giving her a slight nudge against the wall.

“You want to go again right here?” she queried, but she didn’t seem really in the mood.

“No,” he shook his head. “There’s something you should know.”

“Clone?” she offered with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“What?” Orion responded, confused.

“No, you’re right,” Miho mused, tilting her head a little. “Cunnalingus instructor? Nah, that doesn’t explain your eyes. Cousin? Brother?”

Orion blinked at Miho openly, and she chortled.

“You’re being ridiculously obvious, Captain,” she laughed, giving his cheek a light pat. “All I need now is some confirmation.”

“Brother,” Orion answered, lifting his chin a little. “We’re twins.”

Miho chewed her lower lip, considering him nose to nose.

“Special arrangement indeed,” she smirked, then began again down the corridor to the bridge.

There, she found Nova and Jaxon ‘guarding’ Antares, who got to his feet and glowered at her fiercely; not to be intimidated, Miho threw down the bag carrying her weapon, and simply stood her ground.

“Are you going to bow to your princess, or say hello to your brother first?” she smile smugly, and Antares swept up to her, incredibly unamused.

“What, are you doing here, Miho?” he growled, but Orion forced his way in between them as the others arrived on the bridge.

“Atlas,” he said, though he was still looking at Antares. “I’d like to get clear of this planet.”

“Can we dump him first?” Atlas grated, handing over what he was carrying to Nova, before flopping into his seat.

“Got a little something on your cape there, Commodore,” Miho grinned around Orion’s shoulder. “Not really up to uniform code.”

“I could say the same thing for you, Princess,” he volleyed coldly. “What were you doing on Eryl, and why are you with him?”

“Why do you insist on asking questions you know I’m not going to answer?” Miho sniffed. “Furthermore, I need a shower, and I’m absolutely starving – Captain?”

“You can use my quarters,” he acquiesced. “Jenna, could you show her where…”

“Stay right where you are,” Antares commanded, and Jenna froze, looking helpless.

“This is my ship, Commodore,” Orion said, his tone tight. “And Miho is a guest, and while she is a guest, my word is the only one that matters. Go ahead, Princess, just follow Jenna.”

Without another sideways glance at Antares, Miho followed Jenna off the bridge.

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with here,” Antares dropped crisply.

“I’m starting to get an idea,” Orion answered slowly. “Nova, I think our guest is probably going to need a fresh towel.”

“I got it,” Jaxon ejected, leaping up, but both Orion and Antares barked at him.

“No.”

“Don’t you dare,” Antares hissed, pointing at Jaxon.

“Yes, Captain,” Nova acknowledged, and departed.

“Let’s go and wait in the lounge,” Orion then suggested, and the pair of brothers moved out with Jaxon, to the sound of Atlas cursing the Empire dead-weight on board.

 

Miho hummed as the water ran down her body, smiling whimsically as she smeared herself in soapy suds until she was thoroughly clean. She was still enjoying the warmth when there was a solid knock on the bathroom door, followed by the appearance Nova with a towel folded over her arm.

“Princess, the captain asked me to bring you this,” Nova said, loud enough for Miho to hear her.

Without hesitation, Miho shut off the water and stepped out of the spacious glass cubicle, dripping from head to toe.

“Mmm,” she murmured with a slight stretch. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to give me a hand? A couple perhaps?”

“Are you unable to manage on your own, Highness?” Nova enquired, deadpan. “Are princesses not taught to dress themselves?”

“Of course, I can,” Miho admitted. “But team work is always so much more… rewarding.”

“So, you are offering me a reward in exchange for my services?” Nova surmised, with eyebrows raised.

“My goodness, you make it all sound so sordid,” Miho chuckled, then reached for the towel that Nova relinquished.

“When you are ready, I will escort you to the lounge where you are awaited,” Nova declared, then exited to give Miho her privacy.

She didn’t rush, but didn’t dally too long either, and though without her tiara, she entered the lounge most regally with her escort and took stock of the room.

Everyone except Atlas was present, but even under the weight of their combined scrutiny, Miho didn’t seem the smallest bit uncomfortable.

Of course, it was Antares who spoke first, rocking to his feet, tall and straight.

“Imagine my surprise when I met with Admiral Yuul on Eryl – foremostly to determine what he was hauling that could have interested you so much,” he began, taking measured steps in Miho’s direction, “when he pops like a balloon before discussion can even commence.”

“They just don’t make Empire admirals like they used to,” Miho sighed, but there was cheek sparkling wildly in her eyes.

“Or princesses,” Jaxon muttered under his breath.

“Oh I’m the new improved model,” she announced triumphantly, defiance in the tip of her chin, which Antares swiftly snatched, thumb pressing firmly into her skin.

New model?” he questioned, and he was looking for something, looking at her in a way he never had before.

“Antares,” Orion barked sternly. “Let her go.”

Deliberately, Antares craned his neck to look at his brother, which Miho remained still and remarkably unreactive to Antares’ physical trespass.

“What exactly is going on here?” Antares asked slowly, his gaze loitering on Orion a moment before passing an expectant eye over the rest before finally returning to Miho. “How in this or any other galaxy did you manage to get them on your side?”

“Magic,” Miho offered through a wicked grin.

A moment of silence fell, before Antares worked his jaw – cast Orion a meaningful glance – then resume his assessment of Miho’s expression.

“You didn’t,” he stated, voice low and quiet, perhaps only loud enough for she and him to hear.

“Why don’t you ask the questions you really want answers to, Commodore,” she whispered, leaning a little against his hold to breath upon his lips.

There was something there in Antares’ face, Miho relished. Though it was ever so fleeting, his conclusion Orion’s reaction was because she had slept with him, did not sit well.

“Did you murder Admiral Yuul?” Antares asked flatly, now seeming in an even fouler mood.

“Oh yes,” Miho confirmed, satisfaction in the way she swaggered to Orion’s side and sat down. “Still, let me throw you a breadcrumb for free and say, I didn’t expect him to deflate any more than you did – though, the look on your face was priceless.”

“Deflate?” Tyrian repeated.

“Yep,” Miho nodded. “No bloody nuggets as expected, just a burst of purple light and then a crumpled skin-sack.

“What the hell kind of being is that?” Jenna scowled, glancing up from the tablet she was tapping on.

“Yuul was human,” Miho responded. “Was, is, I don’t know what it was I killed, but it wasn’t the actual Admiral Yuul.”

“What are you thinking, Commodore?” Jazz prompted, noting Antares’ pensive silence.

“You didn’t know?” Antares asked Miho seriously, and she straightened in her seat.

“Yuul needed killing,” she explained clearly. “All his other crimes aside, he’s one of my father’s ass monkeys. If that wasn’t him, and it wasn’t, then where is he?”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this,” Antares stated, and he had everyone’s attention.

Snakes and Starships: IV

“Anyone here surprised to hear that?” Jaxon piped up and Miho snorted.

“I suppose you lump me into the same category as the Emperor just because I’m his daughter?”

“Seems likely,” Orion responded.

“Malicious? Genocidal? Sadistic? Megalomaniacal?” she lists off.

“Accurate,” Orion nodded again.

“Well I’m not him,” Miho declared. “Whatever you’ve heard is ninety percent fiction. I’m just a monster by association.”

“And the other ten percent?” Jazz prompted.

“Accurate,” Miho grinned proudly.

“There’s nothing average about your fighting ability,” Tyrian noted, and Miho’s smile grew wider, throwing him a wink.

“I enjoy what I do,” she announced. “I’m just miffed I wasn’t around to deal Sol’s much deserved final blow.”

“So, you’ve admittedly been on a killing spree but you’re not a murderous savage like your father?” Orion posed sceptically.

“Doesn’t it depend on who I’m killing?” she volleyed. “Or have you never been responsible for the death of an Empire soldier.”

“We’re not a bunch of murderous space pirates,” Jazz frowned, but Orion seemed to be waiting for Miho to continue, and she looked all the more smug for it.

“In order for Rastaban to usurp the former emperor, he needed supporters everywhere. Now, those Empire big wigs are working on expanding my father’s territories into both Union, and independent space.”

“Aggressive Empire expansion isn’t anything new,” Tyrian noted, but Miho was clearly not finished.

“He has people placed in more colonies than the Union knows,” she explained. “And when he calls for them to take control, it will be with the backing of armadas the Union will not be prepared for.”

“Let me get this straight,” Orion levelled. “You, daughter of the emperor, are colony hopping to assassinate your father’s sleeper agents?”

“Attractive and smart,” Miho grinned. “And oddly familiar… have we met before?”

“Definitely not,” Orion replied quickly.

“And that is pretty much it,” Miho added lightly. “So, if you don’t mind, I would like to get on with my work.”

“You still haven’t explained why?” Tyrian pointed out.

“Does it matter why?” she chuckled. “At the end of the day, less assholes are a good thing for everyone.”

“That depends,” Tyrian pressed, though his manner remained calm, “on what happens after they’re gone.”

“And why you’d defy your father when in your position you could live a life wanting for nothing,” Orion added.

“There is a lot he’s done, and continues to do, that I disagree with,” she answered simply. “Because he is a blood relative means nothing, when I know he’d sell even me if that would forward his goals.”

“So, you’re petulant?” Jaxon snorted.

“Petulant – exceptionally well trained, and vehemently at odds with your enemy,” Miho clarified. “So I’d have thought you’d be happy for me to carry out my business.”

For a moment, Orion looked pensive, before he spoke again.

“And Fairchild is a part of the Emperor’s domination plan?” he asked slowly, studying her with renewed scrutiny, and she returned his gaze with equal intensity.

“The GLF is still very fractured,” she answered him, and he could tell she was being careful in her response. “There are countless pockets of Empire forces – some of them very powerful – that operate outside Rastaban’s mandates, just as they did before with my father’s predecessor. For all his faults, Commodore Fairchild fits into one such pocket, so I don’t need to kill him… yet.”

“So why does he want to get you back so badly?” Tyrian persisted. “If he’s not one for toeing the line.”

“Well, ingratiating oneself with the emperor is not without its benefits,” Miho shrugged, then shifted a little uncomfortably, twisting her wrists where they remained bound. “And speaking of benefits, either someone needs to remove these hardlight cuffs, or one or more of you needs to step up the kink game.”

Tyrian blushed.

Orion crossed his arms.

Jaxon stepped a little closer and appeared to be giving Miho’s ill-fitting clothes another examination.

“Hmm…” he began, one full of suggestion.

“No, I’m not going to sterilise the infirmary again,” Jazz broke in.

“Ugh, come on,” Miho growled, sitting up straighter. “I kill Rastaban’s allies, so unless you’re pro-totalitarianism, you’ve nothing to fear from the likes of me.”

Tyrian nodded slowly, the turn of his head a silent question to Orion, who also considered Jazz and Jaxon’s reactions.

“I want to see this for myself,” he declared finally, and with a soft click, Miho’s cuffs fell away.

“Which part?” Miho grinned suggestively, rubbing her wrists a little before sliding her feet to the floor.

“Hey, take it easy, you took a really hard blow to the head not that long ago,” Jazz warned, but Miho stood, grinning, obviously reflecting on Jazz’s choice of words.

“I wasn’t the one taking it, but let’s not focus on that,” she chuckled, seeming completely at ease despite her foreign surroundings.

“Who is your next target?” Orion asked, refusing to react when Miho drew closer to him, far closer than she needed to in order to reply.

“Admiral Darsius Yuul,” she revealed. “He was personally overseeing the transport of some particularly sensitive military grade materials and I had intended on taking him out there, but someone had to get in my way.”

“What happened to your ship?” Tyrian questioned, for obviously she hadn’t just been floating about in space waiting for the admiral to fly past.

“Waiting for me to make contact, which – by the way – I would like to do now.”

“We’ll find Yuul’s current whereabouts,” Orion announced.

“We will?” Jaxon piped up, then looked a little sheepish.

“And,” Orion continued, “when we find him, I’d like to witness your conviction, personally.”

“You’ve a taste for blood, Captain?” Miho teased, licking her lips a little.

“Words are cheap,” he noted. “Forgive me for doubting your word until I’ve see them brought to action with my own eyes.”

“That is… exceptionally inconvenient,” she sighed, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling before fixing them on Orion’s face again. “If I let you tag along, you’ll walk away?”

“And leave you to carve your path of anti-Emperor carnage,” Orion nodded.

“Lovely,” she chirped, smiling at everyone, “though I’d quickly put some distance between your and Commodore Fairchild afterwards; he’s a sore loser.”

 

Atlas was unimpressed with Orion’s plan to accompany Miho on her next assassination, but stopped short of calling the decision madness. Of course, he had no love for the Empire or the Union, had taken his fair share of lives, but being party to straight up murder didn’t sit right with him – and he thought Orion would have felt the same.

Still, when Jaxon used some of his contacts to locate Admiral Yuul, the Promise headed to the tropical resort colony of Eryl and made as inconspicuous a landing as possible.

“Gee, I wish we were here on vacation,” Jenna sighed, moving to disembark.

The remark had been meant for Atlas, but he lingered on the bridge with Jazz a moment before catching up.

“There’s more to this place than clear water and high-end hotels,” Atlas grumbled in his usual, cheerful tone.

“Right you are,” Miho affirmed, joining them with Orion behind her. “I’m not surprised Yuul is here. Eryl may consider itself an independent colony an have a reputation for being a perfect honeymoon spot…”

At this point she winked at Orion, before continuing.

“… but it’s been used as a waystation of sorts for difficult to get, exotic and dangerous materials for as long as I can remember.”

“So, he’s here to offload whatever was on the ship you missed?” Tyrian concluded, coming to stand on Miho’s other side at the bottom of the Promise’s boarding ramp.

“Not just a pretty face,” Miho smiled, and she’d gently stroked his cheek before he had even thought to recoil. “He’ll no doubt be picking up some bits and pieces for his next project as well, buuuut, sadly he’s not going to be able to complete it.”

Tyrian was a soldier, like Atlas, he too had killed in the name of duty, but the flames in her eyes as she spoke so casually of murder? That concerned him, even if Yuul was a really bad guy.

“Let’s go on with this,” Orion prompted. “Don’t hang around, Atlas; get what you need to patch the Promise up, and get back to the ship as soon as possible. If this goes south, we’re going to need to get out of here in a hurry.”

“Oh ye of little faith,” Miho smirked, her enthusiasm undampened. “I’m going to need to get some equipment first, and definitely something else to wear, then we’re good to go.”

Trading one last glance with Atlas, Orion then followed Miho away from the Promise and out of the spaceport.

“So, what is your plan?” he asked, as they walked through the exceptionally clean streets bright and warm.

“Acquire gear, find a vantage point, kill the bad guy… then celebrate,” she replied happily. “Oh, that’s cute!” she exclaimed suddenly, snatching his wrist and dragging him unceremoniously over to a boutique.

Shaking his head, Orion had little choice but to trail behind her as she headed inside and demanded the clerk find the outfit in the window in her size. Shopping wasn’t exactly what he envisioned from a highly dangerous mission to kill a high-ranking Empire official, but it was quickly becoming clear to him that this woman – the Emperor’s own daughter – operated by rules entirely her own.

“How does this look?” she enquired, emerging from the dressing room and striking a dramatic pose.

The sleek bodysuit flattered her figure in ways that made Orion shift a little where he sat, and he took a few seconds before answering.

“I think you know very well you would look good in even rags,” he admitted, and Miho’s eyes narrowed on him in an almost predatory fashion.

“Even better out of them, Captain,” she announced, then turned her attention to the waiting clerk. “I’ll take this.”

The process of payment was quick and clean – an electronic transfer keyed to Miho’s bio-signature, and they were out of the boutique in under ten minutes.

“You’re not concerned about your account being traced?” he wondered aloud, as Miho dumped her old clothes into a garbage receptacle.

“I wouldn’t be a very effective covert operative if I didn’t have means to cover up my movements,” she chuckled, “so no, I’m not worried.”

Indeed, nothing about her suggested anything sinister, and Orion found himself struggling against being swept away by her open enthusiasm for their locale.

“I really should come back here for some r and r when I’m done with this crap,” she mused, now carrying a brightly coloured bag over her shoulder.

She’d known exactly where to go to get the equipment she desired, and the ‘vendor’ had been an unassuming woman at a garage with a dizzying array of very specialised weapons.

“That’s the plan?” he probed. “Kill Rastaban’s collaborators then go on holiday?”

“I think I’ll have earned it,” she shrugged. “Conscientious homicide is quite a thankless job, you know.”

Frowning, Orion allowed some of his consternation to show.

“I’ll admit it,” he declared. “I have no idea how you, given your upbringing, became the person you are – what little I know of you that is.”

“It’s not that complicated,” she responded easily. “My upbringing is exactly why I am who I am. A well-trained killer…”

“A conscientious killer by your own admission,” he pointed out, and Miho grunted in confirmation.

“You think a girl brought up with Empire rhetorical poured into her ears could only turn into selfish, carnivorous monster who cares nothing for others?” she posed, watching him with a gentle and unwavering smile.

“That’s what my experience has largely taught me,” Orion nodded, their path drawing them up a steep hill overlooking a public square.

“You’re right in that I was educated a certain way,” she agreed. “But you cannot simply discount the will and conviction inherent in a person. Even the most heinous creatures have choices, decisions they make that are purely self-serving at the expense of others when there are other options.”

“You’re saying something intrinsic in you is the compass that directs your behaviour in opposition to your upbringing?” Orion surmised, but still didn’t sound entirely convinced by her argument.

“My father sees people as a resource, and while he has the ability and want to take for himself alone, that is precisely what he chooses to do. To him, I too am a resource,” she pointed out. “And don’t think simply because he’s half way responsible for my existence I am immune to his outlook. I could follow in his footsteps and reap the rewards of blood and brutality, but that isn’t what I want.”

Her tone had become firmer toward the end of her assertion, and it was a clear message to Orion she had grown tired of being doubted, even though she knew – logically – it was smart for him to be cautious.

Silence wrapped itself around them, until Miho had chosen her vantage point and set herself up.

“So, according to your incredibly modest crew member, Yuul has a meeting with another ranking Empire officer… there…” she murmured, and though she was sort of talking to Orion, it sounded to him more like vocalised thinking.

Orion watched her scan a building in the distance through a recon-scoped rifle of some description, the price for which could have financed more than half the advanced upgrades Atlas wanted for the Promise.

There they waited as time ticked by, Orion occasionally using a long-range scanner to check the room under Miho constant stare.

“Oh, I’m going to wipe that smug expression permanently off your face, you smug son of a bitch,” Miho hissed, and Orion refocused his scanner to find Miho target striding into view.

“And who is he there to meet wi…” Orion began, before his question was answered, and Miho cursed.

“For fuck’s sake, Antares,” she growled under her breath, but Orion heard her colloquial reference to his brother. “I swear, this guy seems to be making it his mission lately, to get in the way of mine,” she continued, and Orion watched her adjust her aim a little.

“You’re going to kill them both?” Orion scowled, and cringed at the amount of concern that had leeched into his voice.

“I should,” she replied with an irritated grunt, then clicked her tongue, then muttered again. “Conscientious homicide.”

And she pulled the trigger.

It was a remarkable shot – just one – that fired a highly compressed sonic ‘dart’ across the considerable distance between Miho and her target; it smashed cleanly through the glass of the window and found its mark perfectly.

What followed, however, was not what anyone expected – not Miho, not Orion and not Antares, who stood but a few feet from the victim. Like a deflated balloon, Yuul’s skin sagged as Miho’s invisible projectile penetrated one side of his skull, and instead of a graphic explosion of skull fragments and grey matter, Antares’ witnessed a rush of flashing purple energy escape the man’s body. His ears were assailed by the most horrific chorus of screams, as the light dissipated, and when silence returned he stared at the bizarre pile of skin, hair and clothing that used to be Yuul.

“That was unexpected,” Miho exhaled, watching through the scope as Antares crouched to more closely inspect Yuul’s remains, before beginning to search along the murder weapon’s most likely trajectory. “Let’s reflect on that later hmm?” she then posed, rocking back and folding her weapon before stuffing it into her bag. “Time to go.”

No doubt thanks to Antares, alarms began howling, and Orion quickly followed behind Miho as they headed toward a river.

“That guy really is a pain in the ass,” Miho muttered, scanning the river bank for a suitable vehicle. “Oh, there.”

Without waiting for Orion’s input, and either assuming he’d continue to follow – or perhaps not really caring at all – she waved over one of the automated water taxis and hopped on board.

“Head for the spaceport,” she instructed, though there was no pilot to speak of, and Orion only just made the leap onto the aft of the vessel before it began to move from the bank.

Her eyes sparkling, Miho settled against the cushions in the surprisingly spacious cabin and kicked her boots up onto a table.

“Isn’t it a little early to be so relaxed?” Orion questioned, shaking his head a little at her satisfied expression.

“This isn’t relaxed,” she told him promptly. “I’m… reflecting.”

“On why Admiral Yuul…” he began.

“Yeah, why a guy who was – according to my intelligence – one hundred percent human, didn’t turn into bloody nuggets, and why instead, he vented pretty lights like a plasma piñata.”

Orion blinked a few times as her description.

“Looked like Fairchild had no idea either,” she mused, gnawing on her lower lip a little, but sitting up a little straighter when sirens sounded much closer, and a robotic voice rang out of nearby loudspeakers.

“Attention citizens and guests. In accordance with city code AWV117, all public and private spaces will be subject to lockdown for an indeterminate period.”

“Just peachy,” Miho grumbled, getting to her feet.

“Please remain calm, until authorities have resolved the situation,” the voice continued, “and thank you for your cooperation.”

Miho managed one step toward the cabin door, before a metal shutter fell swiftly to bar her path, followed by others that covered the windows.

“Well, that complicates matters,” Miho admitted, shoving her bag back down.

“Somehow I’m beginning to see everything with you is complicated,” Orion responded, rubbing the back of his neck and looking around for a panel that might reveal some manual override mechanisms.

“Ha!” Miho snorted incredulously, but it didn’t sound offended. “Don’t go getting all sassy with me, Captain,” she continued, for some reason unperturbed by the fact they were trapped. “You wouldn’t be here if you’d just let me do my thing.”

“Would you have let you go?” he volleyed, rolling to the side to sit and peer at her.

“Okay, I’ll concede that point,” she grinned. “But, only because a part of me is happy you’re here.”

“And why would that be?” he queried, watching her body language change.

“Oh, come on, Orion,” she drawled, eying him up and down. “Your heart isn’t pounding? Blood… throbbing?”