A quick glance to my right showed me the exact same glorious view I had an hour ago, Nova, in a dress that accentuated every single one of her assets. Stone and Pierce had been as flabbergasted as I was when we had left that boutique as well. Nova, being who she was, took it in stride with a constant small smile.

As it stood, we were currently in a lobby, waiting to be announced. My ‘guards’, though that was what they were, had been stationed outside the building. No one was allowed weapons inside the banquet hall we were to wine and dine in, far too many high profile individuals.

“Magistrate Fern, Mar Sara settlement of Bastion. His companion, Nova Terra!” The high pitched, slightly nasally, voice announced us and we walked in slowly, Nova’s hand resting on my forearm. I won’t lie, I felt pretty confident with such a beautiful woman on my arm. The fact she was a living weapon kind of helped with that as well. The comfort stemmed from my interaction with the General. I had a feeling that every encounter I had for the evening would be just as dangerous, though in different ways.

It may have been nerves, but I felt that every eye in the room was placed firmly upon me, or more accurately, Nova. It made me frown, a spike of frustration and a bit of jealousy rushing through me before I mentally shrugged. Fuck it, she certainly dressed to impress, and deserved the stares. Plus, she was on my arm for the evening.

She led me toward a group of people who had been announced prior to us, each from Mar Sara. In order they were -Francine Verdant, Vince Decker, Manfred Jose, and Cathleen Monehue. Not a single one was in our generalized sector of Mar Sara, according to Nova, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to talk to them. This part I actually did well at though, years of talking to people I hated but my ex absolutely adored made it fairly simple. Nova added as well, of course.

“She is a sight, Magistrate Fern, however, did you acquire such a delicacy?” Manfred Jose asked me, the women were talking a short ways away. I eyed him, not the sleazy look he had while staring at Nova’s ass. “Indeed, she is rather charming.” Vince Decker added to the conversation. At least he was making an attempt to keep his eyes on her figure as a whole.

I took a sip of the wine we had been served, keeping my facial expression as blank as I could. “She is a prized individual, of course. She’s been with me forever, or so it feels. In truth I’d be rather lost without her.” Take the bait you big fat ball of lard, take it. Come on, you know you want to, give me an excuse to bitch slap you.

The bastard seemed to have a brain somewhere in there and drank his wine in silence. Vince just smiled at me, a contemplating look within those black eyes. He would be the dangerous one, just a feeling there.

We spoke a bit more, discussing our settlements, and the trials we had to contend with in our respective areas while settling them. Eventually, after the small talk had given me a headache, Nova saved me by dragging me away to a quiet corner. I couldn’t help but notice it had no real blind spots, our backs to the wall. I didn’t blame her one bit, this place was filled with a different kind of danger.

“The charming ladies I spoke to were relative fonts of information, Damian. Cathleen is the closest of the four to our own area, though still some distance. She lacks SCV Riggs, though I imagine they all do. The fact we have so many, and the means to produce more, is out of the norm for a fresh settlement. We might want to look into trading with her, her area has far more greenery so food would be the primary trade. I imagine we can change that later on when she no longer needs SCVs.”

I grunted at that, with luck we wouldn’t need her at all. Realistically I knew we would. The Wastelands, aptly named, really lacked any real farming means. It made up for it in resources, I hoped, that could be traded as well. I was less sure on SCV trading, they gave me an edge. More so now that I knew no one else appeared to have them in the numbers I did.

“Perhaps, we’ll have to wait and see. Fernando will be involved in the discussions for a tactical overview, just as you will.” she gave me a look, choosing not to comment on my obvious lack of response.

“Fine, what did you learn?” Oh, you mean aside from the exact reason women like you tended to get their lovers thrown into a jail cell back home? I though clinically as I eyed her once more. What I said was far different.

“Little, honestly. I imagine we could gain more if you wanted to brush against the fatty there.” The last was a snide comment, I really hated him and my voice showed it. A delicate blonde brow rose at my words before she looked at the man in question, he was currently hassling a waitress serving wine, his hand trying to get under her skirt.

“I don’t believe it would be worth the effort, Damian.” A small victory, her voice showed as much disdain as I felt.

The ball itself was more in line with an odd formal meeting with small groups of people congregating, speaking of finances, buildings, and other such things. Almost everyone here was from Mar Sara, apparently, the actual whos-who of Tarsonis wouldn’t really be attending either, it was a sideshow to them.

Honestly, the whole General fiasco aside, this was turning out to be an uneventful trip. I liked that, a lot. It meant I might be able to get something with this oddly massive amount of wealth before we left.

The goods the General promised had been delivered, according to Nova’s crew. I still didn’t trust the old fucker and would use the majority of my money to purchase more food. I had a feeling I’d need it in the days to come. I wanted to try and find more schematics as well, mostly buildings. Caspian could formulate any weapon and armor designs I’d need from now on, there was also the matter of more people, the coming Campaign Map and...just so much more to go over and fucking figure out. It was overwhelming.

A soft, cool, hand touched my cheek while I absently stared into the crowd, thinking of everything. “Damian, stop thinking. Enjoy the little bit of tonight that you can.” I smiled at that, how the hell could I enjoy this place? It was for the rich and fancy. Sure, I knew enough to at least sit in on this but it wasn’t my world, not by a long shot.

She smiled up at me, pinching my cheek. “Stop, come with me.” That got me confused. She grabbed my arm and pulled me outside for a moment. A few small groups of people were on the odd-looking overhang we had stepped out onto. It showed an amazing view of the city, lights everywhere.

I took in a deep breath once we reached a railing, just taking it all in. “So, why take me here?” I asked softly as I leaned against the railing, both hands planted firmly against it. She lifted a tanned shoulder in a half shrug before responding.

“You needed to stop thinking for a moment. We have a lot to do, but too much will burn you out. More so with you constantly beating yourself up over Greer. Stop blaming yourself, I stopped blaming you a bit ago. Deaths happen, regardless of the reason. Me blaming you was more out of frustration. It was wrong, to a degree.”

She trailed off while I stared at her. What? Was I blaming myself still? I mean...I was, but was it affecting me that badly? That obviously? I suppose it was, in a way. I’d been focused on doing anything and everything to not really think about it. Just showed it was affecting me anyway but in a different way. I was running myself ragged while thinking about everything. Lack of sleep, direction, purpose.

“I… You’re right, of course. Doesn’t change what I need to ensure gets done so we can survive on Mar Sara, so our people can survive. You were still right to blame me.” She smacked my hand at that statement. I winced, pulling it back quickly. What the hell kind of smack was that? It felt like a brick just whacked into it.

“Stop that, it’s enough. You learned your lesson. Stop blaming yourself you, idiot.” I narrowed my eyes at her, wanting to find out why she sounded so frustrated and out of sorts at my statement. It almost seemed like she cared beyond a subordinate standpoint.

I sighed, just nodding my head a bit instead of pursuing the thought. “Fine, you win. I’ll try to relax for the rest of the evening.” I conceded to her, a habit I feared might continue if she looked like this every time we went to a ball or some other noble function.

“Good, now dance with me.” Now, I admit my mind blanked at that. The thought of her in my arms as we danced, our bodies close together, her perfume entering my nose. It was an arousing notion, and I jumped at it after a moment of hesitation.

The rest of the evening was spent with us dancing slowly outside, speaking with a few other Nobles from Mar Sara, and one Tarsonis Noble from a minor house looking for a connection on the new planet.

As the evening came to a close I could actually say I felt utterly calm and relaxed. Dancing with Nova had done its own form of chilling me out. We left the building, taking one of the taxi services with Pierce and Stone joining. Nova and Pierce took up positions on the outside of me, by the doors, while Stone sat with the driver up front. Standard bodyguard positioning.

When we arrived at the hotel Nova had booked while we were shopping without incident, a welcome relief in my mind, I entered my room, closing the door behind me and sighing as I took off the fucking tie that wanted to strangle me.

Nova had her own suite of rooms, and Pierce and Stone had a room on the other side of me. For the first time, I didn't really have to think about anything for a night. It was honestly pleasant. Taking a seat in a chair the room provided, I looked out the big fucking window the place had. It really did have a lovely view, false as hell since it looked like a beach at sunset, but pretty. I found it could change locations as well, but kept it as it was for now.

I felt I could fall asleep where I sat, and damn near did. The sound of my door opening burst that bubble though, I turned around to see who it was and froze like a deer in headlights. Nova, still wearing her dress, had entered my room and was making her way toward me slowly. Each step she took accompanied what seemed like an over exaggerated sway of her hips, a small smile etched upon her ruby red lips.

I stood there, frozen, while she reached me and placed one hand on my chest while leaning in and up, her other hand slipping behind my neck and forcing my head lower toward her. She kissed me then, it was a soft gentle thing that took my breath away.

I felt the buttons on my shirt slowly being unbuttoned while she kissed me, an odd fierceness growing with each continued action from her. I’d even regained my sense and had wrapped my hands around her waist, kissing her on my own while she finished unbuttoning my shirt.

“SIR!” was the shout that ruined the growing mood as Pierce and Stone burst into my room, guns held aloft...