"Aurora, darling," I mutter gloomily, standing up from my chair. "Would you, please, transfer all power from the weapons to the emergency engine and recalculate the course. We need the shortest route to The Crowned Apple at maximum speed. Contact Starlight and set the meeting time. I don't feel like talking to Commander Chai now. Tell Starlight I'll call them first thing tomorrow morning. I'm sooo damn tired."

   "Yes, Captain," she responds lively as if it's just an ordinary day.

   "Babes, you can't imagine how deep is the shit we're in," I sigh, barely concealing my irritation. It must be great to exist without the ability to worry, clueless about how complicated life is. "You won't be so relaxed, if you had any idea."

   "Stop being dramatic, Haru," she giggles. "You are always like this when you're exhausted. Go get some sleep. I've got everything under control. You're only standing in my way by hanging around here and whining all the time."

   "Good night, my dear," I smile. Good girl. I love her so much. If the big-wigs think I'll leave her and run like a coward from a bunch of alien loafers, they are fucken wrong. 

   "Good night, Captain," she chimes cheerfully. "Say 'Hi' to Adam for me."

   I only shake my head with morose expression and drag my feet down the long corridor, leading to my garden. 

   Adam. My lover. He and Aurora are both considered machines, sophisticated, smart, human-like, but still artificially created, expendable devices, following programs without an intellect of their own. Not for me. I don't believe any of the other First Rank Commanders think that way either. Only someone who has spent hundreds of days and nights in the company of the ship alone, can understand the bond that forms between her and the captain. We are like siblings, a family, best friends. No one can change that. 

   I also doubt anyone fully knows what exactly The Universal Companion is, except maybe Brandon. I really need to talk to him. My head threatens to explode with all the unanswered questions that are growing more and more with each passing day. I need information as soon as possible. 

   And the black spheres decided to appear out of nowhere right now, when I thought we were getting somewhere with Adam. What if there is some kind of connection between the two events? It sounds absurd, but my travels across the galaxy have shown me that nothing is impossible and sometimes the truth is hidden behind the most implausible theory. What if they want it... them... him? I've never been so confused in my whole life. I am falling for a person who won't even tell me the correct pronounce to use. The most disturbing thought makes my heart drop in my stomach. What if I loose Adam before I even get to know them? I've never been afraid of anything, but this possibility terrifies me. I have to consider it. It fills me with fear and I am not used to the sensation, but I won't chase it away. I have to be ready for all the scenarios, mainly for those I want to avoid. Take precautions. Plan in advance. Be focused. That's what they taught us in the Academy. That's what I'm going to do.

   I don't like having no weapons. The shuttles are well equipped, but they are nothing, compared to Aurora's power. What a mess. I don't like Chai being involved in any of this either. He is my friend and the sweetest person. I know he is a true professional, very talented, smart and resolute when it comes to work, but also such a shy, nice and lovable guy. I will never forgive myself if he gets hurt.

   No! I'm leaving no one behind. I need a plan. Frustration and exhaustion won't help to figure it out. I must ease the tension and free my mind and I know exactly how to do it. 

   I enter the house with determination and strip to my boxers even as I walk down the hallway, leading to the low gravity chamber. It is a vast room, fully covered with white, upholstered, foam panels. I adjust the gravity control console, mounted on the outside of the door, at 0,15 g. It's barely enough to determine where is up and where is down. We have instructions to keep it always above 0.1654 g which is the gravity force on the Moon, to avoid injuries during exercise. The more you train, though, the better coordination you achieve, so I am pretty confident at lower levels.

   I stand in anticipation on the marked spot in the middle of the huge space. The door slides behind me, sealing me inside. The moment a sharp beep announces that the setting is completed, I push off, flipping over in the air. My feet sink into the soft fabric of the ceiling. I push back and start bouncing off the walls, doing somersaults and twirls before each impact. 

   This is so much better than the gym. Not that I don't have greater ideas for releasing the pent-up stress, but to make them work I need someone I'm still a little mad at. Knowing Adam, I don't think it will be any easier tonight than the previous evenings. I frown and accelerate the jumps speed, flying around like the propelled ball in the old arcade pinball machines. It's elevating. I feel reckless and free, capable of anything. I am First Rank Commander Haru Hinode, the best of the best. Nothing can break my confidence. No one can handle danger like me. I'll be ok. We will all be fine. I am going to make sure of that.

   It takes less than an hour for the overstrain to leave me sprawled on the floor, sweaty and barely breathing, but calm and much happier. Everything looks brighter than before. This intense exercise always helps me to clear my mind. It seems my brain needs a bit of a jolt to get the stuck gears turning again.

   I contemplate for a while whether to take a shower first or go directly to The Universal Companion, but finally decide I better be fresh and smelling nice for the 'battle of the titans'. I am not fooling myself at all. This time again I won't be spared. Daddy is too dogged to give in. I still cling to a faint glimmer of hope that things might have changed, but the empty bed suggested otherwise.

   "Hello, First Rank Commander Haru! Welcome back home! How was your day?"

   'Take it easy, Captain. Let's be polite,' I try to convince myself, running my fingers through my wet hair. It was a hard day. I feel relaxed after the hot shower. I can do this in a civilized way.

   "Hello, Adam! How are you?"

   "Very well. Thank you for asking!" The electronic voice instantly pisses me off, but I only smile. "Would you like to choose an identity, Commander?"

   "Nope," I shrug. "I am too tired."

   "I am sorry to hear that," the voice responds evenly. "To save time, I recommend replicating the latest model."

   "Naaah," I shake my head. "I just came to say 'Hi' and will go straight to bed. We had Code 1 today. Can you believe it? I thought I would never witness such a thing in my lifetime. Do you know what Code 1 means, Adam?"

   "I believe this is classified information, Commander. I apologize. No answer available."

   "No?" I ask sweetly, barely keeping my control. "You don't know, huh? Weren't you supposed to know everything, Adam?"

   "I apologize. No answer available."

   "It's a fucking alien invasion," I yell. "We are surrounded. Everybody knows. It's not classified anymore. The president knows. The Military Board knows. ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAN FUCK EVERYTHING UP KNOW. SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!"

   I am wheezing, unable to stop my body from shaking. So far with the civil conversation. This is not me. Where's my self-discipline? What happened to my strength of character? Feelings, emotions, fear, despair... love. I am not used to this. I don't know how to deal with them all. I drop to my knees and hide my face in my palms.

   "First Rank Commander Haru, your anxiety levels are way above the norm. I recommend a therapy session and three weeks medical leave. Please, confirm."

   "What?" I gaze at the black glass in front of me. "Are you kidding me? I am not ill, idiot. I have a crush. I'm down bad over this person who is stubborn as a mule, hot as fire, nice, awful... wonderful and..."

   "I don't know how," the computer voice says and my eyes widen. "I am sorry, Puppy. This is the best way, the only way I can explain it."

   "What is it?" I whisper in shock. "What is it that you don't know how to do?"

   "How to exist without you telling me what to become."

________________________________

A/N

Hello at the end of Chapter 11.

Thank you for reading and supporting! ❤❤❤

Every new story needs some time to gain speed and win readers, so I want to let you all know once again how important and precious for me is your trust and the way you gave it a chance from the very beginning. I really hope you are all having fun.

Do you think Haru's confession made Adam finally respond without following the strict rules or was it the night they spent together?

What about the alien crafts, are they friendly or hostile?

Why do you think they chose Haru's ship?

Share your thoughts, ask questions and criticize and I will try to respond as much as I can.

And don't forget to vote, if you liked the chapter.

Love: Anny