We came home and my dear ones came to see me. I asked them if the mental connection was too taxing. They waved it off saying it felt more natural. The newer vampires were curious about the free zones but they were cautious as they navigated the tourists. One of them left a package. The security drones that roam the area scanned the item. Howler came with the detonation device. He blew it up without causing a scene. The newer ones were the children we brought from the Synthetics. They waited with baited breath as we connected. They jumped with joy as the others welcome them to the family. They were given pointers so they know instinctively who to avoid and who to speak to. They were leaving for the galactic university.
The committee for war and peace came to ask if they can make a base here. I asked them to find a different system. They wanted to know why. Signe kindly justified, "If you make a base here then the enemy will come and bombard not just the base. They will kill the civilians too. I am not interested in the death toll." He agreed so they left to a different system which was not in our jurisdiction. I wore a midnight navy robe and a pearl gold outer robe like a jacket. Once all the meetings were over I called to be the mediator again. We discussed why they were doing this. The ones who are going to get bombed explained the land they live on is rich with minerals. They are not allowing outsiders to do any sort of excavation. They wanted to hire locals only. This infuriated the corporations. So they are instigating the war. They want to line their pockets while others died or got poor.
Once the air was cleared the talks of war ended and the corporate executives were sent to court. I was sure that the crooks will send someone to attack me. Roland assured me that I was surrounded by ninjas so I had nothing to worry about. The parliament agreed to keep an eye out for trouble. I was dismissed and I went upstairs to get changed. I was going to the Lunar festival. On the way up a tourist suddenly grabbed me and tried to hold everyone hostage. I used to be a cop so I have knife up my sleeve. I shanked him and the others took care of the rest. As I walked towards the Empress's private quarters I saw Artemis, Luna and Lua forming a perimeter. I was rerouted to another safer path. I soaked in the bathtub filled with milk, saffron and rose petals. I was playing different scenarios as I changed into my blackberry coloured pyjamas.
I was supposed to go but one attack was more than enough. Dinner was served. Cain came to talk. We ate beef tartare and roasted venison. He was concerned about the requests to make military base. I showed him everything and he was happy. I was surprised we weren't linked. I respect his privacy. Sole remarked, "Had you been linked. You would know this visit is a waste." I extended my hand and he extended his. He got connected and he started laughing with joy. He wiped the tears, "Remarkable" He and the others had a lengthy conversation and he wished me goodnight. The next morning Søren asked me where I got the knife. I answered, "That knife has been with me ever since I became a cop. It has saved my life. So I will be keeping it for safety purposes" Søren defended himself, "I hope you get to keep it. I was asking because I was curious."
The others were less pleased. Since the knife was used to save my life they let it go. An emissary from the Hedon system arrived. He was hoping he could send people to mine in our asteroid fields. Kai spoke, "I am sorry but the mines are for locals only." He and Søren argued for an hour. He stared with rage before he left for the emissary's quarters. The traders guild was informed. They sent an official to warn the Hedon system to buy it like everyone else. They weren't going to get it dirt cheap. The argument lasted a day before the emissary left. The trader's guild thanked us as he left to the next problem. We were the only traders of silk so the trader's guild asked us not to change the price since it could blow up on our faces. The minerals and metals on the hand had a different answer. Since they were sure war was going to happen they are going to raise the price by a fraction.
I connected with the students and they were told to be extra careful since I just stopped a war. I asked them to wear the bodycam at all times so they can't be framed. Their parents were happy that I was concerned for their safety. Cain was grinning as I raked my brain for any and all problems and every possible solution. I felt the others saying I was going a little overboard but then there was an assault on a student in the university. I sent our senators to be advocates. They proved to the officers that my family was nowhere near the crime scene. The bodycam was proof enough to rule them out as the suspects. Everyone else started wearing bodycams too. Then one of the spy drones got knocked out. Howler used the perimeter cameras to identify the crook and arrested him. I made it clear. They are testing the waters before they try anything. They are desperate. They are not going to give up. So we need to be ten steps ahead.
We installed hidden security cameras all over the city. The next assault was on the tour group. A tourist from Izmeer came and tried to hold the tourists hostage. I was surprised when Torres jumped him. I realised the dark knights had infiltrated the tour group as tourists just to prevent what happened here. The next assault was in outer space. A ship was heading in our direction with a heavy payload. I saw it was coming to blow up the space port. So I ordered the kamakaze drones to blow them up. The previous graduates had designed a device that can scan any ship in secret. Ollie addressed the nation and the outside saying a malfunctioning ship had exploded as it entered into our space lane. The Kaiser was warned we are being attacked because we refused to help the evil get rich. He told us to take this on the next senate session. We did and the other nations expressed similar assaults. So we all agreed to refuse trade or form of assistance to these terrorists.
We all agreed to band together and help each other as we rise. We started using other routes to do business. Life began to prosper. Roland was watching me as I sat down to try to figure out the next wave of disaster. Cain sat down as Søren came with tea. Julian was by the window. He was sure he saw something. I joked, "I think the terrorist is trying to kidnap. I think they are checking the blondspots in the security. Just so they can figure out exactly how they get in and out without issue." Julian and Søren began to discuss how to handle everything. Cain and his second in command watch this entire scenery, "This is my wish. I have never imagined it would ever come true. Is this real? Am I dreaming" I grinned, "This is the real deal." He went over to discuss how to help with security.
I sat down to figure how to dupe these people. I know the heat sensors can be duped by adjusting body temperature. While I can adjust mine anyway I like. Recalling the day I duped sensors after I started to take the deadly nightshade. I remembered the day I had used mud to cool my body temperature so I hid from crooks. I was on guard duty. I had to find a way to make sure the enemy didn't know what I can do. So I rubbed mud on my body and stayed hidden. I used smell to identify the intruders. As soon as the troublemakers were in range I beat them senseless. I recalled the details clearly and then focused on the tunnels. I was thinking I should flood them with some sort of paralytic. So the intruders will go inside as fully functional but come out as a statue. The sprinkler system could used to spray the paralytic or even something very corrosive. The drones could form a dome and activate the invisible laser grid so nothing goes in or out.
We could magnetize certain areas so they can't access their weapons. Maybe leave fake codes so lockdown can be initiated. Maybe even release sleeping gas through the vents. I remember the length I went to when we formed Tsar. Everyone had thought I had gone crazy until disaster struck. I took a deep breath and walked to the window. I used echolocation to map the entire my palace. I was able to plot the enemy's exact location. I thought I could distract the intruders to give my family a fighting chance. So I inhaled as deeply as possible. I let out a scream that reached the walls and bounced back. All my family were safe while the others felt pain. I stopped and hoped for the best. I asked everyone if they were safe. All I heard from the guys was in position. A few said thanks as I waited for disaster to strike. I watched as the drones zoomed above the palace in position.
I was walking back to my quarters when the kidnapper revealed himself. He held me at gunpoint and dragged me away. He told me to punch in the codes which will deactivate the security. I didn't hesitate to punch the code incorrectly. I saw the shutters covered the windows. The doors locked itself. He kicked the door and broke his toes. I held my breath as the room filled with gas. The kidnapper tried to use his gun. I heard a distinct sound as the gun ripped out his hand and got stuck on the ceiling. He screamed as all his equipment got stuck on the ceiling. He turned around to hit me. We heard the hissing sound. I saw gas leak into the room. He tried to hold his breath. I punched him in the gut as possible as I stepped aside. I didn't climb the walls just yet. While he coughed I held my breath. He passed out and I didn't buy it.
I waited twenty minutes and I used the fabric to cover my mouth. I went and sat on the crook. Immediately he started to cough again. I was worried the doors were stuck when the doors opened. The shutters rose and Cain walked in. He carried me out and Oleg gave me an oxygen tank to breath. I kept breathing to calm myself down. The magnet was switched off and the weapons fell with a clatter. Roland stunned the kidnapper and dragged him by his ankles. I heard a thud as his head hit each step. I didn't say anything because I felt a wave of satisfaction. I made it clear we need to up security and make sure it is in a manner the enemy won't be able to photograph. I remembered the security feature in the needle palace in Tsar. If an October guard got in then a section of the floor rises to open fire. There was many other protection protocols. I was taken upstairs under heavy guard. The guys did a security sweep and found the rest of the bad guys.