Stacey rolled her eyes while saying, "I'm not sure being able to spy on people being intimate is something to be proud of."
"On Earth, we would call you a voyeur," Adam chuckled.
Aphrodite gave a confused look while asking, "Voyeur?"
"A person who obtains sexual gratification from observing unsuspecting individuals who are naked or engaged in sexual acts," Adam explained as he placed a box on the table before sitting down next to Lorelie. "Though I'm not sure that term quite fits you, since I'm not sure if you get sexual gratification from it."
"No," Aphrodite sighed. "In fact, it does the opposite."
"Must be tough," Adam remarked.
"I manage," Aphrodite replied before pointedly staring at Adam. "When I'm able to find release."
Tephe, who had been staring at the box since Adam placed it down, finally asked, "What's in the box?"
"The hair colour-change earrings," Adam replied while opening the box. "I brought them so that Erkath could compare them against the ones her company is selling.
"Oh! You brought them out to show me?" Erkath asked in surprise.
Adam nodded. "We were discussing them earlier, so I figured I would bring them out to show you now."
"I appreciate that." Erkath smiled before reaching into the box and extracting one of the earrings, which she began to inspect. "Beautiful."
"Take one for yourself if you want," Adam offered.
"Eh, really?" Erkath asked in surprise. "I mean, I already have one of the ones my company is producing, but I can have one of these?"
Adam nodded before saying, "Think of it as a thank you for all you've done recently, their slightly different to the ones you're acquiring from Celeste."
"Yeah, very recently," Rowena teased while Aphrodite chuckled as Stacey and Lorelie rolled their eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tephe asked curiously while Erkath blushed slightly.
"Why do I get the feeling that something happened that we don't know about?" Revi asked suspiciously.
Elemence took one of the earrings and looked at it as she said, "What does it matter even if something did happen; it's not like you're going to spend all day with him as he teaches you to swim."
"Speaking of," Adam said as he turned to Revi. "Do you want to start your lessons after I've eaten?"
"Of course," Revi replied happily.
"You can use the pool out back for your lessons," Muriel stated before turning to Lorelie and asking. "When would you like to meet with Sealord Aergagon?"
Lorelie ate a piece of food while she thought before saying, "Tomorrow or the day after is fine. I'm probably just going to relax and work on my tan, or maybe go for a swim in the ocean."
"I'll be sure to let them know." Muriel nodded.
"Where's Emma?" Adam asked curiously.
"Still in bed," Erkath replied. "I went to check on her earlier, but got no response when I knocked on her door."
"We got talking last night, and it seems she gained inspiration for a business opportunity," Revi remarked.
"It seems she was still in the living room well after we all went to bed," Muriel added.
"I wonder what kind of business opportunity she came up with," Erkath asked curiously.
***
Somewhere within the known universe, a space station floated within the centre of a dense nebula.
Sub-Leader White briskly walked towards the Supreme Leader's office at the very centre of the space station.
"Supreme Leader, I have an update on both Eytelis and Senator Kasai, though admittedly I'm not sure the Eytelis information is reliable," Sub-Leader White declared upon entering.
"Why are you bringing this information to me if it's not reliable?" The Supreme Leader asked.
"It's because this is the only lead we've received regarding Eytelis," Sub-Leader White replied.
"Speak," The Supreme Leader instructed.
Sub-leader White nodded before saying, "We have received reports that Eytelis was seen only a few hours ago dining at Primus Depths on Aqua Primus, and not only that, but she is in perfect health."
"Impossible?" The Supreme Leader replied. "There is no way she could have travelled from Flamyre to Aqua Primus in such a short time. Punish the one who relayed this information."
"As you command," Sub-leader White replied.
"I hope the information you have on Senator Kasai is more reliable, Sub-leader White," The Supreme Leader remarked.
Sub-leader White swallowed and was about to reply when a woman's laughter sounded from behind him.
"What's this, White? Providing our Supreme Leader with false information?" A woman dressed entirely in black asked with a smile. "For shame."
White frowned. "At least I didn't fail in my attempt to eliminate the Terran Princess. How many ships did you lose again, Black?"
"How was I supposed to know that some unknown ship would appear and assist the Imperial Down?" Black asked angrily.
"Really?" White asked in mock surprise. "One ship was all it took to reverse the tide and defeat the fleet you're so proud of?"
Black angrily dug her nails into her hands and was about to reply when the Supreme Leader spoke up. "Enough. Why are you here, Black?"
"I'm here to update you on the suspicious movement of the Nogitsune's stealth fleet," Black replied. "Our people on the inside report that they have once again been deployed to the Tinatred Galaxy."
"Why does the Nogitsune's stealth fleet have such a sudden interest in the Tinatred Galaxy?" The Supreme Leader asked. "Have our people been able to ascertain where exactly within the Tinatred Galaxy they are heading?"
"The Reotin Cluster," Black replied.
"The Reotin Cluster?" White repeated in confusion. "But there's nothing of interest there."
"That we know of," The Supreme Leader stated. "Dispatch a stealth ship to the Reotin Cluster and have it ascertain the Nogisune's interest in it."
"Yes, Supreme Leader," Black replied.
"Have our people on Reginhart Alpha provided any information regarding this?" The Supreme Leader asked as they turned to White.
"Nothing concrete, Supreme Leader; however, it was mentioned in passing during Senator Arisu Kasai's meeting with Beyuki Kasai," White replied.
"It seems the price we paid to plant that listening device in Beyuki Kasai's office was worth it after all," The Supreme Leader replied. "Continue with your report."
White nodded before continuing. "Shortly after news of the PSF's raid on Flamyre broke, Beyuki Kasai contacted Arisu Kasai about the PSF raid. Arisu Kasai claims credit for tipping off the PSF as a way to cover up his purchase of the Yliaster DX Six.
Even though neither party mentioned it, I think it's now safe to assume that it was indeed Arisu Kasai who installed the virus in the portable subspace relay."
"And the Reotin Cluster?" The Supreme Leader asked.
"According to the listening device, Arisu Kasai has negotiated a deal with Senator Sedna," White continued. "In exchange for the Reynard Galaxy's vote in the upcoming Supreme Leader Selection, Senator Sedna will give them exclusive access to the cluster."
"Makes sense," Black remarked. "They'll never get that if Senator Agilehand retains her position of Supreme Speaker."
"You're right, and the Reynard Galaxy showing support for Senator Sedna will help our efforts in Sector Fourteen," The Supreme Leader replied.
"We haven't been able to progress much with our takeover of the sector since Senator Agilehand became Supreme Leader after all," White added.
"It might be prudent to wait on eliminating Arisu Kasai for his actions against us, at least until Senator Sedna is elected as Supreme Speaker anyway," The Supreme Leader stated.
"As you command, Supreme Leader," Black and White said in unison.
***
"So what did you need to talk about?" Aphrodite asked as she led Rowena into the room she was using.
"How are you feeling?" Rowena asked as she sat down in one of the chairs.
"Where's this sudden concern for me coming from?" Aphrodite smirked while asking. "If you must know, I'm in serious need of a good fucking."
"How's that any different to normal?"
"So about normal then?" Rowena winked before saying in a serious tone. "I was referring to your need to feed."
"Oh," Aphrodite said in realisation. "I wouldn't say no; parts of my body are beginning to show signs of ageing after all."
As she finished speaking, Aphrodite pulled her top up slightly before showing Rowena the skin in the area of her ribs, which had clearly begun to sag slightly.
"Well, that's a sight I never expected to see on your body," Rowena remarked.
"You're not the only one," Aphrodite replied as she sorted her top out. "Still, it's not like I'm going to wither away anytime."
"True," Rowena nodded. "But why haven't you gone and fed?"
"Of whom?" Aphrodite rolled her eyes and asked. "I'm not allowed to touch any of you, and while you might be ok with me stepping out to feed off some random person, we both know that they won't see it that way."
"You're really going all out for this, huh? Even as far as diminishing your beauty by allowing yourself to age," Rowena said while giving Aphrodite an impressed look.
"Well, you all seem to think that I'll get bored with you eventually and go find someone else, and I'm determined to prove you wrong," Aphrodite replied stubbornly.
"It's a good job we've decided to give you a little reward for all your hard work and support, then, isn't it?" Rowena smiled.