"Connection established."Vylit's formal greeting never failed to make me smile."We have developments of critical importance."
"Please tell me you found Asset P's server location," I said, sitting straighter."My android boyfriend here is running out of time."I ignored the startled flicker in Silvyr's pattern at the word 'boyfriend.'Ruffling his circuits had become my favorite hobby.Especially since we'd been sitting around on the Reality waiting for more details.
Kazmyr's ember marks flared along his arms."Better.We've located its primary network integration point."
My pulse quickened."Where?"
"The Intergalactic Matching Exhibition."Vylit's glow intensified, patterns shifting in what I'd come to recognize as excitement."A gathering of matched pairs from across the galaxy, displayed to showcase the Agency's success rate."
"A parade of stolen mates," Kazmyr growled, heat rippling visibly from his shoulders."Propaganda designed to mask trafficking operations."
I glanced at Silvyr, whose pacing had ceased completely.His form was unnaturally still, processing.
"So it's like a cosmic dating game success story pageant?Gross."
"Precisely."Vylit nodded."And it is occurring now.This very cycle.The entire connected galaxy is witnessing the event."
Silvyr stepped closer to the transmission."You've confirmed Asset P's presence?"
"Its network signature embeds throughout the exhibition's mainframe," Kazmyr confirmed."The entity uses the event as both a showcase and a hunting ground."
My mind raced with possibilities.This was it, our shot at exposing the IDA's matching scam and finding proof of Asset P's involvement in human trafficking.My hands curled into fists at my sides as I imagined finally taking down the bastards who'd destroyed so many lives, including my own sources who'd vanished after being "matched."
"So we crash the love parade."The words burst from me before I'd fully formed the plan."Get inside, hack into Asset P's network while everyone's distracted by the spectacle."
Silvyr's optics flickered uneasily."Crash is an inauspicious metaphor given our history."
I rolled my eyes."It's an expression.It means we show up uninvited."
"The exhibition has immaculate security protocols," Vylit warned."Genetic scanners, emotion readers, compatibility verification?—"
"Then we don't go uninvited," I interrupted, the pieces falling into place in my mind."We go as exactly what they want to see… a matched pair.A success story."
Silvyr's entire form stuttered, light patterns freezing mid-pulse."As what?"
I swiveled my chair to face him, enjoying his discomfort perhaps a bit too much."A couple," I replied sweetly, leaning back in my chair."A blissful, wildly compatible couple.Just what the IDA loves to parade around as proof their system works."
"Deception requires emotional composure," Silvyr said flatly, his patterns betraying the exact opposite of composure.
I smirked."Guess you're screwed."
From the holoscreen, Kazmyr let out a rumbling laugh that sounded like rocks grinding together."The chaos-bringer has a point.You two emit enough electromagnetic interference to scramble scanners three sectors away."
"That's not—" Silvyr began, but was interrupted by movement behind our alien contacts.
Three figures pushed into the transmission field, and I blinked in surprise.Shorter than Kazmyr but similarly built, their obsidian skin glowed with intricate lava patterns that shifted and swirled like living jewelry.Their eyes burned molten gold.
"Finally!"the middle one exclaimed, her voice crackling like a hearth fire."We can style you!"
Vylit turned, his luminescence dimming slightly in what I was beginning to recognize as embarrassment."The Lavastone Aunties insisted on joining when they heard our plan."
"We are artisans of attraction!"Another of the volcanic women stepped forward, peering at me through the transmission with critical appraisal."Your current attire will never convince anyone of compatibility bonding.Too many loose wires.Not enough shine."
The third nodded vigorously."The silver one needs structural enhancement.His shoulders say 'computational device' when they should scream 'desirable mate'!"
I bit back a laugh as Silvyr's form went rigid."Who exactly are?—"
"The most respected compatibility aestheticians in the quadrant," Kazmyr cut in, a hint of reverence in his voice."They styled my warrior clan for three generations of bonding ceremonies."
