Within hours, our ship had docked with Vylit and Kazmyr's vessels, and the Lavastone Aunties descended upon us like a wildfire through a dry forest.They swept into my quarters trailing fabrics that seemed to move of their own accord and bottles of something they called "pheromone enhancers" that smelled like a confused blend of cinnamon, ozone, and something musky I couldn't identify.
"Arms up!"the oldest Auntie commanded, her heat signature so intense I could feel it from three feet away."The fabric needs to measure you."
I reluctantly raised my arms as what looked like liquid metal slithered from her hands to encircle my waist, stretching and shifting as if it were alive."Is that stuff sentient?"
"Responsive, not sentient," she corrected, her molten eyes assessing every curve of my body without a trace of modesty."It reads biochemical signatures and adjusts accordingly."
"Marvelous frame structure," another Auntie muttered, circling me like a predator."Strong shoulders, excellent spinal alignment.The silver one will malfunction beautifully."
I frowned."I don't want him to malfunction.We need his brain working."
All three Aunties exchanged knowing looks that made me want to crawl out of my skin."Of course, dear," the first one said in a tone that suggested she didn't believe me for a second.
For the next hour, I endured what could only be described as the most invasive fashion consultation in history.The Aunties poked, prodded, measured, and debated every inch of me while I stood like a mannequin, occasionally protesting when their ideas veered into the absurd.
"Absolutely not," I said firmly when they suggested a dress that seemed to be made entirely of floating water droplets."I need to be able to hack security systems without flashing the entire galaxy."
Finally, they settled on a creation that made my breath catch despite myself.The gown was made of liquid crystal that flowed around my body like mercury, shifting between shades of blue and silver that reminded me of Silvyr's code patterns.It responded to my body temperature, rippling with subtle color changes that followed my pulse and breath.
"It's reactive to emotional states," the youngest Auntie explained, adjusting the neckline which dipped lower than anything I'd worn since college."Perfect for displaying compatibility responses."
"Meaning?"
She smiled wickedly."When your silver one looks at you, the dress will register your mutual attraction.Very convincing."
Heat crept up my neck."We don't have mutual anything.This is a mission."
All three Aunties laughed, the sound like rocks tumbling down a mountain."Of course, ember-heart.Just a mission."
When they finally deemed me presentable, I barely recognized myself in the reflection panel.The woman staring back at me looked dangerous and elegant, her short black hair styled with copper threads that caught the light, her eyes enhanced with some kind of mineral dust that made them appear wider, greener.The dress clung in all the right places before flowing to the floor in crystalline ripples.
"Now," the eldest Auntie announced, "we reveal you."
Before I could protest, they ushered me onto the ship's main deck where Vylit, Kazmyr, and Silvyr waited.Pixel zoomed ahead of me, projecting a ridiculous drum emoji as if announcing my entrance.
The expressions on their faces would have been comical if I hadn't suddenly felt so exposed.Vylit's bioluminescence brightened to near-blinding levels.Kazmyr's ember marks flared so hot I could feel the temperature in the room rise.Both of them had their human mates, Maya and Jenna, next to them who I’d met on various communications we’d had before our ships had met up.The two women cooed with excitement and compliments, but it was Silvyr's reaction that stole my breath.
His entire system visibly glitched.The code patterns beneath his skin froze, then cascaded in a waterfall of silver-blue light that raced from his chest outward.His eyes widened, pupils dilating as they fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin tingle.Then, without warning, small compartments along his frame popped open, releasing a cloud of tiny maintenance drones that swirled around him in confused circles.
"System regulation required," he managed, his voice dropping to a deeper register that sent an unexpected shiver through me."Core temperature exceeding normal parameters."
The dress responded instantly to whatever my body was doing, rippling with waves of gold that chased themselves across the fabric.The Aunties clapped their hands in delight.
"Perfect compatibility response!"the youngest crowed."Better than we hoped!"
Pixel darted between us, flashing a hot face emoji that made me want to swat it out of the air.The little traitor was enjoying this far too much.
"It's just the dress," I said, trying to sound dismissive despite the heat rising in my cheeks."It's programmed to do that."
"The dress responds to biometric shifts," the eldest Auntie corrected."It cannot create what is not there."
Silvyr finally managed to recall his maintenance drones, the tiny machines reluctantly returning to their compartments.Except for Pixel, which returned to my shoulder.
"Diagnostic overheating," he muttered, adjusting the formal attire the Aunties had somehow convinced him to wear.A black bowtie, which was adorable by the way."The new components are still calibrating."
"Sure they are," I said, tilting my head with a grin I couldn't suppress."You're a natural at this whole fake relationship thing."I watched with satisfaction as his code scrolled faster at my teasing.
Vylit stepped forward, breaking the charged moment."The exhibition transmits through the central star gate in one rotation.We must be prepared."
