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Yes. A round in the boxing ring would definitely be in order after this.Did he really need to twist the knife? Remind me of how much control he still exerts over me? Haven't I proven myself time and again?
"Thank you for preparing that, father." I nodded, feigning gratitude. A deafening explosion ripped through the backdrop of yellow trees behind him, causing the terminal to tremble as he sought shelter from the falling debris. When he reappeared on the screen, his grin had widened.
“A spectacular hit! I reckon that was their munitions depot. Old-school weaponry. Nothing of use to us. That oughta put a dent in their morale." Father rubbed his jaw and leaned in closer to the terminal. "Listen, I get it, you're not thrilled about this wife thing, but it'll project stability as you climb the ranks in Prexis. It's a good move. Just trust me on this. I know what's best for you, son."
Can't you just let me have a say in my own damn life?
"Of course, sir."
"Good then." He gave a sharp nod. "I'll see you in Waron. We're in for an exceptional gathering. So much to celebrate!"
The connection clicked off.
I continued to stare at the blank screen.
Damn it.
I pushed back from the desk, fists clenched until my muscles ached.
The Waron Asteroid Belt, in the heart of the Prexis Prime system, was an exquisite location for a wedding. The metallic sheen of the asteroids provided a stunning backdrop, complemented by the distant auroras lighting up the sky, courtesy of the magnetosphere of nearby planets. The fact that my father was making all these decisions for a grand party in my name, while simultaneously winning a battle on an entirely different planet, really rubbed me the wrong way.
But there was little I could do.
I plastered on a smile, playing the dutiful son to keep building my influence. In the meantime, I aimed to soak up every lesson from him and the other commanders, aspiring to outshine even my old man.
Plenty of the young captains favored my style of command over his, and Kressel was well aware. A divide was brewing in how Prexis would assert itself in the Nova Dominion.
One day, it might come down to a face-off between father and me. I needed to make sure I was primed to come out on top.
Pushing back from the desk, I swiped the grids away that I'd been scanning before my father's call, frustration still coursing through me. I gazed at the screensaver, a picturesque view of our golden and white planet, its lush green lagoon and concentrated oceans. It had been a while since I'd actually set foot there.
But there were more pressing matters.
Snatching my boxing gloves from the nearby cabinet, I swiftly changed into training gear. The Glory could handle itself for a little while. I needed to blow off some steam.
Just as I settled in, a comms request beeped, eliciting an irrational grumble from deep within. It wasn't my father. This was a ship's request. I eyed the blinking indicator lights. Someone was at my door. I moved to the desk and flicked open the video feed. I let out a surprised grunt:Jasmine.
As I observed her in the hallway, patiently awaiting my response to her knock, I toyed with the idea of simply ignoring her. She wore a plain yellow dress that, though nice, looked rather out of place on a battleship. I had no clue where she'd gotten it. Probably brought it from Earth. If not, one of my lieutenants must have supplied her with some utility coveralls for the journey. I hadn't really seen much of her in the past few days. I wasn't sure if it was intentional or if I'd just mostly forgotten about her presence. She was the reason I'd gone to Earth and why I was now headed back to the Prexis solar system instead of another warfront, but... if I could change it, I would.
The yellow fabric swished above her knees. Her skin had a natural honey hue that didn't seem like it came from the sun. Some humans had that, but hers looked entirely her own. Her features were pixie-like, framed in a pleasant yet determined expression as she waited for my reply. She was undeniably beautiful, and there was a sharp glint in her eyes that hinted at intelligence, at least as far as humans go.
Does she really deserve a response? Does my father have the right to dictate my life like this?
In my book, no.
She's supposed to be my wife. I can't change that now.
Does that mean I'm expected to introduce her as a partner at Prexis' fancy events?
Damn it.
The Krafina race tended to be monogamous once they'd chosen a partner. This was the one I'd bid on, mainly because my father insisted I have a human. I figured she'd at least be entertaining.
I let out a groan and massaged my jaw.
I really didn't want this.
I propped myself against the wall next to the comms button, opting for just speaker, not opening the video call on my end.
