S.P.E.C.T.O.R

Chapter 742: Winter form

Milky Way Galaxy, Earth.

“Hmm,” Joanne McClain responded before looking up at Kate Stevens, who was still talking with the members of Triple Trouble and asked, “What exactly is it you wish to speak with Adam Spencer about, Miss Stevens?”

Kate turned to Joanne before smiling and saying, “You will naturally find out when you attend the discussions.”

Joanne smiled before saying, “Well, considering he’s the one asking the question, I doubt the discussion will take place if you don’t answer him.”

“You mean you're talking to him right now!” Kate asked in surprise as the members of Triple Trouble listened in with interest.

“Indeed, he responded quicker than I expected,” Joanne replied.

“What did he say?” Kate asked.

“He says, and I quote,” Joanne began. “What does she wish to discuss with me? If this is about giving Emily Daniels access to my stream, she can forget about it.”

Billie chuckled before saying, “He doesn’t seem to care about your identity.”

“That’s not really surprising when he doesn’t even fear the five families,” Jeanie replied.

“That’s why I said that if you don’t answer him, he probably won’t agree to speak with you,” Joanne advised.

Kate fell into thought for a moment before holding out her hand while asking, “Might I borrow your phone to send a reply?”

Joanne frowned in response before saying, “As long as you allow me to see what you send.”

“That’s fine, it’s not like you won’t read it later anyway,” Kate said with a shrug.

“Ok,” Joanne nodded before quickly typing a message, after which she offered Kate her phone.

“Hmm, she’s taking a while to respond,” Rowena stated.

“She’s probably reaching out to Kate Stevens to find out the answer to Adam’s question,” Emma replied.

“Oh! She replied,” Tephe said excitedly.

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): I am passing my phone over to Miss Stevens; the next few messages will be from her.]

“Oh! Looks like they're together,” Lorelie remarked.

“The owner of Galaxy Entertainment is with a popular girl group from another entertainment company?” Emma asked with a frown. “That won’t look good if it’s reported in the press.”

“Maybe she plans to steal them for her own company,” Rowena replied while pointedly smirking at Adam.

“That was your idea, not mine,” Adam shot back.

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Good evening, Mr Spencer. This is Kate Stevens. Joanne has kindly put me in contact with you, and though I would very much like to talk now, my current setting is not exactly private.

Instead, I will simply say two words and hope you or one of your companions understands their meaning. Valence Synth.]

“YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!” Rowena screamed as she bolted to her feet and stared at the holographic screen.

“How the fuck does she know that name?” Aphrodite asked in equal shock.

“Who?” Tephe asked while tilting her head curiously as Maya mirrored her action.

“Never heard of her,” Stacey replied.

“The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place it,” Lorelie added thoughtfully.

Instead of commenting, Eri accessed her uniband before doing a search on the name.

“Valence Synth,” she began to read aloud.

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“Empress Dowager of the Eidolon race that disappeared almost one hundred years ago.”

“Now I remember,” Lorelie suddenly stated. “I saw it on the USNN when I was recovering in the med bay. The Eidolon race recently held their annual day of mourning for their departed Empress Dowager Valence Synth.”

“Day of mourning?” Emma repeated. “Is she dead?”

“That’s the belief,” Lorelie explained. “Around one hundred years ago, the ship she was travelling on disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

After a thorough investigation, it was determined that all hands aboard had died, even though no one could figure out how.”

“No one could figure out how?” Tephe asked.

Rowena sat back down before saying with a sad look in her eyes, “That’s correct; all they discovered when they investigated the region of space where Valence’s ship disappeared was remnants of an unknown energy signature.”

“Did you know her?” Adam asked as he noticed her sad look.

Rowena nodded before saying, “We attended Planaticia Academia together as students.”

“How is it that someone on Earth could possibly know the name of an alien race's dowager empress?” Emma asked.

“I take it you’ve never heard of that name then?” Aphrodite asked.

“No,” Emma said while shaking her head.

“Adam,” Rowena said as she looked at him with a serious expression.

Adam smiled and nodded before typing.

[S.P.E.C.T.O.R (Spector): When would you like to hold this discussion?]

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): I’m relieved to see that someone in your party understands what I meant.

Would you be open to holding our discussion tomorrow?]

[S.P.E.C.T.O.R (Spector): That’s fine; have Gunlovergirl contact me when you're ready to talk.]

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Until tomorrow then.]

“I wonder if she really knows anything about what happened to Valence,” Rowena said thoughtfully.

“Don’t get your hopes up too much, it’s unlikely she knows anything,” Aphrodite said in concern.

“How did she know her name then?” Tephe asked.

“That’s something we will have to ask her tomorrow,” Aphrodite replied.

“We are now arriving at Fenix Nest,” Spector suddenly announced before she dropped out of FTL above the planet.

“Take us down, Spector,” Adam instructed.

“Affirmative,” Spector replied.

“I’m sure there’s a certain empress eager for your return,” Eytelis suddenly teased as she entered the mess hall.

Galamedees Galaxy, Solarian Prime.

“What even is that flower?” Keerla asked as she stared at the holographic screen in shock.

On it was the great tree of Solarian Prime, which was now completely covered in pink flowers.

“I have no idea; I’ve never seen them before,” Queen Riniya replied.

“They're so beautiful; I’ve never seen anything quite like them,” Tessa remarked as she stared at them in amazement.

“How is something like this even possible in the first place?” Shalendra asked.

“It must have something to do with Eytelis,” Queen Riniya said thoughtfully.

“Is her connection with the great tree truly so strong that she can influence it over such a great distance?” Becky asked.

“We saw it earlier when her anger seemed to cause the planetquakes, remember, Andria stated.

“It seems the need to speak with Eytelis is even greater than before,” Riniya stated before turning to Becky. “Please keep attempting to contact her through Adam Spencer’s companions.

“Of course,” Becky replied

“Eytelis, is that you?” Adam asked in shock as he looked at the woman who had just entered the mess hall.

Gone was her dead-looking bark, replaced by radiant-looking skin. She had bright blue eyes and long, flowing ice-blue hair.

Animal-like ears that were covered in blue fur, along with large deer-like antlers that were covered in white flowers.

She wore a flowing blue dress along with an ice-blue tiara that seemed as if it was made of ice.

“Impressed?” Eytelis asked with a wink before turning on the spot, allowing them all to see that her hair actually reached the floor.

Adam nodded before saying, “You look so different.”

“You look beautiful,” Emma said in astonishment.

“Thank you,” Eytelis said with a giggle. “This is my winter form.”

“Winter form?” Emma asked in confusion.

Eytelis nodded. “It’s currently winter on Solarian Prime.”

“Do you change form based on the seasons?” Adam asked in surprise.

“That's correct,” Eytelis replied.

“That’s so cool,” Adam replied.

“Agreed,” Emma added.

Eytelis giggled and smiled happily.

“Seems you’ve fully recovered,” Rowena remarked as she studied her.

Eytelis nodded and said, “Much better, thank you. That medicine I received did wonders.”

“I’m glad you're feeling better,” Lorelie said with a smile before looking at her uniband and asking. “Becky is still messaging me about Queen Riniya wanting to talk with you. Are you ready to speak with her yet?”

“I’m sure Empress Revi is waiting for your return, so how about we wait until we land?” Eytelis replied.

“That works; we should be landing any minute,” Adam replied while nodding.

“Great,” Eytelis said happily.

“So are you going to vacation on Aqua Primus?” Rowena asked.

“I’d love to, as long as it’s fine with all of you,” Eytelis replied hopefully while shooting glances at Adam.

“Are you sure that’s ok? You’ve been away from Solarian Prime for a while, after all?” Aphrodite asked.

“It’s fine; the medicine helped me recover to perfect health after all,” Eytelis replied.

“That’s not what I meant,” Aphrodite explained. “Won’t you have a lot of work piled up since you’ve been away for so long?”

“Oh, that’s what you meant,” Eytelis said in understanding. “Maybe one or two bits, but Gweyir is an excellent assistant, so I can just give her a call later regarding anything that’s come up that she can’t handle.”

S.P.E.C.T.O.R

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