Chapter 9 Afternoon Tea Play
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Sun Swallow. Observatory.
The Sun-Tun, in motion, looked like a flat sea bat, with beautiful silver wings spread wide. At the top of the outer ship, the observatory where Su Xi was about to arrive was made to look as small as the light bulb on the head of a deep-sea lampfish.
The Sun Swallow's power core was running at full power, heading for the nearest interstellar directional leap point. The light was flickering, like a cruise on a river of light.
Su Xi, wearing a crew uniform, stood in the transport elevator of the upper observatory, heading for a very important appointment. The silver-gray jumpsuit that fitted her body outlined her petite figure, and the neat tailoring made her look energetic. She cut her hair short before coming, and the porthole outside reflected a pair of amber cat eyes. Her young and beautiful face had wiped away the confusion when she first woke up, leaving only determination.
She was gazing at the scenery outside the sightseeing window, somewhat lost in thought.
With a slight ding sound, we've arrived.
Fitzgerald, the first in line to the throne of the empire, has been waiting here in advance. The 270-degree transparent dome shines with the historical glory of distant stars from billions of years ago.
He had a light map in hand, checking the movements of the planetary metamorphosis points.
The button of the straight military uniform was undone, not too formal, the hair was neatly combed back, the half-long red hair was half-tied according to the etiquette of the nobility, and only decorated with silver-gray obsidian. It was not a gem in the usual sense, but a meteorite collected from the abandoned city built by the fallen battleship after the tragic meteorite war in the history of the human empire's expansion in the stars, mixed with the wreckage of the battleship and the flesh and blood of the soldiers.
However, as the current emperor has aged and indulged in pleasure over the past half century, the royal family has become almost extravagant, and wearing this worthless and symbolic clothing etiquette mostly only exists on imperial anniversaries and related celebrations.
Fitzgerald's behavior is becoming increasingly rare even among the aristocratic class with a military and political background.
At that moment, Su Xi didn't know that this kind of obsidian would become popular through her in the future and be given another definition. At that moment, she just paid a little more attention when they met, and then accompanied by a sharp roar in her mind, she was confused by the fusion of memories about the obsidian, and her head became dizzy again. After several mental counseling sessions, she has become proficient in dealing with this sudden roar in the brain. Su Xi immediately pinched her index finger inconspicuously to let her thoughts and attention return to the current situation.
Su Xi, who was holding back her dizziness, quickly stepped back with her right leg, slightly bent her knees, and made a beautiful hanging hand gesture with her left hand, slightly lowered her chin, and bowed lightly. She had clearly set the AI to arrive ten minutes earlier, but she didn't expect to let the other party wait for her.
"Sorry, Your Highness! I'm late." Su Xi apologized in an embarrassed tone, feeling a little relieved.
"It's not late, you're very punctual." Fitzgerald turned around and saw her, his tone cold and gentle, "I arrived half an hour early." He admired her etiquette and the rare punctuality among aristocratic omegas, nodded in return, "Please take a seat," he said, and then led her to the observation deck.
The observatory was facing the center of the star map. Two single sofas and a coffee table were prepared on the small platform. The coffee table was decorated with flowers, making it look like a royal court afternoon tea. After the two of them sat down, the universal robot quietly moved over and served tea.
In fact, Su Xi's mind was already flooded with a series of triggering noises. She took a deep breath and tried to block the mental pain brought by the memory fusion. In Naya's social life common sense, this form was probably no less than a royal reception from top to bottom. In Su Xi's cognition, this was just an informal private meeting, more like an important interview.
Ah! Afternoon tea after a long time! I miss the happy time I shared with my besties on Earth... On the surface, she was smiling with impeccable etiquette, but Su Xi's inner complaints were already on screen after screen. Traveling through billions of light years to the interstellar era to drink afternoon tea, although it sounds wonderful, she would rather be an ordinary earthling who works from nine to five to make a living.
Fitzgerald saw these emotional fluctuations. His smiling lips revealed a look of loss that was difficult to conceal.
Considering the data about the omega in front of him obtained from the UFO computer, including the detailed process from birth to being captured in the laboratory, Fitzgerald's usually cold heart was rarely touched by a feeling of sympathy.
No matter who it is, after experiencing such inhuman treatment, returning to the civilized social order will inevitably be exciting, let alone an Omega who is known for his emotional sensitivity.
The prince's basic etiquette education was still very good. At this moment, the prince of the empire, wearing a coat called aristocratic etiquette, patiently waited for her emotions to slowly calm down, and patiently waited for the robot to finish serving tea. After a slight pause, he said straight to the point:
"Ms. Naya, the next three things require you to ensure that you fully understand and make your own decisions."
"The first thing is the true situation of your physical recovery." Fitzgerald handed a detailed information to the girl sitting upright opposite him. The first piece of information was the treatment and recovery report of the Omega in front of him on the Sun Devourer.
Not surprisingly, they got down to business right away. Su Xi took the thin data screen with both hands and tilted her body slightly to show that she was listening attentively.
After she glanced over it, he pointed to the final conclusion and motioned for her to read it. "After the gene collapse reached the critical value, the long wave of spiritual power awakened, after fusing with the %&@ fusion fluid, your body reached a delicate balance, which maintained the functioning of your body..."
Su Xi's heart was moved when she heard this. If this conclusion is roughly translated, can it be understood that because of the existence of my soul in this body, the body's functions can be maintained and not collapse? But what is the so-called relationship between soul and body... What is the relationship between time travel and 'what is me' and true existence?
She was lost in thought for a moment, and Fitzgerald continued to explain patiently, "That is to say, once the internal and external environment of your body changes, this delicate balance is likely to be broken, and your genes will face the possibility of collapse again. I must confess that the previous rescue plan for you was based on the premise that you only had three months left to live, and even used the military's temporary emergency solution for alphas, as well as the forced guidance of mental power to maintain the previous balance..."
The only thing he omitted was that the &@#solution was a strengthened version specifically for Fitzgerald's special constitution, and that the AO compatibility rate between the two of them might be very high.
Brutal political fighting should be fought between alphas, and innocent civilian omegas should not be involved, right? Fitz thought coldly of the various suggestions and reports from his subordinates.
"The good news is that this situation has been demonstrated and tested in cutting-edge medical theories." However, the data from the successful test was extremely disastrous. There was no need to tell this Omega, who was looking at the medical report with a confused look on her face, about this news for now. If she arrived at the Imperial Capital Star to receive medical assistance, she would know more clearly sooner or later.
Before that, he could only reveal a little information in advance so that she could be mentally prepared:
"The bad news is that there is currently no proven treatment that can completely restore a gene that has already gone to pieces."
"Either you choose to completely abandon the development of your budding spiritual power and switch to a pure drug treatment program. This is the most conservative option, but your life expectancy and lifestyle will be greatly restricted, and you will be dependent on drugs for life."
After Fitzgerald finished speaking, he saw the brown-haired girl frowning and speaking in a soft but unexpectedly direct voice: "This plan doesn't sound so good. There must be other options, right?"
"Yes. You can also choose to increase your mental power threshold and maintain a balance between your body and mental power throughout your life."
"If you choose it, you have to be mentally prepared."
Staring at the brown-haired girl's slightly widened eyes, Fitzgerald's voice softened a bit:
"This road is difficult. Raising the threshold of mental strength means continuous lifelong training and endlessly challenging one's own limits."
Life is precious. The hardships we have experienced should be cherished even more.
"Whatever option you choose, don't give up easily."
His Highness Fitzgerald, who was not good at comforting or giving chicken soup, could only repeat to the omega in front of him whose eyes were getting brighter and brighter:
“Don’t give up.”
Once again feeling the gentleness and kindness beneath the cold and hard alpha's frozen exterior, Su Xi raised her eyes, with tiny glimmers of light in them. She nodded and did not interrupt him, listening quietly.
"Secondly, due to the Empire's Omega Protection Ordinance," Fitzgerald said quickly and clearly, "after returning to the Empire, you have the right to choose to contact the Omega Protection Association or your immediate family to exercise your guardianship rights. Whether it is to file a lawsuit for the previous 'accident' or to pursue subsequent compensation issues for the negligence of relevant departments."
"The so-called 'accident'..." Fitzgerald tapped with his index finger, and the light screen turned slightly, showing Su Xi the relevant investigation doubts of her accident that were made public on the Star Network. To be precise, it was the interstellar navigation accident that caused 'Naya' to fall into the forbidden planet.
"Under the current circumstances, the Omega Protection Association is more worthy of your trust." Fitzgerald was surprised at his own impulse and gave such a personal and subjective suggestion, which was not in line with his usual style.
Su Xi read the star network information on the screen, firmly controlling the churning of emotions that did not belong to her.
"It will take five Imperial Days to reach the First Fortress from now on. You can think carefully before making a decision." Fitzgerald paused, just as the robot served the second course of refreshments.
"The third thing is, as an obligation of an imperial citizen, there is a military confidentiality agreement that you need to sign and strictly abide by." This was the most important content of her interview this time, and it was also out of consideration for the protection of civilians.
"Okay, Your Highness." After taking a quick look at the detailed terms, Su Xi pressed her genetic fingerprint without hesitation and clicked the reply. "As a citizen of the Empire, since I enjoy the rights, I should also fulfill these trivial obligations."
Su Xi agreed intelligently, and added, "If there is any further cooperation required in the future, I will definitely cooperate actively." Her attitude couldn't be more serious.
"After arriving at the First Fortress, the military will conduct a more detailed examination of your body and inquire about your experience on the UFO," Fitz said slowly. "It's just routine. Don't be nervous."
Su Xi nodded, and Fitzgerald finally said, "The Sun Swallow will reach its first relocation point in one day. In view of your physical condition, it is recommended that you enter the hibernation chamber to make the relocation. The civil rights on the Sun Swallow have been opened to you, and other personal matters will be assisted by the main control system 'Star Leap' on the Sun Swallow."
As he spoke, Fitzgerald tapped his hand, and a small general-purpose robot presented a tray. A smooth, small pebble lay quietly on a silver plate covered with red velvet.
Yes, it was the kind of pebble that any child could pick up and skip on the river in Su Xi's hometown on Earth. At Fitzgerald's signal, Su Xi glanced at him and then carefully picked it up from the tray. It was oval, less than two fingers wide, and the material was round and almost white jade, with light green natural patterns across it... But after all, it was indeed a pebble.
After getting it in her hand, Su Xi silently explained through the prompts in her mind and the information projected from the center of the cobblestone... It is a natural gemstone material from the Mermaid Sea of Lyra, and its gentle magnetic field can soothe emotions and nourish energy... One of the most popular portable chip materials for omegas?
Well, although it is nostalgic, it is actually a product of an alien galaxy...
I like it very much!
Looking at the girl's slightly surprised expression, he couldn't let go of the plutonium jade portable chip. Since entering, it has been emitting pheromones with a cautious and slightly nervous signal, but now it has turned into joy... The smell of her joy, first with a slightly light lemon scent, and then quickly turned into a light and rich sweet magnolia scent...
The red-haired alpha seemed to be sitting relaxed and sipping tea. His tall figure did not look cramped sitting on the cloud chair, but rather had a sense of dignified relaxation. However, the pheromone glands in the back of his neck sensitively captured the faint fragrance, mixed with the sweet aroma of black tea lingering around him, and an alpha male instinct began to surge in his body.
Fitzgerald's eyes darkened for a moment, and his beautiful eyes turned into a very dark blue, almost black, and the silver lines in his pupils became clearer, like a web that stretched out, rapidly expanding and shrinking. It was an uncontrollable physiological instinct, a hunting impulse derived from ancient genes.
With eyes lowered and eyelids drawn, a bony hand lightly lifted the teacup. Standard etiquette.
His control has always been top-notch, and he quickly suppressed the slight throbbing.
By the time he put down the teacup, his breath had become steady and calm, and he had regained his usual cold and restrained expression.
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