Page 75 of Right Next Door
He’d research gestating human females later. To see what they needed. To try to understand what she had been hinting at.
He could only hope that, like everything else, she would at least appreciate the effort he put in and, maybe, correct him afterwards if it wasn’t exactly what she expected.
Chapter 27
Misty
“So, who is this guy again?” Misty asked, unrolling the curlers in her hair as Tsok watched from where he was seated on her sofa.
He alternated between giving her a happy, contented grin and glaring at The General. Her cat was sitting on the side table, glaring back at Tsok – locked in, hard and unblinking. He no longer went full floof around him, so she considered it progress, but it was clear that The General did not appreciate the presence of another, bigger cat. If he hadn’t had his nads cut off, she had no doubt that he’d be going around spraying everything.
She wasn’t entirely sure that Tsok wouldn’t start doing that himself. He was clearly not above playing dominance games with a house cat. Which was hilarious so long as the two weren’t actively scratching and clawing at each other.
“The High Imperium is the leader of the Coalition,” Tsok said simply.
“The leader of the universe, in other words.”
“There are more species than just those that belong to the Coalition, so it would be inaccurate to say that they are the universe’s leader.”
“Are there any groups as big as the Coalition?”
“No. I believe there are some species that band together as allies, but nothing on the scale of the Coalition.”
“Right. So, he’s the leader of the universe.” She made a face as she ran her fingers through her newly freed curls, breaking them up a bit. “No pressure, I guess.”
“The High Imperium is not a he.”
“Oh, shit. They’re a girl? Hell yeah. Girl power.”
Tsok chuckled. “The High Imperium is genderless, as far as anyone knows.”
“Right on.” Misty turned from her vanity. “But as far as anyone knows? What does that mean?”
“You will see.”
That was a cryptic response, but she got her answer very soon. Once she finished dressing – she chose black and pink robes in the kreecharma style for the occasion – they went down to the landing pad behind the Glass Manor – as the High Imperium would be staying there for his –their– visit.
The shuttle they came down in was pretty standard, which surprised her. She expected some big hoopla with a big fancy ship and tons of guards. Something worthy of the King of Space. Queen of Space? Non-binary Baddie of Space? What was the proper title here?
There were no crowds, no reporters, no VIPs lingering for handshakes and photo ops. Just the single shuttle that came down from above, Tsok, Davard, Misty herself, and no one else. A very simple landing party for the Emperor-ess of Space.
Then, the door to the shuttle opened and out walked… glided… floated…
What the fuck was that?
The person – she assumed it was a person – that emerged from the shuttle was completely hidden to her eyes. Their entire body was covered, head to toe, eyes included, with a long, black drape. It was completely opaque, giving not a single hint to anything, even something basic like if they picked up their feet to walk. Over that, like a blanket draped over their head as a veil, was a large, beautiful head covering. It was blue, trimmed in gold, and depicted scenes of a ringworld spinning and thriving around a bright sun like it were a tapestry. It didn't jostle at all as whoever they were came down. They didn't bounce or stutter or give any indication at all that they were moving their body.
In fact, there was nothing about this person that would identify them in any shape or form. They were tall, the top of their head over a foot taller than Tsok. What she assumed was their head. It was a peak like a head, but she didn't see anything that would indicate there were shoulders there. Maybe they were sitting on a floating stool like in her salon and were actually very short. She had no way of knowing. They didn't make footsteps on the ground, or leave a slime trail. She heard the cloth moving against the stone, but nothing else.
Over their shoulder, like a glowing, flitting hummingbird, was a yellow and green combot.
“Your excellency,” Tsok greeted formally, lowering his head to this… person.
Misty was quick to follow suit. Excellency was such a great name. There was a lot of gravitas in that – and it suited the imposing, faceless, silent figure that stopped in front of them.
“Char Tsok. It is an honor to meet you again,” the High Imperium said.
Or, to be more accurate, the High Imperium’s combot said. The device bobbed as it spoke, the voice it used completely gender neutral and obviously robotic. Like it had been specifically designed to not sound like a living person.
