Page 77 of Alien Warrior Chef… With Benefits
In that moment, fear fades. What remains is purpose. Bond. A future forged under pressure and vowed in fire. We stand on the threshold of a new fight—not for glory, but for love and life.
Aelphus may think he’s architecting a spectacle. But we’re writing the finale.
The control center is a muted chaos—panels sparking, tremors of reclaimed power vibrating through the floor, a score of stunned technicians frozen amid emergency overrides. Pale holo-globes flicker, casting fractured luminescence. And there, behind the central console, stands Aelphus—skin smeared in golden ichor like a fallen god, corners of his lips curved into that infuriating, arrogant smile.
He watches me, eyes abyssal with contempt. “You cannot deny the bond,” he purrs, voice low and lethal, yet ostentatiously calm. The broadcast screen behind him still reflects his smug grin to a frenzied Holonet audience. The entire world watches this moment.
I do not respond. His words are empty and dangerous—yet they no longer carry the weight to topple me. My anger coils tight, a predator's pulse locked in my veins. I step forward with purpose—every inch charged with controlled force.
He straightens his posture, blade-like dignity still intact despite the wound on his lip. But I’ve seen empires fall slower—this is only the crumble of his façade. “She’s never yours,” I growl, voice a low swamp of promise and threat.
Aelphus laughs—a brittle, insane-sounding note that dies in the stale air. Then he lunges, startling in his quickness for one so casually wounded. I sidestep, leaving him to smack against the console with a garbled crack, plastic splintering.
Enough. I launch forward, drive my fist into his bleeding jaw with precise brutality. The impact jolts the screens around us, sending pixelated distortions flying. I taste the hit—cotton and metallic sweet—feel the rush of dominance flood my limbs.
He staggers backward, eyes unfocused. I hold the moment, level-headed but fierce.
“Ruby was never yours,” I repeat, voice quiet but absolute. “She’s mine.”
I pivot, long arms sweeping in a signal to Ruby, who’s already stepping across the console aisle with the override lever in hand. The hum of the lockdown unlock begins—doors releasing, shutters rising, systems rebooting.
I keep my gaze locked on Aelphus, chest heaving with adrenaline. “She chose me.”
He staggers one last time, awareness flickering. Then strong hands, overseen by security drones and resumed backup units, rush in to seize him. His mouth twitches into something like regret. I fold into his corner of the console as they lift him away, golden light dimming.
Ruby pulls free the lever entirely, and a loud chime sounds—a high note of victory and release reverberating through the chamber. I exhale deeply, muscles unclenching for the first time since the alarms blared.
The crowd surges through the newly opened doorways behind us, rushing toward safety. Ruby’s eyes meet mine, fierce and tender. I step forward, brushing sweat-slick hair from herforehead. I cup her face in both hands, thumb soft against her cheekbone, tracing the delicate line of her jaw.
“You were never his,” I murmur, voice rough with relief and claim. “You were always mine. But now—for everyone: the whole galaxy knows it.”
Her smile is fierce, triumph and gratitude wrapped in that small quiver of lips. She leans into my hands, closing her eyes for a moment. “We did it,” she whispers. “Together.”
Behind us, hired holocams recommence their roll, capturing the moment. The glitching broadcast comes back to life—but instead of images of golden pomp, it projects me and Ruby, bodies entwined in triumphant intimacy, guardians of one another’s souls.
The screens shift across the world. Our battered forms aren’t perfect, but they’re undeniable. And I understand: fame can’t touch what we’ve claimed. Not when it’s etched by choice, by fire, by blood. The world sees our devotion. Our bond echoes beyond the cosmos.
I brush her hair back, fingers tangling in the soft platinum strands. “Come on,” I say gently. “We’ve got a final to win.”
She laughs, head tipping to mine—soft, rebellious. “Together.”
We turn back to the central console. The technician who nearly cowered steps forward, heart pounding, reassurance in his eyes. I nod to him, silently granting safe sweep.
Security flows in, escorting wounded Vortaxian guards—confusion pill in their eyes. Aelphus’s throne room, now just a mess of control panels and shattered egos.
Ruby wraps an arm around my waist, anchor and partner. She draws in a breath—the scent of spilled circuits, steam, and our shared victory warming around us.
“Are you okay?” I ask, turning so my forehead touches hers.
She laughs—soft and wild. “I feel… fire.”
I smile, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. “Fire’s a good thing.”
She raises eyebrow. “Let’s light up that stage one last time.”
We hand the torch to a returning staffer, lighting agencies flowing in to secure the center. I drop the fist of adrenaline that's still rattling through my system. Tonight we reclaim our story, our bond, our future.
I glide my arm around her, ready to lead. Our final challenge awaits—holonet, stations, empire watching. But failure is not an option this time.
