The lab went silent the moment Athea walked in. Her heels clicked against the polished floor, calm but commanding.
"Status," Athea said. Her voice was soft, but it carried the weight of an order.
Dr. Ilara Veyne, the lead scientist, responded quickly, "Princess Athea… we've examined the specimen, but the complexity is beyond what we expected." She hesitated, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "It's… not like any living thing we know. Inside, it's more machine than flesh. There's no brain."
Athea took slow measured steps forward as she closed the distance between her and the containment field where the star beast was. The star beasts was also, known as the Vorthak spawn, due to them possibly coming from a planet called Vorthak. But that was not yet proved.
Looking away from the containment field, her eyes locked on Ilara like a predator sizing up prey. "No brain," she repeated, her tone icy calm. "Then how does it move? How does it kill?"
Ilara swallowed hard. "We think… the control system is spread across its entire body. Like a network. The cells themselves are alive, but also… programmed. Each one reacts as if it knows what the others are doing."
Venus, another scientist, raised her arm and spoke up, and unlike Ilara she was more reserved, "It's why it's so hard to study. Even though it's dead, the tissue… resists decay. It's active, even now. We tried cutting samples, but they… fight back. The structure repairs itself."
Athea's gaze drifted to the containment field again, at the center of the room. This time she walked even closer to take a good look at it. Inside, the Star Beast, as it was widely known, remains loomed, a giant form split open, armor-like plates of crystal cracked and glowing faintly, veins pulsing with dim light as if the creature still lived.
Its head was a jagged crown of bone and crystal, resting on a separate platform, fangs gleaming like frozen shards.
"And its energy core?" Athea asked without looking away from the carcass.
Ilara hesitated to answer, "Still active. We've kept it in stasis, but readings show it's releasing power even now—enough to fuel a cruiser for months. If we could harness that—"
"If." Athea's voice sounded loud, disappointment laced with annoyance. She turned back to Ilara and Venus, "You've had weeks. Resources without limit. And yet…" Her eyes narrowed. "Not a single fragment adapted for weapons. Not even a prototype."
"We're close," Ilara said quickly. "But this isn't biology as we know it. It's… built. Designed. Every layer serves a purpose. We think these things weren't born—they were made."
Athea's expression stayed cold, but something flickered in her eyes. She was curious. "Made. By who?"
"We don't know. But this discovery changes everything we know about our invaders," Venus admitted, her voice dropping. "And whoever they are… they're beyond anything we've seen. This isn't just an apex predator. It's a war machine."
Athea stood in silence for a long moment, probably thinking about the new information they gave her. The hum of the containment field filled the room. Then she spoke, her tone smooth, almost quiet, but even so, it still carries a lethal edge.
"You have one week. Deliver results. A clear path to weaponization. Or…" Her voice turned velvet-smooth and vicious. "I will reassign this entire division to the frontlines. Personally. And out there, the beasts are far less… contained."
No one dared answer her.
Athea peeled off her gloves, laying them neatly on the table, and walked out without another word. The door sealed behind her, leaving the scientists in cold silence—and the hulking shadow of the dead Star Beast, still pulsing faintly as if mocking them all.
Venus and Ilara shared worried looks.
Walking out of the lab, Athea's heels clicked softly against the polished floor as she moved down the corridor. Her face was unreadable, but her steps carried a quiet tension.
She entered a private chamber, sleek, minimalist, its walls lined with holo-screens tracking sectors and frontline reports. The door sealed shut behind her with a hiss.
Athea sank into the chair behind her desk, exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. For a moment, the cold look across her face was replaced by tired eyes as she stared at the ceiling.
A soft chime broke the silence. Her wrist device lit up, projecting a small holographic screen above her hand.
It was a message.
> From Aphrodite:
[Mother, are you even going to make it this time? Or should I stop expecting you altogether?]
Athea stared at the words from her daughter, her expression still as glass. A faint crease touched her brow, anger? Guilt? It was hard to tell. With a slow exhale, she closed the message without replying.
Before the silence could settle again, another chime sounded. A second message appeared. This time it was from someone else, Ysmeine.
She stared at it for a few seconds, looking as if she wanted to ignore it. But ultimately, she decided to read it.
The message read: [He already knows, I'm not his real mother. He was a bit too observant for a kid, always suspected something was wrong, so I had no choice but to tell him the truth. Athea, he is in trouble this time. I can't do much, not even my sister can help in the long run, I'm afraid. If you still care about your son, respond]
Without any shift in her expression, she closed the message without a care in the world.
---
The Citadel's pristine hallway seemed to hum with a new kind of energy as Zaeryn walked through it, flanked by Mireille and Arya.
Heads turned. Conversations died. Women froze mid-stride, forgetting their destinations, captivated by the unexpected sight of a male moving through their hallowed, female-dominated halls.
"That's the male they brought here yesterday," a woman with vibrant red hair murmured, her voice carrying clearly. "He's back again."
"Weird. Why is he back here? He's a male," another responded, her tone sharp with undisguised curiosity.
Zaeryn ignored them, his jaw tightening. The whispers faded as they reached a reinforced door marked with the badge of the Cytogenetic Research Division. It hissed open, revealing a vast, sterile laboratory.
The air inside was slightly cold compared to the outside.
Holographic displays flickered with complex data. A few scientists in pristine white lab coats bustled around various workstations. Among them, Zaeryn recognized Dr. Aurena, Dr. Lirien, and Dr. Sylis from the previous day. Their chatter died the moment Zaeryn, Mireille, and Arya stepped in. All eyes turned to him, a mix of apprehension and intense scientific curiosity.
Zaeryn noticed that almost the entire room was filled with beautiful female scientists. Some wore their lab coats over dresses or skirts that hugged their curves, blending professionalism with an undeniable allure.
For example, Dr. Lirien wore a fitted dark skirt that ended just above the knee, paired with a crisp white lab coat left open at the front. Her confident posture and sharp gaze gave her the air of someone who didn't just rely on looks but commanded respect with her intellect as well.
Zaeryn's eyes flicked briefly to her before looking away.
"Ah, Zaeryn," a sharp, clear voice cut through the silence.
Chief Scientist Daphne Virellith walked into the lab, her violet eyes assessing him with their usual proprietary intensity. Zaeryn took in her appearance, and she looked even more stunning today compared to yesterday.
Zaeryn hated that he had to come here, no doubt, but still, he couldn't lie that part of him felt like it was worth it if he was going to see Daphne—and possibly get close to her. She was a stunning sight to see.
Yep, that was the goal: get as close as possible to Daphne. After all, becoming powerful meant bonding and mating with women who had different strengths and abilities.
At this point, it was clear he had little choice. If he didn't get laid a lot, he wouldn't have enough strength or influence to stop the Council from putting him through endless, invasive tests — the kind that could break him or worse.
"Welcome back," Daphne said, her tone professional, yet with an undercurrent Zaeryn couldn't quite decipher. She looked genuinely glad to see that he was here.
Well, of course she was happy. Now she could finally prod and probe all she wanted—like the mad scientist she probably was. The thought sent a jolt of irritation through him. "I trust your journey here was... uneventful?"
Zaeryn offered a curt nod.
Daphne's gaze shifted to Mireille and Arya behind him. "Thank you for bringing him in on time, Agents. You can leave now."
Mireille gave a curt nod and turned, already exiting. Arya, however, held Zaeryn's gaze, offering him a faint, soft smile. "Be safe," she murmured, her voice barely audible, before she, too, turned and followed Mireille out.
Daphne's gaze followed Arya, her eyes narrowing imperceptibly. The smile Arya had given Zaeryn hadn't gone unnoticed by her.
"Agent Arya, she's cute, isn't she?" Daphne purred, a predatory amusement in her tone as she turned back to Zaeryn. "She seems to like you, judging by that smile and lingering gaze, did you already work your charm on her?"
"I didn't notice. Anyways…" Zaeryn deflected, scanning the lab with a bored expression, then folded his arms. "More tests? Yesterday wasn't enough?"
Dr. Sylis stepped forward, her datapad glowing, a spark of almost giddy excitement in her sharp eyes. "Yesterday was preliminary, Zaeryn. We barely scratched the surface of your anomalous readings."
From behind her console, Dr. Aurena let out a quiet groan, rubbing her temple with a weary hand. "Barely scratched? I spent the entire night cross-checking his data against every energy model we have." Her sharp blue eyes flicked to Zaeryn, then back to Sylis with a faint scowl. "Some of us like sleep, you know." She added.
Sylis smirked, without looking up from her datapad. "Some of us like answers."
Zaeryn arched a brow, biting back a grin. Great. I'm officially a science fair project ruining people's beauty sleep.
Aurena sighed dramatically, muttering, "It's like trying to map a thunderstorm inside a human body. Nothing about him fits the laws we know."
Daphne raised a hand, silencing them with a single, sharp glance. Her voice was calm, clipped, utterly authoritative. "Which is precisely why we're here again. The Fade is mutating. People are dying. If his immunity can be understood, it could change everything. Maybe we can find a cure."
Zaeryn shrugged, feigning nonchalance, though his pulse ticked up. He feared they might find him out, and if they did find out about his system, they might never let him out of here.
"So… still the prized lab rat. Got it." He said.
Daphne turned, closing the distance between them. She leaned in slightly, attaching a sensor near his shoulder, her fingers brushing his arm for a fleeting moment. "Your physique, is impressive for a male, yet another mystery we should solve."
Her scent, sharp, clean, with a hint of something floral—hit him just as her hand lifted to his chin. Her fingers traced along his jaw, slow, deliberate.
"And for your information," her voice dipped to a soft, intimate whisper, carrying a note that almost sounded like seduction, "I don't think you're a rat." Her lips curved slightly, a predator's smile in disguise. "You're a mystery… a handsome one at that. One I intend to solve."
Their eyes locked. Daphne's fingers lingered between his chin and lips, a silent claim. Zaeryn didn't pull away—he let her think she held the upper hand. For a heartbeat, the lab's steady hum faded into nothing but the heat of her touch.
Zaeryn exhaled slowly.. "So, what's next? What do you want me to do?" Trying to delay it would not work, so of course he was being compliant now.
However, him asking her what to do, seemed to only give Daphne the impression that he was finally bending to her will.
"Excellent, you seem to already have accepted your place that will make it easy for me and you Zaeryn," Daphne said, a subtle shift in her expression – a flicker of something almost like satisfaction.
She stepped away from him, and gestured to the workstation she'd indicated earlier. It was less a table and more a sleek, ergonomic recliner, bristling with an array of delicate sensors and a transparent energy screen that shimmered above it. "Lie down here."
Zaeryn hesitated, but only for a moment. He knew he was trapped.
He let out a slow breath as he lay back on the sleek recliner. The sensors hummed softly, adjusting around his head and arms like a machine-built cradle. A faint shimmer of light formed above him, a translucent energy screen casting his face in a pale glow.
"Just relax," Daphne said, her tone calm, professional… but there was something under it. A quiet edge that made it sound less like reassurance and more like command. "We'll start simple. Neural scan. Non-invasive."