Deep in the vastness of space, Marcell journeyed aboard an Interloper ship, surrounded by the alien protectors that facilitated his clandestine mission. His destination was Corin, a desolate and largely forgotten planet, home to an ancient race of warriors who had not graced the battlefield in over five hundred years. Unlike the grotesquely deformed Interlopers, the Corinians were fearsome cannibals, their appetites making them formidable and dangerous foes to Sentinel, Bellicose, and Hominin alike.

Upon arrival, Marcell was escorted to meet with Sar, the unyielding leader of the Corin soldiers. Sar, whose ambitions stretched far beyond the barren landscapes of his home planet, harbored dreams of ruling the Solar system and tapping into its abundant resources.

"I have to admit, when a Royal wanted to meet with me, I was a bit surprised," Sar remarked, his voice tinged with skepticism. "When Cornell was made King, I spat on the Solar. He returned every one of my requests for a meeting."

Marcell responded with a cynical twist to his words, "Well, my brother has tunnel vision when it comes to the Solar. I believe we should all live together in harmony," he sneered, adding, "and all the other noble bullshit you can think of."

Sar, understanding the underlying intent, laughed heartily. "If I am to understand you correctly, you want me to kill your brother and his offspring so that you will become King, and if we succeed, you promise an all-you-can-eat buffet on Earth."

"Yes, I need access to something on Earth that is rather ancient," Marcell added, revealing the depth of his scheme.

"You hate your brother that bad?" Sar probed, intrigued by the intensity of Marcell's animosity.

"No, I love my brother. I just hate his decisions to discard me like trash," Marcell confessed, his voice a mix of bitterness and resolve.

"Well, it couldn't do any harm," Sar mused, already envisioning the chaos they could unleash. "When should we come to Eminence?"

"No, not Eminence. Earth," Marcell corrected him sharply. "Lure them there and do your worst. If they figure out what I am doing a minute sooner, it could ruin a plan that I have set in motion for years."

Their handshake sealed the dark pact, a union formed under the shadow of betrayal and hunger for power. Marcell left the meeting with a cold satisfaction, knowing that his machinations could soon upend the fragile balance of the Solar system, and with it, the lives of those he deemed his adversaries.

All I could feel was betrayal, and I missed Earth more than ever. Kiser and Trevor tried to console me, but I needed space to stew in my pain alone. To add insult to injury, the council announced my coronation would be in two nights. I couldn't keep staring at the walls that felt more like a prison than a palace. Desperate for an escape, I went to my balcony and whistled. Almost immediately, I heard the Eagle gawk as it soared up to my room. I stroked its feathers gently and communicated with it telepathically.

"Can you take me to Earth?" I asked. The Eagle gawked affirmatively, and I quickly packed a small bag. Just as I was about to leave, Cell barged into my room.

"Do you not know how to knock? I could be undressed," I chided him.

"One can only dream," he joked, his eyes then catching sight of my bag. "Where are you going?" he inquired, his tone shifting to concern.

"Home. I don't belong here," I replied simply, my heart yearning for the familiar comfort of Earth.

I mounted the saddle on the bird. "Are you serious? You get your heartbroken and now you decide you don't belong? That's crazy," Cell protested.

"I am not asking for understanding," I retorted, resolved in my decision.

"Well, wherever you are going, I am coming with you," he declared, pushing me up and then climbing behind me.

"Fine," I conceded, and we took to the air. Within moments, the Palace shrank beneath us, becoming as small as an ant. My Hominin heritage normally would not allow me to withstand the airless void of space, but the Sentinel blood in my veins made me capable of surviving it. The Eagle, supernaturally powerful, carried us swiftly from planet to planet.

"It's so beautiful," I breathed out, awestruck by the cosmic vista unfolding before us.

"You find beauty in the smallest things," Cell observed, his voice tinged with admiration.

"Maybe you should too," I suggested.

"How do you do that?" he asked, his tone reflective.

"Your words make me want to be better, that's why you have to become Queen," he admitted, his words sincere.

"Nice try. It takes more than words to be a leader," I countered, knowing well the responsibilities that leadership entailed.

"Does it really? Most leaders become that based off words," he argued thoughtfully.

As we ventured deeper into space, passing stars and asteroids, I marveled at how my life had changed. A year ago, I could never have imagined a life like this, and yet here I was, soaring through the cosmos. Despite everything, all I could do was smile, embracing the unexpected journey that lay ahead.

Cell

We touched down on Earth, and instantly, Shauna's demeanor transformed. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of nostalgia and relief as she took in her surroundings, visibly shedding the weight of her royal duties the moment her feet hit familiar ground. Eager to blend in, she insisted I change out of my formal attire into something more inconspicuous, and her smile widened with each passing moment. It was clear she needed this respite, a break from the overwhelming expectations of Solar leadership.

As we strolled through a museum and meandered through a park, her laughter filled the air, showcasing a carefree and humorous side I rarely saw on Eminence. We toured what she fondly referred to as New York, absorbing the vibrant life of the city. To my surprise, nobody recognized her here; she was just another face in the crowd, which seemed to bring her immense joy.

The fair was a highlight of our day. We indulged in the simple pleasure of riding every attraction and capped it off by sitting outside with slices of pizza. "I can see why you enjoy the Hominin life. This is amazing and freeing," I confessed, genuinely appreciating the simplicity and liberty of Earth.

"How could I give this up, right?" she laughed, her eyes twinkling with contentment.

"If you don't become Queen, the Hominins will eventually starve. The freedoms you enjoy so much will be taken from them," I ventured, hoping to gently remind her of the responsibilities awaiting her.

"Wow, you are a buzzkill," she retorted playfully, though I could tell my words had made her think.

"I am serious. This life is wonderful, but someone has to sacrifice for it," I pressed, my tone earnest.

"I see why you are single. You are on a date and all you can think about is being serious," she joked, and I was momentarily taken aback. "Did you say date?" I asked, caught off guard.

"Well, not necessarily a date, but we are out together, and I am on the rebound," she quipped, her laughter easing the tension.

"Oh, great. I am the rebound guy," I played along, chuckling.

"Well, you are convenient and not so bad looking," she continued to tease, her good humor infectious.

"Go on. You basically called me sexy. I am waiting," I joked back, enjoying the banter.

"So, why don't you have a girlfriend? I've known you for months and not once have I seen you with someone," she inquired, shifting the conversation to a more personal topic.

"I don't date," I replied curtly, my usual defense.

"Come on. Why not?" she pressed, genuinely curious.

"I am not dating material. An occasional fling is all I am worth," I admitted, a bit more honestly than I intended.

"Well, you are a 'benefits only' type of person," she concluded with a light tone, but then her expression sobered. "On a serious note, Hawk hasn't called in weeks. It's as if he knew he was going to be arranged, but I want something more than awkward conversations and a kiss on the hand every so often. I want a real relationship, and he never seemed to get too close."

"He didn't get too close because he knew the council wouldn't approve. The Council loves to play matchmaker," I revealed, understanding more than I let on.

"Well, I hate their rule," she declared firmly.

"Well, change it. You as Queen will change everything," I encouraged, believing in her capacity to redefine the norms that constrained them both.

As we strolled through the vibrant streets of New York, Shauna's curiosity about her heritage and the mysteries of the Solar system seemed to deepen. "So as my tutor, tell me, how did my father come to be?" she asked, her gaze fixed on me with genuine interest.

"That has been a mystery," I replied, my voice hinting at the complexities of our history. "The worlds had been in peril for years before he came and saved the Solar. Ancient scrolls identify gods ruling the Earth in secret, but they do not reveal themselves. I can take you to see the scrolls sometime. It's written in many languages, though," I explained, and her interest visibly piqued.

"So, are Sentinels gods?" she queried, looking for a connection in the tales she had been told.

"Some believe that Sentinels are gods based on their superhuman abilities, but your father always says the gods were boring and traditional. Sentinels are nothing of the sort," I laughed, sharing a moment of levity with her on the otherwise heavy subject.

"It kind of sounds like he knows some gods," she mused, her expression thoughtful. She then shifted the conversation, "Why do they call you a half-breed?"

"Well, my mother was half Bellicose and half Interloper, and I have never been considered a royal because of my tainted blood. My father never married her," I confessed, the weight of my heritage evident in my tone as I lowered my head.

"You are not a half-breed, a crossbreed definitely, but there's nothing wrong with being what you are. I think you are amazing and unique," she encouraged, her smile warming the cool evening air.

"Well, you would be the first," I admitted, touched by her acceptance.

"Come on, rebound, I need a drink," she joked, lightening the mood as we headed towards a club.

The club was pulsating with energy, the music loud enough to drown out the city's constant hum, and the air was thick with the heat of dancing bodies. She ordered drinks for us, one after another, and we danced for hours. The freedom in her eyes was unmistakable; she was truly in her element, unburdened and alive. At one point, she looked at me as if really seeing me for the first time, and I met her gaze unflinchingly, unafraid of what I might find in her eyes.

As we settled onto the sofa, the remnants of the night's energy still buzzing around us, Shauna turned the conversation towards something more intimate—our powers. "So, what are your powers?" she inquired with genuine curiosity.

"I can manipulate fire and some other elements, but fire is my specialty," I replied, pleased to share something so personal with her. Her interest seemed piqued as she leaned in closer, eager to learn more. "Do you have any new ones?" I asked, returning the interest.

"Well, I have tried transference, but no one is willing to be my subject," she half-joked, a hint of frustration in her tone. I sensed an opportunity to deepen our connection.

"I've dabbled in transference a little. I will volunteer," I offered, wanting to support her in exploring her capabilities.

"You know how to use transference?" she asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Well, I have never transferred wounds, but I can transfer memories or create a mental realm," I explained, my voice calm and reassuring.

"Mental realm?" she echoed, intrigued by the concept.

"Yes, like Virtual Reality. A place you can go to escape," I elaborated, watching her reaction closely.

"Cool. I want to try that," she decided quickly, her adventurous spirit taking over.

"Okay. Where do you want to go?" I asked, ready to guide her through the experience.

"I don't know, you choose," she replied with a trusting smile. She took my hand and positioned herself Indian style in front of me, her eyes locked on mine. "Focus on me and listen to me speak. Let everything around you go away. Fall, fall, away," I instructed, gently leading her into a state of relaxation.

In a moment of creative inspiration, I took her to a private beach with a beautiful lagoon by the water. The scene materialized around us, vivid and detailed. She glanced down at the bikini I had conjured for her and laughed. "You really outdid yourself," she commented, her laughter light and free.

"It feels so real, doesn't it?" I asked, observing her as she took in the sun-kissed beach and the gentle waves lapping at the shore.

"It does. I can feel the sun on my skin. This is freedom too," she acknowledged, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"You're right," I agreed, watching as she walked onto the sand and then ran into the water, her laughter mingling with the sound of the waves. In that virtual space, we both found a temporary escape, a moment of joyous freedom that transcended the complexities of our real lives.

As we swam through the virtual ocean, the distance between reality and our created world seemed to blur. The freedom and exhilaration of the endless sea made everything else fall away. When Shauna laughed and looked at me with genuine appreciation, I felt a surge of contentment.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying over the water.

"For what? You would have learned this sooner or later," I replied, trying to maintain a casual demeanor despite the growing intensity I felt.

"Not for this, but for coming to Earth with me. You keep pointing out the reasons I should fight despite my own misfortune," she explained, her gratitude evident.

"You are worth it," I found myself saying, the words coming out more sincere than I had planned. In a moment driven by the emotions swirling around us, I pulled her close and kissed her. She didn't pull away, and for a brief moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, this could lead somewhere.

"What am I doing?" she murmured after our lips parted. The vulnerability in her voice matched the uncertainty in her eyes.

"I could give you what you want, all you have to do is ask me," I whispered, caught up in the moment, my hands wandering. But as I moved closer, the line between our virtual escape and reality thinned dangerously.

Suddenly, she broke our connection. The virtual beach dissolved, and we were back in her living room, the remnants of our created world fading into the evening air. She ran upstairs without a word.

"Wait!" I called out, following her to the roof, my heart pounding with a mixture of regret and confusion.

"I'm sorry," I managed to say when I caught up to her.

"No, don't be. It's too soon for me. That felt real," she confessed, her expression troubled yet honest.

"It wasn't real. We can forget it happened if you want," I offered, trying to ease the tension.

"No. I don't want to forget it happened. It just can't happen now," she said with a calm smile, her words cutting through me with a clarity that stung.

"So, just to be clear, you would want this to happen?" I asked, needing to understand her feelings.

"Of course. There is nothing wrong with you. If you and I made a connection first, then the first moment we met could have begun something very real. I thought you were mean and cunning, but at the same time, I saw how honest and real you truly were. You may do bad things, but you are not and will never be bad to me. I can't tell if it could truly be love, or would you only love me for the power," she said thoughtfully, grabbing my hand.

Her phone rang, breaking the moment. "Hey, Kiser. I'm at home. Yes, in New York. I'll be back in the morning," she spoke into the phone, her voice steady.

We returned to her room, and the rest of the night remained platonic, a 'rated G' evening as she put it. Lying awake, I replayed our moments together, the connection, her words, the potential of 'what could be.' I wished I had known her before she fell for someone else, before circumstances complicated everything. I wished she wanted me the way I wanted her.

The return flight on the Eagle to Eminence was serene, marked by a mutual comfort that hadn't existed between us before. Shauna seemed more at ease, her guard down, allowing a glimpse into her more genuine self. Upon landing, the reality of her imminent coronation seemed to snap back into focus as we were greeted by her siblings waiting in her room.

"You go to Earth and take him," Kiser said, her tone playful yet pointed.

"I needed to get away for one night," Shauna defended, her voice light despite the accusation.

"Well, next time let us know you are leaving. We were worried," Trevor chimed in, his concern evident.

"Okay, Dad, I will let you know," she laughed, her mood lightening the room. Kiser left to fetch the coronation dress, promising to return shortly, while Trevor followed her out, leaving us alone.

"I guess I better go get ready for your coronation as well," I said, feeling the weight of the upcoming ceremony pressing down.

"Okay," she replied simply as I walked to the door. Just before I could leave, she added softly, "Thank you for everything."

"No problem," I responded, trying to maintain a professional demeanor, but she caught me off guard by grabbing my hand and stealing a quick kiss. The moment was fleeting yet charged, leaving me with a mix of emotions I struggled to understand. I hate the feeling I get around her, conflicted between duty and desire. The seer may be right, but with my luck, I wouldn't count on it.

I entered my room to find my father waiting—an unusual occurrence that immediately put me on edge. "Father," I greeted, cautious.

"Son, I see you and Shauna are growing close," he observed, his voice carrying a hint of something I couldn't quite place.

"I doubt she views her tutor as a close friend," I replied defensively, knowing too well how he might manipulate any personal connection for his own ends.

"I would say you two are close since you spent the night with her," he prodded further, his implications clear.

"Please tell me you broke her virginity. They are going to check her hymen tonight and she claims to be one," he inquired bluntly, his intentions stark and unfeeling.

"No, I didn't, Father. She isn't like that," I stated firmly, protecting Shauna's integrity against his crass assumptions.

"Wait, you care about her? I command you to stop. I need her distracted and you are needed for my plan to work properly. So has she gotten to you?" he pressed, his tone sharp.

"Of course not, and she doesn't care for me," I lied, feeling a pang of guilt for the deception.

"Well, try harder to get close to her. We need everything on her to ensure she doesn't make it past Princess," he instructed before leaving the room, his words echoing with cold calculation.

His departure left me reeling, the realization that he had never shown genuine interest or affection unless it served his purposes cementing a growing resentment within me. I was beginning to hate him for his negligence and manipulation, trapped in a game I never wished to play.