Most Plutonians think the tunnels only travel from the South to the North and vice versa. Our Space Splitters occupy a large potion of the Eastern border and the Western side remains desolate.

To most.

I take my glider past the tunnels that lead to the South and stop at a halfway point, turning into a corner that has been designed as a dead end.

Command would most definitely have picked up my heat signature travelling along this route but we have technology to mask that.

The Sympathizers believe there is power in the nothingness. Real power comes from what you cannot see, real control from the place you least expect it.

Which is why our secrecy has been protected for millennia.

My gloved fingers traverse the rocky ice walls, the temperatures are volatile in these areas which is why no one bothers to look around here.

There is an indentation and I press my index finger into it. The sensor picks up the touch, lasers penetrating my glove to read my prints.

The wall opens only slightly, granting me access and I squeeze through, hauling my glider inside with me.

Darkness ensues when the door shuts behind me and I hold on to the handles of my ride, willing my eyes to adjust. Just then faint lights begin to illuminate the narrow road ahead.

I strap on and kick the pedal, flying through the narrow passageways, only narrowly missing the purposely constructed blind spots. I've done this so many times before, it's like I'm on autopilot.

There are a few gliders parked by the bay. General Lyra should be here already but I never know how she comes and goes.

She's always already here when I arrive and leaves long after I do.

I place my fingers on the scanner that has been camouflaged into the rocky surface and the wall parts for me when access is granted.

"PG Luna, pleasure to see you today," Commander Z greets me from the pantry. He sips on his caffeine infused quoto drink - much stronger than the coffee those ministers from Earth teased Lucian about - and rushes up to me. "General Lyra is in the observatory."

"Thank you, Commander Z. Trust me the pleasure is all mine." I smile at him and he blushes profusely, nearly knocking over his drink in the process.

I already know the way but he leads me down the sets of stairs, going deeper into Pluto's core. Everything is white and sterile, all the floors, the railings, the work stations. Everything except the walls, all rocky and dull grey.

I hear the sounds of electricity zapping, or bursts of flames or a scientist cussing when their results don't come out right. The rooms here are more open but then we pass by various work stations, with heavily suited Plutonians in highly secured chambers.

The biological warfare stations where experimentation on changing DNA through particle inhalation or virus inoculations are being carried out. I personally dislike this section the most. Thankfully, no virus has ever been able to replicate and infect through space travel.

And I plan to keep it that way. Maybe if I'm able to take over this place some day, I might just destroy this entire section.

General Lyra would disagree though. She's always been highly interested in DNA and mRNA experimentation. I see her standing with her hands behind her back in the observatory over looking the entire place. She would tell me I'm being rash and that to have the technology and not use it would be better that not having it at all.

I walk up the stairs and Commander Z trails closely behind. Irritation prickles the skin at the back of my neck and I whirl around to meet his gaze.

Everyone knows only the General and Trinity are allowed in the observatory. General Lyra has on occasion included him in our meetings there. Maybe Commander Z now thinks he has a place there with us.

Maybe that's why he's standing so close. Blue eyes studying me from head to toe like a nervous man who wants to propose.

Is that what he wants? A shot at leadership with me?

I look at his feet, he's standing with one foot half off the thread rung. One kick and he'd topple down the stairs, the chances of him breaking his neck about 50 percent.

Damn it, I've started to think like Lazarus.

"Are you joining us?" I ask Commander Z coldly and he shakes his head, taking a step back.

"Do you want something to drink? I could fix something up for you both," He suggests and I quickly shake my head, plastering that signature smile on my face.

"No, I don't plan to stay long. Thank you." I turn away but he just can't seem to get the hint.

"I've prepared a birthday gift for you, PG Luna. I made it myself. I could bring it here---."

"Thank you so much, Commander Z. I would appreciate it if you sent it over to my place." This time I don't wait for him to say more. I walk up the remaining steps and wait for the scanners to let me through.

General Lyra turns to me when she notices my presence and laughs at the scowl on my face.

"Who's been pestering you now?" She looks at Commander Z walking dejectedly down the stairs. "Ahh, looks like you've stolen yet another of my commanders hearts."

I scoff and take out the thick gloves I've been wearing. "More like another ambitious commander vying for my attention and leadership. Does love have anything to do with it?"

General Lyra chuckles. "Love has never been apart of our marriages. It has always been about alliances."

Her words cause my heart to sink into my stomach. My childhood dreams of growing up, dating Lazarus and the two of us falling in love feels like smoke dissipating before my eyes. The way he looked at me during our meeting earlier today still makes my chest tighten whenever I think about it.

"Was it hard during your time?" I ask her. General Lyra was the Trinity during her day. The original three. It used to be four but her brother died during a mission when he was fifteen. I'm certain many would have tried to covet her.

"My dear, you have no idea. But I must admit you are much more beautiful than I ever was. So maybe it wasn't."

My cheeks redden but knowing the general, this comes as more of a statement than a compliment.

"You know the easiest way to end all the grovelling and pressures, right?" She leans against the console, eyes boring into mine. "You just need to announce an engagement. Once everyone else knows you're unavailable they wouldn't try so hard."

My back stiffens like she'd just zapped me with her words. Like it's the easiest thing in the world, choosing your life partner. In my case it would be choosing someone to lead the empire with me. That person would affect my standing in the hierarchy.

Choose someone with a lot of backing and I come out on top, with more influence over war-related and governing decisions. Choose someone with less sway and I risk coming out in the lowest position, where my every decision will come out secondary or worse third.

The decision should be simple. Lazarus or Lucian, both of them have more support than any commander's son or daughter.

But there's always been a part of me, a very useless part that makes me such a hopeless romantic. Growing up, I could execute missions perfectly or complete my trainings to the highest precision during the day.

But at night I would give in to my fantasies and day dreams. Indulging myself in all the romantic movies I can find. I find the Earth ones even better than the ones on Pluto.

I can't imagine marrying someone I don't feel the slightest bit for. There needs to be something, at least a camaraderie between us.

I think of Lucian and how we almost kissed just now at the Western border. He's always been the best friend I needed. In an ideal world it would be him. I could see my feelings growing for him but even he has started keeping secrets.

Even I have been keeping this part of my life from him and Lazarus.

"Looks like you have been thinking about it." General Lyra states, noticing my distress.

I sigh and sit down on the comfortable temperature adjusting seats. The material moulds to my body, warming me up from the back. "I wish time would stop and I would never turn eighteen."

She laughs. "My poor dear Luna, how unlucky it is to be the most coveted, most admired Plutonian in the empire."

Her sarcasm doesn't go unnoticed and I clear my throat, wanting to change the topic. "I'm presuming we're here because of our meeting this morning."

The general takes a seat across from me and points at the video recording playing on the top left screen before us.

"He tapped his fingers in that exact same way, twelve times today. And only the South African minister, the Vietnamese president and the Australian elect gave reactions. But I have a feeling these three were not supposed to give it away. I have a feeling more are involved."

General Lyra spreads her index finger and thumb apart, stretching the image of the South African president and zooming into his face.

"Watch this."

I look closely and notice how he winces, for less than a second after he looks at Lazarus's fingers. It was so quick, we had to slow down the video to catch this.

"He screwed up. And apparently the other two did as well. Which means there might be more in on this?" I ask her, staring at the way the caramel skinned, brown haired man winces. It's now on repeat, making him look quite comedic.

"It would appear so. But what exactly is this?" She purses her lips, deep in thought.

My mind draws a blank, I have no idea as well.

"It can't just be Lazarus. He must have a general's backing if he's working separately with foreign leaders." I conclude after a long pause.

"And it's definitely not his father. Or mother."

I nod in response. General Aldric and his wife have openly given support to Lucian for leadership. His father has hated Lazarus since he was a child.

I notice General Lyra staring at me, an impassive expression on her face and then it finally clicks. "You think my father is backing him."

"It is the only plausible option for now. They do seem rather close recently." She murmurs, her delicate fingers reaching for a bottle of absinthe from Elca.

I watch her pour herself a large glass and tip half of it's contents into her mouth.

"How is Lucian doing?" I suddenly ask and she wipes the side of her mouth, eyes widening at my question.

"Why do you ask? You are closer to him than I am." She answers and is it just me or does she sound rather defensive.

"He's been looking so tired and he's been dozing off. I'm afraid somethings wrong with him but he always avoids my questions."

The general swallows the rest of her drink and I wince, imagining the bitter aftertaste. "He's fine, Luna. Trust me we have bigger things to worry about."

She gestures at the screen. "You're the only one here with the means of finding out."

"You want me to spy on my father and Lazarus?" I ask her incredulously.

Well for one, my father has hardly spent a minute with me since I was born and Lazarus... well Lazarus is a different problem on his own.

But then again, this could be an excuse to get closer to him. I bite my lip. I can't believe this is all I can think about.

"You've done infiltrations before. You know how it works," General Lyra points out, unaware of the treacherous thoughts going through my mind.

"But these are Plutonian leaders. They know my tricks." I reiterate. This isn't going to be a walk in the park, especially since no one seems to trust each other anymore.

"Luna, infiltration takes time. You of all people know that."

I nod slowly, staring at the minister on the screen before us. A mission sounds like the perfect excuse. At least I'll have a reason to see him.

Again and again. My heart flutters at the thought.

"I'll start today." I say standing up. "I owe him a visit anyway." Maybe it's time I confronted him about our kiss. It's been gnawing at me for days.

"Excellent. I'll gear you up." General Lyra stands, looking equally excited. I wonder if she knows that this trip is less about my spying than it is about my own selfish desire to meet him again.