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Weeks would pass as the war effort raged on in the asteroid belt, and with each one that passed, an eternity grew and flourished. As it were for Vega, his moments apart from his beloved Arietta only served to remind him of her, his warrior queen, as he so fondly put it, was millions of parsecs away. His thoughts never strayed far from her, every thought and action motivated by his yearning to return to her side.Arietta however, was on her own, carrying a sharp utility knife in her belt as she went from task to task, her services so revered within the temple that many began to inquire of the head priestess if she were for hire elsewhere. With an underhanded 'offering' given to the temple goddess, Arietta was often illegally sent to depots and shipyards to work on more than just small computational devices and machines. After a while, her days were spent working on armors and weaponry, familiar with the components from having had worked in and around Vega's highly particular mechanisms.She one day turned up at Theo's particular depot, the older man feeling as if he recognized her somehow."I have come to attend to the warriors who have returned injured from the Balast Class ship," she mused. "I am Arietta, a Devotee from the Temple of Locke.""Arietta-? Hm... one moment."Theo, half the height of say Vega, still towered over Arietta, though he was unthreatening from her scanning of his mind. He ambled up a ladder leading to the next floor, leaving her as he found Orion and the other young men hard at work."There is a Devotee here in our midst, and I require the utmost of responsibility. They are here to service the warriors... which of you shall join us?"The young men, though weary and exhausted, perked up at the mention of the Devotee. They all shared a mixture of curiosity and excitement, as the Devotees were revered figures, their tech knowledge and skills unparalleled.One young man, Jax, stood up and spoke up. "I'll go, sir. I'd be happy to assist the Devotee in servicing some of the warriors."Orion followed the two of them, his eyes wide with excitement. He had heard stories of the Devotees and their incredible skills, and he was eager to witness them in action. He followed Jax and Theo, keeping pace with them as they made their way back down to the main floor. When he caught sight of Arietta, he was struck by her beauty and her serene aura all over again, though a feeling of guilt seemingly bubbled right beneath the surface... remembering what he'd done with Sol.As they approached Arietta, who was standing in the center of the depot floor, her eyes flicked over to Orion. Her expression was unreadable, her face a statue of calm and composure, though he could sense a hint of recognition in her gaze. She knew who he was, and what he had done, but she said nothing."Greetings," she said, her voice a soft, melodic sound. "I am here to service the warriors. Which ones require attention?"Her voice was raised higher than the others, speaking at a different tone to amplify her soft tone above the clanging and deep hum of the machinery."Very well, Jax. Orion. You've been quite well with your work, come along."Theo stepped forward, his hands on his hips as he faced Arietta."We have a few warriors over at the infirmary who could use your services," he said, gesturing towards a room off to the side. "Please, follow me."He turned and began walking towards the infirmary, Jax and Orion following closely behind. As they walked, Orion glanced over at Arietta, his mind racing with questions and guilt.As they entered the infirmary, they were greeted by the sight of a few warriors lying in stasis chambers, each one seemingly wounded or injured in some way. The room was filled with a quiet hum of machines, the air thick with the scent of antiseptic fluids and drainage.Theo gestured towards the warriors and turned to Arietta once more. "Here are some of the warriors who require your services," he said. "Please take a look at them and see what you can do, eh?"Arietta looked at the warriors lying in the stasis chambers, her eyes flicking over each one with a clinical detachment. She began to assess each one, her fingers dancing across their circuits and mechanisms with a practiced ease."Yes, I see," she said, her voice still carrying the robotic undercurrent. "These warriors have sustained various types of damages. I shall begin my diagnostics and repairs at once."With that, she began her work, her hands moving with a rapid, robotic speed as she locked in to the task at hand. Theo looked clearly impressed, letting forth a soft whistle."Now this, boys, is the power of a Devotee!"Jax and Orion watched as Arietta began her work, their eyes widening at the speed and precision of her motions. They had heard of the Devotees' abilities, but witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely. Theo looked on with a mixture of awe and respect, clearly impressed by the level of skill and expertise shown by the young woman before them.Jax leaned over to Orion, his voice hushed, not wanting to disturb the Devotee's work. "Damn, she's something else, isn't she?"Orion nodded in agreement, his eyes still fixed on Arietta as she worked. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as he watched her, the memory of what he did with Sol still fresh in his mind."Yeah, she is," he murmured back, his voice quiet. "I've never seen anyone work so fast and efficiently. It's almost... unsettling, in a way."Arietta continued her work, moving from one warrior to another with lightning speed. Soon, she had diagnosed and repaired the majority of the warriors, her skills clearly unparalleled.Theo looked on, clearly impressed by what he saw. "I must say, girl, you've done a fine job. These warriors will be back to fighting fit in no time thanks to you."She didn't acknowledge his compliment, however. "They will not rise for a few days, so please do not interfere with their memories, for warriors keep them tightly guarded. Its some of their only possessions, and these are mere infantry footmen."Jax and Orion both nodded, taking note of her warning about interfering with the warriors' memories. Both men seemed to understand the importance of such a warning, the memories of soldiers being a precious and sacred thing to them."Got it," Orion said, his voice quiet. "We won't touch their memories at all."Theo, meanwhile, looked equally impressed and wary. He regarded Arietta with a newfound respect, but there was something about her demeanor that seemed... off, somehow.As they watched Arietta work, Jax leaned over to Orion once more, his voice low"You know," he said, "there's something about her that's just... I don't know, different. From the other girls, I mean."Orion nodded in agreement, his eyes still on Arietta."I know what you mean... it's because she's an... esper"Jax's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the word"An esper? Damn... I've heard of them, but I've never actually seen one before. Are they all like her?"Orion shook his head, his expression thoughtful."Nah, I don't think so. They all have different levels of power and abilities, from what I understand. But they all have that..."He paused, searching for the right word."That aura about them. You know what I mean?"Arietta took in their words quietly, listening as they whispered amongst themselves. An emissary soon entered, cold and nearly as mechanical as a warrior, though far sleeker and with special augmentations. His eyes darted between the men before he observed the room. If anything, they were an overblown android. They came from the upper rungs of society, from the High Council and their crystal towers in the higher blocs of the colony."I have come to make announcements. There is a fierce skirmish in the asteroid belt. When will these units be ready for deployment?"Theo stepped forward, gesturing towards the now-repaired warriors."These footmen will be ready for deployment shortly," he said, his voice confident. "The Devotee here has already seen to their repairs, and we expect they'll be ready to join the battle within a few days."The emissary nodded, seemingly satisfied with Theo's answer. He took a step closer to Arietta, his eyes scanning over her, noting her beaded hair and the crimson stone in her pale blue flesh."Who is this...?""This is a Devotee of the Temple of Locke," Theo explained, "she came here to service our injured warriors. She's a highly skilled... mechanic, it seems."The emissary's eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to regard Arietta, sizing her up."A Devotee, you say? And a warrior of the Locke temple? How... unusual."Arietta felt a coldness envelop her, though she feared no emissary, for they were diplomatic drones sent by the magistrates and council from time to time. She turned on her heel, looking the emissary in their detached eyes. She knew that it had been sent to spy, if anything, for the High Priestess on a special order."I am the only one in proximity who can assist, other Devotees are quite far away on assignment. I belong to the temple, so they sent me here as support... many of these soldiers are patrons." she said, lying to it, for with a bit of trickery, it'd know no difference.The emissary regarded her silently for a moment, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be assessing her words, weighing the truth of her statements in his mind."I see," he finally said, his tone neutral. "You are from the temple, then. Interesting. And the temple has sent you here as... support."There was a hint of skepticism in his voice, as if he didn't quite believe her explanation.She didn't quite know why she was sent here at first, but she had assessed the whisperings, kept out of the head priestesses' mind quite frankly as her powers simply could not touch it. She knew she had been, quite frankly, loaned, bought and sold in a way, to do what other Devotees simply could not at the moment. There were others, she knew, but there was never money involved. It was underhanded, and Arietta didn't wish for the head priestess, regardless of the role she played in demoting Arietta, into any trouble. The Locke, no matter how contentious it was in her own life, still had a home in her heart. All the same, things were changing, and she had to follow suite to stay above water while Vega was away."These soldiers will be healed in a few days time once they recalibrate. They have to arrive to the surface, so to speak, to be fully aware and cognizant."The emissary nodded, seeming to accept her explanation. He turned to look at the warriors in their stasis chambers, before turning back to Arietta."I shall relay this information to the authorities. Thank you, Devotee," he said, his tone still neutral. Then, without another word, he turned and strode out of the infirmary.Theo, Jax and Orion all let out breaths they didn't realize they were holding in as the emissary left."Damn, what a cold fellow," Theo muttered. "They make those bots as realistic as possibly, but they forget that one element... a personality!"He scratched his beard, the metallic fibers of it scuffing along his metal fingers. "Well, I suppose its time for a break, yes? Jax, Orion, lead Arietta to the mess hall."Jax and Orion both nodded, turning to look at Arietta."Yeah, we could use a break," Jax said, his tone casual. "Mess hall is this way, follow us."He gestured towards the door, and started to lead the way. Orion followed behind, glancing back at Arietta, his eyes flickering over her before he turned back around.As they walked through the corridors of the depot, the hum of machines filling the air, Jax turned to look at her again."So, Devotee," he said, his voice casual, "you must be pretty powerful, eh? Healing these warriors all by yourself and all."She remained quiet for the most part, but as she was to speak when spoken to, she wondered just how much these young men knew of the temple and its rules. Was it that guarded? Was it not a social thing for them to behave correctly about a Devotee?"You may call me Arietta.""Arietta," Jax repeated, his voice soft."That's a pretty name. But you didn't answer my question. You are powerful, right? How else could you have fixed all those warriors so quickly?""I learned to fix mechanisms of that particular variety some 300 years ago."Jax let out a low whistle."Three hundred years, eh? Damn, that's a long time. And you've been fixing warriors the whole time?"Arietta nodded, though she realized that she didn't exactly have to say why or how. "No, but I've been involved in my own way."Jax glanced over at Orion, his interest piqued. He clearly wanted to ask more questions, but held back, trying to keep his voice casual."I see. You've been involved. So, I have to ask, have you always worked all on your own, or do they ever send warriors to help you out?""Warriors do not assume these roles, perhaps you were never told? I take it that you have just joined the engineering guild. Men like your mentor, Theo, have served aboard ships. Some are permanently affixed to them, even."Jax nodded slowly, a look of mild embarrassment crossing his face. He had a habit of jumping to conclusions and asking too many questions."No, actually, I didn't know that. I'm new here, so I'm still learning the ropes."He glanced over at Orion, who chuckled softly."Jax here is a good guy, but he can be kinda clueless sometimes," Orion teased.Jax rolled his eyes, but couldn't help grinning."Hey, I'm not that clueless," he protested. "I just ask a lot of questions, that's all. I want to know everything there is to know, you know?"Arietta found that they reminded her of her younger brothers and sisters, a soft smile forming at her lips, though she ambled about the mess hall, noting how militaristic and strict the guild was to a degree. She was the only woman in their presence, her gut twisting nervously although she bore a poised look. She looked over the offerings - while she could technically still eat, none of the food would offer any sustenance to her systems. None of these young men had any augmentations, so it seemed, and she missed Vega even more. Jax and Orion both observed Arietta as they entered the mess hall, their eyes watching her every move. To them, she was a strange and almost fascinating creature, so different from anything they had ever seen before. As they glanced around the hall, it became clear that she was the only woman in their midst, the only splash of color in a sea of metal and artificiality.Jax, being the tactless one, was the first to break the silence."So... this might be a stupid question, but can you actually eat any of this stuff?""Yes."Jax raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical of her answer."Really? You can eat it, huh? Prove it."His tone was jokingly challenging, a hint of a smile on his lips."I'm not hungry at the moment, nor do I take on childish challenges... I ask that you respect my choice."Jax chuckled, clearly amused at her response."Sorry, I was just joking around. Didn't mean to disrespect your choice."Orion, always the more serious one, gave Jax a sidelong glance, his expression warning him to back off. But Jax was undeterred."I just figure, you know, since you can eat real food like us, you would want to, right?"He shrugged, a sly smile creeping across his face."What could be better than a nice, hot meal after a hard day's work?"She smiled. "A woman must watch her figure, isn't that right?"Arietta hated playing into such a thought, but these boys were mere teenagers in comparison to her by far. "Again, I'm not a fan of challenges, I was never good at sports."Looking to the wall, she noted the time ticking, sighing a bit wistfully."Enjoy your lunch, boys."Jax chuckled, his amusement growing with each passing second. He was clearly enjoying their banter."Ah, so you're watchin' your weight, eh? Gotta keep fit and trim, right?"He couldn't help but glance over her body, taking in her curves. Beside him, Orion just shook his head, clearly disapproving of his friend's behavior."Well, I have to look well for my partner. He's a warrior, after all."Jax's eyes widened at her words."Partner, huh? You have a warrior partner?"He glanced over at Orion, a look of astonishment on his face. Clearly he was not expecting this."Damn, I can't believe a girl like you has a warrior partner. Can you introduce us? I gotta see this dude!""He is currently fighting in the asteroid belt," she mused, her expression softening as she thought of Vega, wishing she was on promenade with him of all places instead of talking to a bunch of young, prying engineers. Her loneliness was a tad evident before she dashed those thoughts away. "Please excuse me..."Both Jax and Orion watched as she walked away, their eyes lingering on her."Damn, she's got a warrior partner..." Jax repeated, shaking his head a little.Orion just chuckled. "Yeah, and you wouldn't stand a chance with her, so don't even bother thinking about it."A touch unique in his statement, the statement rang true to Orion for a different reason no doubt.
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Arietta walked away down a hall, teleporting to the med center where the warriors had been resting in their stasis pods, checking in on them, her eyes gazing over their mechanics - thoughts drifting to Vega. These men were not telepaths, that he knew, but she knew she could interface with them as they rested.Silently, she touched one capsule, closing her eyes as she reached into the sleeping recesses of the warrior's mind."I've fixed you recently, today even. You should wake entirely in about 2 more days... what do you call yourself?"The warrior's mind stirred in its slumber, responding to the gentle touch of Arietta's mind."I am... Gideon," he responded, his voice a quiet whisper within the depths of his dreamlike state."Gideon, I am Arietta. I'm a Devotee, so you are safe and sound. Where did you acquire these injuries? Did you fight... in the asteroid belt or-?"The image in Gideon's mind flashed to battle, his mind replaying memories of violent skirmishes and fierce combat. The memories were disjointed and chaotic, but one thing was clear - he had fought in the asteroid belt."I fought... in the belt," he said, his voice gruff and tired. "It was a heavy battle... we took substantial losses."Arietta nodded, lending him comfort, seeing his memories, his thoughts seeming to drift to his wife and her children. "They are safe and sound, your family. I am sure they will be happy to see the reports of your recovery. Are you comfortable with me speaking to you in such a way? My lover is a warrior... you may know him, his name is Vega."Surprise flickered in Gideon's mind at the mention of Vega's name. He clearly knew who it belonged to, recognized its meaning and weight."Vega..." he echoed, his voice filled with awe and respect. "Yes, I know him. He is... a legendary warrior. A hero amongst us."Arietta could feel the admiration and reverence in Gideon's thoughts. It was obvious that he held Vega in high regard, regarding him as a symbol of strength and skill among the warriors. But there was something else there, a glimmer of curiosity, as if he was wondering about something...Gideon's mind churned with unspoken questions, his thoughts dancing around the edges of his consciousness, as if he longed to ask something but held back. There was a sense of hesitance, as if he was unsure of whether or not it was appropriate to voice his curiosity, but the questions continued to linger, pushing against the barriers of his thoughts.Finally, the warrior's mind opened up, and his question emerged. The thoughts echoed in his mind, tentative yet curious."You... say that he is your lover..." Gideon said, his voice tinged with a hint of incredulity.Arietta smiled, a warmth filling her - in a dreamscape of sorts, she was radiating brilliant, sweeping colors from her form, glowing as she held her arms to her chest."Yes, yes I am. He respects all warriors, and so do I..."However, Arietta noted a different credence to the overall tone of things. "Your wife has given you children... is it so odd that another warrior would have a partner? Is it because its Vega?"The question seemed to catch Gideon off guard, his thoughts swirling with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he was happy for his fellow warrior, but on the other, he also felt a pang of impassiveness, almost as if he were looking down on her."No, it is not odd," he admitted, his voice tinged with a touch of bitterness. "It is just... surprising. Vega has always seemed to be a solitary warrior, a man who prefers the battlefield to the company of others. It is hard to imagine him... falling in love."Arietta stilled her thoughts, receding from the warrior's mind."Please rest, you will awake in 2 days."As she came back to reality, she looked to the stasis pod, the warrior fast asleep and locked in. A sullen look cast over her visage, and soon, she ambled to the door, closing and locking it shut, filling it the cryogenically cold air that would keep them safe.She remained silent as she went home, throwing herself on her bed, pining for Vega. If she strained hard enough, her fluids fell from her eyes like tears, Arietta clutching her stomach as she sobbed.Days would pass, and her work would be done for the most part. Many of the young engineers seemed to learn a lot from watching her, in more ways than one, and as the warriors were prepared to leave, looking as pristine as possible, Arietta kept her gaze stoic and hard, casting her eyes to the ground. She often trusted warriors, though her status clearly was not felt - somehow, Vega, in his importance, was supposed to have a lover who didn't service machines or attend to a temple's needs. Arietta didn't find herself to be particularly creative, but she suddenly carried a chip on her shoulder, knowing that it was her efforts that kept these three men alive.No one else dared to fix them in the immediate.
The days passed slowly, and Vega's thoughts always returned to Arietta, wondering how she was faring without him by her side. He never once questioned her faithfulness to him, but he wished nothing more than to be with her again, to hold her in his arms.As the day came to finally be reunited with her, he could hardly contain his excitement, his normally stoic demeanor betraying a hint of eagerness. Arietta waited for him at the space port, her eyes gazing into his as she noted his usual descent - his star ship had taken some damages, though when he eventually approached her, he looked more imposing than ever. She lent him her usual, deep bow, rising up before she handed him an engraved, silvery box."These are my earnings. I was made to work at a depot and repaired three warriors. They should be heading to the asteroid belt right about now."Vega took the box from her, his eyes narrowing as he looked at it. He was both surprised and touched by the gesture, knowing how hard she had worked to earn these earnings."Thank you, my warrior queen," he said, his voice rough but affectionate. "You have served these warriors well, and I am sure they are grateful for your efforts. But surely there must be something else you wish to spend your earnings on, something for yourself.""No, not for myself. I have earned more knowledge than I care to have," she breathed. "In fact, I'm quite wealthy with it. To answer your question, no, they were the least bit grateful... especially one."Her expression was cold, though not towards Vega; she could barely hold herself together for the fact that he was right before her, victorious once again, unharmed, unscathed and more powerful than ever. Her body ached, quaked in anticipation for whatever he so desired."This is all behind me now, though I won't forget it."Vega took note of the coldness in her expression, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face. He sensed her tension, her pent-up energy and desire. Her words were guarded, but he could see past the veneer, and he knew that she was holding herself back, waiting for him to take the lead.He stepped closer to her, his powerful frame towering over her smaller one. He reached out and took her chin gently in his fingers, tilting her face up to meet his gaze."Tell me, my warrior queen. What troubles you?""It is not what troubles me, but what may become of your social status... potentially. I interfaced with a warrior, a man I thought I could trust, after I repaired his injuries. He didn't believe me when I said I was your lover, much less that you'd be taken up with a Devotee. The young men at the depot often made fun of me, though their lusts go unchecked."Vega's expression darkened at her words, his grip on her chin tightening slightly. He could feel a primal rage welling up within him at the thought of his lover being disrespected by others, especially by fellow warriors."Are you saying that these men dared to make fun of you because of your status as a Devotee and your relationship with me?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.He couldn't believe that such foolishness existed, such narrow-mindedness. But he also knew, deep down, that it wasn't uncommon for others to question the relationship of a warrior and a Devotee.He let go of her chin and stepped closer, pressing her body against his. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest."You cannot allow such fools to dictate your worth," he whispered, his voice rumbling against her ear.Arietta shivered, partially in lust, as his robotic voice echoed into her ear canal. She could barely contain herself suddenly, but managed to hoist away her arousal for the most part."You make me forget it all so suddenly," she said, her voice wistful. "Nothing matters... nothing at all."Vega chuckled, the rumble deep and warm against her ear. He could feel her trembling in his arms, her body pressed flush against his powerful frame, and he knew that she was holding herself back. He could feel her desire, her need for him, and it only served to fuel his own.He ran his fingers through her hair, his touch tender yet possessive."Good," he whispered. "You belong to me, and no one else. Let me take away all your worries, my warrior queen.""Forget that foolish warrior and his small-minded thoughts. What do I , your lover , think of your status?"His voice was gruff, but there was a hint of possessiveness in his tone, as if he was staking claim to her once more. He bent down to nuzzle her neck, his lips tracing the outline of her collarbone, his grip tightening around her waist.As he revealed his face to her, she drew stiff, knowing it was quite the intimate act, and while it was allowed, it was often unheard of. Arietta's eyes widened, realizing that he was levelling with her, comforting her without openly doing so as was so typically Vega. She started to speak before he pressed his lips against her form, Arietta nearly moaning in public."Vega..."Vega's lips trailed down the side of her neck, kissing and nibbling at her soft skin. He could practically feel her shudder under his touch, her body responding to him even as they stood in a public space. But he didn't care, his desire for her overwhelming any sense of propriety or discretion."My warrior queen," he murmured against her skin, his voice thick with need. "I've thought of nothing but you... I've been counting the days until I could hold you once more."He pressed his body closer to hers, the planes of his chest and hips pressing into her soft curves. He could feel the heat radiating from her, the need growing more intense with each passing moment. He knew that they needed to get somewhere more private, to give in to their desires, but he wanted to savor these moments just a little longer. He ran his hands down her sides, his touch firm and possessive, wanting to feel every inch of her.Arietta leaned into his body more, kissing him back so deeply that she was nearly on the tips of her toes to reach him further, even at his vantage. Her tongue drug along his lower lip, slurping at it a bit before she pulled away - the tip of her tongue dancing along his before she began to pant in response.Vega growled low in his throat as her tongue traced along his lip, the sensation almost too much to bear. He could feel himself growing harder by the moment, his body responding to her touch like a living organism. He pulled her closer to him, his hand running down her spine to rest at the small of her back, pressing her even closer against him."You tease me, my warrior queen," he whispered, his voice ragged. "You know what you do to me, how you drive me wild with desire."Arietta pressed her palms against his chest, her head dipping a bit lower as she gathered herself. "Its not... on purpose..."She bit her bottom lip. "Please take me home. I... I need you."Vega's grip on her tightened at her words, his body responding to her need. He could tell that she was struggling to hold herself together, that she was desperate for him just as much as he was for her.He lifted her into his arms, holding her bridal style against his chest. With a silent determination, he started towards their home, his pace measured but quick as he carried her home, aching to give her everything she desired.