Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Memories and Pre-Heat
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The two of them were escorted by Dark Star Hall warriors to a makeshift cell converted from a crew dormitory. The heavy door slammed shut with a clang and locked.
Fortunately, no one had recognized that the wrecked flyer was actually the 3S mecha Lion Eagle. As they were being taken away, both had seen it dragged to a corner of the warship's deck and casually abandoned.
"Can we get it back?" Once the Dark Star Hall warriors left and the room was just the two of them, Heinrich asked immediately.
Celia's face was icy cold. "How did you know my memories were on Voidstar?"
Heinrich choked.
After Celia's Alpha corpse from his death on Red Earth Star was dissected, a swarm of Voidstar beings had flown out from the brain implant. Heinrich's mental threshold had spiked dramatically, allowing him to "intercept" some of their thought waves, through which he'd glimpsed many fragments of Celia's memories from childhood onward.
The Voidstar beings clearly weren't thrilled about it, but their form of existence made privacy impossible—like a naked beauty on the street, anyone who saw had full view.
After that, ignoring Heinrich's desperate pleas to stay, they'd swept out of the Imperial Palace like a gust of wind. His offer to send electromagnetic ships to escort them was rejected without hesitation, but before leaving, they'd said: "If the human marshal wants to reclaim his legacy, come find us on Voidstar—but hurry!"
Why the rush? Heinrich guessed the Voidstar beings detached from the brain receiver couldn't survive long. No one knew the lifespan of those chattering thought creatures. If this batch carrying Celia's memories died—or dissipated into space without a concept of death—Celia's memories would vanish forever.
"Heinrich," Celia said coldly.
The emperor met his eyes, hesitating to speak. The room fell silent. Moments later, Celia spoke again, expressionless. "Back on Alliance Goldwater Star, you said there were two important things to tell me. The first was something you discovered then, but the Dark Star warriors interrupted. Later, when I asked, you said you'd dissected Phoenix and fixed it."
Heinrich said nothing.
"You've hidden a lot from me." Celia's question was pointed. "What exactly did you find after dissecting Phoenix?"
Heinrich's eyes narrowed sharply, but his hesitation, uncertainty, and indecision didn't escape Celia's keen gaze.
"I..." The emperor uttered one word, then stopped.
"You should know we're on the same side now." Celia's tone grew firmer. "I'm asking you—don't push me toward Yunes's side."
The words cut like steel. Heinrich was visibly moved.
"I'm... afraid that if you knew all this, it would shake your ties with the Empire." He paused, then continued slowly. "I like how things are between us now. I also hope the Alliance and Empire can maintain a temporary peace until the chaos becomes inevitable... If you recover your memories right away, that process would accelerate dramatically, and many things would change."
They stared at each other quietly. Finally, the emperor told the truth. "—There were Voidstar beings inside Phoenix. I saw your memories."
The emperor gave a brief account of everything after leaving Ophiuchus System and returning to Empire White Swan Star: capturing Edna Conseltrin, purging the Royal Military Academy, and dissecting the Alpha corpse from Phoenix.
When it came to the memories themselves, he downplayed them, insisting he hadn't seen much. Unexpectedly, Celia showed no anger or embarrassment. He just sat there quietly, his profile at the edge of the light and shadow like a smooth sculpture. After a long moment, he said softly, "It's fine... It doesn't matter if you saw them. I already suspected as much."
Heinrich blinked.
"You can sense the Voidstar beings because your mental threshold surged when you marked me on Frostfang Star. But it's not the pheromones—it's because we exchanged marrow fluid components... In other words, it has nothing to do with gender. Though that's not the point."
Celia closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and took a deep breath.
"I'd vaguely guessed before. Phoenix said on White Swan Star that it had been following my orders to 'preserve the Voidstar beings until the time was right.' And Voidstar beings are a medium transformed from cosmic radio waves. I thought of memory storage then, but various obstacles kept me from accessing Phoenix. I never imagined you'd confirm it."
"..." Heinrich exhaled silently, relieved in that instant that he hadn't kept it hidden—otherwise, he'd have been exposed.
"What now? The Empire must have gotten word of our landing on Voidstar—" The emperor glanced at Celia's expression and changed tack. "If you come to the Empire, I can return Phoenix to you. For the past fifty years, the Empire's been taking excellent care of it, with regular maintenance on all systems..."
"I have no intention of turning against the Empire." Celia cut him off knowingly. "I'm thinking about something else."
Somehow, their minds were syncing more and more—no words needed to read each other's calculations.
"...What?" Heinrich asked grudgingly.
"My memories only matter to me. Why does Yunes want them so badly? If he just didn't want them in my hands, he could've kept it from me like you did." Celia narrowed his eyes in thought, then added, "I heard on Alliance grounds that a traitor among the Voidstar beings leaked the memory intel to Yunes... But why leak it right after the ones carrying my memories returned? Why didn't anyone tell him during the fifty years they were secretly stored in Phoenix's cockpit?"
They exchanged a look. Doubt surged in Heinrich's mind. "...Do you know some secret Yunes wants?"
"I've forgotten everything."
"So Yunes coming to Voidstar was arranged in advance?"
"Very likely."
Silence fell as they frowned at each other. Seconds later, the same thought struck them both:
"But the one who could communicate with the Voidstar beings back then—"
"The one who lured Yunes to Voidstar—"
"Celia, it was probably you!"
The room went abruptly still, then both felt the absurdity and laughed.
"For a plan to activate fifty years after its mastermind's death... the Voidstar beings are..." Celia swallowed his words with a wry smile, shaking his head. "And the mastermind behind it all might be me. How... how did it go so wrong?"
How indeed?
If Karyan hadn't left after reviving Gavin but brought him back to the Alliance...
If Edna hadn't turned traitor and colluded with Dark Star Hall to seize the Royal Military Academy, preventing Phoenix from releasing the Voidstar beings to Gavin upon reactivation...
If Heinrich hadn't met Gavin, hadn't marked each other...
Whatever the original plan, if all had gone smoothly, Gavin Celia would be fully restored and ruling the Alliance by now.
But one misstep led to endless errors; the plan had veered completely off course. Now they could only painstakingly rescue the Voidstar beings and reclaim the memories to unravel the vast puzzle Celia had set long ago.
·
That evening, Osroed brought them dry rations for dinner. Standing at the door's small window with arms crossed, he said coldly, "We've detected Yunes's ship approaching Voidstar's atmosphere. Expected arrival tomorrow."
He was young after all, lacking centuries of composure. The implication on his face was obvious to the emperor and marshal without looking up. Celia leaned against the bed, slowly sipping white water from his cup. After a pause, he said, "Oh? Isn't that great? Good luck killing Yunes tomorrow and seizing power smoothly."
Osroed choked. "I mean you!"
"Me what?"
Osroed gritted his teeth, his expression turning savage. "Don't you get it, Celia? Elder Mandetilas showed mercy by not killing you and the emperor—to give you a chance to pledge loyalty to Dark Star Hall! After we kill Yunes, I'll convince the elder to release the Voidstar beings—your memories too—"
"Mercy? Pledge loyalty?" Celia's lip curved faintly. "I recall you saying you had the 'absolute power to control Yunes,' and controlling me was no issue. Osroed, people with absolute upper hand don't need mercy. Your bluster just tells me one thing—you're not confident you can kill Yunes, or fully control me."
Osroed's face twisted violently, too fast to hide.
"I bet you and Elder Mandetilas don't see eye to eye. He thinks the assassination is foolproof, but after Yunes killed you once in the Alliance hall, you're terrified—a startled bird." Celia's expression held a hint of mockery. "You want to buy us off as your vanguard, right?"
"I can convince the elder to return your memories!"
"I doubt he'll listen to you."
"But you have no one else to turn to but me!"
—That much was true. Only Osroed had even a three- or four-point chance of swaying the elder; no one else did.
Celia eyed him, smile deepening. "But no one sells their life without guarantees, Osroed. If you want me to go all-out against Yunes, show some sincerity that moves me first."
Yunes was no easy kill—Osroed probably felt that more deeply than anyone.
Celia betrayed no flaw. Osroed stared, weighing it internally for a long time before grudgingly saying, "Elder Mandetilas's mental threshold is supreme. He used a special electromagnetic device to capture the Voidstar beings in a chip, then locked it in his brain. Reverse-control the device, and you release them. If you catch Yunes, I'll give you the reverse-control code..."
Heinrich, hands pillowed behind his head on the bed, chimed in smilingly. "Killing that elder releases the chip too."
Osroed snapped, "Shut up!"
"And fewer people to split the spoils with."
"Shut your mouth!—"
"We're doing this for your good, junior brother." Heinrich placated. "Kill off Yunes the wolf, then face the elder the tiger—your real status gains nothing. I don't know how you convinced him to act, but you ceded most benefits, right? After all that effort killing Yunes, you content to make wedding clothes for another?"
Osroed's cheek muscles twitched hard. "Who the hell's your junior brother!"
"Don't be so touchy, junior brother Osroed. Heard your dream's replacing Yunes, leading Dark Star Hall back to the outer systems for dictatorship? Noble goal—your senior brother and I are thrilled, always thinking how to help."
Heinrich shifted to a comfier pose, drawling, "Go think it over: Profitable to kill the emperor and marshal to stay the elder's top hound, dooming Dark Star Hall to pursuit by Empire and Alliance? Or heroically slay the 'treacherous Yunes who murdered the elder,' return with Empire and Alliance backing to rule Dark Star Hall in seclusion? Personally favor the latter. Dictatorship's my old trade—might even give pointers."
Osroed was stunned with rage. "Don't—fucking bullshit! Whose senior brother are you?!"
"Family doesn't quibble," Heinrich said lazily.
Celia couldn't help smiling. But Osroed slammed the wall with a bang and stormed off in fury.
"He bought it," Heinrich said smilingly once they were alone again.
"How do you know?" Celia teased.
"Please..." Heinrich laughed, waving it off. "I'm the emperor. Think I can't see through that bluff?"
Osroed's biggest flaw—and what Celia liked most about him—was his short-sightedness. He might outdo Yunes or Celia in ruthlessness, even rival Heinrich, but ruthlessness alone wasn't fearsome. The issue was his narrow vision, grasp of the big picture not half of Yunes's. The emperor and marshal now saw him fully as a tool in hand.
The lowly crew dorm had decent hygiene, even a shower. After dinner, Celia showered. Heinrich lay on the bed, staring blankly at the rushing water, mind endlessly picturing the tempting scene behind the door.
The indulgence lasted long—Celia seemed to take forever. When he emerged, face flushed, eyes moist, even the dark couldn't fully hide his slightly sluggish movements.
Heinrich's pupils narrowed like a predator spotting oblivious prey in its territory. Danger flashed in his eyes that moment, but his words were casual. "Ready to sleep?"
Celia's reply was curt. "Mm."
He went to the other bed, flipped the blanket, lay down. Rustling sounds soon stilled. Heinrich watched in the dark until the shape under the blanket went motionless with long breaths, then smiled silently.
The omega pre-heat pheromones grew thicker. Luckily marked—no bleeding meant only he could sense it. Full heat should hit in the next two days.
The emperor had never been with an omega, but his grasp of physiology matched or exceeded any lustful alpha's—far beyond Celia's own. He knew the two days before heat brought feverish arousal: limbs limp, head heavy, desire like soft feathers teasing nerve ends with subtle thrills. Hot water and showers worsened it, leaving omegas pleasured yet embarrassed.
For alphas, it signaled the feast beginning—they'd guard their omega vigilantly, repelling intruders, primed to pounce at heat's onset.
That midnight, Celia woke to inexplicable restlessness.
He panted lightly, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Familiar turmoil stirred deep inside, swelling like waves, bringing unbearable tingling and emptiness.
The sheets beneath were soaked, but more sweat laced with rich, thick arousal scent poured from within. Normally a bit sweet, a bit musky—not great—but now like invisible scent drugs, a whiff addictive.
Celia clamped his mouth, stifling a faint moan—then hands forcibly pried it open.
"Celia?"
The bed dipped heavily—Heinrich's sturdy body sitting up, his words hot with male heat. "Pre-heat fever, huh?"
That instant felt strangely wondrous to Celia. Instinct said he should rage in shame, but he didn't.
Heinrich's smiling lilt triggered a shiver inside—like warm liquid quivering deep. Dazed, Celia felt it was fluid: overflowing lust about to breach heat's fragile barrier, eager to spill from the lewd passage down his thighs.
Heinrich leaned close to his ear. "Want me to... now? Or..."
Celia gasped, grabbing his hand. Reason screamed push away, but fierce pre-heat lured him closer, to open up.
Heinrich wrenched his right hand free easily, slipping into the drenched sleep robe clinging uselessly to skin. He smiled. "I could make you go into full heat right now... but do you want that, Celia? You'd be in heat nonstop for seven days—nothing stopping you spreading your legs, writhing, begging me to fuck you until I pump you full... deep in that spot that can get you knocked up..."
Celia's flushed lips trembled, unswallowed saliva glistening.
"Or do you want..." Heinrich licked his lips involuntarily, baring sharp canines, smiling. "Beg me to get you through tonight? Then after, find somewhere private to lie down and let me take you any way?"
His smile widened. "Oh, by then you'll be in heat too—probably begging me desperately, not caring who's around..."
Celia let out a pained moan—Heinrich's hand under the robe shifted up, pinching the sensitive nipple and rubbing.
Ecstatic pleasure lanced like lightning through nerves; even the passage clenched reflexively, fluids threatening to burst. Celia instinctively pressed his thighs together, but it only intensified the contractions, excess pleasure flushing his cheeks and blurring his vision. "Help... help me, Heinrich... you bastard... you know damn well..."
That moment, the emperor's gaze was a beast triumphant. He knew dragging the tender prey home was effortless.
"I know." He said maliciously. "But I want you to choose."
In the dark, Heinrich slowly leaned down, peeling off Celia's robe with unrefusable slowness—barely undressing himself.
Unfair, deliberately humiliating even—but in the chaos, it sharpened Celia's lust awareness.
As the alpha's muscular frame neared, thought fled; instinct parted his lips. Heinrich's tongue invaded, ravaging, lips and tongues tangling frictionally, excess saliva dripping from corners instantly.
"You thirsty little..." Heinrich panted, hand sliding down Celia's lean, flexible waist to the narrow, perky ass, kneading viciously. Too hard—the soaked passage made faint wet sounds. It drove Heinrich mad; his cock throbbed veined, mind fixed on slamming in, piercing, grinding, pounding deep until this body beneath cried from prolonged ruthless creampie.
—But he couldn't.
Pheromone-laden cum would trigger intense stimulation—like during the voyage—forcing full heat. Many alphas used it to induce multiples yearly, skilled ones three or four. Wrong time now.
Heinrich panted irritably, sliding two fingers into the needy, clenching hole. Absurdly wet—it swallowed them; a stir brought loud squelches and Celia's pained-pleasured gasps. "Ah—aaah...!"
Heinrich crushed their mouths hungrily; the motion angled fingers deeper—with that thrust, Celia's sweat-slick body arched sharply!
"Ah!"
The moan neared breakdown. Heinrich pinned him brutally, teasing breathlessly. "That easy, huh...?"
Celia couldn't reply—body fully open. Heinrich added a third finger effortlessly. Now fuller, they twisted angles, grinding the ultra-sensitive spot mercilessly, as if to pulverize it.
Celia's torment silenced him; one hand clawed sheets, the other pushed Heinrich—grabbed and pinned to pillow. Blissful agony lashed; he arched neck to breaking curve—irresistibly erotic to Heinrich.
He bit the fragile throat hungrily, mumbling, "That good, huh?"
Teasing tone hid every male's craving for yes. Heinrich too. But Celia was voiceless, ears ringing, body liquid-soft, senseless.
"Only I can make you..." Heinrich lifted, gazing fascinatedly. "Only I love you this much..."
Deep kiss on wet lips—hand sped suddenly, effortlessly cresting Celia in full-body spasms!
Peak pleasure clenched the hole rhythmically; fluids soaked thighs everywhere. Heinrich lost it imagining thrusting now—mind burned, cock swelled thicker.
"Fuck, why not... fuck..." He yanked Celia's hair, forcing face to shoulder, grinding frustratedly. But it spurred him; hot hardness nudged thigh root—that firm, sexy thigh now slack, defenseless.
If choosing, he'd beg Celia kick him off—even slap—for relief. But fantasy only. Emperor endured red-eyed, veins bulging forehead, finally rolling off with Herculean effort. "Gonna hit the bathroom—"
But pinned suddenly.
"—Celia?"
Celia's limbs were weak, but Heinrich couldn't break free. His desire-rough voice: "Come here. Let me help you."
Heinrich thought he misheard—but Celia rose, arms round neck, hand stroking the fully erect cock. Face still flushed, eyes watery, they locked gazes in dark, breaths mingling hot; moments later, lips met.
The kiss gentle, intimate, lingering. Heinrich thrilled possessively, pride swelling; gripped Celia's hand harder, soon ragged panting.
"Okay?" Celia pulled back slightly, whispering.
Heinrich nodded silently, lunging back to kiss.
Handjob couldn't quench boiling lust fully, but Celia's initiative thrilled psychologically more. Soon Heinrich sped it, cock swelling rigid; kisses turned fierce, deep. After dozens of seconds frantic stroking, he bucked—tip grazing Celia's abs—erupting lavishly.
"Hah..." Heinrich sighed contentedly, clutching Celia onto bed.
Sheets wrecked, pajamas rumpled, Celia's lower body and thighs sticky with musky fluid. They lay embraced; post-climax drowsiness crept. Heinrich mumbled sleepily, "Shower?"
"Tomorrow morning..." Celia slurred.
Soldiers' virtue: adapt. They crashed like that.
But next morning, they regretted skimping hygiene immensely—
Dawn: emperor and marshal jolted awake by violent shaking. Heinrich rolled off bed instantly. Explosions rocked outside; corridor footsteps chaotic. Lock rattled wildly. "Out! Lord Osroed calls you out! Hurry!"
Heinrich and Celia exchanged glances—no time to react—door burst open.
"No dawdling! Yunes is attacking!—"
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