"Start by helping! This house is a dump in dire need of a Hearth Keeper. You want to be the Baroness of Earth? Start by being the Baroness of this decrepit estate. Fix the damn water heater, for example. Make us noms from the truck that just delivered plentiful supplies. Stop treating Ash like he betrayed you when we both know he helped you.”

  "How do you know he helped me?" Galateya asked. "You barely know me. We just met yesterday."

  "I know because I can read minds, remember?" Shady stated. "And before you get hissy—no, I'm not digging through your deepest secrets. Surface thoughts only.”

  "You've been reading my mind this whole time?" Galateya hissed.

  "It’s really hard not to. You broadcast your anger and irritation in massive waves. Like now, you're radiating 'betrayed and confused' so hard that even Ash can hear it from the hallway from your tone."

  I winced slightly.

  "My point is," Shady continued, "Ash saw you drowning in your family's expectations and threw you a lifeline. That blood bond? He made it equal, not servitude. That's unprecedented. Do you have any idea what it means?"

  "It doesn't matter! I'm still trapped! Still bound to serve my great-grandmother’s interests!" Galateya complained.

  "No, you're not," Shady interrupted. "You're bound to my Ashy. He isn’t an incapable human as you mistakenly presume.”

  “He’s…”

  “No,” Shady intoned heavily. “You can clearly see that he’s not a clueless boobie. He has me and Nexy. Kawathra adores him too and is working with me on things. Together we are power and possibility."

  “Power and possibility to do what?”

  “Anything we want,” Shady said.

  “Anything?! I don’t understand, don’t you serve the Frontenachii High Command?”

  “Nope.”

  “What?!” Galateya sputtered.

  “I serve my own interests.”

  “Which are what?”

  "Keeping Ashy and Nexy safe and happy," Shady said simply. "Everything else is secondary."

  "You're... you're not loyal to the Frontenachii at all, then?"

  "I'm loyal to exactly two—the boy and kitten currently eavesdropping on us from the hallway."

  "Commander Xandria—"

  "Commander Xandria is whoever I need her to be," Shady interrupted. "Just like you're whoever your great-grandmother needs you to be. The difference is, I chose my role. Can you say the same?"

  "I..." Galateya faltered. "No. I can't."

  "Then maybe it's time you started choosing," Shady said. "I know what it's like to have family expectations crushing you, Teya. To be told what you are, what you should want, who you should serve! But here's the secret—you can walk away from all of it. You can choose your own path!"

  There was a rustling sound, then I heard Galateya's surprised gasp.

  "What are you—"

  "It's called a hug," Shady said, her voice muffled. "Ash taught me they're important for emotional bonding long ago. You look like you need one."

  "I... I don't..." Galateya's voice cracked.

  Ah yes. The Taniwha-dragon's greatest weakness—hugs. Shady was learning fast.

  "Shh. Just accept the hug. It's free! No contracts, no obligations, no hierarchies. Just one Omnid acknowledging another’s pain."

  I heard quiet sniffling.

  "Your scales are really pretty when they shimmer like that," Shady said gently. "All those purples and blues. Like a sunset over water. What an honest girl you are, an open book, a river of feelings. It's precious, really.”

  "You're being… nice to me," Galateya said, confused. "Why? I've been awful since I found out about you."

  "Because being mean doesn't fix anything," Shady replied. "Trust me, I've tried. I spent years being the scariest thing in multiple dimensions. It just made me lonely and miserable and murdery. I would have remained murdery too… except one day I met a little orange fox boy who told me to step off my path, to see the world with eyes unclouded by hatred, to seek out what I truly want in life. And what I want in life is to be happy with my Ashy."

  "I tried to claim what was yours,” Galateya sniffed.

  "You're not claiming what's mine, you're joining us. If you want to. As a friend."

  "As a friend?" Galateya asked. "You barely know me. And I... I don't even know who you really are. How can I trust you?!”

  "Everyone lies about who they are," Shady said. "The question is why. My reasons involve keeping certain people I care about breathing."

  "That's not reassuring."

  "It's not meant to be. Trust is earned, not demanded," Shady stated. "You want honesty? Fine. I don't fully trust you either. Your great-grandmother ordered you to bind Ash. Who's to say she won't order something worse next time?"

  Galateya gulped. "I wouldn't—"

  "Wouldn't you? If Legate Ixthia commanded it directly? If refusing meant your exile to a fucked up dimension?"

  The dragon girl fell silent.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "See?" Shady said. "We're all walking contradictions here. Bound by blood and duty and other bullshit. The difference is some of us are trying to actively chew through their chains."

  "And you think friendship is the way out?"

  "I think friendship is a start," Shady said. "Small steps. You don't have to trust me completely. Just... maybe trust that I won't eat you in your sleep."

  "Not a high standard there."

  "I'm a Frontenachii Wendigo. It's actually quite a high bar for my Omnitype." Shady laughed. "Ask Ashy about the time I almost chewed his arm off because he tried to take the last piece of bacon."

  "That was two days ago, yes. Much threatening about bacon," I commented from the hall. “But yea, Xandy is an outlier when it comes to the Wendigos. If it wasn’t for her, I’d assume they were all soulless monsters.”

  "Details!" Shady called back. Then to Galateya: "Look, we don't have to be best friends. We don't even have to like each other yet. But we can move forward to a better tomorrow. One where everyone attains… Justice, just as you so desire. Even if it involves… lying about some things in the present."

  "You're not what I expected from a Frontenachii Commander." Galateya said.

  "Good. Expectations are lame, I like juicy surprises," Shady moved toward the door. "Now come on. Ashy’s friend-o Dax brought a mountain of bacon and I intend to eat at least sixty percent of it before anyone else gets their claws on it."

  "Sixty percent seems excessive."

  "You haven't seen me eat. I'm basically a biological disposal unit with antlers." She paused at the doorway. "You coming?"

  Galateya stood slowly. "I... yes. Okay.”

  The pair of Omnid women emerged from the living room, Galateya's scales shifting through uncertain purples and blues and Shady looking smug and accomplished.

  "Ash," Galateya said formally. "I apologize for my behavior. I was… Being stubbornly daft."

  "It's fine," I said.

  "No, it's not." She took a breath. "Commander Xandria clarified some things. I'd really like to... try. To be part of this household. If you'll have me."

  Nexxali nodded approvingly. "Good start. Now help with groceries, babe.”

  As everyone pitched in to unload and organize supplies, Dax pulled me aside.

  "Dude," he whispered. "What the actual fuck is your life right now? Are you for real?”

  "Definitely for real. Just trying to prevent humanity from being harvested by space Wendigos while hosting far too many alien girls at my house," I summarized.

  Galateya looked around the living room at the colorful characters inhabiting it. Her scales rippled with bark and moss textures, blooming with violet flowers across her mane.

  "Keiy," she called out. "Project analysis mode, please."

  The symbiote gun walked to her side and materialized a holographic interface. "Parameters?"

  "Give me a structural assessment of this house. Everything that requires repair or upgrade. And cross-reference with available personnel."

  Keiy's trio of red eyes flickered. "Right. Let’s start with critical issues: Water heating system—circa 1920s, efficiency rating of approximately twelve percent. Plumbing—mixed copper and lead pipes, multiple leaks detected in walls. Electrical wiring—fire hazard in six locations. Roof—two hundred and seventeen missing shingles, two active leaks. Foundation—settling cracks in the northeast corner. Kitchen appliances—" Keiy paused. "Actually, I'm impressed the appliances still function. Everything needs to be replaced.”

  “Yep. The kitchen is held together by spite and nostalgia,” I commented.

  “One of the kitchen walls and some of the appliances are damaged… by primitive gunfire,” Keiy added.

  Galateya squinted at me.

  “Ashy and I fought vamps in here,” Nexxali lied shamelessly.

  "Available personnel," Keiy continued, projecting small holographic avatars. "Knight Galateya Selene Belthys Frontenachii. Marshal Commandant Nexxali Everrim—no relevant repair skills.”

  “What? I’ll have you know, I have many skills,” Nexxali defended herself. “Like... ordering people around!”

  “Serval strength. Nexxali Everrim controls Corpse Seeker Zeta with Fabricator access,” Keiy intoned. “Datamancer Kawathra—Seeker Kappa Fabricator access. Commander Xandria—" The gun paused. "Wendigo Omnid strength. Alpha-Scrutimancer Linari—enhanced strength and stamina. Daxagon—Unknown skills, human baseline strength. Piotr Grabowski—programming skills, human baseline strength. North and South Yon—unknown skills, human baseline strength. Ashcroft Clifford—human baseline strength, homeowner, questionable decision-making. Incredibly suspicious character.”

  "Hey!" I protested. “I'm not suspicious, I'm nice to you.”

  "I speak only facts," Keiy replied primly. “The fact that you are nice to guns only makes you MORE suspicious.”

  I rolled my eyes at the gun unit.

  Galateya studied the projections. "This is manageable. Right. Let’s—"

  "Teya. Before you launch into bossy Baroness of Clifford Estate mode,” I interrupted her. “Xandy, Kawthy, Nexy and I are going to Seeker Kappa to do… stuff. We'll probably be at it for a while. Feel free to recruit everyone else into house repair work though.”

  “Stuff?” Galateya's scales flickered orange.

  “Work stuff,” I said.

  “Important business things!” Shady commented. "Super secret Commander mission activities!”

  “Many charts!” Kawathra added. “So boring you'd fall asleep! Might as well renovate this dump instead!"

  "Your reassurances inspire tremendous confidence," Galateya said. "Fine. Keep your secrets. I require… Corpse Seeker access for repairs.”

  “Corpse Seeker Zeta,” Nexxali tapped her V-ring. “Grant Galateya Frontenachii Fabricator access.”

  “Granted,” her ring replied in a dull, female voice.

  Galateya turned to the others. "Piotr, Linari—you're on plumbing duty. Coordinate gun unit Etty to scan for pipes that need repairs. Try not to flood the house."

  "No promises!" the wolf said. “Come on, Stormy. Educate us about your barbaric, human-designed plumbing!”

  “Not a plumber, but aight,” Piotr yawned. “Are we living here now?”

  “Until Sillicia yells at us to do something else,” Linari shrugged.

  “Dax,” Galateya turned to the Polish engineer. “You will assist me in replacing the heater.”

  “Sure,” Dagaxon agreed. “I can look up GoTube videos about such.”

  “You too, direction-sisters,” Galateya said.

  “Aight,” South agreed, standing up. “I know about house repairs, handled lots of such for my grandparents.”

  North nodded.

  Galateya surveyed her assembled workforce with satisfaction, scales glowing with confident golds. "Keiy, establish a repair timeline and coordinate it with Etty. I want progress reports every thirty minutes."

  "Acknowledged," Keiy replied.

  As Galateya seemed to have the situation under control, we headed out to Seeker Kappa.

  "That dragon's focused when she's organized," Shady observed.

  "That's her natural state," Nexxali said. "Taniwhas get bossy when they know what their domain is.”

  “Excellent,” Shady said, steepling her claws Mr. Burns style. “It’s all coming together.”

  We climbed into Kappa via the unfolded crystalline stairs.

  "So, what are we making?” Nexxali asked as I sat on the crystalline couch.

  "Guns," I said.

  "Boring," Nexxali pouted.

  "Guns with personality and unique body frames," I clarified. "Custom-built. Kawthy, we have enough crystalloid material to make symbiote guns, yes?”

  “Yes. We have enough to make three functional guns,” Kawathra tilted her beak at me. "Some materia left from South’s thralls plus some from the bears… the princess was wearing."

  "Right,” I said. “Can you fabricate three new gun units without connecting them to Weapon-Net?"

  Kawathra tilted her head further, calculating. "Technically yes, but they won't be optimally intelligent. Without Gun-Network connection, they'll be... simpler, less reactive. Why would you want offline guns?"

  "Because I need them bound to Shady," I said. "Not the fleet. Personal weapons that can't be tracked or commanded by anyone else."

  “Ohh,” Shady's silver eyes widened. "Ashy! You're making me presents?"

  "Yes.” I said. “The Operation ‘Empress of Earth’ is a go!”