“Aren't you thrilled Tiberius?” She asks me from her plasticene mouth, and why shouldn’t I be? I have my genetically pure partner, and my empire of purity. But as I sit across the table from my soon to be wife, I feel…nothing. Empty. The servant comes in to refresh the plates and her hair waves in front of my face, I catch an intoxicating scent that brings a smile to my face.
The scowl on Ziranessa’s face immediately wipes the joy from me. “Oh of course! Our union will be perfection itself!”
“Tiberius darling, you seem distracted.” Sounding as concerned as she was capable of, her face unable to emote as though she were ironed flat and stretched across. “What is the matter?”
I hear nothing, I just watch as Moravrax collects up the plates. The way the light shines just beneath her skin as though she were a walking sun. “I said. Tiberius what is the matter?”
“I heard you, my sweet flower.” my eyes do not move from the servant. “And nothing is the matter. I am merely wistful for my younger days.”
I finish eating the lavish breakfast that was cooked for us, the rest will be thrown away to be made into nutrient paste for the lessers. I head off towards the door, eyeing Moravrax the whole way. “Are you going somewhere, Tiberius?”
“Oh, just out to the club, perhaps partake in a game or two.” I say back, already halfway out of the room in my mind.
“Did you want to take an Umbric with you? They’re good for labor.” I stop in my tracks and turn to look at Ziranessa.
“Fine.” I take my cane and point it to Moravrax attempting to shrink herself in the corner of the room. “You! Come with me. And put on some decent clothing.”
Ziranessa just gives a half hearted spurt of a laugh and then says “You know that Umbrics have no skill for order.” Moravrax lowers her head and walks to a different room as I wait impatiently by the door, tapping my foot.
“How long does it take for this girl to prepare herself?” I look at Ziranessa who now is preparing herself for her afternoon of treatments. Eventually she comes down the stairs with her raggedy clothing on. “Really… That is the best you are capable of…” I roll my eyes, my irritation now evident for all to see. “Very well, we will need to resolve it before we encounter any other nobles.
She continues to look down avoiding my gaze as I open the door and direct her to follow me.
We walk down the streets of Elystra as I make sure Moravrax stays behind me while we walk. We eventually arrive at the shopping centers as I take Mora in the first one meant for technocaste members. I look at her and point in with my head, not speaking any words to her.
Nervously she follows my direction and heads in, still following behind me. I walk to the counter and see a young girl there behind the counter. “Excuse me. I need you to make my servant presentable.” She looks at me and nods running past me to grab Moravrax as I go and sit near the dressing area.
The first outfit looks like the standard servant outfit. “No, I want something that signals to others that she is not just a servant.” The clerk looks at me confused and I double down. “You heard me. Bring something different.” They both quickly jump back to the changing area and when she comes out it is in a standard colonial technocaste outfit. If Moravrax was caught alone wearing this then she would likely be beaten.
“Yes, that outfit will do just fine.” I say to both of them, before turning to the clerk. “I would also like you to take care of her previous clothes, and provide her with some proper undergarments.”
“Yes, sir.” The clerk says back to me. I look at Moravrax, her nerves now evident on her face as she avoids my eyes.
I grab her gently on the chin and point her face at mine. “You will require me to accompany you if you wear these clothes.” She still refuses to look at me when I shake her chin. “Do you understand Moravrax?” She nods her head, in agreement. “Good. I would hate for anything to happen to you.”
We headed to the club and I watched the eyes of the lesser colonials, they looked at Moravrax and their eyes flash with anger and disgust and then they see me and it all gives way to fear. The power is all that truly matters, the lessers know their place.
We arrive at the club and I bring Moravrax into the servant’s quarters while I head to partake in some stimulating conversation that I could never achieve with Ziranessa. Inside are some other nobles, “Ahhh, Tiberius, it has been several cycles since last we met, yes?” The voice belongs to Claudio, of Kar Zetharn.
“Yes, Claudio. It’s been at least a Deca-Cycle.” I use my practiced cordiality, “have you been to the sanguine pits lately? They’ve got a new fighter, a Chimeran. He’s absolutely brutal, quite a sight.”
“I’m more interested in someone who wants to play dress up with the pets.” He gestures to the window overlooking the hybrid holding area. “Apparently someone felt it appropriate to dress their slave up like a colonial.”
“Oh let it rest for a while Claudio. It’s just us here. You’ve never taken your own pleasure from your property?” I jibe, needling him over the many public affairs he’s had. “At least she looks colonial enough, if it weren't for those ears and skin.”
“And the fact that her blood is full of heresy.” He refers to her elari blood.
“She comes with Ziranessa.” I defend myself “The union between Ulonix and Taranwe.”
“Oh you must be thrilled. Ziranessa is a beautiful woman, the true definition of colonial perfection.” He says back to me. “I’ve always had an eye for her.”
I don't say anything to him. I just continue looking at Moravrax. He was right, what am I doing? Dressing it up like it’s one of us. I open my data slate and switch over to the umbric ownership transfer page. Are there any live requests for an elari? Looks like one is needed on Nok’Thari Hold, seems there is some empathic mists that need psionic control. I press the transfer button, and turn back to Claudio.
“You want Ziranessa?” I jokingly prepare like I’m going to hit him. “You gotta go through me.”
