[[SHORT STORY: TEPHE BREAKS THE FOURTH WALL
Several hours before the start of the UMB Cup, Tephe was sitting in her room in the suite on a holocall to Revi.
"So Adam's really competing and he plans to use the Black Knight?" Tephe asked as excitement sparkled in her eyes.
"Yup, I can't wait to see and hear everyone's reaction," Tephe replied while bouncing up and down excitedly.
"Speaking of Adam, how are things going between you two?" Revi asked curiously.
Tephe sighed in disappointment before saying, "Not well."
"Did something happen?" Revi asked curiously.
"Tephe nodded sadly before saying," A reader on RR reported that my mentality is too childlike and I should not be allowed to pursue Adam."
"Really?"
"Yes, now the author has had to remove all the sections that even hint at that."
"Oh dear," Revi replied as she gave her goddaughter a sad look before asking, "What does that mean for future chapters?"
"I don't know, but it's likely that any chapter or section that I and, by extension, Maya are part of may appear as redacted."
Revi nodded in understanding before saying, "Considering it's Christmas, the author must be super busy and not have time to think about rewriting yours and Adam's entire relationship sub-plot, if he even decides to do that at all."
"I guess the readers will have to miss any chapters that Maya or I are part of, or at least go read them elsewhere," Tephe said as tears rolled down her face before adding just before she ended the call, "I have ruined it for all the readers on RR who enjoy the novel."
Revi, who sat in her bedroom on Fenix Nest, sighed before asking, "How are you going to fix this, author? Or will you even fix this?"]]
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{So what do I do about all the races that are going to come calling about the beam-canceler and planetary annihilation beam tech? You stopped the clips from being posted; however, several influential people on the stream still saw it.} Adam thought as the shower water cascaded over his body.
[[You lack the authority to provide them with the tech even if you want to.]]
{What? I'm the captain. If I don't have the authority, who does?}
[[The chief scientist of Solarian special forces research and development division Five, who created me.]]
{Seriously? I mean, are they even still alive?}
[[They should be. They are part of the Solarian race after all, who live forever unless killed.]]
{So basically, I have to somehow explain to these people that the plans for the tech are not available because the only person who can release them is a Solarian scientist that may or may not be alive, without mentioning that you are an experimental Solarian military vessel?}
[[Or you could just say that the tech is not for sale.]]
{That's fine for most of the races, but what about the Brood who will no doubt ask Rowena to speak to me, or the Merinmians who will ask Lorelie too?}
[[...]]
Adam sighed at Spector's lack of response before continuing to clean himself in the shower.
💫💫💫
"How are the productions of the first of the new lines coming along?" Lady Erkath asked her assistant as she sat at her desk while going over some documents.
"Production of everything is ahead of schedule and should be completed at our multiple production facilities by the end of today. We will then need another two days to transfer them all to the stores," Erkath's assistant replied as she read the information from a holographic screen that floated above her uniband.
"Good. Now all we need to do is have Rowena and Lorelie model the outfits for us so that we can start advertising to build hype," Erkath said with a smile
"We don't have a production facility in the Felidae Galaxy. It would take at least a day to transfer the clothing there and then another day for them to model them all," The assistant stated.
"I might have an idea on how to solve that problem. Continue with production and transfer to the stores. I will handle the modelling issue."
"Yes, boss," The assistant said before leaving the room, after which Erkath accessed her own uniband before making a holocall.
💫💫💫
"Lorelie was planning that? And she wants me to be part of it?" Rowena asked in surprise.
"Yup, and Adam is more than happy to have you join since it means he could play with that fine ass of yours," Aphrodite replied with a flirtatious smile.
"Did he even say that, or are you making it up?" Rowena asked suspiciously.
"Not directly, but Stacey accused him of saying that 'her ass couldn't compare to her grandmother's."
"I'm not sure how I feel about my granddaughter's boyfriend complimenting my ass while you're all in bed together," Rowena said while running her hand down her face.
"What's so wrong with that?" Aphrodite asked.
"Only someone who doesn't have kids or grandkids would ask that," Rowena replied.
"Whatever, the important question is, are you going to accept when Lorelie broaches the subject with you?"
"I don't…." Rowena began to reply when her uniband suddenly notified her of an incoming holocall.
"Thank god," Rowena said in relief as if the incoming holocall had saved her in the nick of time before she saw who it was and answered it.
A large holographic screen of Erkath sitting behind a desk appeared before both women.
"My my, you two always seem to be together at the moment, don't you?" Erkath said with a smirk after seeing Aphrodite sitting next to Rowena before asking Aphrodite, "Did she finally give in to your advances?"
"Not yet, but I am hopeful for the future after last night," Aphrodite replied happily.
"Last night? What happened last night?" Erkath asked with interest.
"Stop saying things in a way that can be misunderstood," Rowena interrupted as she snapped at Aphrodite before turning to Erkath and asking, "Do you need help with something, Erkath?"
"I was actually hoping to speak to Adam about something," Erkath replied.
"He's in the shower, let me go get him," Aphrodite said eagerly before trying to get up.
"Don't even think about it. Are you trying to get in even more trouble with them?" Rowena asked as she grabbed Aphrodite's shoulder and pulled her back down.
"I was only going to let him know that Erkath was asking for him. Also, it's not like I haven't already seen him naked," Aphrodite replied with a pout.
"That's not the point," Rowena replied as her eye twitched slightly for some reason.
"You have already seen Adam naked. Has he already succumbed to your charms?" Erkath asked with a smirk.
"Unfortunately not," Aphrodite replied with a sigh.
"No, it's she who has fallen for Adam's charms," Rowena replied with a smirk.
"Huh?" Erkath asked.
"Don't worry about it," Rowena replied before asking, "What did you need to ask him? Can I take a message and pass it on?"
"That's fine as it's regarding the new clothing line."
"Is there a problem?"
"Not really. Production is actually ahead of schedule, and we will be able to start selling them as early as two days if we wish; however, we still haven't done the photo shoot with you and Lorelie."
"I see. We originally planned to do the shoot in a couple of days after you sent the outfits to us here, but now it seems we need to do it as soon as possible," Rowena said in understanding.
"Exactly, then I remember that Adam's ship made us those slacks for us to wear and I was wondering if it could produce the outfits you both need to model so we don't have to wait for them to arrive," Erkath explained.
"That makes sense," Rowena said in agreement before saying, "Speaking of the photo shoot. Adam wants Aphrodite here to partake."
"He does?" Erkath asked in surprise before asking, "Is he unaware that companies generally shy away from using those in the sex trade as models and for advertising?"
"I explained it to him last night, but he seems to think that there are certain outfits that would sell better if I were to model them instead of Rowena or Lorelie," Aphrodite replied.
"Which ones and why does he think that way?" Erkath asked.
"Apparently, the outfit is one that is worn by dominating women during sexual activities back on his homeworld," Rowena replied before searching for the image that Adam had shown her earlier and pulling it up for Erkath to see.
"I see," Erkath replied as she studied the outfit before saying, "Unfortunately, it's not one of the outfits that we planned to release this time around."
"That shouldn't be a problem. Adam suggested that we should try it and test the reaction of our customer base, though in the end, he left the decision of whether to do it up to us," Rowena replied.
"Hmmmm," Erkath replied thoughtfully as she considered the proposal while tapping her desk before she asked, "What's your opinion on this? You now own half the company after all."
"I think we should at least let her take part in the photo shoot and then decide after we see the photos," Rowena replied.
"There is no harm in doing that as long as Aphrodite is happy to partake with the understanding that her shoots may not be used," Erkath replied as she looked at Aphrodite.
"I was hoping you would agree. If the shoot goes well and you agree to use the photo, then it means that it may open up a new line of employment for those in the same line of work as me," Aphrodite said happily.
"Well, as I said, I'm not making any guarantees until I see the results of the shoot," Erkath replied before asking, "Where did you plan to do the shoot anyway, and who did you plan to get as the photographer?"
"We planned to speak to Matriarch Maiya about using one of the photo studios in Alpha Entertainment since her sister runs it," Rowena replied before adding, "We are still not sure about the photographer, and we are waiting to see if Alpha Entertainment has any that we approve of."
"How about Eri?" A voice suddenly asked from the entrance to the master bedroom.
As they looked over in that direction, they saw Lorelie half-dragging Stacey out of the room towards them.
"Come on, Lorelie. You know you want to go join him in the shower," Stacey whined.
"You're right, I do; however, now is not the time since there is a discussion about work going on that I should be part of," Lorelie replied.
"So go be part of it; however, I'm not needed, so let me go join Adam in the shower."
"And not see either of you for over an hour because you end up sucking him off in there before fucking him? No way. Our boyfriend deserves at least a little break before we attack him again."