"It's still strange that Spector couldn't detect it through Earth's global communications network, though," Adam remarked.
"Considering it's probably a highly classified facility containing alien technology, it's probably completely isolated from the net," Joanne stated.
"Makes sense," Adam acknowledged.
"Hang on," Rowena suddenly said as she thought of something. "How come you didn't detect their ship crash-landing? You're supposed to have been on Earth long before they arrived."
"Because I was in standby mode," Spector replied.
"And?" Rowena asked, only for Spector to remain silent.
"Damn advanced AI," Rowena grumbled.
"So how come you now have the personas of Emily Daniels and Kate Stevens?" Lorelie asked.
"Unlike us Eidolons, Earthlings have not advanced to the stage where they no longer have to worry about their finite lifespans. It would be rather odd for Pamela Primrose to live forever, so we had to arrange a death for her," Emily replied.
"Preferably one from a car accident since that's how the original Pamela died," Kate added.
"Err, wouldn't she be all mouldy and decayed?" Millie asked with a frown.
"Normally, yes; however, after I replaced her, we stored her corpse in one of the shuttle's cryopods," Emily explained.
Kate nodded before adding, "Basically, once we arranged the tragic accident, we just thawed her out and placed her corpse in the car.
Since her corpse had been perfectly preserved, the police and everyone else bought the story that Pamela Primrose had tragically died in a car accident."
"Since then, we've both taken on a few different personas until today's personas of Emily Daniels and Kate Stevens," Emily stated.
"Such as?" Adam asked.
"Oh, curious are you?" Emily asked with a wink. "Well, after Pamela, there was Morena Bloom in the sixties and seventies, then in the eighties and nineties it was Alexandra Eastwood, and finally we have Emily Daniels."
"Holy cow," Billie said in shock.
Adam stared at Emily in amazement before asking, "Did you steal all those identities as well?"
"Steal is rather a strong word considering Pamela and Morena were already dead before I took on their personas," Emily replied defensively. "But yes, Morena Bloom was indeed a persona I acquired; the poor girl died from a drug overdose.
As for Alexandra and Emily, these are personas I made myself. Thanks to the advancement of the internet and governments storing data on computers, we could finally use our shuttle's computer to create flawless identities for ourselves."
"Uh-huh," Adam replied before glancing at Kate. "What about you?"
"This is only my third persona," Kate answered. "Since my role was to run Galaxy Entertainment and support my empress from behind the scenes, I didn't need to replace my identity so often."
"It's tough being a celebrity on Earth," Emily said with a sigh. "Many of your fans are only interested in you when you're young and beautiful."
"Some of us will have to deal with that in the known universe as well," Lorelie remarked.
"Then please understand that I have a newfound respect for you and all the other celebrities of the finite races," Emily replied. "You certainly have it harder than those of the long-lived races, that's for sure."
"I'm glad you realise that," Lorelie remarked before glancing at Rowena and Aphrodite. "We can't all be popular divas for as long as these two have been."
"Says the most popular diva in the universe right now," Aphrodite remarked. "If you keep going at the rate you are, you might just become the biggest diva of all time."
"If it bothers you that much, I could just turn you," Rowena offered with a smirk.
"And then become your subordinate Brood, no thanks," Lorelie replied.
"Is that actually a thing?" Adam asked. "Are Broods that have been turned subordinate to those that turned them?"
"Don't be silly; as my friend, I would completely turn you," Rowena replied to Lorelie before turning to Adam. "It depends on the agreement the two parties come to. On one hand, you have the partial turning, where one becomes a Brood, but still requires their turners' blood to survive.
They can feed on other blood, but if they don't receive the blood of their turner at regular intervals, they can die.
This type of turning is essentially the next stage of being one's familiar. You gain all the powers and abilities of we Brood, just on a reduced level.
The full turning is where one is turned completely into a Brood and does not require the turner's blood to survive. These Brood are more powerful than the partial turners, but have to make their own way in the world.
Also, the purity of one's blood matters greatly in Brood society. A Brood with higher-purity blood can use its blood to overwhelm those of lower purity.
Take those brats that attacked Stacey, for example. If I wish to, I could have them kneel before me using only the purity of my blood since I am far older."
So blood purity comes from age?" Emma asked with interest.
"Not exactly," Rowena replied. "The first and main factor is your blood purity at birth. This is determined by your parents and the family you are born into. For example, there is a reason my Nosferatu family holds such a high position in Brood society; it's not just because of Kavita's achievements but because of our blood purity.
However, you're not wrong in saying that age affects purity; it's just that it takes a very long time for the purity of one's blood to increase by even a little."
"So even if you completely turned Lorelie, you would still control her?" Adam asked.
"Control is not the right word," Rowena replied thoughtfully. "I would say influence is a better word; I could influence her to do something; however, if her will and mind are strong enough, she could resist that influence and refuse my command."
"Still not keen on the idea," Lorelie mumbled.
"Most people aren't at your age," Rowena said with a smile. "There's a reason why most of those turned are reaching the end of their lives. Not only do they wish to live longer, but being turned restores their body to its prime."
"What about Stacey?" Adam asked. "Could you influence her?"
"No," Rowena replied. "Stacey is only a quarter Brood, so she could easily shrug off my influence."
"Good to know," Stacey replied, though she, Adam, Lorelie and Eytelis all shared a quick glance before Rowena coughed and turned to Emily before asking. "So now that we've established you're an identity thief, I'm guessing you wanted this meeting with my boyfriend in order to ask him to come rescue the two of you?"
"A bit harsh," Emily pouted before nodding. "Yes, if possible, I request that he come collect the two of us before returning us to Alpha Synthetica. I've read in the stream chat and heard from Joanne that your ship has a drive that allows you to instantly travel anywhere in the universe."
"Hey!" Joanne said with a frown. "Don't drop me in the shit like that."
After scolding Emily, Joanne turned to Adam with an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have told her anything."
"It's fine; you weren't to know," Adam replied, causing Joanne to smile before he looked at Emily and Kate. "For the moment, I will have to refuse your request, though if I get the chance in the future, I will drop by Earth to pick you up as a favour to Rowena."
Everyone showed looks of surprise as they heard Adam's reply since they had all expected him to immediately accept. Not only was Emily Rowena's old friend, but she was even his childhood crush.
"What do you mean you won't go pick them up?" Rowena asked in surprise.
"We have already put off our vacation to Aqua Primus multiple times, and I have no plans to further break the promise I made to all of you," Adam replied.
"But honey, Valance and Cam have been stuck on Earth for almost a hundred years, plus she's my friend," Rowena stated.
"I understand that, but it's also not like they're in any imminent danger," Adam replied. "Actually, it seems they're living a rather comfortable life, all things considered."
As he finished speaking and saw the disappointed looks on Rowena, Emily and Kate's faces, he sighed and fell into thought before saying.
"How about this. If you do me a favour, I will come pick you two up upon its completion."
"If you were just fishing for favours, why didn't you say so?" Emily pouted. "Fine, what's the favour?"
"I need you to acquire me a genetic sample of Grace Williams," Adam replied.
"Huh!" Emily replied while they all looked at him in confusion. All except Emma, of course, who smiled at him knowingly.
"When you say Grace Williams, do you mean Oliver Williams, daughter-in-law?" Kate asked curiously.
"That's correct," Adam replied.
"Why would you want a genetic sample of her?" Emily asked in confusion.