Minx declared herself as she did the day before and was allowed up. Mona met her in the hallway, outside her door. "Are you sure you want to purchase this planet? There's no going back after this."
Minx nodded.
"Okay, Oscar White the Supreme Commander is waiting in my quarters," Mona stated as she opened her door and swept her hand for Minx to enter with a big smile on her face.
Upon entering the room, Minx noted the man was wearing red-tinted glasses. His hair was greying and he had a few patches of facial hair. Next to him was a female in a ponytail. On the other side of him was another general she had never seen before. He looked a little younger. Minx couldn't help but be nervous despite Mona being there with her.
Mona introduced her to Oscar. Minx made sure to bow appropriately.
Oscar was the first to speak. "So, you're the first-year who wants to by a red-portal planet?" as he eyed her up and down. Her watch said 5 which made him look even more skeptical.
She gulped but steeled her nerves, "I am, sir."
"General Mike informed me they wanted to send a team there to investigate the dalki fortress to see if it was truly abandoned. If it is, he wanted to return it to orange and go back."
Minx realized she was not invited to sit so she remained standing. "General Mike is a fool if he thinks that. Let me ask you. Are there king-tier beasts on green-portal planets? How frequent are advanced-tier beasts on green planets? Do you send second-years after king-tiers? Sergeant Fay is the one who said dalki. Sergeant Leo said "as strong as a four-spike" not that it was a four-spike. He said that and everyone went on the panic. What tier beast is as strong as a four-spike?" she raised her eyebrow at the Supreme commander knowing she had now taken on a scolding tone.
"As for me, while Del was leaving his students for dead, I was saving them." She pulled Caser out of her shirt where he was sleeping. "I rescued this little guy who was just born and deserved the chance at life. Understand, the beasts on this particular planet are plant-based. I killed 35 intermediate beasts without ever engaging in combat on that planet. My ability is geared for just such a place. While caution is still required, of course, if I'm going to make something of myself, that is the place to do it. I plan to be a traveler for a while to gain more experience then move there and do my thing."
Oscar looked at Mona whose had become a slight smirk. He looked back at Minx, "Mona told me of a deal you wish to broker. Buy the planet and we protect it for a few years for you. What level of protection are you looking for?"
"For now, I need it protected from the dalki."
"What if they are simply returning to their fortress?"
"According to the plants, they have never been on the planet. I suspect, they stole the technology from another people that maybe they conquered."
"Interesting theory Miss Botan. We have no intelligence to think that at this time."
"No offense, Supreme Commander, I have seen the level of intelligence displayed by some of your generals. I don't think "intelligence" is a strong suit of your fighting force. It's more like "let's see how much brutality we can deal, and it doesn't work, just increase the brutality." Minx heard a scoff and tried not to smile. "Sometimes a kinder hand will get the job done much better than violence." She had locked eyes with him at this point.
Oscar smirked, "we have written up the contract in accordance with what Mona has stated your desires are. If they have not changed, please sign the document."
She nodded then signed.
The lady with the pigtail then asked for her to hold out her watch to scan. The total taken was 1.5 million credits. She looked to Oscar surprised. "Call it a student discount. If you need additional services in the future, we can charge you based on what is needed. I also find that settlement odd." Her watch then dinged as a copy of the contract was sent to her.
Oscar then looked to her, "I want you to understand the reason I agreed to this is because Mona is backing you and, while her presence is probably a significant part of this, you were able to speak your mind to me. For one so young, that is impressive. Now, please. Go enjoy yourself."
Minx smiled and walked out in a daze.
In her room, she changed out of her uniform into something more comfortable and she prepared food for Caser. She bought 5 dresses for herself
Now that she knew what Sil considered acceptable, she decided to surprise him by wearing a dress in his favorite color. It wasn't overly revealing but it was flattering.
She had just finished preparing Caser's food when she heard the door open. Her back was to the door. She poured it into the bottle as arms enveloped her and she heard a whisper in her ear, "what are you wearing?"
She giggled, "a dress. Do you like it?"
He took her hand and slowly twirled her around looking at her. Once again, his body reacted. He was getting used to it, but it was always a struggle to resist her. "You are so beautiful. I take I the dress shopping went well?"
She giggled softly, her eyes sparkling, "yes, My Love. I have more as well to show you over the next few days. But I bought two options for the dinner. I thought you could help me decide which to wear." She wrapped his arms around her, relished being in his arms.
He backed off hesitatingly due to how his body reacted. He didn't trust himself and he didn't want to do anything to hurt her. "Did you have fun with the girls today?"
She turned around and allowed him to take in the full effect of the dress. "I felt great after the spa, but I didn't like all aspects. It felt wrong getting a massage. It wasn't your hands on me. I won't do that again."
His eyes were feasting on her appearance until she said the word "hands". "Male or female?"
"I chose the female. The others had to have the males."
Sil nodded, "good."
She chuckled, "It still felt wrong."
"You mentioned dresses? What did you get for the dinner?"
She started to go to the closet.
"On second thought, show me tomorrow. I'm tired." He picked her up, wrapped her legs around his waist and headed towards the bed. He positioned them on the bed so they could cuddle under the blanket, then he reached around her and took Caser's bottle from her. He was going to feed Caser as much as he could over the next few days. Caser happily ate while his human mom enjoyed the company of his human dad. There was never a happier macavity.
The next morning after a shower and breakfast for the three of them, because Caser insisted on joining the shower as well, Minx showed Sil the two dresses she bought that she'd be interested in wearing to dinner, putting each on, so he could help choose which one should be worn the next evening. Of course, he chose the one that showed the least skin.
"Vorden is asking what you got for jewelry."
"I didn't. I know nothing about jewelry, so I was thinking about going without unless you want to help me pick something out, or if Vorden wants to help. If I get something, I should get something for the girls as well."
Sil shook his head, "NO! I should be the one buying you such things!"
Minx sighed and took his hands in hers. "We discussed this. There is no way you've got enough saved up from the military's payments on that card of yours. If you use your gold card, someone else could find out. For now, you need to be satisfied in helping me pick something out."
Sil looked frightened at the mention of him but sad at the same time that he was unable to purchase things for his girl.
"I need to message the girls and have them meet us in the lobby to go for jewelry. We have hair appointments tomorrow morning." She sent out the messages then looked him in the eyes. "What do you think of me going back to my natural hair color? Getting rid of the pink and green?"
"I like it. It's different."
She nodded, "But it's not professional." She looked at her hands, "I bought a planet last night. I don't want to give any details on that to anyone just get, especially because I don't want to risk someone finding out. Eventually, I want to start my own family and teach my ability. I need to look the part. I only dyed my hair like this because of how crazy I had to dress in the orphanage. With the clothes you bought me and now these nice dresses, I think it's time I change my hair to match the style we picked for me."
Sil smiled, "I'll miss the colors but if the change will make you smile, I'll agree."
Minx smiled brilliantly and giggled then got into her uniform. Time to go spend more money!
In the jewelry store, the girls got sticker shock. There were some cheaper varieties, but they didn't go well with the dresses bought the previous day. Minx helped Raven pick out a simple necklace that was diamonds instead of beast crystals, which were far more expensive. The diamonds looked just as nice to the girls as the more expensive pieces.
Layla simply couldn't pick anything at all. For both girls, she ended up having to agree the jewelry belonged to her and she was lending it to the girls for the night. Minx got tired of Layla not picking something and asked the attendant to allow her to try a diamond choker which would go perfect with her dress and short hair. Minx saw it on her and instantly told the clerk that was the one.
While Minx helped the girls, Vorden was busy looking for a set for her. Ultimately, he asked the attendant to allow her to try two sets. The first set she looked at had a necklace, earrings and a bracelet and was designed after flowers. This didn't do anything with her dress, so she set it aside.
The second was simple, elegant, and interchangeable. The earrings and necklace had magneted parts. She could have studded hearts on her ears or 3 dangling rows of diamonds that went from her ear to half an inch from her shoulder. The necklace was a short chain that worked the same way as the earrings. The bracelet was 3 rows of diamonds which were connected at the sides with intermittent hearts and there was an anklet that was the same. There was also a ring that had a diamond heart.
This one was more expensive, of course, but also more versatile with future dresses. The clerk made sure the ring fit then packed everything up. They decided just to put it all in her bag for now.
What she didn't know was that Vorden also made a purchase.