Chapter 120: Don’t Be Jealous

The frontier research base had become considerably busier since the discovery of the golden Zerg. The subterranean research facility buzzed with a rare, collaborative energy that hadn’t existed on the planet for generations.

Scientists from the underground civilization worked alongside Rhaevia’s team, comparing biological archives with modern data. Holographic terminals flickered across the room, projecting complex data streams and ancient planetary schematics.

"Your Highness, I’ve finished analyzing the golden Zerg’s neural activity," a smooth voice announced, cutting through the low sound of the consoles.

A young man stepped into Rhaevia’s personal workspace, holding several data slates in his slender hands. His silver-white hair was bound neatly behind his head, and delicate crystalline markings shimmered faintly along his temples.

This was Caelith, one of the underground city’s most gifted biological researchers. He carried himself with gentle confidence, his light eyes fixed entirely on Rhaevia.

Rhaevia turned away from the complex genetic sequence currently displaying across her main console. Her gaze swept over the young researcher with mild surprise.

"Already? I expected those results to take another day," she noted, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the desk.

Caelith expanded the data panels with a fluid wave of his hand, projecting a blueprint between them. A proud, subtle smile touched his lips as he met her gaze.

"Your preliminary calculations were remarkably accurate," Caelith explained, his tone warm with professional admiration. "Once I understood the relationship between Sovereign energy and the foreign sequence, isolating the independent pathways was simple."

Rhaevia leaned forward, her eyes brightening with genuine intrigue as she examined the projection. The three-dimensional model of the creature’s consciousness structure hovered between them in detail.

"Show me," she requested, her mind instantly racing through the biological implications.

Unlike ordinary Zerg that answered to a central hive mind, this golden specimen possessed no detectable external link. Its entire neural architecture had developed around an independent, self-sustaining energy core.

"This is extraordinary," Rhaevia murmured, her face inches from the floating golden neural net. "The genetic modification didn’t merely make synchronization possible, it created an independent consciousness."

Caelith stepped closer to her side, watching her fascination with a soft, affectionate expression. He gestured to a specific node near the core, pointing out a cluster of neural threads.

"That was my conclusion as well," he replied softly. "Although your understanding of Sovereign energy was what truly allowed me to bridge the gap."

"Then we should run a second analysis using the native crystalline organisms as a baseline comparison," Rhaevia suggested, looking up at him.

"An excellent idea," Caelith agreed without hesitation. "I’ll prepare the necessary comparative samples immediately."

For the next hour, the two remained absorbed in their work, moving seamlessly from one complex model to another. They adjusted energy parameters, debated genetic theories, and compared underground archives with modern interstellar biology.

Caelith knew the biological records better than anyone, while Rhaevia possessed the rare ability to interpret Sovereign energy signatures. Together, their collaborative pace was nothing short of brilliant.

Unfortunately, someone observing the interaction from across the laboratory was becoming distinctly less impressed.

Raevor stood beside a reinforced observation window near the blast doors, reviewing security logs on his wrist display. To any passing soldier, the major general appeared focused on military matters.

In reality, his dark gaze had drifted toward Rhaevia’s desk for the fifth time in ten minutes.

His eyes tracked every movement in Rhaevia’s workspace with precision. Caelith had been standing beside her workstation for forty-seven minutes continuously.

In that time, the silver-haired researcher had retrieved data panels twice, explained three separate genetic models, and was currently leaning in close enough that his shoulder nearly brushed hers.

Raevor’s gloved fingers tightened around the edge of his wrist display until the alloy frame creaked faintly. His jaw clenched as Rhaevia let out a soft, genuine laugh at something the young man said.

What exactly is so amusing about a genetic strand? Raevor thought, his eyes narrowing to silver slits.

"General Veyr?" an officer called out, stepping up beside him with a digital clipboard tucked under his arm.

Raevor snapped his head around immediately, his cold expression locking onto his subordinate. "Report," he commanded, his voice dropping.

The officer straightened his shoulders instinctively under the sudden pressure. "The outer perimeter is secure, sir, and we’ve completed the sensor inspection you requested."

"Good," Raevor said, his eyes already flickering back toward the research console across the room. "Double the patrols around the primary research sector."

The officer blinked in surprise, checking his pad. "Sir, the current security presence is already twice our standard protocol for a secure base."

Raevor turned his gaze back to the officer, his expression unyielding and severe. "Then it will be more than sufficient. Execute the order."

"Yes, General!" The officer saluted hastily, turning on his heel and departing before he could draw any more unexplained wrath.

Raevor returned his full attention to the far side of the room. Caelith had shifted his weight, leaning even closer over Rhaevia’s console as he pointed out a complex molecular structure.

Rhaevia leaned forward to examine the node, her hair brushing against Caelith’s sleeve. Their heads were barely inches apart as they analyzed the hovering blue projection together.

The major general’s chest tightened with a dark weight. He has his own assigned terminal on the east wall, Raevor thought bitterly. Why does he need to hover over hers?

Across the room, Rhaevia remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing near the observation window. She tapped a series of commands into her terminal, opening a restricted archive folder.

"Caelith, can you access the sealed biological archives beneath the central spire?" she asked, looking at him thoughtfully.

"With the high keeper’s seal, yes," Caelith answered, leaning back slightly with an eager smile. "Some of those records haven’t been opened in centuries."

Rhaevia nodded with satisfaction. "Excellent. I want to examine those physical data slabs this afternoon."

"I would be delighted to accompany you," Caelith offered quickly, his crystalline markings pulsing with pleasant light. "The subterranean vaults can be confusing to navigate alone."

"Thank you," Rhaevia said, offering him a warm, appreciative smile. "Having someone familiar with the archives will save us hours."

Caelith smiled broadly, his enthusiasm clearly getting the better of him. "Then it’s a date--"

He froze mid-sentence.

Rhaevia raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "A date?"

Caelith’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink as his crystalline markings flared brightly in embarrassment. "I meant a scheduled research trip," he corrected rapidly, clearing his throat. "A scientific appointment."

Rhaevia let out a light laugh at his sudden panic. "Of course, Caelith. A scientific appointment."

From across the laboratory, Raevor lowered his wrist display.

Slowly.

His icy silver eyes locked onto the back of the young researcher’s neck with the intensity of a targeting laser. His Sentinel aura, usually kept strictly under control, leaked out in a wave of pressure.

Caelith, unfortunately, felt the sudden drop in room temperature. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, an instinctual primal alarm blaring inside his head.

His cheerful smile faltered. Caelith slowly turned his head toward the source of the overwhelming aura, his eyes widening as he met the cold gaze of Major General Veyr.

The general didn’t move an inch. He simply stood there, broad-shouldered and imposing, glaring at Caelith as if evaluating the cleanest trajectory for a lethal strike.

Caelith swallowed hard, stepping a tiny, discreet inch away from Rhaevia’s desk.

Rhaevia noticed the sudden change in her assistant’s posture. She glanced at Caelith’s pale face, then followed his terrified gaze across the laboratory floor.

There stood Raevor, burning a hole through the poor researcher with hostility.

For several long, tense seconds, neither man looked away. The air in the research laboratory grew unnaturally still and heavy, thick with the silent threat of a territorial 3S Sentinel.

Rhaevia looked between the rigid, glary Major General and the trembling, pale researcher standing beside her console.

A slow, knowing smile slowly spread across her lips. Her dark eyes sparkled with mischievous realization as she rested her chin in her hand.

Oh, she thought, watching the youngest Major General in interstellar history lose his mind over a simple research trip. This is going to be very interesting.