"Impressive," remarked Melissa.

"I know. Thank you for the help."

"Think nothing of it. So long as you provide me spectacle, I will continue to assist you if you absolutely require my help."

"...you say that, but from how you act, I wouldn't be surprised if you I really just like helping people and are just making excuses."

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Guess you'll just have to find out."

"Challenge accepted."

"Good luck. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things to attend to, so I must depart from the field."

"Okay, bye."

"I wasn't finished: Cassidy asked if she could spend some time with your children. She's grown quite fond of them."

"I'm fine with that, just give me about... an hour and a half to sort things out here and get ready for her arrival."

"Of course. Farewell."

XXXXX

Once Melissa departed, I turned my attention back to the Dread Lords, weapon's armed, ready to fight. I doubted they would be willing to extend the truce they had offered now that the immediate threat had passed. Oddly enough, though, they weren't making any aggressive actions. In fact, they weren't doing anything, period.

Well, the last part of that statement was wrong. They were trying to do something - hail me. Since I didn't exactly know what to do next, I obliged their request. A few moments later, I found myself staring at the image of a female Dread Lord.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of Thai conversation?"

"There is...no need...for formalities."

"Okay. Then what do you wish to talk about."

"It is in...regards to...your most recent actions."

She sounded fatigued and confused. What was going on?

"Did you just...completely reverse the collapse of a star...using a fighter sized vessel?"

"...Yes?"

"And, in theory, you could build more?"

"Already building a dozen more."

Well, just started the production of a dozen more would be more like it, but that wasn't something she had to know.

I think I heard a shriek on her end of the conversation.

"I...see."

Then, a new holographic acreen appeared in front of her, at an angle that I cpuldn't read, although I could make out the picture of the male Dread Lord ramming his face into a table/desk just find.

"Well, then, I have one last question to ask: do you accept surrenders?"

"...yes?"

"Then, on behalf of Lord Dread and the rest of my people, I surrender the entirety of my empire to you unconditionally. Do you accept?"

...what? Seriously? They were surrendering? Was this some kind of trick?

"Um, okay, I accept."

I promptly heard several loud sighs of relief from the other end of the conversation, as well as the thuds one would expect from several heavy bodies slamming into the ground.

"Then I have no need to continue this conversation. Have a pleasant day."

Then the line went dead.

...Wow. That was unexpected.

XXXXXXXX

Twenty minutes of hacking later, and I had confirmed that the Dread Lords really were sincere about surrendering to me. Apparently, me reversing the Supernova with a fighter sized vessel had been enough to cowl them into giving up. Also, in unrelated news, Lord Dread had soiled himself when he saw that happen, while the captain I had been chatting with had spiked herself when she had been told to contact me.

There was something darkly amusing about that.

Anyway, the surrender had come with the inclusion of all locations the Dread Lords occupies, and they had informed everyone else that they were formally surrendering to me, so that was that. I still sent forces in to make sure no one tried anything stupid.

With that out of the way, I called Melissa and told her that assist could come over early. A moment later, a portal appeared in Rory's room and Cassidy flew through it (quite literally) a second later. Much hugging and friendly wrestling ensued - hey, that isn't unique to boys!

A few minutes later, Rory was showing Cassidy some new additions to my tower - a zoo, a smuggler pen, a gigantic pool, and more. Oddly, she seemed focused on the Aurorus Arboretum I'd added in.

...maybe I could ask her about them and what was happening on the 13th?

XXXXXXXX

"You want to know what's happening on the 13th?" Asked Cassidy.

"Yes, please...if you're okay with telling me."

Cassidy stared at me for a moment, before, to my surprise, taking an envelope out of her sleeve (which were far too long for casual clothes) and handing it to me.

"Don't tell Mom I gave you this."

"Okay."

Then I opened and read the envelope.

"To whom this may concern, you are hearty invited to the celebration of the birth of our most beloved Sovereign of the Illuminate...oh."

"Yeah. My mom never made an invitation for you, but you are one of the only people I know of that she friendly with that isn't one of her followers, so..."

"I get it."

XXXXXXXXX

Of all things, that invitation was the LAST thing I ever expected to get as a commander.

Though it did explain why the Illuminate wanted those glowing trees.

...now what was I supposed to do?

...Eh, screw it, she'd shown me courtesy on my special day, might as well give her them same.

XXXXXXXXX

AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!