"So," began Melissa, "did we get invited?"

"Yes, mistress," answered Leal, "we were."

"Good. Now then, what shall we-"

"Madam, we just received a transmission from the Infernum Federation," intoned Mortarax. "Putting it onscreen now."

A moment later, the face of Commander Flame was displayed before them.

"So, to do I owe the pleasure of this communique?" inquired the female ROB.

"Well, first off, did you get invited to the...gala celebrating the defeat of the Drengin and the Dread Lords?"

"Yes, but why do you ask?"

"...Would you be willing to go there as my partner?"

"..."

"..."

"...What?! Why?!"

"I don't have anyone else to go with."

"You have three AI subordinates, two of which are attractive women."

"They refused to go as more than members of my entourage."

"Oh."

"Also, they think that if I go without anyone that could appear to be my significant other, people will try to seduce me in an effort to gain a position of power in the Federation. No, that would never work, but I'd rather avoid the hassle."

"...They told you to ask me out, didn't they?"

"...Yes," squeaked the Commander.

Instantly, Melissa felt a predatory smile creep onto her face - the Commander was clearly unwilling to ask her to come with him to this occasion (at least, as his 'date'). That, of course, meant he would be very uncomfortable if she accepted his request.

And that alone was enough to get her to accept said request.

"Well, then, I accept."

"Okay. Could you give me a time and place to pick you up at?"

"No need - I'll meet you at the gala."

"...Well, that saves me a hassle. Please don't ditch me."

"Oh, please, you're not getting away from me that easy."

The commander flinched when she said that. Good.

"...Well, bye then."

With that, the conversation terminated.

Now, it was time to decide what to wear.

One flick of her hands later, Melissa was clad only in her underwear, busying examining several different sets of formal wear to examine. She did not need to worry about her subordinates staring at her figure - they were too respectful to do so. The threat of being obliterated should they dare to look at her indecently exposed form was also a great motivator. The only ones spared from that rule were Mortarax, Elling, Leal, and Adeline, in no small part because they were helping her choose what to wear.

"So," began Melissa, "do you think this dress would look good?"

"It's too dark," intoned Adeline, "plus the style doesn't mesh well for a gala. Even if it was a black and white gala, it would still be out of place."

"Well, onto the next."

A quick change of attire later, and Melissa was clad In a different set of formal wear.

"How do I look?"

"Too tacky," replied Mortarax

A second change occurred.

"Too poofy," remarked Leal

A third change followed.

"TOO BRIGHT!" shouted a temporarily blinded Elling.

A furious fit of changes in attire followed, all met with various different complaints.

Finally, the female ROB just collapsed, annoyed by her subordinates' constant criticisms.

"You've given none of my choices the go ahead for this event. Is there anything you think that will be good for me to where?"

"Well," responded Leal, "How about this?"

"...Too baggy."

"Maybe this one?" offered Adeline.

"...Too militaristic."

"Perhaps this one?" suggested Elling.

"...That would be considered indecent anywhere except in a Star Wars convention."

"Then maybe this one?" volunteered Mortarax.

"That would be considered indecent anywhere."

"Then We're out of ideas," stated Elling.

"Uh, mom? Why are you in your underwear?"

Instantly, Melissa turned bright red and moved her hands to shield her indecent form form her daughter.

"Um, mommy's changing, dear. Please don't look."

Cassidy did not oblige.

"Are you trying to decide what to wear for the big...gala?"

"Yes, no please look away."

Cassidy continued to refuse that order.

"Then what about that one dress Elling says you've had since forever but never use? Would not be a good time to try it?"

Instantly, Melissa turned to stare at Elling, an expression of betrayal on her face. Why had he told Cassidy about that?!

"Could you please wear it, mom? I think you would look so good in it!"

Turning her attention back toward her daughter, Melissa felt herself almost crushed when she saw Cassidy's adorable puppy-dog face. Her eyes seemed to balloon to heart-rending sizes, and it looked like tears were beginning to pool up in them.

Melissa was pretty sure the tears were being faked.

That didn't take away from their power.

...Oh, screw it.

"Fine. I'll do it."

"YAY!"

Not missing a beat, Melissa turned her attention back to Elling.

"You're not going with us to the gala, okay?"

"You only got four invitations, I'm not even interested in going, and even if I was, I'm too young to attend."

"Well, then you're babysitting Cassidy. Make sure she doesn't blow up my palace."

"I can manage."

"Good."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The minute the conversation with Melissa was finished, I set about making the best formal wear I could, in preparation for the gala. The next couple of hours were spent practicing dancing, making sure my outfit matched up exactly with my measurements, and relearning how to tie a tie. I also made sure practice public speaking, just in case they wanted me to give some kind of speech.

After all of that was said and done, I spent the remainder of the time trying to review everyone who would be in attendance and make sure I looked presentable for them. Then, when the time came, I quickly boarded a ship and made my way to the destination of the Gala: Altaria.

When I arrived, most of the guests had already settled themselves in, even though the gala would not start for another half an hour. With no idea how long it would take for Melissa to arrive, I chose to remain outside the gathering hall, waiting for my 'date' to show up.

I ended up waiting fifteen minutes before an Illuminate luxury transport arrived and Melissa emerged from it and ...wow.

I had expected her to wear some flamboyant dress in an effort to impress those who came to this party. What She did end up wearing was a beautiful, almost completely white dress, one that was extremely simple, barring a few precious gems sown into the fabric here and there. On its back, I could make out an impressive sigil embroidered into the dress, one that was utterly alien to me, though clearly of some importance. Further investigation would have to wait until later, though, for it did not take long for my ROB to notice me and gesture for me to approach her.

"You're very well dressed," I noted, hoping she would accept the honest compliment.

"I could say the same about you - you're wearing all black, except for that red and silver tie, but that's still rather nice looking."

"Coming from the girl who is wearing a white and blue dress, I find any suggestions of blandness to be...maybe a tad hypocritical. Still, you look amazing."

"Thank you. Now shall we get this show on the road?"

"Let's do that."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

We entered the celebration as a couple, our respective entourages right behind us. When the ceremony commenced, Alan Bradley, leader of the Terran Alliance, started things off with a speech, praising everyone who had been a part of the Coalition, commenidng them for their perseverance in the face of impossible odds. He stressed how important their unity had been, likely attempting to try and sway all those present to support maintain the Coalition in the years to come. He didn't downplay my actions, though, or Melissa's, which was rather refreshing. It's nice to be given credit where you are do.

Following Bradley's presentation, another figure stepped up to the podium. This was Netro Mancer, leader of the Altarians, and host of these celebrations. He, too, had a speech to offer, this one also extolling the Coalition members for their perseverance, as well as praising the Federation and Illuminate for their involvement. Partway through the speech, though, he seemed to go off on some tangent about the Drath and how perhaps it was time the Altarians sought to end their conflict with the reptilian aliens. I glanced at Melissa, who only smiled in response.

Once Netro finished his speech, the festivities commenced. Some people began to dance, others quickly moved to refresh themselves, and other elected to just observe the surroundings. I was among the last group, with Melissa swiftly joining me in examining the city we were in, as well as the woodlands just outside said city's limits.

"So," I inquired," did you have something to do with Netro acting like that?"

"Not really. He's always wanted to try and reconcile the Altarians with the Drath in some peaceful manner. I just made it so that he has more support."

"I see...do you want to dance? I know this is a beautiful sight, but I grow bored rather easily."

"So do I, and yes, we can dance."

A moment later, we were on the designated dance floor of the gala, hand in hand, dancing the night away. While I had become fairly skilled in dancing over the past few hours, Melissa was clearly superior to me in this field, and she was the one who lead our movements.

"You're quite familiar with dancing, I see."

"lords and ladies are expected to know how to dance, especially when they are invited to such formal events as this."

"So you're nobility of some sort? A baroness, or perhaps a duchess?...No, I think you're a princess."

Really, I was just making stuff up to flatter her...

"Actually, I am a princess."

...So I was rather surprised when I turned out to be correct.

"Oh. Interesting...please don't behead me for any of the insults and rude things I've said to you."

"You had every reason to say those things, so I won't hold them against you. Besides, I'm not that high on the totem pole - my family are the rulers of a principality - well, actually, five of them - so I will only ever hold the title of princess unless I marry a king or emperor, or their heir"

What a strange race, to have princes, kinds, emperors and their respective female counterparts all at once.

"You species sounds rather bizarre, since they have all those different types of rulers in one ierarchy."

"that's probably the funniest thing I've heard all day."

"Why's that?"

"Because my father is the one who rules those principalities, and he is a human, just like you."

"...You're human?"

"Half human. My mother was...something else."

"Something else?"

"She never did tell me what exactly she was. Some people called her kind the Builders, other called them Praenunti."

...Why did that name feel important?

"...You haven't asked her she is?"

"I'm not on speaking terms with my parents. I would appreciate you not asking why."

"I see...Are you enjoying this?"

"Hmm?"

"The celebration. Are you enjoying it?"

"...Yes, all things considered. In fact, this is probably one of the better times I've had in the past few years."

"really? I thought you'd have plenty of good times in the past few years, spent with family and friends-"

"Of which I have neither, and I doubt I will ever possess them. Okay, maybe I do have family, but I gave up on having friends a long time ago."

"Why's that?"

"Power and loyalty demand sacrifices. As you are ware, Celm is both the source of my power and the target of my loyalty, so I have given up much for him. And one day, I believe you will find yourself devoid of friends just like me."

"What's you proof of that?"

"OF all of the Commanders I have ever observed across the Cosmos, not one has any true friends. Even the one who defeated Nod, the Scrin and the Flood has not true equals, merely those he treats as children. You will soon likely join those ranks. In fact, think you are already a part of them."

"I am?"

"Yes. You have only your children, and your subordinates, for comfort. No friends, just followers and family. True, they can support you, but they are not friends. In fact, I don't think you even have any people you can remotely consider yourself to be even companions with, much less friends."

"...you're wrong. Maybe I don't have friends, but I do have someone I could at least be companions with."

I did really know what I was saying, only that I wanted to deny what Melissa was telling me.

"And who is that?"

The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"I have you."

The minute I realized what I'd just said, I felt my signifantly warmer than I had before. If I had to hazard a guess, I was probably blushing. Much to my surprise, so was Melissa. She almost looked like a fish, trying to find some retort, only for words to fail her. I, too, attempted to find words that would let me deny what I said, only to come up short.

Because, really, what I had said had been true - while Melissa was not my friend, I did consider her my companion, and possibly the only being I knew that I could treat as an equal. No, I hadn't forgiven her for abducting me, she was the only being I actually felt comfortable admitting my feelings and secrets to.

...Did that make me her friend?

...No, it didn't. Friendship had to be mutual, and Melissa only saw me as a pawn.

...Didn't she?

XXXXXXXXXXX

AN: For those wondering, Elling's suggestion for what Nelissa was supposed to wear to the gala was the Slave Leia Outfit (RIP Carrie Fisher), while Mortarax's was Raynare's outfit from Highschool DxD (no links, NSFW).

So, Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!