Felix shared last.
“I will tell you my story,” they said, the rough-edged English strange coming from a dog’s muzzle. “But it is... difficult.”
“Only what you’re willing to share,” the Queen said gently.
Felix spoke of a woman, their friend. The security guard who’d tried to stop the abduction. Who’d been hurt badly for interfering. The anguish at not knowing if they’d survived. The long journey with only their own song for company. Meeting Doctor Miller. The fear.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
The Queen listened patiently.
Felix continued. Described how the enhanced serum burned. The power that awakened. How the real experiments had only begun after that. No mention of the power-copying was made.
The Queen was silent for a moment after Felix finished. “I’m sorry. Nobody should have to go through such horrors.” Her tone carried genuine weight. “And that you still don’t know about your friend.”
Felix’s tail drooped slightly.
“But you awakened successfully.” The Queen’s expression shifted, something analytical replacing the sympathy. “From this enhanced serum. One that works on non-human biology.”
“Yes.”
The Queen’s gaze moved to Grimnir. The calculating look was unmistakable now.
But she turned back to Felix first. “Thank you for sharing this. I know it cost you to speak of it.”
Felix inclined their head. “Grimnir gave me freedom and time to heal. Gave me life again. Speaking of the past is a small price for the future.”
The Queen stood, moving to where Alexander, Talia, Augustus, and Annie waited. Her expression had shifted entirely, the careful diplomat replaced by something sharper.
“An enhanced serum,” she said quietly. “That works on non-human species.”
The team said nothing.
Annie’s eyes flicked toward Alexander for just a heartbeat.
The Queen caught it. Her breath stopped.
“You have it,” she said. Not a question. “The formula.”
Alexander gave Annie an amused look, then turned back to the Queen. “Yes. We cracked the encryption on Miller’s tablet.”
The Queen glanced between them, then moved to one of the terrace chairs and sat. The calculated diplomat was fully present now.
“What makes it different?” she wondered aloud, likely not expecting an answer.
Talia answered anyway. “It’s a highly modified G-quadruplex DNA sequence compared to the original serum, according to Miller’s notes. It will probably work on a lot of carbon and crystalline-based entities, which accounts for approximately seventy to eighty percent of catalogued galactic life, but will require further testing to be sure.”
The Queen sat straighter.
“I want it,” she said. Her voice carried absolute determination. “What will it take?”
Everyone looked to Alexander.
He was quiet for a moment as he considered. Then he met the Queen’s eyes.
“We’ll take the island for starters. Ownership, not just use. The paperwork stays unchanged for anonymity, but in reality it’s ours forever. Black cards for every member of Grimnir and permanent access to Astra Omnia.”
The Queen nodded once. “Acceptable. What else?”
“Five percent.”
“One percent of the profits.”
“Three percent.” Alexander paused deliberately. “Of revenue.”
The Queen’s expression sharpened. She studied him, something like approval flickering across her features.
“You’re learning,” she said. “Manufacturing will be a significant undertaking. I’ll need to establish facilities outside of Sol, given that UEG restrictions make local production and sale impractical. Build proper infrastructure, acquire specialized equipment. Extensive testing with volunteers. Advertising. Shipping. Not to mention all the bribes it’s going to take to stop the Galactic Council taking it by force.”
“All of which you’ll pass on to the clients,” Alexander said. “Along with a substantial markup for exclusive access, at least until a competitor rises.”
“True.” The Queen thought for a few more moments, then stood, extending her hand. “Three percent of the revenue and the rest.”
Alexander took her hand. She moved to pull away, but his grip tightened. “Volunteers only. Well-paid ones.”
She met his gaze. “Darling, if I were going to cross lines that would make us enemies, I would have simply taken what I wanted today instead of establishing a partnership. I know that Grimnir and The Royals are going to be the best of friends, simply because we know there are lines that should never be crossed.”
The Queen squeezed his hand once, then released it. “Besides, the Ace of Spades would never forgive me if I ruined his carefully laid plans.”
“The Ace of Spades?” Augustus asked.
“Not my story to tell, dear.” She moved toward where the doorway would appear. “Please deliver the research directly when you’re ready. I’ll continue intercepting contracts when I can, but be vigilant, even on my station.”
“We will,” Alexander said.
“Doorman.”
The door appeared, then opened.
The Queen turned to Augustus. “Your father sends his love. And he insisted that I ask you to join us for dinner sometime. He misses you.”
Something flickered across Augustus's face. Interest, maybe, before his expression went carefully blank.
The Queen stepped through the doorway with the grace of a true villain.
Silence settled over the terrace.
“Did the Queen of Hearts just ask Augustus to dinner?” Annie asked.