“Get lost, you’re not invited,” Ari said, shaking her head. “It feels like par for the course, you guys are a bunch of jackals and that’s how I will treat you.”
The ambassador fixed Ari with a stare. “You don’t want to do this. You will have to learn how to play ball. You’ll never survive if you make enemies of both my galaxy and the Staar Enforcement League.”
“Get in line,” Ari said. “I’ve already made an enemy of a spider named Hella.”
“Hella?” The ambassador made an odd sign with his hand, like he was crossing himself. His face drained of color. Then, without a word, he handed over an unbelievable amount of cash and ordered another spaceship, since this one was damaged.
Ari stared at the bills in her hand. Most of the numbers on them were so astronomically high that Ari had never seen them before. “Who carries around this much cash?”
Soda slithered over. “Politicians, Ari. Ones that are bought and paid for. Oh, by the way, let me be the first to congratulate you, Overlord Ari. You earned it. Good luck with Intergalactic Politics. I never had the stomach for it, myself. That’s why I came all the way out here.”
“There goes the neighborhood, right?” Ari replied.
Soda stopped for a moment. “Hey, Ari? Thanks.” She put an injured tentacle gingerly around Ari’s shoulder.
“You’re welcome,” Ari answered. “And don’t worry, you’ll always be the Neon Octopus Overlord to me.”
“Nah,” she said, “these days, I’m more of an ally.”
In the end, the victorious Overlord Candidates held delicious feasts with many open bars and fractals for all. They toasted the winner, Overlord Ari, and told stories of their adventures. The stories they told around a happy table and with too much alcohol sounded far too outlandish to be true. And yet, they were. Every single word.
There were hot showers, medical visits, and soft warm beds. Ari even helped herself to some Blue Pixie, for old time’s sake. The hard work of rebuilding was coming, and she knew it. But for once, Ari let herself fully enjoy the moment. She decided that was something she could get used to.
About the Author
L.A. Johnson writes fun, original Sci-Fi you won’t find anywhere else.
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Overlord Alliance: Book 2 of the Neon Octopus Ally Series Page 16