Deathworlders Should Not Be Allowed To Date! 67

Luna VI query: Set the source to the leaked files of the first reconnaissance operation of Irisa.

Done!

Luna VI query: How did Nathan do in the hearing?

***

On the private waiting room connecting to the hotel's conference center, Nathan adjusted his stance, staring down at the crisp white shirt stretched over his chest.

His father, standing in front of him, worked the knot of the tie with ease. The silk looped and folded in a sequence Nathan had never quite managed to master, despite his many attempts over the years. He blamed his lifestyle—years spent trekking through jungles, scaling cliffs, and wading through marshes to study plants didn’t leave much room for mastering formalwear. He felt a mild itch beneath the stiff fabric of the shirt collar, a discomfort that seemed to amplify the anxiety for the scrutiny he would face during the hearing.

“It’s not too tight, is it?” his father asked, stepping back to assess his work. “It won’t do any good if you can’t talk when the GU officials question you.”

“No, it’s fine,” Nathan said, though he resisted the urge to tug at the knot. The tie felt like a leash, a fitting metaphor for the hearing ahead.

Nathan’s mother, observed the scene from her chair with her arms crossed, a figure with black hair and a faint smile tugging at her lips. “It’s a pity Amara couldn’t help with that tie,” she remarked. “I've always been so good at helping your father whenever he needed one.”

Nathan looked up, his eyes first settling on his mother, and then on Amara, seated beside her. Without the blue leaves from Irisa, Amara's blue stood in strong contrast to her surroundings, her soft skin subtly hiding her true mood. Her ears poked cutely from the middle of her hair strands, softening the seriousness of her formal attire—a tailored blazer that gave her a somewhat businesslike appearance.

Nathan was certain the flawless presentation was thanks to Mia’s guidance, though she had stepped out for coffee just moments ago.

Amara caught his gaze and hints of yellow appeared on her neck, her sharp, clawed fingers folded neatly in her lap. Her expression was calm after Emily's comment, with even a flicker of amusement in her eyes. Nathan smiled a her, wordlessly assuring her that his mother’s comments were nothing to take personally. At least, not anymore. Emily’s bluntness had softened considerably since their first meeting, though traces of her sharp tongue remained.

“I will not bother learning,” Amara said lightly, gesturing to the tie with the tip of her tail. “Nathan will never need one once we return to Irisa.”

Emily’s expression darkened slightly, her disapproval evident. “That’s all well and good, but he’ll need one here,” she said firmly. “For his wedding with you, for one.”

Nathan tensed slightly, but Amara simply listened.

Emily continued, her tone growing more resolute. “You can’t just take Nat to your planet and cut him off from Earth. He has two sets of grandparents still alive, not to mention uncles and aunts. They’ll want to see him and your son. You’ll need to spend at least a month here every year. Non-negotiable.”

Amara straightened her posture, her voice taking on a regal tone. “I have plans to bring many humans to Irisa to ensure Argor will not grow up alone.” she said, folding her hands elegantly. “But bringing him to Earth every year to play with human children sounds like an excellent idea.”

Emily blinked, caught off guard by the easy concession. Her eyes moved briefly to Nathan, then to his father, Noah, as if seeking confirmation that they had heard the same thing. Nathan and Noah exchanged a knowing glance, but Emily recovered faster than they could say anything, leaned forward slightly in her chair.

“Well, that’s settled, then,” she said briskly. “Now, when do I get to see the baby? The news keeps going on about Argor this and Argor that, but I haven’t seen so much as a picture.”

Noah chuckled awkwardly and pressed a hand to Nathan’s shoulder. “She’s been waiting for this moment, you know,” he said, then addressed Amara directly. “You don’t have to hold back the pictures. Em’s prepared to accept that her grandson has a tail.”

Nathan laughed at his father's wrong assumption, deliberately choosing to stay silent, knowing Amara could handle the situation. He leaned back slightly, giving her the space to engage with his parents without his interference. Amara’s skin changed tones, a subtle white hue appearing along the sides of her neck—prove she wasn't actively hiding her embarrassment. But she also recovered quickly, her voice steady as she replied, “Argor does not have a tail. But I do have many pictures of him I can share.”

Emily’s interest was instant, her eyes lighting up as she glanced at Noah. The look they exchanged poorly concealed the intensity of their curiosity. Nathan, however, wasn’t worried. Without claws or a tail, Argor’s appearance leaned closer to that of a regular human baby—at least if one ignored the way his skin often shifted colors like his mother’s.

“Nathan showed me how to use my translator to share images,” she explained. “I can add you both to my contacts so you can see Argor.”

Moments later, both Emily and Noah were huddled beside Amara, and the very first image  elicited a delighted gasp from Emily. “He has Nathan’s eyes!”

This was followed by a series of questions, culminating in Amara explaining that it would still take a day for Argo to reach Earth so they could see him in person.

Overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Amara’s explanation of the pictures grew more detailed, her composure slowly giving way to an enthusiastic narratives. In her excitement, she forgot to add Nathan to the virtual space, leaving him as an observer to the growing spiral of questions his parents directed solely at her.

Nathan watched with amusement, knowing where this would lead. Sooner or later, they’d grow bold enough to ask that question, and Amara would likely end up with the burden of explaining the details of what made possible for an human and Irisian hybrid to be born. He decided not to intervene—it was a conversation he was glad to be excluded from.

Instead, Nathan’s thoughts drifted to the upcoming hearing. There, he would face both the elected members of the GU and department heads, and their merciless questions about his breach of contract and his role in the Irisa exploratory mission.

The prospect of having to justify his actions was scary, but he couldn’t help but smile, unsure whether to be proud or ashamed. After all, how would he explain that, instead of bringing back plant samples, he had returned with a kid and the Irisian queen as his wife?

As these conflicting emotions swirled in his mind—fear for the hearing, happiness at how smoothly Amara’s introduction to his parents was going—the time slipped by unnoticed. A knock at the door brought him back to the present. Nathan crossed the room and opened it to find one of the hotel staff robots standing there. Its large, gentle eyes blinked up at him, projecting a calm demeanor.

“The hearing will begin now,” the robot said in a smooth, mechanical voice. “It will be conducted in virtual space at the conference center. Only a few investigators will be physically present.”

Nathan nodded, a small pit forming in his stomach. That sounded about right. The GU wouldn’t physically gather their entire team in one place just to address his transgression, and he was certain they had brought the investigators along just in case he slipped up or did something stupid, giving them a reason to justify an arrest. The robot lingered for a brief moment, as if ensuring he understood, then turned and left.

When he closed the door and turned back to the room, all eyes were on him. His parents were watching with concern, while Amara sat composed and calm. Her reassuring expression radiated a quiet strength, the kind of presence that came from someone who had already endured far more than most people ever would.

Emily approached him first, her hands on her hips. “Be careful with what you say. You know how they twist things.”

“I know, Mom,” Nathan replied softly, offering a small smile to ease her concern.

Noah stepped up beside her, placing a hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “Stay sharp.”

"Will do," he replied.

He was about to turn toward the door when Amara’s voice stopped him.

"Do not dare to make a mistake, but if you do, know that I will save you when my turn to speak on behalf of Irisa arrive,” she said.

Nathan’s parents exchanged confused glances, clearly unsure what to make of the statement. Emily opened her mouth as if to question her, but Nathan raised a hand to forestall it. He knew Amara was serious. She wasn’t one to make empty promises.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” he said with a light smile.

With a final glance around the room, he turned and walked out the door, heading for the conference center just a short distance away.

The place was plain, almost disappointingly unremarkable—beige walls, a long table in the center, and an absence of personal touches or decor. It looked like any corporate meeting room hastily assembled for an impersonal function.

As he moved further inside, a small, translucent window popped up in front of his eyes, projected by the integrated system. The message was simple:

"Join Virtual Meeting?"

Nathan glanced around the room. On the far side, a few men in suits stood silently with their stern faces giving him the distinct impression they were the investigators. Their eyes briefly landed on him, and he swallowed hard, forcing himself to look away.

Forget they’re here. Focus.

Taking a deep breath, he selected 'Yes' on the hovering interface with mental comand. Instantly, the room around him began to shift as the augmented space expanded reality. The plain walls and table dissolved into a holographic overlay, replaced by an imposing encirclement of grand tables.

They stretched high and wide, their design seeming to dwarf him. Formally dressed individuals materialized around the tables, seated stiffly with a air of authority. Their clothing was formal, but some of them looked more sloppy than the others, as if to them this was just another day of work.

As he scanned their faces, his first impression was of age. Most of the them appeared older than him, though he couldn’t be certain—rejuvenating technologies had made age almost meaningless across humanity. Even the few who might have been close to his age carried an air of detached superiority that made him feel like an outsider.

His eyes shifted toward a group of floating windows hovering mid-air. Sally, one of the senior members of the GU Security Department, was among them, her pink glasses unmistakable even in there. A few other department heads also appeared this way. Their lack of physical avatars was perhaps deliberate, and Nathan immediately suspected it was some precaution against tech vulnerabilities that came with full immersion systems, especially ones integrated into the nervous system.

Before he could dwell on it, an old man he didn’t recognize spoke, his voice drawing all eyes toward him.

“This hearing has been convened to investigate multiple reported cases of misconduct by Nathan Everett while representing Earth in the exploration of the previously Alliance-affiliated world of Irisa,” the man announced from his seat. “Mr. Everett has been accused of neglecting his duties during the mission period, including demanding an early return to Earth prior to the completion of the one-year agreement. Furthermore, there are allegations of intentionally breaching the terms of his non-disclosure agreement and leaking sensitive information to the press.”

Nathan felt a flare of indignation rising in his chest. The accusations were skewed, and blatantly misrepresented the circumstances of the mission. He wanted to speak, to correct the record right then and there. But his lawyer’s warnings were clear: only speak when requested and don’t let emotions take over.

As the focal point of their scrutiny, his resisted the urge to correct them as the hearing began. Formalities were quick, just the expected request that he swear to speak only the truth. He complied, knowing it was more symbolic than binding in a setting like this. Then they moved to the circumstances of his mission. The announcer reviewed his selection as Earth’s representative to Irisa, chosen because of his unique combination of skills—a botanist with extensive wilderness experience and a minor in international studies.

Eventually, the first sharp question directed at him came from an older woman seated at one of the most prominent tables. She was introduced as an elected member.

“Mr. Everett,” she said, “do you confirm your close relationship with the Irisian queen? If so, how do you explain falling for what appears to be a blatant baby trap? The mission records say you were warned by Colonel Vega about the Irisians’ intentions before you even set foot on Irisa.”

Nathan froze for a moment, immediately recognizing the malice embedded in her words. The question was a trap. If he denied his relationship with Amara, he’d be framed as a liar. If he admitted it, it would cast him as gullible, someone who ignored warnings and became a tool in what they were implying was a calculated ploy by Amara, who at the time couldn't possibly know that baby trapping was even a possibility.

After a brief pause to consider how not to incriminate himself, he spoke. “Yes, I confirm my close relationship with Amara, and I do so without shame. But let me clarify something: Amara wasn’t trying to seduce me at the beginning. We grew closer gradually during the time we were lost in the Ebon Range. Mission control failed to detect that my communication equipment had been destroyed, and Amara and I were left to fend for ourselves against an entire army of Irisians. If there’s any blame to assign, it should be to mission control for that oversight.”

The exchange of surprised glances across the tables satisfied Nathan, though a twinge of remorse surfaced for having to implicate mission control, knowing Mia had been part of that team.

The next question came from a man introduced as an elected representative of the GU, Mr. Havers, whose sour face alone made it clear he would say something harsh. “Mr. Everett, do you not feel any shame? You involved yourself romantically with a non-human alien. How do you justify that morally?”

The atmosphere in the room shifted entirely. The question was clearly divisive, even among the formal suits surrounding him. Nathan took a moment to look around, gauging the tension. Surprisingly, this felt easier to answer.

“What do you mean by morality?” Nathan asked evenly. “Amara and I were both single when we met, and last I checked, humanity had long since moved past forbidding what people do in private. Our relationship is pretty normal if you look past the differences in species. Honestly, I think if morality were such a massive concern, you’d find much more questionable things happening right here on Earth.”

The response stirred some debate, but Nathan could feel it—he had won this round.

When order was restored, the same woman from before returned with a curveball. “Morality aside,” she said coolly, “what I want to know, Mr. Everett, is why you broke your NDA and went public with private mission files. Sally’s presence here proves the GU was assisting with the rescue of the hybrid. To me, it seems like you leaked those files to manipulate public opinion against the GU.”

Nathan’s mind raced. This was a tough one. Denying it outright, as his lawyer advised, might raise more suspicion. Shifting blame to the Department of Defense might sour alliances Amara couldn’t afford to lose.

He took a breath, choosing neither path. “When Argor was kidnapped, I almost went crazy,” he admitted, his voice raw. “It was one of the hardest times in my life—for both Amara and me. It nearly tore us apart. So, I ask you this: What would you have done if it were your child who had been taken?”

He looked each of them in the eye as he spoke, letting the weight of his question sink in. Realizing he might unleash some pent-up anger if he continued, he stopped there.

This gave an opening for an older man, who had remained silent until now, to question Nathan as well. “We understand it might have been difficult, Mr. Everett, but did you not consider the consequences of your actions? Undermining public trust in the GU during a time of heightened tensions with the Alliance was reckless.”

Nathan noticed subtle nods of agreement around the table. His pulse quickened. But before he could respond, Sally’s voice cut through the virtual avatars, her appearance the same as always–an old lady in floating screen who even now seemed to be double tasking.

“That may be true, sweetheart” she said, “but during the rescue of the hybrid, our Defense Department uncovered an underground facility. What we found there will make Mr. Everett’s actions irrelevant when it reaches the public.”

Her voice grew chilling as she added, “I suggest we adjourn for today. There’s no point in continuing this line of questioning when Amara herself will address your concerns tomorrow as the representative of her people. There are far more pressing issues we need to discuss with her.”

Her gaze flicked to Nathan briefly, as if to remind him she had just saved his skin, before shifting to a dissatisfied representative pressing her for details about the facility and the rescue. Sally dismissed their concerns with a pointed response, making it clear that her clearance outweighed theirs.

Nathan couldn't help but smile, knowing he knew something all those powerful people didn't just because of his unusual wife.

After a brief exchange among the panel, the hearing was adjourned. The augmented space dissolved around Nathan, returning him to the empty conference room. The investigators across the room still stared at him, their expressions unreadable. But, thankfully, none of them seemed inclined to arrest him just yet.

Nathan turned back to find his parents waiting anxiously by the wall. His brow furrowed as he realized Amara wasn’t there, an odd absence considering the hearing also involved her. Approaching them, he simply asked, “Where’s Amara?”

Emily hesitated, her lips pressing tightly together. Noah gave her a knowing look and said softly, “Em.”

Finally, Emily met Nathan’s gaze and spoke. “Samantha just arrived at the hotel. Amara and Mia went to meet her.”

A single word escaped from Nathan’s mouth, "Shit."

***

This was an account based on Nathan’s performance in the hearing. The previous narrative is based on the events of the twelfth month of the exploratory mission of Irisa. According to your current settings, no queries will be suggested.