The restaurant crouched in the Southern Rim's industrial sector, a holdout of luxury amid steel and grime. Real meat was rare in a system running on synthetics, and authentic Earth beef here cost more than most earned in months.

  Aria and Electra shared a corner booth, their recent fight evident in subtle winces and careful movements. Electra lounged against polished wood while Aria's attention never settled, cataloging every entrance and blind spot.

  "The wagyu here is exceptional," Aria said, keeping her voice low. "But you knew that already."

  "I own it." Electra smiled over her wine glass, old Earth vintage catching the light. "Along with other establishments for... select clientele."

  Their steaks arrived. They ate with measured precision, two apex predators sharing hunting grounds, trading intelligence between bites of meat.

  "The Architect's grip is slipping," Electra said, knife glinting as she cut into rare flesh. "Your bounty's getting interesting. Twenty million credits."

  "Thirty," Aria corrected without emotion. "As of this morning."

  The conversation died as familiar voices filtered through the door. Aria's spine stiffened. Of all the restaurants in the Southern Rim. Her fingers pressed white against the table as Eden and Ann, her shipmates, stepped into view.

  "Just try it," Ann said, her voice warm with persuasion. "When's the last time you had real steak? Not that processed stuff from the ship's galley."

  Eden's discomfort was plain as she studied the menu prices. "I can't remember," she said, tension threading through her words. "But I know I can't afford this."

  "My treat." Ann's touch lingered on Eden's arm. "We deserve a break from ship rations."

  Eden halted mid-step as they rounded the corner. Her eyes locked with Aria's across the restaurant, and something dark flickered across her face at the sight of Electra sitting so close together. The woman radiated sensuality, and Eden's chest tightened with an emotion she refused to name.

  The air crystallized between them. Eden's fingers twitched, not toward a weapon, but into fists at her sides. Electra's smile widened, as if sensing the undercurrent of tension, as she dabbed her lips with an expensive napkin.

  "Your crew?" Electra's whisper carried like a blade across silk.

  "Yes." Aria's response was clipped, professional. The truth this time, but no less dangerous.

  The host seated them at a table with a clear view of Aria's booth – whether by cruel coincidence or deliberate design, Eden couldn't tell. Her skin patterns continued to pulse erratically as she tried desperately not to stare at the way Aria and her companion sat so close, their enhanced bodies still humming with what Eden's senses told her was recent intimate contact.

  Ann guided Eden to a table, trying to diffuse the crackling tension. But Eden couldn't look away from Aria, couldn't stop seeing how comfortable she seemed with this stranger, the way they shared space like old lovers.

  "Eden." Ann's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "The wine list?"

  "Your crew member seems rather... protective of you." Electra's words dripped with amusement. "Perhaps we should invite them to join us? I would enjoy meeting the people you work with."

  "No." Aria's response came too quick, too sharp. Electra's eyebrows rose, and Aria forced herself to relax. "Better to keep business separate from pleasure."

  "Is it business we're discussing?" Electra leaned forward, her presence filling the space between them. "Or pleasure?" Electra raised her glass in a mock toast towards Eden, red liquid catching the light.

  Across the room, Eden's hands clenched around her menu, knuckles white. Ann tried to maintain casual conversation, but her eyes darted between Aria and Eden, reading the familiar signs of their unspoken conflict. The restaurant's other patrons continued their meals, oblivious to the jealousy and danger running beneath the surface of polite conversation.

  Aria felt the weight of Eden's stare like a physical thing, even as she focused on Electra. One wrong word, one wrong move, and this elegant dining room would become more than just a battlefield of emotions.

  Eden passed over the wine list, "sorry I was distracted for a second." Their eyes met briefly across the room before Aria's companion leaned in close, whispering something that made Aria smile with practiced intimacy.

  "We should go somewhere else," Eden said, starting to rise, but Ann's hand on her arm stopped her.

  "Nonsense," Ann said, either missing or choosing to ignore Eden's discomfort. "This place has the best steak on the station."

  Ann shared stories about her adventures as First Mate, but Eden's attention kept drifting to the booth across the room. Every laugh from Aria's table felt like a blade between her ribs. The casual intimacy between Aria and her companion made Eden's skin crawl with unwanted jealousy.

  "You're not even listening to me, are you?" Ann's voice carried gentle understanding rather than accusation. She followed Eden's gaze to where Aria sat close to her companion. "Ah. I see the problem."

  "There's no problem," Eden muttered, stabbing at her steak with more force than necessary. "I just... I thought..." She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

  Ann reached across the table, covering Eden's hand with her own. The gesture was comforting rather than flirtatious. "You thought you had something special with her," she finished softly. "Even though she kept you at arm's length."

  "I'm an idiot," Eden laughed bitterly, forcing herself to look away as Aria's companion traced a finger along Aria's jaw. "She kept me prisoner, treated me like a science experiment, and somehow I still..." She clenched her fist, trying to contain her frustration.

  "Hey," Ann squeezed her hand. "You're not an idiot. Complicated feelings happen, especially in intense situations." Her smile turned wry. "Though I have to admit, I was hoping to be more than just your rebound entertainment."

  Eden's face flushed with embarrassment. "Ann, I—"

  "It's okay," Ann cut her off gently. "I knew what this was. Fun flirtation, maybe something more if things were different. But your heart's clearly occupied, even if your head hasn't caught up yet."

  Across the room, Electra could feel eyes boring into her skull. She leaned closer to Aria, her voice teasing. "Your little crew member seems quite affected by our dinner date," she murmured. "She can barely keep her eyes off us."

  "Eden isn't my concern," Aria replied coldly, though her eyes betrayed her with a quick glance toward the other table. "She's free to do whatever she wants with the First Mate."

  "Mmm." Electra's smile was knowing. "And I suppose that's why you came to me tonight? To work out some... frustrations?"

  Aria's only response was to take another bite of her steak, her movements sharp and precise.

  Electra traced lazy patterns on the stem of her wine glass, studying Aria's tightly controlled expression. "You know what I find fascinating?" she mused, deliberately keeping her voice low enough that Aria had to lean in to hear her. "How someone so... commanding in private can be so defensive in public."

  "I'm not defensive," Aria said, the words coming out a touch too quickly. She caught herself, smoothing her features back into careful neutrality.

  "No?" Electra's smile widened as she shifted closer, her thigh pressing against Aria's under the table. "Then you won't mind if I..." She reached up, brushing her fingers through Aria's hair, tucking a strand behind her ear in a gesture that was both intimate and deliberately showy. "After all, we wouldn't want your crew member to miss the show."

  Aria's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "You're being childish."

  "And you're being transparent." Electra let her hand trail down Aria's neck, noting with satisfaction how the other woman's pulse jumped beneath her fingers. "For someone who claims not to care, you're very aware of exactly where Eden is looking." She leaned in closer, her lips brushing Aria's ear. "Tell me, does it bother you more that she's watching, or that she's trying so hard to pretend she isn't?"

  The muscle in Aria's cheek twitched, the only visible crack in her composure. But Electra could feel the tension radiating from her body, the way she held herself perfectly still, like a predator ready to strike.

  Electra's curiosity peaked as she watched Eden's iridescent skin patterns fluctuate with barely contained emotion. A mischievous smile played across her lips as her tech markings pulsed with newfound interest.

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  "Oh, this is too delicious to pass up," she said. Before Aria could intervene, she raised her voice. "Aria, darling, look – it's your ship mates! We simply must invite them to join us."

  Aria's eyes flashed a warning, but Electra was already signaling the waiter. "Be a dear and invite those two lovely ladies to our table," she instructed. "My treat, of course."

  The waiter nodded and made his way over. Eden tensed visibly at the invitation, while Ann's eyes lit up with obvious interest in the developing drama.

  "What a gracious offer," Ann replied smoothly, already standing. "We'd be delighted." She glanced at her companion. "Wouldn't we, Eden?"

  Eden rose stiffly. "Absolutely thrilled," she managed through gritted teeth, her gaze fixed on where Electra's hand rested possessively on Aria's thigh.

  "My, my," Electra breathed as they approached, studying Eden with unconcealed fascination. "Aria didn't mention how extraordinary you are. Please, sit. I insist on hearing everything about how you two met."

  "Oh, it's quite the story," Eden said, her voice sharp with false sweetness as she slid into the booth. "Though I'm sure Aria's told you all about keeping me prisoner and treating me like a lab rat."

  "Actually," Electra's smile turned predatory, "she hasn't told me anything about you at all. How fascinating."

  Aria remained still, watching the situation spiral beyond her control. For the first time in years, the perfect predator found herself caught in someone else's trap.

  Electra traced her fingers along Aria's arm with deliberate slowness. "So tell me," she purred, "how exactly did my Aria acquire such an... unusual companion?"

  Eden's jaw tightened. "I wasn't acquired. I'm not property."

  "No?" Electra's laughter chimed like a bell. "That's not the rumor I heard. Tell me, darling, do you have a mark on that lovely body of yours designating your prototype status?"

  Ann draped an arm across Eden's shoulders, her gesture both protective and calculated. "Actually, I've been wondering how you two met. Aria doesn't seem the type to date."

  "I remember the first time we met," Electra turned to Aria. "Monaco, darling? You always did like it rough."

  "Enough," Aria spoke for the first time, her voice soft but carrying an edge that made everyone at the table still.

  "But we're having such fun," Electra pouted, then brightened. "Eden, has she told you about her work for the Syndicate? No? Oh, the stories I could tell you..."

  "I'm sure they're fascinating," Eden's voice was ice, "but I've had enough experience with people who sell others to the highest bidder." Her eyes locked onto Aria's.

  The words hung in the air like shattered glass. Aria's expression remained carefully neutral, but her fingers had stilled on her glass, knuckles white with tension.

  "Are you jealous?" Electra's voice carried artificial sweetness. "Your little prototype seems quite... affected by our dinner date. Those bio-engineered emotions must be overwhelming." Her tech markings pulsed with deliberate provocation, matching frequencies with Eden's own patterns in a display of dominance that made Eden's enhanced senses scream with warning.

  Eden's fists clenched under the table, her own markings flaring with suppressed rage. The restaurant's ambient lighting flickered in response to her agitation, making other patrons glance around nervously. Ann's hand on her arm felt like an anchor, keeping her from doing something they'd all regret.

  The tension at the table was thick enough to cut. Eden felt trapped between Electra's calculating assessment and Aria's unblinking stare. Aria hadn't moved, hadn't tried to stop Electra's provocative display, and somehow that hurt more than any words could have.

  "You know," Electra said, her smile deceptively gentle as she leaned back slightly from Aria, "I've known our dear friend here for years. She's always been... selective about her company." She paused, noting the subtle tension in Aria's jaw. "Though she's never mentioned having such fascinating new crew members."

  Eden's posture stiffened. "I'm not here for your entertainment," she said, each word clipped and precise. "And I'm definitely not interested in whatever game you're playing."

  "No games," Electra replied, though her expression suggested otherwise. "Just curiosity. After all, it's not often someone catches Aria's attention quite like this." She reached for Aria's hand but stopped just short of touching her, reading the warning in those quicksilver eyes.

  Ann's arm tightened protectively around Eden's shoulders. "Maybe we should go," she suggested quietly, but Eden was already moving.

  "You're right," Eden said, her voice carrying that dangerous edge Aria recognized from their early confrontations. "This was a mistake." She stood, composure brittle but intact. "Enjoy your dinner. And your... company."

  Something flickered in Aria's expression – an emotion too quick to name. But still she remained silent, watching as Eden turned to leave.

  Electra opened her mouth, then caught Aria's subtle head tilt – a warning she knew better than to ignore. Instead, she settled back with a knowing smile. "Well, this has been delightfully entertaining."

  Eden paused mid-step, then turned back slowly. The air seemed to grow heavier, charged with unspoken threats. "I'm glad I could provide such amusing dinner theater," she said, voice low and dangerous.

  The restaurant grew unnaturally quiet, other patrons instinctively shrinking away from their table. For a moment, Eden looked exactly like what she was – something beyond ordinary, something engineered for extraordinary potential.

  Aria finally moved, setting her glass down with deliberate care. The soft clink cut through the tension like a blade.

  Aria rose smoothly, catching Eden's arm in a grip that looked casual but felt like steel. "Thank you for dinner and the... entertainment, Electra," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She turned to Ann, her expression brooking no argument. "You can find your own way back to the ship."

  Ann hesitated for a moment before settling back into her seat. "Actually, I think I'll stay and keep Electra company," she said, sliding closer to the other woman. "We might as well finish our dinner."

  Electra's delighted laugh followed them as Aria guided Eden toward the exit. Eden allowed herself to be led, her body rigid with barely contained fury. But the moment they stepped into the cool night air, she wrenched her arm free and whirled around.

  The crack of her palm against Aria's cheek echoed in the empty street.

  Aria didn't flinch, but something flickered in her eyes – not anger, but a deeper emotion that made Eden's breath catch. For a moment, the mask slipped, revealing not the predator everyone feared, but something raw and unexpectedly vulnerable. Then it was gone, replaced by that dangerous smile as Aria touched her reddening cheek.

  "That one was free," she said softly. "The next one will cost you."

  "Fuck you," Eden spat, trembling with rage. "You smell like her. Don't you dare touch me with the same hands you—" She broke off, disgusted. "Did you fuck her before or after dinner? Or maybe during? You two seemed awfully cozy."

  The words hung between them like poison, but Aria's expression remained unnervingly calm. Only the slight tightening around her eyes betrayed any reaction at all.

  Aria looks at Eden, something dark and hungry flickering in her eyes. "Are you jealous?" she asks, her voice a low purr that sends shivers down Eden's spine.

  Eden opens her mouth to protest, but before she can form the words, Aria moves with predatory grace. She pulls Eden close, one hand tangling in her hair while the other grips her waist possessively. The kiss is nothing like their previous encounters – it's desperate, consuming, as if Aria is trying to devour every ounce of doubt between them. There's a rawness to it, a need that burns away pretense.

  When Aria finally breaks the kiss, Eden's lips are swollen, her breath coming in short gasps. Aria's eyes are molten silver as she asks again, her voice rough with desire, "Are you jealous?"

  "Fucking damn right I am!" Eden responds, pulling Aria back towards her and continuing the kiss with fierce intensity. Aria pushes her against the wall outside of the restaurant, not caring who sees. She presses herself against Eden, trying to touch every inch of her she can, as if attempting to erase any lingering traces of Electra's presence.

  Eden stops the kiss abruptly, her chest heaving. "As much as I want you..." she says, her voice rough with desire, "not here." Her eyes dart to the restaurant's windows, where curious patrons might be watching their display. "I won't be another piece of entertainment for her."

  The words carry a double meaning that makes Aria's expression darken. She steps back slightly, though her hands remain possessively on Eden's hips. "You're nothing like her," she says, the words carrying more weight than a simple comparison. "Nothing like anyone."

  The admission seems to surprise them both. For a moment, they stand frozen in the streetlight, the air between them electric with unspoken possibilities. Eden's anger hasn't fully dissipated – it simmers beneath the surface, mingling dangerously with desire. But there's something else there too, something that makes her reach up and trace the red mark her slap left on Aria's cheek with gentle fingers.

  The tender moment shatters as Ann bursts through the restaurant doors, her face pale with panic. Behind her, Electra emerges more gracefully, but even her usual composure shows cracks of genuine concern.

  "The ship—" Ann gasps, doubling over to catch her breath. "They found us. The whole damn dock is crawling with bounty hunters and mercenaries. The Architect has sweetened the bounty…"

  Aria's body shifts instantly from lover to predator, her hand already reaching for the weapon concealed at her hip. Eden recognizes the change – it's the same fluid transition she was engineered to perform, the switch from human to weapon.

  "How many?" Aria demands, but Ann just shakes her head, still winded.

  "Enough to make this very interesting," Electra interjects, her voice carrying none of its earlier playfulness. She steps forward, touching Aria's arm with surprising gentleness. "Go. I have contacts here – I can create enough confusion to buy you time." When Aria hesitates, Electra adds softly, "Consider it penance for earlier."

  Eden watches the wordless exchange between them, understanding for the first time that whatever Electra and Aria's history holds, it's more complex than simple rivalry. But there's no time to dwell on it as distant gunfire echoes across the port.

  "I'll handle crowd control," Electra says, already pulling out a sleek communicator. "Fighting was never my style anyway. Besides," she adds with a ghost of her former smile, "someone needs to clean up the mess you're about to make."

  They move as one – Aria, Eden, and Ann sprinting toward the docks, leaving Electra behind to work whatever magic she commands in this city. Eden can hear the click of Electra's heels fading as she strides in the opposite direction, her voice rising in rapid-fire commands that will hopefully give them the cover they need.

  As they sprint through the neon-lit streets, Aria's neural implant pulses with an incoming connection. "Krell, status report!" she demands through the link, her feet never missing a beat as they weave through panicked civilians.

  Krell's response comes through with bursts of static. "Currently holding them off at the main dock entrance, but we've got a situation that's more complicated than a standard bounty hunt." His mechanical joints whir audibly through the connection. "Speaking of scary predators, our mutual friend in the Southern Rim sent an interesting data packet while you were out. The Architect isn't just offering credits for Eden anymore. They're offering immunity."

  Eden catches Aria's sudden sharp intake of breath, the way her stride falters for just a fraction of a second. "Immunity?" Ann's tech augments pulse with surprise as she picks up the neural conversation. "From what?"

  "Everything," Krell replies grimly, the sound of weapons fire punctuating his words. "Full pardon for any past or future crimes. The kind of deal that would make even someone like you think twice, Aria."

  Eden watches Aria's profile in the shifting shadows as they run, searching for any sign of hesitation. The offer hangs between them like a loaded gun – immunity, freedom from a past soaked in blood and marked by betrayal. Everything Aria has ever wanted, packaged neatly with a bow and a simple price tag: Eden's life.

  Another burst of gunfire, closer now, cuts through Eden's thoughts. Aria's hand finds hers in the darkness, squeezing once, hard, as if in answer to the unspoken question. "Save the intel for later, Krell," she growls through the link. "Focus on keeping your wife's ship in one piece. We're coming in hot."