1468 The Aftereffects of Being Taken Over (1/2)
Everything was still in its frozen state. Jiang Fei's fingers were the only thing moving, still tracing their way around Aurelia's face. Feeling the rugged texture of a man's palm cup her lower chin, the stone cold woman blushed as red as a tomato.
Towering above her, Jiang Fei brought himself closer to the helpless woman. Frozen in place, she could do nothing but lift her head higher to meet his attraction-filled gaze.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Meeting her significant other was supposed to be a romantic moment for a girl. Yet, this entire situation was the complete opposite.
Jiang Fei's towering figure was set ablaze with the black smog. Like fire, the black smoke spread throughout the bridge, filling the entire chamber with its opaque presence. Oddly enough, the smoke gathered in concentrated amounts around all the crew members, yet Aurelia alone was spared.
”Someday, I will come back for you. Remember me,” said Jiang Fei, vanishing in a flash.
Those words made Aurelia's heart jump into overdrive. The smile he had on his face was so mesmerizing that she couldn't help drowning in a dazed state, like a deer in headlights.
As soon as Jiang Fei vanished, everything in the bridge returned to the way it was before. Besides the loud thumping of her heartbeat ringing in her ears and the reddish flush on her cheeks, everyone else returned to normal, as if everyone but Aurelia had been frozen in time.
”Commander, the main cannons are powered up and are now targeting the incoming drone. We are ready to fire on your command,” said the First Officer.
His mind and body had just come out from the state of suspended animation, and he simply picked up where he left off.
”No!” Aurelia cried instinctively.
”Commander? What is the matter?”
If everything the First Officer knew about her was right, Commander Aurelia had never one lost her composure and acted like that.
When he asked about her wellbeing, Aurelia realized how she was misbehaving and replied in her usual stone cold manner, ”Nothing. Cease pursuit operation. Prepare return procedure immediately.”
”Commander? Are you ordering a retreat?” asked the First Officer in dismay.
They had been tracking the Trade Federation space army from lightyears away. They had tracked down and destroyed several Trade Federation unmanned drones. Even though they had lost several good ships in return, it was acceptable damage that no fleet commander would bat an eye at.
So, what could persuade the great Commander Aurelia to retreat from the pursuit mission? It was unlike her to give up on a mission after just a few losses.
”Do I need to explain my reasons to the First Officer?” said Aurelia, 100% back to her authentic ice queen tone and demeanor.
”No, Commander. I will prepare all ships for a return procedure immediately.”
…
As all the ships began to turn around, Aurelia retreated to her personal quarters and sat on a chair.
”Who is he?”
The image of his smile and the sensation of his hands gliding across her skin were burnt into her memory. As much as she wanted to forget about their meeting, the image of his sensual smile kept resurfacing in her mind.
She had never retreated before. However, as a commander, even though she was temporarily smitten by Jiang Fei's charm, she had her own reasons for not continuing the pursuit.
A few days later, she came forward with the reason behind her decision to retreat. She explained that the unknown being caught on their optical camera was dangerous. He held powers that could destroy the entire fleet, and that was a risk she was not willing to take.
Although the logical side of her dictated that it was improbable for a single man to destroy the entire fleet, her gut feeling told her that Jiang Fei may not be a member of the League of the Hidden Ones.
Something inside her told her not to wrong that man, or doom and complete chaos would ensue. She wrestled internally with this dilemma, and finally chose to trust her instincts instead of logic.
…
Poof.