For the first time in days, no one was actively trying to kill me.
No missiles, no bounty hunters, no angry space nuns with plasma rifles.Just three absurdly powerful women standing in my ship, all deciding in real time whether they wanted to kiss me, kill me, or push me out the nearest airlock.
Starlight stood like a statue of radioactive divinity, unbothered by the fact that she'd just casually walked onto my ship, declared me a cosmic anomaly, and lowkey flirted in a way that implied dissection was still on the table.
Lyra paced like a caged tiger, tail twitching, arms folded so tightly her biceps looked ready to snap the fabric of space.
Illyana sat backwards on a chair, sword resting against the floor, chin on the top of the backrest, watching the other two like a bored lioness planning her next meal.
And me?
I was stuck in the middle of it all, nursing a migraine and wondering if I could program VIX to simulate emotional support.
"So…" I said, because silence was worse, "anyone want tea?"
"No," all three said.
VIX snorted in my ear. "Bold of you to assume this is a tea situation and not a 'space-courtship-turned-knife-fight' situation."
Lyra finally stepped forward, her voice cool but tight. "Let's make something clear, nuclear Barbie. You don't just show up, scan my man like he's a science fair project, and act like you have dibs."
"He's not yours," Starlight replied, calm as a sunflare. "He belongs to no one. He is… fascinating. And I would like to know what happens if he's pushed past his current limits."
"Lady, I'll push you past your limits," Lyra growled, eyes flaring green.
"Enough," Illyana said, rising slowly. "If one more woman joins this harem, I'm charging rent."
"I'm not in a harem!" I yelled.
All three ignored me.
Illyana tilted her head, gold eyes sharp. "What do you really want, Tanya? You don't care about Cody. You care about what he is."
Starlight turned to her, expression unreadable. "What he is… may change everything. He may already be affecting reality itself. Or perhaps the damage was done in another life. Regardless, I intend to observe. And protect. If needed… contain."
That last word hit like a punch to the gut.
"Contain?" I said, voice quieter. "I'm not a damn virus."
Starlight blinked. "No. But I have seen a sun scream. I have seen time reverse and try to eat itself. I was there when a being like you shattered a pocket dimension with a laugh. Forgive my caution."
The silence that followed was so thick, even VIX didn't crack a joke.
Lyra's glare softened—just a little. "You've seen that much power… and you're still not afraid of him?"
"I'm very afraid," Starlight said, stepping close to me again. "Which is why I want to stay near."
Illyana cracked her neck. "Well, unless you're paying rent, you can stay in the guest room. Cody's already claimed the biggest bed."
I blinked. "Wait, did I—?"
"You did now," Illyana said, sitting back down.
Lyra sighed, rubbing her temple. "Great. One glowing goddess in the ship, a soul-hopping idiot in the center of it, and no privacy."
"Technically, I can turn into a hologram and float through walls," VIX offered. "Want me to do that for dramatic effect?"
"No," we all said.
Just as the tension started to simmer—just as I thought maybe we could get through this without anyone stabbing anyone—the ship jolted again.
But this time, it wasn't a godlike space lady.
No. This time, it was something else.
VIX's voice dropped to a whisper. "Incoming ship. Unmarked. No transponder. It's warping in… directly inside our radius. That shouldn't be possible."
"Oh, good," I said, deadpan. "Something worse."
Lyra rolled her shoulders, cracking her knuckles. "Dibs on whoever's stupid enough to board us next."
Illyana stood, sword already glowing. "Maybe they'll bring snacks."
Starlight's body shimmered with golden heat. "I'll handle the front line."
I just sighed, grabbed a jacket, and muttered, "I swear, I just wanted tea."