What exactly are you good for?

"Falling in love is for common people," Atlas said then. "Elites have too many important things to do than worry about that."

"You would never understand," Dione said.

Atlas turned to Dione. "Our marriage is a loveless one. I cannot promise you that you will fall in love with me or I, with you. That should not be the yardstick to judge the success of our union. I just need us to work together; support each other as the First Couple of the empire- we are like the parents of this empire. I want your unalloyed support, and you would have to produce heirs for the empire. We only need to fairly tolerate each other to be able to achieve all of that."

Dione nodded slightly.

"Let's have dinner," Atlas announced. "I would like to hear what kind of wedding you would like."

When they sat down to eat that night, Atlas had hardly taken three bites when a call from his receiving bracelet distracted him. He ignored the ring the first time but the ring annoyed him enough the second time that he had to pull the cover of the hologram receiver open.

Thyron's small, compact image rose from the bracelet on Atlas's wrist, over the table he sat at, with Dione for dinner. 

"Thyron," Atlas said, annoyance in his tone. "I had asked that you let my sister handle the meetings she could and move the others she couldn't to tomorrow when I will be chanced to do so.  Did I not ask that you did not disturb me?"

"Yes you did, Primera," Thyron said. "But something happened."

"What?" Atlas asked quickly. 

"It's about erm um, Elara," Thyron said.

"What? Is she okay?" Atlas asked quickly, surprising himself. He wouldn't be surprised if she'd finally committed the unthinkable. But it would hurt him. He had a strong will to help her. He had no idea where that will did come from though, because the both of them did not see eye to eye. They had been like that since they first knew each other. 

"Who's Elara?" Dione asked. "Your sister?"

"No, an acquaintance."

Atlas turned to Thyron. "If she is fine, then what is the problem?"

Boo-10- Space station

AH population

Atlas paced in his apartment when the doors behind him opened to let someone inside. It was an hour after he and Dione had gone on their date.

As soon as he dropped the transmission from Thyron, he had made his way back to the space station. Dione had been taken to the luxurious guest room where she had had her travel belongings deposited earlier. 

Atlas had come to his personal chambers  and then summoned Elara. 

Now she stood in his apartment lobby, behind him.  Thyron was in this room and he had a flat, disc console on his lap, and a hologram screen spread out in front of him.

Atlas turned to Elara. 

"You did it on purpose," he said, his anger boiling close to the surface. 

"I didn't do-" Elara was saying when Atlas snapped.  

"-Shut up!" He said. "How dare you?"

"I swear, I had no idea," Elara said. "I've never worked on bay controls before. I didn't know. I thought it would be easy. I-I had it under control and then-"

"You must be daft then," Atlas said. "What exactly are you good for? Criminality?"

Elara's angry gaze burned into his, but she did not say anything. 

"I am trying to help you," Atlas said, an angry, frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "You talk and you talk that you've never really been given a chance.  You were given a chance. Look what you did. Do you know how much was lost? Your generations after you cannot pay back what was lost and yet you stand there and you tell me you had it under control. Do you know that the more you stay near me the more indebted you get? What do you have to say for yourself? And don't tell me any of the nonsense you had earlier."

"Nothing," Elara said. "I have nothing to say. I made a mistake. I should pay. But I assumed a person of your repute would not be given to cheap insults and would rather be constructive in approach."

"Oh, you're lecturing me now?" Atlas asked. "Do you know you OWE me five hundred and fifty thousand units in opal and rose quartz?"

"I'll pay you back, I swear," Elara said. "Just let me go, I'll pay you your money back in less than a year."

"How?"

Elara did not say anything. Her blue eyes just regarded Atlas quietly. 

Atlas knew all too well what methods she would use. And there was also the possibility of her running away and hiding out; hiding from him. Atlas did not hide the fact that he did not trust her.

"You stay," Atlas said. "You stay until I can trust you."

"Personally, I think you have a hard time trusting anyone but yourself given how obnoxious you are," Elara said.

Atlas turned to her. "I beg your pardon?" 

Elara did not repeat her words. She turned her gaze to the floor.

"We need to put her to work on one of the AH planets where our viceroys can ensure she is monitored," Atlas said, turning to Thyron.

"Which of them?" Thyron asked." We only have viceroys on Trenox, Satyx, Boo-10, Neon and Nidia.

"Trenox should be good," Atlas said. 

"I am wanted there. For a felony," Elara supplied.

"Boo-10," Atlas hissed. " Did you commit another felony there?"

"No, a kidnap with a gang," Elara said. "Your viceroy's daughter will know me very well."

Atlas looked surprised. "Neon," he suggested.

"It's a Human Only planet," Elara said. "The only one until Satyx joined them only recently."

"The only reason you haven't yet joined their most wanted list," Atlas said, annoyed. "You will be taken to Nidia."

"What? No. I can't breathe under water," Elara said.

"Are all aliens not the same?" Atlas asked deviously. 

"Of course not," Elara snapped. "There are varying and different races. It is obvious that you know this and you're just messing with me. The Nidians are very different from my race."

"And what is your race?" Atlas asked. 

She was quite different than most aliens he had seen. The pigmentation of her skin and the brilliance of her eyes spoke of a long forgotten race. Atlas guessed right.

"I'm a Crueskin," Elara said. "We used to inhabit the planet Dromore minor until it was destroyed. Only a few of us survived."