A Mutant Collector Quest

"But that would be so… boring," I counter, stepping in front of her and looking down into her glowing blue eyes.

"B-oring" She mutters as her shining eyes start to get… dull.

"Yes," I say gently, caressing her cold, flawless cheek. "If I stayed the same, and you stayed the same… for days, months, years—centuries, even Aeons—it would all become monotonous. Lifeless. Dull… and definitely Boring!" I let my words sink in, watching as her once-radiant eyes turn almost vacant and even her posture starts slumping slightly.

"Then… even Collecting can become… b-boring," she murmurs, her voice distant and almost childlike.

"Yes, Carina, so it's better if we just… dated," I say with a smile, tilting her chin upwards to meet my gaze.

"But you will die… so soon," she mumbles, her voice trembling. "Then you will be gone forever… just like her…" The last words slip out in a whisper, carrying a weight of grief. Her blue eyes shimmer with unshed tears, though her gaze still remains dull.

"We can still enjoy the time we have together," I assure her softly. "We will live fully. Cherish each moment. Make them so bright, so extraordinary, that not even a second would feel dull. I promise you, it won't be boring." My voice drops to a playful whisper as my fingers trace her lips.

"Not boring… short, but not boring," she repeats, her voice steadying. A faint light returning to her eyes.

"So, let's date, Carina," I say, leaning down to kiss her lips.

"No… I have a better idea," she interrupts suddenly, her blue eyes sparkling with renewed vigour as she grabs my arms.

"Eh? What idea?" I ask, a bit annoyed. This is the second time I have been stopped from kissing her. If she were just some normal girl, I would have already forcefully claimed that kiss!

"You can stay here with me, Luke. Help me expand my Collection—as my slave!" she says with a bright, wide smile.

"Slave?" I echo, raising an eyebrow in clear displeasure.

"Alright, not a slave… maybe a servant? No, wait—what was that less offensive term… yes, employee!" She quickly corrects herself, noticing my worsening reaction to each word. "You can work for me, Luke… and that way, I can have you around me. You did say you were the best in business, didn't you? Then help me start mine!" She grins smugly.

What I boasted is coming back to bite me in the ass. I can practically hear the women back home laughing at me for tooting my own horn.

"This way, my business will expand to all the stars, and even Father will be impressed with my Collection... the Collection of Carina Tivan!" she says, hands on her waist, beaming with pride.

"I don't think you have any other… employees on this ship, though," I say, narrowing my eyes.

"Hmm, that's because I don't like other people that much… but you are an exception, Luke. I don't mind looking at you, talking to you, and even listening to you," she says, grinning widely.

This must definitely be the Subduing Aura showcasing its abilities, right? In fact, this also answers why, on such a large ship, there is no one else around except for Carina—aside from the robots and the living collections.

"Carina," I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose, "I am not interested in being a slave, servant, or even an employee… and I am definitely not interested in this collection business," I tell her with a straight face, wanting to be honest.

Her smile falters. "Huh? Why not? I will even pay you a salary! You could buy whatever you want with it," she says, her eyes brimming with hope.

I shake my head at her offer, unmoved.

"… Is it because you want to visit your home planet? Fine, I will give you holidays! One day a week—no, a month—ugh, fine, a year!" She huffs, clearly frustrated by my resistance.

I also let out a deep, frustrated sigh. "If you really want to grow your… business, why not you just hire more people? You wouldn't even need to talk to them or meet them. Just give them orders and let them handle it. Why are you so fixated on me?"

She stares at me for a moment, then smirks widely. "I already told you, Luke… I want you in My Collection!" Her blue eyes gleam with an unsettling intensity.

"Ughhh..." I groan, rubbing my temples. It feels like all the progress I made with my Talk no Jutsu has gone up in smoke, leaving us back at square one.

"No, I mean, this will be the kind of Collection you have back on your planet, Luke… you will be part of my Special Collection! You won't even be kept in a Container or a Stasis field!" She spreads her arms wide. "Although that collar must stay, as it looks so good on you," she adds with a sultry smirk.

"Those are my precious life partners… not part of my collection," I say, narrowing my eyes. "And if your thoughts remain that way, then I am sorry to disappoint you, Carina, but I think I will go back… I have real partners waiting for me at home." I feel mentally drained, as though I am just going in circles with her.

"Alright, Luke… I didn't want to use this, but you leave me no choice," she declares, her blue eyes narrowing. "That slave collar is a Kree product, and it won't come off your neck unless you have the key, which only I possess. I will be able to track you, and even send electrical shocks strong enough to paralyze your body, though it won't damage your brain. So don't force me to use it, Luke," she warns, her hand hovering over her bracelet as she breathes heavily.

"Carina..." I sigh, shaking my head in pity.

"Luke, don't be stubborn, alright?" She says, her voice softer now. "You told me you don't even know which sector your planet is in, so you have no idea how to get back. You are stuck here with me. So why not just stay with me? I will keep you safe and happy, Luke. I will take very good care of you." She licks her lips, her gaze lingering on my body, the overwhelming stench of possessive desire returning full force.

"Carina," I say firmly, my voice cutting through her plea. "I… don't like desperate girls." My hands grip the collar, and with a sharp tug, I reshape it using my Metal Constructs ability.

"No, don't!" She calls out in panic, trying to stop me.

ZZZZAPPPP!!

The collar emits a violent blue shock, lightning coursing over my body.

"No, DEACTIVATE! DEACTIVATE!!" Carina frantically pulls out her holographic screen, pressing buttons in panic.

"It's alright, Carina… Look, I am perfectly fine!" I call out to her with a smile, using my Lightning Absorption power to easily absorb the electricity.

Her hands freeze mid-air. "You're… fine?" she repeats, staring at me in shock as she looks at the collar in my hand, now transformed into the shape of a ruler. "That's... good, really good," she says with a heavy sigh, taking deeper breaths.

I chuckle. "It was cute to see you panic, though."

"Of course I would panic!" She exclaims. "What if something happened to you? You are part of My Collection, nothing can happen to you!" Her bright blue eyes lock onto mine, filled with intensity.

"Carina … best of luck with your Collection," I say softly, stepping closer to her. She looks at me in confusion, her bright blue eyes searching mine. Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. "Here, take this back," I add with a smile, handing her the Slave Collar turned ruler.

She takes the ruler absentmindedly, her gloved fingers tracing the spot where my lips touched her skin.

"Take care of yourself, alright? Don't always listen to your father. Be more independent. Don't try to follow in his footsteps, or worry about the far-off future and getting bored. Live in the moment, Carina," I say, my tone gentle, yet firm.

"Luke … why? Why are you saying these things to me?" she asks, her voice trembling as her radiant eyes begin to dull. "No! You can't teleport … You lot stop him!" She gestures sharply, but nothing happens. "Huh?" Her expression twists into surprise as she realizes her bracelet is missing.

"It's here," I say, waving my hand as the bracelet floats in mid-air. I had swiped it using my Psychokinesis. "Just a little trick. Didn't want to risk getting blasted while saying goodbye."

Carina narrows her eyes, masking her panic with smugness. "The joke's on you, Luke. They are voice-controlled, too. Robots, stop him!" At her command, the grounded robots spring to life, rushing towards me.

"Goodbye, Carina," I say, ignoring the approaching machines. My green eyes lock with her shimmering blue ones. "Thank you … for everything," I tell her with a smile as I call for teacher in my mind.

"No, Luke… you can't go!" she yells out, as her eyes start getting duller.

Seeing her beautiful face contort in worry and sadness, I can't resist adding, "Maybe we will mee—" The pull interrupts my sentence, and the next moment, I am back in the kaleidoscopic expanse of swirling colours and infinite paths.

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