Editing Femarchs (section)

===The Beginning===

The Empress looked down at these fools.

Through some sick joke of those warp-spawned tumours that parade around as gods, what could only be called a gaggle of misfit humans now stood before her, either trying to avoid her gaze or Staring at her with a mixture of bewilderment and abject terror in their eyes. A quick skim through their minds revealed all she needed to know about these souls. 

*They were from early M3.

*They were not of this universe.

*They had an uncomfortable amount of knowledge of a similar universe to this one.

Fortunately, the third point made them somewhat useful, and so after a quick deliberation, she had summoned them all to her throne room to make her judgement.

”I have decided.” The Empress began, watching them all flinch at her voice. “I will send you all off to serve my daughters, for them to do with you as they see fit. Any questions?”

She watched one raise his hand, causing The Empress to exhale through her nose. “Yes, you're being assigned to Petra. Companion?” she asked the custodian beside her throne, who had stood silently throughout this encounter. “Take them to the spaceport. I have some important business to attend to.”

With a silent nod, the Companion stepped forward and began ushering the humans toward one of the smaller halls, The Empress watching them leave before letting her shoulders sag.

“Are you sure that's wise, Empress?” A contralto voice beside her asked, the Empress feeling a familiar mind brush against hers, causing a smile to creep on her voice. 

“They are the biggest group of misfits that I've had to handle, Malkador.” The Empress answered wearily, pinching the bridge of her nose. “But they do have their uses. Either my daughters will set them straight and they will prove to be of great use, or they will perish and no longer be a problem.”

”...Very well, Empress.” Malkador answered, shifting her grip on her staff before continuing.

”So...what will you do now?”

”My friend,” The Empress began, standing up from her throne and stepping down onto the polished marble floor of the throne room. “I think I shall take the afternoon off.”

- - -

This was a good idea.

The Empress sighed with contentment as she sipped at the contents of a hollowed out pineapple, the exquisite taste of pineapple juice, coconut milk, and rum dancing in her mouth before sliding down her throat.

She had had this pool – comparable to the ones used in the Olympics of Old Earth - built specifically for her to relax after the trials and tribulations of running a galaxy. Situated on one of the spires in the imperial palace, the polished granite and marble was her retreat from the rest of the galaxy. Along with the fruit and palm trees she had ordered grown for her personal use that now surrounded the edge of her retreat, meant that she had everything she needed to relax and unwind at her beck and call. 

The fact that her companions could mix an above average Pina Colada helped immensely.

She set her now empty pineapple down on the golden table beside her and stretched out on her deck chair, enjoying the series of pops that raced up her spine before settling back down, taking a moment to adjust the girls in her golden bikini top before lacing her fingers behind her head and listened to the gentle lapping of the water in the pool before her. 
After a few minutes of peaceful serenity, another presence approached the pool, causing a faint smile to grow on The Empress'es face. She knew who this was.

Propping herself up on one arm, the Empress peered over her sunglasses to observe the daily task of one of her custodes, a task she had allocated to him specifically.

His bronzed skin glistening in the sunlight, the custodes took up one of the nets from beside the pool and began to dip it into the crystal blue waters beside him, his deliciously sculpted muscles flexing under his toned skin as he fished out any leaves that had fallen into the pool one by one. 

His flowing raven hair, his well-oiled muscles, the golden micro shorts that consisted of his sole uniform...

...She was having a good day when she created this one.

She bit the corner of her bottom lip when the custodes stretched his arms up above his head, facing his back to her as instructed. Her eyes played along his rippling lats and trapezius, down along his lower back to his...wonderful glutes. She know she shouldn't, but maybe, just this once...

The sensation of a pair of souls approaching her put an end to this fantasy of hers. One was a shining beacon compared to the mere candle flame beside it, the soul light brimming with piety and adoration directed towards her.

Why did she have to show up now?

”Hello, Lorgara.” She greeted flatly, turning to face her daughter. 

She had that same silly grin on her face that she always had. 

Lorgara stood beside her, wearing a plain grey bikini with a stylised 17 emblazoned on the right cup and holding a silver platter with a fresh pina colada resting upon it.

Standing behind her, wearing naught but a pair of grey swimming trunks and – was that a bow-tie? - was the anon she had sent to assist her, a thoroughly embarrassed look plastered over his face.

“Good Afternoon, Mother!” Lorgara piped up, her silly grin gaining a slight crazed look. “I noticed your drink was empty, so I took the liberty of making you a new one!”

The Empress looked down at the hollowed out pineapple, complete with paper umbrella and curly straw resting on the platter. “Well, thank you, Lorgara. But I assume that was not why you decided to come here. In my private pool?”

“Oh! I just wanted to thank you for this Anon you had sent to aid me! He's been an absolute breath of fresh air to talk to!”

”You're welcome, daughter.” The Empress accepted, taking the fresh drink from the platter and setting it on the table beside her deck chair. “Just make sure to take care of him. He's just a human, so keep that in mind.”

”Oh, I certainly will, Mother! I'll feed him, and train him, and we'll discuss all sorts of things, and brush each others' hair, and-”

”Lorgara?”

”Yes, Mother?”

”Don't you have a sector to take your legion to capture?” The Empress asked knowingly.

Lorgara theatrically smacked her forehead. “Oh of course! Silly me, I better get right onto that! Come along, Anon!”

She took her anon by the hand and quickly scampered to leave the retreat, leaving the Empress alone once more with her custodian.

”That silly girl is going to be the death of me...” The Empress muttered, taking up the fresh pineapple and sipping gingerly at the contents.

...Dammit, that was an excellent Pina Colada.