Page 98 of Grulen

More memories crowded in his brain.Names, places, events.Trembling, he gasped and dropped his head into his hands.His fingers tangled in his hair.He groaned as pain throbbed in his temples.

“I’m here, Grulen.You’re safe.”Her voice rose.“Who the fuck are you?What did you do to him where he would react like this?”

Clumsily, he reached for her hand, shaking his head as he squeezed her fingers.

“No,ciebala.It’s okay.Just give me a minute.”He forced the words out.

Tears gathered in his eyes as he recalled his mother and sisters.Thousands of emotions hit him simultaneously and he felt battered, body and soul.

When his brain finally settled into a semblance of normality and he could see again, he lifted his head.Rivezt lowered the scanner.Everyone but Morgan sat at the table.She stood behind him with her arms embracing his shoulders.He glanced up at her.Worried blue eyes gazed back at him.

“I’ll be fine,ciebala.It was just a great shock to my system.Please sit.”

She kissed his forehead and released him.He realized he was still holding her hand.He let it go so she could take her seat.Then he reached for the one closest to him and entwined his fingers with hers.

Squaring his shoulders, he faced their visitors.

“Morgan, this is Lieutenant Karid Wurvez and Lady Ava Taylor.”

“Ava Taylor Wurvez now, Jevax.”The redhead smiled at him.“Are you feeling better?”

“A headache and far too much information, but much better than a few minutes ago.”

“Wurvez, the last I saw you, the Zuvgran captured you.I knew we shouldn’t have split up.”

The large male’s gray eyes darkened.

“I’m glad you weren’t with me.No reason why both of us had to suffer at their hands.”A pained look crossed his face.“But it sounds like you didn’t have it easy either.”

“No.”

“Can you remember what happened?”Rivezt watched him intently.

“Am I allowed to speak about everything?The mission was classified.”

Wurvez nodded, his ponytail bobbing.

“Yes.”

“After I returned to theTenacity, I immediately engaged the cloak, departed Millus, and headed for the asteroid field.I cursed you when I saw you’d been captured, but I knew I couldn’t rescue you on my own.My plan was to contact theInvictuswith the traitor’s name and arrange for assistance retrieving you.Scans alerted me that two Zuvgran fighters left the planet and were coming my way.I grabbed the bag of equipment we’d used, as well as some food and water, and took it all with me into the escape pod.My intent was to hide in the shadow of a mid-size asteroid until the Zuvgran cancelled their search.”

Morgan handed him a water pouch.Gratefully, he wet his dry mouth.

“Before I could reach my target, there was an explosion behind me which threw the pod forward into the rock.I’m assuming the Zuvgran somehow found theTenacitydespite the cloaking device and destroyed the ship.I awoke to alarms blaring.I was sluggish.I’m certain I had a concussion.I remember trying to fix the hull breaches with blood running down my face.That’s the last I recall until I woke up on theMorning Startwo weeks later.”

“What made you think to lower the oxygen flow?”Rivezt asked.

“I didn’t.Or at least I don’t remember doing it.I know I passed out at some point.”

“You must’ve bumped it when you lost consciousness.The Goddess truly watched over you.I’m glad.”Wurvez grinned.“I’m still going to recommend you transfer to security.Of course, there’s still those computer courses so you can code a synthesizer.”

Morgan frowned.

“He can code a synthesizer already.I taught him.”That’s right.She did.But I used to find it all so confusing.

Wurvez eyebrows raised high.

“Really?Interesting.”

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