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“Look at that! No control at all. Why they want a Cruestaci female, I’ll never know. The other breeds are so much easier to control.”

~~~

Quin, working in the official office of the Sovereign of Cruestace, received an urgent, private communication. He watched the attempt to raise an answer as it scrolled across the top of the screen once more. Normally, he wouldn’t answer a communication hailing from an unidentified craft, but since so many of his males were assigned across Cruestace, aboard Command Warship 1, and even outside of Cruestaci airspace as they searched for Mir’ Ahn, he reached up and swiped his fingertip across the signal begging to be answered.

Surprised when Bart’s face popped up on his screen, he couldn’t help but notice the changes in Bart. “You look like shit.”

“Thank you. Feel like shit. Where is Mirilla?”

“How would I know, Bart? I’ve been working to calm things here.”

“I’ve been in and out of so many seedy, criminal infested bars and places of ill repute that I’m not sure I even remember them all. No one has seen her. Half admit to having seen Mir’ Ahn when I threaten to burn their fucking buildings down, but none admit to having seen Mirilla. It’s like she’s just disappeared into thin air.”

“Maybe she’s hiding away from you as well as all the rest.”

“If she’s harmed because of your actions…”

“My actions?!” Quin shouted defensively. “What about your actions? You’re the one who professed to be devoted to her. I accused her of sabotaging my home and family, just as I did anyone who might have behaved questionably during that time.”

“You gave her no chance to explain away her actions!” Bart shouted back.

“And you made no move to defend her.”

“I did.”

“No you didn’t, not really.”

Bart huffed out a miserable breath and rested his forehead in his hands, before he used the heels of his hands to rub against the closed lids of his eyes. “I fucked up so fucking bad,” he mumbled. “If she’s hiding, fine. Once I find her safe, I’ll walk away if that’s what she wants. But what if someone noticed she’s a female out there alone? What if she’s suffering and I’m the one that ultimately drove her away? How do I find her to make sure she’s safe, Quin?” Bart asked desperately.

“You’re the damned Chairman of the Consortium! Use your people.”

“I have. The moment someone learns our people are from the Consortium they go silent, denying any and everything.”

“The downside of being on the side of the righteous,” Quin said.

“Fuuuuccccckk!” Bart bellowed angrily.

“Hold on… I might have an idea,” Quin said.

“Anything, I’ll try anything,” Bart said, stepping so close to the communication device he was using that a distorted image of his face filled Quin’s vid-screen.

“There is one individual that regularly moved in the circles you are searching in. Perhaps if he did the asking for you, he’d make more headway.”

“Who?” Bart asked.

Quin started smiling slowly.

Bart watched him with a confused expression, until slowly realization dawned on him. “Rokai!”

“You haven’t been very nice, but you can try. He might help. He does hate it when females are threatened.”

Bart didn’t even say another word, he simply ended the call.

Quin sat there at the huge official desk he grew up watching his father work at, that had now become his, and tapped on his vid-screen a couple of times. “You’re welcome!” he finally shouted at the sudden quietness filling his office. “Everything here is calming down, we’ve just about got it all figured out. Thanks for asking,” he snapped, as though the connection with Bart was still active.

~~~

Rokai was sitting across from Rosalita in the cafeteria aboard Command Warship 1. His communicator continued pinging and he continued ignoring it. He leaned across the table and lifted her hand to his lips. “What do you think of my idea?”

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