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“She’s got immunity,” Bart said without hesitation.

“There may have been a few casualties. Two. Three. Okay, four.”

“Is Mirilla alive?” Bart asked.

“She is. I already said that.”

“Then I don’t care how many died. I’ve got to figure out how to handle the news of this ship, and I’ve already changed course for Cruestace. I’ll see you there.”

“I wouldn’t make a big production of sweeping into the port and waiting for the ship. They’ll never come. Come to think of it, that may be why they’ve not arrived yet this month. You’ve beenstirring up so much attention, they probably decided to lay low for a while,” Rokai said.

“You’re right. I’ll station a few of our teams there, but order them to blend in. Dress them in regular clothing, rather than uniforms. Let the port and those that frequent it think it’s getting back to normal. The ship will return. Then I’ll take possession of it.”

“Sounds like it will work to me,” Rokai said.

“I’ll see you on Cruestace. If she wakes before I get there, tell her I’m sorry. Tell her I love her. Tell her… Just make sure she knows.”

“I got it. I’m smooth like that. I’ll fix it. I’ll see you there.”

“Rokai?”

“Yeah?” Rokai asked, his hand hovering over the communicator, waiting to disconnect the com.

“Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for doing things just exactly the way you always have. I will always have your back.”

Rokai smiled, trying to hide just exactly how much it meant to him be called friend, and to know that someone believed in him. “I’ll see you there, friend.”

~~~

Rokai brought his ship in for a landing as close as he could to the palace and still do so safely. By the time he got the door opened and the ramp down, Quin, Kol, and Jhan were all there waiting along with Kron and his team of warriors. With them stood medical personnel.

“You don’t do anything half-ass do you?” Elspeth asked as she stood in the opening leading to the ramp with the unknown female in her arms, watching as the group of warriors and medics waited for Rokai to come down the ramp with the females he’d found.

“Wouldn’t be me if I did,” Rokai answered as he stepped past her with Mirilla in his arms.

“How is she?” Kol asked as he took Mirilla in his arms and looked down at her face.

“She’s alive, that’s all I know. She gave an indication of consciousness when we found her, but hasn’t since. We kept checking on them constantly, and making sure they remained alive, but that’s about the best we can do,” Rokai said as he watched Kol hand Mirilla off to one of the medical personnel on hand.

“Who is she?” Jhan asked as he accepted the other female from Elspeth. His eyes bore into Elspeth, making her the sole intense focus of his attention.

But she didn’t care. She was used to males trying to intimidate her. All his intensity did was enforce all she already believed — males were just about useless. Still, these people were well known to Rokai and he obviously trusted them, so a little patience was called for here. Instead of slapping him, she simply glanced up at him as she answered. “I don’t know. We found her hidden in a space in the wall with Mirilla and another that didn’t make it.”

“Bart is laying a trap to find those who planned to buy them. I think,” Rokai said.

“You’ve done well, Rokai. I knew you would,” Quin said.

“I’m not finished, yet,” Rokai answered absentmindedly as he watched several of the other medical personnel working on the unknown female, before they started for the palace with both females.

“What do you mean?” Quin asked.

“I’m going back.”

“For what? You found Mirilla. You’ve gotten her to safety, along with the other female. What else is there to do?”

“Finish it. I’m going to finish it.”

Quin watched as Rokai stepped off the ramp and approached him.

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