Page 57 of Her Alien Cyborgs
“Did you find out anything about Detta Ani? The Vardarian in charge of the research station?” Kalan asked.
“No news there, either. The Vardarians are still looking, but so far they can’t find any information with that name or likeness.” Phylomenia sighed. “I wish I had something positive to tell you. There’s so much we don’t know right now, and it worries me.” Phylomenia tugged at her hair absently and then sighed.
“This feels too much like what happened on Astek Station. All the models predict that the Shadows are too fractured to do any real damage, but this…” She shrugged. “This feels like their handiwork. When we are done here, we’re escorting Tianna and Zura’s ships back to Defiance Station. I don’t want anyone I care about flying around alone out there right now.” Phylomenia smiled and added, “Consider that an invitation to make the trip with us. I don’t know what your plans are, but you know you can always find work in The Drift.”
“I can’t say yes right now, but I do appreciate the invitation.” Hezza raised a hand in a gesture of goodbye. “Talk to you soon.”
The call ended, leaving the cockpit in silence.
“I’m sorry about the Pheran female. I know she wasn’t really a friend, but still, she deserved better,” Hezza said.
“She did,” Fyr’enth agreed.
“Maybe she’s at peace now. I don’t think she had much of that on the station,” Kalan said.
“I hope so.” Hezza sat up straighter and drew in a long breath. “Are you two ready to meet the prince? He should be our next call.”
“No,” Fyr’enth said.
“Not even a little. But it has to be done,” Kalan agreed.
“Yeah, it does. But before we do that, I want you to know something.”
She pivoted her chair around to face them both, her knees crammed against his thigh. “I love you, and no matter what happens next, we’ll get through it. Together.”
She held out her hands to them, and Fyr’enth took one as his brother took the other.
“Together,” they said at the same time.
“Okay then. Let’s talk to the prince and see what he has to say.”
“And if we don’t like what we hear?” Fyr’enth asked the question weighing heavily on his mind.
“Then we fight until we get the answers we want,” Kalan said, his voice dangerously calm.
“Agreed,” Hezza said and squeezed their hands.
Fyr’enth looked at this beautiful, brave, enthralling female and knew in his heart that things would go their way. How could they not when they had theirmahayastanding with them?
CHAPTER 22
The docking clampshadn’t even finished attaching when the alert sounded. “Another vessel has entered the system. Identity confirmed as theFalcon.”
Kalan cursed. “Should I target lock them? Or do you think that will annoy everyone?”
“It will definitely piss off a few people, but I’m tempted to say yes anyway,” Hezza said and tapped a finger to her chin. It would besosatisfying, but it wasn’t worth the problems that would result.
“But we don’t need to make things more difficult. Let the prince and the leadership council handle this. It’s their system.”
To her amusement, Kalan actually pouted for a second. “If you say so.”
They stayed in their seats to watch as two with transponder codes that marked them as part of Liberty’s defense force broke orbit and flew on an intercept course, straight for the new arrival.
“She’s not going to be happy about that,” Fyr’enth said.
“Good,” Kalan muttered.
“As much as I’d love to stay and watch, we need to get going,” she reminded them. “The prince was clear he wants us to attend this meeting.”
