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I sigh. I must make the leader of this triad trust me – and if telling him my sad, sorry tale makes him drop his guard…

…I don't see reasonnotto tell him, even if talking about it is pure pain.

"My sister... You know she was taken from me. You mentioned it just now – and it must be in my file with Aurelian Law Enforcement.”

Daccia nods.

“Space-pirates,” he growls. “I’m so sorry, Allie.”

I feel tears welling in my eyes.

“Well, before they took her – to whatever fate awaited her – they tried to ransom her. The demanded a huge sum to return her to me.” My bottom lip trembles. “I was just a young, homeless girl. Stealing from those Aurelians was the only way to pay the ransom the pirates were demanding."

Daccia’s face is like that of a statue as he listens – totally implacable

"You did what you had to do, Allie. Where is she now?"

I force back the tears and look him straight in the eye. I willnotlet myself succumb to the weakness of tears. I don't have time for them.

"I have no fucking clue. The pirates took the money – and then they justleft.”

I thought of Lilac – of her face when I’d seen her last. I had no idea what she’d look like now – if she was even still alive.

Daccia had asked where she was now. I breath:

“I wonder the same thing every day."

Daccia doesn't speak for a moment. He just breathes in, and then stares at me.

Finally, he murmurs: "We’llfind her, Allie – if she’s alive. If she isn’t, we’ll at least learn her fate. We’ll at least give you that closure.”

I blink. Is he serious?

Daccia continues:

“We're going to go to the med-bay right now and reactivate your implants. I need you to trust us, and for that, I have to trustyou.”

Oh, Gods. The guilt swells up inside of me.

Daccia then promises: “We're going to take another sample of your DNA, so we can run it through our databases. I'm promise you, Allie – we’re going to do everything we can to find your sister."

If she's even still alive.

Suddenly, I don't know what to think. I know Daccia would do anything in his power to help me. But do I dare let him do this?

I’m ashamed to admit that part of mewantsto accept that my sister is dead. It’s the only way I can move on. Part of me can't stand the never-ending pain of wondering if I'll ever see her again.

But that’s only one, small part of me. The rest of my being? It willneverstop searching for Lilac. It will never want to let go of the pain. Letting go of my pain would be like letting go ofher.

I realize suddenly that these three Law Enforcement agents were able to trackmedown, using their databases, and incredible investigative skills...

Surely, nobody else in the entire universe would be better equipped to find Lilac.

Think, Allie!

Yes, these threecouldbe the key to finding your sister…

…or Daccia might be a fucking sociopath, who’s just manipulating you.