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"Not...exactly." He really didn't want to talk about this now. "I'll tell you about it later. I still need to get the tools." He ended the call and stood straight. He began to climb the stairs again, the energy in him depleted.

***

Braxin was waiting for him on a wide balcony overlooking a large silion-made waterway, the pool descending into small waterfalls, turning through more pools, cascading all the way down the side of the cave face, and disappearing into the dark below.

He didn't see Ryziel at first, as most usually didn't. And when he did, he flinched, as most usually did.

"Nihl Ryziel," he said and bowed his head slightly, his eyes shifting around, making sure no one watched.

Even though he had been exiled by his father and uncle and sent to Lethe Maws, he was still treated with the same anxious civility and respect given to all nillium. Though Braxin's nostrils flared in irritation, even he understood a shunned nillium was still nillium.

"Forgive me for not being at my unit. The cargo..."

"Forget it. Do you have what I need?"

Braxin brought out the two menders and drill along with replacement parts. Ryziel took them and latched them to his own belt. "There is another thing I want," Ryziel said. Braxin's mouth twitched in a frown but he remained silent. "I want to know about the newcomers to Lethe."

Braxin's furry brows rose. "Newcomers?"

"The new race. One not seen in the Xolis system."

Braxin's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean the humans? They arrived many weeks ago."

"Where did they come from?"

Braxin blinked at him, likely curious as to why he wanted to know. Ryziel didn't care what he thought.

"They...they were rescued by Marzin, found near the border of the Xolis realm, near the blue worlds," Braxin began. "They had been taken by traders to be sold in the shadow market. Marzin brought them to the Xolis Council, and for many months, they were housed on Yilsand in one of their refugee facilities. They got the usual treatment, were taught what little they needed to know, learned to speak Xolien, and then were placed here...for the time being."

"Did anyone find out where the traders got them?" Ryziel could only guess some primitive world, as was the usual case but, still, he was curious.

Braxin shifted where he stood. "They say they caught them on some planet way out of the boundaries of the realm. But it was mentioned that they had a ship. Some of the parts, the traders collected and were confiscated by enforcers. That is all I really know."

Ryziel's eyes narrowed. "How many humans were taken?"

"Only nine. Eight now brought here."

"Were you given their records?"

Braxin seemed to hesitate then. "Yes, but only the most basic information."

"Send it to me. All of it," Ryziel ordered. "I want it before I make it back down."

Braxin stiffened, and he could tell the lygin wanted to protest. Only no one challenged a nillium's command.

"Very well," Braxin said, a soft growl catching in his throat.

Ryziel said no more and left him there. The clouds were rolling back, and the moon was gone before he made it back to the stairs and disappeared.

***

The great metal door rose. and Ryziel entered into a large chamber warmly lit by several floating lanterns hanging above. He stopped just past the door and waited as it slid closed. Ahead, in the very center, was the ship, black and silver metal shining dulling from the beams of dim white light casting down on it from above. The light reflected murky daylight, though it was artificial in itself, created by floodlights around the opening of the ceiling and a little way into the tunnel itself, which stretched several miles up to the surface.

A loud clang followed by a muttered curse sounded near the ship's side, and a tiny face peaked out over the metal wing.

"Great—you’re back," said Nar. His head disappeared, and there were a few more clangs and shuffling noises before he reappeared on top of the ship. The little urk crouched and bent his head down to stare at Ryziel, his black, pupil-less eyes blinking at him curiously. "You look like you want to end a life," he said after observing him carefully.

Ryziel clenched his fists and unclenched them. His Drega was finally starting to settle away but he still felt on edge. 'Not exactly that,' he thought but said nothing to Nar. Instead, he turned toward the inner wall to the right where a large console station sat. He touched at the surface and the console lit up, displaying a holographic screen before him. He touched his techband to the console, connecting to the program. Braxin had sent the records right away like he asked. Ryziel transferred the records to the console, and a set of nine images were displayed before him.