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I need you up here, brother,he sent, short.

I can hear it,the ex-Rebel grumbled.A lot of us can fucking hear it.His thoughts grew more grumbly than before.Why us? You should call her. Tell her to leash her husband. Preferably before he blows up the goddamned ship.

Do you really think that’s such a good idea, brother?Balidor sent, sharper.You do realize that seeing her up here might only escalate this, right? His fear isabouther. Getting her involved might only make that worse. Or turn it into a domestic dispute of potentially incendiary proportions. Do you really want to see them come to blows over this? Using telekinesis?

You could probably sell tickets to that,Wreg muttered, chuckling.

Yes,Balidor returned shortly.Right before the carrier sank. With all of us on it.

What’s wrong with him?Jon ventured, from near Wreg.

What’s wrong with him?Balidor laughed humorlessly.The man who tortured and brainwashed him throughout his childhood wants to murder his wife.

Hearing his thoughts articulated in such a way, Balidor felt his light falter, changing around him as he found he understood more than he realized.

Hell, Jon,he added.Menlim already succeeded in killing her once. Not only that, he wants their child. He’s already severely harmed Elyashi’s light, perhaps permanently.

Thinking more about that in the context of the Sword’s request, Balidor felt his jaw harden.

Look, he is not completely outside of his rights with this,he admitted a few seconds later.He may even have grounds. Technically, I mean. I would have to look at the specific codes, but it sounds like he’s done some preliminary research on this already. And Wreg, I think he’s right in another respect, too. If he’s serious about taking over security for her, we should bring the Council into this… at least consult with Tarsi. We can’t afford to let him go rogue in terms of operational authority, which he might do, if we don’t grant him a fair hearing. That would be an unmitigated disaster in more ways than I can fathom right now.

At the two men’s silence, Balidor forced his light to calm, fighting to mitigate the charge still feeding hisaleimifrom Revik’s light.

Are you coming up here, or not?Balidor asked.Wreg?

He glanced up as he thought it, measuring the Sword with his eyes where the other man continued to pace on the other side of his desk.

Clearly, the Elaerian knew Balidor was in contact with someone else.

He might even know with who. So far, it didn’t seem to be angering him any more than he was already, so he must have heard at least part of what Balidor was thinking.

Wreg sighed audibly in Balidor’s mind.

Your timing is not ideal, Adhipan,he sent.

Balidor clenched his jaw. He managed to refrain from reminding the other man that it wasn’t exactlyhistiming driving this.

Wreg answered him anyway.

True,Wreg conceded.But under the circumstances, I’m not thinking it would be particularly safe to blame the boss right now. For much of anything.Sighing, he added,Where is Chandre? She is usually good with him.

Jon is all right now, is he not? From being stabbed?Balidor paused, forcing his light calmer.If he is not up to it, can you come up here, please, Commander Wreg? If Jon is up to it, perhaps both of you could come? I will call Chandre, too… and Yumi. But Jon can usually reason with him better than either of them. Better than anyone really, including his wife. I could use the help. Sincerely, brother.

Balidor felt a humorless smile from the other man’s light.

On our way,Wreg said, his voice still a grumble.See if you can keep him there, Adhipan. It feels like he’s ready to bolt. Jon says he’ll talk to him. But fair warning. The Bridge might not like that much, either, if my last conversation with her is any indication.

Balidor frowned, feeling a flicker of misgiving at that, too.

Before he could think of a response, Wreg vanished from his light.

When Balidor looked up, he realized he’d let himself get too lost in the Barrier, and too lost in his conversation with the other men.

He also realized Wreg had been right.

Dehgoies the Sword was gone.

Chapter24