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“Was any consideration made for our guests?” he asked, his aggravation turning to anger. “Brennan needs to begin treatment immediately. Do you expect Nadzia and Carol to wait for our festivities to end before they see him safely to the clinic? Or maybe you’d have me swiftly turn them over to strangers on a foreign planet to fend for themselves, so I can go to a big welcoming party. Has the Conclave forgotten our guests are from a pre-contact planet?”

“Aculus! Don’t forget who you are talking to,” Tellar snapped.

Aculus closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“I have not forgotten,” he replied as calmly as he could. “Please make whatever arrangements you all see fit, but understand I will be accompanying the Murrays.”

“Very well, Aculus. Until tomorrow,” Tellar replied tersely then disconnected.

“Unbelievable,” he growled under his breath as he walked out of the washroom.

“Is everything okay?” Nadzia asked, wearing a frown as she stood in the middle of the room.

“The Conclave is testing my patience. Sorry if I woke you.”

Nadzia approached and grabbed his hand. “It’s okay. Do you want to talk about it?” She uncurled his clenched fist.

“The Conclave inconsiderately planned festivities for when we arrive tomorrow. I refuse to dump you out at Fossa Centratus then go to somevastaparty with a bunch of over-bloated soft domes,” he growled.

“Hey, hey. It will be okay. You do what the Conclave wants. I don’t want you to get reprimanded because of us. I appreciate what your people are doing for Dad. Mom and I will be just fine.” She soothingly stroked his arm.

“What if the lead medic tries to explain something you don’t understand?” He scowled down at her, a dozen worrisome scenarios going through his mind.

“Then we’ll have the medic explain things again. Maybe Cartil can help till we get settled. He’s familiar with the millions of questions we’ve already asked, so he’s got a head start on bridging that gap.”

“You’re being too understanding,” he huffed. “I don’t know if you will be staying in a suite at Fossa Centratus or at the Sanctuary. I was assured the Conclave would handle things but I’m sure all that was handled were public announcements, guest list, decorations and menus.”

“You don’t go home often, right?” Nadzia smiled sympathetically up at him.

“No. Can you blame me? I’m busting my shell protecting the nation and its allies, and all I ask is for a few relatively simple things upon my return. What do I get? Frivolity!”

Nadzia rubbed his chest. “Maybe the Conclave doesn’t know how else to express their appreciation.”

“Don’t make a logical argument. I’m trying to be angry.” Aculus frowned.

Nadzia was probably right and she didn’t even know the Conclave. She was also doing an amazing job cooling his ire, but that still didn’t solve the logistical questions he had.

“That’s a very impressive pout.” Nadzia tapped his protruding bottom lip.

He unclenched his jaw and sighed. “I don’t want you to be scared and alone. You’ve already been through so much.”

“Thank you. Let’s just see what the situation is when we land,” she encouraged and led him back into the washroom.

“You’d make a great diplomat, you know.” He squeezed her hand.

“Probably. I have a lot of experience. I’ve had to break up a ton of drunken brawls in my time.”

“I don’t like the sound of that. You are too delicate to be caught in the middle of a fight.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“Those were nothing. Now, the time I was robbed at gunpoint, that was freaky.” She grimaced as she stripped out of her clothes.

“You are done with that occupation,” he growled, tugging off his suit.

“Yeah, I probably am.” Her shoulders slumped.

Break me! I’m a fool. I just had to remind her, her whole life was ripped apart.

“I really appreciate that you made those things for Tarsus,” he changed the subject as he led her into the bathing stall.