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Chapter Sixteen

F our men appearing in the common shouldn’t scare the shit out of Britt. Still, this porting thing, though Edon had forewarned her, wasn’t something she was used to seeing. People didn’t just appear out of thin air. Well, not in her world. The tech to do that still blew her mind, though.

Their reaction to Nerx and Matir’s shorter hair was better than Sena’s. They didn’t gawk or lower their gazes as if they were fearful of being caught staring. And yet, pain flickered across their eyes as if in sympathy.

“My apologies, Supreme Commander,” a male said. “These females should be punished for their dismissal of your honor. Yours too, Sub-Commander.”

Britt bit her tongue, squirming as anger burned through her. Unable to endure it a moment longer, she blurted, “My Dar Eth is honorable, long hair or not.”

Nerx blinked at her, then laughed with that damn dimple peeking out. “You are my Dar Eth. I am your Eth.”

“Potato, potahto.” She harumphed.

He stole a kiss, smearing syrup across her lips. “My thanks for the defense.”

“You speak truth, milady,” the male said. “Supreme Commander Nerx et Tarx is renowned for his honor. None will think less of him for this slight.”

“Malia pa,” Nerx said, pushed off the bench, then collected his clip lying next to the old data cubes. He snapped it on the ends then let the short braid drape over a shoulder. “I must admit, it is light, as if a burden has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Matir glanced up and grinned. “Indeed. Though I still move as if I might trip over it.”

“When you are well, we shall spar. I look forward to the experience.” Nerx kissed Britt’s temple, tickled Lily’s side then gestured to the men to follow him to the comm.

Matir grabbed his plate and hurried after them, leaving Lily and Britt with Ziot.

“Going to join them?” she asked, hitching her thumb at their backs.

Ziot shook his head. “Only if summoned. French toast? What is it made of?” he asked, a syrup-drenched chunk stuck to his fork.

As Britt described the ingredients and the cooking process, she picked at her meal. With the operatives here, the meet-up would happen soon. Mom could be back by dinner.

Her heart fluttered even as butterflies dive-bombed her stomach. Lily squirming beside her snapped her from the ever-spiraling worry coating her thoughts.

“How about a fruit juice?” she asked as she leaped up to order a coffee. “You, Ziot?”

“Whatever you are having, Lady Britta,” he said, still staring at his overburdened fork. Syrup dribbled off it.

Again, she was tempted to order cider vinegar.

Instead, she slid a cappuccino across to him and placed a grape juice before Lily.

With her coffee in hand, she settled on the bench though facing outward.

Nerx and his men would be deciding things that could be endangering Mom further.

Old Britt would’ve snuck up to the communications room to eavesdrop.

Part of her was tempted to, but Lily would tag along.

This is where trust came in, and it was damn hard.

Her mother’s life was at stake. Aldur’s too.

Then again, she wasn’t military, and these ‘operatives’ would know what the hell to do.

She’d be a fifth wheel—in the way. Despite knowing all this, she wanted to go with, to land on an unnamed planet, to welcome her mom with open arms.

She glanced at Lily, who had two animal-shaped strips of French toast attacking each other, with sound effects. “What do you feel like doing today, cupcake?”

“Mm,” she hummed between growls, fake-screams, and threats of bodily harm. “Something fun.”

“Like?” Britt asked while finger-combing Lily’s black hair. “Marbles? Card games? Or…I can teach you how to crochet.” She grinned, warming to the idea. “We can make hats, gloves, or handbags.”

“A shirt for Ollie?” Lily’s eyes widened.

Britt hesitated. She wasn’t about to agree to make anything unless she knew the size of the wearer. “Who’s Ollie?”

“My stuffed elephant.”

“Oh, sure.” Britt laughed. “We can make clothes for all your toys.” There was bound to be patterns in the archives for Earth, and if not, she had no doubt that Ziot could source them for her. “Let’s start by choosing colorful wools and crochet needles.”

The wool was easy with the balls forming on the replicator like gigantic jelly beans. The needles, not so much. The replicator beeped every time she placed an order.

Ziot lowered his fork and rose. “It thinks it is a weapon.” He typed in something, then boom, the needles appeared—the kind with the soft grip.

“Thanks,” she said, snatching up the two needles.

Not that he heard. He sat again and lifted his fork for another mouthful.

She ordered a variety of marbles and two little bags.

Stacking the wool and needles beside the data cubes on the shelf, she sank onto the bench to divvy up the marbles.

She cast glances at the blue mat. They could take turns trying to get the marbles as close to a data cube as possible without knocking it off its spot. That could be fun, right?”

She nibbled her lip, explained her idea to Lily, who squealed and danced around the table, shaking her marble bag.

After every throw, Britta glanced in the direction of the communications room. More so when Ziot was summoned.

Lily screamed, “I won.”

Britt grimaced. She couldn’t recall a moment. Her inability to focus wasn’t fair to Lily.

“Well done, squirt. Wanna grab a snack and head to the treehouse? We need to plan Ollie’s wardrobe.”

With a packet of crisps and a soda each, the crochet needles shoved in Britt’s back pocket, and the balls of wool tucked under her arms, they headed down the passage.

“Regent Haiz is unavailable?” Nerx asked, his voice harsh.

“Yes, Supreme Commander. I am Primary Tarni, in charge for now. Regent Haiz and a unit of four warriors took a yarva to Bronvol under the pretense of negotiations. Some hours have passed, and we have yet to hear from her.”

“Do you suspect foul play?” an operative asked.

“Of course. Rebels cannot be trusted when they’ve tossed aside their vows like petals in a breeze.” Primary Tarni huffed.

“Do you require assistance?” Nerx asked. “My operatives can rescue your warriors and my people.”

She pinched her lips. “My thanks for the offer. I will consult our strategists and revert.”

“Alodon’s balls,” Ziot snapped, “I say we port across regardless. We’ve given them enough chance—”

“Britt?” Lily’s puzzled voice snapped Britt out of her daze.

“Up the ladder you go, sweet pea,” she hurried to say, then ushered Lily through the bulkhead. She tossed the wool up, unable to climb with her hands and armpits full. She didn’t dare glance into the communications room, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping.

As Lily settled on the blanket, Britt dumped everything on the bench and grabbed her tablet. “Just going to get the patterns. Will you be fine alone for a few minutes?”

“Yup,” Lily said, her hand in the crisp packet and her mouth stuffed.

Determined to be better disciplined, Britt managed to slink past the crowded communications room without listening in. Finding crochet patterns for toy clothing didn’t take her long. She hurried back.

“Sena will retrieve Aldur while Karg collects Lady Dahlia. Ronin, Trav, Eriz, back him up and find the Viqrian warriors. Do not be heroic. A Dar Eth is in danger, but I need you all to live.” Nerx grumbled something Britt couldn’t catch.

“Ziot has transferred to your O.D.I. the location of all the targets, but if something happens, then get Ziot access to their systems. Again, I reiterate, get in and out.”

Britt clambered up the ladder, swelling her lungs until she exhaled long and hard. “Pants won’t work, not on a four-legged animal.”

“Ollie doesn’t have four legs,” Lily scoffed.

“He doesn’t?” Britt tapped her chin as if in deep thought. “You better get him then. We need to measure him.”

As Lily disappeared through the hatch, Britt flicked from one pattern to another.

Finding the perfect elephant-shaped shirt pattern would be like stumbling on a diamond on a beach.

She bookmarked possibles. It’d been so long since Mom had taught her the basics.

Doing this with Lily would be a hard learning curve for them both.

“I suppose you heard?” Nerx appearing at the hatch made Britt squeak.

“Not much.” She frowned. “How did you know I was listening?”

He laughed. “Even if you moved on silent feet, I would still know where you are. As my Dar Eth, I find your presence discernable.”

Okay . She wasn’t going to touch that. “I heard Haiz is missing, and you’re sending the operatives.” She forced a shrug she was far from feeling. Inside, she squealed like Lily would. At last, her mother would be rescued. Diplomacy be damned, right? “Lily and I have more important things to do.”

He glanced down, then climbed into the star deck for a flushed Lily to dart around him to slump on the blanket. Poor Ollie was crushed to her chest, bulging his eyes.

“What do you think?” Britt asked, sliding her tablet over while flicking through the patterns.

“Oh, I love the flower one.” With a delicate pinching of her brow, Lily bit her lip. “It looks hard. I don’t know how…” She grabbed the closest needle and held it like a dagger.

“What are you doing?” Nerx asked, leaning down with a head tilt to study the image of a pink jacket.

“Making Ollie clothes,” Lily said like it was obvious.

“Ah, good,” he said. With a kiss to her temple and to Britt’s lips, he disappeared down the hatch.

She released a pent-up breath, then grabbed the two balls of wool. “Which one?”