Page 16

XYREK

Alice followed Silla, deep in conversation, and my eyes followed her. I hadn't seen much of Astrionis, and I didn't intend to, either, but it looked like a place she would fit in. She might not be able to fix any high-tech machines, but the Pandraxians here needed engineers for various projects. They diverted water to the fields, used primitive machines to bring it up to their homes, and so on. She would have plenty to tinker with.

Then why was my heart so frygging heavy?

"Explain," Garth demanded the moment the females were out of earshot. I liked him; he was straightforward, without any of the small talk most people liked to add to their words.

The only question was how much I was willing to divulge to him. Since I wasn't working for him and most likely would never see him again, I decided to be as straightforward as he was. I hoped that by filling him in, he would return the courtesy. I had a feeling that he knew more about us Space Guardians than I did at the moment.

"I freed several hundred humans as instructed from the Cryons, from one of their mining planets." I filled him in. "On my way here, I received different orders. I was told some of the Space Guardians assigned to the same mission had turned traitors, and I was ordered to apprehend them."

I watched Garth. He didn't seem at all surprised. I would press him on that later. "I was told to go to Morrakbarr, where I was supposed to leave the humans I had aboard, then focus on my new mission."

"But you didn't?" Garth asked.

"No. But I was curious enough to make the detour." There was no sense in telling him that, at that point, I had still been a good Space Guardian and had every intention of getting rid of my cargo. But even then, I hadn't been willing to sell my charges into slavery. "When I figured out the male I was to meet was working with the Ohrurs selling slaves, including humans and Pandraxians, I decided to interfere."

"Good," Garth nodded appreciatively. "I also received information that the Ohrurs have been experimenting with humans, Pandraxians, and other species."

That was news to me, and I was glad I had decided to be open with him.

In the distance, a giant koloch let out one of its soul-crushing calls and ran toward a herd of its peers, but I was only peripherally aware of it. "How did you find out?"

"Another Space Guardian, Vraax, visited us recently. He brought many of these poor people here."

Vraax?

I didn't think I had caught that name before. He wasn't one of the four assigned to the human rescue mission. Unfortunately, since I aborted the Ohrur’s recall attempt, I lost access to their database and wouldn’t be able to find out who Vraax was and how he fit into the picture. I also wasn't about to ask Garth. I doubted he knew. Plus, it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

"You don't happen to know where he left for, do you?" I asked because that information was much more important than any other.

Garth grinned wryly, "I do. They all went to Darlam."

"All?"

He nodded, "Every single one of the four Space Guardians assigned to this mission and then some."

Darlam?

I had never heard that name before, but it shouldn't be too hard to find out where it was and why my fellow Guardians felt compelled to seek it out.

"Thank you," I told Garth, meaning it. He had given me more information than I could have hoped for.

"I've already informed the Emperor of the atrocities the Ohrurs are involved in. And I told Raasla to let me know if you need any help from the Pandraxian Empire."

Shrewd , I realized. The Pandraxian Empire, already strong to begin with, had gained power after usurping the Cryons. If any renegade Space Guardian started working for them, their power would outmatch that of the entire GTU. I didn't think for one tick that Emperor Daryus would help us out of the goodness of his heart. But aligning himself with Space Guardians would increase his power, even if it were only one or four.

I was also aware that the Emperor took any injury to one of his subjects extremely seriously. If it was true that the Ohrurs had experimented with Pandraxians, it was as good as a declaration of war. A war he couldn't start as long as we Space Guardians fought for the Ohrurs.

Political intrigue was never anything that interested me or anything I would have ever stuck my nose in, but it seemed that I was somewhat involved in it now, like it or not. It would be stupid to alienate a possible ally.

"Thank you," I held out my arm.

He shook it. "Thank you. If you have an hour, I'll have your ship loaded with supplies. Silla will never forgive me if I don't."

I didn't really need any supplies, but I wasn't stupid enough to say no. It didn't even take that long. While we waited, we talked a little bit more, and when the ship was ready and I was about to leave, Garth drew his eyebrows together as if looking for something or someone.

"Let me send someone to find your mate. She seems to be late," He said.

I shook my head, "She's not coming."

"Not coming?" He echoed, perplexed.

"We might share these marks," I held up my arm, even though the marks were covered again, "but that's it."

Garth looked even more puzzled than before. "That's strange, the others… they couldn't bear being apart."

"What do you mean?" I asked. Despite myself, I was curious.

"They said it physically hurt them to be apart even a few paces." He explained.

"Strange," I rubbed my chin, but his words only reinforced my opinion that the universe, or whoever was behind these mating marks, had made a mistake. "We're not like that, but if you don't mind, I would appreciate you keeping an eye on her. She's very good at fixing things."

"You have my word," he agreed and waited by the platform until I gave the command to retract it and close the hatch.

I rubbed my hands in glee. Fighting Pit and spirits, here I come . I hurried to the bridge. Already, the feeling of leaving a vital part of myself behind was threatening to tear me apart. I could hardly wait to exorcise Alice out of my mind with a good, hard fight. A feeling of dread knotted my gut. Frygg. The more distance I put between her and me, the better.