Dr. Boyd runs a hand through her damp hair and heads for the admin lounge. As she walks, she hums softly. Anything to keep her mind off of Vor’taalnis’ kidnapping—and felon Norris.

  She has barely taken three steps into the lounge when she runs into Mau-Nis. The command leader gazes at her with an odd expression, his eyes taking in every inch of her appearance. Teresa is unsure if she has erred in some way. Mau-Nis’ appraisal makes her feel as if she is a bug under a microscope. She chuckles inwardly at the mental analogy. Mau-Nis’ brow knits and he continues to observe her.

  “I didn’t realize you had come back,” Teresa says. “Any sign of Vor’taalnis? Or the doctor?”

  Mau-Nis shakes his head solemnly.

  “I checked each of the locations you specified,” Mau-Nis replies. “Your son was not at either. I have spoken with N-Vorl. I will attempt another thorough search before time to destroy the facility. However, we must face the very real possibility that the doctor may have smuggled your son off of the station. While our forces were otherwise preoccupied with the hostile ooman attack vessels. You were not able to locate the doctor’s personal implant. Either her biometric signature is cloaked…She does not have an implant…Or she is no longer on the station. Either way, we will not be able to track her location. I am sorry, Dr. Boyd.”

  Teresa swallows the lump in her throat and moves past Mau-Nis. She heads for the far counter, where the beverage machine sits nestled in the wall. Something about Mau-Nis’ present demeanor seems off. As if he is frustrated with her about something. The command leader follows her across the room.

  Arriving at the counter, Teresa goes to the beverage maker and inputs commands for a cup of decaffeinated coffee—with two sugars. She glances over her shoulder at Mau-Nis.

  “If memory serves me correctly…You’re not a fan of coffee, Mau-Nis,” Teresa says with a thin smile. “Fruit tea, then? N-Vorl despises pretty much every type of ooman beverage…And I don’t like to drink alone. You will join me?”

  Mau-Nis offers Dr. Boyd his own version of a smile.

  “Tea…Yes,” Mau-Nis replies.

  Teresa inputs another command and opens a nearby cupboard searching for drinking glasses or a couple of clean mugs. She is shocked when Mau-Nis’s hand wraps around her forearm. The command leader studies the flesh of Teresa’s arm with a fearsome expression. Mau-Nis’ mandibles flare, and he raises his eyes to her face.

  “These markings. They were not here before. When we were together on the ooman ship,” Mau-Nis states. “Where did they come from? How were they made?”

  Teresa opens her mouth to reply but no words will come. Her eyes frantically search Mau-Nis’ angry face. The command leader’s eyes narrow and he lowers his gaze to Teresa’s bosom. Her blouse is partially open and there are visible markings there as well. Most look as if they were made by a sharp blade. There is also evidence of bruising. For more reasons than one, Mau-Nis acknowledges that if the ooman doctor continues to dress in this way; it will be very hard to control both N-Vorl’s emotions and his hormones.

  “These acts were committed against you…By the other oomans aboard this facility?” Mau-Nis inquires frankly.

  Teresa offers Mau-Nis an affirmative nod. She averts her gaze, and her body visibly shakes. Clenching one hand into a fist, she places it at her side.

  “Yes,” Teresa finally responds. “They…They wanted answers I would not give.”

  Mau-Nis uses his solitary hand to turn Teresa’s face back forward. He tilts his head and peers directly into her eyes.

  “What kind of answers? What information did they seek?” Mau-Nis queries.

  Anger surges through Teresa. With a sarcastic smirk, she wrenches her face free of Mau-Nis’ hand.

  “I guess the interrogation has begun early?” Teresa yells. “What is this, Mau-Nis? You know me. I didn’t tell them anything! I wouldn’t!”

  “I do not doubt you!” Mau-Nis reassures Dr. Boyd. “This is not an interrogation. I simply want to know what answers could be so important…That an ooman would harm one of their own kind in such a way?”

  Teresa inhales deeply and shuts her eyes. When she opens them again, they are moist with tears.

  “The same kind of answers I would have sought…More than two years ago,” Teresa says. “They’re scientists. Scientists tasked with finding out what I know…At any cost. No different than when I was aboard the California. I was driven. More than that…I was obsessed. They wanted to know who—or what—Vor’taalnis’ father is. Where he came from. I told them…Vor’taalnis was the product of an experiment with contaminated Judas DNA. I tried to cast blame on the California’s saboteur. They didn’t believe me.”

  Teresa’s mouth falls partially agape as Mau-Nis uses a clawed finger to part the right side of her blouse. He studies the injuries on her flesh with renewed interest. His familiar touch sends a shiver down Teresa’s spine. However, the command leader is careful not to expose too much of her chest.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “I have heard my kind referred to as monsters…Many times,” Mau-Nis utters in a soft voice. “But I have seen little evidence which proves your kind…To be much different.”

  Mau-Nis releases the material of Dr. Boyd’s blouse. She carefully straightens her clothes and turns away from him. Returning to her search for clean cups to drink from, Teresa is once again surprised by Mau-Nis’ touch. He gently runs his one good hand down her hair, stopping above her left shoulder. The shoulder where he observed the large wound from an ooman pellet.

  Lowering his hand, Mau-Nis carefully removes the ponytail holder from around Teresa’s wrist. Gathering up her hair, he manages to use both his mech-arm and his good hand to fashion her hair into a loose ponytail. His voice drops to a low whisper.

  “I am truly sorry, Dr. Boyd,” Mau-Nis says.

  Teresa closes her eyes for a moment and then responds. She spins to face him.

  “I’m not a doctor anymore, Mau-Nis,” Teresa explains. “That’s why I’m here. In this place. I gave up that right when I—When I chose to…”

  Rather than complete her statement, Teresa shifts the conversation to Mau-Nis.

  “Why are you here, Mau-Nis?” Teresa asks. “Why are you helping N-Vorl? I can understand why P’taal is here. He’s in love with N-Vorl’s aunt. But you…You should be angry. If N-Vorl succeeds here…He will be named elder. If not for the loss of your arm that title would be yours. Why are you aiding him? Not that I’m ungrateful. I just don’t get it.”

  “My love for the clan is deeper than any selfish desires,” Mau-Nis says. “I was not born into this clan. A long time ago, before N-Vorl was born…War, and infighting decimated the Fihgi Clan. The Nilyautha Clan, my clan, later merged with the Fihgi Clan. I served under Mahtyu. Father to both N’bril and Glandis—N-Vorl’s grandfather. It was assumed, because N’bril was the oldest, that he would eventually take his father’s place as Clan Elder. However, N’bril’s nature got the better of him. During a conference of Elders, and while his father lay dying, N’bril allowed himself to be goaded into a petty duel. In a fit of violent rage, N’bril killed the son of a neighboring elder. N’bril was tried, and stripped of his title as Elder-Apparent. When Mahtyu finally died, the title of Elder fell to Glandis. The council took pity on N’bril, and he was only reduced to Master Cultivator of the chruksh farms. He was permitted to keep one third of the clan; to learn the craft of cultivation. The clan fractured yet again, quickly splitting into two factions. One faction chose to remain under Master N’bril, working as scientists and cultivators. The other faction chose to serve under Elder Glandis; retaining their warrior creed. Glotis and Glandis share the same father, but different mothers. Glotis’ mother was also of the Nilyautha Clan. It was decided that Glotis would marry the son of another honored elder—Elder-Apparent Eflirus of Dutruha—to further strengthen our position among the clans. After the loss of his son in battle, Glandis chose me as his heir—to one day lead the Fihgi clan. I would take his place should anything befall him. After a trial by council…To determine my preparedness for the role. I was injured prior to being given the title of Elder. And as such, I will never serve as one. I cannot be angry with N-Vorl about this. It would have taken a stroke of blind fortune for me to become Clan Elder. N-Vorl is at least blood to the line which has always led the Fihgi clan. I am an outsider.”

  Teresa scrutinizes Mau-Nis carefully. She takes a step closer, peering into his round gray eyes.

  “Mau-Nis? Are you absolutely sure…You’re no blood relation?” Teresa asks. “Your eyes…The patterns of color…In your eyes. I’ve seen them before. In others of the Fihgi clan. Namely, Glotis.”

  Teresa reaches up and takes Mau-Nis’ face in her hands. She peers into his eyes from a closer distance, lowering his head.

  “Things like this…Are usually hereditary,” Teresa continues. “I don’t know how I missed this. I spent so much time with Glotis. I guess, I never spent enough time with you. Are you certain, you’re not a blood relative?”

  “As certain as I can be,” Mau-Nis says.

  A smile turns up the mandibles on his face and Mau-Nis studies Teresa through half-lidded eyes.

  “I thought you said…You are not a scientist?” Mau-Nis quips.

  Teresa issues a short chuckle.

  “Well. I did,” Teresa says. “But old habits die hard.”

  Mau-Nis’ smile grows larger.

  “Yes, they do,” he agrees.

  Teresa manages another thin smile and grips Mau-Nis’ good hand.

  “You don’t know how happy it makes me to see you again, Mau-Nis,” Teresa says. “To see what you’ve done with Richard’s prototype. The alterations, the way it…It almost seems like an extension of you. As if…You were meant to have it.”

  Teresa grows silent, inspecting the mechanical arm attached to Mau-Nis’ shoulder. The command leader studies her as well, his solitary hand flexing as he contemplates wrapping his remaining good arm around her waist.

  “Richard was the only…Ooman…I ever truly loved,” Teresa continues. “To see his work continue on….It’s like a small part of him is still here with me. He lives through you. I’m so glad you came, Mau-Nis.”

  Mau-Nis draws Teresa into a gentle hug. Stroking her hair, he allows Dr. Boyd to sob undisturbed for several moments. With hesitation, he broaches a difficult topic.

  “How did you become heavy with N-Vorl’s descendant?” Mau-Nis queries, his voice soft and reassuring. “Did he force himself upon you…During the course of his duties?”

  Teresa draws back and blinks rapidly, staring up at Mau-Nis. The command leader regards her with a concerned expression, his arm firmly wrapped around Teresa’s midsection.

  “No…No…Nothing like that!” Teresa stammers. “We…We made an arrangement. A pledge to each other…Aboard my vessel. As a scientist, I was curious. Curious, as to what kind of beings could be bred using both human and yautja DNA. And also…I needed companionship. My lover was dead. N-Vorl satisfied all of my needs. It was only supposed to be an experiment. I never believed…I would make it off of that ship alive. But, then…I started to feel something. Something I couldn’t put into words. Just as quickly, it was all over. All I had left…Was Vor’taalnis.”

  Mau-Nis releases Dr. Boyd’s waist and steps back enough to gently touch her cheek. His eyes soften and he offers her a friendly smile.

  “I only ask because…It is not unheard of for those of the higher caste to abuse those beneath them,” Mau-Nis says in a kind tone. “N-Vorl is high-born…With a fiery temper. I wanted to be sure.”

  “I am…Grateful for your concern, Mau-Nis,” Teresa says, returning his smile. “It’s very touching.”

  Lightly drawing Mau-Nis downward, Dr. Boyd kisses the side of his face. Mau-Nis is surprised by the gesture and turns into her kiss, his mandibles brushing Teresa’s cheek. Her body shivers as past memories play as if on a reel. Mau-Nis is unable to keep his body from doing the same. He only hopes that Dr. Boyd has not observed his moment of emotional weakness.