Page 31 of Desperate Measures

“Governor Nichols, what an honor to meet you at last! Congratulations on the latest polls.”

Stacy Nichols blinked dark brown eyes at the effusive greeting. “Thank you, Ms. Bailey. The election is far from finished, however.”

Even after over five years, Charity’s spirit rebelled to hear the name she’d used to hide her identity. She set the discomfort aside automatically. “It’s a shame I can’t be counted as a resident on Earth so I can vote for you. Is this your clan?”

“My promised clan. Dramok Rihep, Imdiko Etnil, and Nobek Kuran.”

The three men bowed. The one identified as the Imdiko grinned at her, his features merry. “This is most definitely not the library where we were told we’d find you. Unless you’re researching entertainment and restaurants for school?”

They’d been looking for her? Her heart gave a little flutter, and she let another stab of irritation calm the spark of anxiety. “I thought Clan Deram was the bunch supposed to keep tabs on me. Is the whole station on alert for my activities?”

“Deram’s clan had to work late, so I agreed we’d check on you.” The Nobek was a big bruiser, intimidating. Fortunately, his expression was considerate. Kind, for his breed. Nothing like the fearsome Oses.

“Your aunt and uncle said you were studying for a class assignment.” Dramok Rihep had an open, honest face with a boy-next-door quality despite his muscles. “It looks as if you were sidetracked by the urge to have some fun.”

“Perfectly understandable,” Governor Nichols chuckled. “We were going to have dinner as soon as we found you. We informed your aunt and uncle we’d have you join us.”

“How nice.”

Her polite tone apparently didn’t fool Etnil. Despite having just met, he immediately teased her. “We won’t be as thrilling as drooling over the meat market of the promenade, but we do have reservations at a place that cooks the best ronka steaks off Kalquor.”

Her cheeks burned for him to have assumed she was cruising for male attention…which had been exactly what she was up to. “I wasn’t…you don’t know the first thing about me, Imdiko. Maybe I prefer women.”

“Then you’re in sad shape on this station. Hey, you aren’t eyeballing my sweetheart, are you?” Etnil waved his arms in exaggerated gestures in front of Stacy, jokingly shielding her from Charity’s sight.

He was the silliest version of a Kalquorian she’d met and impossible to avoid laughing at. She tossed her hair. “As if you’d have a chance against me. Lucky for you, I’m all about men.”

“Oh, then Stacy might have to fight you off to keep me.” He beamed.

“She said she liked men,” Kuran remarked drily. He avoided the pretended outrage of Etnil’s roundhouse swing effortlessly. “Shall we go to dinner?”

“Might as well,” Charity sighed, giving up and falling in step with her companions as they headed off. “Everyone here looks so intense and uninterested in having fun anyway.”

So many men, so few available to play.

“The bad news keeps coming,” the governor told her. “We’ve lately heard an orphanage in GC space somehow got overlooked when it came to evacuating. It consists of the children who were rescued after Armageddon and a staff of Earther women and Kalquorian men who serve as instructors and security.”

Charity gaped. “What? How did no one think to yank the kids out when the GC went nuts?”

“The Galactic Council was the facility’s main authority, but those running the orphanage were left pretty much in charge. They’re so efficient, they required little oversight. When the Kalquorians were ordered to leave, the Nobeks decided they couldn’t abandon the children. They only recently decided it would be best for the entire orphanage to evacuate. They contacted Kalquor for help. We’re readying for them to come to Earth.”

“Wow. Hopefully the Darks won’t notice they’re still there before they can escape.” Charity’s heart ached for parentless children who’d have to be uprooted from the home they knew. It was similar to what had happened to her.

“We have our fingers crossed,” Stacy said.

* * * *

Open Arms Orphanage

Piras exited his phased shuttle after landing on the small moon Mymah, which orbited a dead rock of a planet. Mymah was as lush and green as its larger sibling was not. Piras inhaled fresh air. Despite the darkness of night, his sensitive eyesight allowed him to appreciate the cultivated fields, which were hemmed in by the verdant growth of tall trees.

He looked at the buildings in a clearing within the surrounding fields. Their small, simple construction didn’t fool him; he knew they’d been made to stand the test of time. The report he’d read on the orphanage stated once its last child of Armageddon had departed, it would be put to another use. The Galactic Council was always ready to offer its member planets efficient facilities for altruistic uses.

At least such had been the case until the Darks had arrived.

Piras unphased, though he left his shuttle invisible. Kila’s spyship orbited Mymah and was preparing for the coming fight against the squadron heading their way. They had only a day to ready the orphanage for what would be at least a two-day siege, until their Kalquorian marauder backups arrived.

His mind crammed full of all they’d have to accomplish, he headed toward the building where half a dozen Nobeks were spilling out to greet him.

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