Page 95 of The Alien's Private Redemption

"Already forgiven," he said.

He wasn't certain what she was apologizing for but he knew they both had a lot to talk about. For now, it was enough that they seemed to have gotten past the worst of their anger at each other. Getting their people to move beyond their differences would take time but it felt like they might have it. If they could work together now.

Angela took the stack of clothes and kissed him on the cheek. Affection and another emotion he refused to name traveled down their Bond and he knew she'd heard him apologize to Ae-cha. He didn't know why it was so important to her that he did it but he was glad he had, if just for her.

They'd been sent an escort to take them to that morning's meeting and Zoric was surprised to see the Orvax delegation and the human contractors from the plane, but no Dr. Phillips or Dr. Torres.

"Now that everybody is here, we can get started," Colonel Schuh said, taking his seat. The leather chair creaked beneath him as he moved and everybody else started looking for their own.

Two chairs had been altered to make it easier for Zoric and Ae-cha to sit and Zoric gave the Colonel a nod of appreciation for the accommodations.

Colonel Schuh gestured to the Orvax in the room and Zoric was pretty sure he'd met at least one of them before but he couldn't remember their names.

"In our pursuit for answers and a cure for one of the Orvax mates, we've been researching various rumors," the first one started. He didn't introduce himself and Zoric got the feeling that he was being deliberately vague about what they'd been pursuing.

"When we were contacted by Colonel Schuh to track a strange signal, our research had already brought our attention to certainactors in the area. To get a better view of what was going on, we contacted some help that came highly recommended."

With that, he gestured to the human contractors who nodded.

"And what do you do?" Colonel Schuh asked, though Zoric got the feeling it was for his benefit more than the Colonel's.

"Tech Support," one said, at the same time the other said, "I.T."

Zoric raised his eyebrow skeptically but didn't say anything.

"They've managed to isolate the signal and get a good view of where it's been and where it's going. What we've been able to find from this information is that whoever was following you wasn't using a vehicle to tunnel."

"But we saw the sand moving," Angela protested.

"I'm sure you did," the Orvax said. "However, there was no vehicle in the area. Whatever made the sand move was organic."

"You mean, it actually was a sandworm?" She asked, her eyes wide.

"Probably not," they said. "But we're at just as much of a loss as you are about what could have done it."

"I have some ideas," Ae-cha said. "Though they're mostly rumors and myths."

"That's more than we have," the Orvax said.

"Ae-cha, I need you to work with the Orvax on this," Colonel Schuh said. "And I'd like to call in the help you mentioned."

"I can't make that call," Ae-cha said slowly, and turned to Angela.

With a deep breath, Angela nodded. "I can. But I can't do it from here. I'm going to need a truck."

Zoric knew who she was going to call and understood that she needed to go home to do it. He even agreed with making the call, but he worried.

All signs pointed to her Uncle Saul being the one to put the original triggers and suggestions in her mind. What if it wassomeone he'd trained, someone he'd sent after Angela, that had set the rest. She might think of him as a benevolent relative but Zoric wasn't convinced he wasn't playing a deeper game, using Angela's life as a way to make his moves and remain unseen.

An argument broke out about the inherent danger in letting a known criminal out of their custody to contact an unknown entity. Even with the reminder that she was his Mate and technically in his custody, nobody wanted to send them out into her home territory.

A compromise was eventually struck with the Orvax offering a sophisticated tracker and a promise to keep an eye on her while she was out of government custody. Zoric didn't like it but it was better than not being allowed to go at all.

"Angela, if you'll follow Mintonar, he'll get the tracker set up and I'll work on finding you a vehicle," Colonel Schuh said.

Zoric's eyes narrowed. He knew the name Mintonar. He was a doctor of some description and something else. The memory of nagged at the back of his mind but Zoric couldn't place why he didn't trust the Orvax.

Unfortunately, at the moment, he didn't have any choice but to trust him. The humans trusted the Orvax and everything they'd done to that point had been benevolent. But implanting a tracker in Angela could be used for so many worse purposes, he hated that he couldn't remember why he didn't trust Mintonar.

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