Page 154 of Return of the Nine

Dorum sat as head of the Fury and Ianka smiled and waved politely at the one face she recognised. To her amusement, he waved back.

Ziggy and Vida looked at her with surprise, and she merely smiled back with a smug smirk.

Dorum led the charge. “I will be sending my son, Derion and fifty of our best. The Fury are honoured to be able to participate in this mission.”

Rothaway smiled and said, “And very smart in thinking that if they rescue the Gaians, the feeling of relief and thanks might spill into the ability to meet some of the young ladies of the family of those rescued.”

Ianka blinked. “I had not thought of that. If they come with and not only work with a Gaian but rescue survivors, there may indeed be a bond formed between our two peoples once again.”

Her words brought on a sudden surge of participation and five hundred warriors in twenty ships were volunteered in short order, each race of the Nine worked to one-up the one before it.

The men would need four days to properly equip and arm their ships for the event, and by then, the probe would have done its job.

By the end of the meeting, Ianka had a few days to kill.

Vida and S’rin arranged guest quarters for her and forwarded her new clothing and her pack.

With the basic language of the Nine in her mind, Ianka was able to read histories and watch documentaries on the variety of races that had all split from the single source.

She occupied her time by doing push-ups and running in place. Her body wasn’t used to relaxing and inaction was not in her forte.

The chime from the communication unit was a relief. She stood in front of it and pressed the flashing key. “Yes?”

“Hello, Ianka. I have arranged some time around the track for you. You can run as much as you like. Dorum is sending you an escort who should be arriving momentarily.”

“Um, why is Dorum sending an escort?”

“Because you will be flying out with his son, Derion, and it would be a good idea to get to know him before that happens. Oh, and because you can’t run around the ship on your own and I am occupied.”

Ianka gave her a narrow-eyed look. “When will he arrive?”

“He is on his way. Your language skills are improving by the way, you are speaking clear Nine Common.”

“Well, I figured that I had it, I may as well use it.”

Ziggy chuckled and inclined her head before disconnecting the call.

Ianka snorted then jumped as there was a chime from the door. “That was quick.”

She checked to make sure that her suit was properly sealed before she palmed the panel to open the door.

Resignation was stamped on the features of the stranger in front of her. “Good evening, Miss Senior. I am Derion and I am here to take you to the exercise centre of the Fury holdings.”

Ianka nodded. “Thank you. I am unused to inaction.”

“This way, please.”

He waved her on and she followed his lead. They walked out of the VIP quarters, past the guards and down a long hallway.

He didn’t seem chatty and she wasn’t going to attract attention. She kept her mouth shut until he opened a blank door and led her into a huge gymnasium. Tracks, bars, weights, fight rings, they were all in place and all completely empty.

“I hope this wasn’t too much trouble.”

He looked at her with surprise. “The Fury do not sleep. Being deprived of the option to exercise will not be well received, even if my father ordered it.”

She nodded. “I will try to be quick.”

Without another word, she sprinted toward the track, and once on it, she began to run at an easy lope. When she warmed up, she started to run, and with the speed blowing air past her cheeks, she finally felt her centre stabilizing around this new place.

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