Page 63 of Warrior's Purpose

“Ha!” she barked out. “Please. I’m not an idiot and neither are you. You trashed my house, took my father by force as well as one of the Cadi, and so on. Your first response was offense, rash and stupid. Did you expect the Cadi to just let you attack them?”

“Conceded. But you, little girl, are too quick to trust. Do you think the devil plays nice when he comes knocking on your door?” the voice scoffed.

“True.” She nodded. “Regardless, you incited a negative response with your behavior. And since I’ve spent time with the Cadi, where I wasn’t threatening them, I’ve learned a few things you probably haven’t.” She thought about poor Vintor and what they might be doing to him to get information. “So, if you want to stop insulting me, I’ll share what I know, since I don’t want any of us to come to harm.”

“Very well, we’re listening.”

“The people I met are here to hide our planet from a race of reptilian people who are basically slaving space pirates.”

“Reptiles.” The voice was even rather than mocking.

“Yes, they’re called Juru Bilja something. Sorry I can’t really recall the name.”

“And why would these Cadi bother to help us? If that is indeed the case.”

“Suspicious as ever. If you’re not going to trust my perceptions and what I tell you, we can stop right now.”

“Continue,” the voice demanded in agitation.

“Well, my sister, who went missing a year ago, was rescued by them, and is now happily living among the Cadi.”

“So, these Cadi plucked your sister out of the sky?”

“No. She was rescued by the Cadi from the reptiles. The point is, I’ve spoken with the Cadi and Providence, so I know and trust what I’ve learned. The Cadi are enemies of these reptiles. From what I’ve learned, the reptiles are bad news. And because the Cadi are decent people, they don’t want Earth to be raped and pillaged. They want to protect us and needed our help to hide our planet, but you shot first rather than hearing what they had to say.”

“If your sister was supposedly rescued from these reptiles, then it would seem the reptiles already know where Earth is. Hiding it seems pointless.”

“I never said the reptiles took Providence. There’s a different race of people doing that.”

“Another race?” The voice sounded intrigued but not surprised.

This was getting convoluted. Telling them about the people harvesting humans to start a doomsday colony wasn’t going to help Ash. It would probably hurt him, since the Feds weren’t inclined to trust.

“Yes, MS something. I can’t tell you much about them, except the Cadi didn’t seem threatened by them, not like the reptiles.” That was the best she could offer.

Abby did her best to speak truthfully without causing more strife, as they asked her questions, often repeating the same ones. It was maddening, but she tried to remain patient. Eventually the questions ceased, then a guard entered and led her down the hall.

“You don’t have to hold my arm so tight. Where am I really going to go?” she groused at the guy, who merely grunted and kept walking.

She held down her trepidation as they approached another stark metal door. It opened to reveal Hope and her father.

“Oh my god.”

Abby shrugged off the soldier’s grasp and raced into the room. She hugged her father tight. He looked haggard, like he hadn’t slept in days. But besides a fading bruise on his cheek, he appeared uninjured.

“Oh, Peanut, I’m so sorry about all of this.” Brennan caressed her cheek.

“It’s hardly your fault.” She sat beside her dad on the bench.

“I say we blame Pro,” Hope snorted morosely from his other side.

“Angel,” Brennan husked wistfully as he was reminded of Providence.

“We got to see and talk to her, Dad,” Abby encouraged.

“And she looks good.” Hope grinned as she squeezed Brennan’s hand.

“Happy, too,” she added.

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