Page 57 of Crossing Quinn

Chapter Twelve

I helped my mother off the floor. Her eyes widened when she spotted Wulf standing next to the command console. “Who is that? What is he doing here? Where is Lysis?”

I quickly said, “This is Wulf. He’s here to help us stop the Tai-Kok from getting their hands on the Shebu, and Papa is cleaning up.”

My mother’s face paled dramatically. “Oh Goddess. Oh Goddess. That can’t happen. That can’t happen.”

“Focus, Mami. Do you know where the Nabateans went?”

“I think. Maybe. I’m so confused. Where’s Lysis?”

Quinn held out a French Mint. “Maybe this will help.”

“I don’t like you.” Mami snatched the candy out of his hand. “You shot me.”

“You shot her?” Wulf looked a bit annoyed.

I gave Wulf an irritated glare. “She deserved it.”

“Xenia!” Mami protested.

“Mami,” I countered.

Mami patted Quinn’s hand. “I’m sorry I shot you.”

“Twice,” I prompted.

“Twice.”

Being a smart male, Quinn gave Mami another piece of chocolate and said, “Apology accepted.”

“I need you to concentrate, Mami. Where did the Nabateans go?”

“Earth.”

Everyone exclaimed in unison, “Earth?”

“Yes.” Mami ate her chocolate. “Earth.”

Quinn demanded, “Where on Earth?”

“Somewhere in the Middle East. Possibly southern Jordan. To be sure, I need to calculate the coordinates again.”

The command computer announced, “Explosion detected.”

I turned my attention to the tracking scanner. One of the ships had been turned into space debris. “The second Tai-Kok destroyer is leaving orbit.”

“It’s engaging its warp drive,” Quinn said.

Wulf tapped a computer icon. “It has Nilus and the other captives onboard. Any chance Nilus is working with the Tai-Kok?”

“No. Only my uncle is that stupid,” I replied.

“I was able to place an acoustic tag on the engines. We should be able to track it,” Quinn stated.

Papa stepped onto the bridge.

“Lysis!” Mami jumped up and wrapped her arms around him. “You scared me to death.”

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