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“Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t like people wandering around my space without me knowing they’re there. I have, problems with trust.”

Mirilla nodded quickly. “It is our way to tend to your needs without being seen and intruding on your family, but I can make sure that I announce my presence and ask before entering your quarters if that will better serve your preferences.”

“If I decide that I will accept help for a little while, I would prefer that you ask entrance and let me know you’re here. If I decide that I want help. Right now, I’m still undecided.”

“Please do not hesitate to let me know if you change your mind.”

“I will. In the meantime. Would you care to stay for a while? My nephew is due back any time now and we’re just going to be visiting and getting to know each other. If you are special to Bart, then, you should be here, too. Samuel would like very much to meet you, I think.”

“Samuel?” Mirilla asked.

“My father,” Bart explained.

Mirilla seemed surprised for only a moment before she recovered her composure, her usual pleasant smile in place, her hands folded before her. “I’d like to stay to get to know everyone better.”

“One condition, though,” Vivian said.

“Of course,” Mirilla said, giving a slight bow.

“Stop all that bowing and serving attitude. You’re here as someone who is special to Bart, and Bart is special to us. You are not a servant, nor a member of the staff when you’re here.”

“Thank you, Vivian,” Mirilla said.

“Thank you, Mirilla,” Vivian echoed. “Now, can someone get me downstairs?”

Quin picked her up, pressing his lips to her forehead before she had time to settle into his arms. “Downstairs it is,” he said.

Chapter 9

Quin stood a few feet away from the sofa Vivian sat on, animatedly telling a story about Ba Re’ and Rokai almost destroying a transport docked on Command Warship 1, as well as causing damage to the Warship itself when they thought Elisha was leaving Ba Re’ behind. “Instead of simply waiting, giving the pilots of the transports time to confirm they had permission to board and search the transports, Rokai hands him a wrench…”

“It’s bigger than me,” Vivi added.

“It is!” Quin exclaimed. “Ba Re’ starts beating at the windshield, the whole time bellowing Elisha’s name. When she didn’t come out and the windshield remained intact, he battered the outside of the transport so badly it was no longer travel safe, but that wasn’t enough. No, it couldn’t have been enough. He demanded the blaster from one of those sent to ensure that all was as it should have been, and began firing at the transport! The metallic outer skin of the transport peels back and Ba Re’ keeps firing. He went so far as to melt the rudder, leaving a permanent metallic blob on our flight deck floor, before firing at the transport again. The laser blast skims off the top of the transport and takes down two of our support beams on the landing deck, sparks and molten metal are falling from the ceiling of the deck, warriors are running everywhere, the air lock seals itself off to protect the deck and the ship, and Ba Re’ just keeps alternately firing and pounding on this poor transport — which isn’t even ours, by the way — and Rokai is cheering him on!”

Bart was laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach.

Vivian was giggling at the picture Quin painted with his words.

Mirilla was smiling, doing her best not to laugh because she still wasn’t sure about where exactly she fit in with this unexpected group of people who’d invited her in as though she was their equal.

Bart, finally able to catch his breath, but still chuckling, looked up at Quin. “You told me of the incident, but hadn’t heard it in so much detail! Did you have to arrest him to make him stop?”

“No! Elisha walking up behind him and demanding to know what the hell he was doing stopped him.”

“Behind him… she wasn’t even on the transport?” Bart asked.

“She was not. She was on another. Jhan located her and asked her to come help him control Ba Re’.”

The front door opened and Samuel walked in with Au'revele.

“There they are! How was your tour?” Vivian exclaimed. She tried to roll herself forward to stand, but ended up doing nothing more than wobbling back and forth before giving up and flopping back against the sofa cushions again.

“We had a wonderful tour, Siren… Vivian,” Au'revele said, catching herself before she called Vivian Sirena.

Vivian winked at her to let her know she recognized the fact that Au'revele was trying to abide by her request to not be so formal with her in private. “I’m glad.”

“Shall I help you get comfortable, Ehlealah?” Quin asked, trying to help her get comfortable.

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