Page 98 of Right Next Door
“So, I’m safe?”
“Always.”
“Just like that?”
“Your past seems to have left you rather distrustful.” The High Imperium came to a halt in front of her and she was forced to tilt her head back to look up at their face. Assuming that’s where their face was. “You are quite safe from me. I’m not just relying on the trust already inherent in my name. Truly, Misty, I mean you no harm. I mean True Match no harm. The things I do will affect no one but myself.”
“But you won’t tell me what that is.”
“It is nothing dangerous or harmful. I can tell you that.”
“Why the secrecy? Why not just ask Vigo if you can do… whatever it is you were just doing?”
“I have my reasons. You may have noticed that my species is rather secretive,”
“That’s certainly an understatement. I don’t even know if I’m looking at your face right now.”
“You’re close enough. Anyway, my species doesn’t hide because we enjoy confounding everyone. And I don’t act in secrecy because I like it. I mean, I do. I find it funny to see people confused by the things that I do. But I also have reasons. And they’re good ones. To me, at least. But no matter what I do, my friend, I can assure you that I will never do anything to harm the Coalition, its people, or those people that it's chosen to protect.”
Misty cocked her head. Staring at them. “How does a robot manage to sound so sincere?”
“Sincerity is genuine and can always be appreciated, regardless of the source. You should appreciate that better than anyone.”
Misty was only confused for a second before a smile finally broke on her face. “You’re talking about Tsok, aren’t you?”
“The most dense male you’ve ever met, isn’t he?” The Imperium asked, making her laugh. “But genuine. Even if he makes the wrong choice, his intentions are always pure and good. And he gives himself into whatever he’s doing completely. Not many could make the same boast. I don’t think there is anyone more sincere.”
“You aren’t lying,” she said, arms relaxing back down to her side.
“You’re not still angry at him.” It wasn’t a question.
“No.” She smiled. Then frowned. “Wait a minute. How did we go from your sneakiness to my love life?”
“Just looking ahead.”
“Huh?”
“Shall we go?”
Misty gave it a second. Just to see if the Imperium was going to continue pushing her. Like maybe they were trying to get her out quicker to hide what they were doing. But they just continued to stand in front of her, patiently waiting until she finally turned around and led the way back to the main room.
Tsok and Boktare were chatting, but the photographers had moved on and Fia was back on her mate’s arm, smiling like she had no concerns in the world. She was the one who spotted her first and pointed her out to Tsok.
Her male turned, a smile pulling at the corners of his muzzle. “There you are. Where did you get off to?”
“Oh, I was just with…” She turned, but the Imperium was already gone. She could see them in the crowd, talking to some other people. They must have pulled away right as they entered the room. She still wasn’t sure if she should tell Tsok what she saw or not.
“Misty?”
She faced forward again, fixing a smile on her face as the others looked at her, a tad confused about why she had just suddenly stopped talking.
“I was in the privy,” she corrected herself easily. “I miss anything?”
“Nothing much. Just the usual photos,” Tsok assured her, holding out his arm for her to take. “Actually, I think we can probably leave. Unless you want to stay longer?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m good if you’re done.”
“Excellent. Boktare, I’ll see you for the announcement.”
