Page 68 of Soros
When Star didn’t seem to know what to say, Lios told her:
“We are here to help you, but you have to express what you want.”
“I would like to know what happened to my family when they were delivered back to Markatoria. I think about them a lot.”
“I’m on it,” Imiron said from the other side of the room. “Won’t take me long to find out.”
“My promise to you still stands,” I told Star. “I’ll help you built a new life.”
Nerix shifted his balance. “Maybe what Star needs is to feel safe. When it was just the two of you in New York, things ended up in a complete disaster. You can’t protect yourself, Tania, let alone Star.”
It wasn’t that Nerix was wrong but feeling like he blamed me for what happened with Ko’roz, I defended myself. “I’ve never claimed that I knew telepathy or that I could defend myself against mind clouding from a Malbreean. But normally that wouldn’t have been a problem on Earth. No one knows mind clouding so it won’t be a problem if Star lives there.”
“Star needs a personal bodyguard,” Nerix said and with the way Star looked up at him I could guess who she was hoping would take that job.
“I’ve promised to help Star recruit the perfect person to protect her.” Looking at Zobran, Nerix added, “And yes, she needs a new identity. Can you help with that?”
“Of course.”
“I’ve got information on your family,” Imiron called out. “Do you want visual documentation or just a summary?”
“Are they alive?” There was hope in Star’s voice.
Imiron, who was a Noxin, was unemotional and didn’t show any empathy when she answered in a flat tone. “No. They’re all dead.”
“So, they were executed?”
Imiron was looking down at some visuals that I guessed were from the executions and at one point she closed her eyes and looked away with her facial expression scrunched-up with disgust.
Like the rest of us, Star clearly understood what Imiron didn’t say out loud. The executions had been brutal. Pale and pressured, she unbuckled herself from the chair and muttered, “I think I need a minute.”
“Where are you going?” Lios asked her.
“I would like to lie down for a moment.”
With a short nod to Nerix, Lios ordered, “Make sure she’s secured in the cabin. We’re about to jump galaxies and I want everyone strapped in.”
“Maybe I should go with her,” I offered as Star hurried out from the bridge with Nerix behind her.
Soros stopped me. “Stay. Star is overwhelmed with grief and the uncertainty she’s facing. It’s natural that her thoughts are in a bundle of chaos. Give her time to sort out what she wants. She knows that you’re here for her if she wants company.”
My glance followed her until she was gone.
Just then Cacala, who had been on a short tour with the Scilm, soldiers came walking in.
“Is Nerix leaving because of me?” she asked us. “He hardly looked at me when we passed each other.”
“I ordered him to secure Star, who needed to lie down. We’re about to jump galaxies.”
Cacala’s eyes lit up. “Can I pilot?”
“Small steps.” The edge of Lios’ lips lifted as he pointed to the chair next to him. “Come sit and let me get you hooked up to the system. As soon as we have everyone ready, we’ll set the course for Fedaros. Have you ever been there?”
Cacala’s eyes were shining with excitement, and it was cute to see how her tongue pressed up against her upper lip in concentration. “I’ve never been. To be honest, I’ve only ever visited four planets if you count Earth, which I technically do because I’ve landed on the planet so many times although I’ve never walked around or seen much.”
“Have you been to Scilm?”
“No. My mother always said it was a dangerous place because of all the drugs and free sex. But we did go to the pink peninsula on Mepoi on vacation once. My parents saved for years for that journey.”
