“What do you expect to find?”he asked while gazing into her beautiful eyes.
“Nothing, for it is too soon.But…” Ariez tapped the console, summoning the dome.As it formed, it broke Cylo and Wren apart.“It would be amazing if something did happen.”As she drifted off to sleep, Ariez sidled closer.“The med-E.D.should assess you, as well.”
Cylo bowed his head in thanks.“Please.She mentioned my eye color fluctuating.”He exhaled, slow and controlled, exhaustion pounding at him.She, at least, got dome-induced naps, for which he was grateful.He didn’t like the shadows under her eyes.“I am hoping it is the work of the Ethera, but I need to be certain.”
“I understand.”Ariez flipped through holographics options.Lights pulsed over Wren.“We know so little about the Ethera.The Durn created it, yet it acts as if it has a mind of its own.”
“Or like it is programmed along certain parameters.When it strikes, the pain is said to be excruciating.”Zive strolled into medical.“All the Eths have fallen to their knees, yet…you have not.”
Cylo grimaced.Wren was his regardless of whether the Ethera agreed or not.
“Medic Qaff noted that your void is shrinking.If it continues to do so, more so after the mating, then it shows the Ethera is adjusting the parameters to suit the situation,” Zive continued.
“Indeed.”Ariez beamed.“You make a remarkable pairing.One for the annals.”
Cylo scowled, not giving a damn about the archives.His future with Wren was unknown in the eyes of Etterian law.He’d take her and flee if Etteria tried to stop him from claiming her.
“Cylo to comm,” Fyca called, his voice reverberating through medical and the common.
Cylo patted the dome in farewell, his bracelet gleaming in the lighting, then hurried to Fyca’s side.“What is it?”He nodded at Lady Brenda in greeting.
“I am picking up an odd reading.It is almost as if we are being followed, yet there is no ship.”Fyca zoomed out and across the display vids, showing endless space.
“A malfunction?”Cylo frowned.
“At first, I thought it residual signatures from theNahatyr’sdeparture.But…” Fyca glanced at his Dar Eth then met Cylo’s gaze.“My instincts say otherwise.”
“We are but a few days from Etteria and at full fusion pulse.Who would dare to attack us?And at that speed, is that even possible?”Cylo stiffened.“I had heard on the buzz—”
“Stealth?”Fyca ran his fingers across the console, flickering the forevids from light spectrums to sound sensitivity.“Nothing.”
“Send an alert on a secure channel to all nearby battleships.”Cylo waited for Fyca to do so.“Then open comms on this…illusion.”
“But—”
“We shall revert to Etterian arrogance.”Cylo grinned.
Fyca chuckled and hit a button.
“Maloidian, I am not in the mood.Kindly state the reason for this pathetic attempt at subterfuge.”Cylo put enough boredom and disrespect in his tone to anger the most bombastic of commanders.The Maloidian bit was a hunch.Best case, he was speaking to nothing.Worst case, an unknown species with phenomenal military might was on their backside.
With three humans on board, he didn’t like the latter.As good a pilot as Fyca was, they wouldn’t fare well against untested firepower.
Silence reigned.Cylo willed his heartbeat to calm, but that knot in his stomach didn’t ease.
“ScimitarKevol, this is battleshipVindar, Supreme Commander Kyah here.Do you require assistance?”
“Share the comm,” Cylo whispered, wanting whoever was out there to know they were not alone.“An escort to Etteria would be appreciated.”He grimaced.Asking for such made him appear weak, scared, when he was far from it.Had there been no females on board, he would have challenged the illusion.“Fire up the chokaar, Fyca,” he muttered.“Let us be cautious yet prepared.”
“Indeed,” Supreme Commander Kyah said.“We have been tracking you since theNahatyrleft.”
Cylo nodded at Fyca who shared the findings on the anomaly with Kyah.
The supreme commander continued, “BattleshipNtimais also en route and will meet you at the halfway point.”
“My thanks, Supreme Commander.”Cylo squared his shoulders, clasped his hands behind his back, and glared into the forevids.“Maloidian, I grow impatient.You have two seconds before I start firing the chokaar in a grid pattern—”
“Oh, like Battleship?”Lady Brenda giggled.“I loved that game as a kid.”
