Granny: Of course. She and the baby are the most important thing right now.
Me: Yes. And they’re okay thanks to you. Silarrian used new shielding and I couldn’t break through. It was different than our normal weapons.
I shudder at the thought of how this scene could’ve played out if Tilly hadn’t intervened, even though I’d told her to stay inside the cave. She must’ve been given a communicator by Granny after I’d died and kept it stowed away.
Granny: Well, don’t beat yourself up over it. You’ve barely been back with her. When you get her settled, start thinking about setting up an alarm perimeter.
Me: I will.
Granny: Love you. If you need anything, contact me. Maybe you can talk your girl into coming to Mars. I can section off an entire habitat for both of you to live. It would be on the outside of Rularran, and you could remain anonymous. Plus, she and the baby could receive proper medical attention and armed protection.
Me: I don’t know if she’ll go for that. She’s pretty determined to never set foot on another Baltin ship again. Gotta go.
I cut the connection and direct the carriers to take the renegade Baltins into custody. Two more lifeforms register on the other side of the door.
‘Sweep this entire facility and let no one escape. Find undamaged cells and lock them inside. I’ll be back later to deal with the trash.’
‘Affirmative,’ responds Carrier 4837.
Without another glance at the fallen man and woman, I teleport Tilly to the cave.
Competing with my deep, dark need to punish the people who hurt my wife is another emotion...shame at not being strong enough to save my family. Mygrandmahad to come to the rescue. Shame at being caught. And deep shame that he’d almost forced me to plead for their lives.
What kind of husband is forced to his knees? What kind of man can’t even manage to protect the ones he loves?
