“You can’t punish the base’s citizens for one of their commander’s actions,”Selena pleaded.“This base is full of refugees looking for a place to call their own. They are innocent in my kidnapping and don’t deserve to be killed for their association with Xenak. Kaede, there are humans here… pure, unaltered humans abducted from Earth before the Yaarkins could touch the planet. You can’t erase what little history we have left in the universe.”
“Humans?”Kaede repeated, dumbfounded.“You must be mistaken.”
“She is not,” Celyze replied.“My mate, Tori, was one of the last humans abducted before the Yaarkins conquered Earth. We have a total of seventy-two humans—pure, unlike Selena—on this base, plus many other refugees.
“Most are Swynemi here, but a variety of other species were abducted from your galaxy and mine, who now reside on this base. Do not punish the rest of us for our leader’s poor judgment. We just want to live in peace.”
“Give me your coordinates and I will spare you and your clan. I can’t make any promises about the others. Their lives mean nothing to me on this mission. If they want to blame someone, then blame yourishing fraxof a commander.”
Celyze rattled off the coordinates, along with the location of a hidden hangar on the base. REI filed all the information in her system to share with the crew.
“I’m approximately three days away,”Kaede announced to whoever was listening.“Selena, can you stay out of trouble until I get to you? Once I arrive, I don’t care what you must do to get to me—just do it. As soon as I have you aboard my ship, we are leaving.”
“I believe I can, Kaede, but…”Her mental voice sounded strained. He could almost feel her swirling emotions cascading through their connection.“Have you heard any word from Destima? My mates…”
“They are alive, Selena,”Kaede replied gently.
He didn’t want to divulge anything that could cause her more distress than she was already experiencing. She needed to remain calm and level headed until he got there. There was plenty of time for her to learn the truth about her mates’ conditions later, when he could comfort her in the safety of hisAbyss.
“Kaica, Oeta, and their staff are working hard to keep them stable until you return. I am more worried about Z than your Circuli mates. At least they have a safeguard. No one can control Z if he spirals. Have you spoken to him?”
“Not yet,”she said, worry slipping into her tone.“I only came to earlier today. You’re the first person I’ve been able to reach.”
“How are you?”He didn’t want to have to beg for forgiveness now, across a distance and in front of an audience. He hoped she was willing to hear him out once they were on their way back to Destima. She seemed relieved to be in contact with him, which brought Kaede hope.“Have they treated you well?”
“Physically, I’m healed,”she murmured meekly.“But Kaede… my babies and my mates. How am I supposed to live on if something happens to them?”
“I am going to make sure you won’t ever have to worry about that,”Kaede swore, his heart breaking at her tone.“Selena, hold on. I am coming. When I get there, thatishing fraxbetter be ready.”
