I introduced her properly to Iris, who accepted Cleo’s friendly greeting with more warmth than I’d expected. Maybe she was getting used to genuine kindness.
The council members were present, as was Zelana, the elderly D’tran prophet reader who’d helped raise Rezor.
And then I spotted Vax.
He sat in a chair at the front, hands bound, looking bloody and haggard. Two guards flanked him, their expressions grim. I wondered if the Brakken had turned on him, or if he’d simply been caught in the chaos.
“So he survived after all,” Iris muttered to me, sending a narrow-eyed glare at the D’tran prisoner. “Rezor had better not give him another slap on the wrist.”
I wasn’t completely sure what that meant. As far as I knew, no human justice systems delivered punishments of slaps on wrists, but I shrugged and reminded myself to ask her about it later.
Sophie and Vash stood near one wall with Anker. A portable screen had been set up showing an older human in military uniform. It was the admiral.
And there, clustered near the back, were familiar faces that made me smile. Maya, Zara, and Captain Torven. Mierva sat with her mate, Derrin, their hands clasped. They looked happy to be reunited.
Rezor called the meeting to order, his voice carrying easily through the hall. “We gather to address what happened with the Brakken and the conspiracy within our own people.” He looked at Vax with eyes that had gone cold amber. “Vax, you will speak. Tell us everything.”
Vax lifted his head, and I saw bitterness etched into every line of his face. He confessed it all. The conspiracy. The deal with the Brakken. The kidnapping of Iris. His plans to use her as leverage to force the outsiders away and depose Rezor.
When he finished, he looked directly at Iris. “You were right,” he said, the words sharp and acidic. “They did betray us. Killed my people like they were nothing.” But there was no apology in his voice. Just resentment.
He turned and spat in Rezor’s direction. “I would not have been forced into such an arrangement had you been a stronger leader.”
The hall went silent. Rezor’s eyes blazed red for just a moment before settling into steel-gray determination. This was not a conflicted leader. This was someone who’d learned from his mistakes.
“Twenty sun cycles,” Rezor said, his voice hard. “You will be sent to the penal base on Sten-Vor III, where the humans have arranged for you to serve your sentence. You will work. You will learn. And if you prove yourself capable of change, you may one day be free to build a new life somewhere.” He paused. “But never on this planet. You are banished from Destrani forever.”
Vax’s face twisted with rage. He began spouting curses, threats, and the guards hauled him to his feet. They led him out, and the tension in the room eased fractionally.
The admiral’s voice crackled through the screen. “Now that that is addressed, we can move on. The Brakken presence has been neutralized. We captured eighteen soldiers alive, killed six in the engagement. We’re scanning for any probes that may still be out there. Any we find will be destroyed immediately.”
“What about the rest of the renegade faction?” Torven asked. His arm was around Zara’s shoulders. “It’s estimated there are fewer than five hundred total, but we’ve only accounted for two dozen so far.”
“Intelligence suggests they scattered,” the admiral replied. “Small cells operating independently. This was likely one such cell, drawn to Destrani by the opportunity and for revenge. They may have been hoping to find hidden Solas under the surface with lami to harvest, such as the one found by Maya and Rykar, although our scans have so far found nothing. We’ll remain vigilant, but I don’t anticipate further immediate threats.”
Sophie stepped forward. “This incident highlights the need for better planetary monitoring. The D’tran should be trained in basic communications and surveillance technology. Spread to other parts of the planet to maintain watch.”
Rezor nodded slowly. “The other settlement, led by Vikkat, will need to be informed as well. They deserve to know what happened and why.”
“We can help with that,” Vash said. His skin had calmed to thoughtful blues. “Provide training. Equipment. Help you build a network across Destrani.”
Zelana spoke up, her voice carrying surprising strength for someone so elderly. “The ruins should be studied. They are part of our heritage. Part of what we lost and must reclaim.”
“Absolutely,” Mierva said, leaning forward eagerly. Derrin smiled beside her, clearly used to his mate’s enthusiasm for ancient history. “Derrin and I would like permission to leadan archaeological expedition. Document what remains. Preserve it.”
“More than that,” Cleo added, her scientist’s mind clearly working. “The ruins could be rebuilt and become something new. A city where Destrans and D’tran live together. Learn about shared culture and ancestry. A symbol of unity.”
The conversation flowed from there, ideas building on ideas. How to restore sections of the ancient city. Where to establish research stations. How to integrate technology without destroying the historical significance.
I watched it all with a sense of rightness. This was what I’d wanted when I chose to stay on Destrani. To witness the blending of cultures. The building of something new from something old.
After the formal meeting concluded, Rezor invited the humans and Destrans to his private dining room for a more informal gathering. The space was warm and welcoming, with low tables laden with food and comfortable cushions to sit on.
I found a spot near Zara and Torven, drawing Iris down beside me. She looked uncertain, like she wasn’t sure she belonged here, but I kept my hand on her knee as a quiet reassurance.
“So,” Maya said, leaning forward with interest. “You and Baleck?” She looked at Iris with open curiosity but no judgment.
“Yes,” I said before Iris could deflect or minimize it. “We’re together.”
