While Vanthex performed his “procedure” on Luca, Ian had visited the medical lab where Mica Ashcraft was working. Wyatt had told him that Mica was his best bet for any medical info, since Gage Grey was on vacation.
Ian had quietly asked if Mica could do a blood test and profile on the downlow for him before he left Earth.
“What are you looking for?” Mica asked.
He looked around the otherwise empty room before saying, “I was told my bloodline is not consistent with the Montero family heritage. If that’s true, it begs the question, who am I? Where is my family?”
Mica’s eyes widened. In an equally soft tone, he said, “Wow. That’s wild information to receive out of the blue.”
He took a painless sample of Ian’s blood and a small tissue sample for a deeper analysis. Both results, he said, would be ready in an hour, well before Ian planned to leave Earth with Vanthex and Luca.
When they returned to the meeting room, Luca hadn’t said anything about Beryl’s absence, even though she’d been the first person he asked for when he woke up. Wyatt, after losing another rock-paper-scissors match with Jett, had been the one who told them Beryl had gone back home.
Wyatt also related what she’d said about giving Jake her regrets, if he needed closure. Luca had nodded without saying aword. If he was unhappy about that outcome, Ian’s friend didn’t show any emotion.
Wyatt and Jett said their goodbyes and left together.
Vanthex was brought into the room, still in shackles, but glitter free.
Without preamble, Ian said, “We are scheduled on a quick private transport back to Alpha-Prime tonight, but first, tell me what you know about my heritage.”
Vanthex said, “The apparatus has a vast database of family history that includes many species in the Tri-Spiral Galaxy. One of the Alphas I extracted a memory from while on Earth a few months back was from the Montero bloodline, a very far-removed cousin. But when I testedyourblood, it identified you as Obsidian Montero, even though there was no Montero blood in your sample, not even a slim strand.”
“Who am I then?”
“I couldn’t say without further analysis,” Vanthex said in a bored tone. “It’s a feature of the apparatus, but one I don’t usually concern myself with. I mentioned it purely for bargaining purposes.”
Luca and Ian looked at each other and nodded.
In answer to their silent signal, Diesel stepped into the room, Defender aimed and ready. He shot Vanthex before the being even noticed the Fearless Leader had entered the room.
Vanthex fell forward onto the table, fast asleep.
“I guess itdidwork on him,” Ian said.
“Yep.” Diesel looked pleased. He called two security guards into the room to move Vanthex to the craft and ensure he remained shackled for the trip back to Alpha-Prime.
“How much of his memories did you erase?” Luca asked.
“Just back to immediately after he was found at Krab’s Cookie Palace, but before he took the sample from Ian. Unfortunately, he won’t remember the sticky glitter bomb thathe hated so much, but now you and Alpha-Prime can convince him to be your informant versus awarding a criminal an ambassadorship that he does not deserve. I would have hated letting a blackmailer win.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Luca said. “Thank you, Diesel. The Calderian said he’d speak with you about the details of the renegotiated agreement. We’re putting in actual punishment this time.”
“Good.”
Mica rushed into the room, his expression indescribable. Amazed? Aghast? Shocked? Admiring, maybe? All of the above?
“Ian,” he said. His gaze briefly landed on a sleeping Vanthex being put on a gurney for transport by the two security guys before fixing back on Ian.
“What did you find?” Ian asked.
Mica looked at Diesel and Luca as if wondering if he should divulge anything in front of them. Ian said, “You can tell them.”
Diesel shut the door as Vanthex was carried out of the room and Mica handed Ian a piece of paper with the results of the blood and tissue tests.
Ian read them as Mica practically jumped up and down in seeming excitement.
“Ashcraft?” Ian said.
