“But you’ve been asking them about me?”
Jameel shrugs. “Not just them, and only in a general way since my transfer a month ago. Mess hall chatter and such. I like to know my commanding officers.”
“Thank you for bringing this to me,” I say. “I’m going to ask you to stay put for a little while.” Jameel nods and I step out from behind my desk and to the doorway. “Get me Curran,” I say to Ensign Liu. “Now.”
A few minutes later, Curran is jogging into my office where Jameel and I explain what she found. “Is there any way to IDwho placed this thing?” Curran asks, staring at the device. I haven’t touched it since Jameel dropped it on my desk.
“It might be possible,” Jameel replies. “But it wouldn’t be easy. But now that it’s gone, we should be able to crack Lianov’s system.”
“Assuming there aren’t any others,” Curran mutters.
“Assuming there aren’t any others,” Jameel agrees.
“I want the rest of the Fixer team off-duty until this is cracked,” I tell Curran. “Lock down the work room and keep everyone else out until Jameel has a chance to sweep the rest of the work stations and get me the information I need.” I turn to face her. “You can do it, right? You can crack Lianov’s system on your own and get me the evidence of what was really happening on that ship?” Jameel nods determinedly. “And I want a security detail on Jameel indefinitely.”
Curran nods seriously. I dismiss Jameel to the outer office with instructions for Liu to seal off the area until her security team arrives, then I close the door and turn to face Curran.
“Someone really wants to make sure we can’t get to whatever information is locked up in Lianov’s system,” I hiss. Now that it’s just the two of us, I can let my emotions show. “A traitor or traitors in my base, under my command.”
“Or someone who is compromised,” Curran replies evenly. “You know how Lianov used to operate. Threats and blackmail can be powerful motivators. Not that it’s an excuse, but we don’t know all the facts yet.”
I want to be angrier, but I know he’s right. “I’m going to need full backgrounds on everyone on the team again. Including Jameel.” Curran looks surprised. “I do feel like I can trust her, and she brought me this unraveler thing – assuming it’s what she says it is – but we cannot take any chances. We need to keep as much of what we know under wraps for as long as we can.”
“Understood,” Curran says simply.
“Stars and planets, what a fucking mess,” I say with a sigh as I collapse into my chair. “Tell me why I do this shit,” I say exasperatedly.
“Because despite all evidence to the contrary, you believe that goodness and justice exist in the universe,” Curran drawls. I chuckle. “And I suspect you feel like those three haleens locked up in their quarters don’t deserve to be punished for erasing a shitstain like Lianov from existence.”
I glance at Curran at the mention of the haleens. “They doing okay?” I ask.
He shrugs. “They are probably bored since I asked them to lay low for a while, but they are fine. I told them a little of what you’re dealing with.”
I frown. “You didn’t have to do that,” I argue.
“No, I didn’t,” Curran agrees. “But the way Krish and Zann were moping around and asking about you nonstop, I thought they should know.”
I roll my eyes at my second-in-command. “I’m sure they weren’t moping.”
“Hard to tell with a different species,” Curran replies. “But they were definitely asking where you were to anyone and everyone they could find.”
I chuckle and shake my head. It is flattering to be missed. And I suppose I’ve gotten used to seeing the three of them regularly since I first saw them standing in a puddle of Lianov’s remains. But right now, I have bigger problems to worry about then if or how much a trio of alien males might miss me. Even if the idea of them missing me does give me a warm feeling I don’t have time to analyze right now.
Chapter Eighteen: Krish
I am surprised when I hear the chime indicating that someone is requesting access to our chambers. It has been two days since we left our chambers for any reason other than eating, and we are all growing restless. I have been sharing more of the videos I’ve found with Davix and Zann, especially since I’ve discovered a large number of fictional stories available for viewing. But none of us are meant to be confined to a small space for long. Davix is particularly agitated at not being able to run and exercise as we had been.
Zann opens the door, and I am surprised to see Wenschel and Ryder on the other side. They both seem somewhat troubled as Zann invites them inside. “Is something wrong?” I ask, pausing the video and stepping forward.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Wenschel replies. “But I haven’t seen you in a couple of days and wanted to see how you are doing.”
“We are in good health,” I reply. “We are just,” I glance at Zann, “enjoying some quiet time in our chambers lately.”
“Oh. Should we leave?” Ryder asks, glancing from Zann to me to Davix.
“That is not necessary,” Zann replies. “Your company is not unwelcome.”
“Mind if we sit?” Wenschel asks as she glances around the room, her gaze finally settling on a chair which she pulls away from the wall so she can sit. Ryder pulls a stool off a pile of furniture and sets it next to Wenschel before lowering himself onto it. “Do you enjoy spending time just the three of you?” Wenschel asks.
