There were several gasps in the room, including one from Toni.FiPan, the gangster planet that held her and her friends captive? The place where they were left to rot and die of starvation when the leader died? Could he be talking about that foul piece of hell in the galaxy?
“Guardianship?” Raxx sat up and plunked his mug with a thunk onto the table’s thick, transparent surface. “That’s some heavy shit you’re laying down.” He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “So, tell me, dude, what exactly are you offerin’?”
Dang, the guy talked like he was in an old 80s movie.
“It means”—Queen Inanna answered—“it isn’t viable to let that site remain without some kind of control. We cannot allow another outlaw faction to move in and take over. So… dude, what we’re offering you is a custodial position to run the planet and help guide it to become a viable citizen of the Federation Consortium.”
Raxx’s mouth dropped open before he snapped it shut. The crunching of his jaw was easy to hear in the now-quiet room. “For reals?” He swung his wide-eyed glance at Asmodel.
Asmodel grinned and slapped Raxx on the shoulder. “You ready to be respectable, dude?”
“Yo, only if you're comin’ with me, my man.” Raxx’s grin matched Asmodel’s.
Asmodel shook his head. “Afraid not.” He nodded to the queen’s hologram. “They have someone else in mind to help you, way better than I can.”
Adapa’s holographic form tapped a finger on whatever surface he was sitting behind. “We recognize you will need help to turn things around there.” He turned his attention to his dark-skinned brother. “Abalim.”
A clear monitor materialized in the middle of the table, displaying an image of an alien female Toni had never seen before.
“Ah, yes,” Abalim nodded, causing his corkscrews to bob around his massive shoulders. “I’d like to introduce Saphira, who hails from the planet Crichi. I met her and her crew on FiPan. We’d considered Saphira and her crew smugglers, but we have just learned that they were undercover agents for our galactic government. Initially, their assignment was to infiltrate FiPan and gather evidence against a notorious gangster named Zorvok who was trying to take over the underground network.”
“That is, until my mission changed when they ordered me to help you find Lisa,” the strange female alien spoke from the translucent monitor floating in the middle of the table.
Toni cocked her head in Raxx’s direction when she heard him take in a sharp breath. Glancing at him, she frowned at his narrowed eyes and pursed lips.Looks like there’s some kind of history between those two.
“Not that I minded.” Saphira beamed at Lisa sitting next to Abalim. “Lisa was well worth any interruption.”
Lisa giggled. “Flattery will get you everywhere, sista.”
Toni studied the Crichi and her skin of a deep coral that glistened whenever she moved.
Adorning across her attractive face were intricate patterns, delicate swirls and lines that reminded Toni of tattoos or skin grafts that swooped from her temples, across her cheekbones, before ending down her jawline. But it was her overly large almond-shaped eyes that made her look like an anime character. To enhance the image, her metallic-gold hair was shaped in a mohawk. It was short on the sides with long, silky panels draped over one side and resting down her shoulders.
“Good to see you again,Jorlen.” Saphira’s attention turned to Raxx. She sat back and narrowed those enormous eyes while tapping her forefinger with its tapered golden-brown nail against the amber of her full lips. “Can’t wait to work with you once again.”
Raxx swallowed so hard it was easy to see his Adam’s apple bob. He tilted his head and gave her a lopsided grin, saluting her with his two forefingers.
Well, that was interesting. Talk about unresolved tension.
With that settled, Adapa took over the conversation. “We have some other news we are sure you’ll like.” He directed his gaze at Morgan.
“Yes, ah, thank you.” Morgan stood and leaned on the table with her palms flat on the surface as she addressed those in the room. “I’m sure most of you think I came from Atlanta, Georgia, in America on Earth. I’m afraid only part of that is true.”
Her sheepish smile made Toni grin. She’d always thought Morgan seemed like an actor playing a part. Toni leaned forward, eager to hear Morgan’s confession.
“While I am from Earth, I’m not from America. I belong to a secret society of Akurn descendants in a hidden city called Aethralis under the Antarctic.”
There were several gasps and wide-eyed looks, especially from Azazel and his brothers. Except Arakiba, of course.
“Ever since Prince Murduk tried to destroy the scientific base on Earth thousands of years ago, my great-something grandfather gathered most of the Akurn scientists and the humans they’d helped design to safety.” She glanced at Azazel, then Asmodel, then Abalim, as she continued. “As you know, those illegal Akurn scientists also created a species known as the Titans. Thankfully, my grandfather and those with him have kept those beings in stasis ever since.” She straightened and crossed her arms. “Now, that’s where you come in. Although the citizens of Aethralis include powerful psychics like you, that ability has weakened over the generations. I, myself, only have a small psychic ability known as xenoglossy—the capability to hear and speak a language after hearing it.” She sighed and rubbed her temple. “Because our powers are not as strong as our ancestors’, the shield holding the Titans is faltering.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Asmodel muttered.
“Are you asking us to join you and the people of Aethralis to help reinforce the Titans’ confinement?” Azazel’s voice held a misleading sense of calm.
His act didn’t fool Toni one bit. She felt his inner beast beginning to wake up at the thought of an upcoming battle.
“You are correct,” Queen Inanna answered. “If those high-powered psychics escape, the mythical accounting of their tyranny will seem like children’s fairytales. We have to contain them by any means necessary.” Her clear-turquoise eyes glanced at her husband beside her. “Unfortunately, Adapa cannot join you. We need him here on Akurn as we continue to transition from the mess my so-called brother caused. Without us here, my people will suffer and die amidst the chaos.”
