More federal ships fill the sky, along with forces from other planets nearby. The Nebs and Novarks tuck tail and leave of their own accord in different directions. The ghostfleet, that I assume are the Isonians, stays behind.
A radiant male in gold armor hikes up the hillside with three federal agents.
I draw Zariah close, kiss her to reassure myself she is okay, then keep her behind me as they approach.
“Elix,” the agent says. “I’m not surprised to see you here. It seems you are everywhere these days.”
“I go where I am needed,” I tell Tenac. “That’s her brother. Novarks had a trade deal with him. That’s why they were here. He just portal-jumped to another world.”
“Ooh, boy the charges are rackin’ up for you.” Two of Tenac’s crew haul Cazir up on his feet. “Got a nice, clean cage just for your kind of exotic animal. You’re going to love it.”
The Isonian stays beside us. He rests his glowing hands on his hips, watching Cazir wriggle in the fed’s grasp. “We apologize for the initial portal capture.”
“That was you?” Zariah asks.
He dips his head, large blue-white eyes taking only a brief glance at her before focusing on me. “I meant no disrespect to you or your mate. We were trying to contact you because of the situation developing here.”
“But you shot at us,” I say, growing angry. “You wrecked my ship. We almost died.”
He hooks a thumb toward her brother. “That was him. We’d picked up the call from Ihna. She and her people had recently helped us. We share ideas and medical advancements often. But we do not speak all the languages you do, Zariah. We could not translate Ihna’s messages completely.
“We came to assist because we knew her voice. Your brother, it seems, interfered with the communication. He wanted you to show up when he was ready. Except he wasn’t—the first time. We would’ve come after you to assist however we could, but we didn’t have a way to see where you went. The portal wisp was gone too fast.”
The male motions to me. “Rare to meet another luminescent species. I would like to get to know you. I am General Viriden of Isonia. We are new to the federation.”
“Elix.” I hesitantly offer him my hand.
He obliges. “Strange greeting custom of humans, but one I’m starting to like.”
A blonde woman makes her way pastTempesttoward us. “Zariah!”
My mate turns around. “Ihna!”
“I’m glad you’re okay, but we need your help.”
“What’s going on up there?” Tenac asks.
“Hello, sir. I am Ihna, medical outreach.” She extends a hand and shakes Tenac’s. “I’m glad you are here to see this. We have an unexpected visitor in this refugee camp. And we need to find these children new homes. Those who ran the camp are all dead, sir.”
He sighs and motions for her to lead.
Zariah lags as we climb the hill. “Sorry, I’m just feeling really tired.”
I eagerly pick her up and carry her the rest of the way to the cave. “After this, I am mandating rest for you three.”
She lays her head on my shoulder. Relief sweeps over me until all I feel and know is her against me.
“Teol, Gashnaar, Aurelius, and Keo have the others on your ship, Zariah,” Ihna says. “Except one.”
We stop in front of a dark passageway, and Zariah motions for me to let her down. I set her feet on the ground, and she listens.
“Hear that?” she asks me.
A light scratching sound echoes out from the dark cave.
“Animal?” I ask.
She shakes her head and leads us inside. “That is communication. Listen to the pattern. It’s like a Morse code their species uses.”
