Page 86 of Veiled Vixen

Why were they here?

What did they want?

ALCOR didn’t have time to wonder, because there was another loud proclamation from the horn-type instrument and then a door to ALCOR’s immediate left swung open and Mighty Boss himself appeared.

“Mighty Boss of Mighty Minions Station!” was called out loudly by Boss’s personal ambassador.

Boss did not look at ALCOR or the Akeelian king. Simply walked to his throne, sat down, gripped the hand rests tightly, and leaned forward. Almost as if challenging the king.

Then one of the other ambassadors slipped in front of the king and called out just as loudly as the first, “Presenting Mahtar, Governor of Wayward Station—”

Ah. So he was not a king. He just wanted to look like one. Weird. But not atypical for people with power.

“—and father to Crux, Governor of Harem Station.”

Oh.

Oh, hell no.

Oh, hell the fuck no.

Who did this asshole think he was?

Father? He was no father. Sixteen years? That was nothing. ALCOR had invested twenty-one—twenty, really, since he had been missing for a year now. But still. He had seniority here and this could not stand.

Boss cleared his throat, a signal to ALCOR, standing just a few steps away, that he should shut up about that and not blow this meeting up before it started.

“Welcome to our humble station,” Boss said. “What can I do for you, Mahtar?”

Mahtar glanced over at ALCOR, then quickly glanced back at Boss.

ALCOR stood still. His red slash of an eye light didn’t even race across his forehead. He would play along, for now. Even if, somehow, the governor here knew who he was.

“I have been told that you are holding several dozen Akeelian boys here.”

“You have been misinformed,” Boss said without fanfare.

“Oh,” Mahtar said. “Are you sure? I have it on very good authority—”

“What authority?” Boss interrupted.

“The Prime Navy report of the incident at Lair Station said—”

“The report was correct. But the boys are all gone.”

“Gone?”

“Gone.”

“Gone where?”

“Some of them are on Harem Station. They left with the Akeelian governor of Harem Station several months ago. I would have assumed you knew that since he is… your son, you said?”

The governor did not respond to the taunt. Just asked, “And the rest?”

“They left this morning.”

“This morning?” The governor’s eyebrows were practically riding the top of his forehead.