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It took me a moment to orient myself. I was in Dyrel’s bed. My entire body hurt, but more than that, it was lethargic and numb.
My breathing felt fine. A little harder than usual, but not too bad.
I identified one of the raised voices as Dyrel. Someone was trying to speak to him calmly.
It took me a moment to understand the words coming out of their mouths.
“I can’t go to the police station now!” Dyrel said. “I have to take care of Vicky!”
“We understand that, sir,” the police officer said. “But we have some very serious questions to ask you. Questions about where you got your shuttlecraft illegally chipped, why you broke international law by crossing into spaceport airspace, and why you did it right then when the Changelings attacked—”
“You think I’m part of some kind of conspiracy? You think I’m in league with the Changelings? Are you insane?”
“We’re not suggesting anything, sir. We simply have to ask you some questions down at the station.”
“You can ask your questions here. There’s no one I can call to take care of Vicky. There’s no one else who can watch her. You’ll have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming if you want me to leave. And you’ll need a lot more than just the two of you to get me to go.”
“Dyrel?” I said, cutting through the argument.
Dyrel appeared in the doorway and shoved the sliding door aside. He looked disheveled and very tired. I wondered how long I’d been unconscious.
He dropped to his knees at my side and took my hand in his.
“How are you feeling?” he said.
He placed a hand on my forehead and felt my temperature.
“Your fever’s broken,” he said. “That’s good. That’s very good.”
The police officer and his partner filled the doorway behind him.
“They’re the police,” Dyrel said. “To rescue you from the ship, I had to take certain… actions. They’re not strictly legal. I hold my hands up to that but they want to take me away from here, away from you. But you need me to take care of you.”
I didn’t want him to leave me but I didn’t want him to get into further trouble either.
I peered over at the police officers.
“Is there any way he could answer your questions here?” I said. “Or maybe wait until I can move around? I can promise you, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m afraid not, ma’am,” the police officer said. “We have to take him down to the station for questioning. It’s of a very… sensitive nature.”
“What is of a sensitive nature is you removing the only care she has in the entire Titan empire,” a voice behind the officers said.
The officers parted, revealing Dyrel’s mom. She might be small in stature but it was clear from her body language who controlled the room.
“You’re not taking my son anywhere,” she said.
“I’m afraid we have to, ma’am,” the police officer said. “Your son is accused of—”
“Please discuss it with my lawyer,” his mom said.
An even smaller figure appeared behind her. Weedy and thin, he pushed the thick glasses up his nose and smiled politely.
The police officers snapped to attention and shared wary glances.
“Mr. Mayor?” the officer said. “I wasn’t aware you still practiced law.”
“From time to time,” the lawyer/mayor said. “How about we take a seat in the front room and discuss this like Titans?”
