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Cali sank onto one of her couches. It had been a long, exhausting day, and unfortunately, it wasn't over yet. When Ujana came in, Cali turned the bar over to her. Cali showed Hamm the room she'd been talking about; he'd taken an instant liking to it, and together they'd cleared it out. She'd shown Hamm where the extra furniture from Triz’s and her old quarters was stored and told Hamm he could have anything he wanted.
Now she was finally back in her private quarters, and she needed to rest before she returned to take over for Ujana. After all, she was the one that had given Mae the shift off. But first, there was something she needed to do.
She hadn't thought about it until she was helping Hamm but interfering with the lens feed outside Jamis’s quarters was going to raise questions, especially if it was the only place it occurred. She needed to make it seem as if it had happened in other locations across the base.
Rising, she went into her private office, and after placing her hand on the control station and activating the unit, she went to work on altering the lens feed files. First, she added static moments throughout the base before she and Taarig had left The Brink. She then concentrated on the lifts. The one she and Taarig had used showed them getting in but with the static getting progressively worse, not getting off. The Command Level lens didn't either. All they showed was Taarig's back as he entered Jamis’s quarters. After that, she altered several feeds on multiple levels until well after she was back in The Brink. Including the same lift she and Taarig had used, so it would seem that she also returned on that one.
Finally done, she went into her resting chamber and, with a resigned sigh, opened the rejuvenation tank. Setting the alarm for half an hour, she stepped into the tank. But instead of allowing the shimmering tendrils to pull her beneath the surface as they wanted, she leaned back and rested her neck on the curved section of the tank she'd had specially designed for just that purpose. It allowed her to completely relax in the tank without its benefits being so noticeable.
Half an hour later, she rose from the tank and finished resting in her bed.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Well?" Jamis demanded, looking over Taarig's shoulder.
"Has anyone notified you about the lens feeds malfunctioning?" Taarig asked as he opened file after file.
"Malfunctioning? No."
"Well, something's going on." Taarig handed Jamis the tablet he'd been using, showing him what he'd found. Instead of going to his quarters, Taarig remembered he'd left his tablet in Jamis’s office before he'd gone to get Cali.
Cursing, Jamis touched his link. "Specialist Prue, report to my office." Jamis didn't give the specialist the chance to reply.
Three hours later, they were no closer to knowing what had caused the lens feeds' interference. Prue couldn't explain it, and nothing in their system had flagged that this was happening. Prue left with orders to inspect every affected lens and find out what was causing the interference.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Cali was already behind the bar pouring drinks when Oke strolled into The Brink before starting her next shift, heading straight to the cegin. Cali had known that would be Oke's first stop; it always was, which was why Cali had left specific instructions with her cogydd. It didn't take long for Oke to come storming out of the cegin and head straight for the bar. It took her a moment to realize that it was Cali and not Mae behind it.
"What can I do for you, Oke?" Cali asked, sliding a drink to the waiting Si male.
"The cogydd just refused to serve me a meal."
"I know. I told him not to."
"Why?" Oke demanded.
"Because free meals are only for those who work at The Brink," she told her.
"But I work here," Oke said, pointing to her chest.
"Really?" Cali asked innocently. "Then where were you for your last shift?"
"I... umm... well I..." Oke stuttered.
"You thought I wouldn't find out?" Cali helped her settle on something.
"Look, I had things to do," Oke told her defensively.
"Then I suggest you continue doing them because you no longer work here."
"What?!"
Cali leaned over the bar to her. "I've already deposited the credits you've earned in your account. I've also deactivated your worker chip."
"Because I missed one shift?" Oke questioned in disbelief.
"Because of your attitude and actions before and after Mae became The Brink's manager. Triz refused to let me fire you before because he liked having you around to fuck whenever he wanted. I don't. You making Mae work a double shift when she's this far along with offspring was the final straw."
"The what?" Oke gave her a confused look.
"The last thing I'm putting up with from you," Cali explained. "You're done working here, Oke. Now, are you ordering a meal or drink?"
"No."
"Then may the Gods watch over you." With that, Cali walked away.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Cali was surprised when later in the shift, Hamm walked up to the bar. "Hamm ready to work."
"You want to start now?" She ran a critical eye over what he was wearing. The Brink's Protectors had specific vests that designated they were on duty. But she'd have to get one specially made to fit Hamm.
"Hamm here. Hamm work."
"Alright." Cali touched her link. "Wafa could you come to the bar for a moment, please?"
"I'm on the door alone."
"I know, but this won't take long."
"Be right there."
As soon as Wafa arrived, Cali explained that Hamm was now one of the Protectors and that Wafa was to begin training him as they stood at the door. Cali could tell Wafa was surprised, but he quickly recovered and gestured for Hamm to follow him.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Cali couldn't help but smile as Mae and Tay walked toward her hand-in-hand before the next dark shift started. They both looked relaxed, happy, and well-rested. When Tay leaned down to kiss Mae then turned to leave, Cali stopped him.
"I hired a new Protector," she told him.
"What?" Tay gave her a shocked look. He was in charge of hiring the Protectors even under Triz's ownership.
"Hamm was going to go to Zolia." Cali didn't need to expand further for Tay to understand. "Instead, he accepted the position here as a Protector. Wafa started working with him last dark shift." She looked behind Tay to see Hamm approaching wearing the vest she'd paid extra for to have created so quickly. "He'll be working the door with you tonight." Tay just nodded, and the two males moved toward the door.
Cali looked back to Mae. "First, I posted that we were hiring waitresses and have already received several applications. You'll need to look them over and tell me what you think, and then we can schedule interviews."
"Alright."
"Second, I fired Oke. I paid her, and her worker chip is deactivated. If she comes in and gives you any trouble, call Tay or one of the other Protectors."
"I can handle Oke."
"Normally, I'd agree with you, but not with you this close to presenting your offspring. And third, you'll start taking it easier. No more lifting cases or stretching up for bottles. Either Ujana or I can do that. If we're not around, you contact one of the Protectors. Is that understood?" When Mae remained stubbornly silent, Cali sighed. "Give me your oath, Mae, or the only work you'll be doing will be the ordering and daily reports."
"You'd restrict me?"
"In a heartbeat. That offspring you're carrying is the most important thing at the moment, Mae, and I can't wait to meet him."
"Or her," Mae immediately countered, rubbing her distended stomach, and Cali knew she had her.
"Or her."
"Alright, I'll notify one of the Protectors if Oke threatens me or if I need help with something heavy, and I'll try to take it easier. My oath."
"Good, now let's get to work."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Taarig absently took the glass of Apreian skotsk Jamis handed him. It was the start of the second dark shift since they'd been with Cali, and neither of them had contacted her yet, and she hadn't contacted them either. Neither of those things had ever happened to them before, and Taarig wasn't sure how to handle it. Taking a sip, he looked to the other couch where Jamis sat. This mess all happened because Jamis snuck out on Cali again. Taarig wanted to know why.
"What's going on with you?" he demanded.
"What do you mean?" Jamis asked.
"Something about Cali has you rattled. What is it?" Taarig expected Jamis to deny it because Apre males didn't get rattled. Instead, Jamis surged to his feet and began to pace.
"She's Earthan," Jamis muttered.
"I'm well aware of that."
"We need to distance ourselves from her."
"Why? She was able to satisfy us, both of us, and we satisfied her without causing any harm." When Jamis just glared at him, Taarig rose. "What. Is. The. Problem?"
"My creation sphere wants to lower when I'm with her," Jamis murmured.
"So does mine," Taarig admitted just as quietly.
Jamis looked at him in shock. "She can't be our Lalla, T. We can't allow it. She'll be meeting the Gods in only fifty or sixty standard-years, leaving us alone for the rest of our life spans!"
"We could have offspring with her during that time," Taarig reminded him.
"Who would be half-Earthan, which means they'll age and meet the Gods long before us. Do you want to go through all that pain when we have a choice?"
"Do we? Cali's the first female I've ever felt this urge with." Taarig looked to Jamis and didn't need him to say it to know it was true for him too.
"That just means there will be other females it can happen with, too. Females far more suited for the life span of an Apre."
"You don't know that."
"No, but what I do know is that it can't be Cali, not for me."
Which meant it couldn't be for Taarig either.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Cali absently sipped her maasika rabarberi wine as she stared into the deep, dark expanse of space outside her viewport, thinking about the time she'd spent with the Commanders. The entire experience had taken her by surprise. They'd served her Gyr, for Gods’ sake. Something Apre treasured and rarely shared with anyone who wasn't family or close friends. So why had they shared it with her?
Afterward, they'd taken her into Jamis’s resting chamber and together pleasured her in ways she'd never experienced before. She'd come so many times she'd lost count and always before either of them, although she'd tried. They'd also never demanded more than she was willing to give.
Still, she hadn't seen or heard from either of them since.
Jamis didn't surprise her. After all, he'd been making up excusing to get away from her from the start.
But Taarig... Taarig was the more caring, sensitive of the two. At least that's what she'd thought. Yes, she'd heard there'd been more problems on the flight deck. Still, he could have taken a moment to contact her through her link.
But then she hadn't linked them either. Not that she had their codes, but she could have gotten them if she wanted to.
She hated that their silence bothered her. It made everything they'd done together seem cheap and sleazy. Hadn't it mattered to them at all? Were they just like so many other males who only wanted to brag about being with an Earthan? Or was it something else?
Knowing she'd only drive herself crazy if she continued to think about it, she finished her wine and went into her private workout area. Going a few rounds with a sparring droid would settle her down enough to return to The Brink.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
An hour later, Mae was behind the bar filling Cali in on what happened the shift before when a group entered The Brink, moving in tight military formation. Tay followed close behind them, a concerned look on his face.
When they neared the bar, the front two peeled away, revealing an older male Cali didn't know, and Vaine, who was smiling like the Cheshire cat from a story her mother had read to Cali as a youngster. Looking back to the male, Cali realized he must be the general tad Vaine was always talking about. She also took in the weapons his security team carried and put herself between them and Mae, who was still behind the bar.
"What can I do for you, General Masala?"
"I see you recognized me." The general's expression went smug.
"Actually, I didn't, but since Vaine is with you and she's always spouting off about her tad being a general, it was pretty obvious." Cali's eyes narrowed, and she tipped her head slightly to the side as she paused for a moment. "Although, you could have been one of the many, many, many males who spend their credits on her."
"How dare you!" the general bellowed.
Cali shrugged, not intimidated by his display. "Just calling it as I see it. Now, as it appears you're not here for drinks, why don't you tell me why you are here."
"I'm here to arrest you for assault," the general told her.
"Assault? Me?" Cali widened her eyes and gave him her most innocent look. "Who did I supposedly assault? And why would the Coalition general in charge of Supply and Distribution have any jurisdiction over the matter?"
"Because it was my datter!" the general all but roared then gestured to his men. "Arrest her!"
"Tay!" Mae's distressed cry had the guards in the back, spinning around and training their weapons on the Protector.
"No!" Cali quickly took a step forward to wave Tay off. "This is Wik Corp property. You fire on him, and you'll answer directly to the Supreme Chairman."
As a threat, it did the job. It was well-known how rigorously Wik Corp protected their property and people.
"Then come with us now, and no one will get hurt," Masala told her.
"Fine." Cali turned and looked to Mae. "Do you remember what I said to do if The Brink’s security was compromised?"
"Y... yes," Mae stuttered.
"Good, then do it." Cali turned back to the general and gestured with her arm. "After you."
"Restrain her," the general ordered.
"Seriously?" Cali gave him a disbelieving look.
"You've already assaulted my datter once. I'm not giving you the chance to do it again." He gestured to one of his guards.
"You do know your datter initiated the contact," Cali asked him even as she held out her hands, "right?"
"Lie!" Vaine claimed, flipping her long fur back, exposing the darkness around one of her eyes, then smirked at Cali.
Cali knew the mark was from Vaine hitting herself. They both did. But Cali also knew Vaine’s father would never believe it.
"Let’s go," Masala ordered.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Taarig rubbed his eyes as he activated his screen in the Command Center. He hadn't rested well. Dreams of Cali holding offspring with glowing hair and eyes swirled with silver had him tossing and turning the entire dark shift.
Scrolling through the reports filed while he was supposed to be resting, his eyes sharpened. Flight Deck Controllers kept detailed information on the flight deck and reported each shift. The report detailed the number of ships on the flight deck at all times. It took into account those docked, departed, and arriving. The crew performed a visual count to verify data at the end of each shift. Now the counts were off by one.
He immediately touched his link and connected with the flight deck.
"Naveen," the on-duty Deck Officer responded.
"What the ruk is going on down there, Naveen!" Taarig all but roared, drawing Jamis’s attention from his Command chair.
"Sub Commander, we've just finished matching each ship on the deck to what was on the report. The additional ship is a transport ship registered to General Masala."
"What?!"
"The general ordered the controller not to register it or notify anyone of his arrival."
Taarig turned to look at Jamis, who had just walked over, "How long has he been on base?"
"Approximately half a standard-hour, Sub Commander," Naveen told him.
"Lock the coupling mechanism on that ship, Deck Officer. That ship doesn't get off this base unless the Base Commander or I authorize it. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Sub Commander."
"If it does, you will be held personally accountable."
''Yes, Sub Commander."
"What's going on?" Jamis demanded.
"General Masala's transport is on this Star Base, and he ordered the controller not to register his arrival or report it to us."
"What?! What the ruk is he up to?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure it has something to do with his datter."
"There has to be more to it than that, or he wouldn't have hidden his arrival." Jamis looked to the security station. "Wafai!" The Security Specialist immediately turned to face him. "Find General Masala!"
"Yes, Commander," he responded, then spun back around to his station, his fingers flying over the screen. Every member in the Coalition received a location thread implant when they joined. "Found him. The general is just entering The Brink, Commander. Six members of his security detail are also with him."
"Why the ruk is he going there?!" Taarig questioned.
"Let's go find out. Talla, I want a direct comm with High Navarch Pergram. Wafai, you're in charge."
"Yes, Commander," they said simultaneously.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Cali said nothing when one of the general's guards shoved her in the back because she was lagging behind the group in front of them. She could have kept up if she'd wanted to, but why give them the satisfaction. Vaine had gone too far this time, so had her tad, and Cali's dad was going to go supernova on both their asses when he found out about it.
"General Masala."
Cali came to an abrupt halt when she heard Jamis’s voice even though she couldn't see him.
"Commander Dexxirs," Masala responded.
"That's Star Base Commander, General. Of this Star Base. So, you can imagine my surprise when I learned you had arrived on it without the courtesy of notifying me, as is standard protocol."
"My apologies, Star Base Commander," Masala almost sneered the first two ranks. "I was anxious to get to my datter. She was injured while on your Star Base, as you can see."
From what Cali could see, the front guards had parted so Masala could talk to Jamis.
"And you did nothing!" Vaine accused.
"I knew nothing about it," Jamis denied.
"He did." Vaine pointed her finger at Taarig. "He was in The Brink when she," Vaine spun around to point at Cali, "attacked me."
Nothing showed on Jamis’s face when he saw Cali standing there, her wrists restrained in front of her. "I see, then follow me to my conference room, and we'll settle this."
"We will settle this once we're back on Vavis Prime," Masala told him.
"The Coalition has no jurisdiction over things that occur on a Star Base unless it concerns a Coalition member, General, as you well know. Khatun Baker is not a member of the Coalition, nor is your datter. Therefore, we will settle this dispute here." With that, Jamis spun on his heel and walked toward the lift, clearly expecting the general to follow.
Cali avidly watched the general, wondering what he would do. Technically he outranked Jamis, but if he'd landed on the Star Base without notifying its Commander, he'd broken all kinds of protocol, not to mention that Masala had forcibly taken her from The Brink.
Finally, as the lift doors opened, the general followed Jamis.
"Tad," Vaine hissed.
"Quiet," Masala ordered, and Cali was surprised to see Vaine listened.
"Clear the lift," Jamis ordered, and those inside quickly exited. He then gestured for the general and his group to enter. Once everyone was in, Jamis pressed his palm to the control panel, his bio-chip signaling the lift to go directly to the Command Level.