Chapter 26 #3
“I love him.” It feels a little strange, saying it out loud for the first time and saying it to someone who isn't Tavryn. It also feels right. So right I say it again. “I love him.”
L’eana stares at me for a very long time. Long enough I shift in my chair. I hope they’re not reading my mind. I try not to think of anything inappropriate, just in case.
L’eana finally moves, pulling the tablet closer to them. After tapping on it, they speak. “Lieutenant? You’re required in conference room zed immediately. Bring Sesloir and Zulvean.”
By this point, the entire back of my shirt is soaked with nervous sweat. It doesn’t get any better when Rourverace struts into the room, looking more smug than ever. Those two hulking otherworlders who dragged Tavryn away are with him.
“Yes, Commander?” Rourverace gives L’eana a deferential head bow, but it’s not as deep as what the two others give them. “What can I do for you?”
“Sit.” It’s such a strong command, Rourverace immediately sinks down into one of the chairs.
He looks a little confused, like he’s not sure why he just did that.
L’eana goes on. “After speaking with the human, along with members of my crew who were onboard the Triumph the day Banjo went missing, I’ve found some discrepancies in your report. ”
Rourverace frowns, tilting his head ever so slightly.
“I’m not sure what you could be referring to, Commander,” he says.
“My report contains eyewitness testimonies confirming that Tavryn used the emergency maintenance stop on Hurcaria to commandeer this human. My theory is that he caused the maintenance alert to begin with, but I’m still waiting for engineering to confirm. ”
“I saw the eyewitness statements you provided.” L’eana flicks through a few things on their tablet. “It’s unusual for a heist to occur aboard my ship without anyone notifying me.”
“I’m sure it was simply an oversight. A breach in protocol can be overlooked in an emergency situation, wouldn’t you agree, Commander?”
L’eana nods, still looking at the screen. Her tone and expression don’t give anything away. “Once you were made aware of the missing human, you immediately engaged UFO forces to track down the culprit?”
“Yes, Commander. As soon as it was confirmed the human was aboard his ship.” Rourverace looks so proud of himself. It makes me sick knowing he’s going to get away with this. Tavryn is going to take the fall for him again, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
“And who gave you the clearance to take such an action?”
That has Rourverace pausing. He swallows, hands fidgeting in his lap. “No one, Commander,” he admits. “I took the case on of my own volition. It’s important to me that this criminal is brought to justice.”
“Ah, yes, I would assume so, based on the history the two of you share.” Rourverace goes as stiff as a board, but he can’t manage to get anything out before L’eana continues.
“Humans don’t get stolen from my ship. It doesn’t happen.
So when this report reached my desk, I did some follow up of my own. ”
They slide the tablet across the table in front of Rouverace.
A video appears featuring a silver colored Aelgeah.
“Commander, I can assure you there were no breaches in security on the Triumph,” she says.
“We did make a brief stop to unload a human passenger that did not meet our quality standards. I sent the information to your office as dictated by protocol. I’m unsure how the human got marked in the system as missing. ”
Didn’t meet standards? Ouch. I didn’t need to hear that.
Rourverace is still tense in the seat beside me. “Captain Malkaia must be confused.” His earlier confidence is starting to waver. “The statement I got from her is very clear—”
“It is very clear,” L’eana interrupts. “It’s very clear that it’s fabricated.” They snap their fingers, and Sesloir and Zulvean force Rourverace up out of his seat. He struggles against them, wings flapping uselessly against the much stronger beings.
“Rourverace, you are immediately stripped of all titles, ranks, and privileges granted to you by the UFO. Until proper punishment has been decided by the council, you will remain in the holding cells aboard the Triumph where I can personally keep an eye on you.”
Rourverace attempts to yell something at them, but he’s already being dragged out of the room. I watch with wide eyes as he and the other two disappear out the door.
The room’s silent for a long moment before L’eana sighs like they’re already done with this day. “Now that I’ve confirmed Tavryn isn’t holding you against your will and that the evidence against him has been falsified, I’m happy to let both of you return to your trip to A’monius.”
They stand, and I quickly do the same. “I’ll ensure all your belongings are returned to your ship, along with some provisions as an apology for the delay.”
“Thank you. That’s mighty thoughtful of you,” I say, mimicking the little bow Rourverace gave them earlier. I don’t bother asking any other questions. More questions will only keep me away from Tavryn longer. I have to see him. I won’t believe he’s okay until he’s back in my arms.