Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Maxsim
Iwatch with a small grin as my omega hurries off to check on the Aquilian male who appears to be joining our mating circle.
He is so kind and loving and concerned for everyone.
I also think he’s a little excited to have someone to talk babies and pregnancy with.
He’s started to complain about little changes in his body.
I don’t see any of them, but he swears they are there.
I wave goodbye to the others, giving the babies kisses and making them giggle when my fur tickles their faces, and then I go in search of the snake and dragon.
The snake was in our rooms earlier, but I’m not sure where he went after that.
I’ll try their quarters first, and then if he’s not there, I’ll use the search function to find him.
The elevator takes me down a floor to where the Adams brothers and the captain have their quarters.
Silac, Tirrian, and Brannock all have rooms on this level as well for this trip.
That may change once the circus is operational again.
Most of the flight crew usually stays on this level close to the bridge if they are needed.
I step out of the elevator and start walking down the passageway.
It runs through the middle of the ship with the rooms facing outward so they all have views of space.
Occupied rooms have a light above them, and the lights are off for rooms that are unoccupied.
I pass a few doors that have unlit lights, but as I round one of the bends, I find Brannock, the Aaz’axian, standing in front of one of the doors muttering to himself.
I can’t make out the words, but he doesn’t sound particularly happy.
My eyebrows jump in surprise when I reach him and find him standing in front of the Adams brothers’ suite.
Their name is written next to the touchpad screen next to the door.
He must not have heard or noticed me, because when I stop, he jumps in surprise and yanks his hand off the keypad like he’s been burnt.
“What are you doing?” I ask, and he stammers a little before clearing his throat.
“I, ah, was looking for one of the Adams brothers. I wanted to speak to them about a couple of things,” he says, and I may not be a living lie detector like some of Lila’s mates, but I get the feeling that the spiky man is not telling the whole truth.
He has been very helpful with planning the mission to rescue Mrs. Adams, however, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Why did you want to see them?” I ask. The saying that curiosity killed the cat is perfectly accurate. “They are organizing a party to celebrate Lila and Xavier’s mating. Saxon was going to track you down and invite you.”
“Uh, I wanted to speak to them about returning to Earth. I have some things I left unfinished. Agent Smith set me up and disrupted my life, and I was perfectly happy minding my own business.” His spikes shimmer with agitation as he tells me this, and I feel a pang of sympathy for the guy. Agent Smith sounds like a douchebag.
“We did cut our tour of Earth short. I’m sure we will return sooner rather than later.
Dealing with Agent Smith is probably high on their to-do list. Lila tells me she felt like he was hiding something.
She said she’s worried he has other alien creatures that he’s either keeping locked up or experimenting on. ”
“Yes!” Brannock shouts before rubbing his chin and shaking his head.
“I mean, I wouldn’t put it past him. I also have a bone to pick with my so-called friend who set me up.
” I watch in awe as Brannock’s skin shifts color, turning a mottled green, and his upper half turns as red as an Earth rose before he shakes himself and returns to normal.
Holy fuck, his berserker mode almost activated.
I wouldn’t want to be his so-called friend when he gets back to Earth.
My fur bristles, and I take a step back. I am a predator, but there’s just something about the Aaz’axian that has me feeling fear right now. “Easy, man. I can tell you’re upset, but don’t take it out on any of us.” I hold up my hands, my claws extended, and I’m ready to leap if he tries anything.
I watch as Brannock visibly sags and steps back.
“Shit, I’m sorry. Every time I think about what they did to me and what they are doing to others, it makes me mad.
Agent Smith is not the right man for that job.
He is evil,” he says . “I didn’t want to raid Madam Aura’s house.
He said if I didn’t help them, then he would make it his mission to harass all the law-abiding aliens he has on file as residing or vacationing on Earth.
What was I supposed to do?” He wrings his hands, and his spines bristle again, like they are attuned to his mood.
“You made the right choice. It also helped bring it to the Adams brothers’ attention. They have already alerted the Galactic Council. I’m sure something is being done, and if it isn’t, when the circus returns to Earth, Lila will get to the bottom of this.”
“I only hope they aren’t too late,” I hear him mutter before he looks wistfully at their suite door.
“Why don’t I help you find them?” I suggest, getting a funny feeling about this whole situation.
I feel like I should tell Lila about this, but she already has so much on her plate.
Maybe I’ll talk to Saxon or Xavier. They may be able to help Brannock.
The warlock is already helping Silac, so what’s one more to add to the list?
“Ah, yeah, okay. That would be great.” Brannock doesn’t sound so certain but steps away from the door.
“I just need to tell the dragon and snake about the party,” I explain and start walking down the corridor toward their rooms.
“Neither of them is here,” he says absentmindedly, but then his eyes shoot to mine, and I can see guilt in his gaze. What is going on with this man? Now I’m starting to feel suspicious myself.
“Oh, and you know that because?” I ask, unable to stop the roughness in my demand.
“I saw Silac in the elevator on my way here. He was going to store the pod that carried the merman in one of the prop rooms, and I left Tirrian on the bridge, talking to Captain Broderick. They were monitoring a ship that has been traveling just off our radar for days. Occasionally it pops into view, but then it quickly disappears. They are assuming it’s a cargo vessel heading to Z68 for R&R and on the same trajectory as us, but they are monitoring it closely. ”
My suspicions ease at his perfectly reasonable explanation.
I guess I’m just a little jumpy after the altercation with the Aquilians and our upcoming mission to Husadavia, not to mention needing to find a way to survive the planet and the fact that we have to find a carevasta bear for Lila to mimic.
I only hope we can find one on the station.
Station Z68 is a bit rougher than some of the others.
Outlaws and space privateers use it to blow off steam, and it’s in a different class than X69.
If they can be found anywhere, then that’s the place to find them.
“Thank you for telling me. I will try to track them down using the on-board security system. I doubt that Silac will stay in one place long. Saxon was going to find you and Broderick, but you already know now, and if Tirrian is there, he can tell the dragon. That just leaves the snake.” I turn and head back toward the elevator, but then I notice Brannock isn’t with me.
“Are you coming?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.
“No, I’ll head to my room and freshen up first.” He points down the corridor to some doors farther down.
“Alright.” I wave a hand and step into the elevator, but when the doors close, I notice he hasn’t actually moved.
He’s a strange one. I guess being on his own and away from space for so long may have made him a little weird.
It would certainly do it to me. I’m kind of grateful I can’t travel to Earth without a glamour, I am perfectly happy in my fur and staying in the circus pod whenever we are there.
Echo would like to be able to look around, but he’s a typical curious kitty.
Maybe I’ll ask the warlock for a charm so he can go shopping with Lila when we are there next.
I use the security system in the elevator to track down the snake, and I find he’s already in the dining room.
Well, that’s handy. I press the button for the right level, and the elevator whisks me down and around to the main doors of the giant dining room.
When I step out, I find Eric and Cronus talking with Silac, and they have made a lot of progress in such a short time.
There is one large dining table with gorgeous, dark purple table clothes, and it’s set with all the fancy things one would need for an elaborate meal.
There are purple and silver candles floating on the ceiling, and purple and silver clouds drift amongst the candles, creating an elaborate lighting effect.
“Maxsim, what are you doing here?” Eric asks, looking over my shoulder. “Did you find Tirrian?”
“No. I went looking for them at their quarters and found Brannock near your rooms. He told me that Tirrian is on the bridge, so I left it for Saxon who is telling Broderick,” I explain. “So that left Silac.” I point at the snake. “But I’m guessing he already knows.”
“Yes, he does. We were just talking about his little basilisk problem back on Fluxx. Xylene and I are going to take care of it while you guys travel on to Husadavia.” Cronus is practically giddy with excitement.
“It’s been a long time since we had anything this exciting to do.
I’m going to arrange for our personal guards to meet us on Fluxx and request a meeting with Silac’s father, citing using their shipping company for royal shipping as the reason. ”