"I WILL NOT wear this!" said Malika stubbornly. "I look like a common alley tralk."
"That is the idea," said Berret simply.
"No... no, it looks very nice on you," said Andar as he swallowed hard.
Malika gave the Sebacean man a look that said she wanted to rip his eyes out. Andar held up both hands as if to say he was very sincere about his comment being a compliment. The tension between the two gave Berret pause as he mentally stepped back and reassessed Malika's attire. The young Delvian was wearing what amounted to a scattering of revealing leather and silk scarves. He had to admit that there was much more blue skin revealed then this Delvian normally showed. While Zhaan was perfectly happy clothed or naked and could not see a reason why everyone else shouldn't be also, in contrast Malika had always worn full length dresses or PK issue surplus uniforms when she was working at something that called for getting dirty and/or greasy.
"Why does Andar get to wear a Peacekeeper uniform and I have to look like a tramp?" the girl complained.
"Because there are no Delvian Peacekeepers. They are only servants or pleasure slaves. You know this, Malika," answered the ex-assassin.
Malika grumbled under her breath. Berret realized it was hard for her to accept having to play a role that reminded the young woman so much of her past life, but the ruse would be necessary if she was to move freely among Peacekeepers on a base or command carrier.
"I still don't see why I can't just be a plain serving slave," she muttered sullenly.
Berret sighed wearily to himself and was ready to begin explaining the situation to the Delvian once again, but Andar had a better handle on an idea to appease the woman.
"Look, Malika..." he said as he grabbed the girl's arm and dragged her over to a nearby mirror. Making her look at her own reflection he continued, "Don't hit me, but coming from a male prospective... nobody is going to buy this face as just another serving slave," He brushed some strands of blue hair away from her cheeks. "This vision of beauty... does not say... common pot scrubber. It hints at untold nights of love and passion... of unknown ecstasy. Doesn't it, Berret?" he finished looking over his shoulder at the Shrike for support. Caught by surprise, the ex-assassin blinked in bewilderment. Andar rolled his eyes covertly, urging the other man to hurry up and get with the program.
After a few microts Berret caught on and hurriedly added, "Oh yes, definitely... unknown ecstasy."
Malika ran her fingers through her hair and then asked Andar, "You really think I'm pretty?"
"Oh yes, definitely treasured pleasure slave material if I ever saw it," said Andar, who then kick Berret in the shin to signal him that he should be agreeing along with him.
"Yes... treasured... very much so," the Shrike said lamely.
Andar threw him a sidelong look that told the ex-assassin he was being far from convincing with his support.
Malika frowned at herself in the mirror and said, "You're both full of dren, but I get your point."
She turned back to glare hard at both men and added, "But so Goddess help me, if either of you get any ideas..."
She left the threat hanging menacingly unfinished and Andar put up both hands to protest his pure intentions.
" I swear by the Goddess that I have always been and always shall be a gentleman," he told her.
Caught off guard as Malika turned her withering gaze upon the Shrike, Berret quickly added,
"No-No, I have no ideas."
The Delvian turned back to look at herself in the mirror, "I guess I can put up with this skimpy attire for the greater sake of the mission." She uttered the comment more as an idle thought to herself.
Andar looked pleased with himself at overcoming the obstacle even though it was the girl who had made the decision in the end. By the way the young Priestess re-inspected her garb in the mirror's reflective surface, Berret had the feeling that the woman was not as totally displeased with the outfit as she let on to be. The Shrike sighed to himself as he came to believe that he would never fully understand what a female was thinking or would do in given situation... the gender was highly unpredictable he concluded.
The group had decided it best to leave within the arn. Once safely well away from Moya, Berret would contact Scorpius and arrange a meeting. After collecting the supplies they need and stowing them inside the Wraith, Berret left the others and made one last trip back to his quarters to pick-up a few items he decided he would or might need, among them... a few of the more concealable weapons he owned. He entered his room and without looking about went right to his storage chest, that was almost his undoing. Behind him the lump of blankets stirred on his bed and Chiana's sleepy voice asked, "... 'Ret?"
In all the planning he had forgotten the Nebari girl would probably be sleeping in his quarters and he had not thought to ask Pilot if she was indeed there before deciding to make the stop. He carefully placed his equipment into the small bag he'd brought and then closed the chest before standing up and answering her.
"Yes, Pixie... its only me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"That's okay," said the girl with a yawn as she propped herself up on one elbow. "What are you doing still up? Come to bed."
"I couldn't sleep so I decided to do some work in the shop," replied, surprised at how easy the lie came to his lips. Chiana absently mussed her hair as she scratched an itch. "Are you still thinking about what Shenna said today? Is that what's keeping you up?" she asked, knowing the man had been quiet and solemn on the return trip to Moya. He had refused to speak further with the old Shrike and Shenna promised to meet with them another time when Berret was more open to discussing the situation before they parted company.
"Yes, that must be why. I'm still a little upset is all. Go back to sleep and I'll finish my project up and then come straight here to sleep," he promised.
The sleepy Nebari nodded her head and unable to hold it up any longer, let it fall back onto an oversized pillow.
"Okay," she said with a sleepy sigh. "Don't stay up too late and try not to let that old man bother you. Everything will work out fine... you'll see..." she murmured as she drifted back off into her slumber.
Berret stood for a few microts gazing at the sleeping girl wondering why she made him feel the way she did. He almost decided to say the hezmana with the whole plan and crawl in next to the small Nebari.
The thought of leaving her was almost physically painful. Responsibility, thought the Shrike. He had a responsibility not only to Chiana, but also to the rest of this crew that had taken him in. Here was a danger and an opportunity that only he and two relatively untried youngsters were capable of handling. Taking such a foolish risk should have been unlike him, where were the logic and tactics in relying on two children to back him up? And for what? It was only a matter of time before they were all dead anyway. What did it matter if Crichton went sooner then the rest of them? If this is the growth that Shenna had spoken about... the willingness to take extreme risks for another being who for no logical reason should matter to him, then the old man was frelled. With a frown and sigh, Berret realized that was exactly what he was doing, so logically speaking... he was just as frelled as the old Delvian Grandmaster. At his soft exhale of air, Chiana buried her head under a blanket and disappeared from sight. Berret smiled down at the sleeping form, maybe not he thought to himself. Chiana mattered to him and Crichton and the others mattered to her, so in reality he was doing the correct thing. If he could care about the Nebari, it shouldn't be too far of a leap to care for the rest of the crew. Look at Andar and Malika; both of them required little prodding to leap feet first into what practically amounted to a suicide mission for the sake of another shipmate. With so many examples to follow, it shouldn't be too hard to learn... no matter what advise the collar pathways were giving him at the moment. With one last look at the lump under the blankets, Berret silently vowed to succeed and return from this mission... to do the right thing so another person could live.
"Not even death," he murmured in ritual pledge to the sleeping girl before turning and walking out of his quarters.
Over four arns later, Zhaan's frantic voice came over the comms.
"Everyone! Wake up and report to Command," the worry in her voice startling everyone awake. "Something bad as happened!" The Delvian broke off communications without explaining further or answering anyone's frantic demands for more information. Crichton wandered on to the Command tier just a few microts before D'argo and Rygel to find Aeryn already there.
"What's going on, Blue? Why the rude awakening?" the human asked.
"They're gone, John!" exclaimed the Priestess.
"Hold on... who's gone?" he replied not understanding the Delvian's statement.
"Malika and Andar," answered Aeryn. "They left with Berret in his Wraith sometime during the night."
"You mean they jumped ship?" asked D'argo in his rumbling voice.
"Ah, good riddance to them. They were just wasting food and valuable resources," said Rygel. "Why the yotz did you bother to wake us for this irrelevant news?"
Ignoring the Hynerian, Zhaan went on, "Its worse then that. Pilot says they went on some mission against Scorpius."
"Scorpius?" John exclaimed in alarm, the news banishing the last dregs of sleep from his mind, "Are they insane!"
"Why didn't Pilot warn us of their plans?" demanded the Luxan.
In Pilot's defense, Zhaan said, "You know that any of us are free to leave Moya at anytime we wish. Pilot was just according them the same courtesy. Though in this case, I wish that he had informed us."
"Well, we're frelled now. As soon as Scorpius catches them, they will lead him right back to us. I say we starburst and get the yotz out of here," grumbled Rygel.
"I'm forced to agree with Rygel. Pilot says they have over a four arn head start. The Wraith is faster then a Prowler in the long haul, we'll never be able to catch up to them even if we knew what direction they were headed in," said Aeryn.
"Catch who?" asked Chiana as she arrived on the Command tier. "Has anyone seen Berret?" she then added.
"Your boyfriend took Andar and Malika for a joyride to meet with Scorpy," said Crichton.
"What? What the frell are you talking about?" replied Chiana.
After filling the Nebari woman in, Chiana stood dumbfounded. Turning toward Zhaan she said,
"No, that can't be right. Why would he... they, do something like that?"
"I'm afraid that's where the story gets worse." Said Zhaan.
"How can it possibly get worse," spat D'argo.
"They went to help Crichton," Zhaan said.
John did a double take at the mention of his name. Holding up a hand to halt the conversation he said,
"Wait, just wait... how does them going to hang with Scorpy help me?"
Reluctantly the Delvian revealed the rest of the story that she got from Pilot to the group.
"They've gone to get the abort codes for the implant," she finished telling them at the end of the explanation.
"Great, you're tellin' me my fate lies in the hands of a Delvian teenybopper, a homeroom teacher, and an assassin who can't remember which shoe goes on which foot half the time," said Crichton in disbelief. "How messed up is that?"
Zhaan held up her hands trying to calm the human, "It's not as bad as it sounds, John."
"No," drawled Rygel, "It's worse."
Chiana had watched the exchange, her head darting back and forth between the speakers, "So what are we gonna do?" she asked the group.
"We... are going to starburst the frell out of here as soon as possible before the Peacekeepers show up," said D'argo, as if that was the end of the discussion.
"Right," agreed Aeryn, "That is the sensible thing to do."
"Hold it!" shouted Crichton. "You're forgetting... this thing Scorpy put in my head. What are we gonna do about that?" he asked while looking back and forth between his friends. "We are not leaving until we get this thing out of my frelling head!"
"Right!" said Chiana jumping in. "We can't leave the others out there either. We have ta' do something to help them, we can't just leave."
"You bet your skinny white ass, we can!" said Rygel
"What are we going to do, Chiana? We don't know where they are," said Aeryn
"Okay, then we wait right here until we know for sure what happen to them," said John. "Malika left her Prowler here, so we can use that and Aeryn's Prowler to make long range recons of the sector. That should give us enough warning to starburst out of here if the Peacekeepers show up."
John looked from face to face to see if everyone agreed with his solution. Aeryn of course supported the recon idea. D'argo nodded that the compromise was acceptable to him and Zhaan indicated that she wanted to wait and give her protégée and young Andar a chance to return. Rygel of course was dead set against it but held his tongue when the Luxan growled low in his throat at him. Chiana was all for it and was ready to jump into one of the Prowlers herself.
"Okay then, we stick it out as long as we can and cross our fingers that they know what they're doing," said Crichton.
As the others left command to put the plan in to action, Chiana hung back to have a word with Zhaan in private.
"Do you think they can pull it off?" she asked the Delvian Pa'u attentively.
"I hope so, my dear. For John and all our sakes," she answered.
" 'Ret will do it," Chiana said trying to convince herself. "Yeah... if anyone can get them in and out it should be an assassin... right?"
"I'm praying to the Goddess that they all come back, Chiana," reassured the Delvian.
The Nebari girl looked hurt for a few microts. "I can believe Berret didn't tell me what he was planning. That he left me out of everything," she said.
"He had good cause, dear. He was able to convince Pilot that his reasons were sound and Pilot is not a fool. He felt that his plan stood a better chance of succeeding with unknown faces with him and had any of us accompanied him we would have been caught. If he had told us, Crichton and D'argo surely would have insisted on going." The Delvian woman folded her arms across her chest. "I am concerned about Andar and Malika," she added.
Chiana looked at her and said, "Had you known, you wouldn't have let them go... and you would have insisted on going to help Crichton yourself."
Zhaan frowned because the young Nebari girl had read her too well.
"That point is moot now that they have gone," She said. "At any rate, Chiana, I suspect that Berret will keep many things to himself in the future. In this case I believe he did what he thought would best protect us. It's his way of trying to fit in with the rest of Moya's crew. Try and not be too angry with him." Despite the advice the Pa'u found she herself was angry at the Shrike for not confiding in her. Chiana nodded her head and left Zhaan alone in Command as she went to grab something quick to eat and ready herself for the long coming wait.
"Holy Mother, protect and guide my lost children back to me," Zhaan murmured to herself in prayer.
"That is the idea," said Berret simply.
"No... no, it looks very nice on you," said Andar as he swallowed hard.
Malika gave the Sebacean man a look that said she wanted to rip his eyes out. Andar held up both hands as if to say he was very sincere about his comment being a compliment. The tension between the two gave Berret pause as he mentally stepped back and reassessed Malika's attire. The young Delvian was wearing what amounted to a scattering of revealing leather and silk scarves. He had to admit that there was much more blue skin revealed then this Delvian normally showed. While Zhaan was perfectly happy clothed or naked and could not see a reason why everyone else shouldn't be also, in contrast Malika had always worn full length dresses or PK issue surplus uniforms when she was working at something that called for getting dirty and/or greasy.
"Why does Andar get to wear a Peacekeeper uniform and I have to look like a tramp?" the girl complained.
"Because there are no Delvian Peacekeepers. They are only servants or pleasure slaves. You know this, Malika," answered the ex-assassin.
Malika grumbled under her breath. Berret realized it was hard for her to accept having to play a role that reminded the young woman so much of her past life, but the ruse would be necessary if she was to move freely among Peacekeepers on a base or command carrier.
"I still don't see why I can't just be a plain serving slave," she muttered sullenly.
Berret sighed wearily to himself and was ready to begin explaining the situation to the Delvian once again, but Andar had a better handle on an idea to appease the woman.
"Look, Malika..." he said as he grabbed the girl's arm and dragged her over to a nearby mirror. Making her look at her own reflection he continued, "Don't hit me, but coming from a male prospective... nobody is going to buy this face as just another serving slave," He brushed some strands of blue hair away from her cheeks. "This vision of beauty... does not say... common pot scrubber. It hints at untold nights of love and passion... of unknown ecstasy. Doesn't it, Berret?" he finished looking over his shoulder at the Shrike for support. Caught by surprise, the ex-assassin blinked in bewilderment. Andar rolled his eyes covertly, urging the other man to hurry up and get with the program.
After a few microts Berret caught on and hurriedly added, "Oh yes, definitely... unknown ecstasy."
Malika ran her fingers through her hair and then asked Andar, "You really think I'm pretty?"
"Oh yes, definitely treasured pleasure slave material if I ever saw it," said Andar, who then kick Berret in the shin to signal him that he should be agreeing along with him.
"Yes... treasured... very much so," the Shrike said lamely.
Andar threw him a sidelong look that told the ex-assassin he was being far from convincing with his support.
Malika frowned at herself in the mirror and said, "You're both full of dren, but I get your point."
She turned back to glare hard at both men and added, "But so Goddess help me, if either of you get any ideas..."
She left the threat hanging menacingly unfinished and Andar put up both hands to protest his pure intentions.
" I swear by the Goddess that I have always been and always shall be a gentleman," he told her.
Caught off guard as Malika turned her withering gaze upon the Shrike, Berret quickly added,
"No-No, I have no ideas."
The Delvian turned back to look at herself in the mirror, "I guess I can put up with this skimpy attire for the greater sake of the mission." She uttered the comment more as an idle thought to herself.
Andar looked pleased with himself at overcoming the obstacle even though it was the girl who had made the decision in the end. By the way the young Priestess re-inspected her garb in the mirror's reflective surface, Berret had the feeling that the woman was not as totally displeased with the outfit as she let on to be. The Shrike sighed to himself as he came to believe that he would never fully understand what a female was thinking or would do in given situation... the gender was highly unpredictable he concluded.
The group had decided it best to leave within the arn. Once safely well away from Moya, Berret would contact Scorpius and arrange a meeting. After collecting the supplies they need and stowing them inside the Wraith, Berret left the others and made one last trip back to his quarters to pick-up a few items he decided he would or might need, among them... a few of the more concealable weapons he owned. He entered his room and without looking about went right to his storage chest, that was almost his undoing. Behind him the lump of blankets stirred on his bed and Chiana's sleepy voice asked, "... 'Ret?"
In all the planning he had forgotten the Nebari girl would probably be sleeping in his quarters and he had not thought to ask Pilot if she was indeed there before deciding to make the stop. He carefully placed his equipment into the small bag he'd brought and then closed the chest before standing up and answering her.
"Yes, Pixie... its only me. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"That's okay," said the girl with a yawn as she propped herself up on one elbow. "What are you doing still up? Come to bed."
"I couldn't sleep so I decided to do some work in the shop," replied, surprised at how easy the lie came to his lips. Chiana absently mussed her hair as she scratched an itch. "Are you still thinking about what Shenna said today? Is that what's keeping you up?" she asked, knowing the man had been quiet and solemn on the return trip to Moya. He had refused to speak further with the old Shrike and Shenna promised to meet with them another time when Berret was more open to discussing the situation before they parted company.
"Yes, that must be why. I'm still a little upset is all. Go back to sleep and I'll finish my project up and then come straight here to sleep," he promised.
The sleepy Nebari nodded her head and unable to hold it up any longer, let it fall back onto an oversized pillow.
"Okay," she said with a sleepy sigh. "Don't stay up too late and try not to let that old man bother you. Everything will work out fine... you'll see..." she murmured as she drifted back off into her slumber.
Berret stood for a few microts gazing at the sleeping girl wondering why she made him feel the way she did. He almost decided to say the hezmana with the whole plan and crawl in next to the small Nebari.
The thought of leaving her was almost physically painful. Responsibility, thought the Shrike. He had a responsibility not only to Chiana, but also to the rest of this crew that had taken him in. Here was a danger and an opportunity that only he and two relatively untried youngsters were capable of handling. Taking such a foolish risk should have been unlike him, where were the logic and tactics in relying on two children to back him up? And for what? It was only a matter of time before they were all dead anyway. What did it matter if Crichton went sooner then the rest of them? If this is the growth that Shenna had spoken about... the willingness to take extreme risks for another being who for no logical reason should matter to him, then the old man was frelled. With a frown and sigh, Berret realized that was exactly what he was doing, so logically speaking... he was just as frelled as the old Delvian Grandmaster. At his soft exhale of air, Chiana buried her head under a blanket and disappeared from sight. Berret smiled down at the sleeping form, maybe not he thought to himself. Chiana mattered to him and Crichton and the others mattered to her, so in reality he was doing the correct thing. If he could care about the Nebari, it shouldn't be too far of a leap to care for the rest of the crew. Look at Andar and Malika; both of them required little prodding to leap feet first into what practically amounted to a suicide mission for the sake of another shipmate. With so many examples to follow, it shouldn't be too hard to learn... no matter what advise the collar pathways were giving him at the moment. With one last look at the lump under the blankets, Berret silently vowed to succeed and return from this mission... to do the right thing so another person could live.
"Not even death," he murmured in ritual pledge to the sleeping girl before turning and walking out of his quarters.
Over four arns later, Zhaan's frantic voice came over the comms.
"Everyone! Wake up and report to Command," the worry in her voice startling everyone awake. "Something bad as happened!" The Delvian broke off communications without explaining further or answering anyone's frantic demands for more information. Crichton wandered on to the Command tier just a few microts before D'argo and Rygel to find Aeryn already there.
"What's going on, Blue? Why the rude awakening?" the human asked.
"They're gone, John!" exclaimed the Priestess.
"Hold on... who's gone?" he replied not understanding the Delvian's statement.
"Malika and Andar," answered Aeryn. "They left with Berret in his Wraith sometime during the night."
"You mean they jumped ship?" asked D'argo in his rumbling voice.
"Ah, good riddance to them. They were just wasting food and valuable resources," said Rygel. "Why the yotz did you bother to wake us for this irrelevant news?"
Ignoring the Hynerian, Zhaan went on, "Its worse then that. Pilot says they went on some mission against Scorpius."
"Scorpius?" John exclaimed in alarm, the news banishing the last dregs of sleep from his mind, "Are they insane!"
"Why didn't Pilot warn us of their plans?" demanded the Luxan.
In Pilot's defense, Zhaan said, "You know that any of us are free to leave Moya at anytime we wish. Pilot was just according them the same courtesy. Though in this case, I wish that he had informed us."
"Well, we're frelled now. As soon as Scorpius catches them, they will lead him right back to us. I say we starburst and get the yotz out of here," grumbled Rygel.
"I'm forced to agree with Rygel. Pilot says they have over a four arn head start. The Wraith is faster then a Prowler in the long haul, we'll never be able to catch up to them even if we knew what direction they were headed in," said Aeryn.
"Catch who?" asked Chiana as she arrived on the Command tier. "Has anyone seen Berret?" she then added.
"Your boyfriend took Andar and Malika for a joyride to meet with Scorpy," said Crichton.
"What? What the frell are you talking about?" replied Chiana.
After filling the Nebari woman in, Chiana stood dumbfounded. Turning toward Zhaan she said,
"No, that can't be right. Why would he... they, do something like that?"
"I'm afraid that's where the story gets worse." Said Zhaan.
"How can it possibly get worse," spat D'argo.
"They went to help Crichton," Zhaan said.
John did a double take at the mention of his name. Holding up a hand to halt the conversation he said,
"Wait, just wait... how does them going to hang with Scorpy help me?"
Reluctantly the Delvian revealed the rest of the story that she got from Pilot to the group.
"They've gone to get the abort codes for the implant," she finished telling them at the end of the explanation.
"Great, you're tellin' me my fate lies in the hands of a Delvian teenybopper, a homeroom teacher, and an assassin who can't remember which shoe goes on which foot half the time," said Crichton in disbelief. "How messed up is that?"
Zhaan held up her hands trying to calm the human, "It's not as bad as it sounds, John."
"No," drawled Rygel, "It's worse."
Chiana had watched the exchange, her head darting back and forth between the speakers, "So what are we gonna do?" she asked the group.
"We... are going to starburst the frell out of here as soon as possible before the Peacekeepers show up," said D'argo, as if that was the end of the discussion.
"Right," agreed Aeryn, "That is the sensible thing to do."
"Hold it!" shouted Crichton. "You're forgetting... this thing Scorpy put in my head. What are we gonna do about that?" he asked while looking back and forth between his friends. "We are not leaving until we get this thing out of my frelling head!"
"Right!" said Chiana jumping in. "We can't leave the others out there either. We have ta' do something to help them, we can't just leave."
"You bet your skinny white ass, we can!" said Rygel
"What are we going to do, Chiana? We don't know where they are," said Aeryn
"Okay, then we wait right here until we know for sure what happen to them," said John. "Malika left her Prowler here, so we can use that and Aeryn's Prowler to make long range recons of the sector. That should give us enough warning to starburst out of here if the Peacekeepers show up."
John looked from face to face to see if everyone agreed with his solution. Aeryn of course supported the recon idea. D'argo nodded that the compromise was acceptable to him and Zhaan indicated that she wanted to wait and give her protégée and young Andar a chance to return. Rygel of course was dead set against it but held his tongue when the Luxan growled low in his throat at him. Chiana was all for it and was ready to jump into one of the Prowlers herself.
"Okay then, we stick it out as long as we can and cross our fingers that they know what they're doing," said Crichton.
As the others left command to put the plan in to action, Chiana hung back to have a word with Zhaan in private.
"Do you think they can pull it off?" she asked the Delvian Pa'u attentively.
"I hope so, my dear. For John and all our sakes," she answered.
" 'Ret will do it," Chiana said trying to convince herself. "Yeah... if anyone can get them in and out it should be an assassin... right?"
"I'm praying to the Goddess that they all come back, Chiana," reassured the Delvian.
The Nebari girl looked hurt for a few microts. "I can believe Berret didn't tell me what he was planning. That he left me out of everything," she said.
"He had good cause, dear. He was able to convince Pilot that his reasons were sound and Pilot is not a fool. He felt that his plan stood a better chance of succeeding with unknown faces with him and had any of us accompanied him we would have been caught. If he had told us, Crichton and D'argo surely would have insisted on going." The Delvian woman folded her arms across her chest. "I am concerned about Andar and Malika," she added.
Chiana looked at her and said, "Had you known, you wouldn't have let them go... and you would have insisted on going to help Crichton yourself."
Zhaan frowned because the young Nebari girl had read her too well.
"That point is moot now that they have gone," She said. "At any rate, Chiana, I suspect that Berret will keep many things to himself in the future. In this case I believe he did what he thought would best protect us. It's his way of trying to fit in with the rest of Moya's crew. Try and not be too angry with him." Despite the advice the Pa'u found she herself was angry at the Shrike for not confiding in her. Chiana nodded her head and left Zhaan alone in Command as she went to grab something quick to eat and ready herself for the long coming wait.
"Holy Mother, protect and guide my lost children back to me," Zhaan murmured to herself in prayer.