A/N: This chapter is for Cilla. I hope you enjoy this. It was fun to write. I look forward to your reaction.

11

"What is it?" Coran asks.

"A piece of a Drule ship."

"Are you certain?" I ask.

"No doubt in my mind, Majesty."

"I thought we destroyed them all."

"So did I. But that's not all. Have a med crew on standby. I'm bringing two people in. Somehow two people survived the ship breaking apart, but they're in bad shape. We'll be there in five."

"Roger that," Coran replies as he switches to the internal com. "Attention. I need a med crew to the hangar. Red lion is bringing in two injured. ETA is five."

"Two humans, Drules, slaves?" I wonder aloud. He could have been more specific. "Should we meet him, Coran?"

"I will go meet him. But I don't want to leave you alone, Majesty," he replies as he rises from the chair on the bridge. "Man the bridge while I go see what Lance is bringing in. Lock this door after me."

I can't help but roll my eyes. Always my protector.

'As he should be.'

Keith. 'Do you know who Lance has found?'

'No. We tried to hail the ship, but got no reply. Pidge and I tried to catch it and it exploded. It came from the far side of Pollux. We had to turn round to pursue it. We're headed down now to escort the landing party.'

"Your Majesty!" Coran says snapping me from my conversation. I blink to focus and blush. "Sorry. Keith was checking in."

"Your bond reaches that far?!"

I nod. "Evidently yes."

"Astounding. A strong bond indeed."

"He said you're right. I should lock the door, since you have to leave."

"Glad he agrees. Anything else I need to be aware of?"

I repeat what Keith said about the ship. Where it came from and the explosion, and that they are getting ready to land.

"Red lion should be landing at any time. I will report to you as soon as I know something, Majesty," Coran says as I lower the dais. He gives a small bow and leaves the room. I hear the door lock after him. I decide to start scrolling through screens, looking for anything else out of the ordinary. I come to the screen of the wreckage Lance went to check and I stop scrolling and zoom into what is left of the ship. The piece of skull from the helm makes it an obviously Drule ship. I know of no others who would use something so vile. As I zoom, I notice smaller bits that are close to it and I nearly throw up. Pieces of humans. Arms, partial humans, some without limbs. A few without heads. Some are hanging from the ship or what is left of it. Others scattered like pieces of toy dolls. I wipe the tears that have fallen for these unknown souls and say a prayer that they didn't suffer long and are now at peace. I estimate maybe fifty people's remains scattered about. But yet two survive? I want to know how and who, but I should let the doctors do their jobs and perhaps I can visit later. I decide to continue my scans and am nearly bored to tears when the door opens. I turn, blaster in hand, but lower it when I see it's Lance.

"They're in bad shape, Prin-Majesty," Lance says before I can ask. "I'm not sure they will survive."

"Do you know who they are?"

He shakes his head. "No. Initially, three were alive, but one died before I could move him to Red. Now one male and one female. Both had Drule slave tattoos. They look rough. The female had short, red hair. The male had dark hair with grey in it. Though he didn't look old enough to have grey hair."

I sigh. My hope dashed at his description. Not my cousin or Sven. "Thank you for the update, Lance."

"Of course. I sent a small crew out to gather remains so we can properly take care of them in death."

I give a nod of thanks. He knows what I mean. Like Keith, I don't always need words. Gestures work between us at times when words cannot. I send Keith the bit of information Lance shares and get an acknowledgment, but no reply otherwise. He's obviously focused elsewhere.

"Have you found anything else?" Lance asks, nodding to the screens.

"No. I was just starting to scan when you came in."

"Well, Let's do some searching. If one piece fell and had survivors, surely another piece could have."

"Okay," I reply as I return to the chair and start scanning. Lance sits in a seat to the left of me and turns so we can see the screens together. I'm not sure how long we scanned before the sound of the door opening causes us both to turn, blasters ready.

"Glad to see you're ready to defend yourself," Coran says as he allows the door to close behind him. "You both need rest. Lance, I am putting you and Sera on the watch for the Queen. You shall sleep in her sitting room. Sera on a cot in her Majesty's bedchamber. It's rather late, so go eat something and freshen up then rest. I will come to meet you in the morning or get you should something turn up tonight."

His tone tells me this is not a request. I fight back the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth and nod. "You promise to rest as well, Coran?" I ask in a similar tone.

"Aye, Majesty. I shall after I check in on the landing party and those who went out after Red Lion returned. If there is anything crucial, I will inform you before retiring."

I turn to Lance. Shall we go eat then?"

"As you wish, Majesty."

I smile at his tone and after one more glance at Coran, who gives me a nod to say he's alright, we head to the kitchen where Sera is waiting.

I forget just how starkly different the medical ward is from the rest of the castle. It smells of something I can't place. And my memories here are mostly unpleasant. The sound of my boots and Lance's echo through the corridor, the scent becoming stronger the closer we get to the triage area. Lance has barely spoken and it's obvious to me he's been up a while. I slept so well that I wonder if one of them drugged my tea. I shake the thought from my mind as we see a nurse, then the doctor comes from behind a curtain in deep conversation. They both stop and bow to me as we reach them.

"Good morning, Majesty. I assume you're here to check on the patients?"

"I am. How are they?"

"They are both in a lot of pain, but that is to be expected, as it has only been a couple of days. The young woman is conscious and might speak to you, but if she says she's done, accept it. She's been through a lot, as I'm sure you can imagine."

"Of course."

The nurse goes back behind the curtain and then reappears as she waves me into the small area. Lance comes in right after me, not wanting to leave me unguarded. As we approach, I look at the young woman. Her skin is fair and covered in scars. She has an IV and tubing into her nose. Her right eye has a gash and is nearly swollen shut, her auburn cropped hair matted with blood but she manages a weak smile when she sees me.

"Hello, Cousin," she says weakly.

That voice! I know that voice!