Hello, readers! (If I have any) Sorry it has taken a while to post new chapter. I have SEVERE writer's block. Any suggestions are welcome.

Marnaya and Matsye walked together in silence as they made their way to Aikka. Max was shown to his room, and so he was busy getting accommodated.

"So..." Matsye said, acting as if he was getting to something. Marnaya spun on him. "What?"

"The Blue Flash was outrun. Didn't think it possible."

Marnaya gave a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, well... sometimes things like that happen."

"Or maybe you're just not telling the truth."

Marnaya stopped in her tracks and Matsye turned to look at her. He waited for a few moments before pushing the issue.

"So what REALLY happened?"

Marnaya wanted to tell him to butt out and let her do her job, but he might break their deal about telling her about her mother. So instead, she decided to share.

"Don't tell anyone, 'kay?"

Matsye nodded. Marnaya debated whether or not to inform him that she was a Keeper, though it would be unlikely that he knew what that was and she didn't want to tell him.

Marnaya continued, "He...uh...I've met him before and he knows how to impact serious damage."

"So...you met him before?"

"I think so."

"You...THINK...so?"

"He seems really familiar, but I can't place him." Marnaya sighed. "Well, anyway. He threatened my seal and-"

"Seal? What's that?"

'Shit.' Marnaya thought. She hadn't meant to let that slip, but it had anyway. "Umm, yeah..."

"Matsye!" the two heard Natsuri call. "Marnaya! Mother wants to see you!"

Marnaya was taken a back. "Why?"

She gracefully came to a stop next to Marnaya and tugged Marnaya's arm. "I'm not sure. Sorry to take your girlfriend away, Brother." she joked.

Matsye and Marnaya's faces flushed, and Matsye replied quietly, "She's not my girlfriend."

"Whatever you say." Natsuri retorted. Marnaya turned her attention to what was ahead of her.

Marnaya wasn't sure why Eva wanted her, but she didn't mind spending time with her; they had a few common interests. Like working on star racers.

"So..." Eva began. Marnaya looked up curiously.

"How did Matsye get to Oban?"

"Huh?"

"Your home planet."

"Is that why you had Natsuri bring me to you?"

"That's part of it. "

"He didn't."

Eva frowned, puzzled. "Then how did he find you?"

"My dad and I were on Epsilon. He was on official business while I was more or less spending time with my Uncle Keni."

Eva nodded. "That would make sense..."

"Say, Ev-" Marnaya cut off, not sure if the Nourasian queen would approve of such informal addressing.

Eva laughed. "Go ahead. Call me Eva."

Marnaya continued. "Can you tell me anything about my mother?"

Eva seemed to tense at her question. Marnaya wondered why everyone seemed to do that when she asked about who her mom was.

"Well...she was a pilot...and, um...she had green eyes like yours...tiny little thing..."

"Eva, I don't mean to sound rude... that's all I've ever been told about her..."

"So you don't want to hear it?"

Marnaya nodded shyly. "Yes. That's correct."

"Well, " Eva said. "You'll find out more about her as you go throughout your life. In fact...you probably know more about her than you realize."

"Really? Like what?" Marnaya said, hoping that if Eva knew something that she would spill her guts.

"Mother?" called a voice. The two women looked to find Matsye.

"Hello, Matsye." Eva welcomed her son while Marnaya simply scowled and thought, 'Damn you, Matsye. She was about to tell me about my mom...'

"Where are you off to?" Eva asked, seeing that he carried his Nourasian knight mask.

"I'm just going with Father somewhere. We'll be back later." Matsye turned to Marnaya. "You might want to check up on your...sidekick."

"Alright." Marnaya jumped up and ran toward the corridor that would lead her to Max's room, dreading whatever she was sure to discover him doing.