Dark Hunter's resolution.
Chapter 8: Diplomatic visit, tracking the 'suspects'.
16th September 2901
Ki'ristalis orbit.
"You're cleared for ground transport Liberator. Dawnbreaker, proceed to Hathane spaceport, with Liberator transports following."
"Acknowledged ground control. ETA to surface, 40 minutes." Stated a Dawnbreaker bridge officer. Over the comm channel, there was a sense of unease, communicating with the opposing 'enemy' races, on terms such as this.
Although there were a few hundred Kro'nogri and Leg'hrul who had fled to Alliance space when things grew bad during the war, this was the first time there was a public acknowledgement of visiting dignitaries. Although, they had not anticipated a rebellion movement to be visiting.
The shuttle exited the Liberator's hanger bay, flying outwards and towards the planet's surface, giving chase to the Dawnbreaker as it shot towards the planet also. Behind them, as both ships came alongside one another in their descent, 3 escorting UIP fighters followed them. Further up, a single UIP cruiser had its weapons trained on the Liberator, the battleship hanging in orbit, weapons retracted, but still ready.
Inside the shuttle, Xale, Lexa and Azula patiently waited for the arrival on the surface. Their official story was touring the planet, sightseeing. Unofficially, after concealing themselves appropriately, they would search for Krith and Bal'toro, following Jarothes's instructions. All the while, Sha'krii, Kirth, La'kias and Norstith would handle political and social face time, building relations with the UIP at its core.
The others of the NKI officers with them would remain on the Liberator, though per restrictions by UIP laws, one guest aboard the Dawnbreaker had to stay there as well.
"How much longer does the Aree'lathor have to live in the hanger bay? Its presence is proving disruptive at times." Aru'san complained, her voice hinting at irritation.
In his tank mode, a way to hide from Zirleth's 'prowling' of a new environment, Shockwave rumbled back: "Approximately 2 days, in which time the location of Jarothes's associates and the political proceedings of gathering support shall be finished."
"And then she can return to the Dawnbreaker?" Aru'san asked. At that moment, Zirleth padded by, her four muscular, scaly and hairy legs bristling with curiosity, her long, whip like tail swaying in a serpent like manner. Eyeing Aru'san's dragon like body, she growled in curiosity, her mandibled mouth flaring outwards, her barbed tongue extending and licking Aru'san's still form. The Aree'lathor recoiled at the metallic, strange fleshy taste, and padded off, smelling amongst the flooring panels of the large hanger.
Almost sagging on his tank mode's repulsors and support treads, Shockwave grumbled: "She had better return on time."
Looking out of the observation deck, Alex contemplated the sight before him. His home for a few years in the war, in the shared apartment with his 3 former friends. And here he was once more, aboard a battleship of his own, with Shockwave, Aru'san, Se'rie, Morthas, Ja'hail, Jarothes and Raxler [on the bridge, monitoring Jarothes] aboard with him, helping him loyally and him in return helping them. And as a counter feature, he had his ship in slight lockdown, and was at shooting point from a UIP cruiser, and even a planetary mass accelerator cannon.
On the same observation deck, Se'rie, Ja'hail and Morthas sat down on the couches, looking out at the planet below Alex summarized many shared views: "So, I get back to the UIP capital, and I'm stuck in orbit, with who knows how much exact firepower trained on me right now?"
"Well, I guess UIP hospitality is the same as Alliance hospitality then. Assume hostile until they grovel at your feet." Joked Morthas.
"Still looks better than the Alliance capital now though. Konurich station was better than this easily, at least in looks, maybe not size." Commented Ja'hail.
As Se'rie got up to press against the transparisteel window, Alex asked: "What happened to the station again?"
"It's a mess since those riots the NKI, or the Underworld Guild inspired." Ja'hail said, no discernable emotion in his voice.
Thinking for a moment, Se'rie wondered: "Hey, last time you were here was when you were fleeing from killing their president. I wonder how they feel perhaps knowing you're up here?"
"Probably they feel like pulling the trigger on that planetary cannon." Said Ja'hail, dark humour in his voice.
"I just hope that Xale, Azula and Lexa have success. We could use a goal that doesn't involve all out warfare for once." Se'rie said, still unnerved some of what she had seen at least with the Xathana shipyard raid.
2 hour later
Ki'ristalis, Rene'keth residential area.
After disguising their faces, and donning civilian clothing, Lexa, Azula and Xale had taken an air taxi and a maglev monorail to the Rene'keth district, where many UIP intelligence employees lived.
They approached their first apartment skyscraper, a massive 900 metre tall structure, through a tunnel bridge between it and a large transport complex. Having entered the room with clearance from the receptionist by Jarpthes filing a fake report saying they were visiting a person on floor 116 for a family visit, a human family, they were soon on said floor, instead heading for Bal'toro's room.
Reaching the correct door, Jarothes radioed the password, which opened the sliding door. But something was wrong. The room was bare, stripped of all furniture, any pictures, equipment, only the basic hardware and software interfaces in the provided services by the building were left.
Radioing in, Lexa reported their findings. Jarothes was seemingly unconcerned: "Bal'toro likely moved as a safety measure if things grew too hot."
"Can't you just research his official location, or hack the networks via net connection?" Asked Azula.
"No, the UIP is monitoring communications to and from the Liberator. They can't detect me because it's a two way channel. But that is wise, ask around the building about Bal'toro, on the floor you're on."
Walking out the room, Lexa saw a apartment resident walking down the hallway, a Vulcan with a bag of documents in his arm. As friendly as possible, with Xale and Azula standing away, she approached the Vulcan:
"Excuse me, you live here right?"
"Yes I live here. What is your inquiry?" He asked.
"I'm looking for a Na'vi man who lived on this floor, in the room behind me. His name was Bal'toro dal' Kahtra'ya." At her question, the Vulcan's unibrow shot up in very mild surprise, before he calmly said:
"Bal'toro dal' Kahtra'ya was killed last year, in his apartment. I was the one who found him, a nanobot assassin droplet in his drink was used."
Silence ringed, and Jarothes had heard everything over the line. A sharp intake of breath was all the three heard over the connection.
Almost sombrely, Lexa said simply: "Oh, well, thanks for telling me. We've been out of contact for a long time, so, well."
"I apologize for any grief I have caused. Bal'toro was apparently sent back to his clan on his homeworld to be buried there, as his traditions demanded, if that is of any consolidation."
"Thanks, but I think we know enough." Said Azula now. Nodding, the Vulcan nudged past them in the hallway, eventually turning to enter an elevator further down the hall.
On the line, only Jarothes's breathing was heard. Xale then hastily said: "Suck it up! They probably killed him to stop him gathering the information! Maybe Your other colleague is still alive!"
This seemed to snap Jarothes out of his shock, as he hastily replied: "Yes, Krith Lovisk may still be alive! Go to her apartment, in a building about a mile from where you are now. I'll give you the details! Hurry!"
UIP parliament building.
The political meetings and interviews dragged on and on. Though Norstith reminded himself that such time consuming formalities were necessary to ensure Xale, Azula and Lexa succeeded in retrieving either the information, or Jarothes's associates.
Still, the tedium of the reporters asking questions between meetings, and politicians during meetings, was torture to Norstith. If anything, Kirth and La'kias were the most forthgoing in the questioning at each meeting, although the grimaces they shared sometimes said otherwise.
They were gathered outside another parliamentary lounge, where in the corridor a few select news teams were allowed access. The visit of some of the highest NKI officials was big news. At that moment, Norstith almost grimaced as a female human reporter, with very tan coloured skin, almost like a brown colour, and her hair, black, long and braided, walked up. Her face was just luminous with the scrutinizing and conniving undertones that came with any experienced interviewer.
"Alicia Lippi, Systems News Channel, SNC. If I'm not mistaken you're Norstith. Would you care to give me an interview before your next meeting?"
Flashing a forced grin, showing off his sharp, disguised robotic teeth and beak, Norstith seethed inside as he remarked: "Not at all, that's what we're here for, answering questions."
As the hovering camera drone started up alongside her, Alicia Lippi read off from a holographic screen projected on her wrist: "Norstith, you are now associated closely with the leadership of the respected rebellion group, the NKI. But many people in the UIP are aware of your former leadership of the original Knight Initiative, and are worried you may continue some of the war crimes you committed during that time. How do you respond?"
Norstith had been expecting such a question, and he had a simple enough answer: "I won't deny I led the original KI. The KI was a secret branch of the Alliance to exploit members who became disillusioned by the fighting, and make them take out UIP targets, or Alliance targets that needed eliminating. I was called to lead because of my military skill from before the war, but I initially refused. About 2 years into the war, they asked me again, to which I refused. The third time, they told me that they had captured my remaining sibling and her family, and if I refused, then the would die. So I accepted."
"I'm sorry for that. But the business with the old KI leads me into my next batch of forwarded questions, including one concerning some of your work with infamous human traitor, now called Alex Hunter, and his reported clones you helped create. What do you have to say about their roles in the NKI, and about the charges that could be held against them for any crimes they have committed?"
"The clones are learning to live as individuals, as they should, and are proving to be very skilled combat leaders and specialists. When they were created, they knew no better than killing and military action, and they have come far in a short time. Currently the clones are touring the planet, sightseeing, nothing more."
"And what of Alex Hunter then? You are aware that despite the crimes of many he killed being exposed by him and the intelligence departments, he is still wanted for lifetime imprisonment."
"Alex Hunter is a valued partner, one whom I trained personally, and as such, trained his clones also. His crimes were not entirely done in his most sane state of mind so to speak, as his transfer to a second body was not perfect. His mind was unstable from the long term storage in grey box form, and many emotionally compromising events assaulted his mind before he regained clinical sanity. He has pledged that he will not rest until the war is over, for the sake of both sides. He is the best human we have on our side."
After the statement, a few other less critical questions and answers satisfied Alicia Lippi, allowing Norstith to break free and join the next meeting, the last of the afternoon.
Inside, they were meeting intelligence members, discussing recent military successes in the Alliance, and were finishing explaining their actions on Garonth VII, offering useful intelligence for compensation, intelligence that could save lives and ships.
La'kias had presented a full scan of both the mark I and mark II variants of the dreadnoughts, including the mark II's detachable frigate sized advanced AI core vessel. This was payment to compensate the Garonth VII tartarus station loss.
"Inside the scan files is extensive data on structural weaknesses, AI software weaknesses and complete specifications on the ships."
On the other side of the table, 3 men stood by, although strangely enough, one of the men they had already met themselves. The Head of UIP intelligence, a male Predator, Zoran, and his two under secretaries, two Vulcans, were there to meet Norsitth, Sha'krii, Kirth and La'kias.
"Thank you, and as I presume, the data was likely partially of completely gathered from the recent raid you conducted on the secret dreadnought shipyards?" Inquired Zoran.
"Yes. I trust that news travelled here about that?" Commented Sha'krii.
"We all have our sources, some are more reliable than others. But I must also ask, what of the recent development with that one Mark II dreadnought, who apparently had its AI merged with the same Kro'nogri leading the Varya battles?"
"Kal'sik. He seeks to destroy the UIP races outright, unlike the rest of the pro-war Alliance population, who mainly want submission. To ascend his abilities, he merged his mind with the dreadnought's AI. He is now arguably the most dangerous person in the galaxy right now." Kirth stated.
"But I also hear that the Alliance is fracturing between the species. From what I hear, it was over a disagreement, wasn't it?"
"It was over Kal'sik's merging with the dreadnought. King Rho'kis disagreed, aggravating a stressed King Lo'rath enough to have him lash out and wound the Leg'hrul king." Said Sha'krii, her voice laced with slight disdain.
Zoran dismissed his secretaries at that point, leaving only him and the four. Once the door was shut, no communications left the room. Zoran turned to them all:
"I urge you to use this to your advantage. This sort of division is what leads to the crumbling of war fronts throughout history."
Zoran turned to Kirth, smiling coyly through his four mandibled mouth: "I must also congratulate you on locating Alex Hunter, and Shockwave. But tell me, off the record, why have they not ventured planet ward whilst they have diplomatic immunity for now, while the clones have ventured forth."
Sha'krii looked at the other three, who nodded in agreement, and came forwards with data: "We uncovered evidence on the start of the war, leading back to those 3 UIP advance scouts the Alliance intercepted 16 years before. We found the nephew of one of those ambassadors, imprisoned under false accusations of counter espionage, namely for the Varya incidents. He agreed to help us find his other colleagues. They were investigating into the leaks of information from here to secret Alliance locations, the real spy."
Zoran's eyes widened slightly, their gaze hardening dangerously, before he almost hissed: "This claim again? There is no evidence for it so far."
With a snarl, Sha'krii smashed her fists on the table between them, almost yelling: "I was there! The Male Predator and Male Grey killed my father, King Le'krio, and pinned evidence on me to have me exiled and stripped of my title as next ruler! Their actions exploited my already paranoid people, and culminated in this war after a 10 year buildup. I know what I saw, and we shall prove it to end the war in as diplomatic a way as possible, by bringing that last scout in to confess. My legitimacy to the throne shall be restored, and I shall assume power to end the war."
"A noble goal, but perhaps out of reach. If it is true, there are no records of those scouts you talk of, save the two that are already dead. The third disappeared off the grid a few years following said incident's date. It might be a hopeless case." Responded Zoran, his voice cold yet collected.
"That remains to be seen. If so, we need all the help we can get." Said La'kias.
The meeting was adjourned, and as the four left for their ship, to rest there for the night, Zoran was already on the call to one of his security agents:
"This is Zoran. I need you to keep an eye on the visiting clones and their little pyro girl with them. Track their movements, and report it to all people on your channel in the vicinity. Make sure they do not do anything they will regret, and make us be forced to contain them."
"Understood."
Shaking his head as he dropped the connection, Zoran thought to himself haughtily: It was good to finally meet Sha'krii Herensk after hearing about her so much. Still, the NKI has done well, better than I anticipated. Kal'sik may be a problem, but he will resolve himself for sure, he will either submit, or bring about his own end by his mistakes. Its not within my power. Still, I must maintain security, keep up appearences and all.
Maglev train route 43, pan district rapid transit.
"Krith Lovisk is aboard the 13:14 express train from this station. Her stop is an hour away from here. Get aboard, find her, casually drop my name, make sure she knows she is being followed, and get her to safety by the next stop."
"Alright, don't sweat it. Train's coming in 5 minutes from now." Remarked Xale. Lexa and Azula expectantly waited nearby, the three having bought tickets for the scheduled train coming to their station.
Sure enough, on schedule, the Maglev pulled into the station, and the three human NKI members, disguised in hooded civilian clothes, slipped aboard.
Peering down the passenger carriage corridors, Lexa whispered: "Krith is a Sril'sask, she'll be easy to spot."
"There. Way down the corridor, I saw a Sril'sask there. Jarothes, I'm sending you a picture, was that her?" Xale had reacted on sight, seeing down the passenger corridors to the next carriage down, as a female Sril'sask had disappeared into the washrooms.
"Let me see…Yes, that's her! She's alive, thank mercy! Now, remember to casually mention me, if she's not convinced, pass a second communicator you each have to her, it's on this channel."
"We might be recognized or cause her alarm if me or Lexa goes. Azula?" Xale wondered aloud, looking at the firebender expectantly. Azula was still learning much about the galaxy, but she had grasped the basics very quickly.
Nodding her head, Azula got up, slowly but almost casually making her way down the carriage. Passing through the connector segment, she entered the next carriage, her human visage drawing no looks from the other passengers, despite the mixture of Humans, Vulcans, Greys, Romulans and even a few Klingons. Reaching the washroom, Azula saw it was a two room section, one room to wait in, another to do business in.
Slipping in, Azula slid the first door shut, hearing that Krith was inside the washroom. Rapping her knuckles on the door, Azula heard Krith say: "Wait a few seconds will you?"
"I believe Jarothes can't wait any longer Krith." She responded. Sensing the apprehension behind the moment's silence, Azula got out the second communicator. The door slid open rapidly, Krith stomping forwards, seizing Azula by the scruff of her shirt and forcing her against the wall. Luckily the door was shut, so they were alone.
As Krith Lovisk glared at her, Azula got a real sense of at least female Sril'sasks. They were bipedal, with a semi upright, semi horizontal stature, and a long tail, rigid at the base, flexible in the second half. Sril'sask could use their tails to go from a horizontal, charging position, to an upright position similar to other Sapient races. Their bodies were covered in bony plating in vulnerable areas, such as the under arms, arm and leg joints, and the head, neck, chest and back. Their eyes were narrow pupils in vibrant colours, Krith's being a strange electric blue colour, and faced more outwards, giving much more surrounding vision, like a prey animal, but also could face forwards for hunting. The legs were triple jointed, like a bird's, and had 2 clawed toes on the front, and 2 smaller ones on the back, forming X shaped feet. Hoisting Azula against the wall was a 4 digit hand, with 3 clawed fingers and a directly underneath clawed thumb gripping her shirt material. The skull contained a snarling row of sharp teeth, the product of a few million years as both predators and prey, but also with molars near the back for vegetables, biologically for times when meat was scarce.
Her blue reptilian eyes glinting dangerously, Krith Lovisk growled as she demanded slowly: "If this is a joke, I'm not laughing. Jarothes was sent to prison over a year ago."
Glaring back, Azula held up the communicator: "Jarothes is on this communicator right now, a closed channel. Ask him whatever questions you need to ensure his identity. But I will only give you it if you release me."
Growling, Krith backed off, looking towards the shut washroom door as Azula brushed herself off. After Azula curtly handed the communicator over, Krith demanded into it: "Krith Lovisk here, who the hell is calling me?"
"Krith. Its Jarothes Hutreck calling, as Azula said."
"How do I know its really you?" Asked Krith, suspicious of the voice.
"Who else did you tell besides Bal'toro and me that you once expressed an interest in Klingon opera during your school days?"
Krith's breath caught in her throat, and she breathed: "How did you get out?"
As briefly as could be, Jarothes told her everything critical, including the Tartarus raid, and the initial disdain they saw for him, until he revealed he was framed, and he was tracking the real spy. Jarothes told Kirth of his uncle's role as the scout, and as to that being the likely reason he was framed, finding out something he shouldn't have, and it was linked to the spies.
"The NKI is gathering information on the spies, and we need to get you to safety. We have suspicions that the same people that killed Bal'toro are coming after you, and we need the information you have on the transmissions so far. If we succeed, we could end this war diplomatically by bringing the last scout to justice, and revealing the lunacy of this whole conflict."
"You expect me to just pack up and leave Ki'ristalis? Unless you're unaware, I'm under routine surveillance by the intelligence office. Things need to be sorted out."
"I suppose you are right there. There must be a way to get you off without having to resort to illegitimate means."
"A kidnapping during these meetings with the UIP and the NKI would be disastrous. But.." Azula pondered for a moment, and she hit upon an idea: "The talks are not due to finish for another 3 days, time enough to request for a few more assets to transfer to out cause, in return for a trade of information, either now, or later."
"Please do share you idea Azula."
18th September 2901
UIP parliament building.
"Intelligence chief Zoran. We have a slight change in our request for the trade of information. We wish to request the use of a certain volunteer from among your ranks of the intelligence bureau."
Sha'krii's words hardly surprised Zoran, who played it off, asking: "Oh, who was that?"
Bringing up a projection of her picture and unrestricted files, Kirth pointed out: "The female Sril'sask, Krith Lovisk. She apparently has a commendable record in hacking and encrypting files, including Alliance files, and such that her skills surpass many of our experts."
"She came forwards to request she leave with us, believing she can be more useful out there in the field then back in the UIP. As I recall hearing, she said she left a video message detailing her reasoning." Added Norstith. La'kias could not be there that time, as he was occupied dealing with the publicity questions for the NKI.
"I have seen the message, and I must tell you that she is a valuable asset to the UIP intelligence bureau. We always have the concern of spies in our midst, and I can argue against her leaving."
A tense silence followed, until then Zoran admitted: "I admit that my argument is not as strong as that favouring her leaving with you though. And who knows, perhaps she can send back code fragments for the department to analyse, to improve out cyberwarfare techniques."
Almost sighing in relief, the three NKI members made an accord with the intelligence chief.
Before they left that day, Zoran and the three met with the new UIP president, a male Vulcan, named Taeral Lakano.
"Before you depart tomorrow, I wish to make a request for a public appearance of you all as a farewell, and as a public recognition of our peripheral support of you I the war."
Norstith was taken aback by this, and asked curiously: "Do you mean just us?"
"No. I mean your entire staff of officers and commanders, including you, and any others visiting the planet surface of are in orbit." The president said, his words betraying no emotion.
Sha'kri exchanged a glance with Kirth and La'kias, asking then: "But what of some of the crimes pegged against some of our officers?"
Zoran merely said calmly: "Diplomatic immunity is placed upon them for the duration of their stay here. However, for safety reasons I must insist on armed security be placed around the event, in the event any trouble does arise."
La'kias saw the point: "It's a publicity stunt then."
"Precisely. So, can I assume all of you will be there tomorrow?" Asked President Lakano.
"Absolutely not. You know perfectly well the circumstances under which I had to leave this planet last time."
Predictably, there were only 1 individual whose presence would perhaps not be wise in close proximity to the president. Alex had a bad history, and didn't think President Lakano would find security in knowing his predecessor's killer was near him at any time.
"President Lakano has specifically requested all of you to the surface tomorrow. He has said he will wave any previous crimes for the duration of the visit." Stated Sha'krii: "Not attending would reflect badly on us all."
"Oh, and what happens if we're all asked to shake his hand or something? Hmm? I don't even want to imagine how bystanders might react if I get within 10 feet of him."
Shockwave interjected, sending a formal message simultaneously to Sha'krii's data device: "Reach a compromise. Say you will attend, but impose a restraining order upon yourself from President Lakano, if it will ease your conscious and/or that of the bystanders."
Contemplative silence rang, until Alex said: "If it goes wrong, just know I was right about it."
Liberator, Ki'ristalis orbit
"Unbelievable! I can't believe they talked me into going down there again!" Said Alex, amazed at his agreement.
They were all sat in one of the battleship's starboard observation lounges, overlooking the planet, and the sprawling metropolis that covered a large portion of one smaller continent, the central area of Ki'ristalis.
"Remind me how long since you were last here?" Asked Morthas, not looking up from his holo-text novel he was reading.
"About 2 and a half years." Alex overlooked the planet, taking in the view, familiar, yet somehow, alien, a different life of his having once lived down there.
"You never know. I always heard that the guy you killed was a bit of a ruthless bigot to the Alliance. They might actually thank you." Ja'hail added, trying to make some humour from the situation.
"Ja'hail, I've been seeing all sorts of things on the net sites from users on the planet below about me just being up here. Do you even want to know what some of them said they'd do to me if they found me?"
"So what, kick them in the ass if they try anything." Xale offered, himself reclining on a lounge sofa. Shoving his legs of the seats, Azula roller her eyes, commenting: "And that will make everything so much better for our public relations."
Se'rie looked at Alex, who was still staring out the window. She offered hopefully: "Maybe things aren't as bad as they are. I mean, they may not like things you've done before, but many in the UIP like what you've been recently doing. You're a leading NKI officer, you helped lead a theft of an entire Alliance dreadnought, and its rumoured destruction later."
Hitting the transparisteel wall, Alex said: "Alright, I'll go. But I'm not taking any chances, any sign of trouble and I'm out. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to my cabin. I need some time to myself."
Midnight, Liberator internal time.
A knock awoke Alex in the night. He called loud enough: "It's open."
Slipping in, Se'rie walked over, her feet not covered by Shockwave's talon covers. As Alex sat up in his bed, a large, double bed, she sat down on the edge, her gaze worried and loving:
"You worried about tomorrow?"
Sighing, he replied: "I'm worried what might happen if I meet anyone. I'm the only one among us who once lived there, and my adoptive sister and her friends still live there too. If we meet, well, last time we were busy staying alive in the Varya missions. But now, things might get complicated."
Cupping his chin in her three digits halfway along her wing, Se'rie smiled lightly, comforting him: "If they do get complicated, I'll be there with you. I'll be there whenever we're down there. You won't have to face anything alone."
Reaching over, he pulled her into a one armed hug, whispering: "Thanks Se'rie." The feel of his mechanical arms, the dark matter and heated outer metal layer, was still surprisingly comfortable to her. He asked quietly: "What about us? They might not approve of a relationship between a UIP species and an Alliance species."
"Alex, if they've rejected you and shunned you from society as you fear, what more can they do to you. Let them know, who cares what they think. We've opened up social relation between our races more than any of them ever have by us being together. Let them know." She finished the statement with a kiss, her tongue driving deep into his mouth as her beak enveloped his mouth in turn.
Breaking away after a few moments of tongue wrestling, he laughed a bit, agreeing: "You're right. Screw them and any bigoted views they might have. I live my life how I want to, and I want to be with you more than anyone else."
"That's what I like to hear from my mate." Se'rie said, snuggling into him. Surprised, Alex asked: "Mate?"
"Well we have shared ourselves with each other more than once, we just haven't made it official. You don't mind do you."
"Not at all. So, will you stay with me, until we need to leave, just be with me?" Alex asked, his voice dropping to a whisper again. Crawling into bed with him, Se'rie lay down with Alex by her side, her wing folding over his body, as he pulled the sheets over them.
"Goodnight my mate." They each whispered, before falling into sleep, before the descent into public appearances tomorrow.
Slightly longer chapter here, but finally done.
Please read and review, for purpose of me using feedback productively. Any opinions so far?
The story is solid so far in my mind, minus a few little details, and is coming along nicely.