May passed reasonably calm on most fronts.
Haestrom fell into Diyal Bakshi's former role as logistic manager like a natural. Diyal Bakshi toured with two 'sisters' of Ladies of Supreme Justice in effort to collect votes for the primaries. News of Refuge 1 and 2 merging rippled across the city, a precursor for a brighter future.
Cerberus chose to lay low. Mycerra started planning how to lure them out more actively when it landed at her feet courtesy of Kaiden Alenko.
She called a meeting in the mayoral office and invited Titus and Aurellian. While waiting, she wiped down the shelving and dusted the corners. Tia sat in the middle of her play pen, surrounded by her toys. She planted her hands on the ground to support herself while sitting up. She smiled at Mycerra and stringed sounds together, sinfully adorable.
"I know. They're late." Mycerra replied and knelt in front of the play pen. Tia centered on a fluffy blanket hinged forward at the waist and her palms pressed to the fluffy blanket everyone in Haven 1 recognized as Tia Ysett's. "We'll have to video with Mama soon too. She has a new fairy tale to read to you. It's a drell one."
Tia blew a raspberry. Mycerra blew a raspberry back.
The door opened. Titus preceded Aurellian. Tia squealed and tried to turn toward the two turians. Titus leaned over the top of the playpen. Aurellian placed fresh flower petals on top the nearest shelf and shifted the helmet over to make room for the bowl.
"Dae-Jung wanted to 'freshen' up your office." Aurellian explained. "Your space is too masculine, his words."
Mycerra laughed and gestured to the neatly organized shelves. She locked away the thermal clips and her weapons as a safety measure. Her armor spread out among several cubes adjacent to one another with the helmet on top the entire shelving unit approximately shoulder high. Several data pads, a spare computer screen, and a rare stash of paper journals filled out the remaining cubicles in that shelving unit.
"Metal is now masculine?" She teased Aurellian. "Does that mean turian females are incapable of being…feminine?"
"Not touching that." Aurellian retorted.
She smirked. Locking the door via omni-tool, Mycerra retrieved a scanner device from the opposite shelf and walked the office back to front scanning floor to ceiling before concluding security measures worked. "No bugs." She announced to them.
"How can anyone say no to that smile?" Titus said to Tia and reached for her. She reached for him. He scooped her up. "If I could go back and make a different decision…"
"We knew why you weren't always home, Dad." Aurellian whispered. "We know you loved us."
"I should have tried harder." Titus stressed. He rubbed Tia's back affectionately. She grabbed at his arm and squealed. "There is no excuse for my extended absences." He placed Tia back on the blanket. She tried to crawl toward him and bunched the blanket beneath chubby fists.
"We have now." Aurellian toyed with Mycerra's helmet and ran his talon along a scratch in the back. "Mycerra, how did you manage to mutilate this helmet?" He demanded.
She studied the scratch, wracked her memory, and shrugged. "Omega was rough. Did I tell you about the pistol that shot sticky grenades? I need one of those. Might even pay shipping from Omega." She mused seriously.
Titus laughed.
"It would be expensive as hell, but completely worth it." She walked over to her desk and sat down. "If you remember at my 'Welcome Home' party, I spoke with Major Kaiden Alenko, a biotic Alliance officer."
"He's well known for his role of protecting Admiral Hackett during the Reaper Assault." Titus supplied. "His record- "
She waved her hand dismissively. "I like the man. You don't need to sell me on his character. We're good. He sent me an email. We're collaborating on a 'I Am Biotic' ad campaign aimed at for improving the lives of biotic individuals such as myself. I already told you about my past, Titus, but to keep confusion at bay, Aurellian, biotics don't have the 'same' rights as non-biotics in society. Legally, we 'do', but socially, we're outcasts. Or were." She cocked her head to the side in mock thought. "Currently are?"
"There are individuals who believe you should step down because of the fact you're biotic." Aurellian added. "Turian biotics are treated similarly."
She pushed forward before irritation wrecked her line of thought. "A film crew will be traveling here to shoot my portion of the ad. The film crew will be here next month." She shared the documentary schedule giving her and Tabitha a minor headache.
"Will it be similar to the ad Wei Yu participated in for turians?" Aurellian asked innocently.
Mycerra accessed her omni-tool and played the ad. Yu's well-rehearsed lines eased the awkwardness of a non-actor in front of a camera drone for millions, billions, possibly trillions. She caught Aurellian eyeing her curiously. "This one is different. I don't know how to explain it to you, but it's not just me. It's a large ensemble of biotics who are piecing together a message by speaking the same words and taking snippets. It'll all come together at the end." She searched the extranet for an ad that matched Major Alenko's vision and emailed it to Aurellian and Titus for reference.
While Aurellian listened to the emailed ad through headphones. Titus added a note to his calendar.
"In addition, Admiral Hackett gave me permission to take part in two documentaries, other than the existing Haven 1 documentary. The Alliance is producing a documentary on Cerberus. I'll provide my story to them. Before they make that documentary, we need to take down the members we're aware of in our area. The filming for that documentary will take place on the Citadel." She slipped in before Titus demanded specific details.
Titus raised a single finger.
She inhaled sharply and cut him off. "The second documentary is a documentary produced by the Biotic Political Party, the same party I am a part of for 'obvious' reasons."
They stared back at her as if she grew another limb. She started to explain how the political system worked. Aurellian stopped the explanation and cocked his head toward Titus. Titus recited the political structure starting at the highest level, The Alliance Systems Parliament. She threw up both hands in submission.
"Anyway – the second documentary is to talk about my life as a biotic. That group is sending their filming crew here next week to film. The biotic documentary will be released a year from now, their schedule. I volunteered them to use my office here, but I don't know if they'll want to film elsewhere."
"A week from now, Biotic Documentary. A month from now, Biotic Ad. Cerberus Documentary date unknown." Titus input the information on his calendar. "With Diyal Bakshi on tour with the Ladies of Supreme Justice, Edwin Haestrom replacing him, we're on level ground nonetheless."
She nodded emphatically. "I was told the ad would take time to be made, edited, and broadcasted, but that doesn't solve the Cerberus problem we do have now. Cerberus is hiding and we need to kick the nest. Give them something they can't resist. I already told Lawson I forgot what happened at Hobalt's because of personal trauma. I don't want to adopt him as an advisor or an assistant because I don't trust him, and I can't have him accessing our personal spaces."
Aurellian polished his fingerprints off the helmet. "I say we throw you to them. Take a tour of the city. Light security detail. Meet the other mayors in person. Talking up the biotic ad and documentary. They're keen on collecting biotics and keeping their interest in the biotics dampened. They're bad at keeping their activities undercover, which is beneficial for everyone else."
"Or we conduct the sting and clean out the agents we're aware of." Titus tossed at them. "It's less people to worry about. We know Henry Lawson is outside of Haven 1 and has eyes on him."
She swiveled to face the window, resisted the urge to tap her fingertips together in evil fashion, and sighed. "We know about the drunk who drinks at Tiny's. Hackett should pay that idiot directly for all the solid leads we gained from him. We know someone's been hand delivering reports and stole my blood vile from the La'Quoia's fancy new refrigerators. As much as I'd love it to be Perky McAnnoying, it's not her."
"Are we firmly excluding La'Quoia from the suspect pool?" Titus asked skeptically.
"Yes. I can confirm she wasn't in the office at the time of the theft." She boasted. "We were taking a walk. Fresh air."
The turians exchanged a look. "Doesn't mean she's not conspiring- "
"She was here from the beginning. My gut tells me she's not connected to them." Mycerra argued. "If I'm wrong, you can smack me later."
Titus's mandibles clenched. "Let's say I believe you."
"You were here from the beginning too, Titus." She shot back defensively. "La'Quoia patched you up before- "
Aurellian intervened. "We'll time the sting for those we suspect. If we're proven wrong, the Alliance will fix it."
Titus promptly faced the left wall and turned on the television screen spanning the empty space. He accessed the keyboard tucked into one of the top square cubicles and pulled up a confidential email directed to him. Aurellian and Mycerra read the short, direct email commanding them to act smartly and efficiently from Admiral Hackett. "We have fourteen days, including today."
Her eyes fixated on the screen. "Won't be hard to arrest the drunk. We'll have an eye on La'Quoia's office. I'll make a point to donate blood for study. My medical concerns is public property. It wouldn't be out of place or suspicious."
"Assistant Perkins- "
"Are you making a joke or is that really her name?" Mycerra asked skeptically.
He smiled. "Molly Perkins."
She leaned forward, folded her hands on the desktop and looked him in the eye. "Miss Perkins is a known gossip. She's not well acquainted with HIPAA, except when La'Quoia reels her in. Too often for my personal comfort but she makes La'Quoia happy."
"Assistant Perkins's tendency to talk- "
"Gossip." Mycerra corrected irritably.
"-will lure in the thief. We'll record it and have someone near the clinic at most hours, and then- "He smacked his hands together. "Success."
She doubted it'd work like that. "Set it up." She gave permission. "Other than the drunk, we know of two shuttle pilots, a sky car taxi driver, and an elementary teacher. We'll have to capture the pilots and driver outside of or entering Haven 1. The elementary teacher and the drunk will an easy takedown. We'll get blowback from the teacher and that's fine. I'll take the blame. The drunk has already been discredited as a conspiracy theorist. Not even Vornic's people believe him."
"You'll donate blood tomorrow morning." Titus pulled up a map of Haven 1. He started planning the bulk of their security force's next moves with the assistance of Aurellian. Mycerra pointed out their lack of oversight at the elementary school while tending to Tia's mounting fussiness at not having 'Uncle Titus time'. Titus relented after piercing cries and real tears. "Stop it." Titus ordered the asari infant.
Tia's cries softened. In frightening rapidness, Tia transformed to a contented calm child.
"Good." Titus tucked her into the crook of his arm. "You're far too spoiled for your own good."
Tia squealed and made cute sounds.
Titus relented. "Too spoiled."
"Instead of a puppy, my father should adopt a human child instead." Aurellian said to Mycerra, his flanging overflowing with pointed approval. "Maybe Mikal?"
Mycerra and Aurellian agreed on the child adoption for the retired general. Titus cut off their open scheming with a visual map with red, black, and yellow icons. He whistled and pointed. "I know you're eager to plot my future, but business first."
Aurellian leaned on Mycerra. He acknowledged the map. "We'll observe the medical clinic for a week maximum. If we have no leads at that point, we capture the known agents and accept the losses." He decided for his father.
The following morning, Mycerra submitted herself to La'Quoia Schidmt's capable hands.
"You aren't one for needles. The sense of mortality must be the reason you're in this chair." La'Quoia remarked as she extracted the first 2.5 ml. "Who is the new therapist?"
"Mr. Devin Peralta, LMHC. He's…tolerable. I'm self-aware and I have coping strategies, but apparently, I need someone to talk to once or twice a month to deal with the stress." She answered honestly. "And I hate it. I should not be this-this- "
"You are not weak for needing therapy. You may not see it, but you have improved. You're happier, you have a family you love, and you are emotionally open to the world."
"Ow!" Mycerra winced after the second 2.5 ml. "Why does it always hurt?"
La'Quoia labeled the vial. "Two more to go." She informed Mycerra grimly. "Want a cookie?"
Mycerra refused.
Two vials later, Mycerra ate a cookie and rubbed the bandage over the puncture spot. She joined Tabitha outside and carried Tia to the mayoral office to continue her day. Haestrom stopped in before lunch with freshly cooked food.
"I know you're busy with the paperwork from the top, but I wanted to improve Haven 1's safety. I have a list of suggestions that don't involve Titus Deltano." Haestrom set the food on the desk. "Logistics is a busy department."
She rubbed the bandage again. Pain pricked.
They discussed his suggestions – cameras throughout the settlement – and touched upon the childcare center and elementary school as a focal point for heavy coverage. Mycerra added on the main offices and residential buildings, with the dining hall, colloquially referred to as the chow hall. One day turned into two of non-existent results. She tasked Haestrom and Titus to carrying out the simple upgrade and embarked on her own mission to expedite concerns.
She dropped off Tia with Aurellian, emailed Henry Lawson a simple message wishing him luck on his campaign trail and welcomed him back to Haven 1 if he lost the primaries, and found Mikal mid-delivery. "You're an intelligent boy, aren't you?" She blocked his path.
He seemed to size her up like a quick-witted child. "If you want me to deliver something, you can pay me in candy and credits."
"I don't have the candy right now, but if you need a bit of spending credits."
"What do you want me to deliver?" Mikal demanded.
She smiled. "I wanted to buy Titus a gift for his birthday, and I don't want him knowing. If you could give this credit chit to the Pilot Barenty, he'll know what to do with it. Between us, right?" She held out her twitchy pinky.
He hooked his pinky around hers. She slipped him the credit chit, winked, and made the rounds with the locals not tasked with building and rebuilding. She liked this part of the job because she tracked the effect her decisions from the top. She found Bibi playing an original song and tipped her a few credits. She stopped at the prayer pole to listen to Cal Vornic preach. She admitted his voice and mannerisms carried a certain charisma vital for his role as cult leader.
By the time she made it back to Aurellian, two hours passed and Aurellian cuddled the animated baby on his lap and work at his desk. She snapped a quick picture with the omni tool.
"Mission accomplished?" Aurellian asked.
"We wait." She confirmed.
Two days turned into three. She vented to Amani via email, a lengthy list of pictures first, then the political updates, followed by personal updates. Her patience shredded itself by day four. She ordered the early sting on the drunk and schoolteacher in a bout of hope.
She learned about the teacher's 'suicide' hours after Titus filed his report. The extranet lamented the supposed suicide and blamed the lack of resources regardless of the fact two years passed since the end of the Reaper Assault on Earth. Mycerra added the subject to her all-important list of to-dos and started the drafting of a public statement. Experience edged the draft along at a semi-fluid pace.
An accidental perusal of the Haven 1's extranet led her to her favorite hate blogger theorizing she faked her past and used the sob story to corner votes.
She looked at Tia in the center of the play pen and breathed deeply. "Repeat after me, murdering the blogger isn't going to solve the problem. Murdering the blogger isn't- "She pinched her nose and breathed through the irritation.
A vid call at the Telecommunications Building capped the night pleasantly for the Ysett family. Amani allowed Mycerra to unload her mounting frustrations in unusually high tolerance. They ended the night with a hanar moral tale about not wandering too far from safe grounds.
The Alliance went public with the campaign results officially a day later. Admiral Hackett thanked on-site agents for their contributions. Mycerra quietly transferred the entirety of the payout from the Alliance to Titus to determine how to distribute it to their own agents. She asked to be excluded entirely from the pay out process out of respect for herself and the hard work everyone put in on her behalf. In her eyes, she didn't earn the money. They did, and no amount of blood money would soothe her tired, wary soul.
The film crew for the biotic documentary arrived on schedule, hours before a scheduled visit from the Normandy-SR2 attracted a crowd. Mycerra chose to ignore the spectacle entirely in favor of providing guest quarters for the film crew.
"My apologies. I must welcome my sister and brother-in-law before they attract a crowd- "
"Do you mind if we include them in the documentary? Would they sign an NDA, you think?" The lead of the film crew asked eagerly.
Mycerra checked her irritation. "You can ask. I'm sure Nihlus could point you in the direction of more biotics. Better yet, possibly turian biotics." She guessed the turian hierarchy would shut the inquiries down the moment a mere whisper reached them and fully expected the human based documentary to be ignored or scoffed at. Either way, not her problem.
"We've heard rumor there are Salarian biotics." The lead said hopefully.
Mycerra imagined the man's fingers crossed behind his back and smiled slightly at the ridiculous imagery. "Krogan biotics, drell biotics…asari, but they're a given. Um, I don't think I've heard about hanar biotics, but they're extra special as is." She waved her hand in the air wishy-washy like.
The lead's assistant handed over a go-bag packed with the camera drone, attachable microphones, and emergency make up kit. Mycerra ushered along the team lead to the landing area for ships the size of the Normandy SR-2. The crowd of guards gathered at the gate entrance and observed a lone turian and human disembarking the famous vessel. Mycerra weaved through the growing group to the front. She met Nihlus and Pacyra Kryik halfway at the pick-up/drop-off taxi stop.
She gestured to the ship. "My apologies." Nihlus bowed his head. "We obtained permission from the Alliance to land at these coordinates."
"Two days, right?" She checked the initial email he sent her.
"My crew is eager to walk on soil." Nihlus relaxed.
Mycerra realized in a eureka moment that they shared the same awkward trait. He hated people too. "Per your email, thirty-six individuals will be taking shore leave. To include your on-site teams and Dr. Appan?" She asked.
"Dr. Appan wishes to speak with you in private before we leave." Nihlus said. "Signed waivers were sent to Defense Specialist Deltano."
She snorted. Defense Specialist. "I wonder if Titus misses his retired rank." She mumbled in half amusement.
"He was a general. He misses the rank." Pacyra assured her. I would miss the rank."
Pacyra glanced toward her husband. "We can't afford to stay more than two days. The council wants us to visit Tuchanka after this."
Nihlus put his arm around Pacyra. "We're visiting, not moving in." He joked.
Mycerra wiggled her finger in her earlobe. Did he just joke? Nihlus Kryik continued to surprise.
"It's good to be on Earth again. It's been ages since I've set foot here." Pacyra relaxed too. "Oh! Councilor Ysett joined us for the trip. I hope you don't mind."
Mycerra's rising mood sunk at the speed of light. "No. Not at all. I'm going to disband the group back there and hopefully help diffuse any problems that may arise during the visit." She turned away from them and marched back toward the group. She purposefully kept it close to her chest the film crew wanted to speak with Nihlus Kryik and potentially his crew.
Surely her face showed her frustration. She lost the battle to school her face into a neutral expression. Of all the people! How could they not tell her about Lenaye joining them? Clearly, Nihlus surrounded himself with the healthiest of family dynamics to not think for a second her grief with the woman stemmed from serious complaints.
She broke up the lurkers one by one, sending each person off to their duties once more and promised much more entertainment once shore leave initiated shortly for the crew.
She instructed the guards to act as nothing changed. If any problems arose, bring them to the attention of the Deltanos first, then her. Scrounging up a stool from one of the tower bases, she planted herself at the gates and waited.
The crew trickled out in groups of three or four. Mycerra greeted each one with a handshake and a request to not cause trouble during their stay. She tired of the same speech midway through. Dr. Appan accompanied Pacyra and Lenaye in the last group.
The guards tried to contain their curiosity and fell prey to it like dominos. Mycerra didn't blame them. Nihlus's crew on shore leave officially clocked in as Haven 1's first foreign visitors aside from the initial aliens.
"Nice to see you again, Doc." She smiled at the salarian. "We'll talk tomorrow. Today's too busy."
He handed over a black pouch stuffed to the brim with pills. "One a day. It'll suppress your biotic abilities if you choose to take them."
"So, give up my birth right and live longer or keep the birth right and die early." She summed up miserably. Giving up the ability to cast protective shields, fling people, and lift heavy items pitted against a shorter life span. "How certain are you these pills will work?"
He smiled. "I have it on excellent authority. As you are human, results are not guaranteed. This would be a trial. If you're willing, there's paperwork to fill out- "
"Where are the forms? I'll have a lawyer look them over before I sign. Fine print and all." She gestured grandly in open dismissal. She caught Lenaye's disgusted expression seconds before it disappeared. "Paperwork is my sweat and blood these days, Councilor. I trust Dr. Appan. I just don't trust anyone he trusts."
"Understandable." Dr. Appan put his arm around Mycerra's shoulders. "I must hear about your Dr. Schidmt. As I rightly understand there's a salarian surgeon as well?"
"One of the best." Mycerra beamed and tucked the pouch of pills underneath her arm. "I think you and he could exchange notes."
"Notes?" Dr. Appan's voice lifted optimistically. "I thought this visit would be pointless. I am corrected."
"Councilor Ysett can accompany you. I'm sure she'll want to meet the people who will oversee her granddaughter's healthcare." Mycerra pointedly looked at the asari she hated more than Lotticia Hinder. She smiled sickly sweetly and cocked her head in the guardsman's direction and gave him a dirty look for listening in.
He jerked to attention again. "Sorry, Mayor."
"We all know Effrin's Blog records my life well enough, yes?" She challenged.
"Not a word, Mayor." The guardsman promised.
She tipped her head in appreciation. "Pacyra- "Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the film team's leader and several turians talking in an animated manner out of earshot. "If you wanted to talk, I'm available."
Pacyra considered the strained voice and overall stiffness of her younger sister surrounded by guardsmen, Councilor Ysett, and Dr. Appan. She appeared less than eager, although she tried to smile. "Anything for blood."
The words gave Mycerra pause to reconsider her anger at her sister. "I have a wonderful office to hide in. We can eat there. I'm sure I can convince Haestrom to bring us food from the chow hall." Mycerra gestured for Pacyra to follow. Pacyra gave Dr. Appan a 'Wish me luck' look before consigning herself to Mycerra's unexpected goodwill.
Mycerra escaped the attention of Council Ysett and the prying guardsman only for Titus to call her on the walk to her office. "I know you don't plan on hiding in your office today. Not when people need to see you cooperating with key figures in your family." Titus scolded knowingly.
She rolled her eyes. "I have Pacyra with me right now. Honest."
"I know. The guardsmen tell me you're in an exceptional mood." Titus said dryly. "Which is why you're going to eat at the dining hall- "
"Chow hall."
"Dining hall." Titus cleared his throat over the comms. "Nihlus, Pacyra, and Councilor Ysett will eat with you. You'll present a united front as a family. It'll boost your public image, reputation approval rate, and it'll make me happy."
She rolled her eyes again. "A happy Defense Specialist will bother me less, yes?" She prodded knowingly.
"I'll spare you the lectures for the next month." He vowed.
Pacyra hooked arms with Mycerra. "It sounds like a perfect plan, Mr. Deltano." She said with a smile. "She's already smiling."
Titus's laughter warbled over the comms. He ended the call.
"We have time to admire the office." Pacyra encouraged. "Anything to avoid Councilor Ysett."
Mycerra's interest peaked. "Do tell why you hate her." She begged.
The sisters swapped stories of Lenaye Ysett's racism and supremist behavior that painted a portrait of a woman who needed to learn humility and release the reins more often. The unveiling of the office distracted the sisters longer. Lunch time called them to the dining hall, and for the first time in their acquaintance, they managed to play well together.
Titus arranged a table in the dining hall for the group of five. Unlike Aurellian, Titus avoided fangirling over the savior of the galaxy. Mycerra allowed Pacyra to hold Tia and sat across from Lenaye. Nihlus and Pacyra wedged between Mycerra and Lenaye to avoid unintended trouble.
Nearby diners failed to hide their interest in the rare sighting of Mayor Colton's family ties.
Pacyra awkwardly held the curious Tia. Tia stared at Lenaye, her natural curiosity softening Lenaye's disgruntled expression. "I wanted to visit. Does it need to be complicated?" She asked innocently.
She scanned each person suspiciously.
"Councilor Ysett wished to meet Tia." Nihlus explained curtly.
"That's fine except for the fact she never apologized. For Omega. Or trying to convince Amani to leave me." Mycerra said to Nihlus while staring down Lenaye. "Since she's here, she can apologize and spend as much time as she'd like with Tia."
Lenaye's expression darkened.
"Apology now." Mycerra demanded. "Grandmother time after."
Nihlus turned to Lenaye. "Not an unreasonable request."
Aware of the attention directed toward their tables, Mycerra held her composure. She folded her arms, ready to wait until the next ice age if necessary.
Lenaye sighed dramatically. "Humans are impossibly stubborn."
"Tick tock, councilor." Mycerra motioned to Haestrom to keep his distance. Haestrom, Tabitha and Titus sat off to the side in line of sight of the tables. "Two words. I apologize. You won't mean it, but I just want to hear the words."
Pacyra cleared her throat. "If you used a softer tone- "
"Councilor Ysett knows what she did to earn it. No one's walking over me again. I am not a door mat, Pacyra." Mycerra glared at the eldest of them. "Neither are you. Demand your worth."
"Nonetheless- "
"Stay out of this, Pacyra." Mycerra ordered coldly.
Lenaye forced a smile. "We need not be enemies."
"I apologize. Not difficult to say. Just say it." Mycerra goaded.
Nihlus intervened. "Councilor, please apologize."
"I apologize." Lenaye spat out the words.
Mycerra sighed and grinned ear to ear. "Pacyra, please hand over the bubbling bundle of joy to her grandmother. Lenaye is free to do as she pleases as long as she understands if she so much as tries to remove Tia from Haven 1, Harretsburg, Pennsylvania, the United States of the United North American States, Earth, I will hunt you down, kill you, get rid of the body so damned well not even a mind meld can incriminate me, and then pretend I don't know what happened to you when Amani has to mourn your uptight bitchy personage. Am I clear?" She hunched over the table at this point, her voice dropped to a seething whisper only the immediate table heard.
From an outside view, Lenaye suffered the coldest, meanest look Mayor Colton ever gave in the history of Haven 1. Hatred radiated from every pore; muscles tensed for combat.
Lenaye met the divisive, aggressive energy and hunched position. "You are the most stubborn, willfully ignorant, medically inferior biotic in all of galactic history."
"And your daughter loves me." Mycerra whispered. "Doesn't it burn you inside knowing she'd rather have a child with me and live on Omega with Aria than live on Cyone with you?"
"How dare you- "
"Don't test me you miserable- "
Nihlus stood up and gently pushed back both ladies. More and more of the dining hall turned their attention to the feuding pair. Pacyra retreated further from the table with Tia tucked safely in her arms. They broke the eye lock and glanced around the spellbound humans, horrified Titus, and preparing door security in equal cold calculation before sitting down slowly and locking eyes again. Nihlus sat down with them.
"I am disappointed in both of you." Nihlus announced.
Mycerra glowered in his direction.
"Pacyra, give Tia to the councilor. The councilor will enjoy her grandmotherly time under the local supervision. Mycerra will stay at this table and eat." Nihlus ordered. Pacyra reluctantly placed the oblivious child in Lenaye's arms.
"I hope you're proud of yourself." Nihlus scolded Mycerra. "Practice better professionalism."
Mycerra clenched the table until Lenaye cleanly exited to a different, far corner of the dining hall. Her jaw worked back and forth; mind fogged with fury.
At least Lenaye uttered the words 'I apologize'.