Bri was thankfully missing when Sheena finally returned to the suite. It allowed her time to reflect on why she’d let herself reopen the Pandora’s box of her former marriage last night.

Nate was everything wonderful between the sheets, but still someone she couldn’t trust or respect outside them. So she was no worse off than she’d been before the sex, but now she craved him again. That madness had led to heartache and hurt many, many times in the past. She really had no wish to revisit that pain.

Feeling more energized than usual, Sheena resumed her studies and spent the morning reviewing the rest of her father’s notes. Though hundreds of years in the making, the findings and conclusions were succinct enough for a couple hours perusal. She was convinced now that her father had known a new Angus and Erin would be retrieved from one of the universes. She imagined her mother knew as well because her father kept nothing from her—good or bad.

She also understood the alternates could be returned, but the results were riskier and it had to be to the exact moment they were taken. Keeping them here was the safest bet for all universes to her way of thinking. It was only the fair-minded scientist in her that made her want to offer Angus and Erin the chance to make the decision on their own.

Bri returning to their quarters had her head lifting. She watched her sister walk to the table and look down at her from her towering height. “You look fantastic today. Nate’s the only one who ever erased all those worry lines from your forehead.”

Sheena snorted. “Thanks. I guess. Sorry, I didn’t let you know where I was.”

Bri snorted back. “Are you kidding? You left with Berg. He wouldn’t have let anything happen to you. Ergo, you had to have been passed off to someone relatively safe. It wasn’t too hard to conclude who took responsibility for you. I get how this place works. I think the safeguards are stupid, but the system is simple enough.”

“I just found out the alternates can be sent back,” Sheena said.

Bri frowned. “Well, don’t tell them. I don’t want them to leave.”

“Neither do I, but it’s only fair, Brianna. They were abducted. They didn’t ask to be brought here.” Bri reluctantly nodded and Sheena blew out a breath. “I’m sorry. I almost didn’t tell you.”

“It’s alright. If it happens, I guess I need to be prepared. I just…” Bri stopped, shrugged. “It would be like losing mom and dad all over again.

Sheena nodded. “I know.”

They both let the silence spin out as they came to grips with their understanding.

“Change of subject,” Bri said finally. “Darcone told me there was a transmission this morning from Nate’s father. He said the Admiral was indisposed and had missed the call. Got any idea what’s going on.”

Sheena rubbed her no longer smooth forehead as she thought about it. “No. We were in the shower together until I left.”

Bri snickered. “Glad to hear Nate put out the do not disturb notice, but his father…”

“Works directly for the Guardians… yes, I know,” Sheena said, sighing.

“Darcone said he was coming here.”

Sheena looked at her sister. “Why would he do that?”

Bri crossed her arms. “On a guess? Because of me. What he plans to do is another matter. I’d sure like to know who those people were that were killed.”

“So would I,” Sheena said, thinking about it.

* * *

Interruptions usually consisted of news about alien arguments in the common area or malfunctioning engine parts that required short landings for repairs. Rarely did they involve the arrival of a direct representative of the Guardians. Never did they involve either of his parents, least of all his father, yet Nate hurried now to meet the man coming off a special shuttle that had just docked.

Nate straightened as he strode quickly across the floor. The man coming down the ramp looked like his grandfather. It was only up close, once the man had stopped in front of him, that Nate realized it was his father who had aged as most on New Earth did eventually.

“Nathaniel.”

“Greetings, Father.”

“You’re looking very… young,” his father said after a long pause.

“Medical testing that paid off,” Nate said, hoping not to have to explain further. His cover story had weakened over the years. Fortunately, his mother had gotten used to his sustained youth. His father hadn’t seen him enough to do so.

“Glad to see the alien bastards are finally giving us something useful.”

Frowning and yet relieved, Nate turned when his father started moving forward. “Yes. What brings you to the AAS ship? Does Mother know you’re here? I’m sure she would have come if she’d have known.”

“No. And you’re not to tell her. This is not a personal visit. It’s… Guardian business.”

Nate’s brow lifted. “I see. Very well. What can I help you with today?”

“I’m here to see the new matchmakers. I understand both daughters of the originals are here as well. How’s that going?”

“Sheena has filed for ownership, as you might have expected. She thinks they’re clones.”

“Good. Good. In fact, that’s perfect. And the other one?”

“Brianna? She’s fine. Why?”

Nate was startled when his father gripped his jacket by the arm and dragged him along faster.

“I have information indicating the youngest MacNamara is a double-agent. She must be constrained,” his father said.

“Bri? A double agent? No, I don’t see that being the case. She’s in the program and next up for an alien mate.”

His father’s laugh was harsh, cold, and strange to his ears.

“Then why haven’t you given her to one of them and made sure she took a one-way trip off New Earth?”

“Because that’s not how it’s done. Plus, she used to be my sister-in-law. Why are you walking so fast? You’ve not been on the airship in a century. Do you even know where you’re going?”

“We can’t let them get away, boy. We have to constrain them before they have the chance to say anything to the world in general. Can’t let the secret of the abducted matchmakers get out.”

“They? Who’s they? Are you talking about Sheena and Brianna? I don’t understand what you’re concerned about and they don’t know anything. They both honestly think the alternates are sophisticated clones. Will you talk to me and tell me what’s going on?”

Nate stiffened when his father stopped them both and clapped two hands on his arms. The man stared into his eyes. Whatever his father was looking for, he must have found it because his father suddenly smiled. Why did that strange action suddenly make him want to run from the man who’d brought him into the world?

“Your mother was wise to make sure you got this assignment. We’re perfectly positioned to take any measures necessary. As Admiral of the AAS program, you can put this whole airship on lock down.”

“And why would I do that?”

Two more hard claps on his arms accompanied by laughter was his first answer.

“Because your father told you to” was the second.

* * *

Darcone was standing outside Brianna’s suite when Nate and his father arrived.

“Are Sheena and Bri in?” Nate asked.

“Yes. Like wind, Angus is. Erin do work.”

Nate watched as the alien guard he’d known and trusted for a century narrowed his eyes at his father. “Evil lurks,” Darcone said clearly, his gruff voice ringing in the hallway.

“What?” Nate asked.

“Dismiss the alien. We don’t need him,” his father ordered.

“No. Darcone’s their guard. He’s been here longer than I have,” Nate said, knocking on the door. When no answer to the knock was forthcoming, Nate watched his father push on the door and walk inside uninvited.

Darcone growled soft and low. “All dark, he is.”

“I have no idea what that means. You and I need to talk more. Now stay here and stay alert,” Nate ordered, following behind his rude parent.

He heard the rapid firing of a weapon and got inside the room just in time to see Sheena fall out of her chair. Across the room Bri slumped to the floor when the weapon hit her, the bottle of water she’d been carrying rolling away.

Nate knew his shock was on his face. “Sheena—no,” he called out, running to her side. He lifted her gently as he glared at his father. “What the hell have you done?”

“Nothing serious yet. The women are merely unconscious for now. We need to make their deaths look like an accident.”

Making sure Sheena was indeed still alive before he left her side, Nate rose and walked to check on Brianna. “Darcone, get in here,” he yelled as he moved. The alien burst inside the room, growling and glaring, especially when his angry gaze fell to Brianna lying on the floor.

“I told you to send the alien away,” his father protested, weapon drawn still.

“You gave me no reasonable reason for your request. What is going on?”

“You have no need to know, Nathaniel. I am your father and your superior. Do as I say.”

“No.” Rebelling was getting him nowhere, but it was all Nate could think to do.

Then Nate saw his father take aim at Darcone. Pure instinct sent him running across the floor. Grabbing his father’s arm, he pointed the weapon at the ceiling. The ultrasonic discharge made a dent in the metal frame, but luckily there was no breach. Still reacting to his anxiety, Nate pulled back a fist and let it fly. His father’s head snapped backwards only once before the man slumped in his arms. Damn Angus and his taunts about being weak. He owed the man again.

“Evil, he is. Told you, I did.”

“Lectures about my father are really not helpful right now,” Nate said.

Darcone lifted and carried Bri to her bed. He came back and took his father from his arms.

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” Nate confessed.

“Use brain,” Darcone ordered, hefting the unconscious man over his shoulder.

Nate went back to Sheena and picked her up. Sheena was unconscious, but at least she was still alive.

“Death now?” Darcone asked, growling the question.

“No. You can’t kill him. He’s my… never mind. You can’t kill him because I need to find out what’s going on. I need him alive. Take him to the cells. Chain him to one of the bars. And make sure he has no more weapons on him.”

“Hate idea, I do.”

“You hate everything,” Nate retorted.

“Like Brianna.” Darcone pounded his chest and looked at Sheena. “Sheena for you.”

Nate looked down at the woman he held. “Yes. Sheena is for me.”

“Love her, you do.”

“Yes. I love her. Are you happy now that I’ve confessed?”

“Bad parents, you have. Suck, this must.”

Nate didn’t want to find any of this funny, but sometimes on this frigging airship all you could do was laugh when an alien made a joke.