Isla

The Supreme Leader’s private chambers are nothing like I expected. Given that he rules over all of the known universe, I expected his room to display a ridiculous amount of extravagance and opulence.

The room we’re lead into, however, could never be described as more than spartan.

The walls are dark and bare though bright light beams down from the ceiling. A large window overlooks Rathturia’s glowing skyline, but otherwise the room is lightly furnished. There’s a rug on the floor, a large desk, and four plush though plain chairs situated in front of the desk.

Behind the desk sits the Supreme Leader with the blue Rathturian Byland standing beside him.

“Supreme Leader.” Maul pauses as we enter the room and bows his head in respect to him.

Ryock follows suit, and the Supreme Leader motions with his hand towards the chairs.

Maul casts Byland a long suspicious look as the four of us approach the desk and take our respective seats. To me, the chair is too big and my feet hang a little off the floor. When Ryock sits, his chair groans in protest.

I swallow back a nervous giggle, feeling like we just stepped into the principal’s office.

I’m not entirely sure what the nature of this visit is. I know the Supreme Leader would probably like to hear what happened to Ryock and I, but I’ve been informed by Marketh that he already sent the most critical information ahead of us when we were traveling on the hypership.

“I hear that congratulations are in order again, First Tiered Maul,” the Supreme Leader smiles, ruining the illusion of a stern disposition.

Maul inclines his head. “Indeed, Supreme Leader. Not only has our sister, Isla, been found safe and well, but she’s also found her bonded. We are blessed three-folds.”

The Supreme Leader nods his head and the smile fades from his mouth though his eyes still glow with pleasure. “And a child is expected from this union?”

His glowing gold eyes turn to me and I’m struck by how much they’re like Ryock’s but different. Where Ryock’s golden eyes are warm and full of depth, the Supreme Leader’s glitter almost harshly like reflective diamonds.

“Yes,” I smile shyly at the Supreme Leader.

I feel Ryock bursting at the seams with pride and joy beside me. He reaches over and takes my hand in his big hand.

The Supreme Leader leans back in his seat as if he is surprised by this, which is a little strange because I thought Marketh sent that information... though maybe he forgot to send along that bit. “It seems that the wonders of the human race are never-ending.”

Maul nods his head in agreement and I catch his eyes flicking towards Byland with distrust again.

I look to Byland. So far, he has stood completely motionless and silent beside the Supreme Leader, but I still can’t shake that feeling that I somehow know him.

The Supreme Leader must have caught Maul’s look as well because he says, “You must be wondering, First Tiered Maul, why I have asked Fourth-Striped Byland to attend this meeting.”

“The question has crossed my mind, Supreme Leader,” Maul admits.

“I’ve invited Fourth-Striped Byland to this meeting because he is one of my most loyal agents, and the information we’re about to discuss is of use to his investigation.”

“Investigation?” Maul asks with some alarm and Marketh buzzes beside him with agitation.

Ryock’s hand tightens around mine and Lexi shifts in her seat. I notice Byland’s blue eyes flicking towards her.

The familiar way Byland looks at her, it’s almost as if he knows her and it’s a little unnerving.

The Supreme Leader nods his head and my eyes are drawn to him before I snap my attention back to Byland.

He’s like a puzzle I just can’t figure out and it’s really starting to annoy me.

“Don’t worry, no one in this room is being investigated in a formal sense. I’ve asked you here because the information you can provide is invaluable.”

The Supreme Leader pauses a moment, letting those words sink in before he goes on.

Still watching Byland closely, I nearly jump out of my seat when he blinks, a creepy third eyelid sliding across his bright blue eyes.

“I knew it!” I cry out, rudely talking over the Supreme Leader as he starts to say, “Now that the Crima--”

The Supreme Leader’s jaw snaps shut and everyone looks at me with surprise.

But no one looks more surprised than Byland himself. His blue eyes are wide above his red mask.

“What do you know, my star?” Ryock asks, his hand squeezing mine in either affection or warning.

Yeah, I might have fucked up, I think to myself as I glance around at all the surprised faces. Probably broke a dozen different Tribunal protocols.

Cheeks blushing, I point my finger at Byland because I’ve already gone too far to back down now. “I knew I recognized him from somewhere.”

Everyone looks to Byland now as if they’re trying to see what I see.

“Yeah…” Lexi says, sucking her bottom lip in to chew on it thoughtfully. “I get the strangest feeling I know him too…”

I nod my head enthusiastically at her, glad I’m not the only one who was confused, but proud that I actually figured it out.

Turning back to Byland, I look him dead in the eyes and say, “You’re Yarrel.”

The Supreme Leader sighs, Lexi gasps, and Maul bursts up from his seat. “How is this possible? Impersonating a member of the Tribunal is illegal!”

“Calm yourself, First Tiered Maul,” the Supreme Leader warns as Maul turns his murderous glare on the blue Rathturian.

Ryock begins to growl low in his throat.

Yeah, the two of them really don’t like Yarrel.

“Fuck,” Byland says and his eyes smile before he starts to shimmer. “I guess the jig is up now.”

The blue Rathturian transforms right before our eyes, a strange shimmer enveloping his body and then fading away, leaving a man standing in his place that looks almost human.

Big blue eyes, short brown hair, and bulging muscles… yep, it’s definitely Yarrel.

“What the fuck, Yarrel?” Lexi cries out as she jumps up from her chair. “Are you some kind of shapeshifter?”

“That’s exactly what he is,” Maul snarls and steps protectively in front of her. His tail flicks angrily back and forth as he watches Yarrel closely.

Ryock plucks me from my chair and settles me protectively on his lap. His big arms wrap around me, covering over half of my body.

“It would explain why we were not able to track him…” Marketh says, zooming around our little group with nervous energy.

“Yet it doesn’t explain why he’s been permitted to break the law and impersonate a member of the Tribunal,” Maul says, turning his angry eyes on the Supreme Leader.

Angry green meets angry gold, and for a moment the room crackles with invisible energy.

“Sit down, First Tiered Maul,” the Supreme Leader says firmly. “And I’ll explain.”

For a moment, Maul looks like he’d rather tear the Supreme Leader’s throat out, but then Lexi reaches out and grabs his hand.

“Maul?” Lexi says, her voice full of worry as she gently tugs on his hand.

Maul glances back at her and his expression immediately softens. His tail, too, seems to settle down. Weaving less intensely.

“Please sit down?” Lexi pleads softly. “Let them explain?”

Maul stares at her for a long moment, unblinking, then reluctantly allows her to pull him down to his seat.

My sister, being the smart woman that she is, then places little Thorn on his lap.

Maul gives a disgruntled grunt and then settles back in his chair, hugging his little boy close to his chest.

“Now that we’re all settled,” the Supreme Leader begins. “I want to remind everyone that what is said in this room remains in this room.”

The room is so quiet I can hear the echo of Ryock’s heartbeat thumping in my chest.

“Yarrel, as you know him, has been privately working as an agent for me for several years now. He’s been actively investing the disappearances of humans from Earth on my behalf.”

“What?” Lexi gasps and she shoots Yarrel a look full of disbelief. “All that time I was threatening to hand you over to the Tribunal, you were really working for them?”

Yarrel nods his head at her and his lips twist into a grin. “It was the perfect cover, wasn’t it?”

Lexi scoffs and shakes her head.

“The reason he is here in this room, masquerading as a member of the Tribunal,” the Supreme Leader goes on. “Is two-fold. One, because I entrusted him above all others to see you safely to the Citadel. And two, because he’s about to undertake his most dangerous mission yet.”

“Mission? What mission?” Lexi asks, her eyes glaring daggers at Yarrel now.

Yarrel’s grin grows. “I’m glad you asked.”

His body begins to shimmer, transforming. His blurred form stretches taller and taller, yet the bulk of his outline thins, pushing in.

When the shimmer fades away, I blink my eyes in disbelief.

In the place Yarrel was standing just a second ago stands a tall, blue-colored Crima with four arms jutting out from his hard-shelled chest.

I instantly recoil and feel Ryock’s unease pounding through the bond.

“Ryock and Isla of House Lathuria.” The Supreme Leader turns his gaze to us. “Any information you can provide us on the inner workings of the Crima would be most appreciated.”

“Why?” I ask. What do they hope to accomplish from this?

“Because,” the Crima that was formerly Yarrel hisses and clicks. “We are going to do what all others have failed to do. We are going to find the missing humans.”