Vivi shakes her head. “N-no… It’s just that… You can speak French, quite proficiently in fact.”

Miya stabs another piece of her grated-cheesed potatoes and plops it in her mouth with a wave of her fork. “It’s not that impressive, really. While I was at the academy everyone on the track to S-108 learned many humanic languages such as English, Japanese, and French. At that time the Ya’valt were quite connected with the humans… But knowing them, it was probably just to use us as disposable diplomats in an urgent emergency.”

The entire room goes silent, except for a short mechanical squeak heard going up the stairs. Vivi turns in her chair and looks up at Kymayo, attempting to tip-toe away with a few plates of food.

“Not so fast young lady. If you want to eat then you’re going to have to come out here.”

Kyamyo’s screen blinks with a sweat emoji. “B-but, what if there’s a system failure! Or someone appears at the entrance to our base! I-I need to stay at my post or—“

“No buts! I haven’t seen you since last week, you can’t hide in there forever. At least come out to say hi to Miya.”

Kyamyo sighs and walks back over to the table to place her plates down. She then takes a step back with her head drooping to the floor as if she was powering down.

“S-she’s actually coming out of her hermit cave? You have to witness this Miya, it’s like a once in a lifetime opportunity!” Maxim enthuses.

Miya finishes the last bit of her meal and places her fork on the table. “I’m going to have to meet her at a different time, I’ve got some other business to attend too.”

She then bows her head toward Vivi. “I really enjoyed the food, as a token my gratitude I’ll find out more about whatever these chrono-things are and why 4056-E was shipped off. That’s still a perplexing issue.”

Maxim jumps from his chair. “O-oh! Those files said data-locked or whatever, right? Why don’t we let Kyamyo have a crack at them? She’s a wiz when it comes to hacking and whatnot!”

Loliel nods her head in agreement. “That’s actually a pretty good idea. What’re your thoughts Miya?”

“No, that isn’t such a good idea. Your civilians, mere pedestrians in something that’s been ordered for me, a Patroller of the Galactic Federation to look in too. I have to do this alone. Thanks but no thanks.” Miya denies turning around to the door.

Ashihei places a hand on her shoulder. “Please Miya, let us help. We may not know much about what’s going on… But what I do know is for certain is that we’re better off working as a team on this one. It’s better have a dependent victory than an independent loss.”

Miya looks around at Loliel, Koko, and Adalae, all nodding their heads. She then sighs and gives a dismissive wave.

“Fine, but if you find anything dangerous report to me immediately. I hooked up a private high-frequency comms-line into that data drive I gave you. You can contact me through it if you have anything else you want to tell me.”

Miya’s boots clack up the metal stairs as she walks toward the exit hatch. Loliel strides up the steps and presses the button so that the elevator door shoots open.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“I’ll walk you up, I have some other things to discuss with you.”

Miya nods her head, and they both enter the elevator. Vivi, Ashihei, and Maxim wave her off as the door slides shut.

“Did anyone else hear that she said about being a disposable? Guess even the Ya’valt treat their own personnel like crap.” Maxim sighs while shoving both his hands into his coat pockets.

“Loliel called her a Yak’sha once before, she’s apparently some sort of Human-Ya’Valt hybrid that was tested on. Didn’t you say that you heard her crying in her room last time she was here, Adalae?” Koko inquires.

Adalae gives a hesitant nod.

“Poor girl, and she has to do all of this by herself… I’m sure Loliel’s giving her some encouraging words right now.” Vivi empathizes.

“Must be hard trying to prove yourself in a place that you don’t feel welcome. Despite that, she’s quite intelligent and well-spoken for her age… She’ll be fine Vivi, we just need to make sure we can support her however we can.” Ashihei surmises with a confident nod.

Adalae smacks her teeth and starts walking to the upper corridor. “Poor girl my ass, how dare she disclose details about my personal life!”

“I’ll send the king’s guard to fetch her head, m’lady!” Maxim shouts with a smirk.

“Don’t worry madam, I shall reprimand Sir Maxim on your departure. Would you like me to scrub your royal back at this late hour?” Koko joins in with a chuckle.

Adalae clenches both her fists to her side, her stomps resonating around the room until she walks into the Quarter's corridor. She then flicks her tongue toward them as the door slides down.

Ashihei walks back over to the table and starts collecting some of the empty dishes and wine glasses. “I always said there was something special about her. Guess we know, huh?”

—Shaah

One of the upper hatches on the second-floor fly open, and a girl with icy-blonde locks wearing a red metal face mask in the shape of a diamond walks down the steps. Her red metal-polyester sleeveless dress barely stops above her below her thighs. Despite her monochrome-colored leggings and matching black fabric covering her lower arms, one could assume she hasn’t had much time in the sun due to her palish complexion.

She then notices the blinking blue lights of the elevator hatch and sighs while tilting her head down to the floor. “She’s gone… So I came out here… Basically for nothing…”

. . .

Miya looks up at the swirling gray and black moons in the distance trapped in an opaque night sky. Loliel walks up the ramp leading from the elevator and stops beside Miya.

“I’ve decided that I’m coming with you.”

Miya gives her an unsure look and then sighs. “Look, I get it. You want to make a good example for everyone and be strong and courageous. How noble of you.”

“I’m not doing this for swagger, I’m doing this for my sister.” Loliel contests. “And this is part of the deal, my Stravos contact will only meet you if I’m there, so I’m going to have to come regardless.”

“Oh please, just give me his name and I’ll beat the information out of him. You’d just slow me down, and plus I wouldn’t want your friends and family to worry. You guys seem quite attached.”

“They’ll be fine, I’ve already told Koko to disclose my location later today. If I’d told my parents I wouldn’t have heard the end of it.”

Miya turns around and stands on her tipped toes, barely placing a hand on Loliel’s shoulder.

“Listen, kid. In my line of work these types of situations get messy, you saw that woman that was blasted to hell but somehow came back alive. That’s what being a Patroller is all about, you aren’t cut out for it. You’ve done a fine job fighting those weird beasts or whatever; I’ll give you that, but you’re out of your league. So why don’t you go back down and have mommy and daddy feed you some of that delicious dessert. I’ll tell you all about my adventures when I come back, ‘kay? Be sure to save me a slice—”

Loliel holds onto both Miya’s shoulders and lifts her off the ground so that they were now face-to-face. “First off, you’re the kid, I’m like twice your height. And, if I knocked your brain lose and you had forgotten, I literally kicked your ass despite your loud-mouthed comments about your combat expertise as a Patroller.”

She then sits Miya on the ground, making her stumble back with a glare.

“And next, I’m not asking for permission. This is just as crucial of a mission for me as it is for you. Despite everyone’s attitudes back there, we’re all still a bit shaken about the news of Earth’s transportation. I want to put everyone’s questions at ease, and this is only way I can act.”

Miya performs a slow turn with a groan. “Ughh, fine! But you’re to follow my instructions and do not stray away! I don’t want your folks to blame me if you come back with a missing limb, or worse… Dead.”