Lucy couldn`t help but notice the number of empty tents as they drove back into town.

　　She watched as Kulthurack`s mechanical soldiers strode through the area. They patrolled individually, guns at the ready, as though they expected an attack at any minute. None of the guards moved to stop them, but she could feel the way they watched her whenever they passed by.

　　Any civilians that got close hurried by, heads lowered as though worried someone might attack them. Her gut churned at the sight, and she focused on driving safely. She`d talk to Jerry when she got back, get a news update, and make sure Jeff had behaved himself. The last thing she needed was for him to stir up trouble.

　　Signs of the wannabe commandos littered the streets as she neared the police station. Yet, none of the people she expected. The only ones she saw were a small group of journalists huddling together in the shade. Whenever a member of Kulthurack`s guard came close, they shied back, though she noticed they never failed to take a picture.

　　Her gut churned again, and she was glad to stop the van and get out.

　　At the sight of her, the journalists hurried over. One woman, a brunette with short, spikey hair and a denim jacket, shoved a microphone toward her.

　　"Hi, Meriam from ChickClicks. I was wondering if I could ask you about the mass exodus?"

　　Lucy schooled her expression, not wanting to appear confused. "I`m sorry. We have already carried out the planned evacuation. If you want to leave, you still can. The airports will take any passengers that need to go. As we have said before, we, in fact, encourage people to leave."

　　"And what about those who didn`t go to the airport?" The woman asked.

　　"Anyone who wants to explore is welcome to do so, at their own risk." Lucy forced herself to sound official, even as she thought of all those empty tents. "But we won`t aid them."

　　Meriam grinned, a smile that screamed Lucy had fallen into some kind of trap. "Except they got help? Peter works for you, right? We saw him give out aid to those who asked for it, but he refused to talk about what he was up to."

　　Lucy`s blood ran cold as Lecorondia stepped out of the van with Julep in tow. Kulthurack followed her, his normal blank expression at odds with the ambassador`s bright grin. It was a smile that Lucy now thought of as her camera smile.

　　"I`m sorry, did you say your name was Meriam?" Lecorondia asked as she strode forward.

　　Meriam nodded and eagerly shifted the microphone over. "I did. Would you have a comment?"

　　"I do!" Lecorondia sounded delighted, though if that was with what she`d done or the chance of an interview, Lucy wasn`t sure. "I made sure each of those brave souls had a way to find my poor baby. It should bring him right to them. Of course, I made sure they promised to be safe! We can`t be too careful."

　　Merriam`s delight at the answer was unmistakable as she leaned closer, asking more questions about the plan. Julep stood nearby, his expression almost as unreadable as Kulthurack`s. However, unlike the overseer, she noticed him glance her way. It was subtle, but after watching him, she was sure.

　　A shiver ran up her spine as she turned away to walk into the police station. That wasn`t his usual stare. She was sure the bodyguard was trying to tell her something. It almost seemed like a warning, but Lucy couldn`t decide on what. Either way, she wanted to talk to Jerry. He`d know what to do.

　　Inside, she found Jeff at his desk, a stack of paperwork in front of him while he fiddled with his phone. It didn`t surprise her, especially when she noticed neither Jerry nor Peter were around. A part of her had hoped Eric or Kyle might be present. Both would know what was going on with the empty tents more than Jeff would.

　　With a sigh, she strode over to his desk.

　　"Hey Jeff."

　　"Hi Bar&" His voice trailed off, and he coughed, looking around as though expecting Lecorondia to pop out from behind her.

　　When she didn`t, he coughed and continued. "Hi Lucy. What can I do for you? I`m pretty busy with all this paperwork right now. Maybe come back later?"

　　She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Uh-huh. Do you know where Jerry is or, better yet, what is going on? Most of the tents are empty."

　　"Oh, you didn`t hear?" Jeff asked, and his smug expression made her want to punch him. "Your friend Peter got them all riled up. I told him you wouldn`t like it, but he ignored me. Jerry didn`t find out until it was too late and tore strips off him. I haven`t seen him since."

　　"And Jerry?" Lucy asked.

　　Jeff used his thumb to point over his shoulder. "In the interrogation room. He mentioned wanting to see you when you got in."

　　Lucy nodded and moved past him, ignoring the way he stared at her. If Jerry was asking for her, it was something important, no doubt. That was fine with her. She needed to tell him about Lecorondia and the farm. If Erodicilee had grown far more powerful, then this was going to get messy, and she wanted someone with experience helping to make the plan. Some ideas came to her, but she shuddered at needing to ask Arnold for help.

　　When she pushed the door to the interrogation room open, she saw Jerry sitting inside. He appeared tired, and when his eyes met hers, she felt her gut twinge. There was something new wrong. Lucy hated her urge to turn and walk away, so she wouldn`t have to deal with it.

　　"What happened?" She asked instead, sitting down on the other empty chair.

　　"There`s been a car crash," Jerry said, and he sounded more tired than Lucy had ever heard before. "We got word about half an hour ago. One of the teams found them. They called it in; the local police are looking into it."Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

　　"What else?" Lucy pressed.

　　Jeff sighed. "Lucy. They found his fur at the scene. Our ambassador`s adorable pet is becoming something of a problem."

　　Lucy bit her lip and then looked around before leaning forward.

　　"Jerry, that`s not all. But first. Do you know if this place has anything resembling an armory?"

　　He sighed as he stood. "Sure. Come on, I know where they keep the key to the safe."

　　***

　　The gun in the holster attached to her belt felt heavier than she remembered during her training days.

　　She couldn`t help but fiddle with it, wondering if she would have the guts to draw it and on who. Her gaze drifted to Jerry, who`d taken the beretta, checked it, and slid it into his own holster. His confidence reassured her. With him backing her up, she`d be fine.

　　"Well, lass," Jerry said as he leaned against the wall of the small room. "What did you want to tell me?"

　　Lucy swallowed and checked around. No one was close enough to overhear, but she couldn`t resist the urge to make sure. Satisfied with their privacy, she told him. He didn`t interrupt as she talked about the farm, the lists they`d made, or her feelings about either of their alien guests. By the time she was done, her hands shook from nerves.

　　Jerry nodded. "So, you think Kulthurack`s going to kill Erodicilee and potentially Lecorondia soon? I don`t disagree."

　　"You don`t?" She couldn`t help but enjoy the relief that filled her.

　　"No," Jerry said. "However, I don`t disagree with him either."

　　Lucy paused, unsure what to say. With a sigh, he shook his head.

　　"Think it through. You just told me Erodicilee feasted on a nearby farm and may have gained multiple new powers. We know for a fact that he took out an entire car of hunters by himself. Do you really think letting him live is the right call?" His words were gentle, but she didn`t miss the direction he was trying to lead her in.

　　He wanted her to admit that killing Erodicilee was the right thing to do. The worst part was that she wasn`t sure she disagreed. Lecorondia`s so-called pet was dangerous and would keep causing problems. Her gut, however, was emphatic that if she went hunting with the others, her life expectancy didn`t look good.

　　"I`m not sure hunting for him is wise," Lucy admitted. "Not unless you have a plan he doesn`t know about? Plus, neither Lecorondia nor Julep would be best pleased with us. Do you think these can stop either of them?"

　　She watched as Jerry peered skeptically at the gun in his hand and sighed. "I bet it would work on the ambassador. Julep? I`m not taking the chance."

　　"Exactly. So we need another plan." Lucy was glad when he put the gun away as he turned to her.

　　"Such as?"

　　"This whole thing has been about appearance, right? That was why they didn`t want to nuke us—the Galactic Government, I mean. They knew it would look bad. Bob wants us to help because it looks good, and the PM wants this sorted." Lucy sucked in a deep breath. "I think Arnold`s plan is the right one. We take Lecorondia out and let them reunite, and hopefully they leave."

　　Jerry snorted as he shook his head, though she didn`t miss the slight smile he shot her way. She tried not to be too pleased as she passed whatever test he had in mind.

　　"And if they don`t, lass?" He asked as he packed everything back into the safe.

　　Lucy smiled as she turned toward the door. "Then we`ll need leverage. Thankfully, the ambassador herself was more than happy to hand it over. Do you know where Peter is?"

　　"He`s at the pub, I think. Has been since I learned about him giving scraps of Lecorondia`s clothes out to bait Erodicilee. Idiot. I don`t know what he was thinking."

　　"That Lecorondia is someone he should listen to." Lucy said. "Thanks, Jerry. Come find me when you`re done."

　　With that said, she stepped out of the supply room and started her journey towards Peter.

　　***

　　Her first sight after stepping outside being Kulthurack and Lecorondia arguing by the van didn`t surprise her.

　　What did was Julep facing down one of the mechanical soldiers. They loomed, weapons ready, as the previous group of journalists scurried away from them. Meriam was clutching her microphone to her chest, tears running down her face. Lucy sighed and turned to Julep. Neither of the other aliens would listen to her in their state.

　　"Tell me what happened."

　　Julep barely glanced her way before returning his attention to the threat in front of him. "Kulthurack`s guard decided they were a threat. A common fault with Blitzworms is that they can take orders, but don`t expect them to think."

　　"Can you handle it?" Lucy said, repressing her urge to sigh.

　　"It will pass."

　　She nodded and gestured to the journalist. "Thanks. Should they scatter?"

　　"It would be for the best," Julep grunted.

　　"Got it." Lucy turned and smiled at the pack of people now staring at her. "I think it would be best if you left."

　　"We have rights!" One portly man said.

　　Lucy nodded. "You do. I`m sure the alien ambassador would be happy to speak with them. Though perhaps at a later date."

　　"Don`t be a dumbass, Derrick," Merriam snapped. "Come on. It`s not like your editor is going to care if you get shot for this."

　　Derrick grumbled, but to Lucy`s relief, they all scurried away. That done, she turned and made her way to the pub. Inside, she saw Peter sitting alone, nursing a beer. It hardly looked touched, but from the way he trembled, she wondered if that was because he didn`t trust himself to pick it up.

　　"Peter?" she asked, keeping her words gentle.

　　He jumped, spilling a bit of beer on the table as he spun around. "I said I was sorry. I didn`t know. She told me to help them, and I did."

　　"Peter," Lucy said, moving to the bar and grabbing some napkins before approaching his table. "Calm down. I`m not here to yell at you."

　　"You aren`t?"

　　Lucy smiled. "No. Though, what was Lecorondia`s plan?"

　　"Oh," Peter looked embarrassed. "Sorry, Star Commander. Jerry is, well, I didn`t expect Jerry to be so scary."

　　"Yeah, he does that." Lucy repressed her urge to shudder as she remembered what she`d seen in the basement, even as she gestured for him to get on with it.

　　"Right. The ambassador asked me to shred her dirty clothes and give them out. She said they`d be good bait for Erodicilee and that it would make catching him easier. So, I did. Then I heard about the car crash from Jerry."

　　She reached over and took his hand. "No one blames you. That`s not your fault."

　　"Isn`t it? My friends are out there."

　　"Ahh." Her blood ran cold. "Maybe tell them to come back, and quickly? Also, if I give you Arnold`s number, can you coordinate something for me?"

　　Peter nodded. "I guess. Why, what`s going on?"

　　"There`s been an incident, but he had a plan that I think can work. We just need to get everyone to the same place. Do you think you can help me?" She smiled as she reached out and squeezed his hand.

　　"Yes, Star Commander. I`ll get right on it."

　　"Great. I`ll text you the number and the rest of the instructions. Tell him to bring his best gear for this. We want it all."

　　Peter stood, wiping his eyes, before he saluted. "Yes, ma`am."

　　Lucy watched him go before she let out a long breath. Her mind wandered back to the soldiers and Kulthurack and Lecorondia`s fight. She needed to get them out of this town and off this planet as soon as possible. Thankfully, she had an idea about how to do it.

　　All she needed was for Arnold to play along.