Her anger simmered as she walked in between her two Blitzworm guards, their blank faces making it impossible to read them. No one else was around, and she was sure that was a deliberate choice on the overseer`s part. He`d want her separated and disoriented. The man was a fool. If he`d simply left her alone, she`d have fixed the problem.

　　She checked her hair on the reflective surface of the Blitzworm`s armor. It was fine, but she couldn`t help but fuss. Fine wasn`t good enough. It needed to be perfect. She needed to be perfect. If this meeting was with the whole galactic government, she`d need to be ready and able to explain all the interviews she`d done. Not that they didn`t know. None of the senators were stupid. However, each would be searching for a scapegoat, and she`d painted a massive target on herself.

　　A necessity, she knew, but one that would come back to bite her. Pain radiates through her palms where she clenched her fists too tight. The sensation helped, and she focused on it rather than thinking about Erodicilee. Her baby was in danger, more so now than ever before. If it got out that he`d killed someone, most of the idiots in that podunk town would be out for blood. That couldn`t happen.

　　"Excuse me," Lecorondia said in her politest tone. "Do you know who`s going to be at the meeting?"

　　"Higher ranks," the Blitzworm grunted in its mechanical tone.

　　She resisted the urge to frown. That was hardly helpful. Almost anyone outranked a blitzworm. Though, she supposed, right now she was one of the few who didn`t. Her gaze flicked around the room as she scanned for cameras. None. That was one good part about Overseer Kulthurack`s desire to keep her away from people. No one would see her like this.

　　Lecorondia shuddered at the thought of anyone seeing her escorted like a common criminal. That was not the type of publicity she yearned for, and her agent would be a nightmare. She wondered if anyone had called him yet. Most likely not. If they wanted to keep this under wraps, announcing her arrest would achieve the opposite of that goal. The idea made her fingers itch to get to any kind of communication device.

　　If she could blow this up in exactly the right way, it would be big. Though she doubted she`d get the chance. Still, the mere idea of watching this all explode in the overseers` and senators` faces delighted her.

　　The Blitzworms` escorting forced her to stop when they reached an ornate door that she recognized—Kulthurack`s office. Lecorondia forced herself to sink deep into her mind and drag out a part. This wouldn`t be a difficult role; she`d keep it simple, with nothing complicated that she could mess up. A prisoner, wrongfully accused, and with a way to prove it. They would meet with powerful people and wouldn`t break when pushed. Yes. Strong, and determined, sticking to the facts. Flirtation and playfulness had no place in this negotiation. Not if she didn`t want to be thrown directly into a cell once again.

　　The doors swung open, and her guards led her inside, none leaving even after they ushered her to the middle of the room. Multiple sets of eyes watched her from the live feed that was broadcast against the wall. Kulthurack sat behind his desk, arms folded, and his face as blank as ever. Lecorondia didn`t smile at him, instead matching his blank expression.

　　"Prisoner." Kulthurack`s monotone voice filled the room. "Do you understand why you are here?"

　　Lecorondia held her head up high, back straight, as she turned away from him and towards the senators. She made eye contact with as many as possible before speaking.

　　"No."

　　A few murmured, but it appeared they were content to leave Kulthurack in charge. That was fine with her. She could deal with petty politicians. When she looked at him again, he waved a hand as though asking her to go on. She didn`t. The silence stretched, but Lecorondia refused to break it. With a sigh, Kulthurack spoke again.

　　"You are telling the senators and myself that you don`t understand why you are here?"

　　Lecorondia nodded, and this time she didn`t pay any attention to the wall at all. "I am."

　　"You don`t think you broke any rules?" Kulthurack asked.

　　"No. I did my duty as both ambassador and hunter." She paused, allowing the words to sit for a minute before she continued. "A job I nearly finished with before you dragged me away."

　　Senator Fuzzball gave a purring laugh, but none of the rest spoke. Kulthurack twitched and drummed his fingers against his desk. She`d gotten to him, but she didn`t know why. Lecorondia filed that away.

　　Kulthurack sat up. "You`re saying you have located him?"

　　"I had located him," Lecorondia said. "If he is still there, I don`t know."

　　Senator Splice, his gooey body jiggling, made a popping sound. Lecorondia listened as the translator kicked in and hid the wince. She`d known he wasn`t a fan, but this felt too far.

　　"It is exactly as we said! She will make any claim if it gets her off the hook. Ask her about the interviews!"

　　"Come now, Splice," Senator Fuzzball purred. "We promised to let the Overseer handle this interrogation, did we not?"

　　She heard grumbling from the wall, but she ignored them. Kulthurack held all her attention. If they were willing to confirm that he was leading this, he needed to be the one that she impressed. Though she knew the truth would work as well.

　　Kulthurack nodded, though his attention didn`t shift from her face. "Thank you, Senator. Prisoner, I do believe the question is legitimate. Were you not ordered to stay discreet during your search?"

　　"I was," Lecorondia said. "However, you also ordered me to work with their ambassador. As such, becoming known was unavoidable."

　　Senator Granite gave one of his snorts that sounded like grating stones. "Please. You expect us to believe you didn`t jump at the chance to get in front of a camera? We`ve seen them, and the earth ambassador wasn`t in most of the interviews you`ve done lately."

　　"But she was in the first, as was I, thanks to what I think you would appreciate as being politically meddling." Lecorondia kept her voice calm.

　　"You`re claiming what?" Senator Fluffball purred. "That you were given no choice?"Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

　　"I am claiming that direct mission requirements and details about how to work within the country`s political system were not provided. When you gave me the role of ambassador, did you not expect changing conditions would force me to make autonomous decisions?"

　　She let the corporate speech roll off her tongue. It was easy. Anyone who`d spent enough time in meetings could do the same, and nothing she`d said was wrong. The fact that it meant little added to that.

　　"Of course we expected such. However, I am more interested in your claim that the locals pushed you into it." Senator Myridil said, his cyborg eye shifting hues with each word.

　　Lecorondia didn`t hesitate to grab the lifeline. She didn`t know what she`d owe him after this, but she`d pay it.

　　"I am." Her words came out strong. "Lucy McCloud, who was asked to work with me, was told firmly by the leader of her country to do the interview and to convince me. It made sense at the time to comply rather than potentially antagonize local authorities."

　　 Kulthurack coughed. "Be that as it may, it was directly against orders and has put Plan B into a rather precarious situation."

　　Her entire career had led her to this moment, where she didn`t smile at that line. It was the exact thing she wanted to hear.

　　"My apologies for the difficulties," she said, forcing her tone to remain professional.

　　For the briefest moment, there was a flicker of emotion in the overseer`s eyes, a blind hatred that vanished seconds afterward. It made her heart sing with delight.

　　"Lies." There was an edge to his voice. "You did this on purpose. It would have been the simplest solution! You know this."

　　Around her, the Blitzworm shifted, gun barrels raising a touch as though they might shoot her where she stood. Before they could, a bang sounded out from the wall.

　　"Overseer," Senator Myridil snapped, raising his hand from the desk he`d just struck. "Control yourself."

　　"I. yes. My apologies."

　　Lecorondia watched as the Overseer got himself back under control, and she relaxed. This was going well. So far, she`d had a reasonable excuse for everything she`d done, and it seemed obvious the nuke plan was off the table. That meant Erodicilee was safe. All she needed to do now was get back down. Then she saw the tiniest smirk at the edge of Kulthurack`s mouth.

　　A twitch, nothing more, but it filled her with dread. Had he faked that outburst? For what?

　　"As the senator says, we should get back to the topic at hand," he said as he reached out to take a piece of paper. "What do you know of Erodicilee`s actions as of late?"

　　Her tail flicked, and she forced it under control again. With a nod, she answered as best she could.

　　"Eating. I know for a fact that he`s gained several new abilities. That is why I was trying to catch him in the caves." She let those words hang once again to make her point.

　　Kulthurack nodded. "Do you know exactly what type of things he`s been eating? We intercepted communications that he`s gained a speech ability."

　　Her breath hitched, though she wasn`t sure why it surprised her. The question now was how closely they were monitoring the situation.

　　"Yes," she admitted. "I`m quite proud. I hope to teach him how to sing the Galactic Anthem. It would make quite a show."

　　Light laughter came from the senators, and she heard someone clap. Lecorondia ignored it all, still focused on Kulthurack. The rest didn`t matter, only what he had the potential to reveal. She wondered if he knew what she thought he did and why he hadn`t done so already.

　　"Do you think you can contain him on your own with his new tricks?"

　　"With the aid of Julep, I believe I can," Lecorondia said with a nod.

　　Kulthurack taped the paper. "And you believe the people will be safe in the meantime? After all, you yourself admitted you believed this Arthur person might be in danger."

　　That cinched it, he knew. She nodded and focused on her breathing to give herself a few moments to think. He was circling, leading her to a point, but she didn`t know what he wanted. Even if he revealed it, the senators would never vote to blow the country up.

　　No, he wanted something else.

　　"I believed it to be a possibility, though not a serious one."

　　That twitch of a smile returned. "I see. And what would your plan have been if he had, say, gone after this human?"

　　Lecorondia paused, unsure. In truth, the plan had been to set Arnold up as bait and hope. If he`d been there already, perhaps he`d simply stopped because of her presence, or Julep could restrain him. The question was, how to explain that?

　　"My plan would, of course, depend on the situation. I fully believe my presence alone would solve the issue. He is ostensibly searching for me. Otherwise, I believe Julep and I working together would be enough to subdue him."

　　"And if he`d killed the man?" Kulthurack`s tone was firm, and he glanced toward the senators.

　　She followed suit and saw most of them leaning forward in interest. Her gaze locked onto Senator Myridil, who watched her intently. Lecorondia sighed and told the truth.

　　"I would subdue him and bring him home. He`s scared. I want him safe and with me."

　　"Scared?" Kulthurack asked. "Are you sure?"

　　Lecorondia looked at him, hoping he could see the venom in her eyes. "Yes."

　　"Then explain his, as the earth ambassador put it in her messages, ruthless killing of one Mark?"

　　The senate erupted, and her tail flicked out. Around her, the Blitzworms shifted as though unsure how to deal with the sudden noise. Through it all, Kulthurack stared at her. Lecorondia glared back, not bothering to continue the act. He didn`t need it, not after that bombshell.

　　"What do you want?" She asked, raising her voice to be heard. "He got shot and chased by a man who wanted to kill him. Was he not supposed to defend himself?"

　　"I want to put a stop to this madness," Kulthurack stated.

　　Senator Granite`s voice boomed above the ruckus, the sound akin to rocks crashing down a mountain. "Order!"

　　Lecorondia wrapped her tail around her waist as everyone went silent. All eyes were on the senator, who stood and pointed.

　　"Do you deny he has killed a human?"

　　"No," she said. "Though it was in self-defense, as I claimed, I warned them to call me if they found him; that particular human didn`t listen."

　　The senator nodded. "And you believe it`s unlikely to happen again?"

　　"No. It will." Lecorondia shrugged as she spoke.

　　"Explain." Senator Myridil stood then, his eyes shining a bright blue. "That is hardly something we can ignore."

　　"You have taken me from a camp full of armed thugs, who may or may not know what happened. Without a reasonable voice to guide them, it`s going to keep happening. He needs me!" She swept out a hand, pointing at the window at the earth.

　　Then an agreement came from the one place she hadn`t expected—Kulthurack.

　　"I agree."

　　The room went silent, and Kulthurack stood at his desk. He moved over to stand in front of Lecorondia as he faced the senators.

　　"I believe she is the key to ending this threat. However, she is a risk. I would like to propose a plan."

　　"And that would be?" Senator Fuzzball asked.

　　"Allow myself and a squad to escort her. They know of us now, and we can`t make things worse in that regard." Kulthurack gestured. "Her presence is required, but that doesn`t mean unsupervised."

　　"And when could you be ready to leave?" Senator Splouse inquired.

　　"In the hour. A squad of Blitzworms should be enough."

　　Senator Granite nodded. "All in agreement?"

　　A chorus of aye`s filled the air, and Lecorondia cringed back as the Blitzworms tightened around her.

　　They led her away under guard, and as she stepped out of the room, she couldn`t help but wonder if she would ever get to see Erodicilee alive again.