had no more doubts. “I’ve tried so hard to believe what I’ve been told my entire life, but none of the holographic photos I’ve seen of my parents showed her looking at my father like that. She did not love my father. I shouldn’t have been born. None of this should have happened. Whatever the Federation wanted with this place was so unimportant they let it all die. And my father? Why else would a general in the Federation try so hard to prove he was a good man unless he was desperately attempting to atone for something?”
“I just wanted you to see her, how she was, I didn’t mean to make you feel—” Josselyn tried to explain.
“You should take those,” Violette said, indicating the portraits. “I’d think you’d want to keep them.”
Dev and Evan had put the tapestry into the crate and walked toward them. Hearing Violette’s words, they automatically moved to grab the portraits.
“We’re at the top of the tall tower,” Lucien’s voice came over the com-link. “Items located. Loading now.”
“Good,” Dev answered.
They heard footsteps nearby. Evan and Rick shared a look.
“I thought the others were searching the towers first and then working their way down,” Josselyn said.
Dev reached for his com. “Jackson, Rick, check in.” He paused, before repeating, “Jackson, Rick, check in.”
There was no answer.
“Jackson, Rick, what the hell is going on?” Evan demanded into his com.
“What’s happening?” Lucien’s voice answered. “We can’t hear their answer.”
“Jackson, Rick, report in now,” Dev commanded.
“Where do you—” Evan began.
“I don’t think Jackson and Rick are up to talking at the moment,” a harsh voice echoed from the doorway behind them. “They’re indisposed, disposed, indisposed? I can never remember which is the right word.”
“Sacre,” Violette swore under her breath at the unexpected sound.
“Sacrelue,” Josselyn whispered the antiquated version of the curse at the same time.
Gil nodded toward Violette in terse greeting. He lifted a small cylindrical device. Dev and Evan gasped in unison as the coms in their ears made electrical popping noises. The men instantly pulled the broken units away from their face and dropped them on the floor.
The Angelion’s torn wing had been bound so only one slightly lifted as he came forward. He held a blaster pointed at them. Violette pushed in front of Dev, who in turn tried to grab her arm to pull her back behind him. She dodged his grasp.
“Gil, what are you doing here?” Violette lifted her hands to keep the others behind her as she dealt with her crewman.
“I could ask you the same thing,” the man responded. “Doesn’t exactly appear that you’re here unwillingly.”
“How did you know where to find us?” she asked.
“I placed a tracking device on their ship while it was docked on Quazer,” Gil said. “We would have come for you sooner, but I was preoccupied with my medically induced coma.”
“I assure you a rescue is not necessary. I need you to let Jackson and Rick go,” Violette commanded.
Gil kept his gun trained on them as he walked over to the crate. He reached inside and picked up a goblet. Angrily, he threw it. The cup clanged along the stone floor. “What in the space blasts is this crap? We come to liberate you only to find you shopping for home décor?”
“Who is here with you?” Violette demanded. Gil was clearly not in his right mind. If he were he’d have obeyed her order to stand down. “Jo wouldn’t slither into this weather, so I’m guessing he’s still on the ship. Ghost doesn’t care enough to get his hands dirty. So that leaves Isaac.”
“Isaac,” Gil said conversationally. “You want to greet the captain?”
“I don’t have a captain.” Isaac entered the room behind Gil. “I thought I did, but she joined another crew while still owing us space credits.”
“Then why are you here?” Violette felt Dev’s hand on her shoulder. He tried to pull her gently back. She held her ground. “The last payment to the ship hasn’t processed. You get paid when I get paid, same deal as always.”
“I don’t trust those in league with a Bevlon,” Gil sneered. He pointed his gun directly at her. “His time is up. Move aside.”
“You have to use a gun?” Dev laughed mockingly. “Trust an Angelion to be too scared for a real fight. Afraid I’ll rip the other wing?”
“Dev, I don’t think you’re helping,” Violette muttered between clenched teeth. She held her hand to her side, trying to gesture him back. “Gil, I get your age old family feud, but