Her Commanders - M.K. Eidem Page 0,73

was a loving datter. He'd never consider she was memorizing his code. This security breach was going to cause a massive uproar within the Coalition and bring every general’s code use under scrutiny.

"What the ruk was she thinking," Cali whispered in disbelief. "Could she actually believe it wouldn't be discovered? That there wouldn't be consequences?"

Jamis said nothing because they both knew Vaine was so used to her tad cleaning up after her that she'd never considered he wouldn't be able to do the same with this. "While Khatun Masala was the instigator in all this, she wasn't the one that detonated the bomb."

"Oke did." Jamis didn’t have to tell Cali.

"How did you know that!" Jamis immediately demanded.

"It wasn't that hard to figure out. I recently fired Oke then overheard at the bar that she'd opened her quarters to Vaine." Cali wasn't going to tell him that Xanto had told her that. "So, it made sense she'd be involved after you said Vaine was."

Jamis had a feeling there was more to it than that but could tell Cali wasn't going to explain further.

"So, what's going to happen to them?" Cali asked.

"As I've already stated, Engineer Le will be reprimanded, her other replicas will be destroyed, and of course, she'll be demoted."

"She had other replicas of actinic bombs?"

"No, just the one. The others were from a variety of other devices she helped build."

"All the miniatures were operable?" That surprised Cali because it took incredible skill to be able to do that.

"Yes."

Maybe she could do something about that. Wik Corp could always use a talented engineer. "And the other two?"

"They will be tried for the sabotage of Coalition property and most likely treason." He saw Cali's eyes widen in shock.

"Treason…?" Cali hadn't seen that coming.

"Because of the use of the clearance code."

"But neither is a member of the Coalition," Cali didn't know why she argued against such a punishment, especially for Vaine.

"Khatun Tarka intentionally and knowingly detonated a device on a Coalition Star Base. It was blind luck no one was killed. As for Khatun Masala, she's always been very vocal about being the datter of a Coalition general. She's used it time and time again to her advantage. Now it will be a disadvantage. For her and most likely, her tad."

"All this because Vaine is a spoiled brat," Cali murmured.

Jamis wanted to agree but knew if he did, this conversation would go on much longer than it should, and he couldn't allow that. Not if he wanted to distance himself from Cali. He needed to end it now.

"Now that I have done my duty and informed you that there is no longer a threat against you or your business, I will let you get back to whatever it is you do." With that, he disconnected the transmission.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"That was rather harsh, wasn't it?" Taarig asked from the other side of Jamis’s desk where he'd been sitting for the entire conversation.

"We need to make sure she knows we're not interested in continuing a relationship with her," Jamis defended the way he'd spoken to Cali.

"And you think pissing her off will do that?"

Taarig's expression told Jamis how stupid he thought that was. "It's worked with other females."

"Cali's not like other females," Taarig said quietly.

"In this, she will be. Now," Jamis rose from his chair, "are you going to join me for third meal?"

"You seriously want to eat in the Common area?" They only ate there when they were looking for a female to start a relationship.

"Yes," Jamis told him decisively.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to do that."

"It's only a meal, Taarig. What are the chances there will be a female that will interest us?" With that, he went through the door.

'Gods, please make that true,' Taarig prayed as he followed Jamis.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Cali was still fuming as she worked behind the bar later that dark shift. Who the ruk did Jamis think he was treating her like that? She was California Rose Baker-Wik'ax. The only female of Dakota and Paul Baker-Wik'ax and Caradoc Wik'ax, Paramount of the Zagreus, and no one treated her like that. Hearing a crack, she looked down at the glass she was holding. "Ruk!"

"Cali, are you alright?" Mae rushed over to her as fast as her enlarged size would allow, a concerned look on her face. "Did you cut yourself?"

"No," Cali quickly threw the glass away before Mae saw the fracture lines radiating out from the finger-shaped depressions her anger had formed. "I'm fine. I