the only name I have.”
The big man tilted his head as he considered something. “That is a dilemma. What does Quinn—Lt. Estro call you?”
“He calls me little one or sometimes Lihali , which I guess is the same thing.”
“Lihali—it fits you. Would you be bothered if I used that name to refer to you instead of the other?”
She smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.” She walked down the corridor with Tagar following her close behind.
*****
“Come in!”
Quinn entered his uncle’s office and saluted him. Devlon motioned for him to sit down. “At ease, warrior. Sit down. I have a mission to discuss with you.”
Quinn sat down with anticipation. “A mission?”
“Yes, you’ve been plaguing me to give you one for months. I have one for you and it’s dangerous. As your commander, I need the best and most trustworthy warrior. As your uncle, I hesitate sending my only nephew in to do something risky. Liam and Kyle assured me that you were qualified to handle it, and Jared cleared you medically. I need to see if your head is in the game.”
“I’m ready for this, more than ready.”
“I heard that you have been spending time with the Earth female named Squirrel.”
Quinn couldn’t help but growl. “I don’t like that name, but yes, I’ve—spent time with her. What does that have to do with me taking on a mission?”
Devlon sighed. “I think of you like one of my own sons. Your father was my only brother and he was a good male. He would be very proud to see how well you turned out. Your mother did an amazing job raising you and I am forever in her debt for helping with my boys. When you were to be assigned to a ship, I stepped forward to make sure you were placed under my command. Your mother asked me before we left Drasta to do everything in my power to make sure you can return home safely. You’re all she has left in the world.”
“Is that why all my previous requests to lead my own mission have been denied?” Quinn suspected that his uncle was being overprotective and the look of guilt on his face proved it.
Devlon chose his words carefully. “I may have kept you from missions that I deemed too—unstable.”
“Damn it, Uncle Devlon!” Quinn stood and paced back and forth. Fury filled him, and for the first time it was directed at his idol from childhood. “How could you hold me back like that?”
“I may have been wrong, I admit that. You have to understand, I know what it is like to see all three of my own sons face danger and one almost died. Your mother would not survive losing her only child after losing her amahlo. It would crush her will to live.”
“So now you’re willing to allow me to take on a mission that may be dangerous. Why?”
“For sake of my grandchildren.”
“Are the rebels threatening to hurt little Milly?” Quinn would take on anyone who dared to hurt someone he loved.
“It’s not the Earth rebels that have me concerned right now. What I worry about are the Drastans who have supplied the rebels with Drastan weapons. I have set up cameras on all the ships, hoping to catch Drastans in the act. I had anonymous tip that there is a group gathering who plan to take over command of the fleet.”
“What? That’s treasonous!”
“The mission I wanted to offer you is to seek out this group covertly and discover if they are a true threat to my family.”
“I’ll do it, you know I will.”
“You need to really think about this first. Especially since you have been spending time with Squirr—the Earth female.”
“We are not fully mated. I still make decisions on how I want to live my life.”
“If you become involved with the female, your decisions will now affect her.”
“Having a mate and family didn’t stop you from going on missions.”
“Son, don’t use me as an example. I have made too many mistakes to count. My biggest, though, was leaving my amahala to have to raise our boys. I didn’t cause her death but I am responsible
The big man tilted his head as he considered something. “That is a dilemma. What does Quinn—Lt. Estro call you?”
“He calls me little one or sometimes Lihali , which I guess is the same thing.”
“Lihali—it fits you. Would you be bothered if I used that name to refer to you instead of the other?”
She smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.” She walked down the corridor with Tagar following her close behind.
*****
“Come in!”
Quinn entered his uncle’s office and saluted him. Devlon motioned for him to sit down. “At ease, warrior. Sit down. I have a mission to discuss with you.”
Quinn sat down with anticipation. “A mission?”
“Yes, you’ve been plaguing me to give you one for months. I have one for you and it’s dangerous. As your commander, I need the best and most trustworthy warrior. As your uncle, I hesitate sending my only nephew in to do something risky. Liam and Kyle assured me that you were qualified to handle it, and Jared cleared you medically. I need to see if your head is in the game.”
“I’m ready for this, more than ready.”
“I heard that you have been spending time with the Earth female named Squirrel.”
Quinn couldn’t help but growl. “I don’t like that name, but yes, I’ve—spent time with her. What does that have to do with me taking on a mission?”
Devlon sighed. “I think of you like one of my own sons. Your father was my only brother and he was a good male. He would be very proud to see how well you turned out. Your mother did an amazing job raising you and I am forever in her debt for helping with my boys. When you were to be assigned to a ship, I stepped forward to make sure you were placed under my command. Your mother asked me before we left Drasta to do everything in my power to make sure you can return home safely. You’re all she has left in the world.”
“Is that why all my previous requests to lead my own mission have been denied?” Quinn suspected that his uncle was being overprotective and the look of guilt on his face proved it.
Devlon chose his words carefully. “I may have kept you from missions that I deemed too—unstable.”
“Damn it, Uncle Devlon!” Quinn stood and paced back and forth. Fury filled him, and for the first time it was directed at his idol from childhood. “How could you hold me back like that?”
“I may have been wrong, I admit that. You have to understand, I know what it is like to see all three of my own sons face danger and one almost died. Your mother would not survive losing her only child after losing her amahlo. It would crush her will to live.”
“So now you’re willing to allow me to take on a mission that may be dangerous. Why?”
“For sake of my grandchildren.”
“Are the rebels threatening to hurt little Milly?” Quinn would take on anyone who dared to hurt someone he loved.
“It’s not the Earth rebels that have me concerned right now. What I worry about are the Drastans who have supplied the rebels with Drastan weapons. I have set up cameras on all the ships, hoping to catch Drastans in the act. I had anonymous tip that there is a group gathering who plan to take over command of the fleet.”
“What? That’s treasonous!”
“The mission I wanted to offer you is to seek out this group covertly and discover if they are a true threat to my family.”
“I’ll do it, you know I will.”
“You need to really think about this first. Especially since you have been spending time with Squirr—the Earth female.”
“We are not fully mated. I still make decisions on how I want to live my life.”
“If you become involved with the female, your decisions will now affect her.”
“Having a mate and family didn’t stop you from going on missions.”
“Son, don’t use me as an example. I have made too many mistakes to count. My biggest, though, was leaving my amahala to have to raise our boys. I didn’t cause her death but I am responsible
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