“They’re in the cafeteria. What's going on?” Noral asked concerned.
“Stay in Gathow. Ortees is under attack. And tell your friend to stay clear of the orbs until I can meet him.” She turned back to Lolum. “I feed you, clothe you, and keep you from harm. You neither need nor want for anything. Life is good for you here… remember that next time you even think of yelling at me,” she scolded. She hurried out the door, finished with their conversation.
There was enough on her mind already. She had no want to add dealing with the overbearing words of her friend to her mind. She was beginning to question why she saved them from the Marisheio and she knew better than that.
TWO
Early the next day Sedom stared blankly into the com monitor of her unit. Her golden eyes stared into a void of blackness; a deep chasm of dark emotions she couldn't understand. No matter what she attempted to do to help her cause, it had a way of crumbling before her. Even her friends failed to see her efforts, blaming her, criticizing her as if she was a child. She stared into the com screen, the face of a twelve-year-old girl staring back.
“When does life get easier?” she asked grumbling.
“I'd like to know that answer myself,” returned a young man's voice.
Sedom's eyes shifted to the image of Rokaa Desvin, who was watching her from the other side of the monitor. Over her shoulder, the last rays of sunshine gleamed through the window from the light source outside. One single beam of light filtered through the window, casting a haze over the monitor.
“Sorry, I wasn't available yesterday. The Braum requested my presence at a meeting and I couldn't refuse. It would have been considered... ungrateful if I didn’t make an appearance. Consider it the downfall of taking asylum on another planet.” Rokaa watched her from the other side of the monitor, his chin resting on his hands and his golden eyes shining with concern.
Sedom nodded, sighing from the frustrations of living with people again. “That's okay. I spent the night working on my lookout tower. It's about finished. Carwavo helped hand me nails. Well... let me rephrase that, he helped as he nibbled on the nails. He needed some fresh air and a friend.”
“Your pet tof?” Rokaa clarified. Sedom nodded. “It looks like you needed a friend more than he did. What happened?” Rokaa asked.
Sedom shrugged, trying to keep her tears on the inside. “Lolum yelled at me. It’s stupid that I'm feeling this way.” She walked over to the window, shutting the blinds. “I shouldn't let it get to me. I mean, who is he to yell at me? I saved his life!” She plopped back in her seat, her arms tucked across her chest.
“After he saved yours,” Rokaa pointed out. Sedom glared at him, her bottom lip protruding slightly. “Regardless of who saved who, why did he yell at you?” Rokaa continued.
Sedom turned to the door, checking to see if anyone was around. “I made a mistake. I forgot to include Cidele's information with the guard sentries. When they registered an attack, they swarmed her, believing she was an invader.”
Deep wrinkles formed around Rokaa's eyes. “I thought you had to have clearance to walk the streets of Gathow? How has she managed not to have this problem before?”
“It’s a different branch of security. When Gathow’s security orbs register an attack, it singled a secondary orb-system to patrol. Those orbs are far more deadly and don't patrol as often because of their limited power supply. A blast from one of those orbs can destroy a twenty-story building... but they only have one shot.”
“Ouch! But she's okay, right?” He asked.
Sedom nodded, and then leaned back. “She’s stunned over it all, but okay. I can't help but feel so stupid for making such a… whatever. It's done now.” Sedom sighed deeply as she rested her head against the seat. A knock at her door made her sit-up. “I have to go, someone's at the door.”
“Okay. Don’t work too hard and know you're loved,” Rokaa called back.
“You are too.” Sedom pressed a kiss to the monitor as the screen went blank. “Come,” she called to the front door.
Garric entered the unit, looking around the corner into Sedom's office. “I thought I heard someone else in here,” he mentioned meekly.
“I was talking to a friend on the com.” Sedom continued to stare into the monitor, even though Rokaa was gone. “Did Lolum send you here? He couldn’t yell at me enough for saving his daughter,” she barked, unable to hide her frustration at the situation.
The Clove man's orange eyes widened. “Yell? No, Chadon. I couldn't even if I wanted to.” He set several books on her dining table. “It's the anniversary of Lolum's daughter's death and he's been in a mood. Oddly enough, Cidele warned me to stay clear of him,” he said as he grabbed a computer pad from the top of the book pile.
Sedom melted back in her chair. Now everything was making sense. “Wish I would have known. It’s a strange coincidence. I guess I can understand what he’s going through,” Sedom huffed.
“Hum, yes, well… I searched for you last night after I heard what happened. I figured you were working outside again. Read this. I think you’ll find this of interest.” He took one of the computers, handing it over the top of the chair.
Sedom reached over the top of her chair, grabbing the pad and began to read it. With each word she read her eyes grew larger. “Ratisha Augars? I was sure she was dead. She should be dead. She was a traitor.” She read through several more pages. Sedom’s lips grew taught. “How did you
