Ajos: The Restitution - A Sci-fi Alien Romance, Book 1, стр. 74
As they exited the lift to the street below and began walking, she turned to glance at the two males walking behind them.
“A meeting? For what happened last night?”
“More or less.” Akur held her gaze and again she felt that uncanny feeling. It was like staring into Ajos’ eyes, but not.
How did she not realize that before?
They took another direction she didn’t know and Kerena looked around.
This part of the base seemed more developed. More buildings were here and not as many people were walking on the streets.
As a matter of fact, it felt like they were on the business side of the base.
“This is the central hub. Most of the decisions are made here.” It was as if Ajos read her mind.
The buildings all had that brown color, formed out of the earth itself, but the streets weren’t just made of mud hardened by many years of footsteps. These streets were lined with what looked like bricks.
They were walking for a few more minutes before they came upon a singular cylindrical building and stepped inside.
It was a huge lift, but instead of going upward, it went down.
Darkness enveloped them and the lights came on.
The ride was short, lasting only a few seconds and soon they were on their feet again, walking down a corridor to a singular set of large doors.
The doors opened and Kerena blinked a little.
She had expected a meeting, but she hadn’t expected this.
In front of them, were rows and rows of seats all forming a circle. Several dozen aliens were already sitting inside and as her eyes moved over the group, they landed on a familiar face.
Athena sat there with Alaina on one side and her husband, mate, Xul, on the other.
Around them were those same aliens and the other women who’d led the rescue of the stasis hold.
There were a host of other aliens that she was sure she’d never seen before, too.
Alaina waved at her and Kerena smiled but when her gaze met Athena’s she was sure there was some tension there.
Something was wrong.
Ajos led them to some free seats and then silence enveloped the room.
“What is this?” She leaned into Ajos and whispered.
“Annoyance,” he said, albeit unhelpfully.
Movement caught her eye and she watched a tall alien that looked like Jack Skellington minus the nightmare pumpkin head effect walk down toward the center of the room.
There was a raised platform there, and the alien stood on it.
The alien took a breath.
“Now that the commander has graced us with his presence,” the alien shot an eye in their direction, “we may begin.”
He took another breath. “It has been brought to the council’s attention that two Krinqrids were killed in their home in the last dark cycle.”
Murmurs went through the group of seated participants and Kerena glanced Ajos’ way.
His frown deepened.
“It is needless for me to remind you all that this is a serious crime. Not only is there unrest within the population of refugees from the explosions, but I am afraid these killings have caused quite a stir, and understandably so.” More murmurs and he paused. “The refugees are losing trust in us.”
“Who killed the Krinqrids and why?” someone asked.
“Well, they’re a bit of a nuisance and a dishonest species. I am not surprised someone has killed two of them,” someone else said. “More will probably come.”
More murmurs and she felt Ajos stiffen beside her.
Kerena bit her lip.
“It doesn’t matter who did it or why. You know the law. No one. And I mean, no one, can deliver their own justice. That is what the council is for.”
Kerena glanced at Ajos.
His jaw was clenching and unclenching and only when she touched him did some of his tension ease.
There was worry in his eyes though, and she had to admit, that scared her a little.
“We ask that the guilty one reveal themselves,” the tall alien said. “Punishment will be light.”
“Punishment?” she whispered.
“It depends on the species, but they will probably do something that hurts a lot,” V’Alen whispered beside her.
“Reveal yourself now,” the tall alien said. “We know who you are. Have some dignity and come forward.” The alien turned and looked directly at Ajos.
Kerena’s eyes widened a little.
They knew it was him.
They were going to punish him for something he did to save her?
Were they dumb?
Before she even considered it, Kerena stood.
There was a gasp and Ajos grabbed her arm.
“Keh-reh-nah,” he hissed. “Sit.”
“I did it,” she said.
The tall alien looked shocked.
“Impossible,” he said, but something in the way he glanced around made her believe he wasn’t entirely sure.
“Why? Did you see who did it?” she asked.
The tall alien frowned a little. “No, but we have reports from bystanders that Commander Ajos,” he stressed on the name, “was seen leaving the vicinity with a human female.”
“That’s me,” she said. “I’m the human female. I did it.”
The tall alien opened his mouth but Kerena cut him off.
“And before you continue, let me speak.”
The tall alien’s mouth slammed shut and he glanced behind him, she assumed, at his other council colleagues.
A murmur went through the group of seated beings.
“Keh-reh-nah, what are you doing?” Ajos hissed once more.
“Saving your ass like you saved mine,” she hissed back.
“Okay,” the tall alien caught her attention. “Approach. You may speak.”
Fuck.
Her knees suddenly felt weak but holding her head high, Kerena walked down to the center of the room.
Even though the platform was raised, she felt small standing on top of it.
The tall alien moved out of her way to give her some space.
Kerena took a deep breath.
“There is no way she took out two Krinqrids,” someone said.
“Silence!” the tall alien shouted. “Let the human speak.”
Nodding at the tall alien, Kerena began.
“Last night, I was walking alone.” She looked around and made eye contact with as many beings as she could. That would make her story seem more believable. It would inspire trust that she was speaking the truth. “I was hit over the head and lost consciousness.”
There was a growl and