Jada watched Servin climb back into his fighter. She could tell he was reluctant to return to the disk. The fact that he had stated that he wasn't the only one no longer under the influence of the serum told her that Commander Grev was not the only one with spies.

"This can help us," Jada stated, watching the fighter disappear through the clouds.

Council Leader Vorik turned to Jada. "Are you sure he was telling the truth?" he had to make sure.

Jada nodded, still watching the sky. "I could smell no deception. I could smell fear, but I don't think it was for him. I think he was worried about getting back. When he said that someone would die if he didn't get the box back, I could tell he was telling the truth. There were no lies in his words. None of them."

Council Leader Vorik headed back to his shuttle. Rask and Orik were only a few paces behind their leader. Jada kept in line with Orik as they approached the shuttle.

Merrick was in the pilot's seat when they returned to the shuttle. He looked back at them while they entered the shuttle and strapped themselves in. "I don't see any prisoners, Merrick noted. His eyes scanned the cabin as he spoke.

Rask sat down in the copilot's seat, looking at his pilot. "It's complicated," he stated, then turned to Council Leader Vorik. "Do we tell Krem?" he asked Council Leader Vorik.

Council Leader Vorik thought about it for a moment. "I think he needs to know, but he needs to be told in private. We also need to make sure that he and his men are aware that Dreg is a spy. He doesn't know about that yet."

Everyone in the shuttle nodded in agreement.

Rask got up from his seat, forgetting that Council Leader Vorik liked to sit in the copilot's seat frequently. Vorik shook his head. "I need to think. Stay where you are.

Rask nodded, sitting back down and strapping himself in.

Merrick started the flight sequence; they lifted back into the air and headed smoothly toward the main dome.

"Scan for cloaked ship," Council Leader Vorik suddenly ordered. "They might already know about Servin being Krem's brother. He might have been followed."

Merrick pressed several buttons on the console in front of him. Lights flashed, showing that the scanners were searching.

Rask focused on the screen. "I don't see any ships. I don't think he was followed. I have to wonder if Commander Grev was testing Servin, though. Why would he send the brother of the detained scout leader to retrieve a box that would give literally no information regarding their detainment? Shuttle information boxes tell you about flight plans, electrical concerns, and communication between the mothership and the shuttle. It tells nothing beyond that."

Jada nodded. "That might also be why there was a listening device on his console," she threw in. "I think you're right, Commander Grev was probably testing Servin."

"Servin needs to be extra careful. If he is being watched because we have his brother here, then he is under scrutiny. He needs to know, or we need to find a way to get him out of there," Council Leader Vorik stated, nodding to himself. Servin was in a bad position, and he may not even know it.

Up ahead, the dome opened, allowing the shuttle to enter.

Marrick smoothly glided to the landing platform and landed, opened the door for his passengers, and exited with them.

Council Leader Vorik turned to Jada. "Can you keep Dreg busy with training while Merrick, Rask, and I talk with Krem?" he asked. He hadn't included Orik. Vorik knew that Orik would go with his mate, not wanting her to be alone with Dreg.

"Sure thing, boss," Jada stated with a wide grin on her face.

Vorik rolled his eyes. "Don't call me that," he told her for the thousandth time. She always called him that, and it was a little bit frustrating.

She giggled and headed toward the homes where Dreg was staying. Orik walked beside her.

Council Leader Vorik watched them go. He needed to make sure that Dreg didn't see them approach Krem. He also frequently scanned his council chambers to make sure there were no listening devices hidden in the room. None were ever seen or picked up by the scanners. Vorik didn't want to take chances by skipping the search before each meeting. He also knew that it was a possibility that Dreg kept an open communication link between him and Commander Grev during the meeting so that Grev could listen to the meeting himself. They had to be very careful.

They had two meetings for each concern. One for the benefit of Dreg and Commander Grev and one without them, for the real plans that none of the scouts attended.

Once Jada and Orik were out of sight, Council Leader Vorik turned to Merrick. "Covertly bring Krem. It will be easier for him to tell Mia than to bring her here, also.

Merrick gave Vorik the gesture of respect, nodded, and then headed toward Krem's home. When he got there, two guards stood guarding the door.

"Council Leader Vorik wishes to speak with Scout Leader Krem," Merrick stated to the two guards.

The door slipped open. Krem was sitting in a chair, and his roommate, Tran, was standing at a window.

"Krem? Council Leader Vorik needs to speak with you," Merrick told him.

Krem's face paled. "Is Mia alright?" he asked. "I am only called when something is wrong with Mia."

Merrick, not wanting Krem's roommate to hear the truth, made an offhand remark. "I was told to retrieve you. I was not told what he wants to tell you."

Krem got up quickly. Tran looked like he was going to follow. Merrick looked at Tran. "I was told only to bring Krem since it is dealing with his family," Merrick stated.

Tran nodded, sitting in one of the chairs as Merrick followed Krem toward the council chamber. The guards stayed at the dwelling, guarding the door. Once out of sight of Krem's home, Merrick passed Krem, being in the lead. "Your niece is fine. There are spies in your group. We found only one, but there might be more. What you find out, tell no one. Not even your roommate."

Krem nodded, following Merrick to the council chamber. He said nothing.

When they entered the council chamber, Council Leader Vorik quickly scanned for listening devices. Once satisfied, he looked at Krem. "Have a seat," he ordered. "We have things to tell you, and it may take a while."

Krem nodded again, sitting down in a chair. The one that Dreg normally sat in. As he sat, he noticed something pressed into the edge of a table.

He gasped. Holding his hand up to halt everyone, then pressed his finger to his lips, the universal gesture not to speak.

Pulling the small listening device off the table, he showed it to Vorik. "Where is your incinerator?" Krem asked, then pointed to his ear and mouthed 'listening device.'

Council Leader Vorik looked at the small device and then at Krem. "See if you can find more," he stated without giving the listener any more information.

Krem got up, looking around the room at all the normal places where they put listening devices. He found three more. Lining them up on the table, he then looked in other areas of the council chamber, looking for more.

Council Leader Vorik got up and pulled the same scanner he had used to scan for listening devices. He scanned the small line of devices, entered the item into the scanner's database, and scanned the room again. This time, two devices other than those lined up showed up on the scanner.

Krem quickly pulled them from where they were hidden, adding them to the small line of the others.

After gathering them all up, Vorik took them and left the room. He returned moments later without them, then scanned the room one last time. None showed up this time. It appeared they had found them all.

Vorik looked at Krem. "There might be more in your dwelling or the dwelling of your men. Trust no one with what I have to say to you. Your brother will die if you trust the wrong person with the information I have for you. There could be ears everywhere listening to every word you speak."

Krem nodded, fully aware of the situation. The listing devices could have been distributed and then placed everywhere in the dome. There was no way to find out where they were without showing the spies or Commander Grev that they knew they were there in the first place.

Krem looked at Vorik for a moment without speaking. "What do you have for me?" he asked. Something about the way they brought him in and found all the listening devices; there had to be something happening. He knew he was about to learn secrets, and his brother was somehow involved with them.

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