Mikiel turned the volume on his comm link to the quietest setting he had that he could still hear. He needed it to be as quiet as possible so the group watching Niki's dwelling couldn't hear him. Raising the comm link to his mouth, he whispered into the device to notify Guard Commander Drevick of the situation.

"Sir, there is a group watching Aleigha's and Niki's homes. I heard one of them say he was going to kill Aleigha. They are standing between two dwellings, watching Niki's door. They watched Aleigha leave her dwelling and walk to her sisters. I believe both girls are in danger. The most hostile one is Dizon, Termera's older brother. He even indicated that he would kill Aleigha's infant son, calling it a half-breed."

"How many in the group?" Guard Commander Drevick asked. He was all business as he tried to get the information he needed to detain the threat to Aleigha, Niki, and their sons. Mikiel could hear a deep fear nearly undetectable in the guard commander's voice.

"There were five, sir. One of them seemed against it and left," Mikiel explained. "His friends didn't even realize he had left because they were so intent on watching for Aleigha to exit her sister's dwelling."

"Keep watching the dwellings even if the group leave. We are on our way. If they leave, note their direction so we can follow them," Guard Commander Drevick ordered. "I will notify Council Leader Vorik."

"Yes, sir," Mikiel stated, then shoved the comm link back into a pocket while focusing his gaze on the dwelling where the two girls were inside. The remaining four left in the group remained focused on the dwelling's front door.

As Mikiel continued to watch the group that was watching Niki's dwelling, he realized that he didn't have a blaster on him; he wished he did. He couldn't think of a reason he would have one if he talked to one of the girls and they asked about it. Not many wore blasters. Orik had started after he had gotten Jada back. He had a reason. There were those after his mate. It was clear he was being protective of his mate. He would be, too, if he had one.

Mikiel knew that the girls fought well with a bladed staff. He didn't know if Aleigha, Niki, or Jada carried a bladed staff with them like Orik carried his blaster. He didn't know where they would hide it if they did. They needed something to help protect themselves. He had a feeling there were too many threats after them.

After nearly ten minutes, the group was still watching Niki's dwelling. Mikiel figured they were probably waiting for Aleigha to leave it. He didn't know for sure. He hoped the girls would stay inside while the guard commander detained the group determined to kill her and her infant son.

Mikiel scanned the area briefly. Movement caught his eye. When he turned to look, he noted the group of guards making their way to the group. Guard Commander Drevick was among them. They nearly had the group completely surrounded.

Niki's door slid open, and Aleigha stepped out, her infant in her arms. It appeared like she was about to walk back to her own dwelling.

Mikiel looked between Aleigha and the group. Panic washed through him. This was not a good time for her to leave her sister's dwelling.

Dizon pulled a blaster and aimed it at Aleigha. Before he could get a shot, Guard Commander Drevick shot first, the blaster in Dizon's hand falling to the ground, blood pouring from Dizon's hand. Aleigha, hearing the shot, looked up, one hand shooting back to press the call button on Niki's home.

The door slid open, and Aleigha stepped backward, back inside. The door quickly closed once she made it back inside.

As Mikiel watched, a few seconds later, Aleigha and Niki moved the window coverings and appeared on either side of the window, looking out. Since they knew there was a danger of being hit by blaster fire, they used the wall as a cover as they peered, barely seen out of the window in the direction of the threat.

Guard Commander Drevick had his guards quickly bind the four Ramesians in bar-cuffs before they dragged them off to the cells.

Mikiel's Comm link buzzed, notifying him he was being called.

It was Guard Commander Drevick. "Stay where you are. I don't think the girls know about you yet. Wait until I go inside their dwelling to go back to your own," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," Mikiel responded, stepping back further behind the dwelling he was hiding behind so the sisters wouldn't see him when they opened the door or through the window they were looking out of.

Mikiel watched as Guard Commander Drevick walked up to Niki's small dwelling and pressed the call button. The door slid smoothly open. He was met with both of the girls, each holding a bladed staff, poised to take his head.

Guard Commander Drevick put his hands up, saying something before they slowly lowered their staffs and let him enter the dwelling. Mikiel wished he had heard what was said to allow him entrance.

Once Guard Commander Drevick was inside, the door slid smoothly closed, putting them out of Mikiel's view.

Mikiel glanced over at his own dwelling, ready to leave his spot and go home before the girls knew he was there. As soon as he stepped forward to go to his own dwelling, he felt the cold metal of a blaster pressing against the back of his neck. The hum of the power core hissed, ready to be fired.

A sudden fear washed through him, not knowing if he was going to die at any moment.

"Why are you watching the sisters?" a voice growled as whoever was speaking to him pressed the blaster more firmly into the back of his neck.

Mikiel didn't realize at first who it was behind him holding the blaster. The voice sounded familiar. He needed him to speak again.

"I was watching the group watching them," Mikiel responded. "I heard them in the tavern say they were going to kill Aleigha."

"Yet you did nothing," the voice shot back with a sneer.

Mikiel realized who it was once he spoke again. It was Orik.

"I don't have a blaster on me. Five against one is bad odds. Especially when they have blasters, and I don't," he explained. "I'm the one who called the guard commander to send a team of guards to detain them. There were five in the group watching the girls. One of them left," Mikiel continued to try to explain as calmly as he could with a blaster pressed to the back of his neck.

"I don't believe you. Why don't we go over there and speak to the guard commander? I want to see what he has to say," Orik hissed. Since Orik didn't believe him, he needed confirmation from the guard commander.

Pressing the blaster further into Mikiel's neck, Orik herded him toward Niki's dwelling. Once up the small steps, they stopped at the door. With one hand holding the blaster to Mikiel's neck and the other hand, he pressed the call button. They waited for the door to open for them.

The door slid smoothly open, and Guard Commander Drevick faced them. Scanning the two in front of him, he quickly assessed the situation before holding his blaster up, aiming it at Orik.

Niki quickly came into view. "What's going on, Orik?" She demanded. Her hands were on her hips in anger.

"He was watching your dwelling," Orik stated, evenly. "He was across the lane, hiding, watching your dwelling."

Guard Commander Drevick eyed Orik for a moment. "He was watching the group that was watching Aleigha. He followed them from the tavern where he heard them speaking of killing her. He followed them to where they stood and watched her come out of her dwelling and come here with her infant. Mikiel is the one who called me to send a team of guards to detain them. That group came here to kill Aleigha and her son. Mikiel was trying to stop it." Drevick explained, his voice just as even.

Orik slowly lowered his baster, re-holstering before stepping aside and entering Niki's dwelling. Mikiel stepped in also, letting the door slide closed behind him.

Guard Commander Drevick sighed before looking at Aleigha, Niki, and Orik.

"Mikiel lives in Keirns' old dwelling. You will see him frequently since he lives so close," He told Orik first. Turning to the sisters. "When I walked you here, I noticed many looking at you with hatred and hostility. I told Council Leader Vorik. He told me to find a way to keep an eye on you so you will stay as safe as possible. I sent Mikiel here to watch you. No one is supposed to know that."

Before he could say anything more, Drevick's comm link buzzed. "This is Guard Commander Drevick," he said into the small device.

"Sir, you're needed in the cells. Someone is asking to speak with you. He looks frightened. I put him in your office to wait for you," the guard on the other end of the communication device notified.

"On my way," Drevick said in the comm link, then turned to Mikiel. "Come with me. You need to identify those in the group that we just bought in."

Just as Guard Commander Drevick and Mikiel went to leave, Drevick turned and faced the sisters. "Keep your staff handy. I don't believe they were the only ones wanting to hurt or kill you.

Drevick and Mikiel disappeared out the door, heading for the cells.

Aleigha, Niki, and Orik watched the guard commander and Mikiel leave.

"I think there's more than he's telling us. I think there is a lot more. I also think we are in far more danger than we are led to believe. Keep your staffs on you. Make sure you have a cloaking shield for each of you and your sons. I'm going to have Jada do the same.

Niki and Aleigha nodded as Orik rushed out of the dwelling to make sure Jada was safe as well.

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