Merrick, Commander Vorik, and Rask headed toward their homes after being escorted to the tunnel entrance in blindfolds. Vorik had one on the planet's surface in the main dome in hopes he would one day be able to live with his mate. All the others lived around the entrance of the tunnel to keep watch over it.

"I think we need to go to the bar. We all need a drink," Merrick stated evenly. He was upset that he had to leave his mate again. His thoughts of her consumed him, which in turn depressed his mood. He knew he couldn't be with her when he wanted. It was too dangerous.

Rask and Commander Vorik nodded in agreement as they followed Merrick to the small bar Seeran had told him about.

Entering the bar, a man in the corner stood up, facing Commander Vorik, making the gesture of respect before sitting down again. It was Orik, a regular of the small establishment. He was making it known that he was a firm supporter. Commander Vorik nodded in acknowledgment before sitting down at one of the tables.

A server came to the table to take their order, then quickly left to retrieve it. It didn't take her long to bring them their drinks.

After receiving their drinks, they sat quietly, not wanting to speak in front of the other patrons. They didn't know if there were spies in the bar who would notify Council Leader Tosh that they were there.

Vorik, thinking of where they had just come from, was pleased that he was able to see his mate. It had been a long time since he had seen her last. Deep inside, he knew that she and their unborn twins would never be safe unless he went after Council Leader Tosh. He knew Tosh fought dirty. If he lost, he didn't want to leave Alice and their children alone to face the aftermath of his demise.

Merrick sat quietly; Rask suddenly smiled. "Sisters," he stated in a whisper, smiling at Merrick. "It looks like we're family now."

Commander Vorik looked between the two. "It means nothing if we can't be with our mates." His tone was depressed. He was tired of being without his mate.

Merrick and Rask knew that to be true. "Our mates are both very outgoing, with a sharp edge to their demeanor. Sharp in more than one way. One way is with their blades, the other with their tongue." Rask pointed out. "I like it." His grin grew, thinking about his mate and how quickly and easily she had defeated the zombies in the tunnel where he had found her.

Vorik studied Rask. "You saw your mate fight?" he asked, one eye raised. He was interested in hearing about it.

"We found her in a tunnel killing zombies," Rask told them, smiling proudly. "She is a skilled warrior."

Commander Vorik smiled, looking at Rask. It pleased him that Rask found his mate. He had been one of the two who had changed the outcome of the invasion on the planet completely. Vorik was grateful. He didn't enjoy following Council Leader Tosh's order to destroy everyone on the planet. He was told a lot of lies in order to get him to do it; More than a lot.

The door of the bar suddenly opened, interrupting their discussion about their mates; a border guard scanned the room until he eyed Commander Vorik. "Council Leader Tosh has just landed," he stated, out of breath. His face was pale.

Merrick quickly got out his comm link and called Jamie. "Lock everything down. Tosh is in the city. He may try to burn out the tunnels again."

Jamie's voice came through. "Got it, thanks." Before the comm link went silent.

All the patrons finished their drinks, quickly downing them in one gulp, and exited the bar, the lights going out as if closed. Commander Vorik, Merrick, and Rask headed out as well, not wanting to cause problems for the small establishment.

They rushed toward the city square, where the shuttle had landed. There was tension thick in the air. Vorik could tell that it wasn't just from him, but from many of the people in the dome as well.

By the time they got to the open square of the city, Tosh, his right-hand man, Jak, and four of his guards were standing in the center of the square as if waiting for them to arrive. Vorik didn't expect Tosh to come this far into the city. It was out of character for him.

Vorik, Merrick, and Rask made the gesture of respect even though they didn't have any respect for their Council Leader.

"Good evening, Council Leader Tosh," Vorik stated carefully. Something didn't feel right with him, so he was keeping his guard up. By the look on Merrick and Rask's faces, they felt the same way.

"Why are you on the planet? Shouldn't you be on the mother ship?" Tosh asked, eyeing Vorik. There was a slight sneer to his words.

"We were heading back now," Vorik stated. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Tosh looked behind him at the four guards. "Kill him!" he ordered.

Everything went quickly. The four guards came after him but were stopped short by the female voice in the distance coming rapidly closer.

"If you want to fight someone, how about me?" the female asked as she walked up quickly to defend Vorik, Merrick, and Rask.

Tosh looked up, scanning the coming crowd. "Humans don't belong here; you all should be dead," Tosh sneered.

The sarcastic voice of Niki laughed. "You just ordered your guards to kill the Fleet Commander with no reason whatsoever except for the fact that you're a dick. My mate stands beside him; I will defend him with my life. My sister's mate stands with him as well. So either you're going to attempt to kill the Fleet Commander, and we kill you for trying, or I can challenge you. You see, I know a little about your culture. You're worried that Vorik will challenge you for your position. He won't because he doesn't want the position. However, I think you need to be replaced!" Niki sneered, keeping focused on Tosh and his men.

Aleigha spoke next. She needed to back up her sister. "You tried to destroy an entire city of humans and their mates. All the females in the city who had a mate were pregnant at the time. Vorik's own mate was pregnant with twins. Someone who tries to kill an entire city of bonded pairs just because one-half of those pairs are human is stupid. Your own people see the mating bond as sacred, yet you tried to destroy that bond. How is it that you're still their leader?" Aleigha yelled. "I also know that you lied to your own people, saying there are no such things as zombies, yet you and your boy toy over there had let some in. So, are you trying to kill your own people living in this dome, too?"

With each word, Tosh was getting angrier. His men looked at Tosh, confused. Jak, however, could not care less. It was easy to see that Jak knew all of this information from the start and felt the same way Tosh did.

Niki chose to speak again. "How about you tell your people the truth for a change?" she suggested.

As the sisters goaded Council Leader Tosh, the crowd got thicker. More and more residents of the dome were coming to the city square to see what was going on. It was what they wanted. They were giving people in the tunnel's hidden city time to arrive at the city square. Even the Tunnel's mated pairs came out with their pregnant mates. Many of those in the crowd who were living in the dome were able to get their first look at humans and their connection with their mates because of the mating bond. Several of the females had swollen bellies from carrying a child; their mates held them protectively.

All eyes scanned the pairs. The shock on many of their faces. They did not know the mating bond with humans was real. Council Leader Tosh had told them it was a lie that Fleet Commander Vorik told them. They didn't believe zombies existed, either. After the group returned with Rask and his new mate, it got out that they had fought zombies.

Niki stood protectively beside Rask and Aleigha by Merrick. Shadick came up with Xant, Van, Seeran, and his group. They stood in a protective stance, ready to protect Commander Vorik.

Niki spoke again, keeping all eyes on her as her sister pulled her weapon, ready for a fight. Niki already had hers. "Tell the truth to your people, Tosh!" she yelled at him. "All you have done since you got to this planet is lie to your people!"

Council Leader Tosh barked another order to his men as his eyes pierced into Niki. "Kill her!"

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