Sheena nodded sadly. "Yes. It certainly would look like true abductions were happening without Angus and Erin to mediate."
"The matchmaker alternates must be eliminated."
"Didn't you hear? They're not universe hopping alternates. The alternates the Guardians retrieved all died," Sheena said firmly, making sure this was one lie she told well. "The new matchmakers are my clones-my personal experiment in saving my parents. If I get to study their evolving DNA, I believe I can perfect the process. They'll live at least another hundred years or so. It would be a great discovery for New Earth humans if clones last that long. Imagine what that could mean for longevity."
"Clones?"
"Yes. They're clones, but you must not tell anyone except the director of Novus Prime. As my boss, he's the only one allowed to know. I may have to stop my work though. It's become obvious that I'm not safe here. Even you tried to kill me."
"Can't kill you now because of the clones. We must have that technology."
"Yes. You must. And Bri saw only criminals that day, but she fears for her life too. She's staying on in the AAS program." Sheena shook her hands as she thought. Ideas. She needed something he could easily believe. "Nate's firing the captain his mother hired. Brianna will be taking his place. I'm staying to study the clones … and to be with your son. The matchmakers may die any time. Do you understand what I'm suggesting?"
"Your sister is joining the airship crew. You're studying the clones and fucking my son."
"Close enough, I suppose," Sheena said, exasperated with his personality. "Don't forget it was your son who saved your ass because if it wasn't for him, you'd be getting incinerated too. What are you going to do tomorrow?"
"Contact Novus Prime. Tell them about the clones."
"Very wise of you. You should call your wife when you get done. Tell her you want a divorce. The woman needs to start over and find someone decent. Maybe she'll get a real life and leave her son alone."
"Some things cannot be changed."
Sheena chuckled. The unconscious mind was a deep pool of truths. "Sleep now. That was a bad bump you got on your head."
"What bump?"
Sheen walked behind him, picked up a guard baton, and whacked Nate's father. She watched with great satisfaction as his head swung limply forward.
"That was for shooting my sister. Nobody messes with my family and gets by with it, you self-serving bastard. Be grateful I don't make your dick limp for the rest of your life."
Throwing the baton to the floor of the cell, Sheena walked out. She passed Darcone on the way and got a respectful nod. "Take him to medical. He's ready for Nate now. Let him heal the bastard and send him back to where he came from."
Chapter Seventeen
Nate stood over his father and stared into the face of the man who helped make him. He was still working to accept that someone in his famous family had chosen to walk down a path that led to six innocent deaths and money deals with criminals.
He was also still working to accept the new version of Sheena and the alarming skillset she'd developed during the hundred years they were apart. Did he really think he could live with a woman who'd probably brainwashed him to get him to tell her what she wanted to know?
The sight of her walking into medical made his dick start saluting. That answered the biggest part of his questions, but he still wasn't ready to admit it yet. He was still upset and wanted her to confess her actions. He also wanted her to promise to never do it again.
"Thank you, Toorg," Sheena said, patting the alien's right pec the way Erin had told her Toorg enjoyed.
"I am Toorg," he said happily, nodding to Nate over her head before trotting off.
Sheena walked to the medical table and stared down at an older version of Nate. "I am so thankful I gave us both the serum when I did. You look great instead of being half-way to this. We've got years before you'll start to look this old."
"Could we not debate my father's appearance? How hard did you hit him anyway? That was a level 4 concussion you gave him."
"He still has all his man parts, doesn't he?" Sheena asked.
Stirred no doubt by their arguing, Nate's father thrashed and finally opened his eyes. He looked at Nate and then at her.
"How are you feeling?" Sheena asked. "That was a bad bump you got on your head. Bri feels really bad for spilling her tea and not mopping it up. You walked in and hit the floor before she could get it cleaned."
"Tea? What's tea?"
Sheena laughed. "Sorry. I meant herbal stimulant. The new matchmakers call it tea. I'm not sure what they mean." Sheena put a finger to her head and rotated it while he stared at her. "Clones get a little woo-woo sometimes. Programming weirdness."