The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 144

POV: Lyra

Chief Dalloway shook his head woefully, and the security officer at the portal held his head low. The Chief said, "The neural disruptor rounds penetrated right through their primary organs. The medical team couldn't save them."

I inhaled deeply and exhaled sadly. "I am so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, my Empress." Chief Dalloway responded with a polite smile, and the officer gave me a grateful nod.

I cleared my throat before asking, "As for the location where the shuttle was found, do you have any images of the site?"

"I do, in fact. A moment please, Your Eminence." The Chief took out his data pad from his pocket, scrolled through it before placing it on the platform and gently pushing it toward me.

I lifted the device and enlarged the image to study the crystalline surface and thick bio-forest next to where the hijacked security shuttle seemed to have landed safely. I pushed the pad toward the cousins for them to look as I asked the Chief, "The bio-forest is being searched now, I presume?"

"Indeed, my Empress. It's been two hours but we haven't found anything yet, I'm afraid."

Orion asked, "Does Alfred Cummings know where his daughter would be taken by any chance?"

"I doubt it, Your Eminence. When I questioned him, he was genuinely shocked and worried. My officers had to restrain him when he started throwing expletives and blaming the security force for what he labeled an 'abduction' of his daughter."

Christian muttered in dissatisfaction, "Looks more like an escape to me. Any thoughts of seeking ransom from abducting the daughter would backfire. Her father's assets have been frozen."

Orion grew contemplative, thinking aloud, "If ransom is out of the question, and it's really not an abduction...why would someone want to help his daughter escape? What could she possibly offer? As far as I know, she has no wealth of her own, so she wouldn't be able to contribute financially. If the escape was aided by someone she shares close relations with, her brother is the only one that comes to mind after her father. But her brother doesn't seem to get along with her, so it's unlikely he would help her escape."

Chief Dalloway's uneasiness returned. "If I may, my Emperor. Mr. Sebastian Cummings did visit his sister late evening the other day when she was brought into custody."

I held Orion's hand to calm him as he asked, "What was the context of their conversation? Was it about planning her escape?"

"No, my Emperor. Uh...it was about..." the Chief looked at me nervously. I helped the poor being by saying what was in his mind, "Me."

He nodded and continued, "Ms. Cummings felt her brother was still carrying a torch for you, my Empress. And in doing so, she criticized him for being blinded by what she deemed the truth, that her so-called...misfortune and that of her father's have been caused by y—"

Before he could finish, Orion slammed the platform as he growled and shouted, "THEY ARE THE CAUSE OF THEIR CURRENT PROBLEMS! HOW DARE THEY BLAME THE FUTURE EMPRESS! HOW DARE THEY SPEAK AGAINST MY MATCH!!"

"Darling, darling. Please, just breathe. Just breathe. Shh. Just breathe, my love. Breathe." Both my hands were on one of his now as I squeezed it assuringly, trying desperately to calm Orion down. As usual, his inner Lyrokan responded to my soothing voice, and his conscious part let my touch cool his bubbling inferno.

The small pod fell into dead silence as I continued cooing my enraged match. When he had better control of his temper, Orion sighed in frustration before lifting my hands and pressing kisses on them before speaking to the Chief in a still-angered tone, "And why was this not brought to my attention?"

The Chief stuttered, "B-Because the member present during the siblings' conversation was..."

"The infiltrator," Christian concluded, and the Chief nodded in confirmation.

I said, "I hope the entire security force is undergoing a screening process, Chief? Especially when it comes to newer members?"

He immediately said, "Yes, my Empress. A team of senior members has been formed to look through everyone's backgrounds. I've personally looked through theirs before appointing them. And we've decided to have two beings instead of one in the visitation chamber for high-profile criminals such as Ms. Cummings. We've also unanimously agreed to have a third being transcribe all conversations from such visitations, so as to ensure anything said between the prisoner and visitor is heard by fresh audio receptors."

"Good to know appropriate measures are being taken." I nodded in understanding. "Are you going to question Sebastian Cummings about his sister's disappearance?"

"Two of our agents are questioning him as we speak, my Empress. I'll happily send over the transcript of the interrogation later today, if necessary."

Orion's hardened expression fixed on the Chief as he answered firmly, "Yes, it is necessary, Chief."

The Chief nodded in compliance. "Very well. I'll personally see it's sent to you once done, my Emperor."

"Thank you, Chief," I responded gratefully, offering him a small smile.

After a moment of silence, I asked, "Orion, Christian. Is there anything else you'd both like the Chief to tell us?" Christian shook his head and sighed in defeat as he slumped back into his seat, absorbing what we'd just been told.

Orion smiled my way and stroked my hand lovingly. "Not as of now, my dear."

I faced the Chief again. "Is there anything else we should know, Chief?"

"Well, it's not a matter of knowledge on our part but we were wondering, my Empress...uh...how well do you know a female by the name of Livia Aphael?"