It was weird to be back in the building that housed the galactic ambassadors. Last time I wet foot here we fought to aid and protect the Terran ambassador from assassination. Fun times.

Useless and I trailed behind Isaac and Nix who seemed at ease within the walls. They chatted quietly amongst themselves as we ventured deeper into the facility. The irritation from the pub had yet to be subdued and not being able to make out their conversation only fueled the embers.

"They sure seem chummy," Useless mused in my ear, his voice low so they couldn't hear him.

A deep frown formed on my face. Of course, the two had always been close at least in the time I had known them. The way they argued and joked honestly made me think there was more going on there than met the eye. This current conversation though had our names written all over it. "That's probably because they are talking about us."

Useless shrugged in response. "Opinions are like ass holes, everyone has one."

I chuckle under my breath. "Yeah, think I heard that somewhere too."

The two-man party in front of us came to a stop in front of a large closed door to allow us to catch up. A somber feeling overtook the group once we all stood together. Seemed like no one except Useless was happy to be here having claimed he hadn't seen Tiffany in ages and had no idea they were both here the entire time.

"I'll be doing all the talking so please, try to bite your tongue."

Glower was an understatement as my stare sunk into Isaac's skull. I wasn't surprised by his statement, it was classic Isaac. He needed to take control of a situation he had no control of. On some level, I agreed that getting a handle on the problem was the best course of action but the freedom seeker in me reeled at the thought of not speaking my mind.

"Can't make any promise," I muttered folding my arms across my chest.

"You..." Isaac's words were cut short as the large steel door opened and out stepped a sight for sore eyes. Tiffany looked much different than I remembered her being when we met a couple years ago. Then again, back then she was waist-deep in her newest tech project and surrounded by her highly humorous obsession, anime. No one would believe it but the Yaemeran actually designed her Mecca after the Gundams in Gundam Wing.

The Yaemeran where a tall lanky race, much like how Terrans imagined all alien life to be, just much taller and with one optical rather than two. A terrifying sight if you had a mind locked as tight as a bank vault. Their ghostly appearance only added to the otherworldy ambiance they possessed. Once you found out they used telekinesis most tapped out. It wasn't a surprise they controlled most of the cosmos.

"It's nice to see you all, though I wish it were under better circumstances."

Isaac stepped forward and extended his hand in greeting. "We're very grateful for you arranging this."

"Hold up," Useless interrupted, confusion laced into his words. "I thought you were exiled."

Tiffany nodded a small smile on the edge of her lips. "Indeed I am. Our part in preventing the assassination of the Terran Ambassador brought me a unique opportunity to continue to aid in the bigger fight." Her eyes held a flame that I knew all too well as she held eye contact with Isaac. She didn't agree with his choices as well.

"Tiff, I'm gonna be really pissed off if you're making them meccas when you refused to make me one," Useless warned in a deep tone.

Tiffany smiled fully this time, showing a full set of pristine teeth. "They are far more responsible than you are Ted. Now," She redirected her gaze on the rest of us. "You will be speaking in the presence of both the Terran and Yaemeran Ambassadors along with the galactic council."

My brow shot towards the ceiling. "No MIBs?"

"They trust my judgment will be in the best interest of the bureaucracy so they will not be in attendance." Isaac's voice had taken on a level edge that could neither be read as hostile or friendly. Legitimate neutrality. This was looking to be more of a trial and less of a meeting about damage control. As my eyes found Useless it seemed we were on the same wavelength.

"So much for being an ex-agent," I muttered pushing past the small crowd at the door. "Let's get this over with."

Without words, the rest of the group filed in and seated themselves around me on the opposite side of the table my prosecutors sat. Five in total. It wasn't many but they were ten extra eyes on me which made my skin crawl. I had become semi-familiar with the Terran Ambassador after our protection assignment two years ago and could identify the Yaemeran easily enough. The three galactic council members, however, were all new faces.

"Thank you once again for meeting with us. The bureaucracy would first like to extend an apology for not keeping better tabs on our charge." The words slipped effortlessly from Isaac's lips as if he'd issued the statement a hundred times over in the past. The void in my stomach grew a little larger.

"The Multidivisional Intergalactic Bureaucracy has many charges they look after so these scenarios are unavoidable." The first person to speak was one of the council members. She was an older Felis. Like the girl who had served me coffee only hours ago, she too had a thin layer of nearly translucent hair on her skin. Her piercing emerald eyes caught mine from across the table as she spoke.

"It is unfortunate that this particular one holds such gravity." This time it was a different council member that spoke, one of a race I'd had only seen in passing. His height was much greater than any of us that sat within the room, his frame more round than linear and adorned with dark lapis lazuli feathers. Three deep black orbs rested in his circular head directly above a long, gold, beak.

"Thank you for your leniency. We realize the gravity of the situation and ask for permission to amend these infractions."

The third member of the council glanced at each other before the third one in the group responded to Isaac's request. "How do you plan to accomplish that?"

• • • • 🜃 • • • •

"This is fucking bullshit."

To say that I was pissed would be an understatement. I had reached so far past pissed you could practically see the fire flare from my nostrils.

"It would have been far less severe if you had done as I instructed." Isaac's voice seemed calm and at ease, the complete opposite of how I felt. They had wanted to restrict my movement to Proxima, which was ludicrous. Sure there were plenty of opportunities to make a few credits here and there but I didn't enjoy being told what to do. Now I was sentenced to the Lawless.

I kept my mouth shut as we entered the bay of the ship. We should have been taking off by now but instead, it was almost dusk because we wasted half the day being lectured on the adequate of the cosmos. At least Isaac knew everything they had to say fell on deaf ears. It was the fate of any conversation that sounded like a lecture.

"So, I can crash in my old room yeah?" Useless hadn't left my side since Isaac crashed our plans early that morning. I didn't blame him, nor did I want to give Isaac the opportunity to turn him away.

"The room next to me is empty," I offer not bothering to stop my pace. With extra force, I push past Isaac's frame and lead the way for a silent Useless as we make our way to the second floor.

"Well I'm beat," Useless yawned with a wide stretch of his arms.

My eye's rolled automatically. "Well tough shit. I'm about ninety percent sure that Isaac is going to be leaving the ship tonight so we need to be ready for that."

Useless gave me a flat look, unimpressed with my statement. He'd been convinced we were headed to bed. "How could you possibly know that?"

I give him a coy smile. "Because that's exactly how I planned it."