Millie’s fingertips caught the access panel as it swung down, catching it before it could fall to the deck. Pang had left her to sleep–which was a mistake. Though a day of training with the giant hulking robot may have been a mistake as well, because being tucked away in the ventilation ductwork was definitely reminding her of all of the muscle groups she’d used earlier today. She spun the panel, pulling it up into the duct and setting it aside, and slipped near-soundlessly to the floor in the darkened room. 

 

If Millie’s room had luxury items, this room made it look like a thrift store.  Old paintings, many of them Terran, adorned the walls along with vases, trinkets, and a lot of gold.  Also on the wall was a framed red and white flag with an odd symbol in the middle.  The room was silent, its occupant obviously in the bedroom from the sound of the snoring.

 

Millie slowly let out a breath, tucking her errant strands of hair back behind her ears. Her eyes scanned the room, looking for any weapons among the antiques adorning the walls. With her own weapons gone, and her knife broken in the first conflict with Pang, she would do better in the halls with something to protect herself with.

 

On a side table were photographs of a young blonde girl with a man in a black uniform.  Other pictures were of a wedding, and pictures of two young children, a boy and a girl.

 

Millie gave a brief glance at the photos, recognizing the boy–a much younger James. She could see the family resemblance in the girl. Odd that James didn’t speak much about her, nor had Patricia.

 

The main door hissed open and a woman’s silhouette showed in the door.  She stepped further into the room, eyes scanning the darkness, but her voice remained a whisper.

 

“Come on, get out of here!” Whispered Marcy.

 

Millie’s eyes flitted back to the bedroom. She moved quickly, slipping past Marcy, grabbing her elbow and pulling the secretary along with her.

 

Before they reached the door, the lights flooded the room, nearly blinding the pair, when a woman exited the bedroom in a luxurious black silken robe.  Her blonde hair was up in curlers and her ice blue eyes fell on them.  She looked no older than her mid forties.  When she spoke, she had a pronounced germanic accent.  “Ms. Lowe, why are you and this girl in my quarters?”  Her eyes focused hard on Millie.  “I do not recognize her.”

 

“Mrs Nadall..” Marcy looked from the woman to Millie and back.  “This is my new assistant.  I apologize for us being here, but she’s a big admirer of your social programs.”

“Ah, that is nice.  What is your name?”

 

Marcy looked to Millie hoping she’d play along.

 

Millie tilted her head, putting a pleasant smile on her face for the woman that must be her grandmother. “My apologies for the interruption. I have been told I can be a little…overzealous. My name is Aemilia, ma’am.”

 

The older woman walked towards them before looking to Marcy. “So my son has made you so busy that you need an assistant to the assistant.”

 

Marcy let out a nervous chuckle.  “Yes, Ma’am, he sure has.”

 

James’ mother nodded slightly before looking at Millie again.  “Where do you come from?”

 

“She’s actually from Cirran.” Marcy quickly interjected, naming a Shadow colony world.

 

“Ah.”

 

“Well Ma’am, we’re sorry to have disturbed you.  If you could see it in your heart not to mention this to your son?”

 

“Worry not.”

 

“Thank you!  Come on Aemilia, let’s go back to work.”

 

Millie gave an incline of her head and followed Marcy out of the room.

 

When the doors hissed close Marcy let out her breath.  “Oh my Gods……” she looked at Millie.  “Do you have any idea how bad that could have gone?”

 

Millie raised a brow. “You mean any worse than things already are?” Millie gave a huff and started down the corridor.

 

Marcy was the one to grab an elbow now.  “Yes.” her tone was quiet but dead serious.  “Do you know what she does in her social programs?”

 

“I’m acutely aware of what the family business does, Marcy.” Millie spun on her heel and pulled her elbow free. “Which is why I’m getting out of here.”

 

“Let’s take a breath and get something to eat and talk about this whole situation.  Storming off and trying something even worse than this will not help you.”

 

“I was kidnapped by my–” Millie clenched her jaw, the word threatening to make bile rise in her throat. “I am being held as a prisoner, Marcy. I need to go home.”

 

“I know you want to go, but forcing your way out is an impossibility.  The only chance we have is to convince him to let you go.”

 

Millie laughed out loud. “So, I’m just supposed to play the dutiful daughter for the next thirty or forty years until he changes his mind?”

 

“It won’t be that long.  He really isn’t that bad. I know we can get him to understand.  Of course there is another option.  Would it be so bad to bring your family here and embrace this?  You told me how you fear losing that little baby of yours. I can tell you that would never happen here.”

 

“No.” Millie said the word almost too quickly. “I will not bring my family into this–into any of this.” She waved her hand back to the door down the hall. “You think she would ever accept a Wohan great-granddaughter?” 

 

Marcy’s expression showed her answer.  “Okay, so there’s only one solution and that is getting him to agree.  Because if you were even able to get back home, he’d come for you again, and probably harder, especially knowing now who you are to him.”

 

There was a waiver in Millie’s lower lip. “I have to keep them safe, Marcy. Even If that means costing me my life. Evelyn, La’lana, Patricia–they are my family. Not him.”

 

“It’s a little ironic when you think of it.  Your friend could have ended up being your stepmother if she’d gone through with their wedding.”

 

“And if I hadn’t decided to protect her by taking him on as a client, we’d never know of my familial connection.” Millie sighed. “I’m well aware.”

 

“She was a tough one.  Scared the hell out of me.  Always grilled me for details when he’d be taking his…trips.”

 

“With fourteen unexpected pregnancies in twelve years, it sounds like she had a solid reason for asking.” Millie folded her arms. “So, now what? I go back to my quarters like a good daughter and just..wait?”

 

“For tonight, yes.  Tomorrow morning I’ll bring him for breakfast and we can all talk.  Get him to see how important your family is to you.”

 

Millie glanced up, seeing Pang standing further down the corridor. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Unauthorized.” Millie sighed, shoving her hands back into her pockets. 

“I’ll never be what he wants me to be, Marcy. We have to convince him of that.”

 

“Get some sleep and be ready to put on your best convincing argument tomorrow.”

 

Pang held up a hand, silently gesturing down the hall, and Millie followed.

 

Marcy watched her walk away as her watch beeped.  She sighed and tapped it.  “Coming, Sir.”