Galactic Gale

Chapter Nineteen

Scientific Scuffle

A small chime announced they had reached the top floor.

Kael followed the others out the elevator, down a bright corridor, and into a circular room. The walls shimmered where they were not covered by framed blueprints, the sun's light reflecting against the material through the floor to ceiling windows.

"Welcome," a human man said. He stood from behind the desk, his grey suit without flaw and his long hair tied in a neat ponytail. The head of operations might have been human, but his large ears dropped towards his shoulders. He had some mixed blood – rare and something Kael had to restrain himself from asking about.

Abe strolled fearlessly into the room and accepted the hand the Head of Operations held out. With Amara, Cyre stayed by the now closed door, the receptionist already heading back down the corridor.

Devon Yulle, Kael read from the name plate on the desk. He gave the man another look over, making sure to pay attention to the shape of his jacket. The silky fabric budged slightly on the left side. Devon was carrying a blaster of some kind.

"Princess Galtionie said you had some questions to ask me concerning waste which was found in Uterca." Devon took his seat again and gestured for them to join him. Only Abe made a move for one of the other chairs. "I heard about the dumping on Uterca. Terrible doings."

For his credit, Devon sounded upset about the incident. Kael wondered if it was because he was guilty, or if he was simply bothered by the occurrence because his company had been connected to it.

"Did the princess mention anything else?" Amara's tone was sharp, and Kael chewed his bottom lip to stop from turning to face her.

"Only that she was sending people to investigate further." Devon shuffled some papers on his desk. "Although I must admit there's not much I can do to help you."

"Why is that?" Kael stepped forward in attempt to block Amara from throwing any accusations at the man. He knew what she was thinking: why did Nona send anyone if she could have spoken to Devon on the phone?

Kael knew the answer. It was easier to pick apart lies when you were face-to-face with someone rather than over a call. To see their face, the flickers in their eyes, and the twitching of their fingertips. A lifetime in politics had taught them such.

"Well, this is rather embarrassing to admit," Devon said, leaving his paperwork. His fingers drummed on the tabletop. "We had a break in. Several, actually, in the last few weeks."

"A break in? Here?" Kael recalled the guards he had seen in the lobby while they had been escorted through. They had been armed with weapons he was unfamiliar with, products of Galaticion which were yet to be released on the open market.

"In our waste disposal centre, of all places. I've placed extra precautions on the ground floor. Since the motion scanners were added, we've not had any further problems. I never thought I'd see the day where it was needed to have guards patrolling our bins."

"Anything of particular interest thrown out?" Amara dodged around Kael. Her arms were still crossed, back straight.

"Everything important is kept. We try not to throw away things which can be reused. No. It's only scraps and odd pieces which are no use to anyone that we dispose of. Galaticion hopes to inspire others to be environmentally friendly. After all, we're all in this galaxy together."

"It might be possible an employee is up to something," Kael suggested. He ignored the cheesy pitch line Devon threw their way and exchanged a glance with Amara.