"We need to get you medical attention," the mystery man said half to himself and half to Solae, who was leaning against the window of the aircar.

Her side was burning from where she had been grazed but the pain did not concern her as much as the events that had just transpired. There was a bounty on her head she knew, yet Duke Tan needed her alive to access the PEA, and the mercenary woman had been undeniably shooting to kill the marquise rather than debilitate. The last few days had forced the diplomat to confront her mortality. Dying from injuries sustained in risky escapades with Rene was a distinct possibility- but it was a choice. They had elected to save the enslaved Syshin, to steal the [i]Bonvanture[/i], to run headlong into danger knowing the risk. The would-be assassin did afford her any choices. Had this stranger not intervened she could have been murdered in cold blood without any agency, without choice, without even the knowledge of why she was being targeted now and to what ends.

"Cristeta," the man said as he pushed a button to his left. The screen between the driver's seat and the passenger seat lit up but there was no visual of the woman being summoned. Instead of being greeted with a digital display of her face there was only a solid green line indicating a connection and moving blue waves that indicated the tone and pitch of the voice being transmitted. "I need you to meet me at my safe house on Kadiev."

"Understood," the other side responded. "What sort of injury do I need to pack for?"

The man put a finger to his lips to indicate Solae and Rene should stay quite before he replied. "It's not for me. A young woman in her twenties who was grazed by a plasma bolt. I'd like you to make preparations to also give her a proper check-up and none of your assistants this time. It's in our best interests we act with the utmost discretion this time, Cristeta. Our ETA is about twenty minutes."

"I'll see you then, Ten," she said hastily before ending the call. One could only presume this meant she had little time to make her way to the safe house mentioned before their helpful companion would be considering her tardy. The entire exchange had a passive sense that the 'good Samaritan' was in a higher position than the physician either in terms of wealth, socially, and/or politically. He was not overly condescending to her but he was definitely giving orders he expected to be obeyed.

"Who are you? Is your name Ten?" Solae asked once the call had been obviously terminated.

"Ten is the name I go by but obviously not my real name," he stated calmly. "I had my suspicions when New Concordia went dark that something happened to you or your parents, but I am relieved to see that you are well. You must be the soldier I've heard rumors about traveling with Solae," he to Rene.

"I am," Rene confirmed with more than a little suspicion. No one wanted to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth but this man was still suspicious enough that he was keeping his guard up. Just because he and Solae were safe now was no guarantee that Ten's motivations might not shift and convince him to betray them for the lofty rewards offered.

"Why are you helping us?" Solae demanded with thinly veiled frustration as she favored her side.

"That is an excellent question but there is not an easy answer for it I'm afraid," Ten said smoothly. "Your parents, grandparents, and generations before them have been active in the courts of the empire. What I doubt they told you was that their ties were not limited to business arrangements with other nobility. The Falias have been collecting information since before they even realized what they were doing. People like to share with the Falias because they are charming, trustworthy, loyal, and judicious- you do not hear of the Falias using their clout to topple dynasties simply because they can. Some opportunists would rather see you dead than have you inherit the fortune of secrets the Falias keep and store. I would much rather help you now and ensure that no one else finds the skeletons in my closet. That and I rather liked your parents. They were eccentric individuals but shrewd and sensible, which is more than I can say for most of their standing."

"The Falias keep secrets?" Solae asked mystified. "What sort of secrets?"

"They know much I imagine- everything from the illegitimate children of the upper class and their torrid affairs to the crimes that have been committed, known and unknown, against each other and the general populace. I've no doubt that if Duke Tan hears about this cache he will try to exploit it to undermine the Empress's power, though a man like him must have his own secrets, or family secrets, to which the Falias are privy."

"Were my parents... criminals?" the marquise asked quietly.

"No, not at all. They listened but to the best of my knowledge they didn't dabble in illicit trade. If anything it likely taught them about how easily destroyed a duke or duchess could be if the truth about them was exposed. They had the wisdom of caution from what I've heard. I am, however, a criminal," Ten remarked casually.