Xane's expression became dark. 

"Everything okay?" She asked although something was obviously wrong.

"Oh, ummm... I think we'd better get you back to regent apartments."  

Without any further explanation, Xane began  walking towards the door leaving Macon to watch  him walk away from her. 

After a few moments, she started after him. 

Macon watched nervously as the muscles in his arms tensed on the ride home. 

She felt uncomfortable to say the least as she sat in the irritated male's lap. 

The suggestive position that she found herself in only added to the tension between them.

She shifted again, trying to get comfortable.

A deep groan behind her stilled her movement. 

"I'm going to need you to be still." He finally said.

Macon was relieved when his tone was more playful than it had been only minutes earlier. 

"Sorry." She whispered. 

Once they'd reached the apartment building, Xane walked Macon into the lobby.  

"Look, it's possible that I may be gone for a few days.  You need to listen to Chiss.  Whatever he says, you are to do.  Do you understand?"   His voice was full of desperation, and it caused Macon to tense as she nodded. 

The situation was obviously worse than she'd first thought.

Realizing that he was going to be in danger, she flung her arms around him and crashed her lips to his in desperation.

His moment of surprise was quickly replaced with desire as he pressed against her.  Opening for him his tongue tasted her mouth for the first time.  He groaned with satisfaction.

All too soon, the moment was crushed as he pulled back and walked away. 

Macon all but ran from the elevator to Chiss's apartment door. 

She bang loudly. 

On the third knock, Chiss pulled the door open.  

Macon stumbled through the doorway in a frenzy.

She noted that he had two open garment bags laying on the table. 

"Are you going somewhere?"  She asked incredulously. 

"WE are leaving in ten minutes.  Actually.  Pack whatever you can fit in your carry on bag.  The last shuttle is about to leave.  The city has been evacuated."  He sounded far more irritated than she felt he ought to be. 

"What?" She nearly screamed. 

"What is going on?"  

"Macon, I don't have time to explain and pack and get us to the loading station all in ten minutes.  Would you please just pack some things and come with me?"

He let out an exasperated breath. 

"Okay." She stammered as she hurried to her own room to grab what she thought she might need. 

Three minutes later she zipped her bag and Chiss slung it over his shoulder in one fluid movement as though it weigh nothing.  

They jogged through the doorway of the loading station as the shuttle was about to pull away. 

"Hold." Chiss shouted out and immediately a male with a walk-in talkie said something in Aturian that Macon didn't understand, but the shuttle stopped all the same. 

She leaned over a moment to catch her breath. 

Chiss grabbed her arm and pulled her like an unwilling child. 

"Come on, we can rest once we're on board."  

His bright lavender eyes glistened with concern. 

Once they were situated in their seats, Chiss let out a frustrated sigh and ran his hands through his hair leaving it a wild mess. 

His eyes closed for a moment before he turned to look at Macon. 

"Would you have put up such a fight if I'd been Xane?"  

Macon looked at him clearly caught off guard by his question. 

"Nevermind.  It doesn't matter." He said before she had a chance to answer.  

They sat in silence for several minutes. 

Chiss was clearly uncomfortable sitting this close to Macon as he was dong everything in his power not to be pressed against her in the tight space.  

"Look, if sitting by me is bothering you.  I'm sure I can find somewhere else to sit." 

He growled out in frustration. 

"No you won't."

"I'm fine."
Macon noted that he clearly did not look fine. 

"Well," she blew out a breath.  "Can you at least tell me where we are headed?"

"We'll be in Neder by morning.  That is the city of my youth. My family home."

"And why exactly was the city evacuated?"   Macon asked softly hoping that now was the right time for questions. 

"Rebels." He said plainly.  " they were raiding the city."  

Macon sat silent for a moment. 

Suddenly, a hundred more questions swam through her mind, but when her eyes met Chiss's gaze she thought better of asking anything more.