I recalled what Kunta had told me during our tense conversation in that hotel room at the Whitesun.
She'd explained that Zakthar—her partner and fellow Starakian—had left her restrained and unconscious in that room before departing. She'd assumed it was temporary, that he'd return within hours or perhaps a day at most.
But when she'd finally awakened roughly two months later for reasons I still found deeply suspicious and couldn't fully explain, Zakthar hadn't been there. No trace of him, no message, no explanation for his absence.
She'd simply been waiting in that room ever since, hoping perhaps he would eventually come back and provide answers about what had happened during those missing months.
But this woman Lucy had just casually mentioned babysitting an alien.
I seriously doubted that Zakthar was receiving "babysitting" in the sense of being a willing guest or ally receiving hospitality and protection.
