Darion Navarr, an Assistant Negotiator for the Vaironian government, placed five small black boxes on an expansive wooden table. Tolrek Marou, the rebel leader, eyed his opposition carefully. Darion explained that Tolrek was to surrender himself.  Otherwise, one of the consequences in a randomly chosen box would be carried out---and that would only be the beginning.

Follow up:

Darion watched Tolrek's face, unable to decipher any emotion in the other man's dark-green eyes. Although Tolrek was making an extremely weighty deliberation, he was incredibly calm.

Over the past three years, this same unruffled resolve had created severe difficulties for the Vaironian government. Darion, only to himself and a few close friends, admitted that the government had brought the trouble upon itself. Had it properly dealt with the repercussions of the war against Ersha, Vaironia's warlike neighbor to the west, a resistance movement most likely would not have formed.

Six years ago, Ersha had attacked Vaironia. Mainly because of its 8,000 Krezka Units (KUs), highly advanced combat suits piloted by the country's most elite warriors, Vaironia was able to deal decisive blows to Ersha. Still, that was not enough. Vaironia lost and was ordered to disband its military. While Ersha did not have the troops to occupy Vaironia, it was enough of a threat to force the country to comply. Ashamed of losing, the government searched for a place to put the blame and centered on the Krezka Pilots (KPs). Most of the citizens of the country supported the government, allowing the KPs to be stripped of much of their rights.

For a while, the pilots were resigned to their lot. They believed they should have been able to defend Vaironia and, at a minimum, severely cripple Ersha. As a result, they accepted the government's treatment. Then, a year after the restrictions, some of the pilots became angry and openly voiced their feelings, Tolrek Marou being among the strongest voices of opposition. No longer did the pilots wish to be held responsible for the loss of the war. They attempted to get their concerns across but were repeatedly ignored.  The government tightened its control, causing more tension. The most vocal KPs, 200 of them, were branded terrorists. They, along with their families, were rounded up and placed in an Isolation Zone, a heavily guarded compound in the mountainous region of Vaironia.  Some of the Krezka Pilots, led by Tolrek Marou, revolted and escaped from the complex.

Marou and the other rebels effectively shielded themselves from capture for three years, causing disruptions that rippled through the entire society. Their most effective method was taking over the airways of the nation. They would provide information about which officials were truly responsible for the defeat in the war, broadcast how they believed they had been wronged and show footage of failed attempts to control them. Each televised broadcast ended with Tolrek Marou staring directly into the camera as he announced, "For now, we will act in a nonviolent fashion but always remember what we can truly do." As the country's most well-trained and effective warriors, the destructive powers all Krezka Pilots possessed, especially Tolrek Marou, was well known by the citizenry. The people did not need a demonstration.

As time passed, the methods of the rebels, mainly because they remained nonviolent, began to win over many of the citizens. They petitioned for the closing of the Isolation Zone and the pardoning of Marou's rebels. The upper-levels of the government remained stubborn, not wanting to admit their missteps. Instead, they sought to negotiate with Marou, to get him to admit that he was wrong and to inform the people that his actions would cease. The government sent in a negotiator...and another...and then another. After three of the most senior level negotiators failed, Darion Navarrr volunteered, promising to get results.

Immediately, Tolrek found Darion to be intriguing. Darion had informed Tolrek that he would come into the rebel territory unarmed and alone, both things the other negotiators had been too afraid to do. They, instead, had arrived with a small army and despite that, fear had rippled off them. Darion Navarr, however, entered the area as if he was perfectly welcomed to be there---and had every intention of taking over the place.

Now, in the latest round of verbal maneuverings, Darion's ability to be in control ultimately remained unshakable. He had refused to make any large concessions and in order to end the negotiations within the timeframe the government desired, had designed the current tactics. Truly, Darion regretted the latest steps he was taking. He found the process difficult to stomach but was determined to carry out his task. A small part of him was looking forward to bringing Tolrek Marou and his rogues to their knees, even if the selected methods lacked the finesse Darion preferred. So, he had brought a number of boxes, each one containing a consequence intended to devastate the rebels, especially Tolrek. The rebel campaign would not have been as successful as it was without him at the helm.

"Is anything even in those?" Tolrek asked, eyeing the dark cubes.

"Of course."

"Prove it."

"Not a problem," Darion said, "Choose any box you wish." Tolrek pointed to the third one from his left. Darion motioned for him to open it. The rebel leader pulled the box towards himself and opened the lid. A crisp, white piece of paper with the Vaironian Security Branch's blue and gold seal contained the words:

Consequence- Every child age 5 or younger in the Isolation Zone will be killed. Eleven women are scheduled to deliver a total of 14 children within the next two weeks.  The executions will be carried out after those births and will include the newborns.  There will be a 15.7% "loss".

Tolrek read the message several times. He considered that the other boxes could contain the same thing or similar words, if not more overwhelming ones. He knew that the country's leaders understood that the more time that passed with rebels on the loose, the more the rebels could change the political tides. That could lead to a government overthrow. In addition, Ersha was no doubt watching what was developing. According to some reports, Ersha was poised to strike again, especially with the Vaironia's attention so riveted on what Marou and his comrades were doing. Those concerns were most likely what had created these newest developments.

The stakes had become extremely high, perhaps too high for Tolrek to require his fellow rebels to handle. While he was even prepared to allow violence to get his point across, he had to consider the circumstances of his soldiers. Some of them still had families in the Isolation Zone. It was one thing to ask warriors to lay down their lives and another to ask them to sacrifice their families. He knew his choices were limited. He also understood that what the government truly wanted was to have him, in particular, restrained. As soon as the officials believed he was in check, they would get comfortable and if he desired, he would be waiting to capitalize on it.

"I anticipated your tenacity," Darion said, pulling Tolrek away from his thoughts, "So, I brought extra boxes. We will take the opened one off the table and replace it.  Your dilemma remains and your time for deciding grows short."

Darion assured Tolrek that the Vaironian government had no intention of changing its mind. Should Tolrek refuse to surrender himself and order his people to cease their actions, the government would carry out whatever methods it felt would rectify the situation.

"Krezka Pilots or not, you and your faction are breakable," Darion said, "I am prepared to bring the full force of the government down on you."

Despite his words, Darion knew the government preferred for any of the current possible consequences to be a last resort. He was aware that government officials appreciated Tolrek's capabilities, as long as he was on their side. In case later circumstances dictated it, the aim was to keep Tolrek alive, along with as many pilots as possible. Ersha could strike again. There was no point in Vaironia eliminating people that would, under the right conditions, be supremely useful.

"If I surrender, what will happen to the other rebels?" Tolrek asked.

"They will be pardoned for their actions."

"Oh, of course," Tolrek scoffed.

"It is the truth."

"I hardly think so. You're a negotiator. You lie all the time."

"Skip your bravado. If you were half as wise as you think you are, you wouldn't have me sitting in front of you. You've agitated the government far too much and now you're faced with quite a dilemma. I suggest you deeply consider your options before you make yet another false step."

The taunting in Darion's eyes caused Tolrek, who was normally unshakeable, to boil inside. There was just something about Darion, perhaps a certain level of arrogance, which annoyed Tolrek in ways no one had ever managed to do. That trait had been present throughout this latter part of the negotiations, coating many of Darion's words. Tolrek would consider it a personal triumph if he could get the best of Darion but he knew that it couldn't be done if he didn't remain calm. Tolrek cleared his throat and focused on what was truly important, preferring not to let the other man know the amount to which he had affected Tolrek.

"Does the government wish to use us in the future?" Tolrek questioned, searching Darion's steel-gray eyes for signs of the truth.

"I am not at liberty to discuss that," Darion answered. The two stared at each other for long, heavy moments.

"What about those in the Isolation Zone?" Tolrek asked.

"They will be released."

"Am I just supposed to believe that?"

"Mr. Marou, what you choose to believe is irrelevant. The government has been quite benevolent. Most of that goodwill has been overextended and is now getting withdrawn," Darion looked at his watch, "You have 10 minutes to decide. If the answer does not please me, I will choose a consequence."

Tolrek did not take the entire ten minutes to answer. He agreed to surrender...with the knowledge that he and the other rebels had prepared for this possibility. Unless it was necessary to act otherwise, Tolrek would be the epitome of a defeated rebel for the government. Besides, Tolrek reasoned, if the circumstances warranted it, there could be other ways for him to get what he wanted, even if it took longer than he anticipated. On a deeper level, he admitted that nothing would please him more than to throw all of Darion's hard work back in his face. It would just be a matter of time.

Darion Navarr reported to his superiors that Tolrek Marou, the spearhead of the three-year campaign against the Vaironian government was pacified. Yet, Darion was under no illusion that someone like Tolrek could be truly quieted. That aspect of Tolrek was why Darion had taken on the negotiation task in the first place.

~~~~~

One Year Later:

Darion checked his watch as he entered the Vaironian Security Branch building. Balon Warel, the Director of the VSB, had contacted him over one of the three channels available only to high-ranking government officials. Warel had informed Darion that his presence at a conference was necessary, keeping the details to a minimum. So, Darion had spent the two days between the phone call and the day of the meeting wondering what Warel had in mind.

After being screened at the VSB's entrance, Darion walked to the reception desk, his footsteps echoing on the black marble floor. He informed the attendant that he had an appointment. The meeting was due to start in approximately 15 minutes.

"Mr. Navarr, Mr. Warel left a message. He requires you to go to the meeting room closest to his office," the attendant stated, bowing.

Darion took the monorail to the innermost section of the VSB compound. Immersed in thought, he didn't note the curious and admiring glances from quite a few of the other passengers.

Darion's imposing presence had easily been handed down from the Tildari side of his family. Tildaris, from the planet Krefana, could be as much as 7 feet tall. They were known for towering at least a foot over many of the other inhabitants of the Rioles sector in the Elfraine Galaxy. Rich, brown skin was among their most striking features. Along with a strong jaw line and thick black hair, which he kept well past his shoulders, Darion had inherited those traits from his father, Ryam Navarr, a former Behadan, a ruler, of Tildar. From his Vaironian mother, Saha (Zamil) Navarr, he had received the Vaironian steel-gray eyes, with a dark blue ring around them, making his appearance all the more appealing. Some of the other passengers found their attention repeatedly going to Darion, wanting to know more about the handsome man who had bested Tolrek Marou.

When the monorail reached Darion's desired destination, he stepped out onto a burgundy carpet embroidered with the VSB seal. Going to the first of 12 conference-room doors, he presented his retina to be scanned and put in his security code. He was allowed into the room after the computer authorized him to do so.

Darion took note of the other people in attendance. Balon Warel sat at the head of the small table made of the sturdy, dark wood from Vaironia's national tree, the Zarva. Warel's hands were folded, a calm expression on his neatly trimmed, silver-bearded face. Parbina Elloy, the Assistant Director of the VSB, sat to the right of Warel. To Warel's left was Meric Treih, Lead Negotiator for the VSB. To Treih's left was Urdana Khane, Lead Security Strategist. Darion walked to the empty seat to the right of Elloy and sat down.

"Everyone, let us get straight to the point," Warel began after Darion had greeted everyone, "Another method of detaining Tolrek Marou will have to be established. It has come to my attention that while under the care of Warden Seran Za, Marou is being repeatedly abused."

Darion bit down on his jaw at this news, not exactly sure why he cared. He looked up to see if anyone had noticed his reaction. It didn't appear to be so. He set his mind to keep displays of emotion regarding Tolrek to a minimum.

"I believe the guards are working off a bit of stress," Meric Treih stated, "I imagine that Marou is quite a difficult prisoner. They truly have to be on their toes with him and surely some of that tension must get out of hand."

"Be that as it may, the government still needs Marou," Warel responded, "If he dies in our custody, sooner or later people will learn about it. He still has his supporters and his death might lead to another rebellion. We don't want him becoming a martyr. I had put pressure on the present warden to curb the actions of his men. However, he apparently did not heed my words. He will be announcing shortly that he is stepping down from his post to...spend more time with his family."

"Who will be the new VSB Warden?" Darion asked.

"Ormon Bayr.  He was originally going to be it," Warel answered, "At the time we were making our choice, Bayr was overseeing other matters. So, we opted to go with Seran Za. That, as you now know, has proven to be problematic."

"I'd like to remind everyone that I was against Za in the first place," Meric Treih announced.

"Yes, Mr. Treih," Elloy said, smiling. She noted internally that Meric, as usual, tried to distance himself from anything that remotely looked like it could cause trouble.  At times, it appeared quite cowardly. Still, he had managed to get far in the VSB, even if she disliked this tendency of his.

"Well, I called all of you together to get some ideas," Warel stated, "Tolrek Marou, as you all know, is a special case. As a Krezka Pilot, he has already gone through a great deal of mental and physical training. He is not going to be daunted by prison and so will try to cause as much trouble as possible. We have to get him under control because obviously, being in prison is not enough."

"From what I've learned about him, he has a strong ego. He is supremely confident and with good reason," Darion said, "I believe the best option would be to find something that affects him on a very personal level."

"So you're saying that our actions must have severe psychological bearing on him?" Elloy asked.

"Yes," Darion answered, "in a way he has never experienced."

"Do you have anything in mind?" Warel questioned.

"He can become a Pet."

Since he had grown up in Vaironian society, Darion understood the implications of what he was saying. He knew that pets were pampered individuals whose purpose was to please their masters and mistresses. Having a Pet was considered a status symbol, only the most affluent among Vaironia's population possessing them. The Pets were living monuments to the prosperity of their owners. While some people willingly became Pets, others frowned upon the lifestyle and avoided it, believing that type of existence to be empty. After all the time spent negotiating with Tolrek Marou, Darion was sure the rebel would not be able to stomach that kind of circumstance. It was exactly the position in which Darion wanted Tolrek.

"Intriguing idea," Urdana Khane commented, "Why?"

"While he can take orders, he values his autonomy," Darion explained, "A position where he has little freedom would be psychologically draining for him.  Plus, being controlled by someone who has proven to be more savvy than him will make things extremely difficult for him. In addition, to become a Pet...well it's simply not an option Marou would choose. "

"If we agree with this plan, who do you propose would willingly take on such a task?" Balon asked, though he already knew the answer.

"I will."  Darion said this with complete confidence, bringing some laughs, a displeased look and expressions of interest.

"Did you want to take charge of him Mr. Treih?" Darion asked, noticing the disapproval on Treih's face, "I was under the impression that your Pet, Hadir, was more than enough to suit your needs."

There was an uneasy silence as everyone waited for Treih's reply.

Treih bit down on his jaw, thinking that Darion Navarr really needed to be reminded of his place. Treih had never really liked Darion. He believed he was too reckless and had too much influence. Darion had worked quite rapidly up the VSB chain. Before Darion's career had taken off, Meric Treih was the one who had gained most of the attention in the VSB, especially in the negotiation wing. Though Meric was the Lead Negotiator, Darion's success with Marou had easily outshone Meric own moments of brilliance. Meric regretted offering Darion the task of subduing Marou. Meric's hope had been that Darion would fail. That way, he left himself open to being removed as a threat to Meric. Instead, Darion had completed the assignment in an impressive manner, often making him the topic of conversation among government officials and the public in general. Darion, as much as Meric disliked admitting it, was highly intelligent, handsome and charismatic.  It was a combination that contributed greatly to his rival's success.

"Any Pet I have will certainly not be a defeated rebel," Meric said, a haughty edge accompanying his laugh, "Perhaps our tastes are quite different, Mr. Navarr. Of course, that is to be expected given your...methods of operating." Meric smiled coldly, his eyes holding his dislike.

"Egos aside," Warel stated, "I believe Darion is on the right track as far as a psychological method being needed. Let's discuss other options in that vein."

Darion and the other VSB officials deliberated for over three hours on what to do with Tolrek Marou. By the end of the meeting, Darion had convinced the others that making Tolrek a Pet would have a desirable outcome. He assured them that Tolrek would be kept secure, unable to do further damage.

~~~~~

Tolrek Marou was lying on his bed 200 feet below the VSB building. He stared up at the ceiling of his cell in the maximum-security prison, which was used strictly for the country's most dangerous military criminals. It was not his circumstances that preoccupied Tolrek. Instead, images of Darion Navarr ran through the rebel's mind, warring with his desire to forget the government negotiator.

To take his thoughts away from the other man, Tolrek got up and began doing one-handed pushups, alternating hands. Fortune had no desire to assist Tolrek in removing the present subject from his mind. As he was in the middle of exercising, Darion walked into the cell. Tolrek looked up, surprised at who had entered but determined not to show his reaction. He steeled himself and continued his workout.

Darion took the opportunity to admire Tolrek's body. He watched as muscles honed from years of being a Krezka Pilot bent to Tolrek's will. Strands of the rebel's silvery hair clung to his face and neck as beads of sweat appeared on his body, creating a stirring contrast with his skin. Darion filed this arresting image away in his mind, deciding to work it into the many fantasies he had about Tolrek.

"148...149...150," Tolrek counted out and then jumped to his feet, "Tomorrow, I'll do 200."

Darion shook his head clear once he noticed bruises on Tolrek. Tolrek's right rib cage was battered, hues of black and brown marring his skin. One eye was blackened and his top lip was cut. A bump had grown on his left temple, slightly extending into his hairline.

"What happened to you?" Darion asked.

"For a few months now, the guards and I have been enjoying an almost daily workout routine. It's so...rigorous," Tolrek answered dryly, "I highly recommend it."

"I see."

"Of course, it takes several of them many tries to cause this much damage but you VSB boys are a persistent group. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Lord High Negotiator Darion Navarr?"

"I just came to see if you liked the premier facilities." Darion responded.

"Naturally..." Tolrek chuckled.

Darion leaned against a wall, folded his arms and returned to his surveying of Tolrek. The other man found the blatant scanning a bit disconcerting.

"Are you just going to look at me?" Tolrek demanded, feeling like an animal getting appraised for purchase, "Why exactly are you here?"

"I came to inform you that you will be living with me," Darion said.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"You will reside in my home."

"What? As your maid?"

"No," Darion told him, "Although that would be interesting...You'll be my Pet."

"Excuse me. You want me to become your Pet?" Tolrek laughed.

"I do believe that's what I said."

"Is this some kind of joke?  We've had more than enough dealings with each other."

"Consider this a continuation of the negotiations."

"What's in this for you?"

"Anything I want."

Tolrek laughed again. Smirking, he walked towards Darion, leaving only a few inches between their bodies.

"You're quite an arrogant government dog, aren't you?" Tolrek taunted. Darion suddenly stopped leaning against the wall and quickly slashed through the distance that separated himself from Tolrek. The other man's nose bumped against Darion's chest, making it clear who was more physically intimidating.

"You're quite an arrogant rebel, aren't you," Darion responded, looking down at Tolrek, "You should be honored that I'll allow you in my home...under my thumb."

"What if I said I was going to stay in the prison?" Tolrek asked, trying to pretend he wasn't affected by Darion's closeness.

"You can say anything you want," Darion told him, "What you ultimately do will be controlled by me."

Tolrek put some space between himself and Darion, his mind working, wondering what the other man was up to now. It would be interesting to find out. It wasn't as if Darion could truly break him. Darion had needed to use underhanded tactics in the negotiations and the government had ordered him to do so. If Darion thought he could handle Tolrek, then Tolrek would let him try. Besides, life on the outside might prove to be an advantage. He would be able to find out more about what was going on with the government. That was important, especially in case it began mistreating the KPs again. He would have to put up with Darion's arrogant attitude but that could be handled to fulfill a greater goal. Darion was most likely feeling lofty because of his success in the negotiations and he was bound to make mistakes. Tolrek believed he could capitalize on them.

"I accept," Tolrek said.

"I wasn't giving you a choice. Now, you do understand what a Pet is correct?"

"Yes."

"Do you also understand that, you are, in some ways, even more lowly than other Pets?" Darion noticed Tolrek tense at that and smiled, pleased that he could rattle Tolrek.

"I'm certainly not beneath those vacant sex toys," Tolrek snapped.

"Yes," Darion sniffed derisively, "You have so much pride. We'll see if you get to keep any of it."

Darion exited the cell, a small smile gracing his face. He'd watched Tolrek carefully once the rebel had learned he'd become a Pet. It had been clear to Darion that the other man had quickly considered ways to turn being a Pet to his benefit, far beyond the frivolous rewards a person could gain from being one. At least Tolrek believed he could garner different and substantially better advantages. Darion, on the other hand, intended to make some serious changes to Tolrek plans.

~~~~~

Tolrek shook his head in disgust at himself. He had wanted to see Darion again but two weeks had passed and there was no word. It must have just been a game to get him hoping, to make him dance like a puppet. Tolrek punched the wall then took a deep breath. From now on, he didn't intend to get eager about anything connected to Darion Navarr. It didn't even make sense to want to see the man that had forced his hand, sending him to prison. Yet, that was what Tolrek wanted.

He thought back to when Darion had visited him in the prison. He remembered how the other man had towered over him, how he'd struggled not to quickly back up and show he was the least bit concerned. He tried his best not to admit that even the slightest stirring of attraction had taken place during all those months of negotiations. Of course not. It just wasn't possible.

~~~~~

Darion sat, smiling, looking at the footage of Tolrek pacing his cell. Over the past two weeks, he had made preparations for Tolrek's arrival. Halsam, one of his servants, had set up a room filled with various types of modern-day comforts, sure to please the most fastidious of pets---or anger Tolrek, who prided himself on avoiding frivolousness.

Darion had requested that the VSB prison send him a copy of all files related to Tolrek. When his daily duties for the VSB were finished, Darion returned to his home, taking pleasure in watching how Tolrek's day went. He enjoyed the way Tolrek worked out. He became angry when he saw Tolrek charm one of the guards, getting the man to bring him cigarettes and better food. He'd wanted that guard removed as soon as possible. He had dialed the number of Ormon Bayr, the new official in charge of the prison. It was not jealousy that had caused him to do that. It couldn't have been. It was merely in the interest of maintaining the VSB's integrity.  Yes, that was it.

"Going to cause some trouble for yourself?" Darion heard. He laughed softly at Fei's words.

Fei was his supercomputer, an entity that oversaw the running of the house; whipping Darion's two main servants into shape when necessary, ordering household items through the electronic markets and doing a host of other duties.  Designed by Reya Kulani, a close and technologically savvy friend of Darion, Fei was imbued with some of her creator's personality traits. Every circuit was coated with a disarming mischievous obnoxiousness. Over the five years he'd had her, Darion and her had grown close, frequently sparring with each other. A digital confidant, she was also protective of Darion, lethal when it came to securing his safety and the well being of his household. Unwelcomed or unruly visitors could at the very least find themselves swiftly removed by one of seven guardian androids deployed by Fei.

"What makes you think I'm headed for trouble?" Darion asked. Fei sent a shapely longhaired female projection, one of three forms she normally used for materializing, to stand behind Darion, peering over his shoulder.

"Well, I see how you're looking at the screen," Fei began, "It's clear how much you want this man. My sensors tell me that your breathing increases when you speak of him or see him. If I remember correctly---and I do because I'm perfect----he's that pain in the ass rebel leader. I'm more than equipped to handle him but must he come here?"

"Yes. That is final. Everything is in place and I want to have him delivered tonight.  Be nice to him Fei."

"I wouldn't dream of hurting him, not seriously," she promised Darion, "Unless it's necessary."

"Yes, unless it's necessary. Now, go away, I need to make some phone calls.  Check to see that all the security features are in place."

"So rude," Fei said, pretending to be in a huff. Her materialized form disappeared and she turned her attention to other matters.

Darion accessed his videophone and searched for Ormon Bayr's contact information. Bayr's round and slightly haggard gray-bearded face appeared on the video screen soon after getting paged.

"Mr. Bayr, I hope things are going well for you," Darion began.

"They are fine, Mr. Navarr. I hope things are going well for you also."

"Thank you for your concern. Now, let me get to the point. You will be bringing Tolrek Marou to my residence. I expect him to be processed out of your prison and arriving at my home by 2700 tonight, personally delivered by you. I'd rather not have anyone else overseeing the matter."

"Well I...It's just such short notice," Bayr sputtered, "What about proper clearance? I don't mean to be offensive but ultimately, my main superior is Balon Warel."

"I assure you that I have Warel's acceptance of what I'm doing. You need only complete your part. I want Marou here tonight and do it as discreetly as possible."

"I don't think-----"

"Did I provide you with too much time?  Will 2300 tonight be sufficient? That gives you one hour. Make it happen."

"I will have Marou at your place by 2700," Bayr said.  He looked oddly defeated and Darion suppressed a chuckle.

"Thank you for being so accommodating."  Darion leaned in closer to the screen, half-closing his eyes and smiling softly at Bayr. Bayr found himself reacting to Darion's charm despite himself.

"It is my ple...pleasure to assist you," Bayr said.

"And it is my pleasure to be assisted by you. I won't forget this."

Darion ended the connection. He looked at the time. In just a few hours, Tolrek Marou would be arriving.