“I don’t know what you are talking about,” the person replied before briskly walking off. 

Llaxia and the others were growing a bit frustrated as they moved through Stardust City inquiring about information on the auction. Only to get nowhere fast, either they didn’t know what they were talking about, or if they did they didn’t want to talk. “We are not getting anywhere,” Enja said softly as they walked.

“I know,” Llaxia replied with a sigh.

“There is a known associate of Kodrak’s that works in the next shop to your right,” Chon’al said through the earpiece they were wearing that no one else could see or hear. “She might be able to give you some information.”

Llaxia looked around before responding. “Do you have a name?”

“Sashara a Romulan woman,” Chon’al replied.

“I know who she is.” Tilana said through the earpiece. “if she doesn’t want to talk let her know that you work for Riheela she might open up then,” Tilana added.

“How do you…” Llaxia was about to ask before she was cut off.

“I’ll explain everything after this is all over,” Tilana replied which caused Llaxia to raise an eyebrow.

“Understood,” Llaxia replied.

Looking at the others who she noticed had all raised eyebrows, they all seemed to be wondering the same thing. They all seemed to shrug it off for the time being as they were sure that Tilana would explain everything in due time. “Well let’s do this,” Llaxia said as the three of them began to walk to the business in question.

As they drew closer to the building they noticed that it was a tailor shop called Sashara’s Tailoring. Entering they noticed that they had a variety of clothes for sale as well as you can request custom pieces. There were a few people in the shop browsing through the clothing.

“How can I help you?” A middle-aged Romulan woman said walking up to them.

“We are looking for Sashara,” Llaxia responded.

“I am she, what can I do for you?” Sashara replied looking at them.

“We are looking for information about the auction that is happening at Starlight Bar in three days,” Llaxia said watching her reaction which hadn’t changed.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Sashara replied turning to walk away.

“Oh I think you do,” Llaxia pushed trying to get her to react which didn’t seem to work. “We work for Riheela,” she added which caused Sashara to stop dead in her tracks turning back to the three. She looked as if she saw a ghost at the mention of Riheela’s name. Which made them think that there was more to Tilana than they realized just by her sheer reaction.

“Riheela is back?” Sashara asked as she looked at them who just nodded. “Come with me,” she added waving them to follow her to the backroom where they could talk privately. Once they were in the room she locked the door so no one would bother them. “What do you want to know?”

“Ask her who is in charge of the auction,” came the voice of Tilana through the earpiece.

“Who is in charge of the auction?” Llaxia asked as she watched her seem to fidget with her clothing. She seemed worked up which made her wonder what all happened the last time Tilana was on Freecloud.

“I don’t know,” Sashara replied.

“If she is fidgeting with something she’s lying,” Tilana stated.

“I think you do know,” Llaxia said looking at the woman sitting in front of them. “I mean you can tell us or we can wait here until Riheela comes here to get the information herself,” Llaxia said lying taking a leap of faith that it would work.

“A Klingon by the name of Kodrak,” she said as she stopped fidgeting with her clothing. However, Llaxia could see that she was struggling not to fidget with something in hopes that they would believe her.

“Let her know that I already met with Kodrak earlier and he is not the one running the show,” Tilana jumped in.

“Why don’t you just tell us what we want to know, we know that Kodrak isn’t the one in charge as Riheela already saw him earlier,” Llaxia replied as she watched her get more nervous and sweety than she had been earlier when they mentioned the name Riheela. They seemed to be getting nowhere and they stood up. “Guess Riheela will just have to pay a visit.”

“Alright, Alright I’ll tell you,” Sashara replied in almost a panic.

Llaxia and the others stopped turning around and looking at her, “where listening.”

“All I know is that she is an xB by the name of Baela. I have never met or seen her,” Sashara said looking at them.

“Thank you,” Llaxia replied with a smile before they both headed out of the backroom and out of the shop leaving Sashara in the room by herself. They headed down the street back towards their hotel room.

“What if she contacts one of them?” Enja asked.

“I can guarantee that she will and I am counting on it,” Tilana commented. “Chon’al I want you to dig up anything you can find on an xB named Baela for me,” Tilana ordered.

“Already on it,” Chon’al replied.

“What I don’t understand is why an xB would be running an auction selling Borg technology,” Llaxia said making sure no one was around as they walked. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Agreed there is something more at play here than we realize,” Tilana said.

Sashara shaken up by the exchange took a few moments to compose herself, she never thought she would hear that Riheela had returned to Freecloud. After a few moments, she walked over to the control panel tapping a few commands. After a few moments, Kodrak appeared on the screen looking a bit irritated that she would contact him.

“I told you to never contact me,” Kodrak said with a growl. “What do you want?”

“I know and I am sorry,” Sashara said trying to keep her panic down. “Riheela is back on Freecloud and has sent her associates to question me about the auction.” She replied looking at him not knowing that he was there with Baela and she was farther off screen but could hear every word that was being said.

“I am aware that she is back she came and visited me earlier,” Kodrak replied which confirmed that the group was telling the truth about Riheela visiting with him. “What information did they request?”

“They wanted to know who was in charge of the auction,” Sashara said nervously.

“What did you tell them?”

“I had to tell them, they promised that Riheela would come visit me if I didn’t. I tried to lie but they saw through that deception.” Sashara replied.

“You were never a good liar,” Kodrak replied.

“I am sorry,” she replied.

“It is what it is I will deal with it,” Kodrak said before ending the channel.

She panicked walking out of the back office she told everyone that was currently in her shop that they were closing and they needed to leave. Once everyone had left she closed up her shop for the night before leaving, she would hide until this whole mess was over. Kodrak scared her and she was afraid that he would send someone after her.