30
Chapter 30
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2022, Planet: Grimoire
Ah right, Takesha, the one person that he hadn't been able to communicate with from the start because they were just out of range from where she dwelled. "I do have some acquaintance with her." Doyle nodded. "I've called upon her a few times in the past before."
Briefly, the Commander frowned on hearing that, but he refrained from further suggestions, well other than to inquire. "Just how did you become acquainted with her?"
"Hmm? Oh, we attended classes together when we obtained degrees in management and owned small businesses back when I still lived in the countryside of Crimson Stalks." Doyle named a notorious area that was rife with outlaws and riffraff that did nothing to contribute to the republic. "I resided there as a farmer and later as a craftsman." He shrugged when Darmono stared at him in astonishment.
"It was after I'd barely escaped from a premeditated assault that I came across her being harassed by the same group. I dispatched them into a whirlpool of tar." They'd never come back from it and Doyle hadn't cared about their fate.
Darmono winced. "I do recall hearing about that particular circumstance. I just hadn't known it was you who'd trapped them in that thing." His obvious respect and amusement startled Doyle.
"So why weren't you able to get in touch with Murray?" The commander inquired.
Doyle wondered how many times he'd be asked that. "Oh, we're just out of communications range." The fact that he hadn't done it this time was mainly because he wasn't within communication earshot of her residence or facility.
Otherwise, Doyle didn't doubt that there'd have been a much different set of circumstances right now. Mainly that he wasn't stuck in the proximity of either an Alpha or Omega right now. He barely restrained a sigh from escaping him while he waited for Darmono's next move.
Fortunately for him, the Commander seemed satisfied with his response and nodded politely. "I will resume my work out there." He grunted and left the carriage only to return within seconds. "You two are free to depart."
Huh, maybe it was because they were cleared of suspicion? "Ah, thank you very much." Doyle hoped so. "I'm glad. I do need to return to the orphanage."
Bemused, Doyle looked from him to the other officers who were scowling in their general direction. Hmm, from what he could tell they just seemed disinclined to work at all under such conditions and he couldn't blame them at all. Very well then, they would depart so that no further delays could be attributed to their clearly unwelcome presence at that point.
Doyle nodded politely to the Commander and who else had arrived. Now wasn't the time to worry about what impression he left behind on those who were remaining behind. He just wanted to get out of there. "We can depart now, Grimes." He called politely.
Grimes glanced down at him from his perch. "You doing, okay?" He knew exactly what just happened but knew better than to offer advice.
"I'm barely able to function, in all honesty," Doyle warned him. "As to whether I can still walk, yes."
Grimes frowned upon hearing that. "Shall I make a stop by Madam Murray's clinic?" He inquired finally. "I think you really do need a check-up now rather than later." This time he really needed to intervene.
Considering what could've happened, Doyle didn't blame him one bit for making that decision. "Yes, we can stop by her clinic. I think both the babies and I need to be checked over." He admitted, much to Grimes' relief.
Doyle closed his eyes as he leaned back against his seat. He'd put away his work because there was no point in trying to concentrate further right now.
"All right, I put in a call to her on the emergency device," Grimes informed him. "Since we're now out of that dead zone." A sigh escaped from him. "She's waiting for us to arrive."
Damn, that had been a close call. "Yes," Doyle hastily applied his patch that would dampen down the side effects. "It looks as though I'm going to have to go for further testing." He should've done it years ago but had let it slide because he hadn't remembered just how intensely his allergy would react to pheromones of any kind.
Grimes coughed. "Just how long has it been since you were tested?" He sounded positively shocked that Doyle had gone that long without having any kind of reaction to either Omega or Alpha.
Doyle blinked while he thought about the question. "Hmm, good question," He frowned at the ceiling as he sifted through various dates and appointments in his mind. The resulting response that came up in his mental calendar was appalling. "Uh, far too long. I'm guessing two decades ago."
Grimes shook his head, disapproval radiating from him. "In that case, it's no wonder you've been getting so cranky lately." He grumbled loud enough for Doyle to hear.
Doyle exhaled. "Yes, I realize my error." He acknowledged mildly. "I'll set up an appointment and clear my schedule so that I don't miss it." That was now something he couldn't miss doing obviously.
Grimes snorted. "I already informed the madam about the situation. She'll test you as soon as we arrive and get situated in some exam rooms." His testy tone made Doyle wince. "I won't repeat what she had to say about your refusal in the past."
Clearly, the madam was going to get some kind of revenge for avoiding the subject. Doyle grimaced and sighed. "Very well, I'll take my punishment politely." He just hoped that she wouldn't be too rough on the children. They didn't deserve that type of treatment just because he'd been a negligent fool about his own health.
Grimes shook his head. "She's merely worried that one of these days you're going to get caught by some conniving individual who still believes you're an heir to some marquis or duke family."
Ugh, what a nuisance. "So that type of rumor still abounds, eh?" Doyle could've sworn he was disinherited and completely removed from his family's register. In fact, he'd abdicated his rank and title the moment he relocated to this republic. So why was that coming back to haunt him now?