Brendan eyed the 'former' SkyWater employees without making a comment.
He had met two of them before, and sent them here, he realized. Somehow he hadn't expected them to still be here a decade later.
A far more familiar man walked out of the doorway across the room. Lief was followed by two more somewhat familiar faces. All six of the people who had been waiting in the King and Queen's quarters wore a brand new uniform design, in Eks Corp colors.
Brendan frowned at his brother and asked a little sharply, "Wasn't today the last day of your service?"
Lief ignored the question, and walked over to hug him. Brendan froze in shock. Rafaela turned and gave him a puzzled look that grew more worried with every passing moment.
It was her gaze, not his brother's seemingly affectionate welcome, that made him smile and return the hug.
Lief pulled back and observed his face critically. Brendan didn't have to spend long wondering what he read there.