"Of course, I did. Who do you think you’re talking to?"
"A drone with more attitude than sense."
He blew a raspberry before taking the lead. "Just follow me."
They moved swiftly through the Citadel, Jin signaling her to hide whenever his sensors picked up evidence of other Tuann.
Their journey ended not far from the suite they shared with Graydon and hisoshota.
"Last time there were two guards on the door," Jin said.
"What about the window?" The room had an exterior wall. Chances were there was a window.
"Guarded too," he said.
"Damn." Of all times for Roderick to actually display an aptitude for his job, it had to be now.
She could take out the guards, but it would alert the rest to danger as soon as the shift changed. That could be five minutes from now or five hours.
If she had the time, she would have chosen a spot from which observe the guards, pick up their habits, their comings and goings, their communications, whether they used a challenge and response, or if they were laxer with security.
Time was one thing she didn't have. The two co-conspirators could come for the Curs at any moment.
"There's an extensive network of small passageways in the ceiling. They're like the furnace ducts humans put in their homes except they're made of stone, are considerably less dusty, and would fit a full-grown person," Jin offered.
Kira curled her lip at him. Small spaces. She hated them with an undying passion. Left to her preferences, she'd avoid them. However, circumstances dictated going outside her comfort zone.
"Or you can ask someone to pull rank and order them away," Finn said from behind them.
Kira froze, giving Jin big eyes that asked, “What the hell?”
He made a strangled sound. "I didn't sense him. I swear."
Kira turned slowly to find Finn glaring at both of them, his mouth a thin line of disapproval.
"One of the first techniques anoshotalearns is how to disguise their passage from any and all," Finn said. "That includes inferior human technology."
Jin bristled. "There's nothing inferior about me, meat sack."
"You're welcome to test yourself against me," Finn offered coldly. "I would be happy to teach you the error of your ways."
"No, you're not doing this now," Kira hissed when Jin started toward Finn.
Sometimes her friend had all the impulse control of a toddler.
"Would you like to explain why you're standing outside this room?" Finn asked, his expression deadly. “I know the commander has already forbidden you from contact.”
Kira studied him, mentally calculating her options. She'd seen him on the obstacle course. Taking him down silently and unnoticed would be difficult.
Trusting him didn't feel like an appealing option either. He was part of the House actively trying to kill her. He could well be part of the conspiracy.
"Jin, play the recording for him," Kira said.
Trust needed to start somewhere and there was no way he was going to unbend enough to let her go on her merry way. Not without a fight guaranteed to attract any Citadel guards in the vicinity.
She watched him carefully as Alma and the other woman's voice came through. His face went blank, his head tilting as he listened. Fury grew in his expression as he realized what the two women planned.
By the time the recording had finished, his normal impenetrable mask had dropped, and a predator stared at her.
