"Who taught you the move I saw you practicing?" Kira asked.
Joule's face turned guilty. "No one. I watched the otheroshotapracticing and copied them. Fari tried to help, but he couldn’t do it either."
That would explain why he was using a technique way more advanced than his current skills.
"You know if you'd been successful, you'd probably have broken your shoulder and given yourself a concussion," Kira said.
His expression turned stubborn.
"We can help you," Ziva said. "I heard them talking. You know nothing about House politics. We can be your guides."
Kira snorted. "You're both children. I somehow doubt you're going to be of that much use."
Arrogance settled on Joule's face. "I might not look it, but I was the heir to our House, and Ziva would have become my first when she got old enough to protect me. Our parents started our education in House matters. Can you say the same? They're extremely difficult to navigate for outsiders, I'm told."
The kid had a point. Tuann five-year-olds probably had a better grasp of the inner workings of a Tuann House than Kira.
She considered their words. Their insight might prove useful. Given Kira knew what they wanted, she could account for their agenda where other Tuann might have hidden motivations for steering her wrong.
She sighed. "I can get you started on the basics and show you things more suited to your current skill level. That's all I'm going to promise right now."
Joule looked cautiously optimistic.
She pointed at him, sinking resolve into her voice. "Just to be clear. I'm not promising to stick around. As soon as I get them to give up their claim, I'm turning right around to head to O'Riley Station and getting my ship."
Kira ignored Amila’s stare drilling into the back of her head.
She knew her decision wasn't going to make her popular with Graydon or any of the people he'd set to watch her. She didn't care. She'd spent nearly thirty years establishing a life for herself. It might not be the greatest but it was hers. They could accept it or not. Their choice.
Joule didn't look at his companion as he held Kira's gaze. "We will accept those terms."
Kira studied him and shook her head slightly. He might say they accepted, but she could see he didn't really mean that. When it came time for her to leave, he'd try to change her mind.
Oh well, she'd done her best to make him understand the facts. At least he couldn’t claim she hadn't warned him.
"We're beginning our descent," Amila said quietly from behind her. "You should prepare yourselves."
Kira reached for the seat belt and fastened it around her.
"Kira, do mine too," Jin insisted.
"How do you expect me to do that? You don't have a body I can fasten the belt around." She made it clear how ridiculous she found his request.
He sank down until he was resting on the seat. "You can pull it across me. It'll work."
"I'm not doing that."
"Come on. I'd do it for you," he cajoled.
"Because I have a body it would fit around. Even if I did fasten it around you, the moment we rolled, you'd slip right out," she said.
Jin stared at her. "Kira!"
He was going to be stubborn about this. She knew it.
She growled and reached across him, grabbing the belt and fastening it. Finished, she sat back.
"You look ridiculous," she told him.
