Graydon put Loudon out of his mind as he walked toward Kira, knowing the oshota wouldn't let the other man out of his sight. It allowed Graydon to focus on what was important.
Harlow joined him, staring up at the watery cocoon Kira had wrapped around herself. "Someone find Quillon and tell him we have a second patient for him once he’s done with Wren.”
Loudon laughed from his spot on the ground, the sound nearly insane. "You won't be able to save her. There's no way to break the link, and if it persists, she'll kill them all."
Finn kicked the other man in the stomach, satisfaction skating across his face at the sight of the other man’s pain.
“How did you get here?” Harlow asked.
“He came with us,” Raider said, stepping into the room with Solal at his back. “Wasn’t expecting him to race ahead without a by your leave, but it appears it’s a good thing he did.”
The room was quiet as Raider’s lips quirked. “I see the Phoenix is rubbing off on you. I'd watch that if I were you, or you'll end up being just like her."
Finn’s expression was stony as he remained locked on Loudon.
Seconds later, Raider blanched at the sight of Kira hovering in her sphere of water. "What the hell is that?"
"The trial," Graydon informed him.
Agonized cries ripped from Devon and Aeron as hazy images flickered in the water's depths. Insubstantial and faded but growing more pronounced with every second they lingered.
Kira was silent and still, even as the other two twisted, unable to stifle their pain.
Raider frowned. "I know that place. It's Atlas right before the battle for the planet." His gaze found Graydon, his eyes hard. "Why is my captain trapped in a nightmare?"
"I have a feeling she did it to herself," Graydon said grimly.
"Why would she do that?"
Graydon's attention moved to Devon and Aeron.
Raider caught his hint. "They're living this too?"
Graydon nodded.
Raider grimaced. "Poor bastards. I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone."
Graydon's hands clenched, frustration at his helplessness eating him up inside.
"I didn't realize she'd held onto this battle so tightly," Raider said softly, his gaze moving over the images.
"You wouldn't." Jin drifted out of the shadows.
The oshota went on the defensive, en-blades appearing in hands. The tension in the room ratcheted up as arrows of energy formed in the air around them.
Raider grimaced. "I forgot to tell you. He's the reason I was able to get here so fast. I was already on my way when Solal found me." To Jin, he said, "You were supposed to stay out of sight."
Jin harrumphed. "Like I was going to listen. Really."
"What abomination is this?" Makon asked.
Jin made an aggravated sound. "These guys are a touchy lot, aren't they?"
"Perhaps it's the fact you're not supposed to be here," Raider suggested as the room hovered on the edge of violence.
All it would take was one jumpy oshota, one misconstrued gesture from Jin, and Graydon would lose control of the situation.
He couldn't afford that with a helpless Kira in the mix.
