Graydon's lips tilted up the barest bit, warning Kira he found this entirely too amusing for her comfort. He must be doing cartwheels inside at having so thoroughly thwarted her. She'd be impressed if she wasn't so infuriated.
One of Graydon's oshota—elite warriors who were some of the deadliest fighters Kira had ever seen—stepped forward carrying what looked like a small rock. Amila's nod was respectful as she set the silvery amethyst stone in front of Jace.
They all looked at the rock. It sat there, doing what rocks do.
Jace's expression was befuddled while Raider raised an eyebrow.
The rock didn't move. No tricks were performed as it lay there—inert.
Jace cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I'm not familiar with this technology."
"Place your hand on it and think of who you want to contact. The anchor will do the rest," Amila said.
Jin made a fascinated sound as he drifted closer, pointing the lens on his front that acted as his eye, at the rock. It was an unnecessary affectation, an inside joke taken from old movies and TV shows from Earth. He had hundreds of mini-cameras built into his case, allowing him a 360-degree view of his surroundings at all times.
"It's mental-based, isn't it? Like the Nexus?" Jin asked.
No one answered for a long moment.
"Yes," Amila said when the silence deepened further.
Jace placed his hand on the rock, his forehead furrowing.
"This is theCSS Valiant. You're using an unauthorized channel," a disembodied voice barked.
"This is Rear Admiral Jace Skarsdale. Confirm voice ID print, code alpha, romeo, delta, sierra, one, niner, two."
"Stand by." The voice sounded slightly startled. Seconds later, the person said, "Code confirmed. What can I do for you, sir?"
"I want a link to Admiral Akira Himoto, top priority, highly classified," Jace said.
"Roger that."
There was a click, and then a man appeared at the end of the table, his hands folded in front of him, his expression contemplative.
Admiral Himoto had been part of Kira's life almost since the moment she'd freed herself from her childhood captors. He was a father figure and mentor all rolled into one. He was the reason she'd joined the Space Force and the person who had forced her to see her unique traits as tools to be used and embraced rather than fought and feared.
He’d told her that her abilities might have arisen from the evil acts of greedy men, but she could choose what to do with her talents. She'd never forgotten that lesson.
Forces outside her control might shape her, but she was in charge of what she became. No one else.
For that reason, she would always love him, even if she no longer trusted him.
He had the weight of an entire race on his shoulders. One lost lamb didn't outweigh the duties he wore like a mantle.
No longer the young man of her childhood, Himoto had aged in the years she'd been away. He was of Japanese descent, and his hair had more gray and white now than black, with faint lines riddling his face. Despite that, the impact of his gaze showcased that same forceful personality she remembered from their first meeting. Eyes that were calm, yet held a wisdom as deep as the ocean.
He didn't seem surprised by his abrupt summons, regarding them calmly. "Lord Graydon, to what do I owe this pleasure? I trust Kira hasn't been too difficult."
Graydon's teeth flashed. "You're a canny human. You knew exactly what we faced. A warning would have been nice."
Himoto allowed himself the briefest of smiles. "I did try. It's not my fault you refused to listen."
Graydon's chuckle was deep, but it didn't fool Kira. Despite the slight teasing, Graydon was a tiger with a man's shape, waiting for his enemy to show weakness. Only then would he pounce.
Himoto's thoughtful gaze moved over them. To Jace, he said, "I assume since you are calling me in this manner, things have not gone as planned."
"We've encountered a slight problem," Jace confirmed.
