Kira ignored the exchange.
Himoto looked considering before he speared her with a gaze. "Well done, dear, but I still have one move left. You really shouldn't have wasted time gloating."
Kira's lips parted.
Himoto didn't wait, reaching forward and tapping a button out of sight. There was a brief tone as Himoto's hologram snapped out of existence, leaving them staring at empty air.
Kira shook her head and blinked. She stood slowly.
He couldn't have.
A smile broadened on Kent's face. "Remember—last order given."
Then Kent's feed snapped off too.
Kira shook her head again. No. This wasn't happening.
"I'll be damned. That old fox outsmarted you," Jin said with awe.
Kira's teeth clenched; her gaze still focused on the spot where Himoto had been.
"The regulation you cited only works if you can confirm receipt of your resignation," Raider said thoughtfully. "Until you do, you're still considered active."
"Which means you have to obey the last order given," Jace finished.
And that was to accompany the Roake home.
Graydon's smirk caught her eye. He mouthed, "I guess it's still my win,coli."
Kira inhaled deeply. Strangling the Emperor's Face wouldn't help her situation—even if it would make her feel better.
Kira slapped her hands on the table and shoved her seat back. "No, I'll find him and cram that resignation down his throat."
Himoto wasn't winning like this.
"That would be considered leaving your post without orders. You'd be considered AWOL," Raider said, studying his fingernails. "They still court-martial for that."
"I don't care," Kira hissed, too far gone to care about the ramifications of her actions any longer.
"Oh, boy," Jin said. "She's snapped. Someone needs to do something before she does something drastic."
"You're dying," Shandry said, her words cutting through the drama.
TWO
Kira froze, her chest tight as her gaze locked on where Luatha’s healer had been sitting quietly until now.
Raider stiffened as soft realization stole into his expression.
Jin snorted. "No, she's not. Right, Kira?"
Raider held her gaze, reading the truth there before she could even think of denying it. Her silence was answer enough.
"But then, I think you know that," Shandry continued.
That drew the barest flinch from Kira.
Jin made a broken sound of denial.
