A foul stench invaded the air. Upon closer examination, Kira could see small specks of matter stuck to his shell.
With a grimace, Kira covered her nose. She had a feeling she knew what avenue he'd taken to get here.
"Darling child of my sister, do you know what hells I had to travel? What horrors I've seen?" Jin asked with a false sense of calm that did nothing to hide the brewing storm.
Elena looked like she was about to throw up as she held the hands that had touched Jin as far away from her body as she could. "I think I have some idea."
A sense of menace came from Jin as he crept toward Elena. "No, my dear, who is in the most trouble she's ever been in during her short life, you don't, but you will."
At that, Jin swooped toward Elena, evading her hands as she tried to bat him away. He rubbed his sides along her face and torso, ignoring the wails of dismay and the flailing. He was merciless as he smeared the matter on his shell all over Elena.
"Auntie! Help!"
Kira shook her head. Not a chance in hell. Kira knew better than to get in the way of Jin's revenge. Not unless she wanted to fend off the same attacks.
"Oh no, you're on your own for this one."
"Auntie!" Elena screeched in protest.
"Let this be a lesson, my dear." Jin finally backed away from Elena. "If you're going to steal the ship, at least give your Uncle Jin a heads up so he can be on it when you do."
"Or she could not steal the ship at all. That'd solve all our problems."
Elena bolted out of her seat, making a beeline in the direction of the ship's pitifully small passenger level—and the enzyme shower that waited there.
In her absence, Jin threw himself at Kira, only for her to dodge away. After guessing how he got into the ship, Kira wasn't going to let him touch her. No way; no how.
"Kira," Jin started.
"You stay away from me." Kira pointed at him. "While you're at it, go get cleaned up."
"You forget there's only one enzyme shower on this ship, and the brat is currently in it."
Kira grimaced. Maybe she had been a little hasty denying her niece aid earlier.
"This is a cluster fuck of epic proportions." Kira could feel a headache coming on, its origins residing in her niece and this entire situation.
"We've become a cliché; we're runaways from home," Jin whimpered.
"Technically, theWandereris our home."
It was hard to be considered a runaway when you were standing on the bridge of said home.
"You know what I mean."
Sadly, Kira did.
Current events were so far outside her plans that it was a little concerning. What was supposed to be a quick jaunt—out and back before anyone knew she was gone—had turned into a situation spiraling out of Kira's control.
Nowhere in her plans had there been an impromptu trip off-planet.
Now, not only did Harlow and Graydon know about Elena, they knew about the existence of the forty-three as well.
On top of that, Kira's hope to use the quorum as a chance to search for Elise in Haldeel space was gone.
They could try to return, but Kira was pretty sure the planet's defenses would shred them before they even got through the upper atmosphere.
Even if she could land, what would she say to Harlow?
