Kira pressed the tip of a finger into one of the groves. A small light flashed. She tapped the end to the table. A small screen spread across the table's surface, its smart feature displaying the information Odin had pulled up for her.
The crease in Kira's forehead deepened the longer she read. "Why are the Haldeel having the quorum on Jettie?"
True, the planet was in Haldeel space, but just barely.
It had a large population of human refugees—those who'd been displaced by the war and chosen to shelter under the shade of the Haldeel empire rather than relocate to a human planet.
Also, coincidentally, it was where Jin had chosen to hide Elena.
"It’s an interesting choice on the Haldeel's part, but not out of character. The Haldeel move the site of the quorum every time so as not to put undue burden for hosting on any one planet," Finn said.
The answer didn’t make Kira any happier. She didn't like coincidences, even when they were in her favor.
"Read further." Odin crossed to the small kitchen counter and hopped up, sitting cross-legged on it.
Jin moved out of the corridor, scorch marks decorating his sphere. Every so often, he would shudder in place as if he were having issues with his antigravs.
Odin wasn't unscathed. There was a bruise on one cheekbone and his cloak had been shredded, revealing the bodysuit beneath
Kira ignored him, scrolling down the lines. She stopped as she reached a particular paragraph. "This could present a problem."
"What sort of problem?" Jin nearly clipped Kira in the head as he moved to get a glimpse of what she was reading. It only took him moments to spot the same thing Kira had. "Oh."
Yes. Oh.
"Jettie is only allowing those who are already registered citizens or participating in the quorum to the planet," Odin explained to Finn.
For Elena, it wouldn't be a problem. She'd had status as a citizen since her fifth birthday. The rest of them were a different story, however.
"Chances of sneaking down unnoticed?" Jin asked.
Odin fixed a look on Jin. "What do you think?"
Getting down to the planet was possible. Doing so without drawing attention to themselves—unlikely.
Even if they slipped through the Haldeel's net, it was bound to raise some red flags—exactly the kind of thing Tsavitee spies would be on the lookout for.
Finding himself the center of attention, Jin said defensively, "It was just a question."
"A stupid one," Odin retorted.
"Well, this stupid one fried all your nasty little friends, so who's really the idiot now?" Jin returned.
Odin regarded him with a flat stare. "Still you."
Jin sputtered.
A crafty look overtook Odin's face as he smiled suddenly. "How's it going finding the surprise I dropped into your positioning system?"
"Fine," Jin said stiffly.
Kira ignored them, still engrossed in the dossier that Odin had put together for her. He must have known the quorum was coming because he had gathered quite a lot of information. All of it useful.
"I think I know how we can get onto the planet," Kira said before the argument could escalate.
Jin and Odin fell quiet.
"I thought you'd be interested in that route,” Odin said.
