Better to save her energy for more useful pursuits
“How is it looking?” Kira asked as she stepped onto the bridge.
Raider was preoccupied with the monitor as he went through the final flight checks prior to departure. Finn stood in the corner of the room, gazing at the dock outside the window.
At Kira’s question, he looked over. A scowl took up residence on his face as he glared at the man behind her.
Kira held up a hand to forestall the argument she could sense brewing. “Blame Graydon. This was his idea.”
As her oshota, Finn took her safety seriously. He didn’t like the unexpected.
Unfortunately for him, Kira was the epitome of surprise. She didn’t have to go looking for trouble. It always found her.
That fact made Finn a tad grumpy and prone to believing that she was the cause when things went wrong.
To be fair, she usually was.
Finn didn’t look happy at her explanation but he didn’t argue with her as she made her way to the copilot seat next to Raider.
Kira jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Up.”
Jin didn’t move from the seat he’d chosen as his perch. “There are two other unoccupied seats. Why do you have to have this one?”
Kira bared her teeth at him. “Because it’s mine. Skedaddle.”
The two stared at each other for one long, drawn moment before Jin conceded the battle.
He rose from the chair. “Fine, but remember one of these chairs is mine during re-entry.”
The emperor peered over Kira’s shoulder in curiosity as she slid into the spot Jin vacated. Her hands flew over the controls as she checked the systems.
“Why does a machine insist on a chair?”
The question came out of nowhere.
Kira’s movements paused as Raider shot her a glance before busying himself with a task she knew he could do blindfolded.
“All loose items are secure during re-entry,” Kira answered. “It’s safer that way.”
It was a lie, but Kira didn’t think telling the emperor of Jin’s irrational fear of a crash landing would go over so well. Right now, the Tuann thought Jin was nothing more than an advanced artificial intelligence. Kira wanted to keep it that way.
“The ship is ready for departure. All systems are green. We have clearance from the Tuann station,” Jin said in an emotionless voice, falling into the role of a soulless drone like he had countless times in the past when someone had questioned his too-human personality.
Kira fell into the familiar rhythm. “Are all passengers accounted for?”
“There are nine souls on board.”
“Nine?”
Surprise moved through Kira. There should be more than that.
Kira’s seon’yer, Wren, along with the rest of his pod had been a constant presence on the Wanderer throughout their return journey. For them to be missing at the most crucial stage was unlike him.
Raider leaned in her direction. “I forgot to tell you. Wren had a few things to take care of. He said they’d meet us on planet.”
What could be more important than safe-guarding Elena?
“He did leave Maksym behind, however,” Raider added.
