"I got bored. And you were taking too long."
Kira's snicker was tired. "You held off longer than I thought you would. I was sure you'd follow as soon as I was out of sight."
"Yes, my restraint was admirable. Such forbearance deserves a reward, don't you think?"
Kira shook her head and changed the subject. "How much do you want to bet that they'll use this opportunity to establish their own house?
"I'd say it's a foregone conclusion."
Kira examined his features. "Is Pallas right? Was this the emperor's plan all along?"
Graydon's gaze was steady. "Torvald's methods are often multi-layered with a far reaching view to the future. While the rest of us look three or four steps ahead, he's already at a hundred."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"In this instance, yes, Pallas's theory is one outcome Torvald was hoping to achieve."
"You say that like there were other things he wanted to accomplish."
The enigmatic expression on Graydon's face drove Kira a little crazy as he offered her a closed mouthed smile. "For that, you would have to ask the emperor himself."
Kira eyed Graydon askance. "That's it? That's all you're giving me?"
He slid an arm around her back, bringing her body flush against his. "I wouldn't be a proper Face if I gave all of my emperor's secrets away."
Kira rested her weight against the length of his body, fiddling with the scale like pattern of his synth armor. "Not even if I ask nicely?"
His head dipped toward hers, until his lips were just shy of hers. "I could be convinced."
"Oh?" Her breath caught as her mouth brushed his.
"Sure." His smile held a wicked edge. "As soon as you give up all yours."
Kira moved back to glare. "We both know you're too good a Face to ever reveal the secrets entrusted to you by the emperor."
Graydon let go of Kira. "You can't blame me for trying."
She snorted. "No, I suppose I can't."
Especially when she was the one who started this game.
Elena - Tsavitee Planet
Uncle Jin!
Elena lurched upright, her hand moving automatically to the bicep the lu-ong spawn had been wrapped around before her fight.
"No, no, no, no," she chanted, finding nothing there.
He had to be somewhere. He couldn't just be gone.
The probable concussion she had made the room swim in a disturbing manner as she looked frantically around, finding no signs of her uncle.
Elena had been brought to some kind of utilitarian hospital room. The sinister looking equipment gathered around the edges sent a trickle of trepidation down her spine.
It was no mystery what usually happened in places like this. Elena had heard the stories. The things that had gone on here only ever referenced in passing. As if whatever had happened was too painful to mention. The other kids did warn Elena, though. That if she was ever to find herself in a room like this—she should run and not look back.
The murmur of voices from outside had Elena throwing the sheet that covered her to the side. She slipped to the ground.
