Kira turned to find Pallas watching her with an enigmatic expression. "What?"
"Oh, nothing. Just admiring your hypocrisy."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Pallas patted her on the shoulder, leaning down to speak into her ear. "Just that we both know that in her shoes, you would have gone back. Certain death or not."
Pallas straightened, reaching around her to pull the hatch shut. As he did, she thought she heard him mutter something under his breath.
Something to the effect of, "That's why I had to do what I did."
Kira couldn't be sure though.
"Lathan, let's get this ship in the air," Pallas called as he wandered in the direction of the bridge. "We don't want any more guests."
Brie glanced at Kira before taking a seat in the corner of the hold.
Everyone looked exhausted. Most especially Graydon. The journey and the losses they'd sustained along the way having taken a toll.
Like Brie, Odin had found a place to sit. She rested her head against the wall with her eyes closed as she fought to control her fast breathing.
An athlete Odin wasn't. The majority of the Sye’s time was spent in a hacker’s chair. It didn’t leave a lot of room for physical fitness.
Hearing Kira's approach, Odin cracked her eye open to look up at her. "I can't tell you how uncomfortable it makes me to be on a ship with that psycho."
"Get over it," Kira said, glancing at the J1N as it made a circuit of the room. "We don't have another choice at this stage."
The forces below weren't the only ones they had to worry about. There were still the three Tsavitee ships making their way through the solar system to consider as well. When they reached Rothchild, this place would become hell.
Putting Odin out of her mind, Kira stopped next to where Graydon leaned tiredly against the wall.
"That was quite a show you put on." Kira touched his arm. "How long have you been able to do that?"
Graydon lifted his head off the wall. "Pretty much since I woke up from the coma."
That must be nice. To receive a massive power up rather than be reduced to his weakest state. Why couldn't she get something like that?
"My efforts all these years have paid off," he told her, seeing the question on her face. "It left me with a new set of marks and a few abilities to go with them."
Kira scanned his body. "I didn't notice."
His smile was brief. "You were a tad distracted."
Kira shook her head, fighting her own smile. "You're awful."
His chuckle was husky as he pulled her into his body. "But you love me anyway."
Kira let her weight rest against him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad we survived."
It had been a little too close for comfort.
He kissed her temple. "Me too."
The ship rocked from the force of an explosion.
"What was that?" Odin asked, coming alert.
Kira didn't answer as she pulled out of Graydon's arms and started for the ship's bridge.
