"I'm good here." Pallas scratched his jaw as he glanced outside at the landing bay. "I prefer not to breathe the same air as them."
"Suit yourself."
This worked better for her anyway.
At a nod from her, Graydon nudged Odin out of the ship before following. The J1N and Brie trailed after them.
"Watch yourself, would you?" Pallas said, not looking at Kira as she passed him.
"I always do."
He grunted, hitting the button to close the ship hatch as soon as she was on the other side. It sealed shut with a note of finality.
"J1N, make sure you stay by my side," Kira instructed the drone quietly. "Don't stray."
"Roger that, Nixxy."
With a deep breath, Kira started toward the group waiting for her. Here's hoping she could give the performance of a lifetime.
At her approach, Graydon glanced at her, moving over to make room.
"I see you caught up to the group in my absence," Kira said to Solal and Amila who were standing a short distance from Raider and the others.
The oshota regarded her calmly. Solal with an expressionless face. Amila with a faint smile that suggested she knew that Kira wasn't as angry as she was making herself out to be.
Maksym cleared his throat, raising his hand. "What about us? Where's our greeting?"
Kira sent the orange haired Tuann a glance before looking at Wren. "You brought quite the crowd with you."
Kira's seon'yer allowed a faint smile to touch his face. "Entirely necessary. I assure you."
"So much for them acting as decoys," Kira grumbled to herself.
Maksym shrugged his massive shoulders. "We fulfilled that obligation. I promise. Now, it's time for a little payback."
Zoella's nod showed her agreement.
"How is Auralyn?" Kira asked.
The playfulness fell from their faces at the reminder of Wren’s First. A woman who lost her arm while trying to protect Elena.
"She's being stubborn," Zoella answered. "Tavas is keeping her company."
Tavas was the fourth member of the pod. He was a quiet man who kept his sense of presence low. Pretty much the only thing Kira knew about him was that he was talented at long range attacks and loyal to Wren.
He made a pretty good babysitter too. At least he'd done well managing her niece the few times he'd been put in charge of her.
"It's a good thing we came since your fellow yer'se ended up needing our services," Maksym said.
Kira glanced at Amila with raised eyebrows. "You and Solal weren't enough?"
"They flatter themselves. We had the situation well in hand without them,” Amila said with a smirk.
Maksym blew a raspberry as Kira finally turned to the person she'd saved for last.
Finn took his time looking her over before giving a brusque nod. "You look like you're in one piece."
"Maybe now you'll finally believe I can take care of myself."
