Her limbs refused to obey as Kai gazed down at her. "Who are you working for?"
Elena glared up at the Sye, putting all her hate into her gaze. What she wouldn't give to curse right now. Aunt Selene's rules or not. A good choice of swear words would really go a long way to making her feel better.
"That's alright." Kai's lips twisted cruelly. "We'll have plenty of time to get acquainted."
Twenty Six
Kira - CSS Reliance
Kira crossed the busy flight deck, wearing the waveboard armor Jace had procured for her on 'short notice'.
A nice excuse, but she didn't buy it. The armor waveboard pilots wore was custom designed for its wearer. Besides the waveboard itself, it was the single most expensive item in a pilot's possession. Every piece of it tailored for their use. Anything less was too dangerous to risk wearing.
It wasn't the kind of thing you could pluck from a storage locker.
Kira didn't know if it had been Jace or Himoto who had commissioned it for her. Either way, she appreciated their foresight.
The base of the armor was a skin-tight under-suit most pilots referred to as a condom. Over it were fitted a series of panels whose modular design was intended for ease of movement. The legs of the suit were equipped with mechanized features to help support her bones and muscles during high velocity maneuvers.
The waveboard's shielding and gravity dampeners also provided additional support.
"I would feel better if you wore any of the sets of armor Harlow gave you," Finn said, keeping up with her as she marched across the deck.
Kira adjusted a few panels on the suit. "I'm sure you would."
"Tuann armor is better equipped to protect against attacks."
Talon trailed behind them with a predatory saunter as he took in the humans shuttling back and forth.
"I know it does. But as we've already established, waveboard armor is the best choice when operating a waveboard."
And since that was what she was planning to ride down to the planet, she was going to stick with her choice.
There was something to be said about having a familiarity with your equipment before entering battle. Kira knew the ins and outs of a waveboard better than probably anyone. She knew what it and its armor could take. How far she could push them before they broke and placed her in danger. She couldn't say the same about the Tuann armor.
Finn's angry exhale followed her as she strode toward the drop ship that would be carrying them for the first part of the mission.
"No wonder you're afraid to let her out of your sight," Talon teased from beside him.
Finn shook his head. "She's as stubborn as her father."
"I heard that," Kira called over her shoulder.
Finn's voice lowered. "Miss your bar yet?"
Kira didn’t hear Talon’s response as she joined the group waiting for their arrival.
Graydon was already there, a few of his oshota beside him. Amila nodded a greeting that Kira returned. Joule and Devon stood off to the side, slightly apart from the rest.
"Odin's inside," Joule told her in a low voice.
As usual, the Sye was ahead of the game.
"Does everyone understand the mission?" Raider was saying to the Curs in front of him. "There won't be any room for mistakes once we get started."
A dark haired man at the front of the group raised his hand. "Yeah, I have a question."
"Nova," Raider said with a hint of a growl.
