Jace was still talking. "I plan to take full responsibility when an accounting is called for. I know what I'm asking of you, but please place your trust in me for one last battle so that we may remind those who hurt us that humanity is still here. And that we will hit back in kind."
The flight deck roared their approval.
"Enthusiastic lot," Graydon observed next to her.
"You would be too if you'd been waiting as long as they have for this chance."
A whistle came from their left.
Lieutenant Himoto strode over to the drop ship, clad in the same battle suit as Kira and the rest. "Got room for one more?"
A short figure followed her, already outfitted in full battle suit. Plus helmet.
The co-pilot looked Kira's way for a second before boarding the ship without a word to the rest.
Nova shot the lieutenant a charming smile. "For you—always."
Kira gave the other woman a puzzled frown. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm your ride. Haven't you heard?"
"You're a pilot?" Kira asked with some disbelief.
Admiral Himoto had opposed Kira's choice of MOS, her military occupational specialty. He'd never looked down on waveboard pilots or any military occupation, but he'd always felt she was better suited to command. Although waveboard pilots might command a small squadron, they rarely commanded ships or fleets. Jace being one of the few exceptions. And even he had transitioned to a different field at a certain point.
Kira would have expected Himoto to be even more stubborn regarding his daughter's future.
Himoto walked backwards a few steps, her attention on Kira. "One of the best."
"That's comforting. Because we're going to need the best today."
Elena - Tsavitee Planet
Elena lost the battle against the pain, slipping in and out of consciousness as Fyr picked her up off the floor, carrying her into the next room. In her lucid moments, she desperately tried to summon the strength to move her arms. Something. Anything besides hanging like a limp noodle in his grip.
"Set her here," Kai ordered, pointing to a cradle of vine-like wires that rose out of the water.
"Don't," Elena tried to say.
Instead of the word she intended, what left her mouth was a garbled d sound.
Fyr's face remained blank, the only sign of his disquiet the way his arms tightened around her. "I thought you wished to question her yourself."
Kai stopped, looking up from the torture cradle—as Elena was calling it in her mind—to pin Fyr with a displeased glance. "Since when do you question my orders?"
"I would never." Fyr bowed his head. "As ever, my loyalty lies with you."
Kai looked satisfied with his response. "Very good. Don't forget that later."
Fyr walked over to the torture cradle, lowering Elena carefully inside. With her eyes, she tried to plead with him not to leave her there.
It was futile. She knew that. But she couldn't stop herself from grasping onto any straw. No matter how hopeless.
"I'm sorry," Fyr whispered. "Like I told you before, this is why we don't form attachments."
Elena's throat started working, some of the feeling coming back to her muscles as her body adjusted to being cut off from its soul's breath. "That's nothing but an excuse."
Relationships were what compelled you to break your limits. They were what lifted you up and kept you going. They deserved to be fought for. Even when you knew heartbreak or loss waited for you at the end.
