"Well, well, looks like you have a reprieve, my dear," the Osiri purred. He knelt in front of Elise. "Don't be too satisfied, though."
Before Elise could do anything, he touched her forehead with a small, oblong device.
Elena's mother went limp, collapsing to the floor.
The Osiri rose. "I can't have you conscious for this reunion. You might try something stupid."
"What did you do to her?" Elena demanded, trying to get a better look at Elise.
"Don't strain so, little bird," the Osiri advised, gliding toward Ajix. "She's simply unconscious. Which is how she'll remain until I decide otherwise."
The Osiri passed Ajix, heading for the stairs. The general remained in place, staring at Fyr with an expressionless face.
"Come along, my general. We have a Phoenix's wings to break."
Kira – Above the planet
"Drop Ship Advantage, we are approaching the coordinates. Prepare to disembark," a voice said over the comms.
"Command, this is Frost. Disengaging docking clamps now," Lieutenant Himoto said.
"Frost?" Devon asked.
"That's my call sign. It was originally Ice Queen, on account of my winning personality. They changed it after I expressed my extreme dissatisfaction over such an unoriginal moniker."
Nova smirked. "She means she beat the other pilots up."
Devon blinked in amazement. And a little confusion.
"Not all of us are as lucky as the Phoenix to be named after something cool." The lieutenant flicked several switches on the console in front of her. There was a thump as the docking clamps released and then a sense of weightlessness as the ship drifted out of the landing bay, its engines still off. "Isn't that right, Tank?"
"What are you talking about? I love my name."
Himoto snorted. "That's not what I heard."
"They gave me my call sign because of the way I plow through everything like a tank," Tank explained to Devon at his questioning look.
"You don't choose them?" the boy asked.
The Tuann were paying close attention to the conversation, their faces creased in interest.
"Lord, no," Tank said with a laugh. "Call signs are given. Never chosen. Often a little insulting and based on something you've done."
"How did you wind up as the Phoenix?" Joule asked Kira.
"That's not the call sign she started with." Tank's mouth quirked. "What was the original one again?"
Kira tried to stare the other man down.
Raider covered his mouth and coughed. "Red."
"Thank you very much, asshole," Kira told him, glaring.
He dropped his hand and grinned. "Just keeping things real, Nixxy."
She rolled her eyes before focusing on the question on Devon and Joule's face. "Okay, fine. Yes, that was what they called me before."
Talon snickered. Even Finn had to fight the smile that threatened to crack his stoic expression.
