"Why would she teach you that?"
"Just in case."
Raider’s glare moved to the woman in Graydon’s arms.
Coli, it's a good thing you're not awake right now or you'd have a lot to answer for, Graydon thought with some amusement.
There was an explosion from somewhere else in the facility that made the ground rumble under their feet.
A second later, Talon peered through the massive hole in the ceiling. "There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."
His gaze stopped on Finn. "Are you injured?"
Finn's glare contained a hint of fire. "I killed an Osiri."
"You did? Or her?" Talon nodded at Kira.
"It was a team effort," Finn said through gritted teeth.
"If you say so," Talon said before focusing on Graydon. "You should get a move on. The Tsavitee have begun evacuations. Their towers are leaving one by one. This one will follow. You don't want to be here when it does."
Talon disappeared from the ledge.
"Did you do something?" Finn called.
A chuckle from above was Talon’s only answer.
Graydon glanced back at the general. "Time for that choice."
The general’s hesitation lasted only a second before his gaze met Graydon’s. "I'll come with you."
"If you ever betray us, your death will be long and painful."
The general swallowed hard.
Graydon turned toward his people. "Let's get out of this place before that thing Talon is worried about becomes a reality."
Kira
Kira’s eyelashes fluttered as the quiet murmur of conversation pulled her back to awareness. She blinked, taking a second to register the presence of the Tuann shuttle ceiling above her. The sensation of movement under her came a second later.
It looked like Wren and his pod had come through for them.
Kira patted the surface under her, conscious of the fact she was lying across a shuttle seat. She wasn't alone either. A woman with white blond hair sat beside her, her attention elsewhere.
Kira twisted to take in the woman. "You're supposed to be on Ta Sa'Riel recovering."
A faint smile creased the corners of Auralyn's eyes as she nodded at the trio across from her. "This felt more important."
Kira looked over to find Wren sitting on the opposite side of the aisle. Like Kira, Elise was stretched across a seat, her head in Wren's lap. Elena was clutched to his other side, his chin resting on the top of her head.
His eyes were closed, his features lax with relief. As if his entire world had just been given back to him.
"Yeah," Kira agreed softly.
Auralyn looked down at her. "You gave us our family back. Thank you."
Kira settled back on the seat, not knowing how to respond. "Elena and Elise are my family too."
