Graydon strained, the tendons in his neck standing out as he forced it open a millimeter at a time.
"Holy shit," Raider exclaimed as the air screamed.
A breeze stirred, quickly becoming a gale as Graydon's ki manifested as black sparks in the cargo bay.
Finn lifted his head, hope replacing his devastation.
Talon quirked an eyebrow, looking impressed as Joule and Devon drew closer.
With one last cry, Graydon ripped the rift the rest of the way open. He staggered to his feet, fighting a spell of dizziness.
"I'm coming with you," Finn declared.
"Wait," Raider started. "Don't tell me. That crazy guy with the ability to rip holes in the fabric of reality took her."
"And Jin," Joule added quietly.
"Graydon, I'm her oshota. I need to go," Finn said, focusing on Graydon.
"You can't. It won't support both of us," Graydon informed him.
And if anyone was going, it was going to be him.
Graydon squared up with Finn, ready to flatten him if he tried to force the issue.
"You're not thinking of following her through that?" Raider waved a hand at the rift in disbelief. "Are you crazy?"
"Kira is on the other side," Graydon ground out.
Finn's stance eased at the human's interruption, the moment passing as the oshota ceded his duties to Graydon just this once.
"You're just as crazy as she is," Raider muttered.
"Would you rather I abandon her?" Graydon asked, sending him a hard look.
Raider sighed and shook his head. "Of course not. Curs don't abandon each other. No matter what fucked up rift they wind up on the other side of."
"Glad we have that settled," Graydon spat, turning his attention to the rift.
"Make sure you bring her back," Wren said.
"There was never any doubt of that."
As if Graydon would let anything stand between him and his coli.
"We'll meet you on Rothchild," Graydon told the others, stepping through.
Wren’s voice followed him into the darkness. "Good luck. May the Mea'Ave protect you."
Nine
Kira - Somewhere else
The rift spat Kira out in the same manner in which she entered. Tumbling backwards, ass over tea kettle like the newbiest of novices. As if she hadn't spent nearly every day of the past 92 years training to be the biggest threat in the room.
Her back hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of her. Dots of black ate at her vision. Her stomach heaved.
Don't throw up. Don't you dare throw up.
