"Where'd you two come from?" the woman asked, her face suspicious.
Kira wasn't sure she appreciated the other's hostile tone.
"It doesn't matter where she came from," Odin said impatiently. "Show a little appreciation. She just saved your ass."
The woman rolled her eyes but didn't say anything else.
Odin gave Kira a look as if to say "see what I have to deal with."
The two humans weren't so bad. A little trigger happy. A touch aggressive. But all within the realm of acceptability.
They were on edge and afraid. Young enough that this was likely their first dust up with the Tsavitee. No amount of training could truly prepare you for the first time your life was on the line.
A surplus of adrenaline was probably swimming through their systems, making them more reactionary than they would have been otherwise.
Still, they were obviously skilled. They'd managed to hold out against at least fifteen Tsavitee and still protect their primary target.
Not bad.
A rustle came from the trees. The humans acted like scalded cats as they trained their weapons on the sound's source.
"Whoa." Kira held up a hand. "She's with us."
Brie stepped out of the trees, her expression blank.
The woman lowered her rifle. "Don't scare us like that. We almost shot you."
"That's why I announced my presence before stepping out, Sykes." Brie's expression was warm as she nodded a greeting at the other man. "Alvarez."
Alvarez propped his rifle on his shoulder, the tip pointed in the air. "You got tapped for this too?"
"I volunteered."
Sykes made a face. "Crazy."
Brie didn't seem offended, patting the other woman on the shoulder. "Rothchild always pays its debts. You know that."
"Here, here," Alvarez said.
Sykes sent a pointed glance at Kira. "Let's just try to avoid blowing up any moons on this trip, shall we?"
"Unless you think it's necessary," Alvarez cut in.
Sykes shook her head in disbelief.
Kira ignored their antics. "How much further?"
"Less than a mile," Brie answered.
"Alright then, let's get this show on the road," Kira instructed. "Alvarez, Sykes—you take point with Brie since you three know where we're going. Graydon and I will bring up the rear. Odin you're in the middle."
In the most protected position.
"What about me?" the J1N asked.
Kira's sigh was impatient. "As always, you're on overwatch."
The real Jin wouldn't have needed her to explain this to him. He would have already been up there performing his duties.
