"Son of a—we're going to have a long talk later about boundaries," Jin griped, leading her toward the needle like structures.
"What's Elena's status?" Kira asked, ducking under a low lying branch.
"You're not going to like it."
Kira was certain of that. There wasn't much she liked right about now.
"They have her."
Kira ground to a halt. "How did that happen?"
"A very unfortunate series of events," Jin answered, sounding grim. "I don't know whether to call that child brave or stupid."
"What did she do?" Kira asked as she started walking again.
This time her pace was a little faster than before.
"She decided to play spy and landed in a situation over her head."
Jin came to an abrupt stop, bobbing in place as he rotated one way then another.
Kira stepped into the shadow of a tree, suddenly alert as she scanned the forest around them for signs of enemies.
"There you are, asshole," Jin declared, shooting off without an explanation to Kira.
She sprinted after him.
"I did not miss this part of our relationship," she grumbled to herself.
Would it kill him to give her a little warning?
A few minutes later, they left the forest behind and entered the outskirts of the city.
Kira slowed, taking in the cliff to her left, the curved building jutting out of its side, darkened windows making it difficult to know if someone was standing on the other side, watching them. To her right was an immense valley, the city she'd spotted from the air with its black streets and tall towers that seemed to devour the light nestled in it.
The sound of fighting came from up ahead, Jin arrowing straight toward it.
"Slow down," Kira hissed.
Reunited for five seconds and he was already testing her patience.
Kira jogged after him, rounding a corner to find a pulse rifle aimed at her face.
Jin headed straight toward the person holding it. "It's about fucking time, meat sack."
Raider lowered the rifle with a frown. "Jin?"
"The one and only. Were you expecting someone else?"
Raider pointed at the drone as he raised his eyebrows at Kira.
She nodded wearily. "Yeah."
Fierce satisfaction filled Raider's features. "Well done, Tin Man."
Kira regarded the bodies around him. It looked like someone had a little fun while she was busy trying to locate his position. "Taking your anger out on the enemy, I see."
Raider kicked away the Tsavitee reaching for his leg, drawing a knife from the sheath at his spine and embedding it in the Tsavitee's heart. "Just giving them a taste. Why? How many did you kill?"
