Dylan cleared his throat, waiting until Kira glanced at him before shaking his head once.
“It’s a long story,” Kira settled on saying.
She didn’t need Dylan’s warning.Under no circumstances had Kira intended sharing the particulars of Jin’s evolution.She much preferred others see him as an unsolvable enigma.
An enigma who was currently muttering to himself.
“Not you.”Jin chucked the hummingbird back into the bag before picking up the next.“Nor you.Can’t risk disturbing the dust.”
In went the chaterling until all that remained was the fist-sized squirrel.
“You’ll have to do,” Jin told it.
He sealed the bag and rose.
“What are you doing?”Bez asked.
He’d lost some of the hostility, curiosity winning out.
“Something your tiny brain can’t imagine.”Jin petted the squirrel.“Okay, my lovely.Time to earn your keep.”
The squirrel cocked its head, its movements so realistic it was like looking at a living creature.
Bez and Pye jumped backwards as Az reached for her en-blade.
“What is that?”Bez snarled.
Jin pressed a kiss to the squirrel’s head.“Don’t listen to those idiots.You’re perfect and amazing as you are.”
Rubbing it on the head one last time, Jin tossed it high into the room.
The squirrel spread its four legs, revealing the flap of material joining them together.It glided on the air currents, carving a meandering path toward the table.
A second later, it landed, dislodging a puff of dust.
“How are you controlling that thing?”Az asked.
Jin concentrated on the squirrel.“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
The squirrel crawled all over the table, searching for an access point.It must have found it because the surface lit up with circles of varying sizes.Some were smaller than Kira’s fist.Others as big as her head.
“Human technology isn’t compatible with Tuann,” Az insisted.
Jin’s avatar crawled onto the largest circle at the center of the table.It flattened itself directly against the surface until its belly was fully touching and all four limbs spread wide, making it look a lot like a dissected corpse.
A series of musical chirps issued from its throat.
“Others may consider that a problem but never me.”Jin missed the speculation in Az’s gaze as she studied him carefully.“What am I looking for, Nixxy?”
“A roster of some kind.See if there are names and ages on it.”
Kira could have told him her suspicions but feared influencing him.She wanted him with an open mind.
Bez’s gaze jerked to Kira.“Why do you care about that?We’re here for Caius.”
Instead of answering, Kira posed her own question.“During your search, did any of you encounter evidence of children?”
It was the nicest way she could think of to ask if they’d found their bodies.
