Punishment.
Centcom hadn’t been able to retaliate directly due to public sentiment and the shiny possibility of a true alliance with the Tuann so they had resorted to the next best thing.Sending Jace somewhere with few career prospects and no chance of glory.
To make things worse, this sector was known as an officer killing ground.Those sent here never lasted long.They were either assassinated by the pirate clans when their activities began to interfere with the clans’ bottom line or they washed out and faded into obscurity, crushed by the relentless futility of their assignment.
It was a pretty good tactic; Kira had to admit.
Kira collapsed into the seat next to Raider.“Is this because you helped us?”
“I’m sure that’s part of it.”Jace started to take a seat before pausing at the sight of Jin.“Hello.You and the friend behind you are new.”
“Ah—I forgot you two haven’t formally met,” Kira said.
Harlow had ushered Jin, Elise and Elena away fairly quickly after their rescue, not giving anyone on Jace’s side a chance to see them.Jace knew about Jin’s new circumstances because Kira had told him.The basics anyway.Like the fact that Jin looked different now.Not so much the direction that “different” had taken.
Jin leaned back in his chair.
Dylan grabbed it before it could topple over.
Jin’s smile never wavered.“How’s it going, meat sack?”
Jace froze as his features filled with astonishment.“Jin?”His excitement grew as he swept a quick glance over the boy.“It is you!I’d know that voice anywhere.Flesh and bone look good on you, Tin Man.”
“Everything looks good on me, Knight.”
Jace held out his arms.“Can I hug you?Is that allowed?”
Jin pushed back his chair and rose.“After what you did for me and Elena, I think you can ask for whatever you want.”
Jace took him into his arms, folding him against his chest with a carefulness that made Kira’s eyes smart.
“I always knew you were special,” Jace whispered against Jin’s hair.
“Of course you did.Something like that is impossible to miss.”
Jace chuckled, grabbing Jin and wrapping him in another hug.This one a lot fiercer than the last.
“Worth it, Kira.Everything we did.Everything I’m going through now.”He let Jin go to smile down at him.“It was all worth it.”
Jin ducked his head.His cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Jace let him sit back down before looking at Kira.“What brings you to Titan?Since you didn’t know I’d been reassigned, I’m guessing it’s not me.”
“Funny you should ask.It’s actually something of a coincidence.We’re on a hunt.Our prey is different though.”
Kira tacked on that last part for Graydon.
“Who are you after?”Jace asked, looking on with interest.
“Ta Sa’Riel was attacked nine days ago,” Graydon rumbled.“We’ve tracked the perpetrators to this station.”
Jace nodded, glancing at Kira next.
She stretched her legs out under the table, making herself comfortable.“There is a Tuann enclave close by that was recently attacked by pirates.We’re after those responsible.”
“An enclave?”Graydon asked.
“That’s right.”
