Her eyebrows lifted. “You find him admirable?”
“He is not like us. But that does not mean there is nothing there to admire,” Khoth responded simply. “I am surprised that you understand him so well that you thought up this plan.”
“Perhaps it is because I know you better than you know yourself,” she answered after a moment. His eyes widened. He had no idea what she meant by that. “We will be sending ships and personnel to Earth, Khoth. Make sure that Jace is ready to accompany us.”
Their connection cut off. Gehenna, he realized, was watching him. Or he thought she was. It was rather hard to tell as the cleaning bot had no eyes.
Your mother’s plan will work, Gehenna transmitted to his suit, expelling all doubt that she had heard. Jace will be moved by their suffering. He will want to avenge them and will want to keep others from that fate.
He flattened his lips. “The ships will have to be removed. It will be good for Jace to see… for the humans overall to see what we face.”
You don’t think that. You don’t want to do this, Gehenna stated.
“That would be illogical. It is best if this technology--including you--be in Alliance hands. Guided by the greatest minds--”
Forgive me, but your Alliance’s minds don’t hold a candle to mine, Gehenna stated.
“Really? So being tricked by the Osiris twice, or so it seems to me, makes you--”
The Osiris is far above your scientists too! But I will beat it. You will see, she said and he could almost hear a “humph” in her voice. So… what are you going to do?
Another one of the human military had arrived and from the medals on his uniform, he appeared to be a person of greater rank than even Colonel Diane Parker. This was not good.
“I need to get another Thaf’ell up here,” Khoth stated and used his suit’s communication system to contact Thammah. This time it went through without problem.
“Khoth?! Where are you? What happened to Jace? And that squid--”
“All are functional, Thammah. I need you by my side. We have… humans to deal with,” he said the last as the higher-ranking human met his gaze.
This human had dark brown skin and darker eyes. He was older than Diane and Jack. He held himself in that stiff posture of all of the military officers. The Parkers were speaking with him under their breath. Jace was adding his own commentary. It was more furious and intense from Jace.
They want to send Jace to the infirmary and take you into custody, Gehenna stated. Jace is arguing in your favor. He won’t be poked and prodded.
This leader smiled at Jace and patted his shoulder. He then fingered the material of the inner-suit that Jace wore and shook his head in amazement.
General Intoskin is telling Jace it will be fine, Gehenna stated. They do not respect Jace. They are treating him as if he is a child. He is the Pilot!
“Knowing Jace he will show them that in short order,” Khoth said dryly as he thought of the young man’s ability to get into trouble.
“Are you ignoring me, Khoth?” Thammah sounded ready to burst. “If you think that I’m going to sit down here while--”
“Come to my location. The lift is working, Thammah,” he said as he sent her his exact location and cut off the connection as General Intoskin and all three Parkers were approaching.
Khoth straightened up and crossed his arms at the wrists behind his back.
“Well, well, well, so you’re the Commander Khoth Voor I’ve heard so much about,” General Intoskin said. There was a smile on the general’s face, but it did not reach those assessing eyes. “From the moment you arrived, you’ve brought trouble with you.”
“I had nothing to do with the Khul coming here. They arrived before I did,” Khoth reminded the man. “And without my assistance, you would have been overrun.”
“Without both of us remember, Khoth? Despite your heroic landing pose, you didn’t do all of this yourself. Metal Rain, remember?” Jace stated as he brushed past his parents and General Intoshkin.
“You were very instrumental as well, Jace,” Khoth agreed.
“We make a good team.” He patted Khoth’s arm before going over to Gehenna, who was again trying to hide.
“Jace! Where are you going? Stay with us!” Diane called.
“It’s okay, I’ve just got to talk to Gehenna for a minute,” Jace called, not stopping for them.
