She comments on the blizzard and damage in Strike’s sector. Kilo doesn’t mention Riann’s visit to the escape pod, and I don’t either.
But Trench and Jessica—of course it’s them—bring everyone’s attention back to us.
“It was a bitch,” Jessica says, “But we did get a filloum gene sample.”
“And?” Shock asks, but he already knows.
“They’re on the same branch of your planet’s evolutionary tree, but they’re not actually filloum.”Not that you thought that.
“And I was able to get a partial excerpt of that corrupted article,” Andrea says. “It’s weird. It looks like a nature piece mixed with a fundraising bid. I can’t be sure because I’ve only got pieces of it.”
Risk sits forward, glaring at the floor. “Who wrote it?”
Andrea looks at Kimba, who throws the article up on a projection in the middle of us.
“Kisa.” Risk looks at me and when he doesn’t say anything else, a dozen thoughts demand to join “the loop.”
“Kisa was the name of our new zurgle’s first Sisan,” I tell them.
Kimba huffs a disbelieving sound. “According to the CSS registries, she died ninety-seven years ago…”
“Ha!” Kilo snaps and points at me. “I told you he was old.”
“No.” Kimba shakes her head. “Sorry. She wasdeclareddead ninety-seven years ago…”
She goes silent, everyone looking to her. “Almost everything about her has been classified.”
“Why?” Jess and Andrea ask it at the same time.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” Kimba makes notes and I look at Risk. He shakes his head.
“It feels like every time we get an answer it gives us ten more questions instead of clarifying anything.” Laurel sighs and leans more heavily on Richter.
I watch them for a moment too long and Core notices. Kilo does too.
The piteous thoughts start all over again.
My knee starts to bounce and I can’t stop it.
Chrys looks up at me, her hand squeezing my leg, but her thoughts are so soft, they don’t stand a chance against the others.
In the void left by Kimba’s momentary research, the brotherhood and their bondmates’ thoughts have gotten so loud.
I know my three mates can feel the ugly unease coiling around me.
I can’t think of something to say that makes any sense.
I can’t be an asshole with her concern in my thoughts… with their love resting over me in the bond.
Screw it.
Someone else is talking, but I don’t hear it until it stops as Chrys crawls up to straddle my lap.
Someone says something about waiting until we’re home. But she doesn’t even kiss me. She just presses her forehead to mine and thinks about… how much they love me. Over and over again, all of her precious focus held in a stranglehold forme.
SHOCK
Chrys huffs a little breath and then… she turns in her seat and throws her legoverArc’s lap, straddling him and grabbing his head with both hands before pressing her forehead to his.
