Jace! How are you doing? Gehenna cried, but didn’t wait for him to answer. She reminded him of a kid on a sugar rush as she babbled happily, Having fun with your dad? Your mom and I are becoming friends! Well, sort of. But she did speak to me! And I used her cell phone's interface to talk to her! It was glorious and–
Gehenna? Jace’s lips twitched at Gehenna’s evident crush on his mother.
She’s just so cool! Your Mom is the best! And I really want–
Gehenna? Jace laughed as he tried to get a word in edgewise. Once he knew whether his mother wanted to sleep on the ship that night, Gehenna could gush all she wanted to him about the deep and abiding friendship that she and his mom were beginning.
Oh… you need something? He could imagine Gehenna twisting two of her tentacles together and swaying like a naughty girl.
Just one thing and you can tell me everything you want to. I promise. But it is about my mother, Jace told her. And I’m so glad that you are having fun. I just need your attention for a moment.
If you need me I’ll be with you immediately! I can get on a ship or simply transfer myself to the Storm Spike! That would make more sense of course, but, oh, dear, I’m a little beside myself here, Gehenna cried, suddenly alert that something was wrong. But I was monitoring you and everything seemed find–better than that–so I–
It’s fine, Gehenna. Everything is perfect. No worries. I just need to know Mom’s opinion on something, Jace reassured her, suppressing a sigh about her spying, but really it was something he knew he had to get used to. Besides, if something went wrong, he wanted both of his AIs immediately on the job. Dad and I are on our way back to Earth. We want to know if Mom needs Dad for anything and if she wants a lift up to the Osiris. Dad would like to sleep on the ship tonight if she’s game for it.
Let me find out! One moment! Gehenna was now determined to be uber helpful. There was a momentary silence and then she was back, She is excited to sleep on the Osiris, too. Based on your current position and the time it will take you to reach us, we shall be ready to be picked up as soon as you arrive.
Great, Gehenna, Jace smiled. His gaze went to the video that the Osiris had recorded for him of Khoth and his mother. With dismay, he saw that a second video was now there. Have you, ah, heard anything from Khoth? The Thaf’ell haven’t brought him back to Earth, right?
The truth was, he could have simply checked his own suit’s comms to know where Khoth was. He could have contacted the Thaf’ell Commander himself and asked when he was going to arrive at the Osiris. But he hadn’t, because many reasons!
He didn’t want to bother Khoth. It would seem a little needy if he called like that. He could be interrupting a crucial conversation. His call could cause Khoth’s mom to wonder what was wrong with him. So many bad things could happen if he actually directly contacted Khoth, including one that he didn’t really want to admit, which was that Khoth could want to stay with his people and not return. And Jace would know as soon as he heard those cool accents if that was the case and he would be crushed. Yes, crushed, if Khoth didn’t want to be on his team.
Oh no, he’s not back yet, Gehenna said sadly, but I could access the Ashaton’s systems and find out for you! Let me–
No, no, I don’t want to do that, Jace quickly interrupted. I just wanted to know if he needed a lift though I guess he could have gone directly to the Osiris.
He could have, but he did not. My sensors show that he is in his mother’s quarters on the Ashaton, Gehenna answered.
Right. He heard the worry in his own voice, even though he wasn’t sure what he was worried about.
It’s okay, Jace. He’s coming back, Gehenna intuited what was wrong. You mustn’t worry.
No, I’m not worried, he told her.
She was silent.
I’m not really worried, he qualified. I mean we just met today. It’s ridiculous that I would expect him to just be with me when his mom is here. It’s just that he made a lot of decisions today that helped us but not the Alliance. He might be in big trouble.
Maybe what he chose did help the Alliance, Jace, Gehenna contradicted.
How so? I’m the Pilot. You’re bound with me and we’re bound to the Osiris so… He let the sentence hang.
If the Alliance’s goal is to stop the Khul then the decisions Khoth made today are the absolute right ones, Gehenna stated adamantly. Remember, I tried to make a Pilot. It didn’t work. The Osiris wanted you.
But if I hadn’t made it? If I’d died before the transformation could have been completed surely the Osiris would have chosen someone else, he pointed out.
Jace, you’re the only Pilot, Gehenna said flatly.
But there have to have been other people that could have been the Pilot! He protested. What if my parents had never come to Sunrise? What if my mom hadn’t gotten pregnant with me? What if I’d had an accident before I was transformed?
You’re thinking that there could have been someone better than you, Gehenna understood. But, Jace, what if you’re the best there ever could be? Have you ever thought of that? Because I think so.
You’re biased, he said but he was grinning.
Everyone is. But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong, she said.
Let’s hope High Councillor Nova Voor thinks like you do, he pointed out dryly.
