But he was having trouble swallowing around his throat. Khoth’s thumbs were lightly rubbing along the backs of his hands.
Khoth stared down at his lap. Thankfully, there were mounds of comforter over Jace’s lap or it would be quite apparent that he had an erection. He hadn’t even had a chance the night before to really check out his junk. He’d thought he was still the same size, but maybe he was bigger. He felt bigger there like he was everywhere else.
“You are correct that telling you negatives would seem counterproductive. But this goes to… motivations and character. Two things that will not change in your interactions with my mother and the Alliance,” Khoth explained.
“I don’t want you to betray the Alliance for me,” Jace answered.
A small smile crossed Khoth’s lips. “And that is why I will for you. You’re not just the Pilot, you are a good and honorable man. I believe that the Alliance would be best served by us being transparent with you.”
“That would be good, but you only think that because you know and trust me,” Jace answered with a shrug. “Your mother doesn’t yet, let alone the rest of the Alliance. I still have to win them over.”
Another faint smile. “I believe if my mother gave you that chance, you could accomplish this. But she will not because she is desperate.”
Jace leaned in towards Khoth. “What’s making her desperate?”
“Several things. I believe the Alliance…” Khoth breathed in, “I believe the Alliance is out of ships.”
“But how can that be? The Osiris just needs to grab some fuel--which it can siphon from Jupiter or any gas giant--and start the production process and--”
“Other ships are not like the Osiris. Such a gift is unique.” Khoth grimaced. “We can barely fix the Altaeth technology we have. We cannot build more vessels. We are dependent upon finding them.”
Jace’s forehead scrunched. “But surely you have your own technology--”
“It does not work against the Khul,” Khoth gently reminded him. “Perhaps if we’d had time to truly develop it, we might have created something ourselves, but we did not have that time. And though there have been many investigations and attempts… Well, we depend upon Altaeth technology.”
“Well, that will be fixed when the Osiris can produce some more ships! And look at all these planets.” Jace gestured to the walls and ceilings where hundreds of worlds had danced and spun. “They all have tech and--”
“Yes, all of this is invaluable. That is why my mother must have it,” Khoth said.
“I see.”
“And there are other considerations. There are internal political struggles where people far more xenophobic than my mother wish to take charge,” Khoth stated. “She has little to no bargaining power to get this information.”
“Meaning she can’t give humanity membership in the Alliance?” Jace slowly asked.
Khoth shook his head. “Humans are viewed as little more than uncivilized animals. To have you as part of the Alliance or even with a foothold she would lose her position and it would never be approved.”
Jace nodded slowly. “So she’s come here with nothing to bargain with?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Silence fell between them. The video recordings from the night before had been added to. There was a link to more information, secret information, all the information that Jace could want or need.
“So what has she come here with?” Jace finally asked, though he could guess. She had arrived here with a fleet.
“Force. Military might except the Osiris has shown me--”
“I can control every ship, actually every piece of Altaeth tech, from your armor to your weaponry to--”
“The life support,” Khoth finished.
“Oh, God,” Jace breathed. “I can imagine what the Osiris showed you.”
“Yes, it was quite clear that any use of force against you would be unwise,” Khoth stated with a dryness that had Jace almost smiling.
“The others who are against her can they be reasoned with?” Jace asked.
“You think to go to her enemies?”
