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“But it’s about his mother,” Davies finally said.

“I have no mother.” The words came from Khoth’s mouth before he even had time to think about them.

He saw Jace react for him with those words. The faint curling forward of Jace’s shoulders. The sad flicker in Jace’s eyes.

“Let’s take this discussion somewhere more private,” Jace suggested and gestured for the two men to retreat back down the walkway and head out of the Bridge.

The three of them headed out. Jace nodded and smiled at everyone, exchanging some kind words, brushing a hand over someone’s shoulder. Assuring everyone to continue enjoying themselves. Gehenna clanked over.

“Is that coming with us?” Davies asked.

“Gehenna is always with me. But yes, I’ve asked her to be there physically,” Jace said neutrally, but for Jace neutral was negative.

“Of course, I understand. She will be useful perhaps in solutions to what I have to say,” Davies quickly corrected himself.

Jace led the four of them to a small Ready Room just off the Bridge. There was a table that could seat six and screens that surrounded them displaying their travel through the Gate.

Khoth noted how Jace looked at the screens for long moments, smiling briefly, before sitting down at the head of the table and gesturing for them both to sit. Khoth sat on Jace’s left while Davies seated himself on the right. Gehenna remained standing behind Jace, looming over the table with her sulphurous red eyes. Davies’ gaze slid to her and then away. But it was evident in the tension he held in his shoulders that he felt her presence though he was trying to ignore it.

She frightens him. Not a fool then. And Jace knew she would cause him discomfort. Wise.

“What is so important that you chose to interrupt the maiden voyage while at the same time must not have been that important to bring it up beforehand?” Jace lifted an eyebrow at Davies.

Davies even sat at attention, which Khoth had to admit impressed him a little bit. The Lieutenant-Commander acted similarly to a Thaf’ell soldier would. But that must only be a skin deep comparison. Humans, for all their good aspects, were not superior like Thaf’ell were.

“The ship wouldn’t let me see you until now, Pilot,” Davies said. “I was under the impression that you told it to keep me away. This was the first opportunity I had to speak with you.”

Jace was quiet for a moment and Khoth wondered if he was speaking to the Osiris. It was clear to him at least that Jace hadn’t told the Osiris to keep Davies away. But it was also something that Osiris could have done after interpreting something Jace had told it to do. That was the Osiris’ way.

“Well, tell me now.”

Davies stared without blinking at Jace for long moments. “Pilot, do you not control the--”

“Lieutenant-Commander Davies, this is not your time to ask questions. Yours is to answer them. Do so. Now,” Khoth stated. “Tell the Pilot what he wishes to know.”

Davies nodded. “Forgive me, Pilot. It’s just there are so many new things to absorb. I am just trying to understand, to get my bearings, so that I am the most useful to you.”

You mean useful to General Intoshkin, Khoth thought dryly.

“We are all learning, Lieutenant-Commander. Tell me what’s bothering you about High Councillor Voor,” Jace said.

Davies took in a breath and drew his hands together on the table before him in a V-pattern.

He is settling his Xi. Another trait that is similar.

“While there is much that is new to me, there are plenty of things that are familiar. Terribly familiar,” Davies said. “I took the opportunity of reviewing all the interactions you had with High Councillor Voor. You are… quite the tactician.”

There was a breath at the end where Khoth thought something like “for one so young” or “for one so inexperienced” or “for a clerk” might have been. But Davies said none of them.

“You didn’t bring me here to compliment me. Backhandedly or not.” Jace grinned, evidently not caring that Davies underestimated him.

“No. I want to protect you,” Davies said.

Gehenna clanked. She was flexing one of those huge hands as if to suggest: what protection can you give that I cannot, you soft and fragile bag of meat?

“From High Councillor Voor?” Jace guessed.

Khoth stiffened. But he said nothing. He didn’t trust himself to say anything.