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“Yes, from her and whoever would come after you whether from the Khul or… the Alliance,” Davies said.

“I see. You are the head of Security so… it makes sense that you wish to protect me,” Jace said with a shrug.

“You take this too lightly and you overestimate your strength at the same time,” Davies said.

Khoth rose menacingly. “Lieutenant--”

“It’s okay, Commander. I want all crew to speak freely.” Jace put a hand out towards Khoth and Khoth slowly lowered back down into his chair. “Even if they are saying something I don’t want to hear. Pray, continue.”

Davies laced his fingers together and stared at his gripped hands. “You are incredible.”

Khoth’s eyebrows rose. Jace blinked a few times. Neither of him had expected to hear this. Gehenna creaked again, but this time she was leaning forward as if to get a better look at the battle scarred soldier.

What is this? Some kind of profession of affection?

He really should have looked up human mating, but things had gotten in the way. Khoth’s hands fisted in his lap.

“Okay. I am incredible.” Jace’s lips twitched in amusement.

“What you can do. What you are. How you are. Even that speech in there…” Davies nodded back towards the Bridge. “You’re inspiring on top of everything else. Your actions in the Hive--”

“You do not know what happened in the Hive,” Khoth stated simply.

“Really? Because the Osiris let me see it. Or did the AI not tell you that either, Pilot?” Davies asked.

“I don’t know everything all the time,” Jace said with another shrug. “I have to trust the Osiris to do some things on its own. It made that available to the crew to show them what we face.” He said the last to Khoth. Then he turned back to Davies. “After having seen the Khul and one of their Hives--just one--do you really think you can save me?”

Davies nodded, which had Khoth’s eyebrows shooting upwards again.

“You can’t know everything all the time. You have to delegate. You let people who have specialized knowledge contribute, right?” Davies asked.

“You’re a very skilled soldier. I know that,” Jace said. “It’s part of why we hired you.”

“I was the point person in my squad. I was the one to figure out what the dangers were by assessing the enemy ahead of time,” Davies explained.

“All right. And you’ve been assessing the Alliance?” Jace prompted.

Another nod. “I was what the Israeli’s call the Tenth Man.”

Jace nodded, but Khoth lifted an eyebrow, but this time in confusion.

“What is this Tenth Man?” Khoth asked.

“The Tenth Man is the Devil’s Advocate,” Jace explained, which just caused Khoth’s eyebrow to lift higher. “Basically, if there are ten decision-makers in a room and nine agree then it is the tenth man or woman’s duty to disagree. They are to challenge conventional wisdom and to think creatively. This stops groupthink and requires everyone to think on an issue from a fresh perspective.”

“I see.” Khoth frowned. “The Thaf’ell would not value such a person. Often received wisdom is right because it comes from experience and collective judgment.”

“Exactly, which means you are predictable,” Davis stated simply. “That’s why the Khul have been running circles around you, because tradition trumps innovation. And it's also why you, Pilot, are a bigger threat to the Alliance than the Khul.”

“We’re not trying to destroy the Alliance. They have a lot to offer. We’re trying to nudge them towards change,” Jace said.

Davies nodded. “That’s eminently logical.”

“Which the Thaf’ell will appreciate,” Khoth argued.

Davies gave him an almost sad smile. “You really think that. Or do you just hope it?”

“Thaf’ell appreciate logic above all,” Khoth said.