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“Khoth… what do you want to do? I mean… you wouldn’t be exiled any longer if you joined House Maturin and…” Jace’s voice dropped off.

Gehenna, is there something expected of Khoth for this? I mean does he have to give them anything? Jace asked, feeling an oily sickness fill him.

Gehenna guessed that he only wanted her to answer to him as she sent privately, In the dozen cases that are reported in Thaf’ell databanks, the exiled party usually had something valuable to offer such as off-world assets.

But Khoth doesn’t have any off-world assets, does he? Jace asked, even as he already knew the answer.

No, but in one of the sanctuary cases the parties uhm… well, it was the equivalent of a human marriage, Gehenna’s voice was small.

Marriage? He wants to marry Khoth? His headache was pounding now.

There’s nothing to indicate what he wants! At least, nowhere I can access, Gehenna told him.

Khoth wouldn’t want that… but…

Now Jace really wanted to punch Typhon. But there was even less ability for him to do so. The man was offering Khoth the one thing that Jace could not: re-entry to his people, his home, his position, everything. All Jace could offer him was a ship and danger, along with a ton of adventures. But the Thaf’ell valued their family so much they outwardly wore their family history in their hair as their most treasured possession.

Maybe that’s why his dad is there, Gehenna. If Khoth agrees to join House Moturin then he doesn’t lose his father, Jace said.

Oh, yes, that would… that would make sense, she said, her voice dipping just as his had at the realization of what was going on here. But Khoth doesn’t have to marry Typhon! That’s not required, remember?

But it would be expected and--

Unless Khoth were able to give him something just as valuable, Gehenna pointed out. The one person who married in had no assets. But Khoth does in a way! He’s the Commander of the Osiris and--

He has access to me and all we find. Jace breathed out. He’ll have control over where the Alliance goes.

“Khoth, I…” Jace’s gaze slid to the other two men over Khoth’s shoulder. They were looking anxious now. He understood. They were delaying. The people outside were waiting. The questions were growing. But he had to let Khoth know that he would support him no matter what. Isn’t that what he had to do? How could he deny Khoth his family and his people again? “Oh, fuck it, Khoth, there’s no where to have this conversation but here. I need you to know…” Jace’s throat went suddenly tight. “I need you to know that I…”

Jace tried to swallow, but emotions were sticking in his throat. Because what if Khoth wanted to be with Typhon? What if Khoth was relieved that this adventure was over before it began and he could be professional all the time with Jace? What if--

“Jace?” Khoth lightly grasped his shoulders.

The ringing began then and the flashes. As his emotions built, Jace found the old ailments had not left him, merely crept away to the dark corners to hide and the earlier light sensitivity and headaches were nothing to this.

It is an emotional storm, Gehenna murmured.

Pilot, you should return to the ship, the Osiris’ voice was clipped with concern.

I can’t! I can’t! This will go away! This has to go away!

He covered his ears with his hands. What if Khoth left him? What if he was alone in all of this? The Osiris and Gehenna and everyone was great, but Khoth kept him centered. Khoth made him feel human, which was crazy because other humans should make him feel human, but they didn’t. They saw him as the Pilot. Even his parents were a little awed of him and unsure. But Khoth never forgot who he was.

“Jace, Jace, can you hear me?” Khoth’s voice finally seemed to break through the ringing.

“Yes,” Jace gasped. “I need some…”

“What do you need? Do you want to return to the ship?” Khoth asked. “Thammah!”

Thammah popped out of the cockpit. There was a scowl on her face, probably brought on from simply being on Haseon’s surface, though she might have recognized Khoth’s father and thought some kind of fuckery was up. But she had no idea the whole of it, immediately smoothed away. She came to him.

“What’s wrong with Jace?” she asked, forgetting his title at that moment.

Davies and the doctor were there too.

“Is it stemming from his earlier illness?” Davies asked. Of course, he knew about that.

“Perhaps it is something about Haseon’s atmosphere,” Dr. Hayter suggested as he checked his comm, “though I see it is comparable to Earth’s. Though alien pollen or any such thing might cause a reaction.”