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“Yes, so that Nova or any of the others would know our plans,” Typhon answered.

“It wasn’t just for that,” Khoth stated.

“No, but it was mostly for that,” Typhon agreed and spread his hands. “I promise that you will have your answers once we are in the compound. How is that? All my secrets will be laid bare to you, Commander.”

“Commander, can I speak to you? Now?” Davies stood up and grasped his right forearm and tugged him away from the others, towards Jace.

Jace stared out at the city, seemingly oblivious to everything else. Jace put a hand on the canceaux’s back window. He was likely seeing the city with new eyes. Not just the wonder of an alien world. No. For it was not alien to Jace. It was his people’s city that the Thaf’ell simply lived in.

Jace, hold on.

Lowering his voice so the others couldn’t hear him, Davies said, “We need to abort this mission now. If we get to the compound, there is no telling if we’re getting out of it.”

Khoth’s gaze slid to the front of the canceaux and the pilot’s compartment. Davies was right. The compound was near the center of the city, though it was large and set off with non scaleable walls and extensive security both physical and electronic. Typhon’s secrets suddenly seemed dangerous. Khoth would have to overcome the pilot and then fly them back to the space port--

“There’s no need for that, gentlemen,” Jace’s voice was warm and filled with affection, but it didn’t reach beyond them to the others. “If I didn’t wish to go to the compound, we wouldn’t be going.”

Both Khoth and Davies’ heads snapped towards him. Jace was facing them. His back rested against the window, ankles crossed and one hand petting the top of Gehenna’s head-dome.

“Pilot,” Davies said as he marched over to Jace, “Typhon managed to pull off things that we didn’t know about in advance. He might have some way of blocking you from the Osiris just like the Khul did.”

Jace nodded. “Your concerns are noted, Lieutenant-Commander. But I don’t think that’s what we’re dealing with. It was more that I didn’t know what to look for, because I wasn’t aware…” Jace paused, licked his lips, and his eyes flickered to Khoth’s then away as if ashamed. “I wasn’t aware of certain things. You can’t know to look for something if you don’t know it's there.”

“Pilot, if you’re certain…” Davies let that sentence hang.

Jace leaned towards him and grinned. “We have Gehenna to save us if I’m wrong.”

Gehenna beeped authoritatively. She didn’t show her weaponry though, keeping up the appearance of a cute ball.

Davies let out a hiss of breath, but he straightened his shoulders and said, “As you will, Pilot.”

He then turned and headed back to his seats. The others were openly watching them, except for Typhon who had resumed his tapping. Khoth wondered exactly what he was ordering next. But Jace would know…

“Come here… please, Khoth,” Jace said and gestured for him to approach.

Khoth joined Jace at the back of the canceaux. Gehenna twittered up at him. Across his comm came the statement, Jace needs you! He’s really upset! Khoth nodded at her. He knew. He was here. He resisted the urge to touch Jace. Jace shifted to look up at him.

“Hey,” Jace said, his voice soft, uncertain and a little blasted. The earlier calm and certainty slipped a little. “Are you--are you okay?”

Khoth blinked. Was he all right? It was Jace who had been shocked to his core…

“Yes, my Xi is… relatively at ease. Is your Xi… are you all right?” Khoth switched to human words.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Jace gave a faint laugh. “You know I didn’t know about--about the Altaeth thing until I said it here, right? The AIs kept it from me.”

Gehenna made a soft, sad boop. She pressed tighter against Jace’s leg.

“I deduced that.” Khoth nodded. “You believed yourself… human. That was important to you.”

Jace flashed a smile that Khoth was sure didn’t reach his eyes. “I did. Except I didn’t. You made me feel… human. With you, I was still Jace.”

Khoth felt an ache in his chest. He asked softly, “Do I no longer provide you such comfort?”

Jace’s lips parted. “Oh, you--you provide everything.” He reached and touched Khoth’s arm then pulled his hand away and bit his lower lip. “I probably shouldn’t say this here, or maybe at all, but… Khoth, you mean so very much to me.”

Khoth found himself straightening proudly. Jace still wished him to have a special role even though Jace knew he was now an Altaeth. Khoth frowned at that thought. It was off somehow. It was not something Jace would appreciate.

I am making a determination that as Jace is now an Altaeth that he is above me. He would not like that classification, Khoth realized.