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Jace cast one glance back at the database. It showed him an image of the Osiris almost mockingly. This was definitely one system where he couldn’t find access to his beloved AI.

Beloved? Oh, boy, I’m glad Osiris didn’t hear that, Jace thought.

Aren’t I your beloved AI? Gehenna asked as she bumped against his legs. More than the Osiris, surely!

Yes, most definitely, Gehenna. That goes without saying, he assured her.

But the Osiris did a good job with Diane. Saving her like it did, Gehenna admitted.

Yes, and it needs to keep everyone safe, Jace told her almost as if in prayer.

They started out of the room. Jace tried to quicken his steps, but to his horror, he found himself leaning against Khoth heavily. Sweat dotted his brow. He felt every person’s eyes upon him as his weakness asserted itself.

Here’s your savior! He can’t even walk to a lift! But I’m going to save you all! Jace thought bitterly.

Davies came up beside him. “What do you need?”

“Nothing. There’s a dampening device being used by the Khul. It happened before when I took the Hive out. But it causes… issues. Plus all the broken Altaeth tech here feels like someone is stabbing me with dull daggers in the brain.”

“That’s quite evocative,” Dr. Hayter mused. “You’re quite the linguist yourself, Pilot.”

“Thanks, doc, but I’d prefer having my full abilities instead of a large and fun vocabulary right now,” Jace admitted.

“But your great power comes not from your physical form, Jace,” Khoth corrected him. “It is your connection to the tech and your ability to use it.”

“And your ability to inspire people, Pilot,” Davies said. “Those are the things that matter.”

Jace frowned. These things were actually true. As a warrior, he was great--when his body was working--but he was just one man. But as the Pilot, he was so much more.

And I don’t just have access to the Osiris. I have access to all Altaeth tech. All of it on the planet. This planet, Jace thought.

“Thank you both,” Jace said. “I needed to hear that.”

They reached the elevator. The sirens had stopped, but Jace could tell from all of the alerts going out on comms that the danger was hardly over. Just the blaring sirens had stopped. The elevator began to lift.

“They Khul have never come here before,” Amana’s voice was higher and tighter than normal. One of her hands tugged nervously at her selchitte.

The other Thaf’ell held themselves stiffly, not showing any emotion whatsoever, but Jace was certain she reflected what they all felt.

“What brought them here?” Thadden asked softly.

“We know what has brought them here. The Pilot.” Typhon indicated Jace with a jerk of his head.

“Are you blaming this attack by your long-term enemy on your main hub on the Pilot?” Davies asked.

Davies’ heart rate and breathing rose, as Jace realized, he prepared himself for action. He thought that Typhon was accusing Jace of causing this and that he’d have to physically defend Jace against an attack. Dr. Hayter was even frowning and looking fierce for the academic. Khoth was very still.

“I am not blaming the Pilot for the attack. He has shown the Khul that he is a formidable enemy. Far more than the Alliance. They must eliminate him quickly before he grows into an even greater threat,” Typhon explained. Seeing Davies’ clenched fists, he added, “I am not your enemy, Lieutenant-Commander Davies. I have wished all my life to meet a being such as the Pilot. I will do everything in my power--including giving my life--to keep him safe.”

Davies regarded him silently for long moments. “I pray you’re not lying, Justiciar Moturin. Because the Pilot is your last, best hope here.”

“I know that better than you,” Typhon answered.

“But how did they get all the way to Haseon? They would have to go through the gates of at least a dozen highly secure systems, wouldn’t they? We should have had notice they were coming at least, even if they weren’t stopped before!” Amana pointed out.

Poet or not, she put a finger on what was wrong here.

“Perhaps they are not as highly secure as they once were.” Khoth met Jace’s eyes and Jace knew he was thinking of his mother and the secrets about their faltering military.