Chapter 21 #2
Kira hid her wince. That sounded personal.
She noted Graydon’s lack of surprise at Sariah’s attempted insubordination and Baran’s response.
Things like this were what made her find him so terrifying sometimes.
Graydon had orchestrated this entire chain of events.
Maybe not this exact situation, but Sariah overstepping so badly that Graydon now had an excuse to oppose her presence? Definitely.
Sariah was done. Not just here, but likely in the inquisitor’s order as well. She hadn’t just attempted to seize power and question Graydon. She’d called out the emperor by name.
There would be consequences. Big, life altering consequences.
“Just what did you do to make that woman trust you so much she was willing to attempt a coup?” Jin asked.
“Curious?”
Jin nodded.
Baran winked at him. “It’s my little secret.”
Humiliated, Sariah trained her gaze over their heads, refusing to look at any of them. Kira caught the shake in her hands before they clenched into fists.
Sariah met Kira’s gaze, the depth of fury burning in her eyes taking Kira off guard for a split second. She could see the rage eating away at Sariah’s insides, twisting her into something ugly and spiteful.
Before she could think about what that might mean for her future, station security swept through the corridors. The brave—and/or stupid—rubbernecked, lingering in doorways and the windows of bars and whorehouses, commenting to each other as security surrounded Kira and the rest.
Those with guilty consciences rushed to disappear. They vanished into the nooks and crannies of the surrounding area. Like rats abandoning a sinking ship. Gone long before anyone else realized they were ever there.
“Quite the welcome carpet they’ve rolled out for you,” Flame drawled.
Noticing Kira’s glance, he winked and lifted his hand to wiggle his fingers at her.
“We’ve received reports of a disturbance,” a woman said.
Kira glanced at her chest. The upside down chevron proclaimed her a sergeant. That made her this group’s ranking officer. Her last name was Fitzpatrick.
Jin looked perplexed. “Since when does Titan respond to disturbance calls?”
Sergeant Fitzpatrick acted like she hadn’t heard Jin. “I’m afraid you’ll have to come with us.”
Raider jerked his head at the bar where Gator and the rest of his underlings were showing signs of stirring. “What about them?”
Sergeant Fitzpatrick barely glanced at the humans before stepping to the side and sweeping out her arm. “This way please.”
“Ah, I see how it is,” Raider said.
Kira did too.
Security saw them as outsiders. Gator and his cronies belonged where Kira and the others did not.
“What do you want to do?” Kira asked Graydon in a low voice.
They had a couple of options.
Fighting their way out was always a popular one.
Of course, that would likely create an intergalactic incident and ruin Graydon’s chances of tracking down Ta Sa’Riel’s attackers.
They could also flee. Kira knew Titan like the back of her hand. She was confident she could make them disappear for a short time.
But again, that would squash Graydon’s ability to investigate.
Really, there was only one acceptable course. The least palatable of their choices and the one she knew Sariah and Jarek would object to the most.
Which was why she’d decided to defer to Graydon on this decision.
After all, he was in charge.
Graydon turned a calculating gaze on their escort. “With an invitation as generous as theirs, what kind of guests would we be to turn it down.”
Fitzpatrick’s people surrounded them.
Sariah jerked away from the human behind her. “This is ridiculous. Don’t touch me.”
“Sariah,” Jarek warned. “Behave.”
“I will not allow these zavier to tell me what to do. We have done nothing to deserve this. Nothing!” She flung a hand out at Kira. “It’s her. She started it.”
Flame whistled. “I didn’t realize wizards were so vocal.”
“Only some of them,” Kira said, eyeing the inquisitor with dislike.
Zavier wasn’t a word used in common speech among the Tuann. It was an old term. Very old, stemming from a time when the masters still ruled their race.
Kira recognized it because of how similar it sounded to another word. A Tsavitee word. One which when translated roughly meant primitive.
An insult to those species they considered un-evolved.
Like humans.
Jin’s fingers flew as he flashed a sign at Kira. “Did you hear it too?”
Kira nodded.
“Tsavitee sympathizer?”
Kira hesitated, uncertain. “Maybe.”
While abhorrent, being elitist and xenophobic wasn’t an actual crime.
Though sometimes Kira wondered if it should have been.
“Tell the mountain anyway.”
She would.
Flame clapped his hands, calling her attention back to him. “This has certainly been fun. Glad I got to finally meet you, Phoenix. I’m happy to say you live up to your reputation.” Flame slipped past security unobstructed. “Try not to spend too much time in detention.”
With that, he was gone. Down the hall and around the corner.
“So much for not telling anybody who I am,” Kira grumbled, noticing the number of eyes now on her.
She tugged at her hood, making sure it was securely in place. Her disguise was probably pointless by now, but at least this way she wouldn’t be a walking target on their way to wherever security was taking them.
Graydon touched her back, using his greater size to shield her as he stared down the humans.
Sergeant Fitzpatrick cleared her throat. “Let’s go.”
Security got busy herding them down the hall toward the station elevators.
“Don’t think this saves you from answering my questions,” Graydon purred in Kira’s ear. “Sariah might have been out of line, but she got one thing right. You’re not supposed to be here.”
Kira reached up to pat his jaw, getting momentarily distracted by the rough feel of his stubble. “Don’t worry, lover. I’m not here to get in your way. Like I told Sariah, my purpose lies in an entirely different direction.”
“You don’t actually expect me to believe that?”
Kira gave him her best, prettiest smile. “It would be nice, yes.”
“Try again.”
“It’s so hard when you tell the truth and no one believes you,” Kira complained.
The glint in Graydon’s eyes said he found her amusing. “Yes, but is it all of the truth?”
Kira released a long sigh, pretending to be more irritated than she actually was. “Let’s talk about it later. This is hardly the time or place.”
“As long as you recognize that there will be a time and place at some point.”
Station security showed them into a conference room with a view overlooking the exterior of the station. Not that there was much to see. Just gray against a backdrop of an endless black void studded with random stars.
Kira and Graydon prowled into the room and around the large conference table. Amila and Solal spread out, stationing themselves on either side of the room while Raider and Finn took the other two.
Fitzpatrick stopped Jarek and Sariah from entering behind them. Bringing up the rear, Baran, Cord and Isla stopped as well.
After a moment, Fitzpatrick nodded and waved at two of her people. “Take them to the holding cells for now.”
“What is this?” Sariah demanded, slapping away one of the human’s hands.
“Please cooperate. I promise you won’t be there for long,” Fitzpatrick assured her.
Baran glanced at Graydon.
“Go with her,” Graydon ordered, shooting Jarek a look that told him to get his colleague under control.
The inquisitor ignored Sariah’s protest, hauling her after him without a word.
Fitzpatrick blocked Jin and Dylan’s entrance. “This is no place for a child.”
Jin’s lower lip trembled as he projected a look of wide-eyed innocence that Kira was pretty sure he’d learned from Elena.
“Important matters are to be discussed,” Fitzpatrick said, softening her tone. “Don’t interrupt.”
Jin’s expression shifted with lightning speed as he bounced into the room. “Just so you know, the big guy is with me. I don’t recommend trying to separate us.”
“Take a seat and get comfortable. Someone will be with you soon,” Fitzpatrick said, withdrawing and closing the door behind her.
Jin flopped into a chair next to the window. “I’ve gotta say, I don’t think I like Titan’s changes.”
“I take it this isn’t usual behavior from them?” Amila asked.
“No,” Kira said, staring at Raider. “It’s not.”
Her friend had lowered himself into a chair facing the door and was now resting his chin on his palm.
“About that contact of yours,” Kira drawled.
Raider’s lips curled as he looked at her out of the side of his eye. “Have you figured it out yet?”
“I’m starting to.”
There weren’t many people who could exert this level of influence over what passed for Titan’s police force. They’d have to be pretty high up in the chain of command. Someone important enough that security had to listen despite not technically reporting to him.
Rounding the table, Kira stood over Raider. “What is Jace doing in a place like this?”
Rear Admiral Jace Skarsdale walked into the conference room with a tired smile. “Hey, Nixxy. It’s good to see you again.”
“What are you doing here?” Kira demanded.
He should have been light years away, preparing his fleet for the Tsavitee invasion they all knew was coming.
“I’m sure if you think about it you can figure that out for yourself,” Jace said.
There was only one reason she could think of for someone of his standing to be sent to the ass crack of nowhere.
Punishment.
Centcom hadn’t been able to retaliate directly due to public sentiment and the shiny possibility of a true alliance with the Tuann so they had resorted to the next best thing. Sending Jace somewhere with few career prospects and no chance of glory.
To make things worse, this sector was known as an officer killing ground.
Those sent here never lasted long. They were either assassinated by the pirate clans when their activities began to interfere with the clans’ bottom line or they washed out and faded into obscurity, crushed by the relentless futility of their assignment.
It was a pretty good tactic; Kira had to admit.
Kira collapsed into the seat next to Raider. “Is this because you helped us?”
“I’m sure that’s part of it.” Jace started to take a seat before pausing at the sight of Jin. “Hello. You and the friend behind you are new.”
“Ah—I forgot you two haven’t formally met,” Kira said.
Harlow had ushered Jin, Elise and Elena away fairly quickly after their rescue, not giving anyone on Jace’s side a chance to see them.
Jace knew about Jin’s new circumstances because Kira had told him.
The basics anyway. Like the fact that Jin looked different now.
Not so much the direction that “different” had taken.
Jin leaned back in his chair.
Dylan grabbed it before it could topple over.
Jin’s smile never wavered. “How’s it going, meat sack?”
Jace froze as his features filled with astonishment. “Jin?” His excitement grew as he swept a quick glance over the boy. “It is you! I’d know that voice anywhere. Flesh and bone look good on you, Tin Man.”
“Everything looks good on me, Knight.”
Jace held out his arms. “Can I hug you? Is that allowed?”
Jin pushed back his chair and rose. “After what you did for me and Elena, I think you can ask for whatever you want.”
Jace took him into his arms, folding him against his chest with a carefulness that made Kira’s eyes smart.
“I always knew you were special,” Jace whispered against Jin’s hair.
“Of course you did. Something like that is impossible to miss.”
Jace chuckled, grabbing Jin and wrapping him in another hug. This one a lot fiercer than the last.
“Worth it, Kira. Everything we did. Everything I’m going through now.” He let Jin go to smile down at him. “It was all worth it.”
Jin ducked his head. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Jace let him sit back down before looking at Kira. “What brings you to Titan? Since you didn’t know I’d been reassigned, I’m guessing it’s not me.”
“Funny you should ask. It’s actually something of a coincidence. We’re on a hunt. Our prey is different though.”
Kira tacked on that last part for Graydon.
“Who are you after?” Jace asked, looking on with interest.
“Ta Sa’Riel was attacked nine days ago,” Graydon rumbled. “We’ve tracked the perpetrators to this station.”
Jace nodded, glancing at Kira next.
She stretched her legs out under the table, making herself comfortable. “There is a Tuann enclave close by that was recently attacked by pirates. We’re after those responsible.”
“An enclave?” Graydon asked.
“That’s right.”
“Roake doesn’t have enclaves this far out.”
“It wasn’t one of ours,” Kira admitted.
Graydon’s stare held a clear demand. One that seemed to grow louder and louder the longer Kira ignored it.
“Fine,” Kira said, caving with a roll of her eyes. “It’s a wanderer’s enclave. Happy?”
Jace glanced between them. “What’s the significance behind a wanderer’s enclave?”
“There is no significance,” Finn answered.
Graydon narrowed his eyes. “Caius was there, wasn’t he?”
“We’re not here regarding Roake’s commander,” Kira said without looking at him.
“If the inquisitors or the other Houses get the smallest inclination that you’re subverting the emperor’s orders, it will not go well for Roake—or me,” Graydon warned.
That made Kira flinch.
“Children are missing.” Kira’s gaze met Jin’s reassuring one over the table. He nodded at her, giving her strength. “I believe one of the pirate clans is responsible for both the attack on the enclave and the abduction of at least three Tuann children.”