Chapter 22 #3
That was all she could promise when the situation was ever evolving. Things often happened fast. There wasn’t always time for a check-in.
Jace nodded, having expected that answer. “I have a few raids of suspected pirate dens to conduct over the next few days. I don’t trust all of the people under me so I have no choice but to go with them. Himoto has orders to help you if I’m out.”
“How many of your people followed you here?”
“Less than I’d like; more than I deserve.”
Kira pushed away from the railing. “Isn’t that always the case?”
“I know how you are, Nixxy. Don’t wreck my station,” Jace called after her as she walked away.
“Titan isn’t yours.”
“Given how shy its master is, it might as well be,” Jace grumbled, turning back to the view.
Kira wasn’t so sure about that. Titan carried unexpected depths. Perhaps deeper than even Kira knew.
Jin and the others hadn’t gone far by the time Kira made her way out of headquarters. She found them waiting in one of many mini green spaces located on the government level. All interspersed between offices and along walkways.
At Kira’s appearance, Raider straightened from the park bench he was slouched against. Jin hung over its back, poking at an interesting looking bush behind it.
“How did it go?” Raider asked.
Jin left the bush alone, sliding down until he was seated facing her.
“Fine.”
“What did he have to say?”
“Apparently Sariah and Jarek staged a jail break.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not actually.”
“What is this? Monkey see; monkey do. They have to top your escapades?”
“I, at least, refrained from injuring anyone. They can’t claim the same. Jace said they put two of his people in the infirmary.”
“No wonder everybody keeps eye fucking us.” Raider spread his arms along the back of the bench, lifting the tip of his fingers to wave at a pair of security members who’d stopped to watch them. “Word travels fast.”
Kira swatted at him. “Stop that. I swear you’re worse than Jin sometimes.”
“All the time,” Jin piped up, hopping off the bench to follow Kira.
Raider got up, ambling after them with Dylan and Finn following. “I resent that comparison.”
He could resent it all he wanted, but they both knew it was true.
“Any other news from our illustrious former commander?” Raider asked.
“He gave me an update regarding Blue’s situation.”
“How is the menace?”
“No longer in the service.” Kira glanced over at Jin skipping along down the pathway, uncaring that he sometimes nearly bowled over the humans hurrying about their day. “Can you track her down for me?”
He flapped a hand at her. “I’ll add it to my list.”
“No rush. The children and Caius take precedent. Just whenever you get the chance.”
“By the way, where are we going?” Raider asked as they reached the elevators and Kira hit the button.
“It’s been a long few hours and I’m worried about the rest of our group. I thought we’d head to the rendezvous point.”
Raider eyed the side of her face. “You think it was Bez who caused the incident in the station gardens?”
“Can you think of anyone else it could be?”
When the station’s infirmary proved less than helpful, Bez had probably turned to the gardens as a last resort.
The elevator arrived and they stepped inside.
Raider stabbed the button for their level. “I’m sorry, but are we just going to continue to ignore the fact we have a tail?”
He glared at the oshota who’d slipped into the lift behind them.
Baran smirked and made a show of leaning against the wall.
“I’d planned to, yes,” Kira said.
She didn’t know why Graydon felt the need to send Baran after her, but she had no intention of ditching him.
At least not right away.
Raider looked at the oshota. “You know when you tail someone it’s customary to keep a little distance so they don’t realize you’re there, right?”
“In most cases, you’d be right. In this instance, however, I’m not taking any chances.”
Kira kept her smile small and private, well aware of how much it would annoy the oshota.
She was right.
Baran muttered something under his breath, looking like he was debating whether he needed to edge closer or not.
“Nice job with the tracker, by the way,” Jin said.
Kira preened. “Thanks.”
She’d thought it was a master stroke herself.
“I particularly like how you managed to slip it into his clothes while getting your ass kicked,” Jin continued, wiping the smile right off her face.
Raider coughed into his hand to hide his laugh.
Baran looked delighted at all the shit she was catching.
“I did not get my ass kicked,” Kira declared.
“Oh, excuse me. Having your face pounded in.”
“I had a carefully considered plan.”
“Did it involve taking a beating?”
“Oh, shut up,” Kira grumbled.
She probed the spot under her eye, finding it still sore.
Jin reached up and touched the bracelet her move had exposed. “We really need to get this off you. If we’re going after these pirates, you need to be in top shape.”
Kira brushed his hand away. “I’m always in top shape.”
“No, you’re not.”
Kira glared. “You’re even more annoying in this form.”
“Finally, something about it I like.”
The lift arrived at their destination. The doors opened to allow them to step off.
Most of the station’s hotels were located on level nine, close to the fine dining establishments and the trendier clubs.
A few hotels existed in the pleasure district, next to or inside the brothels and gambling dens, but Kira avoided them at all costs.
You never knew what happened in those rooms. Everything from illicit liaisons to murder.
She preferred to stay somewhere where the sheets were clean and the surfaces didn’t need a full blown sanitation every time someone checked out.
Spotting a cart selling candy globes, Kira made a beeline straight for it. After a short exchange with the vendor, she selected one of the globes and paid for it with her ID chip. Moments later she was walking back toward her group.
“What’s this?” Jin asked as she handed him the globe.
It was the size of his head. The spun sugar walls of its exterior were transparent. A tiny fox was curled up inside. Tail over its nose. Ears pricked. Eyes closed.
It was adorable and something a child might desire.
“A sugar globe.”
“And you’re giving it to me, why?”
Despite his question, Kira noticed Jin cradled the globe like it was some precious treasure and not a sweet confection with a life span as short as a mayfly.
“You asked to ride my senses every time you saw one of these.”
She’d always given in too, because it was such a small request when compared to what he would gain from the fleeting connection.
Jin had needed those all too brief instances where he could taste and experience everything it meant to be alive. It had helped ground him. Kept him from becoming the monster the inquisitors feared.
“You’ve been concentrating on everything you lost. But have you ever thought of what you’ve gained? You no longer need me as an anchor.”
He could taste anything he wanted. No waiting for Kira to be in the right mood. No time limit on the experience. Just him and his senses.
Kira couldn’t think of a better gift.
Jin looked from her to the globe, his expression torn.
Deciding it was unnecessary to hammer home her point, Kira turned toward Raider.
He raised his eyebrows at her. “The Red Rabbit?”
Kira nodded.
Shower. Then sleep. Then maybe a little mayhem.