The Osiri were stark, raving mad, Elena decided. How else would you explain the nonsense coming out of his mouth?
She'd heard of narcissists before, but the Osiri took it to the next level. An entire species of megalomaniacs.
"Exalted one, considering the prize you've received today, I was wondering if we could reconsider the offering," Kai interrupted, careful to keep their head lowered.
The Osiri glanced at Kai with a predatory focus.
"It's just—I would hate for my crèche's ranking to fall behind the others."
The Osiri straightened. "That is not my problem. The offering stands."
Kai's expression was stilted as they bowed again. "Very well, my lord."
"You're dismissed," the Osiri instructed.
Kai dipped lower before rising. He held out a hand to stop Fyr from following. "Not you, Fyr. You're staying here."
It was hard not to pity Fyr as shock showed on his face. Elena was betting he hadn’t seen this betrayal coming.
"What's this?" Fyr demanded.
Kai was perfectly composed as they met the general's gaze. "The offering was never supposed to be our lowest ranked. It was always to be taken from our best."
To their credit, there was regret on the Sye's face. Though Elena thought that had more to do with losing a talented seedling than betraying a boy who'd given every appearance of being loyal to the core.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way, but your sacrifice will ensure the advancement of us all," Kai explained.
Fyr's face had gone granite hard, his emotions shut down. "Did Ajix know about this?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't he have?"
Elena winced. That had to hurt.
What a way to sell out your companion. No wonder the generals and the Sye were unable to break away from the Osiri. Trust and loyalty didn't exist among them.
Fyr looked down, his hair sliding forward to shield his expression as Kai gave an impatient sigh.
"I must get back to the rest of the children. Obey your new master. You know the consequences if you don't."
Fyr said nothing as the Sye glided to the stairs, leaving them alone with the Osiri.
"Such a brave little girl," the Osiri crooned, too close to Elena for comfort. "Just like your mother. I wonder if you share in her weaknesses."
Elena's breathing turned ragged as the Osiri left her side, heading back toward Elise. In all those stories from Auntie and Uncle, they'd never gone over what to do in a situation like this.
Fyr hung around the edge of the platform, his expression defeated as he watched the Osiri's approach.
The Osiri ignored him, venturing over to Elise. "Shall we pick up where we left off?"
Elena jerked against her bindings. "No!"
The Osiri glanced at her with a smirk. "As I expected. Just like her."
"Elena, look away," Elise managed to get out. "Close your eyes, little bird."
To Elena's eternal shame, she found herself listening to her mother, squeezing her eyes shut. Unable to face this next part.
Before anything could happen, Ajix interrupted. "My lord."
Elena's eyes popped open to find the general standing on the periphery of the walkway.
"What is it?" the Osiri rumbled in a dangerous voice.
"The Phoenix. She's here."
The Osiri forgot about Elise as he turned fully to the general. "You're sure."
"Our spies verified it."
Unseen by the Osiri, Elise's mouth curled. Satisfaction burning in her eyes as she met Elena's.
"Well, well, looks like you have a reprieve, my dear," the Osiri purred. He knelt in front of Elise. "Don't be too satisfied, though."
Before Elise could do anything, he touched her forehead with a small, oblong device.
Elena's mother went limp, collapsing to the floor.
The Osiri rose. "I can't have you conscious for this reunion. You might try something stupid."
"What did you do to her?" Elena demanded, trying to get a better look at Elise.
"Don't strain so, little bird," the Osiri advised, gliding toward Ajix. "She's simply unconscious. Which is how she'll remain until I decide otherwise."
The Osiri passed Ajix, heading for the stairs. The general remained in place, staring at Fyr with an expressionless face.
"Come along, my general. We have a Phoenix's wings to break."
Kira – Above the planet
"Drop Ship Advantage, we are approaching the coordinates. Prepare to disembark," a voice said over the comms.
"Command, this is Frost. Disengaging docking clamps now," Lieutenant Himoto said.
"Frost?" Devon asked.
"That's my call sign. It was originally Ice Queen, on account of my winning personality. They changed it after I expressed my extreme dissatisfaction over such an unoriginal moniker."
Nova smirked. "She means she beat the other pilots up."
Devon blinked in amazement. And a little confusion.
"Not all of us are as lucky as the Phoenix to be named after something cool." The lieutenant flicked several switches on the console in front of her. There was a thump as the docking clamps released and then a sense of weightlessness as the ship drifted out of the landing bay, its engines still off. "Isn't that right, Tank?"
"What are you talking about? I love my name."
Himoto snorted. "That's not what I heard."
"They gave me my call sign because of the way I plow through everything like a tank," Tank explained to Devon at his questioning look.
"You don't choose them?" the boy asked.
The Tuann were paying close attention to the conversation, their faces creased in interest.
"Lord, no," Tank said with a laugh. "Call signs are given. Never chosen. Often a little insulting and based on something you've done."
"How did you wind up as the Phoenix?" Joule asked Kira.
"That's not the call sign she started with." Tank's mouth quirked. "What was the original one again?"
Kira tried to stare the other man down.
Raider covered his mouth and coughed. "Red."
"Thank you very much, asshole," Kira told him, glaring.
He dropped his hand and grinned. "Just keeping things real, Nixxy."
She rolled her eyes before focusing on the question on Devon and Joule's face. "Okay, fine. Yes, that was what they called me before."
Talon snickered. Even Finn had to fight the smile that threatened to crack his stoic expression.
Graydon didn't bother, looking over at Kira with a smirk.
She huffed at him. "It was that or Mad Dog."
"Because you were a little mad?"
Raider snickered. "Try insane."
"Thanks, Pastor," Kira said sarcastically.
The amusement dropped from Raider's face at the reminder of what he'd almost ended up with. He was lucky they'd changed it to Raider after the incident with the pirates.
"What is my call sign?" the J1N asked.
Odin looked up from where she was working in the corner, her gaze shooting to the drone. "Come over here, Jin. I need your help with something."
The J1N didn't argue, drifting toward the Sye and letting Odin attach a few wires to his internal system.
Himoto's co-pilot leaned over to say something. Himoto listened, nodding a second later.
"Command, this is Advantage. We are away."
"Best of luck, Frost. Give those bastards hell."
"There's no question of that," Himoto said, looking over her shoulder at Kira. "See you on the other side, Reliance."