"As entertaining as this is, my oshota can conceal our presence for only so long," Graydon interjected. "If we're going, we need to do so now."
Raider's fists loosened finally. His stance relaxed as he took Aeron's arm to escort him forward. To Kira's relief, Aeron went without a struggle.
"Blue, we're taking an alternate route out of here. Meet us back at the ship," Kira instructed through the comms.
"Roger that."
Graydon raised their clasped hands between their bodies, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist. "You ready for this?"
Despite the dangerous situation, Kira's pulse jumped as warmth flooded the place where Graydon's lips had touched. "If I had an idea of what this was."
Graydon dropped her hand, his gaze playful. "Now where would be the fun in that?"
In the depths of his eyes, lightning flashed. It set off a chain. Dozens. No. Hundreds of bolts striking in the midst of the stormy gray.
Tingling started in her limbs. The fine hair on her arms stood upright.
"Teleportation, cheva nier," Graydon whispered at the question on her face. "I thought it'd be a fun couple's experience."
The building pressure burst. Kira's world went white.
They landed on the edge of House Roake's space dock. Exactly where they needed to be.
Located in the shadow of Roake's Fortress of the Vigilant, the space dock was tens of miles from the Inquisitors' Hold which had been built well outside the capital city of Ta Sa'Riel in an area that was considered sacred.
Kira found that last part out by accident when she crashed her ship into their backyard.
With a sense of wonder, Kira held her hand out to catch the droplets of rain from the weakening storm. "Blue would have loved that."
It was too bad the human hadn't been able to experience it for herself. She geeked out anytime she encountered unfamiliar technology. Once she fixated, she could be quite the handful. For something like that, something almost magical in nature, Blue would have lost her mind.
"I'm so over Tuann travel methods," Raider said with a groan, looking miserable as he straightened.
He took Aeron's arm, marching him toward the silhouette of the Wanderer where it waited in the storm.
Designed by humans, Kira's ship had been built for function rather than form. She stood out compared to the sleeker lines of the Tuann ships surrounding her. Almost ugly in comparison.
Despite that, she was a welcome sight as Kira and Graydon followed.
"He's rather weak to relocation technology. I thought it was a side effect of his humanity but your other friend doesn't have the same reaction," Graydon observed.
"That's because Raider's issue isn't physical. He just hates technology. Unless he can shoot it or fly it, he'd prefer to pretend it didn't exist."
Their unit, the Curs, had enjoyed ribbing him over that.
Raider had been brought up on a planet of religious zealots who rejected the modern world—including much of its technology. Never mind that the same technology was what enabled them to settle the planet in the first place.
"Strange that he and Jin get along so well," Graydon said.
"Don't let them hear you say that. They'll deny it."
As much as they argued though, they always had each other's back in the end. They might pretend to dislike each other, but Kira knew the truth. There was a lot of respect between them.
The wind and rain had lightened considerably during their time in the Inquisitors' Hold, making for the perfect launch conditions. Almost like fate was abetting their crimes.
Raider pushed Aeron. "Hurry up."
Aeron caught himself after a small stumble. "You don't have to be so rough. I'm all for leaving a planet teeming with my enemies."
"Had a change of heart, have you? That was quick. It's certainly not what you were saying earlier."
Aeron bared his teeth at him. "Watch it, meat."
"Keep talking. I'll rip out your tongue."
"Damn it." Kira groaned as Aeron shoved Raider with the same amount of force the human had used on him. "I thought I was supposed to be the one with control issues."
She started jogging toward them.
"Don't make threats you can't follow through on," Aeron warned.
Kira was still too far away to prevent the coming violence. "Do not kill him."
That would be the cherry on top. Going to all that trouble and risk only to have it end in blood and death. Their potential source forever silenced. Unable to provide them with any of the information that might make this shit show worthwhile.
Barely an inch separated Raider and Aeron. The two looking like they were going to come to blows at any second.
"He'd better have what we want," Raider said as Kira reached them, allowing her to nudge him away from the general so she could step between them.
"Or what?" Aeron challenged.
Kira caught Raider as he moved to step forward. "That's enough."
The shadows at the base of Kira's ship stirred, an oshota making his presence known.
"Graydon, can you take Aeron?" Kira asked.
"It'd be my pleasure, cheva nier." Graydon gestured for Aeron to precede him. "This way, general."
Aeron's unwillingness showed on his face.
Graydon's smirk turned dangerous. "Do you need another reminder of how much I dislike having my time wasted?"
Aeron broke eye contact to glare at Graydon. "Be careful. A general's memory is long. Especially when it comes to vengeance. You have the upper hand now, but one day that may change. Be sure you don't regret your actions when that time comes."
"Is he threatening us?" Raider asked.
Kira caught Raider's arm when he tried to shove past her. "Nope, we're not doing this tonight."
Aeron sneered as he started toward the ship. "Just pointing out something you may have forgotten."
Kira waited until Raider was under control before letting go.
"Don't forget your goal, Aeron," Kira called. "We're not your real enemies. Try to remember that."
"Tell him that."
An explosive curse came from Raider as Aeron and Graydon disappeared into the ship. Raider whirled, giving Kira his back.
She waited, knowing he needed a moment as he put his hands on his hips and bent his head.
"Is this going to be a problem?" Kira asked. "Because if so—"
It wasn't that she didn't understand or sympathize with his anger. The Tsavitee had been their enemies for so long. The generals responsible for guiding the Tsavitee's armies in particular. The war wouldn't have been nearly as devastating without their influence.
They'd lost friends and colleagues because of them. That was a lot to overlook.
"He's our only lead, Raider," Kira said.
Raider released a breath, tipping his head back to look up at the storm clouds overhead. "He isn't. There's Odin too. Elise told us to find the Sye, remember?"