by T. A. White
Luatha and the Haldeel moved away, leaving the humans standing in front of the transport ship.
"Fucking wizards and squids," one grumbled.
"Hush," the man in charge said. "I don't want to hear you talking like that while we’re here. You never know who is listening."
The man grimaced but didn't argue further.
"They might be squids, but they have their uses," the woman said, looking around her. "We can't afford to offend them."
The humans from Zepher shot a glance in Kira's direction as she moved past them.
Finn picked up on Kira's dislike. "Those humans—they're not like your Curs."
Kira's pace was steady as she made her way to a dropship on the other side of the hanger, choosing one at random.
The quals weren't for another couple hours. Judging by how quickly people were pouring in and ships were taking off, even if Kira wasn't at the front of the line, she should still make it in time.
"You could say that again," Jin said from inside her hood.
"I didn't recognize their affiliation," Finn ventured after a small pause.
"You wouldn't. Zepher didn't contribute a lot to the war." Kira kept her gaze focused on the ship, looking neither left nor right.
Finn paused. "How is that possible?"
Jin answered when it seemed Kira wouldn't. "The planet Zepher enjoys a unique natural defense. It's located in the middle of a perpetual solar storm. Only those who have a map can reach the planet. Anyone else risks their ship being ripped apart from the fluctuating gravitational fields and ion winds."
Those attributes allowed them to ride out the safety of the war from the comforts of their own planet. While the rest of the Consortium was in a fight for their lives, Zepher sat back and watched.
They contributed the bare minimum to the war effort.
That hadn't stopped them from a shameless power grab afterward. Since they'd suffered little in the way of losses, it had allowed them to attain a position of power in the Consortium, bought in large part by the sacrifices of others.
Kira could have forgiven them for that. After all, who wanted to send their sons and daughters to war?
However, Zepher was also highly xenophobic. Anything that smacked of aliens was abhorred and treated with extreme prejudice.
"I'd be on your guard with them," Jin advised. "They're tricky little bastards."
There was no love lost between Zepher and them. If Kira had her way, she'd stay far from anyone associated with that planet.
Kira ignored how Finn studied her, knowing he’d realized there was more to this story.
Unfortunately for him, Kira didn't intend to let any of her secrets slip on this trip.
"Much as I hate to agree with someone from Zepher on anything, they did have a point. There's not a lot of time before we have to be at the quals," Jin said as Kira targeted a ship in the corner, hoping its location far from the dock's entrance would mean they wouldn’t run into anyone they knew. "You sure you want to pick this one?"
"Really, old friend, I would think you'd know by now not to question me," Kira said, marching toward the ship she'd picked.
A much richer and luxurious cousin to the dropships they'd used in the military, the ship didn't have anyone lingering near its boarding ramp.
"Oh no, you haven't gotten arrogant at all," Jin griped.
Kira allowed herself a small smile. "I don't want to hear that from you, Mr. I'm-going-to-invade-someone's-nexus-and-get-caught."
There was silence and then a sulky, "I didn't get caught. I just tripped the sensors, set off the alarm, and got knocked out for a few hours."
"If you think my uncle hasn't put together that incursion with your presence, you're even more dimwitted than you sometimes act," Kira said lightly as she approached the Haldeel steward waiting outside the ship, his eyes bored.
“Hello, I'd like to inquire about passage,” Kira said in accented Haldeel.
Meanwhile, she gave him a simplified greeting, her wrists lifting in a gentle hello, her fingers fanning out in a gesture meant to convey good fortune and favorable tides.
The Haldeel language was filled with a surprising amount of nuance. It contained two parts, placing as much significance on your nonverbal physical cues as it did on what you said.
Vaguely resembling a simplistic form of sign language, there were countless variations that changed based on the tilt of the head, the flick of a finger, or the twist of a wrist. Get even one wrong and you significantly changed the meaning.
An appreciative smile appeared on the Haldeel's face. "You're familiar with our language."
"A novice still." Kira changed her posture to denote gratefulness for the compliment.
"Welcome, za." The Haldeel's limbs flowed into a much more elegant version of the common greeting Kira had given him. "This humble one would be delighted with your company."
Kira smiled at the Haldeel, allowing herself to feel the pleasure the exchange had brought her.
There was an aspect of communication with the Haldeel that most never considered—the empathic nature of the race.
It wasn't enough simply to express what you were feeling. To truly communicate on a level the Haldeel respected, you had to feel what you were trying to get across.
Surprised pleasure suffused the Haldeel's expression. Often called squids by humans, the Haldeel had many traits in common with a cephalopod.
From the waist up, the Haldeel resembled humans.
The first difference most noticed was the two-toned pigmentation unique to their species. The Haldeel in front of her possessed a creamy coloring that was overlaid with a tracery of dull green markings. The green marched along his limbs, up the sides of his neck, to end in tattoo-like patterns along the edges of his face.
Not many out there realized how their unique pigmentation allowed them a biologically based camouflage. Kira still had nightmares about how she’d learned that little factoid.
Like most of the Haldeel Kira had come across, the man before her favored the long flowing robes that were popular in Haldeel fashion.
The robes hid their lower half, which was where things got interesting.
Like the cephalopod they got their name from, the Haldeel had eight flexible, prehensile appendages which made them an absolute nightmare to fight.
"May I ask what event the za will be competing in during the quorum?"
"The Pinnacle.” Kira supplied the common name for the waverunner races.
The Haldeel clasped his hands before his chest, interlocking his fingers and dipping his chin in a gesture meant to denote accepting a task and promising its completion.
"Then we will endeavor to allow you to arrive on time."
Kira let gratitude flush through her as she changed her stance to one of gratefulness. "I would be in your debt."
The Haldeel moved aside in a gliding movement no human or Tuann could hope to replicate and gestured for Kira to enter.
"Where did you learn to speak Haldeel?" Finn asked in a low voice only meant for Kira's ears.
"Here and there."
She didn't want to get into the short span of time she'd spent on the edge of Haldeel space, or the little girl and her bodyguard she'd met there.
The two were the lone bright spots in a very dark period of Kira’s life. Being here, interacting with the Haldeel again, even on a superficial level, Kira couldn't help but wonder how the other two were doing these days.
Sensing Kira had said as much on the topic as she planned, Finn fell silent, his gaze speculative.
That was okay. As long as he kept his questions to himself and let her do what she needed.
"You sly woman, how did you know they'd be willing to take off even if they weren't at capacity?" Jin asked.
Kira allowed herself a small smile. "One word—loophole."
Jin snorted. "Of course, the thing Haldeel like best."
Kira had bet on the fact the Haldeel would leave their options open. Although the rule the
Haldeel at the entrance had quoted was likely real, Kira had known the Haldeel would likely include a clause that if waiting jeopardized a passenger's ability to participate in an event, the vessel could take off sooner if the captain wished it.
The quorum was a showcase of the best and brightest after all.
Of course, it also helped that Kira knew the Haldeel were more likely to respond well when they were treated with respect and kindness. If she'd been rude or presumptuous, Kira doubted they'd be so willing to take off.
It was a test. A cleverly designed one she was quite sure most didn't pass.
That was the Haldeel for you. Simple at first glance. Only the observant realized the nuances behind every action they took.
Kira paused on the threshold of the dropship, noting the empty seats and the handful of bodies currently occupying the ship.
Good.
Just the way she liked it.
Kira started down the aisle when a piping voice reached her.
"You haven’t told me where my seon’yer is," a little girl said from directly behind her.
Jin choked in surprise, Kira not faring much better.
A shot of adrenaline ran through Kira, and only years of training kept her from whirling and destroying her cover.
Because she knew that voice. And the other three with her.
It belonged to Ziva, one of two children Kira had rescued from a hovercraft that was in the process of crashing. The act had precipitated her discovery by the Tuann and the subsequent realization that she wasn’t human at all.
Next to her was Joule, the other child Kira had rescued.
They weren’t alone. Devon, someone she suspected was the son of the Tuann Emperor and another she’d saved at one time or another, accompanied them.
Lastly was Rheya, who with Joule and Devon, had participated in the uhva na, the Trial of the Broken, with Kira shortly before she left Ta Sa’Riel.
"Ziva, I'm not sure Kira would appreciate you calling her that," Joule chided.
Ziva harrumphed. "What would you know? My seon'yer is not like all these others."
This time it was Kira's turn to choke.
"Is that so? Tell us what your seon'yer is like, little sister," Rheya teased.
Ziva rose to the challenge. "She's wise and fierce. No one is as devious or good at fighting as she is."
Jin shook in silent laughter against Kira's neck.
She slapped one hand over his body, hoping no one had noticed the movement.
"That description is rather accurate," Devon observed.
Kira stiffened. "I'm not devious."
"That's the part you take umbrage with?"
"I'm not," she muttered.
"Uh-huh."
Finn had turned into a statue at her side, staring rigidly into empty space.
Kira grabbed his arm, shuffling him forward. Picking a seat at random, one thankfully in the far corner of the craft and as far from the door as possible, Kira shoved Finn into it before taking the one right beside him.
Only once seated did she force herself to relax, stretching her feet out as she pulled her hood forward to shield her face. She fiddled with it. Only when she felt it was secure enough did she chance a furtive look at the others.
With the exception of Ziva, they were all apprentices in service to their own seon'yers.
Devon was the tallest of the four, his height approaching Graydon's. Dressed in a matte black armor, he was a smaller, less muscular version of the Emperor's Face.
Though much younger than Graydon, Kira had a feeling it was only a matter of time before Devon bulked up, rivaling the other man in terms of size.
With yellow eyes that always reminded Kira of daisies, Devon observed Ziva with an amusement that had been lacking the last time she'd met him.
Kira remembered another set of eyes that looked exactly like those, the former owner of which was currently hiding in her hair, completely oblivious to the resemblance.
Beside Devon, Rheya had one hand propped on her hip as she teased the small girl in front of her.
The youngest of the four, Ziva could be mistaken for an eight-year-old child—though her true age was likely around thirty years.
Because of her white-blond hair and deep blue eyes, people tended to underestimate her, never realizing the fierce heart that lay within.
Though young, Kira had a feeling Ziva would be a force to be reckoned with in a decade or two.
She was a scrapper, disregarding her limits, more than willing to come out swinging no matter the opponent.
Kira couldn't help but admire someone who possessed that sort of stubbornness. They were the ones who held the power to change the universe because they didn't pay attention to what was but rather devoted their attention to what should be.
The final person in the party was also the one who'd spent the most time at Kira's side.
Joule's face had thinned out since she last saw him, nearly a month ago, losing some of the softness it had had when they'd first met.
It looked like his training was beginning to have an effect, packing his small frame with muscles.
There was a world-weary look in his eyes that was new. Something that said he'd seen the dark side of life and knew things weren’t always going to turn out the way he wanted.
Kira couldn't help feeling like she shared some of the blame for that look. People around her tended to lose their innocence far sooner than they had a right to.
The loss of his parents might have started the process, but Kira had finished the job.
Despite that, he still had an earnestness to him. A goodness that Kira hoped he preserved.
All this wouldn’t be so bad if not for the oshota keeping watch on the group from several feet away.
"Your luck continues to trend toward the shittier side," Jin observed.
Of all the ships on the docks, they had to choose this one to board.
Kira supposed it could be worse. Graydon could be with them.
FIVE
FROM THE SAFETY of her hood, Kira allowed herself to study the four as they moved further into the craft. They had the same idea as Kira, selecting seats far from the other passengers where they could place their backs against a wall and see anyone who entered.
Curious looks were aimed Kira's way, but none of the others recognized her or Finn with their hoods concealing their faces.
A relief really.
"What do you think they're doing here?" Jin asked.
Kira's head shake was slight.
That was a good question.
She also wanted to know how Ziva came to be here. Liara and House Luatha were supposed to be taking care of the girl.
Kira would be curious to know how Luatha finagled this—especially in light of the visitor restrictions.
"I'm going to see if I can get closer and hear what they’re saying," Jin said.
"Don't you dare."
"But—"
"No buts. Sit still and don't draw attention," she ordered.
"Boring," Jin pouted.
And Kira wondered where Elena got her sass from.
Seconds later, Jin nudged forward inside the hood.
Kira slapped a hand over him. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for the seatbelt. I don’t see it.”
“Don’t even start with that again,” Kira said through gritted teeth. “The objective is to appear normal. Not like we have a few screws loose.”
Even if their screws had long since come undone and been lost to the void.
Before Jin could respond, a figure wearing dark clothes and a hat pulled low over his face dropped into the seat across from her. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Jace." Kira blinked dumbly at him, caught off-balance.
She glanced around.
"I'm alone," he assured her.
"How did you find me?" Kira asked, thankful Joule and the rest had chosen seats out of hearing range
Jace made himself comfortable in his chair, stre
tching out his legs until his feet edged close to the aisle. "I'd like to say this is on purpose, but it's quite by chance."
Kira didn’t believe that.
One coincidence maybe. Two? Unlikely.
She could have overlooked Joule and the presence of the others. For Jace to pop up as well, that strained the threads of credibility.
Jace's lips quirked as he sensed her doubt. "You're starting to rub off on us. I simply needed to ask myself what ship Kira would take and then wait. The hoods are a nice touch and the big guy threw me off for a moment."
Finn shifted at the comment, his expression not entirely friendly.
"Don't worry, I doubt anyone besides those who've had close contact with you would think this way," Jace assured her.
Finn grunted. Whether in amusement or grumpiness, Kira couldn't say.
"Also, Himoto stationed a few of his most trusted around the dock with orders to report any unusual behavior.” Jace grinned. “Speaking Haldeel—that’s a bit attention-grabbing.”
There it was. The truth.
In her defense, she hadn't expected the ability to be considered unusual.
To her, it was a no brainer to have at least a basic understanding of your host's language, even if the extent of that knowledge was only a common greeting.
Kira let herself relax a tiny bit, satisfied the risk was still at acceptable levels.
"How was your trip?" Kira prodded.
Jace couldn't hide his scowl.
Kira snickered. "That bad, huh?"
Not surprising, really.
The Tuann were like a group of bristly porcupines, intent on not letting outsiders get too close. Traveling on a ship filled with them would have been hell—especially when most didn't have a favorable view of humans.
Jace and the Curs had won some goodwill with their actions on Luatha, but still, Kira didn't imagine it was an easy voyage.
What she wouldn't have given to be a fly on the wall.
"Thanks for that," Jace said, sounding anything but thankful.
"Himoto asked, and I delivered. Not my fault you're his lapdog."
"Still angry at him, I see," Jace observed.
Kira lifted a careless shoulder. "Not really."
"Liar."
He was right, but Kira had no intention of letting him know that.