16. Sixteen

Sixteen

"How is this possible?" Kira asked

The Vega should be drifting amidst an asteroid field comprised of debris from the moon while making its way through the system. Not sitting on Rothchild as if the ship’s demise had been nothing more than a clever illusion meant to torment her.

Even with the snow banks piled up against the ship’s side, there was evidence of a crash. A trail of broken trees and deep grooves in the ground that extended at least half a mile. Maybe more. It had left the ship’s nose and belly half buried in the ground. Holes riddled the exterior, making it look like the Swiss cheese of old Earth. A large section in the aft was missing. There was also an easily discernible, vertical crack running right up its middle. As if someone had taken the ship and broken it in half.

Kira shook her head. "The military never authorized a recovery mission."

"They didn’t. Rothchild did." Brie glanced at her. "It was important to us to bring the Vega and her crew home rather than leave them up there with the enemy."

Kira forced the stinging in her eyes away. "You recovered the bodies?"

"Some. Not all."

Hope squeezed Kira’s throat, making her voice strained and tight. "The Curs?"

Brie’s expression extinguished the hope that had just started to bloom. Kira didn’t need the shake of her head that followed.

Of course they hadn’t been able to recover her friends’ bodies. If that had been even a remote possibility, she or Jin would have done it themselves by now.

It was likely there was nothing left to recover.

"I’m sorry. We weren’t able to locate them." Brie nodded to the trees off to the right of the Vega. "We built a monument to memorialize everyone’s sacrifice."

Graydon’s hand slipped into Kira’s as Brie moved away. He used his hold to tug her closer. She let her weight rest against him as she stared at the Vega.

Graydon pressed his lips against the side of Kira’s head. "You still with me?"

Kira’s laugh was more of a sob. Her defenses crumpled as she slumped against Graydon’s side. A tiny shake of her head was all she could manage.

All the progress she’d been so proud of was undone with a single glimpse of the Vega.

Poof. Gone.

The pain that flooded in felt almost as fresh as that first day.

Graydon wrapped his arms around her and set his chin on the top of her head. "We’re going to get through this, coli."

Kira rested her cheek on his chest. "Every time I think I’ve conquered this, something happens to draw me right back."

"That’s the thing about grief. It’s reluctant to release you from its grasp."

The soothing rumble of Graydon’s voice under her ear was comforting.

"I wish I could bring them home."

She hadn’t realized just how much until she saw the Vega.

"They already are, coli." Graydon pulled back, tapping her head and then her chest. "You carry them with you wherever you walk. Hasn’t the Mea’Ave taught you at least that much?"

Kira’s laugh was watery. "You sound so corny right now."

But he was right. She did carry the Curs with her. The crew of the Vega too.

She’d found that weight unbearable once. No more. They were her reason for standing. They’d be proud of what she was doing. Going after Jin and Elena despite the odds. They’d think she was crazy, but they’d be right there with her if she’d asked.

"Better?" Graydon asked, his eyes steady on Kira as she pushed herself upright.

Her nod was short as she gave his hand one last squeeze. "I might need you again before this is over."

"Anytime, cheva nier. You know that."

She was beginning to.

There were only a handful of people Kira had ever been willing to lean on in tough times. Just three, in fact. One of whom was no longer as trustworthy as she’d once been.

Graydon was different though.

He’d become as important as Jin. Her bond with him cherished every bit as much.

It was strange how someone she’d known for such a short time could become as interwoven into the pattern of her soul as Graydon was.

But he had.

She thanked every higher entity out there that her mountain had withstood every test she’d put him through to remain by her side. Not many would have bothered.

After a moment, Kira straightened, patting Graydon’s chest before stepping away. She caught Lathan watching them with an unreadable look on his face.

"Let’s get moving," Brie called before starting down the hill.

Her trajectory led them away from the Vega and toward a clearing beside a set of trees that were growing in the ship’s shadow.

"Where are you taking us?" Kira asked.

Brie nodded at the trees. "Our camp is set up over there."

"And that’s where Odin is?"

That seemed odd. It wasn’t exactly the Sye’s style. Odin wasn’t a lover of nature. Or the cold.

"We’ll get to that. But first—there’s someone you should meet."

Kira stopped. "I’m here to find the All Father. Not sightsee."

"Why not do both?"

Brie increased her pace, putting distance between them. Kira almost lost track of her white shrouded figure in the snowy landscape.

"Why would your friend pick a place they knew would hurt you as their base?" Graydon asked as they worked their way carefully down the icy hill.

Kira nodded at the Vega. "I’m guessing that’s why."

Before it had gone down, the Vega was best-in-class. It’s mainframe and computing systems the most advanced the Consortium had to offer. Access to its systems would cut down considerably on the time needed to sift through the mountain of data Odin faced.

"I’m more curious about how I was kept in the dark with regards to Rothchild salvaging the Vega," Kira said.

Jin had to have known. Yet he didn’t tell her.

She’d thought they didn’t keep secrets from each other. At least not this sort. Turns out she may have been wrong.

"He could have been trying to protect you," Graydon pointed out.

"I’ve no doubt about that."

He’d done a lot of that since Rothchild, it seemed. Grateful as she was, she wished she hadn’t given him reason to feel the need.

Graydon and Kira stayed quiet as they descended the hill and crossed a short distance to a clearing. Temporary structures dotted the area. Hard sided tents on top of rudimentary weather proof surfaces meant to protect against the snow beneath. Mobile campers that looked like they’d seen better days were parked next to them.

A large tent to the other side acted as the place’s dining facility if the smells wafting from it were anything to go by.

Kira’s stomach threatened to turn at the noxious odors. Humans and Tuann didn’t share the same taste buds. Some things that humans loved to eat tasted awful to a Tuann.

Graydon and Lathan had similarly repulsed looks on their faces as they followed Kira to the bonfire crackling in the center of the clearing.

Brie stopped next to someone seated in a chair, bending over to give her report in a low voice.

The man leaned around Brie to shoot a surprised look at Kira. "As I live and breathe. Look who decided to grace us with her presence."

Kira blinked. "Diesel?"

A loud guffaw came from the man. "In the flesh." His lips quirked as he looked down at his lap. "What’s left of it anyway."

Kira took in the empty place where his legs should have been. Everything from slightly above his knees on down was gone. A pair of robotic legs were propped up against his chair.

"Like my new legs?" Diesel patted the metal limbs. "At least the Consortium did one thing right for those who fought in that war. An artificially grown bio limb would have been better, but these aren’t bad." He winked at Kira. "I made a few modifications, if you know what I’m saying. The only problem I have with them is that the cold can interfere with the bio feedback connections and cause frostbite where they connect to my body if I’m not careful."

"I thought you were dead. Reports said you were dead."

"I almost was."

Diesel settled himself more deeply into what Kira now realized was a makeshift hover chair. Those were anti gravs on the bottom. The buttons on the arm rests were what allowed him to drive it.

"I lost my legs in the process of abandoning ship. My transport was hit by debris. Ripped the back half right off. Luckily, the collision threw me into the forward section. Rapid decompression triggered the emergency hatch. Unfortunately, not all of my body was on the right side when that happened. The door severed everything from an inch above my knees."

Guilt choked Kira. "If I’d known—"

Diesel waved a hand, cutting her off. "It was touch and go for a while. It’s no surprise I was reported deceased by mistake. The response team was overwhelmed. They did the best they could."

"Still—" Kira shook her head.

She should have been there.

Diesel was a friend every bit as important to her as the Curs. He’d been there that time she’d gotten demoted for punching a Consortium senator in the face for interfering in a mission. He’d been the first to shake her hand and tell her how satisfying it was to see her put that idiot in his place. There had been no recrimination. No talk of keeping her military bearing. Just acceptance and understanding.

He was the one who’d helped her come up with a protocol for if her primus ever escaped her control while on the ship.

Although he’d never been on a mission with them, she’d always considered him a Cur. Part of their family.

She’d mourned his loss when the Vega went down, and she still raised a toast to him every year on the date of his death.

"You had a war to win. Truthfully, I wasn’t good company those first few years afterward anyway."

Kira’s smile was self-deprecating. "I wasn’t either."

Diesel let out a low laugh. "You made the entire galaxy aware of that fact, Nixxy. Everyone heard about what you did. It was what gave me the much needed kick in the ass to finally get over my self-pity."

While Diesel was speaking, he jerked his chin in dismissal at the handful of humans seated around the bonfire. They dispersed but not before shooting curious looks in Kira’s direction that she pretended not to see.

When they were gone, Diesel beckoned her to take a seat next to him. Graydon hung back as Kira crossed the short distance and lowering herself into the camp chair.

Time had carved grooves into the deep brown of Diesel’s skin. The stubble on his chin and jaw had stray pieces of gray in them. He was only three years older than Raider, but it looked closer to a decade.

Diesel was studying her in the same fashion she was him. "Damn, it’s good to see you, Nixxy. I had a feeling you’d come back here."

"Better late than never, I guess."

"Yes, I suppose it is," Diesel agreed softly.

Kira cleared her throat. "Your companion informed me of the memorial."

"It’s nice. I think the rest would have approved."

Kira had no doubt about that. They’d have gotten a laugh at the idea of something being erected in their honor. There would have been teasing regarding how very sentimental everyone was being. Then they would have thanked those involved with a sincerity that would have made things very awkward for a couple of minutes.

"You should visit it before you leave. Pay your respects. I think it would be good for you."

Kira looked away. "You always were too smart for my peace of mind."

"Someone had to keep you lot from accidentally killing yourselves."

Kira’s snort held a tired amusement. "If that’s what you want to tell yourself."

Diesel’s smile broadened, the goofy expression vanquishing the heavy atmosphere that had threatened to ruin the moment.

"What are you doing on Rothchild anyway?" Kira asked.

From what she remembered, Diesel was from Merit. She was surprised that he hadn’t returned home after the war.

That’s what they’d been fighting for, after all. Their homes.

Diesel’s expression was wistful as he trained his gaze on the moon. "I thought about going home. Somehow, it just felt wrong. You know?"

His question didn’t require a response.

Diesel touched the spot where his legs ended. "This place had already claimed a piece of me. It seemed only fitting I give it the rest."

"So, you stayed."

"And so, I stayed."

Silence settled between them. The kind that was bought from the pain of shared experience and an understanding that spanned years of serving by the other’s side.

"Brie tells me you’re here for the All Father."

"Yeah, about that." Kira shifted to level an astounded look on Diesel. "I didn’t expect you to be the type to let Odin stay here. Let alone make use of the Vega."

That ship would have meant every bit as much to him as it did her. For him to let someone make use of it, a stranger at that, was puzzling.

Diesel leaned on the arm of his chair. "Interesting fellas, those two."

"Two?"

"Twins. A man and a woman." Diesel took a sip out of the insulated coffee mug he held. "They thought we wouldn’t notice, what with them being nearly identical and all."

Diesel tapped the skin under his eye with a cocky grin.

Understanding dawned. They must have caught Odin’s shift from male to female and assumed they were two different people.

"Observant," Kira said, playing along.

"They showed up a few years ago. Said they needed the Vega for something important."

"And you just let them on the ship?"

That wasn’t the Diesel she’d known. That Diesel had been a hard ass who didn’t give most people the time of day.

"Normally I wouldn’t have, but they came highly recommended."

At Kira’s interested look, Diesel’s smile widened. "Jin."

"No." Kira shook her head. "That’s not possible."

"Hand to the divine entity responsible for creating life in this messed up universe that I am not lying." Diesel raised his hand. "The All Father had a video letter and Jin’s authentication code. Jin said the twins were helping you with something important. I didn’t see much point in arguing after that."

Another thing Jin had kept from her. All these secrets were beginning to add up.

Diesel nodded at the silhouette of the ship peeking over the tree tops. "The reason the Vega is down here is also because of your friend. Those two came up with the plan to retrieve the ship and crash landed it on Rothchild. The rest of us just did as instructed."

Kira’s frown was troubled as her gaze lingered on the ship.

She could see Odin taking advantage after the Vega was already on the ground. But to make the plan and head the project to retrieve it?

That was something different. Odin didn’t exactly work well with others. They tended to avoid authority figures by all costs necessary. Something that wouldn’t have been possible with a task of this magnitude.

Odin must have wanted the Vega badly. What was so damn important about that ship that Odin had chosen it as their base?

Its connection to Kira? The manner of its demise?

Or something else?

Diesel rested his cup on the arm of his chair. "Brie can escort you to Odin but I’ll have to ask your companions to wait here."

"That’s not going to happen," Graydon said, prowling toward them.

Diesel eyed the Tuann carefully. "You’ve got pretty good ears if you heard that from all the way over there."

Graydon’s smile was faint. "It’s okay. Just a little better than average."

Diesel seemed unconvinced, his bushy eyebrows lowering as he glanced at Kira in speculation. "Be that as it may, the All Father isn’t a fan of visitors. My instructions are not to let anyone but Kira or Jin into Yggdrasil without their permission." Diesel bared his teeth. "You could call this nonnegotiable"

Graydon’s face hardened. "She’s not going in there alone."

"I never said she had to. Jin will go with her." Diesel glanced at Kira. "That’s him in that other one’s hood, isn’t it?"

The lie rolled easily off Kira’s tongue. "He’s having a little bit of trouble with his positioning algorithm. A side effect of the planet’s magnetic field."

Diesel relaxed in his chair. "You should have been here for the immediate aftermath. It got pretty wild for a few years."

"I can imagine," Kira said. To Graydon, "I’ll be fine. Jin will watch my back. Wait here until I return."

Graydon’s expression went hard, well aware that ’Jin’ wasn’t going to be watching much of anything.

Kira touched his hand, asking for patience. "I promise. Jin and I will be fine."

Graydon’s jaw tightened as he stared her down.

"I expected this," she continued, giving him a significant look.

It was her second lie of the night. And just as necessary as the first.

"Funny—you failed to warn me of this possibility," Graydon said flatly, looking like he dearly wished to put her over his knee.

Kira fought back her smile. He was adorable when he was grumpy. "If I had, you’d never have let me come."

"You’re learning bad habits," Graydon grumbled, looking away from her.

She cupped his jaw, finding it rigid from how hard he was grinding his teeth. His stubble pricked her palm as she lifted onto her tip toes to press a kiss to the corner of his lips.

"I’ll be fine," she promised.

Storm clouds gathered in Graydon’s eyes. "You’d better be."

Unspoken, was what he’d do to the humans around her if she wasn’t.

Kira dropped back onto her heels; her smile impish. "Just for the record—you make a terrible oshota."

Graydon pulled her hand away from his face to glare. "I do not. I’m great at it."

"Only in terms of your ability to protect. You’re absolute shit when it comes to following orders."

That was probably what made him such a great Face. He dominated any situation he was in. Even when he didn’t say a word.

The fact he was willing to humor her and take a back seat while she drove the situation was something of a coup.

They’d come a long way from that first meeting.

"Look after the kid while I’m gone, would you?" Kira nodded at Lathan.

Though the wanderer was perfectly capable of looking after himself, you could never be too careful. With a lenacht in the mix, they had to stay on their toes. The Tsavitee had already targeted it once.

"One day we’re going to have a talk about your habit of leaving me behind."

"You should compare notes with Finn. He’d love having someone to commiserate with."

Kira walked over to Lathan, fishing the J1N’s shell out of his hood.

"Don’t think I won’t," Graydon warned as Kira shook the drone.

"See you soon," Kira said with one last look at Graydon.

His stance was rigid, the muscles in his body strung as tight as a bow. "You’d better. Otherwise, I’m coming in after you. I make no promises as to what state your friend or their equipment will end up in if that becomes necessary."

"I’ll consider myself warned."

Kira tossed the J1N into the air. "Let’s go, Jin. Looks like we’ve got work to do."

The J1N sailed in a perfect parabola. Right before it dropped like a stone, hitting the snow with a thud.

Diesel raised an eyebrow. "You weren’t kidding. That’s some glitch."

With a frustrated sigh, Kira bent and prodded the drone. Each tap was a little fiercer than the last. Finally, there was a hum as the drone’s antigravs initiated.

The J1N lifted off the ground. "The great and mighty Jin is reporting for duty."

Kira grabbed the J1N, turning it so its ’eye’ was facing in the right direction. "Let me help you, buddy. There you go."

She cast a smile at Diesel as she patted the J1N for good measure.

Brie moved off into the night without a word, leaving Kira and the J1N to follow.

Nerves flooded Kira’s stomach. Her hands developed a tiny tremor that had her primus rising from the place it had been slumbering since they’d started traveling with the lenacht.

Please let Odin have what they needed, Kira whispered silently. Otherwise, they would have come all this way for nothing.

Graydon

Graydon watched the trees swallow Kira and the other two, hating the fact that he was remaining behind. It was going to take everything Kira had to walk back into that ship.

And he wasn’t going to be there to ease her burden.

He could follow. It would be easy. These humans and their toys weren’t much of a threat. Easily swatted aside.

The problem was that she’d been the one to ask this. Kira asked very little of him. How could he go against her wishes now?

Diesel chuckled. "She’s got you wrapped around her finger."

There was an edge to the human now that Kira was no longer there. The friendly camaraderie had vanished, leaving behind someone who was both shrewd and intelligent.

Diesel looked Graydon over. As if trying to decide how much time and effort Graydon was worth.

"You’re not her usual sort," Diesel observed.

"That’s because I’m unique."

Of course, Graydon wasn’t her type. She never would have had the opportunity to run across someone like him until the day they met.

There was a stunned silence. Then Diesel roared with laughter. "I see it now. Your arrogance fits with her and Jin’s."

Graydon only gave the human part of his attention, the rest focused on listening to Kira move through the forest.

"You’re Tuann, aren’t you?"

Graydon stared.

The human’s lips quirked, as if pleased to finally get a response.

Only, Graydon caught the faint trace of tension around his mouth and the corners of his eyes that announced his discomfort.

To the human, it would feel like a weight was pressing on the top of his head. The urge to submit to that pressure continuing to build as danger whispered across his skin. A warning that he’d drawn the notice of a much bigger predator.

The Tuann called it the oho. A nonviolent way of suppressing someone whose willpower was weaker than yours.

Kira wielded it instinctively. That was probably why this man didn’t flinch from Graydon’s gaze. He’d had the chance to build up a tolerance.

There was also the fact that his mind and willpower were uncommonly strong.

Graydon reeled in his displeasure. He buried his emotions before suppressing the oho to levels that would be considered more polite among his kind.

The lines bracketing Diesel’s lips eased. "Is Kira Tuann?"

If the man was smart, he’d be careful about what he said next.

Diesel made a face at Graydon’s continued silence. "There’s a lot of negative sentiment going around about your kind right now."

Graydon prowled closer.

The human tensed.

Graydon’s gaze followed the human’s hand as it strayed toward what he suspected was a weapon concealed in the arm of his chair.

"I wouldn’t," Graydon purred, almost hoping the human would ignore his advice. He welcomed a chance to exercise some of this excess energy from his bones.

The only thing that had stopped him so far was the prospect of Kira’s displeasure.

Diesel took his hand away from the weapon. "People say we might have won the war years earlier if the Tuann had taken action."

"It wasn’t our job to fight your war for you."

That was the problem with humanity. They were always looking for someone else to bear the burden of their hubris.

"I like you. You’ll be good for her." Diesel leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Strange, isn’t it? That everyone wants to blame the Tuann for standing on the sidelines and watching when first contact with your race wasn’t announced until well into the latter years of the war. It’s almost like someone is trying to influence public opinion, wouldn’t you say?"

Oh ho. Kira’s friend was quite the observant one.

"What did Kira say your role was on the Vega?"

"I was the Curs’ mechanic."

Graydon’s lips hooked up at the corners. He doubted that was all he was.

Diesel’s subordinate hurried over, bending down to deliver his report in a low voice.

Despite his efforts, Graydon caught every word.

"Rothchild’s Space Watch just reported several asteroids impacting the territory next to this one. They’ve requested we check it out."

Diesel nodded. "Let them know I’ll be there shortly. In the meantime, send two squads. One to act as overwatch. The other on the ground investigating. They’re not to fall out of contact."

The human nodded, straightening before turning to carry out his orders.

Diesel aimed a genial smile at Graydon and Lathan. "My apologies. It seems our conversation will have to wait for another time. Duty calls."

"Of course," Graydon murmured.

Diesel’s anti gravs kicked on, lifting the chair until it was hovering off the ground. "Feel free to visit our mess hall. You two look like you could use a decent meal. I suggest you don’t wander too far from camp though. My people are a mite touchy with their trigger fingers. We’ve set traps everywhere around here."

If Graydon decided to go exploring, neither of those things were likely to stop him.

Diesel paused, aiming another look at Graydon. "Try to get Kira to visit the memorial, if you can. I think it would do her good to pay her respects."

"Kira will always do as she wishes," Graydon returned.

Diesel’s smile was faint. "I guess some things never change."

Lathan moved up beside Graydon as the human headed toward where the rest were starting to gather around the vehicles. "Do you think there will be trouble?"

"There’s always trouble."

It was the one thing he’d come to count on when his coli was involved.

"Where are you going?" Graydon asked as Lathan walked into the trees.

"Human food is atrocious. I prefer what’s on my ship."

"Be on your guard. The cargo you carry is precious." Graydon dropped his gaze to sleeping lenacht.

"I’m aware," Lathan said with a faint smile before disappearing into the trees.

"Coli, your companions get stranger with every one you add," Graydon said, watching him go. He turned to stare at the patch of forest where Kira had gone. "Finish your business soon, cheva nier. I can’t guarantee how long I’ll be willing to wait."