of answers.
They couldn’t risk a scientist becoming aware of her and using the information for their own experiments.
Their best source of information was on the planet shrinking in their rear view.
"Elise didn't entrust us with her daughter so we could put her in danger," Kira argued.
"I would say Elise didn't do a very good job of entrusting us with anything."
There was a bitterness in Jin's words that Kira understood.
After Rothchild, it had taken far too long to find Elena. Nearly four years passed before Jin caught whispers about her existence.
Kira only knew the barest of details of that time. Enough to know their niece's earliest years hadn't been sweet and easy. The person Elise left her daughter to was long since gone, either dead in the war or for having abandoned Elena.
Jin bore the brunt of finding her a new home, knowing it was far too dangerous to have her with them while Kira was in her coma. Even after Kira recovered, they had only been able to manage short, periodic visits.
It was no wonder Elena wanted a family. In a way, she was much more restrained than either Kira or Jin at that age.
"I don't want Elena to go through what we did," Kira said. "She deserves to have the adults in her life protect her."
It was why they had placed her with that guardian—so Elena would have a place to grow up where she'd be safe and loved. Where she didn't have to fight every second for survival or have her personality twisted by forces outside her control.
The stakes of the game Kira and Jin were playing were harsh. Here, death would be far preferable to capture. To the Tsavitee, Elena would be a priceless treasure—the culmination of years of experimentation, fallen into their lap by chance.
"Elena is far too much like us and her parents to sit idly on the sidelines for long. You need to figure out how to handle that aspect of her or you risk having more events like today in your future," Jin said seriously.
Much as Kira wanted to deny it, Jin had a point.
Her expression turned mournful. "When did we start raising a rebellious teenager?"
Jin bobbed in front of her. "I blame you for this. Being raised by the Phoenix—of course she'd be a little hardheaded and rash."
"Me? You're the one who told her bedtime stories about the Curs and their exploits," Kira accused as she turned to the console, her hands flying as she initiated a system check.
The ride through the atmosphere had been bumpier than normal. Probably courtesy of the golden lights getting too close for comfort.
It was best to know the extent of the damage here, where they could still signal for help, then out there where there could be millions of miles between them and the nearest source of assistance.
Kira frowned at what she saw.
The ship itself looked unharmed for the most part. A few scratches on the hull, but nothing that would affect its integrity. The power readings also looked good. No overloads anywhere she could see, nor any sign of damage to the engine.
For having escaped a planet protected by the pinnacle of Tuann technology, they were remarkably intact. Unnaturally so.
"I'm getting some weird readings around the cargo bay. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?" Kira didn't look away from the console as she tried to understand how they'd come out unscathed.
At least two of those golden lights had struck the ship. There should be more damage than this.
Jin hovered over Kira’s shoulder. "I came through the pipes we use to offload our waste. I was nowhere near that area."
Kira extended the parameters of her search, pausing when she noticed two major spikes in that area coinciding with the timing of the lights hitting them.
Kira tapped her finger, thoughtfully.
She stood abruptly. "Come with me."
Jin bobbed along behind her as she strode off the bridge. "What about my shower? I need to get this stench off me."
"You don't have a nose, which means you have no sense of smell. If I'm willing to put up with it, you certainly can."
Jin moaned but didn't argue further. "Where are we going?"
"To see if we have a stowaway."
Jin abruptly stopped. In the next second, he darted in front, spinning so his 'eye' faced her. "Impossible. My scanners would have picked them up."
Kira didn't stop walking, forcing Jin to drift backward.
They rounded a corner only to find their passage blocked. A tall Tuann stood in the middle