Wearing a tiny top hat and jeweled collar, it looked rather adorable.
"Kill it. Kill it now," Jin whined.
"I'm not going to kill it," Kira argued in an undertone.
"It's a spider. Destroy it in a way where even its ancestors will feel it's pain."
"It's not a spider. It's an ilsa. Totally different."
"It has eight legs and eight eyes. Close enough."
"Excuse me," a soft voice said as a slight figure moved forward.
She was Haldeel and had dark purple markings edged with black. She looked young, not much older than Elena and Devon.
"I apologize if Jaks scared you."
Jaks scuttled down the chair, hopping onto the floor, and then scurrying over to his owner. She bent and picked him up, cradling him in her arms as she faced Kira and Jace.
"The apologies are ours," Jace said in a polite tone. "My friend is a little irrational at times."
"Heh." Jin snickered.
"He means you, dumbass," Kira said out the side of her mouth.
Jin made an insulted sound and would likely have done more if Kira hadn't slapped one hand over his body under the hood.
Jin grumbled to himself but didn't fight her further.
To the teen in front of her, Kira made a slight bow, but didn't speak.
Devon and the rest were on their guard now, paying attention where they hadn't been earlier. If she said anything now, they'd likely recognize her voice.
"Are you heading to the planet for the quorum?" Jace asked, picking up on Kira's predicament.
The girl inclined her head.
"What event will you be joining?" Jace asked.
"The waveboard races."
That was an interesting answer.
While the races were popular among humans, the same couldn’t be said for the Tuann and Haldeel. They were only now beginning to find traction among the other species.
For this girl to choose it as her event was unexpected. Kira had assumed it would take much longer before the Haldeel embraced it.
Then again, there were those among the Tuann who shared the same obsession with the races, Kira thought just as Ziva bounced forward.
"He is too." Ziva gestured at Devon.
"It seems this ship has several contenders for that race.” Jace patted Kira on the shoulder. "This one is also competing."
Kira stiffened under his hand. "What do you think you're doing?"
Jace leaned closer to her. "Remember on Duo when you and Raider antagonized that gang and then left me to deal with the consequences? Consider this my long-overdue revenge."
Kira choked down her response. "You've gotten a lot braver over the years."
Jace patted her on the shoulder again. "I learned from the best." To the rest, he said, "I hope you can show my friend some interesting things."
Devon regarded Kira with suspicion. "You're a racer?"
Kira shrugged.
Devon looked about to say something when the Haldeel steward approached. "We'll be landing soon. Please take your seats."
The Haldeel girl sketched a small bow before making her way to her seat.
Devon and the others followed suit, leaving Kira and Jace alone.
"That's one thing I've never envied about you—having to deal with Jin," Jace mused.
Finn's shoulders jerked next to her.
"Rude, meat sack," Jin grumbled from Kira's shoulder.
From his own position, Devon eyed their trio with a contemplative look.
"Both of you be quiet. We've already drawn enough attention."
Jace glanced in the direction of the Haldeel teen. "I do find it interesting that an ilsa appeared here and now."
Kira didn't have to ask what he meant.
The ilsa was a rare breed that not many had the opportunity to befriend. Although it looked like an adorable pet it was much more. Some knew the ilsa by its less common name—the alja. Or spy.
Jin's actions on the surface may have seemed like that of an idiot, but there had been purpose behind them.
If he hadn't acted in such a way, there was no telling how long the ilsa would have sat there and listened.
Kira could only hope Jin had noticed him before they revealed too much.
*
Graydon contemplated the Tuann in front of him, trying to decide if he cared about the repercussions that would come if he ripped the man’s limbs from his torso.
He could already envision how that conversation with the emperor would play out.
"And why did you feel it necessary to maim one of my most loyal subjects?"
The emperor wasn't likely to be satisfied with the excuse "Because his face offended me".
Pity. Such an action was sure to satisfy and work out some of this tension.
It had been weeks, and there was still no word on Kira.
His resulting bad mood had ensured those with an ounce of self-preservation steered clear of him.
A