there is little chance of that, given what you've done."
It was a dig at Kira. One she ignored, focused as she was on studying Graydon's motions and the stars in front of her.
The technology was cerebral based, relying on the strength of the mind controlling it. Fascinating. There must be some type of mechanism to prevent just anybody from accessing it. Maybe it was programmed to recognize brain patterns or the DNA of those coded into it.
The planet's spirit pulsed under her, its strength sending lancing pain through her head.
Graydon made several small motions and the starfield faded, a schematic taking its place.
"Is this one of the schematics for the defense net?" she asked.
He studied it with a resigned expression. "Yes, I asked to be shown the last thing accessed and this was what was pulled up."
"They wouldn't have something like that up unless they were doing a system or weapons check," Jin said, drifting closer to the hologram.
"Stay out of the octagon," Graydon warned. "You're as likely to be fried as her."
Jin backed up several feet. "Of course. My bad."
"I doubt they would have done a systems check so close to the ceremony. Not with so many high ranking Luathans here," he said, returning to their conversation.
Which meant this was probably the work of their enemy.
He stepped from the platform, slight beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
"Are you all right?" Kira asked.
"Manipulating the melding is more of a Luathan talent. I've never had a knack for it," he said, straightening, the brief flash of weakness already gone.
"Let's go," he said.
"Wait, we're not done. We haven't determined the extent of the damage," Kira protested.
"I've confirmed your theory. We need to leave before anyone finds us here."
"It's too late for that," Liara said from the doorway.
She stepped further into the room, her guards swarming into the room behind her, cutting off their exit.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"Again?" Kira muttered, glaring at Jin.
He made a strangled noise, managing to sound both sheepish and defensive at the same time. "Don't blame me. They obviously have some sort of technology to block my sensors."
"Uh-huh." She let her voice show how much stock she put into his excuse.
"Focus," Graydon muttered, not taking his attention from the others.
Liara strode forward, her face set in the icy, haughty expression Kira remembered from their first meeting. "Cousin, I'm disappointed. I opened my House to you, welcomed you to my family, yet you betray me at the first opportunity."
"She does know Graydon essentially kidnapped you; not to mention you've survived two assassination attempts since arriving, right?" Jin muttered.
Kira ignored him, too busy watching Liara's soldiers, considering and discarding a dozen different scenarios.
"I warned you to be careful of snakes in the grass," Alma said, appearing from behind Liara. Her eyes were filled with scorn as she looked Kira over. Kira was sure she was the only one to spot the glint of victory in Alma's eyes. "Nothing good ever comes of raising serpents. They always bite you in the end."
"You'd be one to know," Kira said.
Alma didn't respond to the insult as she turned to Graydon. "We will send you to your emperor in pieces as an example. After you, he will know Luatha won't stand for his meddling. Your betrayal will be the spark that turns the rest from him."
Kira pressed her lips together at the threat. Graydon didn't move, motionless as he watched the Luathans.
Kira needed to do something before the Nexus erupted into violence and they lost any chance of convincing Liara of the truth.
"Jin, if you'd be so kind."
"Gladly," Jin said, gliding forward. The recording started up.
A harsh buzz ripped through the room. Electricity crackled and Jin gave a pained grunt. He hit the ground with a crash, his metal body bouncing before going still.
"Jin," Kira screamed, fear coating her throat.
For a long terrifying second, she couldn't feel the slight shadow of a presence in the back of her mind she associated with him, a thin thread barely noticeable most of the time. Right now, the connection vibrated with pain, the wounds of the weapon leaving it raw and exposed.
An eternity of agony lay before her as she faced the thought he was gone—forever beyond her grasp in the afterlife.
Darkness yawned wide inside. The thin bindings keeping her monster from laying waste to everything and everyone threatened to snap.
She forgot who she was, forgot the honorable person she fought to be. All she knew was rage and vengeance.
The transformation tingled along her skin, pain biting deep as she