thought you dead," Tank said as he lumbered over.
Tank hadn't been in her squad, but he'd been a wave runner like her. His unit had supported hers a lot and they'd gotten to know each other as acquaintances. His call sign was oddly fitting. Nearly as tall as the Tuann, Tank had legs the size of tree trunks, with arms to match.
He shouldn't have been as good a hoverboard pilot as he was. She'd seen him fly, and he lived up to his name, plowing through enemies like he was a tank.
The woman beside him let out a low gasp, her jaw dropping in surprise. "Is that Phoenix and Tin Man?"
"You know it, Blue," Jin called, sailing over to the woman and circling her once.
Blue put one hand up and let Jin nudge it, a soft, nostalgic smile on her face.
Small and wiry, she'd grown up since Kira had last seen her. Back then, she'd been a scrappy kid who went by her given name of Yuki and had more bravery than sense. Now, it seemed she'd earned a place among the Curs.
Kira was happy for her. She knew being a Cur had been Blue’s dream.
Her dark black hair was pulled away from her face, the tips dyed a sapphire blue. Her eyes snapped and crackled with vitality as she looked around with her ever-present curiosity.
The other two faces were entirely new to Kira. They looked at her with wide, impressed eyes.
She glanced away, uncomfortable with the attention.
The last man glared at her with a hatred that seared. He was Blue's opposite, moving with a sleek caution where the other woman bounced through life convinced it would conform to her expectations. He had an athlete's build, long and lean, as he stalked past, not pausing to greet her.
A barely visible scar along his chin from where a Tsavitee had gotten too close taunted her with the past.
Of those present, Raider was the only other from the original Curs. And he wanted nothing to do with her.
"And I thought this couldn't get any worse," Jin muttered, seeing him go.
"It's fine, Jin."
The last woman present stepped up to Jace.
He gave her an awkward smile. "Thank you for accompanying us, Grace. I'll let you return to your duties now."
Grace didn't respond, shooting Kira a seething glare before stepping close and pulling Jace's head to hers. The two shared a long, drawn-out kiss. The seconds ticked by as the rest stared at them.
Kira shifted, uncomfortable. "Have the rules of fraternization changed since I've been gone?"
Blue snickered. "Ignore them. Grace is insecure since she knows Knight had a thing for you."
Kira frowned. “No, he didn’t.”
Blue rolled her eyes. “It always amazes me how you can be so perceptive, yet blind to the things right in front of you.”
Kira’s frown didn’t lessen. She found it hard to believe Blue. Kira and Jace had always been friends, close friends, but that was as far as it ever went. There had never been anything remotely romantic on either side.
Blue dropped the subject and bumped her with her hip. "Nixxy, where have you been?"
"Don't answer her," Tank said. "She's trying to win the pool."
Kira blinked.
"Don't listen to him," Blue said. "It's not just because I’ve got a couple hundred credits riding on you answering correctly. I'm genuinely curious."
"There's a betting pool?" Jin asked.
Blue smirked. "Yup. Most of the boardheads think you two are dead. Those who knew you, know better."
Blue looked at her expectantly.
"Here and there," Kira said finally, her throat feeling tight from suppressed emotion.
Jace saved her from having to say anything further as he untangled himself from his paramour and walked toward them. Grace shot Kira another hostile glare before disappearing down the corridor.
“Ask where our quarters are and then stow our things,” Jace ordered.
Blue snapped a salute before bouncing toward the Tuann ship. Tank followed.
Jace paused next to Kira. "You really going to be all right with this?"
Kira shook her head. "I don't really have a choice, do I?"
CHAPTER SEVEN
The trip to Ta Da'an was projected to take over a month. Not exactly ideal for Kira's purposes, but the Tuann were far from the main throughways of space. There were no quick hyperjumps capable of shortening the journey.
In the meantime, Kira was stuck exploring the vessel her former people so coveted.
It didn't take long to see why. The Tuann had an impressive ability to turn their ships into walking pieces of art, designed as much around comfort as function. It made sense in a race who