Rules of Redemption (The Firebird Chronicles #1) - T.A. White Page 0,40

had conquered space travel while humanity was still pulling itself out of the muck and the mud.

There were three observation decks looking out into the darkness of space, each more impressive than the previous. Kira's favorite quickly became the conservatory with a glass ceiling. When the lights were off, it felt like standing planetside after sunset, the starry night sky a familiar and welcome presence above.

The quarters where she'd been settled were also another example of the Tuann's ability to combine luxury with comfort. They were unlike any other ship quarters she'd ever had. Instead of being small and cramped, she'd been given a suite. A room for entertaining should she wish it—she didn't. Another, with the most comfortable bed she'd ever had and a bathroom bigger than her bunk on the Wanderer.

Such luxuries would be easy to grow accustomed to—a sentiment Kira resisted. This was temporary, no matter what the Tuann and humans thought. Soon enough she'd be back on her own ship with its small bunk and smaller bathroom.

Given the size of the rooms, the furnishings built out of real wood, and a closet filled with clothes made from fabrics she'd never seen before, she had to wonder who had been kicked out to make room for her.

Suites this nice didn't go unoccupied, which made her suspicious of who among the crew had a reason to resent Kira moving into their space.

Her days developed a routine. Wake up, grab some food, run on the track, head to her room. Sometimes she varied it by taking a detour to one of the observatories, but for the most part, she kept to herself.

Something easier said than done, on a ship this size.

A week into the voyage, Kira headed toward the Tuann mess hall, grabbing a tray and moving through the short line before stopping at the counter. The cooks knew her, loading up her plate with strange food that managed to be as visually appealing as it was delicious.

She paused as she surveyed the room, noticing the Curs in one corner. Raider and Jace were absent, but the rest of them huddled around a table.

"I think they're talking about you," Jin murmured.

Kira had already picked up on that from the way one of the newbies glanced up and then away, before leaning forward.

"Shall we eavesdrop?" Jin asked slyly as Kira set her tray on an empty table.

Before she could stop him, the Curs’ conversation was filtering into her auditory implant.

"That's the Phoenix?" Nova asked.

Since the journey had begun, Kira had managed to get the names of the newbies. William Black was known to the others as Nova. The other man was Luke Rogers or Maverick.

"The person with the highest wave runner kill count in a single battle?" Nova asked skeptically.

"That's her," Tank confirmed.

"I thought she'd be different," Nova said.

"What were you expecting?" Blue asked. "Flames to shoot from her eyes or something?"

"Naw. It's just she doesn't seem like the sort who has done what the rumors say," he said.

The others were quiet.

Nova leaned closer, his voice dropping. "I heard she's the reason Rothchild's moon is in three pieces."

Tank and Blue were conspicuously silent as he continued. Kira absently ate a cube of something white with blue dots flecked inside it.

"You know some people call her a mass murderer for what was done there. She caused nearly ten thousand deaths with that stunt."

Kira paused with her fork halfway to her mouth before setting it down. Suddenly her appetite was gone.

She stood.

"I for one am grateful for what she did," Maverick said, not looking up from his plate. "I'm from Rothchild. I was on the planet during the invasion. If she hadn't set the nuke, we would have lost the entire planet instead of only the moon."

The words cut out as Jin turned off his eavesdropping technology, trailing morosely behind her as she left the mess hall behind.

"Sorry, Kira."

"Don't be. It's good we know what they're saying," she assured him.

Even if the reminder of her past brought to the fore nasty emotions.

She spotted Amila in the corridor, the other woman smiling and waving. "Would you like to visit an observation room with me?"

Kira sighed, somehow unsurprised at the woman's presence. It seemed wherever she went on the ship, she or Baran inevitably joined her within half an hour.

"Sure," Kira said, not quite ready to return to her room.

The observatory would at least present a distraction. Too bad it couldn't also overwrite her memories.

*

Several days later, Kira hesitated on the threshold to the