Threshold of Annihilation (The Firebird Chronicles #3) - T.A. White Page 0,22
"Yes, I'm finally going to get to see you race!"
The turtle yawned, padding up Elena's arm and into her hair where he sank down, for all the world appearing as if he was an ornate hair clip.
Kira shook her head, wondering how she had lost control on her own ship. She could only hope their contact would be prompt. Last thing she needed was for Elena to decide on a career as a waveboard racer.
*
Hours later, Kira wove through the crowd, Finn a grumpy sentinel at her side.
After some skillful arguing on her part, she'd managed to convince him to cover his synth armor with a cloak. As disguises went, it wasn't foolproof, his size alone guaranteeing anyone who noticed him would assume he was some kind of a warrior.
At least with the covering, any prying eyes wouldn't be able to pick him—and by extension Kira—out of a crowd at a glance.
Kira was a little more inconspicuous, playing the part of a fashion-challenged teen. She'd reunited with one of her many hoodies. Currently, she had her hands stuffed in its pockets, the hood drawn to hide her distinctive hair color.
For once, Jin was playing it safe, hiding out inside her hood, using it and her hair to go unnoticed.
He’d had to condense his sphere, something he only did when he needed to fit into small spaces. Right now, he was closer to the size of a softball. Even then, he barely fit.
Kira knew the hood looked a little misshapen. The ruse would never fool the Haldeel scanners located at nearly every hall intersection, but it didn't need to.
The Haldeel weren't the ones she was trying to deceive.
"Any issues?" Kira asked, her lips barely moving.
To her surprise, there were a lot more Tuann present than she'd anticipated. It had left her feeling a bit twitchy and paranoid, like she had a target painted on her.
"Not yet."
"Any sign of Graydon?" Kira asked.
Jin hummed in thought. "No, I don't think he or anyone from House Roake have docked yet."
Or maybe they had and Jin was simply more confident in his skills than he had a right to be.
It wouldn't be the first time one of the Tuann had come out of their blind spot.
"Either way, stay on guard. If we're caught here, they're going to go after Elena."
Kira didn't have to explain how bad it would be if Elena was spotted so close to her other protectors.
Certain people would find that information interesting. They could even decide to investigate further. The results of such a fact-finding mission would endanger a whole lot more than the safety of her niece.
"I know."
They moved out of the corridor that connected the shipyard docks to the station.
Kira flicked her eyes up and to the right, accessing the map Odin had uploaded into her optics.
Tiny glowing lines formed in the upper right of her vision, a representation of the station and its features.
Their destination was the docks where drop shuttles would ferry visitors planet side.
Seeing they were still heading in the right direction; Kira dismissed the map.
"You'll find this interesting," Jin chirped. "Luatha is here."
Kira dodged around a slow-moving clump of humans, noting the insignia embroidered on their uniforms. Two crossed swords framed by a sunburst on either side.
Zepher.
Kira’s lip curled. She could have done without seeing them ever again.
"What's my cousin's House doing here?"
"Probably the same thing everyone else is."
Kira couldn't catch a break. One more group capable of recognizing her and Jin at a glance.
She'd known the chokepoint of the station would pose a problem, but she hadn't thought she'd be so thoroughly surrounded on all sides.
Kira forced her pace not to quicken.
This little deception hinged on going unremarked. She was one of thousands of hopefuls looking to earn recognition and praise through her own skills and talent.
For that reason, she needed to act the part of tourist as she admired the interior of the station.
It mimicked a city. Tall buildings were framed by the same swooping metal arches she'd seen on the exterior. Here, she could better appreciate them. The loops weren't simply flat metal. Instead, they twisted and turned in a relaxed spiral.
It made it easy to show fascination as she walked.
Although technologically advanced, the Haldeel had an appreciation for beauty, entwining form with functionality.
It was apparent in this brief visit how ingrained that mentality was in the Haldeel mindset.
It wasn't enough to build something. It had to be effortlessly beautiful as well. Extra points if it was also insanely complicated.