A short figure followed her, already outfitted in full battle suit. Plus helmet.
The co-pilot looked Kira's way for a second before boarding the ship without a word to the rest.
Nova shot the lieutenant a charming smile. "For you—always."
Kira gave the other woman a puzzled frown. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm your ride. Haven't you heard?"
"You're a pilot?" Kira asked with some disbelief.
Admiral Himoto had opposed Kira's choice of MOS, her military occupational specialty. He'd never looked down on waveboard pilots or any military occupation, but he'd always felt she was better suited to command. Although waveboard pilots might command a small squadron, they rarely commanded ships or fleets. Jace being one of the few exceptions. And even he had transitioned to a different field at a certain point.
Kira would have expected Himoto to be even more stubborn regarding his daughter's future.
Himoto walked backwards a few steps, her attention on Kira. "One of the best."
"That's comforting. Because we're going to need the best today."
Elena - Tsavitee Planet
Elena lost the battle against the pain, slipping in and out of consciousness as Fyr picked her up off the floor, carrying her into the next room. In her lucid moments, she desperately tried to summon the strength to move her arms. Something. Anything besides hanging like a limp noodle in his grip.
"Set her here," Kai ordered, pointing to a cradle of vine-like wires that rose out of the water.
"Don't," Elena tried to say.
Instead of the word she intended, what left her mouth was a garbled d sound.
Fyr's face remained blank, the only sign of his disquiet the way his arms tightened around her. "I thought you wished to question her yourself."
Kai stopped, looking up from the torture cradle—as Elena was calling it in her mind—to pin Fyr with a displeased glance. "Since when do you question my orders?"
"I would never." Fyr bowed his head. "As ever, my loyalty lies with you."
Kai looked satisfied with his response. "Very good. Don't forget that later."
Fyr walked over to the torture cradle, lowering Elena carefully inside. With her eyes, she tried to plead with him not to leave her there.
It was futile. She knew that. But she couldn't stop herself from grasping onto any straw. No matter how hopeless.
"I'm sorry," Fyr whispered. "Like I told you before, this is why we don't form attachments."
Elena's throat started working, some of the feeling coming back to her muscles as her body adjusted to being cut off from its soul's breath. "That's nothing but an excuse."
Relationships were what compelled you to break your limits. They were what lifted you up and kept you going. They deserved to be fought for. Even when you knew heartbreak or loss waited for you at the end.
Fyr's face held regret. "I know."
Elena's breath shuddered as fear gripped her. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't you dare let them see you cry.
It was difficult. Especially if she let herself think about what was coming.
Fyr paused to wipe away the stray tears that leaked out of her eyes despite her best efforts. "Don't show him weakness if you can help it."
Elena sneered. "You want to know what separates you from the Phoenix? Easy. She fights. She doesn't give in."
Fyr gave her a pitying look as he did something to the side of the bed. "Maybe that's why her friends are dead."
Cords snaked over Elena's arms and legs, snapping tight to hold her immobile.
"You shouldn't have followed me today. Otherwise, your pain free days would have lasted a little longer."
Elena snapped her teeth at him, wishing she could bury them in his throat. "You generals are all cowards."
Fyr straightened. "I know."
"What are you doing?" Kai asked from behind Fyr.
"Just saying my goodbyes," Fyr responded, his expression unchanging as he rested his hands on the bed next to Elena.
"I thought I trained that sort of sentimentality out of you."
Something was slipped into Elena's hand as Fyr faced the Sye. "You did. Just consider this a passing experiment."
Elena felt the oblong shape he'd given her. Holy Tsavitee shit balls. It was a knife. Her knife. The bone pick she'd dropped on the walkway when she'd collapsed.
She stared at the side of his face with confusion. What could have possessed him to give her this?
"Oh look, my dear. We have uninvited guests."
Elena's heart jumped into overdrive at that silken tone, the menace flooding the air. She wasn't the only one to sense the shift. Fyr and Kai folded into deep bows, their gazes directed at the ground as if they were too afraid to look upon the face of the being who had just spoken.