It was those little things. So at odds with the devious and cold woman he'd come to know.
Everything that happened afterward. Rothchild and her disappearance. Raider no longer cared. He knew who Elise was. Had been reminded of it the moment she injected the isotope that would allow her to follow Elena, thus taking Kira's place.
She was the only woman he'd ever loved. The mother of his child. A master of intrigue. And the ultimate survivor.
He was getting them back. Both her and Elena.
So, Blue had better get with the program. Annoying little sister or not.
Raider slammed a hand down on the table. "That's too long. This boat needs to go faster, Blue. I don't care how you do it, but get us to Rothchild."
Blue threw up her hands as a frustrated sound left her. "Do you think I'm not trying? You're asking me to break the laws of physics. The Wanderer is already running at capacity. We can't go faster."
Raider refused to accept that. "A Tuann ship could make that journey in half the time. Don't tell me it's not possible."
"Yes, a Tuann ship," Blue stressed. "For all the modifications Roake made to the Wanderer, she's still Consortium made."
Raider was getting tired of the excuses. "You've spent months in their territory. Don't tell me you've learned nothing that can help us."
That was why she was on Ta Sa'Riel, after all.
Raider had been tasked with babysitting Kira and making sure she didn't fuck up their alliance—or get herself killed with her stubbornness. While Blue was supposed to do a little intellectual espionage. Reverse engineer anything that might give them a technological edge in the war Himoto and Jace thought was coming.
"I've learned quite a lot, actually," Blue said. "But nothing that would help in this situation."
"How is that possible?" Raider snarled.
Frustration mounted.
"You're right. I could probably jury-rig some type of modification that would allow us to eke out a little more speed from the engines. BUT—" Blue held up a finger. "That would only cause massive damage. I doubt we'd make it even half way before they quit. We'd be stranded between systems, waiting for someone to answer our distress call. That would leave us worse off than we are now."
"Since when have you been the cautious sort?"
Blue had a history of disregarding any potential risks and sallying forth despite the objections of those around her. She'd endangered his and the Curs' lives on more than one occasion.
It figured that the one time he was willing to allow the mad scientist at the helm she'd gone AWOL.
"I'm trying to show a little personal growth and maturity," Blue spat, kicking the chair next to her. "If you weren't reacting emotionally, you might even appreciate that."
Raider's glare turned white hot. "Blue—"
"I'm sorry!" Blue cried. "But breaking the ship won't help Elena—or Kira."
Raider held back the words he wanted to spew. Most of them not nice or what Blue deserved.
The urge to issue a command forcing the point was hard to resist. Only possible because he knew it was pointless.
The first rule of command—don't make stupid orders. It was the fastest way to lose respect and most of the time it didn't work anyway.
"Raider," Wren rumbled from the corner of the room where he'd been watching the argument. "This isn't helping."
Raider ground his teeth together hard enough to cause pain to shoot through his jaw. He was well aware of that. But he also didn't know what else to do.
The restless energy in him demanded action.
The Wanderer's sirens wailed. The overhead lights turned red a moment later. Right after, the ship shuddered as something collided with its side.
"What's that?" Raider asked.
Blue was already scrambling for the bridge. "We're under attack."
The ship shuddered again as Raider and the others made it to the bridge to find Talon and Finn already seated in the pilots' chairs, one flying the ship while the other operated the weapon's system.
"What's going on? Status report," Raider barked.
For half a second, it occurred to him that Wren, as the most senior member on board, should be the one issuing orders before he dismissed that thought. It was his daughter at risk. This was his mission. He'd be damned if he'd allow anyone else to take command.
Kira was the sole exception to that rule. Partly because he had experience serving under her. But mostly because he trusted her implicitly and he knew she was as desperate for Elena's safe return as he.