Jace grimaced. He couldn't argue with that. Kira would be surprised if Himoto or he hadn't put something in the common areas the Tuann frequented while on the station. She knew from conversations with Amila and Baran the Tuann had elected to sleep on their ship during their visit.
He nodded and pushed off the doorway.
"Jace, whatever you're up to, make sure you're smart about it," Kira said.
He gave her a wry smile. "I could say the same about you. I'm not the one chaos follows."
Fair enough.
He left without a backward glance, leaving Kira to get acquainted with her new surroundings.
*
Kira jolted awake from a restless sleep. The cobwebs of her nightmare still clinging to her—madness and death all around, the dying screams of her closest friends ringing in her ears.
For several moments, Kira stared up at the ceiling, disoriented. This wasn't her bunk on the Wanderer. The bed was too comfortable and there was no soft gleam of the emergency lights.
Memories from over a decade ago filled her head. The dreams disjointed and illogical, as they recounted events out of order and gave her glimpses of scenes she'd never actually witnessed.
Failure tasted like ash on her tongue. The feeling in her chest tightened until it was an almost physical ache.
Kira lay still, letting her heart rate slow and her breathing steady.
It'd been a while since those dreams haunted her. She hadn’t missed them or the havoc they played on her mind. She blinked up at the ceiling, struggling not to feel crushed under the mountain of guilt she didn't know how to let go of.
Jace had a reason for his anger as did Raider. She couldn't even blame them for the harsh words. She'd abandoned them before the war even ended, disappeared without a word unable to live with all the things she'd done. For her own good—and theirs—she'd needed space and time to heal the wounds both inside and out.
Of the original Curs, the three of them were the last. Sad, that they felt more apart than ever.
She'd finish this mission, get them an “in” with the Tuann and make sure her departure didn't affect their treaty. Then she was gone. This time she would make sure she stayed gone.
Feeling calmer, she lifted her head and looked around the shadowy bedroom, the moon's silvery light turning it dreamlike.
She wasn't surprised when she saw no sign of Jin. He was probably off getting the layout of the place and sticking his metal in places the Luatha would dismantle him for, if they caught him.
Kira sat up and swung her feet out of the bed, feeling restless. Staying put and trying to sleep after one of those dreams was pointless. She'd just end up crabby and irritable in the morning. Better to get up and get moving, maybe tire herself out so she could try for sleep again later.
If nothing else, it would give her some quality alone time, a precious commodity since O'Riley.
The night air felt chilly against her skin as she stepped out onto the terrace, but not enough to send her inside. The stone under her bare feet was cool as she made her way to the railing. Steps to her right led down into a small garden, the start of the forest a few feet beyond its edge.
The night felt alive around her, making her forget the dream as she relaxed into its song. The sound of the wind moving through the trees, the rustle of branches, the calls of alien animals and insects, all making their own music.
It was totally different than what she was used to. Ships were by no means quiet places. There was always air hissing through the vents, the grumble of the engine, the creak of metal as the ship flexed around you.
She tilted her head and looked up. At least one thing hadn't changed. The stars still shone. Perhaps not as brightly or vividly, given the three moons dominating the sky, but they were there.
The sight eased the tight spot inside her chest. This was here. This was now. Some things might have changed, but others remained the same.
She was still Kira. A long-lost cousin and the people of her birth weren't going to change that. She needed to remember that.
She pulled out the communicator Jin had procured for her when she’d told him what she wanted. She powered it on.
I'm here. Stand by for next phase.
She sent the message and waited. She didn't have long before a message popped up.
Allfather - I'll be waiting.
Kira released the breath she'd been holding. That was it. The first part was done. This wasn't what she'd planned when he first suggested it, but fate had conspired and now she was standing at a precipice. The only thing to do was jump.
She couldn't decide if this was a good idea or not. In some ways, hacking Centcom would have been easier and less dangerous. They, at least, were a known entity.
The Tuann? Who knew what they were capable of, or if it could even be done?
This plan was insane; that's what it was. Unfortunately, desperate people did desperate things, and Kira had been desperate for a long time.
It was the reason she was contemplating such an action.
If worse came to worse, she could always abandon her plans. She wouldn't risk her life needlessly. She'd remember her promises. That's all she could do for now.
She exhaled slowly. Things would work out. Somehow.
Something tore through her senses, a hint of metallic ice accompanied by acidic rain.
She dove to the side. The railing in front of her exploded, chips of stone slicing her arm and leg.
She was up and moving in the next second. Metal projectiles and energy bolts flying hard and fast.
She sprinted, barely avoiding the blast of energy or the throwing knives concealed in its wake.
There. To her right. The attack was coming from those trees.
She didn't hesitate, leaping over the edge of the railing, snagging a few of the blades sticking out of the stone, before sprinting across the ground.
Twenty feet. Ten. Almost there.
Yellow light tore from the dark. She lunged sideways, then sideways again, when more blasts streamed toward her.
Bastards.
Shouts filled the air behind her, the chaos of the fight drawing the attention of those in the Citadel.
Kira didn't let that distract her, finding cover as another barrage streaked from the trees.
The lights tore the small tree she'd dodged behind to bits, bark and branches raining down on her.
Two could play that game.
She leaned to the side, throwing the knives in quick, sharp movements, aiming in a split-second before diving behind cover.
She had no idea if any of the knives hit their target.
She waited several seconds before standing. Whoever the attacker had been was long gone now. Probably a result of those she sensed approaching from the Citadel.
She moved closer to where her attackers had lain in wait, her body tense and poised for action.
There was no sign of her assailants when she got there, the spot empty and silent. Kira frowned at the area, a frustrated sigh escaping her.
She'd missed her chance. The dark hid any signs of her assailants’ passage. Following would be out of the question until daylight. By then, they would no doubt be far from here or hidden among those inside the Citadel.
She closed her eyes and inhaled. The same faint trace of metallic ice and acidic rain filtered to her again. Her eyes popped open.
A Tsavitee had been here, standing in this exact spot.
A dim form appeared out of the darkness, reaching for her arm. Kira reacted, grabbing the person's wrist, yanking them forward as she stepped into them.