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“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Jace finally said. “Scaring her. Showing her that she couldn’t just do as she pleased.”
“And you showed her and everyone that. I assume that you didn’t show all you could do?” Davies asked.
Jace chuckled and gave the Lieutenant-Commander a smirk. “Want to know how truly incredible I am, do you?”
Davies’ eyes widened then he blushed. Khoth let out a sound that almost sounded like a snarl. But then he felt Jace’s foot against his calf. The briefest of touches. He was soothed though. Jace was his. He was Jace’s. This Davies wasn’t just the Tenth Man, he was a third wheel, another human saying that he now completely understood.
“No, Lieutenant-Commander, I didn’t show them everything. I don’t actually know everything yet,” Jace admitted with a shrug.
Davies shook his head. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe what?” Khoth growled.
“After everything the Pilot’s gone through, he’s still willing to fly off into the unknown even when he doesn’t know everything about himself,” Davies answered. “Most would be too shattered by even one of the things you’ve gone through to contemplate all of this.”
Jace grew thoughtful again as if considering something then he said, “One step at a time. It’s the only way to do all of this.”
“I wish you had let the military scientists and doctors help you,” Davies said.
“You wish that the Pilot remained an ambassador of Earth and humanity alone?” Khoth asked.
“Yes, I do.” Davies met his gaze without any hesitation. He wasn’t lying. He was working for humanity after all so, of course, he wanted Jace to be their representative alone. “But I understand why you’ve done what you did. You’re freer this way. And the blowback won’t go towards Earth completely for any of your unpopular actions.”
“Besides I really do believe we are stronger together,” Jace told him. “While you might see the Thaf’ell as stiff, rigid and bound by tradition, those traditions are pretty damned good. You might even say, they’re… superior.”
Khoth closed his eyes for a moment. But Jace’s teasing meant that he wasn’t shaken by anything of what Davies had said. But fear wasn’t really in Jace’s vocabulary as he’d discovered in the Hive.
“I’m sure they all have valuable qualities. And I’m not saying that humanity can’t use the help or the guidance, but you--a human--was chosen by the Osiris,” Davies pointed out. “The Altaeth’s ultimate technology chose you, not a Thaf’ell, not a Xols, not a Neena, you, a human, to give the secrets of the universe to. That has to mean something.”
“Perhaps I was the only baby available,” Jace pointed out. “The Thaf’ell weren’t sending their pregnant officers to us or their children. My mom was the only one pregnant by the Osiris.”
“Is that why it chose you to be the Pilot?” Davies challenged.
“No,” Jace said nothing more.
Khoth’s eyes slid to him. Had Jace found out something more about why he’d been chosen? What had been going on when he’d approached Jace on the Bridge? He’d looked so distressed? Had he learned something then?
He carries a great burden and he thinks to carry it alone, Khoth thought. I must show him that is not so.
“You’ve seen Star Trek haven’t you?” Jace asked.
“Of course. You're looking to start a Federation?” Davies guessed.
“The Alliance is that. In a way. We just need to be a part of it,” Jace said. “We need to reignite the idea of that.”
Davies shook his head and laughed. “You want to run it.”
“I don’t really have any desire to run anything,” Jace said.
“But it’s the only way you can make what you want happen,” Davies pointed out. “Like it or not, if you’re in charge you can make the rules.”
“I’m not looking to be a dictator. Benevolent or otherwise. I just want a seat at the table,” Jace said.
“Okay,” Davies responded with a smirk.
“You don’t believe me? Well, it doesn’t matter. So what’s your plan to protect me?” Jace asked.
Davies looked over at Gehenna. “Can I borrow your robot?”
