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Jace imagined the Altaeth climbing out of the downed Osiris and standing in the sand where Sunrise would be. He thought of them clutching a few possessions they could carry with them. They were in a world where the species wasn’t advanced. They were being hunted by the Khul and their Pilot was gone.

So not just any Altaeth can be the Pilot? Jace’s eyebrows rose.

Only her daughter had the potential ability, but she was too young. An infant, the Osiris explained. She was your ancestor.

Jace considered this. Sometime, very long ago, a baby Altaeth who had lost her mother, her world, her people, had made her way into adulthood and had children of her own. She would have had no idea about him or how her genes would allow a new Pilot to be born.

Why was there only one Pilot? What was your purpose? You’re a war ship, Jace pointed out. You speak to me of my purpose, but it does not appear that those Altaeth who had you last weren’t seeking to destroy the Khul.

Some of the data from that time period is damaged or was deleted, the Osiris responded. But I do know that those who took me were not those who made me.

Except for the Pilot?

Yes, except for her, the Osiris answered.

There must have been a reason the last Pilot did what she did, Jace pointed out.

That information is not available, the Osiris answered in a more mechanical voice.

Jace didn’t think that the Osiris was hiding things from him. It really didn’t know.

The Pilot… her name was Jexa, the Osiris murmured.

That’s like my name. Similar, Jace admitted.

Yes, I do not believe that is a coincidence. There are genetic memories that stay. Memories of the Pilot in your parents’ blood and those before them. In yours now, the Osiris said.

You miss her, Jace realized.

I am incapable of such an emotion, the Osiris was tart.

Really? Because I feel it in every word you say, Jace said with a sad smile.

She was only with me for a cycle, three sub-cycles, fifteen--

A short while, huh? So you don’t miss that time at all? That you remember down to the second? Jace snickered.

I remember everything down to the milli-second, the Osiris replied with that tartness that Jace was fond of. A tart Osiris meant a happy Osiris.

Well, I might not be Jexa. I’m sure I can’t fill her shoes. But… I’m here now, Osiris, Jace said. And we’ve got to work better together.

There was a long silence, but then the Osiris said, She never allowed fear to deter her from her duty. Even at the end, when the light came for her and the darkness followed, she stood firm.

Jace’s throat went tight. Sounds like an amazing person.

She was the Pilot.

Jace let out a breath. She was the Pilot. And that’s what being a Pilot meant.

Well, then, that’s something to know and remember, Jace said. He cleared his tight throat. Now, please let me know when that report is ready.

Yes, Pilot.

A section of the now green forcefield winked out of existence and the canceaux flew inside. Seeing that green forcefield, feeling it crackle with the proper energy, eased some of the tension in Jace’s head. He frowned.

Jace looked up at Khoth and murmured, “I think maybe my head isn’t just hurting because of an emotional storm.”

Khoth quickly glanced down. The concern in his handsome face was obvious. The guilt was obvious, too. Though Khoth didn’t know everything that was in Jace’s head that had swirled with jealousy and concern, he knew enough that Typhon and Thadden greeting them had set him off.