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“Oh?” Her bright interest woke his own.
“I need them to gather biological samples from the entity once it’s trapped. I have to study it.”
“It’s a hell of a task.” Tranis couldn’t imagine how it would be accomplished. “It would take somehow reversing polarities on the phase device and zapping the Dark with it?”
“Phasing isn’t a matter of ‘zapping,’” Lidon said.
“I’m no engineer, just tossing an idea out there. But yes, it’ll be their next assignment, if the current project is successful.” He glanced around. “Speaking of our guests, where are Piras and Kila?”
Chapter Thirteen
“I behaved jealously. My attitude was beneath that of a loyal Nobek and committed clanmate.”
The admission was difficult for Piras to hear. It was a Kila-style apology, which the clan leader had wanted. It gave him no pleasure, however. He hated to be the source of a blow to Kila’s pride.
“The fact you were jealous, you didn’t trust me—” Piras stopped. “I realize not telling you Tranis sent Lidon to be my temporary bodyguard doesn’t scream I deserve your trust, but you get so damned mad when his name comes up. I couldn’t have you dwelling on him being near me when you were on a dangerous mission.”
Kila regarded him as calmly as his natural ferocity allowed. “I do trust you. I just…I want to be the Nobek who’s here to keep you safe. The Nobek you can count on.”
There was more to it. Hope had divulged to Piras the conversation she and Kila’d had.
“Lidon hasn’t been that Nobek in well over a decade. Maybe I once wanted him to be, but not since I clanned you. Kila, if I’d known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have considered him as my protector clanmate for an instant. How could I?” Piras poured sincerity in the declaration. He poured his heart in it.
“You mean it.” Still calm, still fierce, but he heard hungry yearning behind Kila’s statement.
“With every ounce of my being.” Piras could have heaped sentiment on, but it wasn’t his way. Nor would Kila have found it appropriate. Such a deluge of feelings would have embarrassed his Nobek.
Piras was forced instead to scowl, to give Kila a taste of the Terror of the Fleet. “Are you done being an ass? I’ve had enough of your shitty attitude, especially when we have such an important mission to accomplish.”
“A mission I have no real part in,” Kila pointed out. His lips began to twitch, as if he were on the verge of a ‘fuck-you’ Kila smirk.
“Except to be ready to kick Hobato’s ass if things go south and his rider has him go berserk. Has he noticed he’s cut off from certain command codes since I altered the system a few hours ago? I have no idea. Maybe he’s bypassed it. Maybe he’s ready to send the fleet into complete chaos the instant we move against him. No one seems to have thought such a scenario might happen. Why am I the only person who considers every possible angle?”
“Because you overthink everything. If you can’t find a problem, you worry it into existence.” The corners of Kila’s mouth turned upward.
“Fuck you. Eat a mountain of Tragoom dicks.”
Kila’s grin bloomed in full at the bluster, and Piras’ heart leapt. They were all right again.
* * * *
Earth II
Kuran was in his soon-to-be vacated office at Earth’s on-planet security headquarters when voices alerted him to arriving visitors. One voice rang louder than the rest, and he snickered. Etnil was buzzing from his shopping trip in the company of the Nichols clan. Kuran wondered if his Imdiko had blown the budget he’d set for himself. He had a hundred credits riding on a bet with Rihep.
The chuckling women, bearing handfuls of canvas shopping bags, entered first on a tide of Etnil’s jabbering. “Yes, pink is absolutely Kuran’s favorite color. Lace and ruffles make him giddy. I think the skirt’s hem will flatter his legs beautifully. Hi, my Nobek!”
Kuran ignored him to bow to the women. “Mataras, it’s so good to see you obviously enjoyed your day. May I help you put down your bags?” He reached for Rosa’s purchases.
“Thank you, Kuran.” She beamed at him as he helped her set them neatly on his empty desk in the middle of the almost-empty room.
From a few feet away, Etnil looked from Stacy to Toni. “I want to lend a hand too, but which of you will my assistance earn more brownie points? Ooh, Kuran, brownies, full of marshmallows. Sort of describes you, doesn’t it? You have to try them.”
Stacy lowered her purchases to the floor. “It’ll be a while before anyone will see a brownie on Earth again. Etnil might have wiped out the planet’s supply in a single sitting.”
“Just what the fiend needed…sugar.” Toni sighed tiredly as she let her bags drop. She waved to him grudgingly. “Half the bags he’s carrying are mine, though, so I can’t pick on him too much. Thanks, Etnil.”
“Brownie points. And brownies. I have everything a man could dream of.” Etnil beamed at them, his gaze coming to rest on Kuran. “I saved a treat for you, little as you deserve it.” He put all but one bag on the floor. He rummaged through its contents.
