Page 128 of Stars in Aura

She just clutched the fabric of his vest and buried her face in his chest.

He kissed her forehead, lending her strength until he sensed a shift, a neural node tap as his metanoids fluxed.

Almost at once, a flicker of awareness whispered across his synapses.

A presence, one he was all too familiar with.

Mirage.

The Sable Group’s omnipotent AI slipped into his consciousness with subtle sophistication, an undetectable ripple beneath his thoughts.

She tapped, a virtual knock even though she had the power to tear through his neurons and pull them apart at will.

Sable.

The sultry, knowing purr of her voice coiled through his mind, as rich as the finest contraband rum.

It was almost comforting.

Yet still, even after all these years, it was unnerving.

I’ve been tracking your vitals, Sable. Your readings are elevated. I’d ask if you were engaging in recreational activities, but the fact that you’re facing what appears to be a flotilla of lethal capital ships suggests otherwise.’

Ki’Remi exhaled.Caught up in a bit of a diplomatic nightmare, Mirage.

Define ‘nightmare’.

Imma about to be escorted at ancient-blade-point to meet a god, or gods, who might or may not decide to smite me on a whim.

Ah. The insertion into the unknown is upon us, then.

Despite himself, the corner of his mouth twitched.

For all her omniscience, Mirage had the personality of a bored numen demiurge with a razor-edged tongue and too much processing power.

Are you willing to advance into the lion’s den, or should I gather the Riders to retrieve you?

Ki’Remi’s jaw flexed.

The rational part of him wanted to say yes. To activate every resource at his disposal and burn his way out of this ridiculous celestial cage about to fall over Issa and himself.

But then he glanced down at Issa, her face still buried in his chest, and his heart jolted.

Nada. I can do this for now. I have to proceed, come what may. Tis my orders and duty.

Also, he couldn’t let his woman go in alone, even though this was her war for her father’s soul.

He’d convinced her she needed him. That if ever she came under crossfire, he’d have her six.

While spying on her people and assessing whether the Sacran threat level was as lethal as intimated.

The incongruence of both missions burned, but he tamped it down, choosing logic to override his emotions.

The sooner he got this shit done, the faster it’d be over.

He sent a neural tap to Mirage.I’ll comm you if I need you.

Sawa. I’ll be here in the background, taking readings as you proceed.

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