Facets of Revolution (The Firebird Chronicles, #4)

by T.A. White

Selene was different. Patience was where she lived. Sometimes for too long. She would rather the moment pass than risk herself.

Oo

Kira’s face revealed a worry Selene knew she didn’t deserve. Not after all that she’d done. The wrongs she and the rest of the forty-three had turned their faces from. Determined not to see. Or feel. Or interfere with. Despite all the anger and hurt, Kira had set it aside to come to Selene’s rescue. Willing to risk everything. It was why the forty-three loved her and Jin so much—though they made sure the two never realized.

Oo

The skin around Yukina’s eyes tightened. She didn’t like that question, and it was easy to see why. Alexander’s argument had the advantage of being legally foolproof.

:)

It took away the guilt that accompanied the taking of a life. You didn’t have to care if the soldiers on the other side were evil. You could tell yourself you were doing the right thing. Kira’s mentor and father figure had always said the only thing that separated two forces was which side of the battle line they stood on.

:(

“Welcome aboard the Wanderer. I am Jin and I will be your pilot today. Please note that the ride may be a tad bumpy. Seats are interspersed throughout the ship for your comfort but will do jack shit to save you should we crash.”

Shades of Firefly

“Ah—I would like to remind those who forced their way onto our ship that we are not liable for any mental or physical distress that you may experience during the journey. Barf bags are located in the latrines. Thank you and please don’t die.” The speakers crackled as they cut out.

Oo

hate that name.” Enough to stab the next person who used it. Over and over again. Maybe, then finally, people would get it through their heads how bad of an idea it was to use it.

Oo

“Is this type of excitement normal for you?” “I’d really like to say no.” But the truth was Kira and Jin attracted trouble like flowers did a bee.

Ooo

seemed almost amused by that fact. Kira ignored him as she concentrated on making her way to the bridge. “Status report.” “Everything is fucked,” Raider growled.

Oo

“Once something is broken, it will never be the same,” Kira said without looking at him. It didn’t matter how hard you tried. The pieces could never be glued together in exactly the same way. There was always a trace of the original break. “Perhaps it won’t be exactly the same and will carry the proof of its survival, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Attaboy

Where Kira’s threats had been met with minimal amounts of fear, terror showed on the expressions of those around them at Maksym’s presence. “Youngest, you needn’t worry about us,” Maksym advised Kira, giving the other oshota a smile more suited to that of a sociopath. The one that said he would be happy to cause undue amounts of pain and would sleep like a baby afterward.

Oo

From under her hand, her prey fought to speak. “The toy too. She cannot keep it.” A silent growl rumbled in Kira’s chest. Oh right. She’d forgotten how much she wanted to kill this person. So good of him to remind her. Her grip tightened, a pained sound escaping Jarek that made Kira want to bathe in his blood.

Idiot

His amber eyes reminded Kira of a panther’s. They held that same lazy danger as if he could destroy all in front of him but wouldn’t because it was too much work.

Mwhaha

The sharp protrusions that marched along his shoulders and arms made him look like a porcupine. She especially liked that fur-lined cape flapping in the breeze. Graydon should get one of those. She wished Jin was awake so they could make fun of him together. Kira blinked slowly as a roaring started. “Somebody sounds so mad.”

Oo

“Think he’s mad at you?” Jin asked. Something told her yes. Kira slid down her pillows until she was flat on her back and staring up at the ceiling again. “I miss my coma.”

Oo

Kira frowned as she looked up at Graydon. “Is this also your doing?” “Impressed?” Kira grimaced. “That’s not the word I would use.” Confused? Suspicious? Distrustful? All concepts that worked so much better to convey what she was feeling right now.

Oo

Kira gave a humorless laugh. “No. They have their own fair share of blood on their hands. All any of us cared about was surviving back then—though why we were fighting to stay alive, I have no idea.” Those days had been dark. Hope a word that held no meaning. It would have been easier to give in. Some did.

Oo

Shock was written on Jarek’s face as he watched Alexander carefully. “How do you know about that?” Alexander’s lips twisted. “My youngest sister may have been ignorant of her origins but the same can’t be said of the rest of us. The forty-three have been watching you. We are not impressed by what we’ve seen.” Jin whispered a curse.

Oo

Humiliating. That’s what this was. Absolutely humiliating. Jin gasped for breath. “I can’t. This is too much. Ahahahahaha. Stop. I can’t breathe.” Kira gritted her teeth. “You don’t have lungs.” Jin’s chortles continued through the comms, his mirth unchecked.

><

Kira shot a look at Finn, asking for help. He turned his head, pretending to examine the artifacts that decorated the wall. Kira scowled. Did he really think she was stupid enough to believe he was fascinated by sights he’d probably seen a thousand times?

;)

“The Overlord loves you.” Kira smirked as she leaned against the balcony doors and crossed her arms over her chest. “How many trackers is he going to put on my ship before he’s done?” Makon’s gaze was steady. Kira chuckled to herself. Jin was going to have quite the time locating and destroying all of them.

:)

“Jin’s right. You are learning,” Kira said, a little amused. Finn inclined his head. “It’s either anticipate your actions or watch you almost die. I prefer the first—even if I don’t always agree with your choices.”

Oo

She was trying to be nice and protect him from himself, but if he wasn’t going to appreciate her good intentions he could deal with the consequences. She just hoped he didn’t live to regret this. Actually, scratch that, she was looking forward to seeing the look on his face when he learned how badly he’d miscalculated.

:)

Kira was sure she would, but not before she made them regret tangling with her. Thought they could try their hand at hazing her, did they? Ha! The last people who’d tried that still ran the other way when they saw her coming. “Does anyone else find her smile a little scary?” one Tuann asked the other. His companion nodded.

Oo

“I don’t know whether to be relieved or worried,” Harlow confessed. Worried. Always worried when it came to a reasonable Kira. Graydon kept that thought to himself. This way it would be so much more fun later when Harlow and the rest came to the inevitable conclusion they’d never had control of the situation in the first place.

Oo

Her target was an imperious looking bastard. Already Kira didn’t like him. There was something about the snobbish and arrogant cast to his features that pointed to this person being an asshole of the highest order.

Oo

Jin’s chuckle sounded evil. “I’ve already got a few ideas.” Kira grunted. “As long as it gets me the results I want, you have clearance to create as big a splash as you want.” She’d probably end up regretting that offer but that was a problem for future Kira.

Oo

In the same position, Kira wasn’t sure she would have risked poking the beast further. Who was she kidding? She probably would have taken a giant stick and whacked him on the head with it.

Heh self awareness

For such an advanced race, the Tuann were surprisingly shitty at handling loss. Kira supposed being so long lived played a part in that. Maybe it would have been the same for her if she hadn’t grown up under the shadow of grief’s presence. A specter that eventually came for them all.

Oo

Wren’s expression was the one that shredded Kira’s heart. An old human saying was that “the truth would set you free.” Kira had never been able to agree with that. Sometimes the truth just hurt.

:(

It was exactly the type of thing the Tuann might do. Offer a shortcut that ended up being a massive pain in the ass.

Oo

“That’s not grim or anything,” Raider muttered. “Reminds me of the speech they gave at the academy—except for the whole rocky death part. That’s new,” Jin quipped. Kira’s smart-ass response died as her senses tingled.

Oo

wearing the same fancy synth armor and cape he’d worn when he’d intervened with Jarek. “Is that a fur-lined cape?” Kira’s lips curved. “It is.” “What is the purpose behind those protrusions on his shoulders and arms? Is he hoping to impale his enemies with them? He looks like a porcupine. So embarrassing.” A strangled giggle escaped Kira. Jin’s reaction was every bit as awesome as she’d expected.

:D

A tacit understanding passed between them. The years of separation and hard feelings washed away. In that moment, they knew exactly what the other wanted.

The enemy made the 43 cohesive. If they return they could help do the same to their houses

The two nodded, looking excited to have a task. “Selene, Alexander—“ Kira started, not even getting to finish before Alexander stalked toward the secondary cannon mount. “Never mind. You do you.” She supposed that meant the truce was at an end.

Oo

Kira shrugged at him. “Apparently those two have their own plans.” “And he gave me shit about being impetuous. What the fuck is that?” Kira shook her head. “I don’t know.” If she did, she’d probably find Alexander and Selene a lot easier to understand.

Oo

Each time, Kira barely evaded as she played the role of bait. If it was possible to make an inanimate object insane with frustration, that was what she was trying to do. The better for Raider to slip in unnoticed.

:)

Kira hated when Jin sounded logical. She wasn’t used to him being the sensible one in this relationship.

:)

They weren’t supposed to be the very thing that endangered them. For such petty bullshit too. Don’t get her started on that crap about it being for the greater good either. Maybe that was how it began but at this point their actions were little more than schoolyard bullies throwing their greater power around to suppress those who might one day stand up to them.

Power corrupts

Kira sent her a smile that made Selene blanch. Huh. Maybe her reassurance skills needed work.

:)

“Is a baby’s bottom smooth?” Kira’s steps paused. “And how would you know that?” “I’m a genius, Phoenix. I know things.” Sure, he did. That’s why he constantly got into trouble.

Lol

He was the sort who’d use you up and then toss you to the side when he was done with you. Enemy met and identified. With this, it no longer mattered if this man was a patsy or a mastermind. He’d be a problem for future Kira one way or another.

Oo

He had a sly expression on his face as he slid a sidelong glance in Kira’s direction. “My sister tried to spare us by sugar coating the matter. What she doesn’t realize is we never expected acceptance from the Tuann. We remember how close-minded you bastards are.

:(