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“Akiyra?” I climb the rest of the way to the bridge.
She turns with a smile, “Is Jax okay?”
“Yeah, he is fine but what he told us happened and some other things have me worried.”
Akiyra tilts her head to the side, “I’m listening.”
“Well, I think Tiri might be. . . jealous.”
“Jealous? What do you mean?” Her voice has a tone that has me gritting my teeth.
“Look, I don’t know how Tiri acted before we arrived. Or what is normal for an AI. But I do know what has been happening to us when you’re not around is annoying to unsafe. First, the hostility that Tiri had when we came on board, happily airing our dirty laundry. Then, the whispering when we sleep, the showers being set to sand cleaners instead of water. All that I can take as some hazing, but I cannot take the idea that he would try to kill one of us.”
“If I wanted to kill one of you, I wouldn’t have had the force field in place,” Tiri’s crisp voice is laced with disgust.
“TIRI!” Akiyra yells, “Tell me that I am misheard Fynn and you. That you did not cause that door to open.”
Tiri is silent for a moment before he responds quietly, “I’m sorry, Akiyra. I cannot comply.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to share you.”
“Tiri, you need to stop this behavior immediately. Fynn and the guys are my guests and you will behave, understood?”
Tiri’s voice as he says, “yes ma’am.” has me thinking of a calusis pup slinking away with his tail between his legs. I don’t think I will trust Tiri for a while, but at least he seems to be repentant.