Page 4 of Aliens Love Curves

Casey's takeoff is flawless. She angles her glider perfectly, using the wind to her advantage as she shoots forward. Within seconds, she's pulled ahead of the pack.

I find myself holding my breath as I watch her navigate the first turn. The way she leans into it, using her body to guide the glider... it's unlike anything I've seen before. It's not the Equanox technique we teach here at the Academy. No, this is something else entirely. Something... beautiful.

"Damn," I mutter under my breath. I shouldn't be impressed. I shouldn't be watching the way her curvaceous body moves with the glider, the way her hair streams behind her like a comet's tail.

The race continues, and Casey maintains her lead. Her technique is unorthodox but undeniably effective. She's a natural, born to fly. As much as I hate to admit it, she's better than any cadet I've seen in years.

As they enter the final lap, victory seems assured for Casey. But then, something goes wrong.

Cadet Zix, an Equanox male who's been pushing his glider too hard, suddenly loses control. His glider starts to spin, veering dangerously close to one of the floating platforms.

I tense aboard my own glider, ready to intervene. But before I can move, I see Casey bank hard, changing course. She's heading straight for Zix.

"What are you doing, Peace?" I mutter, watching in disbelief.

Casey matches her speed to Zix's out-of-control glider. With a manoeuvre that makes my heart skip a beat, she reaches out, grabbing hold of his glider's stabilizer. Using her own glider'smomentum, she guides Zix away from the platform, helping him regain control.

By the time they're both stable, the other cadets have passed them. Casey's certain victory has turned into a last-place finish. But the look on her face as she lands isn't one of disappointment. There's a quiet satisfaction there, a sense of pride that has nothing to do with winning.

As the cadets dismount, I stride over to them, keeping my face stern.

"Cadet Zix," I bark, "that was sloppy flying. You pushed your glider beyond its limits and nearly caused a serious accident. You'll stay after class for additional safety training."

Zix nods, his pink skin flushing a deeper shade with embarrassment. "Yes, sir."

I see Casey open her mouth, no doubt to defend her fellow cadet, but I cut her off with a look. Her face falls, disappointment clear in her eyes. It takes all my willpower not to acknowledge her actions, not to commend her for her selflessness and skill.

But I can't show favouritism. I can't let her see how impressed I am. How captivated.

"The rest of you, hit the showers," I command. "Except you, Peace. I want to speak with you."

As the other cadets file away, I hear Casey sigh and see her roll her eyes. The gesture shouldn't be attractive, but somehow, maddeningly, it is.

Once we're alone, I allow my stern expression to soften slightly. "That was an impressive move you pulled out there, Peace."

Her eyes widen in surprise. "Sir?"

"The way you assisted Cadet Zix. It was risky, but well-executed. You sacrificed your own victory to help a fellow cadet. That's the kind of quick thinking and teamwork we value in the Enforcers."

A blush creeps up Casey's cheeks, and I find my eyes drawn to the rise and fall of her chest as her breathing quickens. Stars help me, even the simple act of her taking a breath is mesmerizing.

"Thank you, sir," she says, a small smile playing at her lips. "I just did what anyone would do."

I shake my head. "No, not anyone. Most would have continued the race, assuming someone else would help. You saw a problem and immediately acted to solve it. That's the mark of a true Enforcer."

Her smile widens, and I feel an answering warmth in my chest. What is this human doing to me? My gaze falls on her red lips pulled tightly across her white, blunt teeth.

"I have to ask, though," I continue, trying to maintain some semblance of professional distance, "where did you learn to fly like that? Your technique is... unconventional, yet it works."

Casey's eyes light up with passion. "I've been flying recreationally for years, sir. When you're not bound by regulation flight patterns, you learn to get creative. To feel the glider as an extension of yourself."

I nod, understanding dawning. "You treat it like a dance partner, not just a machine."

"Exactly!" she exclaims, then catches herself. "I mean, yes, sir. That's a good way to put it."

A chuckle escapes me before I can stop it. "At ease, Peace. You're not in trouble here."

She relaxes visibly, and I find myself captivated by the way her body softens, her waist becoming even tinier as the curves of her hips become even more pronounced. I force my eyes back to her face, only to find her watching me with a curious expression.

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