Page 49 of The Alien's Major Dilemma

Marissa nodded. "Understood. Sir, I know my being matched with Cooper may cause problems but-"

"Major, I want to make one thing very clear to you," the Base Commander interrupted her and leaned forward. "Whatever you think might be coming, you are not allowed to fall on your sword and sacrifice your career or your life. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," she said after a moments pause.

"The world is changing and it's likely you're going to be sent in a different direction but you didn't get where you are by being stupid or bad at your job. Officers get married all the time. Your relationship isn't going to change how you do your job, is it?"

"No, sir," she said slowly.

"Glad to hear it," he said, straightening. "So, I think we're done here for the moment. I'm sending you over to medical for a check up. I suspect you'll be on light duty for a while. Report any problems you have directly to me. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Marissa said.

"Good, now, go so I can get back to work."

They both stood up and Marissa saluted before the guard opened the door to let her out of the room.

She was on her way to medical when she realized she should have asked if she could take a shower first. It wouldn't be her first time showing up covered in dirt and blood but she didn't like making a habit of it.

When she walked in, she first noticed the Orvax she didn't recognize leaning against one of the door frames. He was talking with two human women in an alcove, one of whom she did remember as one of the doctors stationed on the base, and they stopped talking when she walked in.

"Ah, perfect timing," the doctor said warmly. Her name tag said Johnson and Marissa was trying to remember if they'd ever spoken before. "You're here for a check up after your ordeal, right? Major Ozark?"

"Yes, ma'am," Marissa said with a nod.

"Excellent, I have that room set up for you, there should be a change of clothes in there. Just pop them on and I'll be in momentarily."

The doctor propelled her into the curtained off alcove and pulled the fabric closed behind her. A set of PT shorts and a tank top were sitting on the bed and Marissa raised her eyebrow at it before she started getting changed.

"If you're sure there's nothing else I can do for you here?" the doctor asked the other patients.

"To be honest, Doc, I'm still not sure how human medicine compares with Orvax.Stringshas a really good basic automated system but, well, I wanted to make sure she got looked over by someone besides a computer. If Bowsie were available-"

"Yes, I'd have preferred to keep her here myself but that wasn't a decision I got to make."

"Understood," the Orvax replied. "But if you're sure Dorcas is going to be okay, I'd like to get her home as soon as I can."

Somehow, Marissa knew that he wasn't referring to any place on Earth when the Orvax male talked about taking the woman home.

"You want your privacy." Marissa could hear the knowing tone in the doctors voice and felt a small moment of envy. "I completely understand. As far as I can tell, she's going to be fine."

"Thank you, doctor," another woman's voice cut in. "That's actually really nice to hear. We'll get out of your hair so you can help your next patient."

Marissa sat on the exam table as they walked by and the doctor opened the curtain to her alcove just as the door shut.

"Major Marissa Ozark," the doctor said with a smile. "I understand you've had quite the adventure."

"You could say that," Marissa said.

"You're looking remarkably well for someone who was kidnapped," she said, and pulled the clipboard out of its holder on the wall. "And discovered a new alien species as well."

"Some of that was a misunderstanding," Marissa said, trying to keep her answers vague. She didn't know who had been briefed about Cooper and the rest of the aliens but she figured keeping as much as she could to herself would be a good idea for a while. "And my team was incredibly quick coming to find me."

"With a little help from our alien friends," the doctor said with a smirk. "Amazing how much technology the Orvax have that they've kept hidden."

Marissa shrugged. "I wouldn't know anything about that. I'm just glad they got there."

"I'm sure you did," the doctor said. "The initial information I got said that you'd been tortured but I'm not seeing evidence ofthat. I'm supposed to do a kit on you, standard procedure, but I can make a note if you'd prefer I don't."

---