Page 33 of The Alien's Private Redemption

"And it might have been what tipped whoever decided to attack the base off that Private McBride was there. Or, at least, that she hadn't died when she was supposed to," Ae-cha said.

"What do you mean?" Zoric asked.

"Some of the commands in her brain are old. Probably set in childhood, if not shortly after she was born. Others are newer, and the one I removed was attached to one of the older commands, but they were obviously done by different people. So there's at least one person who is concerned and meddling," Ae-cha noted.

"And if you wanted to keep an eye on someone, watching for requests for their medical records would be a good way to do it," Dr. Phillips added, her voice weak. "As long as you weren't concerned about any of the privacy laws, which I would assume they wouldn't be, if they're planting commands in people's brains."

"The way they did in yours." Angela didn't make it a question. She knew what had happened with Dr. Phillips and was trying to avoid being satisfied with the violence Ae-cha had visited on her earlier. The feelings came very loudly across their Bond and Zoric couldn't find it in himself to disagree with her.

"Yes," Dr. Phillips acknowledged. "The way they did in mine."

"Could you tell if they were set by the same person?" Zoric asked.

"What, do they sign them?" Angela asked.

"In a way, yes," Ae-cha answered. "Every mind is unique and you can't help but leave some of that behind when you mess with someone's mind. Especially when you leave commands behind. But figuring out what the signature is takes time and more than a couple of examples and it doesn't help me identify them unless I know them and their mind."

"Can you look for more?" Dr. Phillips asked, leaning forward. "In Private McBride's mind, I mean. I know you're trying todisconnect them anyway but if you could look for more of them, could you get a better feel? And remember the one in me?"

"I suppose," Ae-cha said slowly. "But do we have time to do that while we're here?"

"Or the energy?" Angela asked. "The interrogation sessions have been exhausting and the last one was worse than any of the others."

How bad did the last one drain you?Zoric asked.You were not in as much pain as the one I walked in on.

Pain is exhausting but the drugs knock me out for the worst of it. This one, I was trying to participate, remember things that have been buried very deep, and keep Ae-cha out of things I don't want her to see.

Like what?

Personal things,she sent, her thoughts tinged with heat and embarrassment.

If Ae-cha is going to find all the triggers, she may have to see those.

But then she'll know.

What will she know?

Angela blushed and turned to bury her face against his chest. For a brave, stoic, strong woman, the gesture was oddly sweet and endearing.

Zoric refused to pry but he suspected he knew the topic she didn't want to talk about. Now wasn't the time but he hoped they got a chance soon, to explore and answer all the questions she had. Even with their Bond, attraction wasn't guaranteed, and there were often women who could not get past their partners appearance.

And he wondered if he had the tools to make that acceptance easier.

Chapter 15

Angela took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of Zoric. It was tinged with panic, anger, and something else she didn't want to try and identify just yet. And it was better than the best cologne she'd ever smelled.

Cuddling into him while he held her made Angela feel oddly feminine. That he was letting her hide her face from a room of potentially hostile people was even better. She didn't know why but she felt like she'd been rubbed raw inside and out.

"Private McBride?" Ae-cha called and Angela realized they'd asked her another question.

You can say you're not up to it,Zoric sent.

Not up to what?she asked him, reluctant to admit she had been smelling him instead of listening.

To letting Ae-cha search for triggers in some of your memories without having to go through the process with Dr. Phillips involved.

Oh.She didn't want Ae-cha rooting around in her head anymore.

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