Page 22 of The Alien's Private Redemption

"She did not adjust the chair, she dismantled part of it," Dr. Phillips explained, her perfume becoming more pronounced asshe leaned forward. "Something she was neither authorized, nor asked, to do."

"Wouldn't Colonel Schuh giving her the tool to adjust the chair mean the authorization was implicit?" Zoric asked. The metallic taste of confrontation filled his mouth as he spoke. He really didn't understand why Dr. Phillips insisted on painting Angela in as dark a light as possible.

"As she neither stated her intentions nor asked for permission, the only implicit authorization would be for her to have temporary possession of a tool," Dr. Phillips pursued, her voice taking on a lecturing tone that set Zoric's teeth on edge.

Colonel Schuh let out a breath and rubbed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. The gesture released a fresh wave of his natural scent - coffee, gun oil, and something uniquely human. "Which makes this my fault," he said. "Private McBride, please return my multitool and, in the future, let me know what you want to use it for."

"Colonel, that's not-"

"Yes, sir," Angela said, cutting off Dr. Phillips' protest. She slid the multitool across the polished surface, the metal scraping quietly against the wood, and stood up to salute. Her movement stirred the air, bringing a fresh wave of her scent to Zoric's sensitive receptors.

"Sit down," the Colonel said. "We've already wasted enough time on this. Dr. Phillips, it really does seem like you have a prejudice against Private McBride. As your presence here is part of the inquiry into the Private's claims and behaviors, are you going to be able to continue without letting your prejudices interfere?"

The artificial lighting cast harsh shadows across Dr. Phillips' face as she drew herself up. "I'm a professional," she said, as if that answered the question. Her scent had taken on an acidic edge that made Zoric's nose wrinkle.

The Colonel's steady gaze didn't waver. "The question still stands, doctor. Are you going to be able to give an unbiased opinion, based only on the facts at hand, without allowing your personal beliefs to get in the way?"

"Yes, Colonel, I will continue to do my job," Dr. Phillips said. The pinched look on her face and the sharp note in her scent told Zoric how difficult she'd find it to be unbiased.

The ventilation system hummed, filling the momentary silence with white noise. Zoric could feel Angela's skepticism through their bond, matched by his own doubts about Dr. Phillips' ability to remain objective.

"Alright, now that we've covered that," Colonel Schuh said, his voice cutting through the tension, "I want to know what the plan is going forward? Ae-cha and Zoric were brought in to observe Dr. Phillips' interrogation in the hopes that they could use their unique perspectives to give us some insight into what actually happened. Dr. Torres was here to help keep Private McBride alive should the interrogation have unforeseen circumstances."

The mention of Dr. Torres sent a spike of unease through Angela that Zoric felt like a physical blow. Her scent changed subtly, taking on the bitter edge of fear, though her exterior remained composed. He shifted slightly closer to her, letting his presence provide what comfort it could.

"I was promised I would be allowed to question the prisoner without interference," Dr. Phillips protested, her voice rising slightly in pitch. The fluorescent lights caught the sheen of sweat forming at her temples. "I was not informed that some of the observers would be aliens."

Ae-cha snorted, the sound carrying a distinctly reptilian undertone. "I don't know that we're technically aliens. Zoric and I were both born on this planet." Her scales rippled in a pattern that suggested both amusement and irritation.

"And the interference of their observations is what caused the plans that we had been working from to go awry," Dr. Phillips continued as though Ae-cha hadn't spoken. The sharp tap of her pen against the table punctuated her words.

Zoric's scales bristled at the memory of finding Angela in distress. "My first observation of the interrogation was that Private McBride was dying and not receiving the medical attention that she should have been," he said, struggling to keep his voice level. The taste of copper filled his mouth as he fought down his anger. "If she had not been in very real physical distress, I would not have interfered."

"I've never been allowed to monitor Private McBride's brainwaves," Dr. Torres spoke up from his corner. His complete lack of scent continued to unsettle Zoric. "Which is, honestly, neglecting her health."

"I don't want my brainwaves monitored," Angela said softly. She was sitting straight up in her chair, her back stiff, her hands folded on the table in front of her. Through their bond, Zoric felt a wave of primal fear wash over him, accompanied by the acrid scent of her anxiety.

The static in her mind grew stronger, like interference on a radio signal. Her thoughts became choppy, fragmented, and Zoric could feel her struggling to maintain control.

"We need to make sure there isn't any damage from accidentally triggering you," Colonel Schuh explained, his tone gentler than before. The leather of his chair creaked as he leaned forward. "Despite what you may think, we're not here to hurt you."

They want vengeance. You're not safe here. Your family isn't safe if you stay. You should have kept the weapon.

The foreign voice in Angela's mind was sharp, insistent. Zoric felt it cut through their bond like a blade. Her pulse had increased, though she maintained her outward composure. Thescent of fear rolled off her in waves that only he and Ae-cha could detect.

Angela's voice was carefully controlled when she spoke. "With all due respect, Colonel, I know what the prosecution is pushing for my sentence. Keeping me alive and healthy for an execution seems like a waste of time and resources." The bitter edge of resignation in her scent made Zoric's heart ache.

Ae-cha leaned forward, her scales catching the light as she moved. "I agree," she said. "If that's what they were doing. Fortunately, some of the Orvax intervened on your behalf, which is why I'm here. And why I think we need to change how we're handling this."

Her last words were directed at Colonel Schuh, who nodded and waved her to continue speaking. The air in the room had grown thick with tension, making even the humans shift uncomfortably in their seats.

The discussion that followed about Angela's fate made Zoric increasingly protective. Each mention of removing their bond sent waves of distress through both of them, their shared emotions amplifying until the very air seemed to vibrate with it. Only years of military discipline kept him from gathering her up and fleeing the facility entirely.

By the time they reached the end of the meeting, Zoric's scales were aching from the tension of maintaining his composure. The only comfort was Angela's presence beside him, her warmth both physical and mental a constant reminder of what they were fighting to protect. Whatever came next, he knew with bone-deep certainty that he would not let anyone separate them - not Ae-cha, not Dr. Phillips, not even Angela's own demons.

The voice of reason in her head might be working against them, but Zoric was determined to prove it wrong. They would find a way through this together, no matter what it took.

Chapter 11

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