Page 61 of The Alien's Private Redemption

He already knew Ae-cha was goading Dr. Phillips but he couldn't figure out why Colonel Schuh was letting her. It was obvious the Colonel didn't like the doctor but Zoric hadn't seenan actual reason why. Ae-cha, he was certain, was obnoxious to start, and she couldn't like being this exposed any more than he did.

And the chairs weren't helping.

He was taller than most humans, and wider, and the disadvantages in the discrepancies became apparent as the meeting went on. While the height on the chairs could be adjusted, the highest they went made it impossible to fit his legs under the table, while still making his knees ache. Any lower, and his knees were so far above his center of gravity, it was difficult to stand.

The arms of the chair dug into his legs until he was certain they were going to cut off circulation, even with his scales protecting him, and his tail could not be arranged with any comfort. How Ae-cha was managing to sit so still with the same problems made him wonder if she was taking her discomfort out on Dr. Phillips more than their obvious philosophical differences would account for.

His separation from Angela was becoming more difficult as time dragged on, as well. They both reached out to brush each others thoughts, a momentary reassurance that they were still connected, every few minutes. Rather than distracting him, the comfort from the touch helped him focus, until Angela started to become agitated.

"Zoric," Colonel Schuh snapped, catching his attention. "Do you need a bio break?"

"What?" Zoric asked, confused by the question.

"Your knee was shaking the table," Ae-cha said, with a nod for the leg that was bouncing in agitation. "For humans, that typically indicates a need to expel waste."

She was laughing at him but he didn't care.

"No, I don't need a bio break," Zoric said, though he desperately wanted to go to her and find out what was causingthe anxiety he could feel building in her. "Though I wouldn't turn down a chance to stretch my legs."

Dr. Phillips stared at him for a long moment. "But we just got started. You can't be having that much difficulty sitting still."

"I don't think you could have designed a more uncomfortable chair if you'd tried," Zoric snapped back, his emotions were spiraling out of his control, though he attempted to calm himself. He sent calming reassurance to Angela and got back fear.

"Would you like to take a walk and check on the prisoner?" Ae-cha suggested quietly.

Zoric felt his heart stutter in panic. She knew about the Bond. He didn't know how she knew, but she did. Life had suddenly become a lot more dangerous for Angela and Zoric had to get to her now.

"That won't be possible," Colonel Schuh said. "A brief break to stretch seems advisable but Private McBride has another visitor at the moment."

"Who?" Zoric snapped.

"I wasn't aware anybody had permission to visit with her unsupervised," Ae-cha said, her voice sharp.

"Dr. Torres had questions about previous test results," the Colonel explained. "The guards are watching but he asked for a chance to get some information from her outside of an official interrogation. He felt bringing her into an interrogation room would be counterproductive, and I have to agree."

Zoric was out of the conference room before he'd made the decision to stand. A lifetime of navigating complex tunnel systems in less than ideal light helped him find the guardroom outside the cellblock without an escort, and the guards did not look happy to see him when he arrived.

"Open the door," he demanded. The scents of surprise and fear hit his receptors, and he could see the reluctance in theirbody language. Tiny movements in their hands and faces spoke volumes to him, sudden understanding granted by his Bond with Angela, and he knew they'd been given orders to keep him out.

"Private McBride is only allowed one visitor at a time, sir," one of the guards protested.

"Then it's time for the other visitor to leave." Zoric could hear his voice dropping into a dangerous growl and his vision was focused on the pulse he could see along their necks.

"Open the door, Corporal," Colonel Schuh said from the doorway.

There was a pregnant pause before the guard swallowed audibly and nodded. "Yes, sir," he said, then unlocked the door to the cellblock.

His claws left shallow grooves in the concrete as he rounded the corner, his tail helping him maintain balance at a speed that would have sent most humans sprawling. The scent of Angela's fear hit him like a physical blow, mixing with Dr. Torres' clinical curiosity in a way that made his scales bristle with rage.

Somewhere in his subconscious, he knew the others had followed him in, but his attention was focused on the person sitting onhisstool.

Dr. Torres turned just in time for Zoric to grab the front of his shirt, not the back, and haul him up on his feet. He could see the doctor's wide eyes inches from his own before he could articulate what the problem was.

"You're bothering her," Zoric ground out. "You need to stop."

While the doctor tried to come up with a response, his mouth opened and closed like a fish, the fear and surprise written all over his face telling Zoric just how little resistance he'd expected to his behavior.

"Zoric," Angela called. She was standing, pressed against the bars of her cell, and he could feel her concern for him. And her relief that he was there. "You need to put him down."

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