Page 32 of Human Reclaimed
“Handsome, smart, and kind?” I reached over and took his hand. “Of course I meant it. You are all those things.”
His fingers intertwined with mine, strong and warm. “Talia, I know something’s happening between us, but?—”
“But we can’t let it compromise the mission,” I finished for him, giving his hand a squeeze. “I agree. Those pregnant women and babies need protection first and foremost.”
Relief and something deeper flickered in his eyes. “The brigade will be assembled at 1400 hours. I think your idea about doubling the training tempo is excellent. They’re clearly ready for more advanced drills.”
I smiled, already strategizing the new simulations in my head. “Let’s make these pirates regret ever thinking about targeting Planet Alpha.”
FOURTEEN
RUNE
I watched Talia’s blue eyes shift from strategic calculation to something warmer as our fingers remained intertwined. Her hand felt small in mine, but nothing about her was fragile. The fierce intelligence behind those eyes had proven that multiple times over the past two days.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, glancing at the time display on my wrist communicator. “We still have two hours before the brigade assembles. We could get some early lunch at the marketplace.”
Talia’s stomach answered with a growl before she could speak, drawing a laugh from both of us.
“I’m starving, actually,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Food might help me focus better.”
“Then it’s decided.” I stood, not letting go of her hand. “The morning vendors should still be set up.”
We walked through the colony, the midday heat hanging heavily in the air. Shafts of sunlight pierced the jungle canopy above, dappling the stone paths between our buildings with shifting patterns. The familiar weight of responsibility eased slightly with Talia beside me, her presence somehow making the burden of protecting everyone feel more manageable.
The marketplace buzzed with its usual energy—colonists bartering for goods, the few small children darting between stalls, and the mingled scents of alien fruits and synthesized proteins filling the humid air.
“What about this?” Talia pointed toward the stall where Nexus was arranging purple-tinted food cubes. “I haven’t tried that yet.”
“You’re brave,” I said, genuinely impressed. “That’s Nexus’s fermented root paste. Most humans find it… challenging.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m feeling adventurous today.”
“Two portions,” I called to Nexus, who nodded with surprise when he saw who was requesting his creation.
We found a small table beneath a canopy of flowering vines, the vibrant blue blooms occasionally dropping petals onto the polished stone surface.
“I used to be like this all the time,” Talia said, cautiously sampling the food. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t spit it out—another testament to her resilience. “Before Travis and Meredith died, I’d try anything once.”
My chest tightened at the mention of her lost friends. “You can tell me about them, if you want. Or anything else. I’m… here for you.”
The words felt awkward in my mouth, but I meant them deeply. Talia paused, her fork suspended halfway to her mouth.
“It’s been a long time since I let anyone close enough to talk about things like that,” she admitted quietly. “I got tired of losing people I loved. Closing myself off seemed safer.”
I reached across the table, covering her free hand with mine. “I understand.” And strangely, I did. “Trust doesn’t come easily to me either.”
“You hide it well,” she said with a small smile. “For someone who claims to struggle with human emotions, you express yourself better than most humans I know.”
Warmth spread through my body at her words. “It’s you. You bring it out in me.” I paused, searching for the right way to explain. “I’m learning more about myself the closer we become. Things I didn’t know were possible. It’s… disorienting but good. I feel very grateful to have you here.”
“Well, for what it’s worth,” Talia said, boldly taking another bite of the purple paste, “I’m thankful for you, too. Even if the circumstances are completely insane.”
We finished our meal, exchanging glances that said more than words could. The connection between us deepened with each passing minute, a fact both exhilarating and frightening to me.
As we approached the training field where the brigade waited in formation, Talia squinted against the bright sunlight.
“You should head back to the security center,” I said firmly. “Yesterday’s incident was too close.”
