Page 61 of Alien Mercenary's Wife
"My thoughts exactly," Mason agreed. "Though I've been using considerably more colorful language since I got off the call with our former legal representation."
"There's more," Hughes said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Williams is missing."
The bottom dropped out of Reese's world. Williams had been one of their most vocal members, a former sergeant with a gift for organizing resistance and a stubborn refusal to accept defeat. If they'd gotten to him...
"Missing how?" Her voice came out steadier than she felt.
"Didn't show up for our scheduled check-in three days ago," Mason replied. "His apartment's been cleaned out. Neighbors say they saw moving trucks, but Williams never mentioned relocating."
"Could he have cut and run?"
"Williams?" Mason's laugh was bitter. "The man who once spent six hours in a firefight with a broken leg because he refused to abandon his post? Not a chance in hell."
The communications room door slid open with a soft hiss, and Red stepped inside. T'Raal's daughter moved with fluid grace, settling into the chair just outside the camera's field of view.
Reese acknowledged her presence with a small nod and mouthed, "Won't be long."
Red made her feel painfully human just by being in the room. Those rippling scales under her skin were a reminder that Reese was just a broken soldier while Red was something else entirely—strong, alien, and definitely not dying from faulty tech.
"We'll figure something out," Reese said finally, though the words felt hollow. "We always do."
"Copy that, Captain," Hughes said. "Stay safe out there."
"You too. Both of you. Keep your heads down and watch your backs."
"Always do," Mason replied. "Talk soon."
"Soon," Reese agreed, though she wondered if either of them would live long enough to make good on that promise.
Red cleared her throat softly,drawing Reese's attention away from the dark screens. The sound was deliberate, careful, like someone trying to signal their presence without being too intrusive.
"So... how are you settling in? On the ship, I mean."
The question came out stiff, formal. Like someone reading from a script they weren't entirely comfortable with. Red's posture was too straight, her hands folded neatly in her lap like she was at a job interview.
"Fine," Reese replied, studying the younger woman's face. Red was utterly beautiful, with high cheekbones and sculpted features Reese would have died for. "Everyone's been very welcoming."
"Good. That's... good." Red shifted in her chair, scales rippling beneath her skin. "Everyone can be a bit overwhelming at first. Especially Sparky. But they mean well."
"The ship's not what I expected," Reese said, offering a neutral response while she tried to figure out what Red was really after. "Smaller than the military vessels I'm used to, but better maintained."
"T'Raal insists on proper maintenance. Says a ship that can't run when you need it to is just an expensive coffin." Red smiled when she mentioned her father, the careful formality slipping for just a moment. Then she caught herself, returning to that stilted politeness. "And Tal? Is his treatment helping?"
"Yes. Much better than anything I've had before." Reese shifted in her chair, feeling the adhesive sticker pull against the skin of her back. "I can walk without worrying I'm going to hit the deck now."
"That's wonderful. Really." Red's smile didn't quite reach her unusual eyes. "Being in space, it's okay for you? No side effects or complications?"
Reese leaned back in her chair, amusement replacing confusion. The other woman was clearly working through some mental checklist. Now it made sense. Red wasn't here for casual chitchat. She had an agenda.
"Why don't you just come out with whatever you really want to know?"
Red's shoulders sagged, as scales flared over her cheeks. "That bad, huh?"
Reese bit back her smile and nodded. "Pretty obvious, yeah. Though I appreciate the effort."
"Sparky's been trying to teach me human small talk," the alien woman admitted. "Says it's important for making people comfortable before getting to the real conversation. Build rapport, establish common ground, that sort of thing."
"Sparky." Reese snorted. "Not being funny, but from what I've seen of him so far, that's the blind leading the blind."
