I walked out of the safe room and took a deep, soul-filling breath of the fresh air outside. I looked around the area and took in the amazing setting we had been thrust into. There were lush grasslands spreading in all directions like a sea of waving green limbs praising the eternity of the sky above them. I walked until I found a large boulder and climbed up and sat on top of it, just taking in the beauty of this artificially created wonder. It struck me as odd that someone would put so much effort into creating beauty in a place that was designed to break the people who ended up here.

I reached down and plucked a stalk of the thick green grass, and put the end of it in my mouth, and began slowly, nervously chewing as I lost myself in thought and the beauty of the approaching sunset. The grass was bitter and tart in my mouth as I sat and idly wasted time in the peace of nothingness.

"Care for some company?" Tiff walked up to the boulder and lifted herself to sit beside me, her arm intertwining with my own.

"New perfume?" I asked with a satisfied sniff of the air.

Tiff blushed a little, and I felt her body tense up at the question. "I… well, I know that you like certain scents. I asked Natasha to determine your exact preference based on your online history. She said you bought a perfume that smelled similar to this for one of your ex-girlfriends as a present one year ago, so I, I don't know, I thought you might like it." Tiff pulled her arm away and sighed. "It's probably silly. I don't know how to do these things, Andrew. My people are not like humans. They are cold, and emotions are meant to be kept controlled. This," She motioned between us, "This is completely foreign to me."

I smiled and pulled her arm back under mine before I leaned toward her. I slowly pushed her hair behind her neck and leaned down, taking a long, deep breath. I could feel her relax against me. "I think you smell amazing, Tiff." I pulled her in and gave her a long, reassuring kiss. "You know, I appreciate the effort you are putting into this. I know it can't be easy for you. I see how hard you are working to make…us work."

Tiff relaxed into me, her head lying heavily into my chest. "It's not work, Andrew. Work is something one has to do, something one must push through. This is different. You are part of me now, and I am part of you. We are two pieces of a puzzle that shouldn't fit, and somehow, together we make each other better despite our flaws."

I looked into the sky to see three moons slowly coming into view. "This is amazing. I never could have imagined that I would see anything like this. I'm just a normal guy from Texas; by all rights, I shouldn't even be here."

"You are the farthest thing from normal, Andrew Dawes. You just seem to be the only one who hasn't realized it yet."

"Hey! If your guys are gonna do it, can you take a video and send it to me?" C.J. shouted as he walked out of the Safe room and headed in our direction.

"I'll ask Tiff if she is okay with it!" I shouted back as Tiff slapped my shoulder and turned toward C.J. with a glare.

"You wouldn't need a video if you would make a move on that Rerek girl already, coward." Tiff shot back.

"Naeve?" C.J. feigned surprise. "She is our prisoner…don't be crazy, Tiff. Why would…"

"Why would I say that?" Tiff her body to face C.J.. "Oh, I don't know C.J.? Let's discuss all the reasons why I think you have a thing for our Rerek prisoner, shall we?"

"You wanna get your girl, bro?" C.J. asked.

I put my hands up defensively. "You started this, you gotta deal with the consequences."

Tiff hopped off the boulder and walked up to C.J., staring up at him defiantly, and held up her index finger. "Reason one, you have spent approximately 60% of your free time with her in the last few months."

"I mean, that is oddly specific. I guess I have spent some time with her, but 70% seems," C.J. mumbled, grasping for a lifeline as Tiff cut him off.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Reason number two!" she held up a second finger as C.J. looked pleadingly in my direction. "She will only speak with you on matters related to the Council or her home planet."

"I have a trustworthy face," C.J. shrugged as I chuckled at his discomfort.

"And reason number three!" Tiff held up a third finger. "You haven't once made a joke about her. You joke about literally everyone else in the crew. You joke about Natasha. You created an eternal bond with Elvis because you both had to try to outdo each other's practical jokes, but you, sir."Tiff walked up and poked C.J. in the chest and looked up at him with squinted, suspicious eyes. "You haven't cracked one…" Tiff poked again, "Single," another poke, "Joke about Naeve."

C.J. looked at me as sweat began to bead from his forehead. "Alright! I admit it! Damn it, woman!" C.J. walked over and leaned his back against the boulder. "I like Naeve! There! Are you happy, you electric psycho?"

"Yes. Yes, I am." Tiff smiled triumphantly and winked at me before walking back toward the safe room.

"You brought it on yourself, bro." I flicked a foot in C.J.'s direction.

"How is she so small and still so scary? I mean, damn, how do you deal with it?" C.J. asked. "And was she wearing perfume?"

I laughed and hopped down from the boulder to stand in front of C.J.. "She isn't like that with me. Well, not anymore. When she was just my guardian, we had some tense moments, but things are different now."

C.J.'s eyes went wide, and he held a fist up to his mouth. "Oh shit!"

"What?!" I suddenly got nervous and looked back over my shoulder.

"You, my boy, are in love, aren't you?" C.J. clapped with excitement.

I looked longingly toward Tiff, making her way to the safe room. "That doesn't feel like it's enough to describe it, C.J.."

"Whadya mean? What is it then?" C.J. asked.

"I never felt connected to anyone before her. Well, not in the way I do with her. It's like I need to be great, I need to be something that she can be proud of, someone that she loves back." I put a hand on C.J.'s shoulder. "I feel like I am breaking and giving pieces of myself to her every day, and honestly, I wake up every day looking forward to the breaking."

C.J. gagged mockingly. "Ease up with the romantacy monologuing, Casanova. She is hot and happens to have superpowers. I don't need to know all the gushy details." He slapped me with a backhand on the stomach. "I'm happy for you, Andy. I'm happy you finally found someone to make you feel whole. I will never again say this, and I will deny it if you ever tell anyone, but I worry about you. You are the closest thing I have to a brother, ya know?"

"As far as I am concerned, you are my brother." I leaned against the boulder beside him. "I mean, you are the ugly brother, but hey, a brother nonetheless." I chuckled.

C.J. suddenly got serious. "I do have to ask one question, though, and I need you to be honest with me."

I tensed up at the sudden change of tone. "Yeah, man, you can ask me anything."

C.J. turned to stand in front of me and put both hands on my shoulders. "I need to know…"

"Know what, man?" I asked nervously.

C.J. leaned in, looking around before speaking quietly. "Does she do the duplication thing in the bedroom?"

I laughed violently, doubling over as my ribs began to hurt. "What the fuck, man? I thought you had something serious to ask!"

"Hey!" C.J. pointed a serious finger at me. "That is serious. I mean, the possibilities are endless!"

"I'm gonna keep some things to myself, as much as I love you, brother. Let's get back into the safe room. We need to discuss what we are doing tomorrow to move on to the next level."

We walked back into the safe room to see everyone in good spirits. Michael was currently sitting on the sofa in the common area with Kinthragor, trying to teach him to play Halo 3. Kinthragor was struggling with the controller, and his tongue was hanging out of his mouth as he concentrated on the game. Kaj was sitting with Loren and Tiff around a table in the dining area; they all looked at C.J. suspiciously as he walked in. The secret of his crush on Naeve was obviously the subject of their conversation.

"C'mon, Tiff! I told you that in confidence!" C.J. walked over and sat down at the table. "I will not be answering questions about Naeve. That is that."

Kaj placed a gentle hand on C.J.'s back. "C.J., it is not healthy to keep this desire locked inside. You need to let your feelings be known. Naeve is an honorable Rerek if there is such a thing. You bested her in combat, and she respects you for that. It is time to fertilize this budding romance! Time to take this passion that is damned up inside and let it go, release the passion, C.J. You need to release!"

C.J.'s face burned red with embarrassment as he pushed Kaj's hand away. "Why do you keep saying release? Damn it, Kaj, quit being weird!"

Matty walked over and slapped C.J. on the back, piling on. "Oh, according to Natasha, C.J. here has no problem releasing."

I sat on a stool and just watched my friends laugh and poke fun at C.J. This felt good. We were together, we were getting stronger, we were preparing, but there was no immediate threat, and we were all able to enjoy being alive and having each other.

Priority Message Incoming…

"Guys…" the words croaked from my throat.

Priority Message Incoming…The words flashed on my interface again.

"Guys! Something is happening." I stood up as the message began populating on my interface.

"What is it, Andrew?" Tiff rushed over to stand beside me.

"You good, Andy?" C.J. said nervously.

"I just got a message from…from Calista Dantaris."

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