“Weston here.”

“Captain,” Dr. Rame said over the unit, “you wished to be informed when our patient awoke?”

“Yes, Doctor, is she well?”

“She’s well enough to request food,” Rame replied, “though I don’t believe that she quite understands the menu.”

Weston frowned, drawing curious looks from the fighter jocks. “Why’s that?”

“Because, frankly, I don’t believe that any sentient being would ever order ice cream with oil-packed tuna on purpose.” Rame shuddered.

Weston started chuckling, low at first, but rising until he was genuinely laughing at the comment. Around the table, everyone looked at him with puzzlement, but he didn’t bother to enlighten them. Stephanos in particular looked like he was just itching to ask what was so funny.

Tough. Weston got up to leave. “I’m afraid I have to go. I’ll see you all later.”

To a man, their faces dropped as they realized that their former CAG had zero intention of sharing, and Weston took exquisite pleasure in the look of disappointment on Stephanos’s face.

“Doctor, contact Palin and have him meet me in the med-lab,” Weston ordered over the induction unit, smirking as he again glanced at his old squad and their disappointed expressions.

Some days it was good to be the captain.

Weston walked into the med-lab as Rame and Palin were snapping at each other, trying to decide which protocols they would follow while talking with the survivor.

“Dr. Rame,” Weston interrupted, silencing the doctors, “in your opinion, what was her reaction to the hazard suits?” It’s amazing how two well-educated and grown men are capable of this sort of childishness.

“It was strange. At first, she was tense, but after she got a good look at us, she relaxed and remained remarkably calm, considering the situation she’s found herself in.”

Weston snorted with no small amount of satisfaction. “Good, I think we can dispense with the suits, then, assuming she isn’t a medical danger.”

Dr. Rame looked at him strangely. “Well, she has a whole cornucopia of new antibodies, but with the blood samples I’ve taken, we can develop cures and vaccines for anything she might pass on. What made you change your mind about the hazard suits?”

“I wanted to see her reaction. If her attackers had been human, or even humanoid, she would have been a lot more concerned about the suits. I’d say we’re looking at an even more interesting story than we thought.”

Dr. Rame looked thoughtful for a moment, considering that.

“You realize, Captain, that isn’t the only possible interpretation of her reactions,” Palin stated flatly.

“Of course I do, Doctor, but it’s the best I have to go on right now.”

Weston broke from the discussion and walked over to the transparency. “All right, Dr. Palin, let’s go in.”

Milla was lying back listening to a musical composition the computer had told her was called “Ride of the Valkyries.” Despite the strict limits the computer had placed on her entertainment selections, she had managed to find several pieces that she enjoyed.