ship… It’s quite possible that he’s four hundred and forty E-years old. Oh my stars.
Niall glances at me. “You have that look.”
“What look?”
“The pained one that says you’re trying to do math.”
“I can do math, you know. And I already figured you have to be older than three hundred and thirty.” When he doesn’t say anything, I add, “Why don’t you want to tell me? I’m a hundred and eighty-four and don’t look a day over a hundred.” My joke falls flat.
“It’s just…some people act…weird about it.” He fidgets with his sleeve.
I’m a little hurt—well, more than a little—to be classed with “some people,” but I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. “Don’t worry about it.” I point to a picture of a dark green Chinese male guardian lion. Its massive right paw rests on an orb. “Was this carved from jade?”
“I think so. One of the archeologists we met had two of them on her desk. They were only about eight centimeters tall, but my mom was fascinated. She painted both. I have the female guardian lion in my unit.” He stands behind me. “They represent yin and yang, male and female. I thought it’s appropriate for us to each have one.” A pause. “I think of us—the security officers—as guardian lions. Silly, I know.”
I turn around. “Not really. After all, you and your father were quite growly when I first met you, roaring out orders.” I tease.
“Which you didn’t listen to.”
“Of course not. I didn’t speak lion.”
“And now that you do?”
“Ara, shouldn’t you be resting before your shift?” Radcliff asks. He’s standing at the threshold of my room, the familiar crease of annoyance on his forehead.
I wonder if he panicked when Niall and I weren’t on the couch. “I will soon.”
He stabs Niall with a stare then walks away.
“Speaking of guardian lions…” I mutter.
Niall laughs. “I better get going.” But he pauses. “I’m sorry about…earlier. I know I haven’t told you much about my life before. It’s just all my good memories include my mom and it’s…still hard to talk about her.”
“That’s understandable. When you’re ready, I’ll be here to listen. In the meantime, you’ll just have to suffer through some of my stories.”
“Some?”
“I’m not going to tell you all of them.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause you’d arrest me.”
He stills. “It’s probably best I don’t know.”
“No probably about it.” I wink.
Ugh. Waking up at twenty-one-thirty hours after only sleeping for ninety minutes sucks. I change into my uniform, French braid my hair, and strap on my weapon belt.
Flashlight, check.
Pulse gun, check.
A bit of pride swells when I rest my hand on the weapon. I’m armed and dangerous…well, more like a mild threat, but some day, baby, watch out.
I make a cup of coffee. Normally, I don’t indulge, but I suspect it might be the difference between me being awake when Niall shows up at oh-two-hundred hours and me drooling on the counter.
The halls are empty and quiet, the light dimmed for night time. No one is in Radcliff’s office as I cross to the door into the monitor room.
When I enter, Officer Tora turns to me. “At least you’re early and not out causing more trouble.” Her disgusted tone suggests we’re not about to have a bonding moment.
A brief thought—too bad I can’t shoot her—flashes through my mind. I do the mature thing and keep my mouth shut.
The woman is about thirty A-years old and always smells like roses. Her bobbed brown hair bounces when she moves her head. After the first looter attack, Radcliff assigned two officers to monitor the camera feeds, but with the shadow-blobs and prisoners, there aren’t enough people so the shift is down to one person. Tora sits in the narrow walkway between Radcliff’s office and Beau’s office. “Just don’t stand there, come closer so I can show you what to do and be out of here on time for once.” She sweeps her hands out, indicating to the two long side walls filled with screens on either side of her. Views of empty hallways, labs, the canteen, the port, and about ten meters of the ground outside the base fill them.
“It’s easy. Watch the feeds. If you see anyone who doesn’t belong or anyone doing something illegal or harming another or rioting, then press this button. That will alert Officers Radcliff, Morgan, and the officer on call.” She glances at the mug in my hand. “If you need to use the washroom, there’s a small one in Radcliff’s office. Be quick and make sure you