Renee contemplated her feet as they sat perched on the edge of her coffee table. After the near-disaster on the mothership she had gone home, put on some relaxing music, changed into comfy clothes - including the fuzzy slippers that she now wore - though she'd die before admitting to owning anything like them and tried to relax... she had needed to think... and not about her acquiescence to Da'an's plea about taking in some of his core energy to try to help save the mothership.
No. What occupied her thoughts was one thing - Major Liam Kincaid.
"If the ANA leadership won't save them... then I will!"
Not exactly the words you would expect to hear coming out of the mouth of one half of the team that Hubble Urick had called the ANA's best operatives only hours before. What had he been thinking?!
Sometimes, it was easy to believe that he was not completely of this world. His mindset was different... not unique... but most definitely he was one of a select few. Not many people in the world did the right thing just because it was the right thing.
Especially when not doing anything at all would get them what they wanted more than anything else. Had it been the right choice? Maybe. Probably. Perhaps...
Would anybody else have had the strength of character to stand face to face with the leaders of the ANA and say it? No. Would anybody else have had the courage to do anything about it? No. Would she ever forgive him for scaring years off her life by willingly getting into a pod that had killed three of its test pilots? Eventually.
Would she ever tell Liam how proud she was of him for doing the right thing in spite of all attempts that were made to dissuade him, her own included? One day.
Absently tucking some hair behind her ear, Renee opened her global and placed a call to Liam. He was unavailable - still on the mothership with Da'an. For pity's sake, Da'an. Get him off that ship as soon as you can. He's earned the rest!
None of what she had been thinking showed in her face, or in her voice when she left her message.
"Liam. I guess Da'an and Zo'or still have you up there trying to find out what the hell went on up there today. I just wanted to ask you to breakfast, that's all. If you're free, meet me at Orwells at eight.
"And Liam... thanks for getting me off the ship when you did. Good night."
That done, Renee set about getting ready for bed. Her last thought before she went to sleep was something she'd keep to herself. She had to. He took too many risks as it was.
She was very proud of her best friend...