I tried to buy a few seconds with some stammered "um's" and "uh's," and then by starting into how the mission would be run. She was never one for small talk, and instead cut me off with the obvious; her way of asking me what it was I really wanted. The funny thing was, I think somewhere in her she already knew. I forced a slight smile—a sheepish, 'oh yeah' sort of smile. She waited, and I looked down. She was nearly behind schedule; most of the other pilots were already down with their raptor teams in the hanger. She shifted, helmet under one arm, and then she couldn't wait any longer. I knew exactly why I'd wanted to see her, exactly why I'd called her to my quarters—I knew exactly what I wanted to say.
"I hope you find him, Kara."
And that wasn't it at all.