The flight to Brisbane was painfully quiet, except for Hudson asking if there was going to be dancing and who would be dancing with who. He just had to go up to me and Vasquez and touch our shoulders and ask if we'd be dancing with each other. It took a lot of strength for me not to punch him, and I think Vasquez felt the same way. Being on our best behavior is hard and easy at the same time.

I wasn't even sure I wanted to sit next to Vasquez on the flight. She didn't give me a reply when I said I was sorry, and I took that as a cue that I shouldn't talk to her at all over the course of the evening. I honestly felt bad about what I had done and said, and I wished I could take it all back.

I also hoped that no one around us could sense something was going on. I'd prefer that our issues remained between me and Vasquez only.

When we arrived in Brisbane, Apone made some of the guys the escorts of the ladies, and he paired Vasquez with Hicks, because, and I quote, he didn't want "funny business." Man, he'd be more pissed than a wet hen if he found out about the fling Vasquez and I had last night.

I didn't have a partner. That much I'll say. I was with the back with the other guys, marching into the banquet hall. I saw three other units inside, all standing in formation, waiting for us to enter so everyone could be ordered to fall out and sit down. The hall was dimly lit, with a few chandeliers hanging high above us. There were heavy curtains draped in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, all closed as the sun had began setting just a few minutes ago. A deep red-orange hue still penetrated through, casting long shadows around the hall. Every table already had nametags on plates and glasses of water. Everyone had to adopt a "get fancy" attitude, which, I felt, would be hard considering we're all battle-hardened grunts.

There was a table where the VIPs and squad commanders were assigned, and I saw a familiar face that stood out, mainly due to its stark paleness and ruby-red eyes. What the fuck is Delhoun doing here? I couldn't turn and face him, but I could see him from the corner of my eye. He was holding a glass of champagne, and smiling. I felt an icicle slide down my spine, like I knew he was watching me.

We were dismissed, and dispersed to our tables. I was sitting with Hicks, Vasquez, and three guys from other squadrons. I wasn't paying attention to anything anyone was saying; in fact, I was glancing at Vasquez, even though I knew she didn't want to talk to me.

One of the soldiers I didn't know was talking about desert warfare and giant centipede-like creatures he and his men faced not that long ago on LV-155. Part of my brain was going back to Annexers, and how there's no way they would let giant centipedes fuck around with them.

Occasionally, I looked over at Delhoun. He was chatting with some of the generals and what appeared to be other scientists. He was probably here on some important business, and not interested in talking to me. At least, that was my first thought. I knew he was probably planning on talking to me at some point during the night.

I was bored and hungry. Hicks was managing the conversation and Vasquez was talking about some of the missions we've been on. The other guys were glancing at me, wondering if I was mute or something. Finally, I got up and headed over to the table covered with appetizers. The feeling of being left out probably wouldn't have occurred if I didn't make Vasquez upset last night. She wasn't referring to me by name, just as "the other smartgunner." My heart sped up every time she said that, and I was certain it was some kind of revenge-making me feel like nothing.

Hey, at least there was one person not making me feel like nothing: good ol' Doctor Delhoun.

"What a pleasure to see you again, Drake," he said, softly, after approaching me.

"Pleasure seeing you, too," I muttered, placing a chicken wing on my plate.

He nodded. "I noticed your teammates aren't including you much in their conversations. That's not the purpose of this banquet, now, is it?"

"It's a long story."

Delhoun smiled a little, but his eyes conveyed sympathy. "Conflicts going on between you and them?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"I sense, ah . . ." He glanced over at Vasquez, "you're experiencing some rather heavy sexual tension with that young lady over there."

If I didn't know Delhoun, I would've slammed him into the table and strangled him, but I did know him, and I gave a sigh. "How'd you know?"

"If there's one thing we have in common with animals, it's sex. However, we have infused it with the idea of love, and it's created a very complicated side of psychology. I'm merely reading your body language. You're looking at her, you seem . . . upset with her. She seems upset with you."

"Well, you're not wrong."

Delhoun took a sip of his champagne. "Of course I'm not wrong. I watched something similar occur with an Annexer just last year."

"Look," I whispered, "I'd much rather discuss this with you in private. Can we do that?"

"We can do that," Delhoun replied. "Later, though. We'll slip outside when everyone is better distracted."

I clenched my fists, not wanting to wait. I took a deep breath, and let out a sigh. "Fine. I'll wait."

The conversations at the dinner table continued to be boring and Vasquez continued to ignore me, until one of the other soldiers sitting near me, a corporal named McKay, I think, leaned over to say, "I don't think we've been introduced to you, yet."

I glanced at him, and heard my inner voice say, "It's been this long and this dumbass just noticed you?" He may as well have punched me in the gut at this point. "Name's Drake," I said, forcing myself to not look irritated.

"Rifle or-"

"Smartgunner."

"Ah, you must be the other smartgunner Private Vasquez has been referring to."

For the first time that evening, I made direct eye contact with Vasquez. I was glaring at her, letting her know I was not happy with how she'd been treating me. "Yes, yes, I am. I'm actually very good at what I do, and, clearly, my talent shouldn't be overlooked."

And, for the first time that evening, Vasquez spoke to me. "Drake, I got a marksmanship medal. You did not."

I grinned. "I'm well aware of that."

Vasquez bit her lip, not wanting to announce our problems to a bunch of people we didn't know. I could only hope this would force her into talking to me. Maybe not now, but definitely later. I tried to soften my gaze, make myself seem like I genuinely wanted to talk and not fight.

McKay was flicking his gaze between us, and then looked at Hicks. "Is there low morale in your unit?" He didn't sound snotty or acted like this was something over major concern; in fact, he sounded like he wanted to help, and that was the last thing I wanted.

Hicks shook his head. "Nope, just these two have a bad habit of acting petty in public places."

McKay looked at me. "A pair of jokers?"

I snorted. "No."

My stomach couldn't seem to decide if it was nervous or hungry. There were times throughout the evening where I felt like I was starving and times where I just didn't want to eat. The only alcohol available was champagne, and I wished it were a little stronger. The meal courses were small, and I had to mind my manners, no matter how much I just wanted to shove an entire scallop in my mouth like nobody's business.

We didn't have to stay in one spot. Hicks and Vasquez occasionally got up to go talk to other people, as did McKay and his buddies. I didn't move. In fact, I wanted to cry, and I wasn't doing that in front of people.

I glanced over to the VIP table. Delhoun was talking to Apone, and I figured neither of them were interested in talking to me. I wondered if Delhoun brought Winnie along, but I also knew Delhoun was smart and probably didn't because Winnie can be a real pain in the ass when she wants to be.

When dessert was served, I realized I had done nothing but sit and mope this entire banquet. I had barely talked to anyone, and I was probably going to get my ass chewed because of my behavior. Wouldn't be the first time. Definitely wouldn't be the last. I can't tell anyone about what was bothering me-well, except Delhoun.

I had stuck my fork into the cake covered in hot fudge when someone tapped my shoulder. I looked up to see Delhoun, holding his coat and smiling faintly.

"Let's go take a walk," he said, quietly.

Grabbing my cap, I followed him out the main door. It wasn't completely dark out, but the moon was hovering just above the Pacific Ocean. All across Brisbane, skyscrapers were lighting up and the nightlife was beginning to emerge.

We kept walking until we came to a boardwalk, where Delhoun leaned against the railing, looking out at the water. We were completely alone, with the gentle buzz of the city behind us. "Alright, Drake, tell me what's going on."

I'll never be able to explain why I trust Delhoun. Maybe it's because he saved my life multiple times and did his best to be helpful, emotionally. I stood next to him, also looking at the water, and sighed. "Can you promise not to say anything to anyone?"

"If you're making it a promise, I'll guard it with my life."

"Thanks. Anyway . . . well . . . Vasquez and I . . . we've known each other since juvenile prison. Went to boot camp together, and . . . I guess we started having feelings for each other. I mean, we don't get all mushy and say 'I love you' all the time, but, we like each other. When I got back from the hospital station, we didn't get to talk right away, and our first chance to actually have a real conversation was last night. I think I was feeling a little deprived, so I asked if we could, you know, go into her room and have sex. We did, and then Vasquez asked where our relationship was going. I wasn't sure what she meant by that question. She then told me that we need a change in our lives, all because she had heard about what happened to me with the silver flowers, how I almost died."

"She started thinking about what would've happened if you never returned?"

"Exactly. I guess I made it sound like I didn't care, like what happened wasn't a big deal. I mean, what did she expect? A near-death experience would make me want to change everything? That I'm concerned about my mortality and that I want to spend my every waking hour with her?"

Delhoun thought for a moment. "Think about it from her side for a moment, Drake: what would happen if she went through the same thing? Wouldn't you be worried? Wouldn't you want to spend just a little extra time with her because of that worry?"

"I don't know. I don't want that to happen, but, I'd have to experience it in order to know." I rubbed my face. "I just didn't expect her to take it out on me all day. She kinda mockingly told me she overreacted, and is going to pretend she never met me. I offered an apology. She didn't take it."

"This is something you two should work out on your own, for sure." Delhoun shook his head. "There's nothing I, personally, can do, other than give you some advice."

"I know."

"But, and this is something I want you to think about, I do have something that would definitely bring about some change in your life. You don't need to make a decision right now, but I want you to listen."

"I'm listening."

"Over the last year, I have organized a facility, here in Brisbane, to help Annexers rescued from space smugglers. The facility is meant to care for them and make them ready for adoption, or, if they can't be adopted, return them to the wild. What I also do is assist people looking to adopt by teaching them and giving them a chance to see these animals firsthand because of how challenging they can be."

"You do this all by yourself?"

"Not entirely, no. I have some help. What I'm looking for is your help. You have experience with wild Annexers on LV-400, and you managed to bond with my Winnie. I think this would be a brilliant opportunity for you."

I sighed. The last thing I wanted was to quit the Marines, especially for something like this. However . . . "Will I get paid?"

"Handsomely. Very, very handsomely. Think about this. If you want, you can come to the facility for a week and see if you really like it or not."

I was willing to test whether or not I liked Delhoun's idea, but my biggest fear was that I would like it. So much so that I wanted to quit the Marines. What would I tell the others? I'm quitting to go work with pets? The thought made me feel sick. I would leave in complete disgrace. That was not how I wanted to go.

Still, Delhoun was a friend. I don't have a lot of friends, therefore I think it'd be decent of me to at least try this for him to make him happy.