Boost was walking down the corridor after his shift when he heard a slight sound. Stopping he looked around trying to find where it came from. Another soft snuffle came from his right so he stepped forward towards the observation section.

The door opened and he looked around. At first glance there was no one inside, the lights were off so the only light came from the stars through the windows. This time a third snuffle came and he saw the slumped figure sitting in the back corner. The shine of red hair let him know that it was Tina.

Boost saw the defeated slump of her shoulders as he debated whether he should interrupt her. He crossed over and knelt next to her, "Tina?" She looked up then, whether it was at his voice or in acknowledgement of her name he wasn't sure.

The tear stained face gained a weak smile, "Boost."

Concern was evident in every fiber of his being, "What's wrong?"

"Everytime." She swallowed, "Every time I have tried to stop Krell he's always won. And people," a hard swallow, "good, innocent beings have died." The lost eyes, "How can I know that I'm not just helping you to a slaughter?"

"Tina," Boost wanted to comfort her but could only say the truth, "I don't have an answer to that." The very honesty made her look up at him, "But I do know that as a clone I was made to be expendable, replaceable, all of us were." Placing his hand by hers on the floor, "The General, then Feral are the only ones who let us know that we are not expendable, we are people."

The fact that her fingers moved over his surprised him into silence, "Because we are each alive, and each life deserves to be protected." Her smile grew a little stronger, "It's good to know they still believe that."

Boost nodded, "They are good people." Sensing a change in subject might help, "How long has the little bumblebee believed it?"

The laugh was watery, "He will never forgive me for calling him that in front of you." Turning to Boost, "Feral used to cry if anyone killed a bug back when he was less than a year old. He grew out of the torrential tears but I think he's always believed in the sanctity of life."

Looking out at the stars Tina seemed to be part of it. Boost observed how the soft starlight changed the lines on Tina's face, seeming to add a glow and letting the strain lines ease. "What's your first name?" He asked.

Her smile lit up again, "Ready for a mouthful? It's Tinalontianci." He blinked, "So you can see why I shortened it to Tina."

Boost nodded, "Yes I do." After a moment. "How did you get stuck with that?"

A sharp intake of breath warned him that this might not have been the best question. She placed her hands on her knees leaving his hand cold, "It's alright." Of course she could sense his uncertainty, a deep breath, "I wasn't supposed to live five days after I was born. So my parents named me after a flower native to our planet that can survive anywhere, from the ocean to the top of the mountains. The name literally means 'One who survives much' in the old language." A shrug, "I guess it worked and I held on."

She leaned completely back against the wall and he changed position to lean against it too. There was a contented silence on Tina's part. Boost was racking his brain to find something to say that would bring her comfort.

Tina took him by surprise again by leaning against his armoured shoulder. It was the first time he wished he didn't have to wear armour. "Thank you Boost."

"For what?" He asked with a slight stutter.

"For being here." With that they lapsed into silence. Neither of them had to break it.

Sitting in the observation bay with Tina leaning against him, Boost looked at the armour piled next to him. She had said it was uncomfortable and so he willingly took it off. They were talking over the day when she put a hand on his thigh. Slowly her hand moved up his leg until she was touching something that no one considered important. It wasn't used to fight. Soon as her fingers went up and down she spoke to explain away his startled emotion, "All we have is a moment," before sitting on his lap. She was kissing him.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

The wake up alarm for his pod was going off. Boost shook himself and shut it off. That Tina was a dream, she would never do that. Even if a part of him wished that she would.

"Boost to the bridge." Came Wolffe's clipped voice over the comm.

And that's an order Boost finished in his head. "Yes sir" he muttered and with the speed of a lifetime got into his armour before he hurried towards the bridge.

"Boost." Uh Oh. Will she sense my embarrassment? She was approaching him as he turned to her, "Any idea why we've been summoned?"

You can do this Boost! "No, I don't."

Sensing his discomfort she touched his arm, "Are you alright?"

No, you're driving me insane. "Perfectly operational." Before she could ask anything else, "But Wolffe has never been known for his patience."

She laughed. Why is that perfect too? "Then we should hurry, and make sure the evil glare doesn't come down on us." Falling into step, together they went to the bridge.