About a week later.
The night's cool breeze came through the open window, a gentle caress on warm skin.
After Brad's needed stint at the hospital, Naomi had both tearfully and chidingly accepted him back into her Team and life. She'd tried to make as much light of the situation as she could, giving Brad the extra time to do or process things when he clearly needed it. To be fair, they both had a lot to process.
She was patient, kind, and listened carefully as Brad told her what had gone on.
Some of it.
He left out some parts. Like the ones where he'd slaughtered a dozen or so people and Zoids. One by one, piece by piece.
She didn't need to know that. To be honest, he didn't, either. She knew what had happened with CPG, but that was different. That was a matter-of-fact, simple situational necessity. Different.
They lay together, naked in the woman's bed. Naomi breathed softly, sound asleep.
Brad was not asleep. He was staring at the ceiling.
He'd never breathe a word of it, but he felt deeply troubled: in contrast to what else he'd experienced recently, sex seemed a little lacking. This was a considerable problem.
Brad got up, put on enough clothing to be decent, and stepped out onto the apartment's cold patio. He lit a cigarette and stood in the dark, quietly contemplating the distant city lights over a smoke.
Movement in his periphery caught his attention, and he glanced.
Moonlight outlined the distinct shape of an Organoid. A stranger's bright green optics regarded him from the dark.
END