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   "Oh, right," Tristan said. "Makes sense. Anyway, it's nice that you were able to come here."

   "I suppose so."

   "It's nice to talk to another Human," Tristan continued. "Don't get me wrong, the Pellissians are great to work with, but it's nice to have a conversation with someone familiar. My sister lives here on the station, too, we keep each other company, but it's not the same, you know?"

   Gabriel met his eyes, he had a point, "I guess that's true," he said. "Have you been on this station for a long time?"

   "Practically since day one. They put me to work in the engineering wing. Carmen—that's my sister—she works in weapons development. It's great, we both love it here, I just wish I could see a bit more of what's happening out there."

   "Trust me, you don't," Gabriel said. "I've seen enough of what's going on out there. A little peace and quiet is nice."

   "Yeah, it's definitely safe and quiet here," Tristan said. "Safest place in the whole network. Carmen's been doing shooting simulations to stay sharp, I think she's looking forward to some action."

   "Well," Gabriel said. "Your team's working pretty hard to get the cannon ready. You might see some action sooner than you think."

   "That'd be great," Tristan said with a grin. "Hell, all of our teams have been working really hard. I don't know about you, but I've been dying for a chance to unwind."

   "Yeah, that would be nice," Gabriel said, popping another spoonful into his mouth.

   "So I was wondering," Tristan said, idly stabbing at his bowl with the spoon. "If you'd like to check out our Specialty shop and maybe get a movie and some candy for tonight?"

   Gabriel carefully chewed and swallowed before answering. "Tristan, I wouldn't mind watching a movie, but if you're planning on a date, I'm afraid I don't—"

   "You're not interested," Tristan quickly finished, blushing brightly. "Damn, sorry mate. I thought for sure—"

   "No no, it's not that," Gabriel said. Damn, Tristan
was
a very good-looking man, and under different circumstances, he would have felt flattered as hell to be picked up by someone like him. "I do like men, it's just…"

   "You already have a partner?"

   "Yes…well, no, not exactly. Let's just say I'm not looking."

   "I understand," Tristan said with a nervous laugh. "No hard feelings? I figured I had to take a chance. So few Humans come around here, you

know?"

"Hey, it's fine. Don't worry about it."

   They shared a quick, uneasy smile and ate in silence for a few minutes until the awkwardness finally dissipated. After a while, Tristan asked, "I hope I'm not intruding, but
do
you have a boyfriend or not? You didn't sound too sure."

   "No, I guess I don't," Gabriel said. He picked at the protein mush and finally dropped the spoon. "At least, I don't think so. Things got a little too…complicated for us."

   "I hate that word," Tristan said. "What's complicated? Everything is complicated."

   Gabriel couldn't help but chuckle. "You know, I have a friend back on Section 27 who'd get along well with you."

   Tristan smiled. He fidgeted with his spoon a bit before setting it down on the table. "What exactly happened with your guy? Broke up after a transfer?"

   "It's a long story," Gabriel said. "Let's just say it wasn't the right time to be together."

   "You sound like you miss him."

   Gabriel stared down at his meal, his appetite completely lacking.

   
I do miss him. I miss eating the protein crap in the
workshop with him, I miss listening to his laugh, I miss
learning his language, I miss the way he felt in my
arms…

   "I guess I do, a bit."

   "Well, I'm not really good at relationships,

obviously," Tristan said with a rueful smile. "But it seems to me that if you love him and he loves you, then that should be the end of the story."

   "Yeah," Gabriel said. "Doesn't always work that way."

   "Seems that's all I'd need," Tristan shrugged. "Anyway, I'm sorry if I brought up some bad memories there."

   "It's fine. Really, don't worry about it."

   "Listen, we've got time to kill before the installation this afternoon. If you're still up for that movie later, maybe we could go to the Specialty shop and find something? We've got some killer movies here."

   "Sure," Gabriel said. He suddenly felt drained and weary, and he sure could use the distraction.

   "Great," Tristan said. Once again, he smiled broadly as he rose to his feet and stacked their bowls. "Let's go check it out. How do you feel about Wreeth comedies?"

   The first ship—one of their own, crudely mounted with the enemy weapon—stopped dead as the M-Alpha was fully disabled.

   Assorted cheers and cries of victories went up among the gathered crews. Their final test had been a complete and utter success.

   Ma'ma'li made a wavering sound of delight, merrily slapping Gabriel on the back with all three of his hands. "Wondrous! Absolutely wondrous!"

   Gabriel winced and tried to suck the breath back into his lungs. "Thank you," he said.

   "Such speedy progress!" Ma'ma'li happily bellowed. The Pellissian accent still sounded odd to Gabriel's ears. "We have achieved success with our counter-weapon. We may prepare for the next step!"

   Across the small crowd, Gabriel locked eyes with Tristan and tried to return his wide, ecstatic grin. The two of them had developed something of a friendship, though Gabriel had found it was less of a distraction and more of a reminder of what he'd left behind on Section 27. Two months he'd been here, Gabriel thought. Twice as long as he'd spent on Section 27. And yet the memories of his time spent there were as vivid as if he'd just left.

   No time to dwell on that now. This was a huge victory, and damn if Gabriel wasn't to enjoy it, even if he
had to
force himself.

   Beside him, Ma'ma'li had just finished shaking his many hands with the assistant chief engineer, a fellow Pellissian.

   "Everyone did an amazing job," Gabriel said. "This last test proves that we're ready to start mass-producing the counter-weapon."

   "Much agreement," Ma'ma'li said. "I propose we hold a meeting in one hour. I will make announcements on our next official functions. Firstly I will send messages to your old station to personally offer gratitude to your colleagues."

   Gabriel nodded mutedly. He wondered what Jhuun had been up to these last few weeks, alone in their old workshop.

   "A question," Ma'ma'li was saying in a low voice, laying his middle arm around Gabriel's shoulders. "Xhani, your former chief engineer, is she still glorious as in my memories?"

   "She's, um…she looked well when I last saw her."

   "Wondrous," the alien drawled, his spindly arachnid fingers wiggling lustfully. Gabriel balked at the thought of anyone having romantic intentions toward the austere Eunnoian. "I will extend your greetings to your colleagues on your behalf?"

   "Please, no," Gabriel said. "I'm sure they've forgotten all about me by now. Just a progress report would be fine."

   Ma'ma'li did not seem to notice the tremor in Gabriel's voice. He nodded sagely, staring out at the working engineering crew, no doubt still consumed by thoughts of Xhani.

   Around them, the engineering and weapons crews began to dissipate. Tristan passed by to announce they were going to the lounge to celebrate, though Gabriel gently turned him down. As much as he felt elated at their success, he just couldn't muster up the energy to feel festive.

   True to his word, Ma'ma'li held a meeting an hour after the successful test. After informing everyone that he had ordered ten counterweapons to be developed immediately, he ceded the floor to the assistant chief engineer, a young female Pellissian.

   "We've been aware for some time now that the Maedrom may be able to tap into our communications systems," she said. Her accent was not as strong as Ma'ma'li's. "As you have heard, Section 26 was attacked and destroyed a few months ago, and we believe this was a result of the Maedrom's belief that the M-Alpha was housed there."

   She waved her middle hand vaguely in Gabriel's direction as she mentioned Section 26. He acknowledged her somberly with a quick nod.

   "As a result, we have determined that Section

27 and its immediate neighbors are in the greatest danger. It has been decided that Sections 25, 27 and 28 will be fitted with the new counter-weapon

as soon as enough are built."

   Heads nodded around the table at the sensible plan. Ma'ma'li then took the floor again, dividing the crews up and assigning them to various stations. Tristan was to oversee the installation on Section 25, a middle-aged female engineer was assigned to Section 28 and Gabriel was assigned to Section 27.

   Of course. No doubt Ma'ma'li thought it was a kind gesture, returning Gabriel to his former abode. Gabriel couldn't think of a polite way to squirm out of the assignment.

   He spent the rest of the meeting in silence.

   Six days passed by quickly as the counterweapons were built and soon it was time to leave Section 54.

   The
Daedalus
, the shuttle that picked Gabriel up from Section 54 was a tiny version of their warships, now equipped with the refined version of the counter-weapon. It was the first time Gabriel had ever stepped on a ship so clearly meant for battle; unlike the transport ship that had brought him here, it was clearly designed for speed and power, not comfort. There were no quarters, no beds, and the interior was covered with control panels meant to operate weaponry, giving the ship an urgent, cramped feel.

   Gabriel was walked to the ship by Ma'ma'li, who implored him to transmit his best regards to Xhani. He then boarded the ship, sat in a hard, uncomfortable seat, tucked his satchel underneath his legs, and sighed as he looked out the viewport, watching Section 54 grow small in the distance.

   He'd spent just over two long, busy months there, and yet couldn't muster so much as a hint of regret at leaving the place.

   The
Daedalus
was nearly empty. There were only three other crewmembers, two of which were Human—the pilot, a sullen-faced man named Lucas, and Carmen, Tristan's sister and their weapons expert. She and Gabriel had spoken here and there back on the station but to his relief, she left him alone now, instead spending her time conversing and laughing with the third crewmember, a tall Nr'ln male named F'ter, from the engineering team. No Pellissians accompanied them, only Humans and Nr'ln would be able to work on Section 27.

   Gabriel spent most of the two-week journey dozing, pacing up and down the narrow hall of the ship to stretch his legs and gazing out the viewport at the numerous stations, satellites and defense turrets as they navigated through the allies' network.

   Gabriel found himself growing restless toward the end of the journey. They were only hours away from Section 27 now. What would he find there, he wondered? Surely Jhuun had completely written him off by now. He could expect civility, yes, but probably nothing more. And he could hardly blame Jhuun. Oh God, and what if he had already found a new partner? Miserably, Gabriel slunk down into his seat, struck for a moment by the memory of Jhuun's skin under his fingers, the taste of his mouth, sorely jealous at the thought of anyone else feeling what he had felt.

   He was so lost within his own thoughts that he nearly jumped out of his seat as the disturbingly familiar alarm klaxon began to blare.

   Carmen and F'ter, previously occupied with something in the back of the ship, came running up toward the cockpit. Gabriel scrambled out of his seat to follow.