Eyes part 1. chapter 15

God, why was she so fast? They barely know each other, and he tries not to look at her at all, concentrating on his food. She's looking at him, of course. With interest. He understands this and does not hinder her. The driver... is sitting with his back to the cabin, so... you can't underestimate him, of course, he can feel a lot.

"Lieutenant, may I..." Ashley puts the package aside, wipes her fingers and palms with a napkin.

"Williams, you and I are not on the parade ground. So let's do it for now... without ranks." Alenko leans back in his chair and looks at Williams. I assume you may also be transferred to a new location soon to complete a new task."

"And so it will be." Ashley didn't know how to address Kayden at that moment. Yes, she understood the wording "without ranks," but just like that, she immediately addressed him, the lieutenant, by name.... Maybe she's worried unnecessarily?

"Kayden... Excuse me... This fight..." Williams said timidly, overcoming her reluctance to switch to communication "without ranks" very quickly.

"We were preparing for it," said Alenko. "Long before our ship appeared in this star system. We were preparing. And that's why... we were able to resolve the situation in our favor. Or... at least start solving it. So far, it is clear to me that the situation has not yet been fully resolved. The Reaper... is only immobilized, it is not destroyed, it is not subdued by us. So... things can still change very quickly", Alenko hesitated, "one way or the other. And the fight... We really used some of the capabilities of the planetary infrastructure. I understand that there will be a lot of restoration work."

"That means..." Williams continued timidly.

"This means that, most likely, the frigate will not leave the planet in the next day or two, Ashley", Kayden said, vaguely realizing that he was the first to give the interlocutor the opportunity to reduce the distance in communication very seriously and significantly.

Hearing her name from the guest's mouth, Ashley experienced difficult feelings, and at that moment she was afraid to think logically about feelings at all. It was too good to hear her name coming out of Kayden's mouth. He was the first to take a big step towards her, calling her by her first name, not by her rank, not by her position. Although... he could, of course. Could. But he called me... by my first name.

Chakwas saw on her indicators how Kayden's health status was changing and understood that the lieutenant... had fallen in love. He was certainly happy to realize that such acute and profound emotions would not have to be "paid for" by hours of terrible headaches, although at those moments he hardly thought about such things in any particular way. He was happy and enjoyed it to the fullest.

"I'm glad, Kayden, that... the frigate will stay on the planet for a few more days", Williams said softly, looking straight into the face of the young man sitting across from her. "You won't mind if we walk around. Half an hour... we have."

"I will not." Kayden stood up, led the way down the ramp to the ground, and offered Ashley his hand. The shuttle driver, who turned to them, saw how the Marine sergeant hesitated, leaned on the lieutenant's outstretched hand and, descending, as the hostess of the camp, led the guest to its border. Soon, Ashley and Kayden were walking slowly along the path.

They talked for several tens of minutes. They talked alternately, without going into long drawn-out monologues. Ashley liked the way Kayden listened to her, how unhurried and calm he was. It seemed to her that he was even somewhat relaxed. Maybe because they had already moved far enough away from the camp with its artificial order and were now in the midst of a forest almost untouched by civilization, or maybe for some other reason.

Williams really wanted to believe that Kayden would be with her for a long time. For a very long time. The premonition of war did not leave Ashley, it became familiar to her, won the right to permanent placement somewhere in the corner of her mind.

If there is such a war ahead, then these peaceful, calm moments... will be very precious when you only have to remember them, reliving them over and over again. Then, when there will be a war around. A terrible war. With huge losses, destruction, losses. Almost continuous and heavy fighting. Digressions... Yes, yes, retreats, because the enemy, who has ships like this Reaper on his side, is unlikely to immediately begin to retreat under pressure from the forces of the Alliance of Systems, for example.

There will be no endless retreats, but we will have to retreat... especially in the first hours and days. The enemy will have to show his strength and might in order to convince the inhabitants of the galaxy at least of the seriousness of his intentions, and only then of his ability and willingness to impose his will on them, intelligent organics.

Ashley didn't feel ready to talk about occupation or captivity. Even internally. And that made her very nervous. The distraught people-both civilians and military personnel-made a difficult, heavy impression on her, the sergeant of the Space Infantry. If the enemy can just influence the psyche of intelligent organics like that... There will be no captivity. It will be either life or... death. Complete and final. Death is not of the body, but of consciousness, because a madman is already another, completely different person, despite the fact that outwardly he is often indistinguishable from a mentally normal person.

Kayden... tell me... about yourself," Ashley asked, trying to detach herself from thinking about the unenviable fate of indoctrinated intelligent organics.

"Good." Alenko went even slower. His story was unhurried. Williams understood that there was a lot Kayden wasn't saying, and yet there was a lot he wasn't hiding. "Now I am the deputy commander of the landing group. For amphibious assault work," the biotic officer finished his story. "Ashley, tell me about yourself."

"Well." Williams did not stop, although at that moment she really wanted not only to stop, but also to look around.

She also left out a lot of things in her story, not really hoping that Kayden wouldn't catch it, but she tried to reveal many points with sufficient completeness. "We were sent to Eden Prime to ensure the safety of the archaeologists, whose task was to extract some valuable Prothean artifact from the bowels of the planet. Official excavations, but requiring military protection. This is common for space marines, although such tasks are quite rare in our practice. It's also good that both the archaeologists and we were located close enough to each other, and we didn't start distancing ourselves. Geographically, we were close, but otherwise we tried to keep a sufficient distance. They work, we guard. And we don't interfere in anything else. Unless, of course, we are asked for something specific and the request does not contain anything... unacceptable. And the relations with the locals... well, the archaeologists are mostly from Eden Prime, we're here on a business trip," Ashley smiled faintly. "I had to let the locals do a lot of things. And avoid excessive bureaucratization of relations with both local authorities and local residents. So the errors have accumulated. It's also a good thing that the weapons found at the locals and in the makeshift warehouse... did not start firing at reasonable targets."

"Yeah... good," Kayden nodded, stopping. "I'm sorry..." he put his hand to his ear, activating the speaker at the same time. "Lieutenant Alenko," he listened to what his interlocutor was saying. "That's right. I'm listening. I'll be at the playground on time." Lowering his hand, he looked at his companion, sincere regret could be read in his gaze. "The order is to return to the frigate. For now, go to the playground. There's work to do," he looked at the incoming shuttle. "Our people are already on board, this is for me. I'm sorry," he gently took Ashley's hand. "I hope to see you again. I really hope so," He spoke softly but clearly, turning and taking the first steps towards the landing ship, reluctantly releasing his companion's hand. "I really hope so."

Williams watched Kayden go until the cabin door closed behind him and the boat lifted up and turned its stern to the Marine sergeant, lifting its nose and picking up speed. After following the shuttle's flight with her eyes, Williams stepped onto the path and, trying not to run, returned to the Marine camp. There were things waiting for her that could no longer be postponed. Some part of her mind was now firmly occupied with thoughts of Kayden. She... definitely liked him very, very much. She liked him much more than many other young people with whom she was brought together by her service or her stay in inhabited worlds.

By now, she was almost certain that she had fallen in love with Kayden Alenko, a biotic lieutenant. And she felt, understood, realized that he loved her... mutual love, mutual affection... are rare. So she, the younger Williams, is very lucky. There are new meetings with Kayden ahead. There are new conversations ahead. She will definitely find out more about Alenko, his colleagues, and the frigate. He will learn and try to understand a lot.