London – Caitlyn's apartment. Night before the audition.
Laura sat upright on the edge of the couch, legs crossed like a mannequin on standby. Her glowing orange eyes stared at Caitlyn, who was half-dressed in a towel, sipping something neon green from a martini glass.
"Let me get this straight," Laura said. "You want me to pretend to be a model for a perfume brand in order to get close to Jin Tu Moon, so you can, what, scar his face with acid?"
Caitlyn raised a finger, still chewing on an olive. "Not just any scar, sweetcheeks. A fashionable one. He'll look like a Bond villain. Maybe it'll even boost sales."
"This plan sounds impulsive. Hazardous. Logistically flawed," Laura deadpanned.
Caitlyn waltzed over, hips swaying. "Relax, Robo-babe. I've already secured the audition. You show up, smile, flaunt your high-tech ass, get cast. Then you and Jin are in the same ad, same room. I'll be your 'agent,' whisper some sweet poison in his ear, and boom — mission success."
Laura blinked. "You sound too confident."
"I'm hot, connected, and slightly unhinged," Caitlyn grinned. "Confidence is the least of my sins."
Laura paused. "What if I malfunction on camera?"
Caitlyn tossed her a compact mirror. "Then do it glamorously."
Space – ALKEN ship, in orbit en route to Pluto. 13 days until touchdown.
Lasso stepped into Londo's office like he owned the place. Which he very much did not.
"You wanted to see me, Colonel?" Lasso smirked, already leaning against the chair instead of sitting in it.
Londo looked up, unimpressed. "Time we get to know you better, Lasso. This is an evaluation interview."
"Ohhh," Lasso grinned, sliding into the seat. "An intimate chat. Colonel, you flatter me. I'm curious to know you too."
"You don't get to know me," Londo shot back. "This isn't a date. It's an interview. Clear?"
Lasso raised his hands. "Crystal. Shoot."
Londo didn't blink. "Age?"
"Thirty-two."
"Place of birth?"
"Canada," Lasso replied. "Cold, syrupy, polite. All that jazz."
"You live in Britain now?"
"London, baby. Few years already. Can't beat the pubs, am I right?"
Londo's expression remained stiff. "You were in captivity for two years under the terrorist group Lapitzu. That's in your psychological profile. You were rescued three years ago. Is that something you're comfortable discussing?"
Lasso's smirk vanished.
"Who sent you that report?" he asked coldly.
"Leonardo," Londo replied. "He's the one who pulled you out back when he was still part of the Canadian reserves. He's a joke now, but once, I respected him. I don't have a choice, Lasso. As a combat unit, we need these details. Understand?"
Lasso stood. "Colonel, with all due respect, I'd prefer we don't talk about that. Ask me anything else. Or I'll walk."
"Sit down," Londo said flatly. "Relax. I'm not attacking you. These are administrative questions regarding your mental state. I see you're stable, but when this topic comes up, you change. That's fine. You're not the only one here who's suffered."
Lasso slowly sat. "There are others who were… captured?"
"I can't tell you that," Londo replied. "But trust me. There are team members with trauma even worse than yours."
"I want to speak with Leonardo."
"No," Londo replied instantly. "That's a bypass of authority. He's a government agent. Everything goes through me."
"You're not God, Colonel," Lasso snapped. "Tell him I want to talk."
"You want to talk, fine. Tell me what you want to say and I'll deliver it."
Lasso stood sharply. "You know what? I'll get his number myself. Thanks for nothing."
He turned and slammed the door behind him.
London – Caitlyn's apartment, same moment.
Caitlyn's phone buzzed. Laura stood silently near the mirror, adjusting her cybernetic iris settings.
"Who is it?" Laura asked.
Caitlyn looked at the screen. "Ugh. Leonardo."
She answered with a fake cheerful tone. "Oh hey, babe. What's up?"
Leonardo's voice was tight. "Come to my office. Now."
"Can't. Beauty sleep and mission prep. Talk tomorrow. Ciao!"
She hung up before he finished cursing.
Laura raised an eyebrow. "That sounded hostile."
"He'll live," Caitlyn said. "Barely."
Back on the ALKEN ship. 13 days to Pluto.
Taze was doing push-ups on the floor of his room, sweat glistening on his back. In the next cabin, Steven sat cross-legged, eating popcorn and staring blankly at the wall like it owed him money.
Lana flipped through files in her office, pen tapping against the desk. The door opened.
"Hey, Lana," Lasso said with a crooked grin. "Can I ask you something?"
She looked up sharply. "What now, Lasso? Didn't get enough of me in the showers earlier?"
"Exactly why I'm here," he said, stepping in slowly. "I wanted to say sorry. I should've locked the door. I saw you. And yeah, I enjoyed the view, but I didn't mean to disrespect you."
Lana looked down. Her cheeks flushed, just slightly.
"Oh shut up…"
Lasso sat. "So… how about we grab a drink in the lounge later? Just the two of us, strictly hydrated."
She sighed. "Lasso, I know you're bored out of your skull, but I'm busy. So get out."
He stood, grinning. "Think about it, alright? I'll be at the lounge."
He winked and left.
Lana stared at the door. "What's wrong with me? Why do I get soft around that idiot?"
Command Room.
Anna sat in silence, staring at the monitors. Kiara burst in with a fruity-looking cocktail.
"Annushka! Brought you something cold. You look like a woman who hasn't been satisfied lately. Want me to strip?"
Anna didn't respond. Her eyes welled up.
Kiara's smirk faded. She set the drink down and rushed over. "Anna? Babe? What happened?"
"It's Steven," Anna whispered. "He's changed. Only Taze and I notice. He hit me. He knocked out Taze. That's not normal. That's… not okay."
Kiara kissed her on the cheek. "You need to stop wasting brain space on him. Steven's hot, but he's a piece of trash. You're a Russian goddess, not some background character in his villain arc."
Anna sobbed once. Kiara pulled her in.
"Big bear hug. Wrap those arms around me, girl."
Anna didn't resist. They embraced, tight and warm.
Kiara stared into her eyes. "I joke a lot, but I know when shit's serious. I'm here. No matter what."
Anna sniffled. "I love you, Kiara. Thank you."
Kiara kissed her cheek. Then again. And again. Five times.
"Okay, stop," Anna laughed softly. "That's a lot of love. Are you turning me lesbian?"
"Maybe," Kiara teased. "Is that a problem?"
"No," Anna said, then sighed. "But I think I've turned anti-Steven."
Kiara tilted her head. "Girl, you're not anti-Steven. You're in love with him. Admit it."
"I'm not."
"You totally are. You argue with him like you're married."
Anna rolled her eyes. "Please don't say that."
"You want me to go confront him?" Kiara asked. "Show him what a sexy bitch looks like when she's mad?"
"No," Anna replied. "Let him rot."
Kiara sipped the cocktail. "Your loss."
She strutted toward the door.
"Wait!" Anna called. "That was mine!"
Kiara blew a kiss. "Missed your shot, baby girl. Sayonara!"
Anna muttered, "Damn maniac…"
Five hours later.
The ship cruised silently toward Pluto. The stars barely twinkled through the shielded glass.
Kimberly, exhausted, asked Londo if he could take over piloting. He nodded without a word.
Now free, she stood in the corridor, breathing in.
To her right: Taze's door.
To her left: Steven's.
She hesitated. Her heart pounded. Hands trembling.
"I don't know what I'm doing…"
She stepped left.
Knocked.
The door creaked open.
Steven stood inside. Completely naked. Back to her.
Kimberly yelped and slammed the door.
Steven turned. "Who is it?"
She squeaked, "It's me… Kimberly. May I come in?"
He opened the door, this time with a towel, fake smile pasted on. "Of course. Come in."
In the other room, Taze heard the door close.
His face dropped.
He clenched his fists.
"She picked him… Steven… You're not my friend anymore."
To be continued...