Ian and Toni were an excellent audience—they oohed and aahed with hearts in their eyes. As AJ watched them nod and smile, she began to understand what the two of them had in common, and she did not like it. One or both of them had probably heard this all before—they simply did not care. They’d laugh at anything,sayanything for a kernel of Em’s approval.
Oh, God.Was this how AJ seemed to Noah?
As Em began his rhapsody onGhostbusters,she refilled her wineglass.
The more Em spoke, the more Ian and Toni fawned, and the more AJ drank. By the time the meal finally ended, AJ was tipsy enough that Em himself offered to walk her back.
“I’m really fine,” said AJ as Ian escorted Toni inside, presumably to his room.
“I don’t mind,” said Em, tucking her arm in his. “I wanted to ask you a few things.”
He had several thoughts about Ana’s arc, which he belabored as they took the stone path from the palazzo to the guest terrace. From the top of the stairs, AJ could see the firepit blazing below.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said. “And for…everything else.”
“Let me get you down these stairs,” said Em.
AJ took one stair to demonstrate her stability. “That’s okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She made it two more steps before he called to her.
“AJ.” She turned, and he gave her a look she couldn’t decipher. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
AJ waved once awkwardly, then descended into the courtyard. Dave and Xiaobo motioned her over. AJ felt a stab of disappointment to see Noah’s light on in his room.
“How’d that go?” asked Xiaobo.
“Did you and Toni kiss and make up?” asked Dave.
AJ laughed, wiping a hand over her face. “No.”
Dave and Xiaobo exchanged pouts.
“I don’t get it,” said Dave. “This wasn’t, like, a surprise. We all saw you and Noah at UCB.”
Xiaobo shook his head. “She’ll get over it.”
AJ doubted it, but she was glad of Dave and Xiaobo’s support, just the same. She chatted with them for five more minutes, then withdrew to her room. By the time she had bathed, Noah’s window had gone dark. Almost like he’d been waiting up for her.
As AJ lay awake in bed, his eyes seared in and out of her thoughts. Alone here in the quiet, she could finally admit that all of her selves, past and present, weak and strong, right and wrong, had aligned on this one point: she would have been willing to live out her entire existence in that fleeting moment between his thighs.
Todd’s Coverage, Episode 12:“Horses”
Rho brings an unconscious Ana to the healers on the Naval Capitol planet, sacrificing himself—and his quest for Alara—so that Ana and the crew can escape. When Ana awakens on Gilamede to find that Rho has been captured by the Navy, she learns his true identity and is forced to choose between the world she knows and her own truth.
“Turn around,” said Ana.
The lights in the cargo bay flashed once—a warning from Gilamede.
“Ana, stand down,” said the captain.
Ana spoke through gritted teeth. “I will not leave Rho.”
Then she knelt, placing both hands on the the floor of the cargo bay and closing her eyes. The set lights flickered then stilled as Gilamede finally obeyed.
Ana Tar rose and gave the stunned crew one last look. Then she ran off the crale after Rho.
AJ arrived alone in the dim light of the soundstage, breathing hard.
She could hear the cast shuffling toward her. Then the door to the control room opened and Ian and Em appeared, closely followed by Noah. His eyes shone fierce with pride.
