Page 240 of Commander’s Mate

Nora made both of us repeat the exercise.

By the fourth run, I could identify the correct evacuation route without freezing.

By the sixth, I could send a casualty report that included location, number, mobility, and threat condition.

Scarlet saluted me.

“Congratulations. You are now qualified to tell soldiers where injured people are.”

“Dream career.”

“You laugh, but most civilians just scream ‘help’ into a radio.”

“Useful feedback.”

We walked back toward the quarters sweaty and exhausted.

Scarlet bumped my shoulder.

“You okay being bad at shooting?”

“I’m devastated.”

“Seriously.”

I looked at her.

“Yes.”

She waited.

“I don’t need to be you.”

Something softened in her face.

“Good.”

“I need to know enough not to make you rescue me from my own stupidity.”

“That too.”

“And if everything goes wrong, I need to know which door not to stand behind.”

“Very tactical.”

I smiled.

“You can shoot people. I’ll label them correctly afterward.”

Scarlet laughed so hard she had to stop walking.

For ten seconds, we were not abducted women.

Not survivors.

Not future alien mates or whatever the universe had decided to make us.

Just friends being stupid in a hallway.