Chapter 71

Leon took Kira’s hands when they were alone. “Are you feeling okay

now?”

“Yeah, I think so. This is all so… sudden.”

He stroked the side of her face. “Just to be clear, I don’t regret coming

here to the Guard, even if my girlfriend is now some sort of super-mutant.”

He grinned.

Kira punched him lightly in the arm.

He laughed. “Were it anyone else, I’d be concerned. I think you’ll be just

fine. And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“You sure about that? You didn’t sign up for this.”

“Positive.”

Kira squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re here.”

The door hissed as Elric returned, testing kit in hand. “All right, Kira,

let’s figure out what’s happening to you.” He held up a comically large

syringe and a metal rod Kira really didn’t want to get to know on an intimate

level.

She gulped. “Yay.”

— — —

Colonel Terence Kaen entered the supply room and located a rack of

shipsuits. He normally would have ordered support staff to retrieve such an