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Tararia’s finest liqueur.”
    Curtis exchanged glances with Ethan. “How do we get in on that?”
    Wil cracked a slight smile. “I thought you might ask. I’m afraid you’re on your own with the women. But, the high-class booze I stashed in the supply closet down the hall might help with that. Locker P-0187.” That prospect perked up even the most serious men in the group. “It’s so good that it might just be illegal on a few planets. Enjoy.”
    “Oh, we will!” Ethan exclaimed.
    “Let it never be said that I don’t take good care of you.”
    “We’d never think of it,” Michael said.
    Now I just have to take care of you when it matters most.
    *       *       *
    Most of the Primus Elites had retreated to their own personal corner of Headquarters to process the transition—some following Wil’s advice, and others contemplating their own thoughts and their place in the fight to come. For Michael, it was a time of quiet reflection.
    After ensuring the equitable distribution of the pomoliqueur, he’d headed for the spaceport on the surface of the moon. Though he couldn’t look down on Earth, he enjoyed taking in the familiar star constellations.
    The presence of someone approaching pulled him from his thoughts. He glanced over and was surprised to see Saera’s former roommate and longtime friend, Elise, heading over. He had rarely spoken to her since Wil and Saera’s wedding, but she had a combination of self-confidence and humility that Michael found to be good company.
    “I thought I might find you up here,” she greeted after a moment.
    “Looking for me?” Michael asked.
    “Saera told me about the deployment,” Elise replied, casting her dark eyes down. “I doubt I’m far behind you.”
    “We’ll need everyone in their own way.”
    Elise came to stand next to him, placing her arms on the railing in front of the panoramic window. “We’re living in crazy times.”
    “I’ll say.”
    They stood in silence for a few minutes.
    “Are you scared?” Elise asked at last.
    “I’m not sure,” Michael replied truthfully. “On the one hand, I’m apprehensive about heading into a dark unknown and know that we’ll be putting our lives on the line every moment we’re out there. On the other hand, I’ll still be with my best friends. I have complete faith in them and know we’ll be successful.”
    “I wish I felt so confident.”
    “Oh, you’ll be fine.” Michael gave her a playful nudge.
    “Yeah, yeah.” She cracked a smile, keeping her eyes on the starscape.
    Michael examined her profile, finding her quite striking in the starlight. “Really, why did you come find me up here?”
    Elise took a slow breath, finally glancing up at him. “You’ll look after Saera, won’t you? She’s my best friend. I’m going to miss her like crazy, but it’d be easier knowing that someone has her back.”
    “I think that’s Wil’s job as her husband.”
    “I know, but he’ll be busy leading everything. You and Saera knew each other from before, right?”
    Michael tensed. “Yeah, since we were little kids.”
    “So you care about her, too. You know where I’m coming from.”
    “I do, but things are a little more complicated when it comes to us.” Michael returned his attention out the window.
    “She’s always dodged my questions when I’ve asked about you two,” Elise said slowly.
    “That doesn’t surprise me.”
    “Did you have a falling out?”
    Michael let out a short breath through his teeth. “Not exactly.”
    “What then?”
    “She was going through a rough time. I wanted to be there for her, but instead she ran away. It took me a long time to come to terms with why she did that,” he admitted.
    Elise nodded. “So you cared about her as more than just a friend.”
    “We were kids,” Michael said with a shrug.
    “And now?”
    “Now I have a lot more important things to worry about than my childhood crush.”
    “I guess we all do,” Elise murmured.
    “Don’t