their section then they’d just sit there until it was time to get back in the box, ranged back to the war ranger. He missed seeing the “outside”. Paris had complained to Path the night before and she just said, “You’d die.” His fellow marines were more sympathetic. “Just watch it when we get back.” “No way, Chezza.” Kabab whined. “I’m not watching work in my recreational time.” Chezza scratched his balls. “Just think of it like a sci-fi movie, it’s not like the cameras will be on us.” But it was. After some wrestling they sat and watched and all they saw was their footage from their personal cams. Paris threw some popcorn at the screen. “Where’s the ranger views?’ Messma glanced around the room and pulled out his tablet. “Hold tight.” Jackson got up and checked the passage. His blond head of hair disappeared around the corner before reappearing and he sealed the hatch. “Hurry up anyway.” They saw an image appear. Paris stared at it. “That’s it?” “You’ve got no appreciation, alien. That’s an outside view of our mission. In the corner you can just make out the space station.” Paris screwed up his face and then said with a grin. “If you could just compile a bunch of shots and then add some music?” Chezza tackled him off the chair and on to the floor. After some roughhousing, something the commander allowed, they tried to hack into the ranger systems and create a “movie”. “This is fucked up, man!” Chezza complained. “Shut up, Chezza. You’ll be labelled ‘potty mouth’ and have to walk around with that stupid hat.” As long as it didn’t have a rat in it, Paris thought snidely, and suppressed a little shiver. He shook his head. The commander didn’t like swearing but humiliating the marines was okay. “That chick is a bitch.” His comment endeared him to his squad.
Path jumped up as he entered her cabin later and her eyes went wide. “What happened to you?” “Just some friendly tussling with the guys.” She studied his face and then nodded. “You seem happy, what are you up to?” He just smiled. For the first time in his life he really felt a part of something. The mission had been boring and while his team laughed at him as he tripped over the hatch lip charging into the station they had also helped him recover and they took their quadrant with ease. “I’m the token alien.” “I see. Does that make you happy?” She blinked as she looked up at him. “Path, don’t do that psycho-anal stuff on me.” She huffed and sat back down curling her legs under her. He ignored her surly mood and went to get himself a drink. “We need a token chick in the squad next according to the guys.” At the silence behind him he turned lifting the cup to his lips. He took a sip and looked around the little room. “Path?” He hung around her cabin for longer but she didn’t come back. “Sulky cat.” Paris headed back to his cabin and read over his medic notes again. It didn’t look too hard to mimic the actions of a medic. The only thing he had to do on the last mission was attach a bandy-aid. He watched the marine records again, taking in the postures and songs. He had a good memory so that helped. Falling asleep was easy with a little sleep spell.
The next morning he dressed and headed to the mess. The guys were already up and seemed excited about something. He grabbed a tray and selected some food before heading over. Just as he sat down the guys’ attention all shifted to behind him. “Hi, marines!” Paris’s spoon froze on the way to his mouth. Path moved from behind him, with tray in hand, and squeezed between Jackson and Chezza. She grinned cheekily at Paris who hadn’t yet recovered. “I’m the token chick.” “Fuck yeah!” they bellowed out. Paris’s mouth fell open. No. No. No. This was his moment! His moment to be a part of something and now his stupid cat was here. “We’ve got the