The next several days flew by: Ken integrated well, even if he was a bit too friendly with everyone for Eunji's tastes, and Yunho used the information provided to set up strikes for the ERF. In just four days they had taken down more points of interest and scout ships than they had in the entire war, and Eunji felt her hopes swell.

Maybe there was a chance for life after this, she thought, sitting and cleaning her rifle. She cast sideways glances at Taekwoon as he did the same, sitting next to her with their knees almost touching. He caught her look and gave her a small smile, but for him, that was like he had given a grin to light up the room. She felt warmth bloom inside of her and ducked her head back to her work.

Ken sat nearby, watching the two of them at work, his face smooth and emotionless as he observed. Eunji wondered what was going on inside that mind; was he calculating their chances of survival? Or was there something more... human? She knew he had been experimenting with some of the girls, and though she had first thought that they had been taking advantage of his naivety, she came to realize that it had been his own advances. It was only after he told her what movies he had been watching when the humans slept that she realized what a mistake she had made.

Ken's eyes flickered up to meet her's and she flushed in embarrassment, remembering that he had stood and watched her and Taekwoon that first night. And he had also thrown it in her face, telling her that it was ebcause of them that he had looked up those sort of movies. Now that was a terrible thought.

The human lips in the alien face lifted in a small smile, which only widened as she flushed more, and she realized that his amusement was at her expense. Oh, he was learning all too well. "Um." She mumbled, setting her rifle to the side and scrambling to her feet. "I need some water. Want some?" she added to Taekwoon, though she kept her back to him so he wouldn't see her blush. How would she explain it to him without having him get jealous of her 'friendship' with Ken?

She made her way to the large water cooler, one of many that the ERF used. They had to go to the river and then boil the water to remove the impurities, but it worked and they always had water in the jugs. Thank goodness she wasn't one of the poor souls who were on water duty: she would probably go crazy! 

As  she finished her cup and wiped it clean, she heard footsteps behind her and turned with a smile, expecting to see Taekwoon. Her smile dropped as she realized it was instead Ken, and she shook her head as she lifted a finger to point at him.

"You are such a troublemaker," she admonished, but once again he smiled that secretive smile at her. She felt the blush begin again and she reached up to give him a slap on the shoulder.

He caught her hand before it made contact, then with a strength that belied his slender form, pulled her flush up to him. "You could help me to learn more... human... things," he said quietly, his voice halfway between teasing and - the only word that came to her mind - seductive. A chill ran down her spine at the thought of what he meant, and she pulled away from him to glare up at him.

"No. As your operator, I order you to knock it off. Mind your own business, give Yunho your intelligence, and protect me." She didn't even pity the confused look on h