Alex slipped away from Jack before the light of pseudo-dawn. She pressed a single kiss to his lips while he slept. She dressed quietly then left in her pod. She didn't want to go. She could sleep like that with him forever, but she had to finish this mission. It would fix everything. She focused on that and worked on pushing her desire to be with him to the back of her mind.

When she arrived home, the guards gave her a nod as she entered the house from the lower garage. ...