<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br/>Allia giggled internally at the irony of her comments but couldn't help show a sad smile hearing the anger or fear in Emily's words.  She was sure it was more fear than anger, but fear had a tendency to turn into anger and anger generally needed to find an outlet to make sense to the human mind.  Maybe that was the difference between Allia and Emily, having grown up in a family of military warriors and mechwarriors, she knew how to channel her fear and her anger into things that were less destructive.<br/><br/>She walked over to Emily as she sat on the bench.  Kneeling before the attractive mature woman, Allia reached a hand up, softly touching the scar above her eye while her other hand softly held the back of Emily's hands.  The intimate touch was the closest they'd been in a few weeks, concerns about her family back home and preparations for the mission had pulled their attentions elsewhere, keeping them from talking like the friends they had become.  "Actually, Damian tried to warn me off of talking to you, he felt you were resolved in your decision."  She couldn't help but give the woman a warm smile, being this close to Emily in any capacity had always been a charge of energy for her.  "But Kari is taking command, it's what her father wanted and it's what she wants.  She's determined to resurrect the company.  And honestly, as much as I may have agreed with you yesterday about the fate of the company, I'm determined to help Kari until we succeed or fail."  The hand that caressed Emily's cut dropped to the woman's hands, cupping both of them in hers as Allia's piercing green eyes looked up into Emily's deep blue eyes, trying to read the woman's thoughts.  They had become closer over the past few months, and Allia felt she knew Emily well, but reading her thoughts was still something they hadn't reached yet.<br/><br/>"We're landing in Galatea in a few days, we're going to be out of action for a while.  The chances of finding even a low intensity contract that fits our current sitaution is very unlikely.  Kari's going to need compentent officers to help just getting back on our feet.  She needs you...."  Allia looked away for a second, the emotion in her eyes swelling up from inside causing her to look away to compose her thoughts.  ".....and I know it's a bit selfish, but I need you.  With Chiles, Mandy and Joker gone I couldn't stand losing you too."  Allia caught Emily's eyes again, the emotion of everything she'd pushed down was fighting its way back up and she could feel the swell of tears threatening to push out through her eyes as she hoped Emily would change her mind.