Core tightened his arms around Avery when he felt her relax the tight control she kept over her mind. He swore she had more self-discipline than any of the fiercest warriors he had ever known. Even though she was lowering her protective walls, he could sense there was a part of herself that she continued to hide. He ended their kiss, pulling back and resting his forehead against hers. Her eyes were closed, and her mind was filled with only the things she wanted to share.
Memories slowly opened to him. He saw fuzzy, bright glimpses of the humans he had met when he was on Earth. He closed his eyes and focused. The images became clear. He saw members of Cosmos’ team and felt the pride Avery had in their determination to make their world a better place.
She had created a mental structure lik
