“Nothing is more important to me than making sure you're ok".

“Oh John... " Calara sighed, sinking into his welcoming arms. "You're just too perfect. What did I ever do to deserve being part of your life?".

"You're pretty much perfect yourself!" John smiled, stroking her soft thick hair as she laid her head on his shoulder.

“Beautiful, caring, intelligent, perceptive, the best tactical officer I've ever seen!" he said enthusiastically.

Calara's body suddenly stiffened and she sat up in his Lap, looking at him askance.

*m not though." She said insistently.

"Sure you are, you're absolutely amazing!" John said earnestly.

"No, I'm actually not" the Latina said, her eyes narrowing as she Looked at him.

John looked at her in confusion, not sure what she was saying.

“When I Left the Academy I was doing really well, definitely top 10% of my year, but nothing truly exceptional." she said in self deprecation.

"You've just gotten better with experience." John suggested dismissively.

"Until you pointed it out, I hadn't even noticed." Her eyes went wide with wonder, as her mind closely examined the events over the Last few weeks.

"john, I practically never miss!" She said, urging him to understand.

“No-one shoots like that... not ever!" she said, stunned at this revelation.

“I've reviewed countless hours of naval battles during my time at the Academy and I'm telling you, my hit record blows any human in our archives out of the water!" she said in amazement.

“The tactical analysis, breaking down the pirates attack routes, finding the base..." she said.

"Yeah that was incredible!" John said, shaking his head in appreciation.

“The Terran Federation has entire teams who do that kind of analysis and I put it together by myself in just a few days!" she exclaimed.

“Then there's this conversation!" she said, her arms spread wide. "How am I having this epiphany? I've never been this perceptive or smart!" she insisted.

“Ok so what are you saying?" John asked confused, "You've suddenly got much better at everything?”

“Yes, exactly!" Calara grinned at him. le‘ve all been so distracted by the physical changes that these," she said, moving her hips back so she could gently cup his quad with her hand.

“have had on us. We've been missing that there have been amazing mental changes too!"

John's eyes widened to match Calara's own, shocked at how clear it was to him now.

"It's not just you." he said. "Did you hear Sparks say how she hacked the security subsystems on the Stalingrad?”

“Yeah I know!" Calara exclaimed.