Prime Selection by Monette Michaels Page B

Crewman…” She needed to stop thinking of them as Prime crewman one, two, and three. Plus, she was fairly sure the one who’d spoken was under her direct command in the science lab. He was her exogeologist. The merger had occurred so quickly, she was still attempting to put names and faces together.
    “Science Technician Jod … Bre Jod.” He continued to walk, shining his light from side to side. “And, Commander, we heard what you said to Commander Ard—and we are equally proud to serve with you. You fight like a Prime.”
    And coming from a Prime male—that was an extreme compliment.
    “Thank you, Tech Jod.” Nadia looked over her shoulder at the other two; the movement pulled her wound and made her hiss. Dumb move, Nadia. The two crewmen trailing looked a lot like Bre. Well, all Prime looked a lot alike, but these three more so than others. She suspected they were kin and using last names would become confusing quickly. “And your teammates, Bre? Would you introduce them, please?”
    Bre looked over his shoulder. “Gladly. The one your left is my youngest brother, Cred Jod. And the one on your right is the middle brother, Cas Jod. We entered the military and trained as Elite at the same time. Our mother has worried ever since.”
    Bre’s brothers looked slightly embarrassed by their brother’s words. She chuckled.
    Mothers, got to love them. They even embarrass the most alpha of males.
    “Nadia?” A’tem touched her elbow. “What’s so funny?”
    “Sorry, but Bre’s words and his brothers’ obvious embarrassment brought up a memory. I thought my mother would have a heart attack when she heard I’d entered the Alliance Military rather than go into research or teach at the university. Mothers never want their children in danger. But I bet Bre’s mother is proud of her sons all the same.”
    “Yes, sir,” Cas said from behind her. “She is.”
    Bre held up a hand. “We must be quiet now. The tunnel to the surface is near and it intersects with several other escape tunnels in this particular cave system. The apayebo who escaped could be lurking anywhere. I suggest you all stay here while I scout ahead.”
    The men circled around Nadia, awaiting her orders. The mood was one of confidence in her leadership, and for the first time since the Alliance had merged Wulf’s crews into Gold Squad, she felt optimistic about a woman’s role managing a mostly Prime crew.
    “Do it, Bre. Click your com unit if you see the enemy, and we’ll come to back you up,” Nadia said.
    The Jod brothers looked at her, the trio’s eyes glittering like bonfires in the relative darkness of the cave tunnel. She read them as being somewhat in shock and wondered what she’d said to cause them to feel so strongly.
    “Thank you for your trust in my judgment,” Bre finally said. “I won’t be long.”
    Turning off the light he carried, he slipped into the darkness and disappeared.
    “How does he see?” Nadia asked his brothers.
    Cred grinned. “He doesn’t. He uses his spatial sense. For some reason, our brother has one of the early traits of a Prime warrior. His abilities are similar to the Terran creature that flies and sends out signals. It is why he went into exogeology. He is in his element underground.”
    “The Terran creature is called a bat.” Nadia couldn’t stand any longer. Her knees were shaking and her body trembled with adrenaline drop. Plus, she kept fighting the instinct to drop her mental shields and check on Huw. She sat on the cold rough ground of the cave tunnel and rested her head against the rock wall. She took a drink from her water bottle and allowed herself a small sigh of relief. “Just before Bre left, you all seemed shocked by something? What was it? Did I misstep?”
    “No, sir. We couldn’t believe you accepted Bre’s suggestion on how to proceed.
    Prime officers tend not to appreciate rank-and-file soldiers making suggestions,” Cred replied.
    Cas and Bram mumbled their