"Truth or dare?"
Anna's voice cut through the laughter like a blade. She was staring right at Steven, a sly smile dancing on her lips as he lay half-slumped across the couch, recovering from the accidental fall that landed him practically on top of her.
Steven blinked. "Truth or what now?"
"Truth or dare," Anna repeated, rolling her eyes. "It's a game. Pick one."
He groaned internally. What the hell is this nonsense? Stupid human bonding rituals... Outwardly, he smirked. "Fine. Truth."
Anna didn't hesitate. "Truth – has something been going on with you lately? You've been acting weird. Like, really weird."
Steven's pupils contracted slightly. He caught himself glancing away casually. Inside, the parasite within him snarled. Nosy idiot. Keep it together. Play along.
"Nah," he said with a laugh. "Just tired. Haven't been sleeping well. And I've maybe been hitting the vodka stash a bit too much."
Lana raised an eyebrow sharply. "You've been drinking? Alcohol is strictly prohibited for all ALKEN operatives."
Steven's eyes suddenly iced over. "Why do you care?"
An awkward silence dropped like a bomb. Tension flared.
"Alright, alright," Lasso jumped in, clapping his hands. "Let's keep it fun, people."
Kiara grinned, spinning the bottle. It pointed at Lasso.
"Dare!" he declared proudly.
"Take your shirt off. Slow motion. Like a ridiculous action hero."
Lasso's face broke into mock horror. "Oh no. My only weakness."
But he stood, and – to everyone's amusement – began removing his shirt in exaggerated slow-mo, flexing theatrically. Kiara bit her lip. "Good boy."
Lana flushed and glanced away, chewing her lower lip. Anna rolled her eyes. Kimberly looked like she might faint. Steven and Taze exchanged glances of mutual confusion and disbelief.
"Bottle time!" Lana barked, spinning it fiercely. It landed on her and Kimberly.
"Truth," Kimberly mumbled.
Lana crossed her arms. "Truth – do you ever think you're too shy?"
Kimberly hesitated, cheeks flushing. "Y-yeah... sometimes."
Taze's eyes softened, but he quickly looked away, spinning the bottle. It landed on him and Lasso.
Lasso grinned. "Truth or dare, my man?"
"Dare."
"Tell us the sickest thing you've ever done."
Taze shrugged. "I once ate a meal made of alien eyeballs. Saturn mission. Emergency rations."
Anna gagged. "Ew. You ate that? Those were leftover supplies from three years ago!"
Taze laughed and scratched his head. "Yeah. Got hungry."
Kiara cackled and spun the bottle. It landed on her and Steven.
"Truth or dare?" he asked, his tone unreadable.
"Dare," she said instantly.
"Tell us about your past. The real one."
Kiara's flirty smile vanished for a beat. She glanced at Anna.
Anna leaned forward. "We already know, Steven. You don't need to drag it out of her again."
Kiara shifted the mood with a smirk, sliding her hands to her back. "Anyone want a strip show instead?"
"Kiara!" Anna and Lana shouted in unison.
She let her fingers toy with the back clasp of her bra – just for a second – then snickered and let it go. "Kidding. Chill."
Lasso exhaled loudly. "Damn, woman."
The bottle spun again. Lana and Lasso.
Lana narrowed her eyes. "Dare."
Lasso grinned, still shirtless. "Give me a warm, genuine hug."
Lana flinched. "Absolutely not."
"Hug! Hug! Hug!" the group began chanting.
Grumbling, Lana stood. She slowly approached Lasso, her hands trembling slightly. He opened his arms wide and pulled her in. The hug was warm. Tight. Protective.
She sank into it briefly, then pulled back and slapped him across the face playfully. "Don't get cocky."
Laughter exploded. Kiara whistled. "Y'all are adorable."
Kimberly smiled gently. "You're both beautiful."
Steven and Taze exchanged mock looks of disgust. Anna just shook her head with a chuckle.
Elsewhere, in the quiet of his quarters, Londo lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. He heard the door open. The hotel stewardess entered, placing a glass of wine by the nightstand.
"Thank you," he murmured.
He reached for the bottle to pour—
BZZZTT.
His phone vibrated. The sudden jolt startled him. He dropped the glass. It shattered.
"Fuck! Dammit!"
He checked the caller.
Caitlyn.
He stared at it. Then rejected the call.
Across the city, Caitlyn sat in her office, feet on the desk, munching a protein bar.
"Ugh. Seriously? Ignored again? I was gonna troll him."
She flipped to the surveillance feed of the ALKEN Ship. Empty. Quiet.
Her eyes drifted to the neon-lit billboard outside – an advertisement featuring a smug, handsome man: her ex-lover's brother. The one who'd ruined everything.
Her face hardened.
She stood abruptly and hurled a decorative bowl through the window.
"Yeh-Moon… you didn't deserve this. I'm not letting it slide. Not again."
Cut to: Laura. In an interrogation room.
"Tell us what happened."
She glared at the officer. "A muscle-bound freak attacked us. Flexed like an octopus. Tried to kill everyone. I fought it off. It vanished."
The detective didn't blink. He slid two photos across the table.
Dwayne Marcus. The two bastards who once owned her.
Her robotic features twitched. Emotion flickered. Rage. Shame. Humanity.
She swiped the photos away.
He slapped her across the face.
"Liar. You expect us to believe that crap?"
He left to get backup.
Laura sat in silence, blood trickling from her lip, fists clenched.
Back in the lounge, the game continued.
"Your dare," Kiara said to Lasso, "is to sing."
Lasso cleared his throat and began serenading the room with an overly dramatic pop ballad. Lana was nowhere to be seen – she'd slipped out post-hug, unable to deal with the feelings bubbling inside her.
Cut to: Londo. Receiving a secure message.
Leonardo.
"Londo. Come to my office tomorrow morning. Emergency cabinet meeting."
Londo stared at the screen, pale.
"They haven't held one in years..."
He rushed to send a voice memo to the team. "Pack your shit. We might leave early."
Cut back. Steven was staring at Anna again.
His thoughts grew darker.
She's too close. Time to shut her down.
To be Continued