We were close as father and son but now we were even closer and he seemed very proud of me. He cautioned me about the dangers I was facing and how it ...ould be different from my military experience to date. I told him that I had new extended family to help guide me and keep me safe. Every day that week my father surprised me with every conversation. Friday evening as I had finished moving my things in with Kristen, the membership began to roll in. There were bikes of all kinds and a lot of folks. Mother and daughter were both hard work. He sat up and looked; both of them were now asleep! He collected his clothes and made his way quietly down the ladder. He put on his shirt and trousers, collected his bike and rode home. It had, he reflected, been an interesting experience, but not one he wanted to repeat too often.When Ned arrived home the house was empty. There was a car in the drive that belonged to Ned's Auntie Miriam who was taking his mother out for driving lessons in Ned's dad's. “I have studied your sidearms. They are rather crude, but I imagine this one will get the job done — if you trust an alien to carry a weapon, that is.”“Just put the damned thing on and let’s go find the Science Team,” the Prime said with a grin.As Jeff expected, the door slid open, and Kayla walked in wearing her pack, sidearm and carrying her pulse rifle.“Do you want a rifle?” Jeff asked his First Officer.The First hesitated, “I am unfamiliar with the variable settings on your energy weapons.. He helped me buckle up (the man took very good care of me at every turn!)When I was situated just right, he walked around and got in himself. We drove to his place and in that hour-long drive, we talked some more. Thomas was a perfect gentleman and even though he had me completely alone and could have done anything he wanted, he didn't.We just talked and laughed and got even more comfortable with each other. It was very nice. He turned on the radio and we found a song we both liked singing.