Page 110 of Every Almost

"And it is very nice to meet you... um?" Reyna said, her voice kind. Not demanding, not harsh. Still gentle and preserving the safety Charlie had felt building since the first smile.

Charlie popped up from the ground, Reyna following her up quickly in reaction. Charlie tried to dust her hands on her pants, but it accomplished nothing because whatever kind of batter this was was not interested in being transferred. "Where are my manners?" she said to herself, but also out loud, and then she held out her hand.

"I'm Charlie, Charlie Wickett. Well, actually, myrealname is Charlotte Wickett, but that's awholeother story. All of my friends call me Charlie." She looked into Reyna's eyes, her hand falling slightly from its outstretched position. "And Ireallyhope we're going to be friends."

Reyna smiled at her. "Charlie Wickett. I have to say, it is adelightto meet you."

"A delight, huh?" Charlie teased. "Well, then, likewise."

Her hand was still out. Charlie looked down at it. Reyna looked down at it. They both looked back up at each other.

"I'm not sure what's happening here," Reyna said, pointing and circling around at Charlie's outstretched hand, a chuckle escaping her lips.

Charlie beamed. "Oh! Ha, I should've figured that." She held her hand up straighter. "This is a handshake. It's something we do..." She stopped and blew out a breath, the weight of what she was about to say landing on her like an elephant on her chest. "It's something we do on Earth to say hello to someone new."

"You're fromEarth?!"

Charlie's eyes went wide. "Uh... yeah?"

"So you'rehuman?!" Charlie started to lower her hand. "No no no, keep your hand up!"

Charlie laughed and dropped her gaze. "Well, that's notexactlyhow a handshake works, it's more that?—"

But Reyna grabbed Charlie's hand and just held it. She stood there, looking at Charlie expectantly, as if the next step of this Earth ritual was supposed to reveal itself.

Charlie looked down at their hands, and then looked back up at Reyna. "Close enough."

Reyna released her hand, and just as quickly as the excitement had arrived, the role of a Captain returned. Reyna turned to Torvax and spoke in a quick, quiet stream. Charlie couldn't hear all of what was said, but she caught the shift in Reyna's tone.

The fun was over. The protocol was back.

Torvax and Reyna approached Charlie, with the blue guy stepping forward. "I wanted to apologize to you, in case you were frightened by my actions upon your arrival," Torvax said.

"Oh," Charlie said, taken aback. "Thank you."

"It is my duty to ensure the safety on this ship, its crew, and most especially its Captain. I was only thinking of their well-being. I am sorry if I did not consider your fear as well."

Charlie chuckled. "I understand, promise. Thank you for being so good to your crew."

"I would like a..." Torvax turned to Reyna. "What was it you said I should ask for?"

"A do-over."

"I would like to request a 'do-over' with you at a later time, if you'll allow such an act."

Charlie laughed again. He was just so gosh darn proper. "Sounds good, umm..." Charlie squinted at him. "What did you say your name was again? ‘Turbo?’"

"Torvax."

"Right! That's way cooler anyway." Torvax bowed to her and Reyna, and then walked back to his post by the galley door.

Reyna turned to Charlie. "I think the best thing to do is get you to our medical bay. Our doctor, Dr. Pheras," at which Reyna paused and pointed over to the woman that had originally tried to stab Charlie with the Voxlink. "She needs to examine you before we do anything else. To make sure we're safe." A pause. "And that you're safe, too."

Charlie understood and nodded. That was fair. If a clear alien, such as this green woman even, had appeared in her lab at JPL, she'd probably want a doctor to look at her too.

"Before we go—" Reyna started.

But Charlie suddenly wasn't listening. She'd spotted it. Her bag.