Close Encounter Read Free

name is Dr. Sean Cohen. He served ten years in Space Command and left the service as a lieutenant commander. He has degrees in biological engineering and biophysics. Dr. Cohen has a very large family on Earth, never been arrested, never been married, and he’s agreed to become your legal domestic partner.”
    “Husband,” Eliza whispered and blinked several times. “At least he’s pretty.”
    “Captain, do you comprehend your situation?”
    “In trouble…traitor.” Eliza coughed. “Set us up to fail. Meant to kill us all.” She exhaled. “Don’t need a man to protect me, sir.”
    “Yeah, but you need a legal spouse to keep your ass from disappearing forever,” McAlister snapped. “Pay attention, Captain.”
    “Hurt, tired,” she complained and pushed weakly at the comm screen. “Old man.”
    “Thirty-seven minutes to orbital blackout,” Arti announced.
    “Eliza,” McAlister began. “Look at me.”
    Her eyes opened wide as if she were forcing herself to pay attention. “Sir.”
    “I need to see this done before the orbital blackout. I may not have the opportunity to speak with you again after this. Your return has upset some very powerful people, and my ability to help you is dwindling. Do you understand?”
    “Marry the smoking hot physicist or disappear into a government-funded hole forever,” Eliza said hoarsely. She held out a hand to Sean and raised an eyebrow when he didn’t take it immediately. “I’m not getting married on my back , Doctor.”
    Sean’s face heated as he helped her sit up. “It’s just legal stuff, Captain. I won’t…expect anything from you. I give you both my word on that front.”
    “She could kick your ass, Cohen.” McAlister cleared his throat as Sean stuck the comm panel back on the wall. “Don’t let her fall off the platform, Cohen. Five minutes from now she’ll have a license to berate you like a professional .”
    Sean caught her when she listed slightly to the left and wrapped an arm around her waist. “This is the most absurd situation I’ve ever been in.”
    “Son, I’ve read your file. I know all about Bangkok,” McAlister said dryly. “I don’t know how you said that with a straight face.”
    Eliza glanced at him briefly but lifted her chin and gave her CO a nod.
    “Do you, Elizabeth Marie Hawthorne, take this man as your lawfully wedded spouse?”
    “I do.”
    Sean relaxed slightly. She hadn’t hesitated, which was something, but he was certain she was looking at the whole situation, including him, as some kind of extreme survival scenario. He didn’t blame her at all.
    “Do you, Sean Reginald Cohen, take this woman as your lawfully wedded spouse?”
    “I do.”
    “By the power vested in me by the UN Security Council and Space Command, I pronounce you husband and wife. The forms should be available to you. I’ve already added my signature.”
    “Arti?” Sean asked. The comm screen blanked out briefly, and a document appeared.
    “Sir, if you would press your thumbprint to the box and add your digital signature.”
    Sean quickly did as he was instructed and pulled the screen down so he could bring it close to her. “Here, Captain.”
    “Call me Eliza,” she whispered. She pressed her thumb to the screen in the box for the second partner and keyed in her signature shakily.
    Sean saved a copy of the file to his personal server and sent a copy to his boss at Teko Solutions before sending it back to the admiral. She wrapped her fingers around the edge of the comm panel before he could put it back on the wall and took a deep breath as the admiral’s face reappeared.
    “Orders, sir?”
    “Rest, get better, and write your report on the mission. Leave nothing out and send it back to me as soon as you can. The AI on board the station will handle the encryption. I’ve already given him a special set of protocols to use.” McAlister paused. “I’ll do my best to keep my seat and keep you in my command, Eliza.”
    The transmission