"That may be true, since I don't know the first thing about real love, but I was also afraid. I couldn't allow anyone outside the team to bond too closely with me because they would be used as bait. That happened to my parents, and it would happen to anyone else we befriended."

Billy curls his arms over his stomach and checks to see that no one else is listening in. "You might know her. Her name's Mei Ling, and she's one of our communications experts. She's one of our sharpest crew members, and she's an expert at socializing as well. We discuss books we've read during slow periods on our shifts, and we had a wonderful day together during shore leave. By my standards, she's quite beautiful."

It's confirmed, someone has a crush. His voice softens when he talks about her.