While the Human Repairs Her Damaged Armor, the Alien Commander Orders Everyone Else to Step Back

Описание: Commander Kethara returns from combat operation with her armor severely damaged—fractured plating across the torso section, scorched environmental seals that compromise the suit's integrity, breach in the left shoulder assembly that exposed her to hostile environment during the final phase of the mission. The damage is extensive enough that standard protocol would require full engineering team to perform repairs, multiple technicians working together to address the structural compromises and the system failures. But when Kethara arrives at the maintenance facility and the engineering team assembles to begin repair work, she looks at the gathered technicians and makes unexpected decision. She gestures once, sharp and final, the kind of command gesture that military personnel recognize as non-negotiable order. "Everyone step back. Clear the workspace. All of you except David Chen. He stays. The rest of you are dismissed." The Thessari engineering team shows visible confusion. The chief engineer protests: "Commander, the damage requires coordinated team effort. Multiple structural compromises need simultaneous attention. One technician cannot safely—" "David Chen can," Kethara interrupts with absolute certainty. "And he will. The rest of you are dismissed. That's an order." The team reluctantly complies, leaving David alone with Commander Kethara and her severely damaged armor. David Chen is human maintenance technician who has been working at the alliance military facility for eighteen months, specializing in armor systems repair. He's developed reputation for his particular approach to repairs requiring working in close proximity to the armor's wearer—he narrates his movements, announces each action before performing it, maintains constant communication that gives the wearer complete awareness and control. Six months ago, David worked on armor repair for Kethara after a training exercise resulted in minor damage. That repair required him to work very close to her. Kethara is Thessari warrior known for maintaining absolute personal boundaries—she tolerates no unnecessary physical proximity, rejects casual touch. But during that previous repair, David's approach—the constant narration, the announced movements, the respect for her boundaries even while working within them—allowed Kethara to tolerate proximity that she normally would have rejected violently. Now, with her armor critically damaged, Kethara has chosen to trust David again—not just to do the technical work, but to be the only person in the room while she's vulnerable, while her armor is compromised, while her defenses are literally dismantled for the repair process. David begins the work following the same careful pattern: "I'm starting with the torso plating. You'll feel pressure at the attachment points. Starting in three... two... one..." He works methodically, maintaining constant narration. Each movement announced. Each touch explained. No sudden actions. The damaged plating comes away, revealing the underlying suit—she's exposed more than she would ever allow in front of the full engineering team. She doesn't watch the door or scan for threats. She watches David, tracking his movements, but her posture isn't defensive. She's staying still, trusting the space he creates.

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