"I know the feeling," Wimos said. He leaned forward, focused on Sean. "How long were you in? Was it hard? Why did you get out? Tell me."
"I did eight years, several small conflicts, and two wars. The Army was easy. Be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there and do as you're told. I was the fastest and the strongest. I killed people, sometimes at close range. I didn't love it, but I didn't lose much sleep over it either. It was a job and I was very good at it. I liked being in. It took the edge off and I felt normal. I got promoted quickly, E-5 in three years, E-6 in five. The Army provides you with a place to sleep, feeds you, outfits you. If you don't have a family and don't care about the latest car with the shiniest rims, there's not much opportunity to spend the money. I put away half my paycheck since day one and once a year I would go to places the Army didn't send me. I've been on six continents out of seven, and the seventh is a frozen wasteland. I kept looking for the place that felt right and none of them ever did. Two years into my E-6, they started pushing me to E-7, Sergeant First Class. It's almost always an admin job. E-6 was as high as I could go and still stay with the soldiers. I knew if they chained me to a desk, I'd go off the cliff."
Sean leaned back and took another swallow of tea. "I fought them on it as long as I could, and when I couldn't anymore, I finished out my time and got out. When I first got to my permanent-duty station, a buddy and I went in together on a restaurant. Nothing fancy, just a good solid lunch place that served Korean food. It had a good location and it did well. When I got out, it had two other locations and was turning into a small chain. My buddy bought me out. With what I put away and the buyout, I had about five years or so to figure out what I wanted to do. Thought about going private, but I'd worked with contractors before and I didn't like it. Something rubs me the wrong way about the soldier-for-hire gig. I'd been through Texas a few times, and I enjoyed it. So I picked a small town, bought a decent house, and tried being a civilian to see how long I would last. And then some alien piece of shit came into my territory and started killing dogs and people, so here we are."
That was the longest I've ever heard him speak. It must've been rough to keep looking and looking and never finding that right spot, that place that said home.
"Even a generation later, with all the opportunities in the world, still a soldier. The genetic programming held in the next generation." Wilmos studied him. "They didn't tell you about Auul?"
Sean shook his head.
Wilmos sighed. "I can't say I blame them."
He turned to me.
"Are those Anansi pearls in your cart?"
"Yes."
"What are you going up against?"
"A dahaka," I said. Why not? Maybe he knew something about it.
"A nasty breed. Need all the ammunition you can get."
He glanced at Sean. Sean was looking at the corner again, at the scale armor.
"Why don't you take a closer look?" Wilmos said.
Sean rose and walked over to the armor. "What is it?"
"Auroon Twelve. Stealth armor, made specifically for alphas."
"It looks..." I searched for the right word.
"Flimsy?" Wilmos nodded. "It's nano armor. Meant to fit under your skin. Once you put it on, it never comes off. Every alpha wore some version of it. They used to say you don't wear the armor, the armor wears you. It's designed to change with your body, any form, any shape. Ever seen your mother or your father show tattoos on their necks when they're upset?"
Sean nodded. "Sure."
"Then you know when the tattoos show, you're in trouble. It's an instinctual response. When you're angry or threatened, the armor expands to cover vulnerable areas. It's calling you, isn't it?"
"Yes," Sean said.
"Is it for sale?" I asked.
"No. But it can be had." Wilmos smiled at Sean. "If you want it, it's yours. I have no use for it. But sometime in the future I might call on you for a favor, alpha. That time may come never or tomorrow."
Sean thought about it.
"Take it," Wilmos said. "It's a good trade."
"No. It's a bad idea." I knew he would never take it. Not in a million years He didn't trust Wilmos and it was a sucker's deal...
Sean held out his hand. "You've got a deal."
Wilmos shook it. "Good. Take your shirt off. We'll get it fitted."
"Sean...," I said.
He looked at me. "I don't know why, but I have to have it. I can't stop myself."
"It's a built-in compulsion," Wilson said. "Don't worry. Once it's on, the feeling will pass."
"If it's a compulsion, it might not be a good idea," I told him.
"I know." Sean's eyes were open wide, his pupils so large that his irises looked completely black.