#colonization tw

He could scan human history and knew well that colonization never meant peace. Even when it was wrapped up in goodwill with a pretty little bow, there was always the intention of spreading ones own blood and culture and influence, often with the direct result of quashing any part of whatever culture was already there. And any sort of resistance was met emphatically with genocide. One could argue that these alien lifeforms were not human, and therefore they could truly be a culture of peace, but Price just wasn't buying it. You didn't travel the stars and culminate on a planet for integration for the purpose of just sitting back.

That being said, Price also wasn't a man of unplanned, uninformed action. Even if he didn't believe the peace talks that had aired all over the news, he also wasn't a maniac who would partake in his own genocide just for the sake of eliminating something he didn't understand. If these aliens... "Visitors", as they were being called, were truly that close to humans, they were emotionally complex creatures, and not every single member of their flock was there for the sole purpose of subjugation. These things were delicate and complicated and he knew that he of all people was not the one that needed to slam down the hammer of judgement without any information on their kind.

And so he had come to the conclusion that he just needed to focus on weapons dealers and the counter-terrorism measures that he was familiar with, on his own ground, until such a time those Visitors should give him a reason to take action. He'd ignored the news outlets, even when Gaz was excitedly chattering about it over breakfast.

But now here Laswell was, giving him a private assignment away from the work of the 141: Security detail on one of the Visitors.

Laswell drew in a deep breath, giving Price that serious look she did when she was trying desperately to get through to him, "Listen to me, John. I know you don't trust them, and you're right not to, but that's why I need you on this case."

Price turned to her and lowered his chin, "If they're so damn dangerous, Kate, why am I protecting one?"

"Because we need her," Laswell replied, raising her brows at Price. "And we need her to trust us. You know I can't tell you what's going on. I would if I could, and I may get that clearance later, but right now I just need you to trust me."

The two of them held their respective gazes for a long moment, Price trying to dig out something in Laswell's eyes and of course finding nothing there. She was a solid steel wall, always had been, and he knew that in this particular case, he really was just going to have to trust her or refuse to help her.

After the pregnant pause, Price drew in a breath and stood upright again, reaching up to grip the straps of his vest as he turned his eyes to the sky, "This is such bullshit... If something comes up with the 141, I'm leaving her, Kate. You understand?"

Laswell bobbed her head low in a slow nod, "Yes, of course. But you don't need to worry. I'll keep an eye on things on this end while you're busy. I just need your eyes on this, John. I need someone I know I can trust on this."

Price released a slow breath and nodded, "Alright, fine. I'll do it, but you owe me one."

And so it was only a few days after this that Price was lined up beside Laswell as they stood in the New York office that would facilitate his first meeting with this Visitor. "Princess", he had heard be thrown around, but he had gotten the girl's dossier. Her name was "Lisa", according to the records he was handed, and that was what he was going to bloody well call her.

The doors opened to lead in his new ward, and Laswell stepped forward, holding her hand out to shake with Lisa's current security. Some words were exchanged before Laswell stepped back and gestured to Price, who took a step forward and looked down to Lisa, tilting his whole body back on his heels so he could lower his height a bit and get more on eye level with her.