"Oh right, the hurting me," Becker's smirk was downright cheeky. "I'd almost want to see that. It's almost a challenge. And I can never resist those." Which was true. Challenges thrilled him. Danger, excitement. It was the other elements that had drawn him to the military, the thrill.
Jack was speaking like someone who knew combat well, and Becker felt relaxed knowing he was someone he could relate to. "Believe me, I wish we could live in a world, or, well," he paused and corrected himself considering the situation. "Worlds plural I guess, where I could live in comfortable retirement because military isn't needed. But as long as it is, I'll do what I do. Doing what it takes to ensure that others don't have to and doing it well. Even when the formula gets shaken up and thrown out of the window." He had to smirk at that. "Of course, I thought I was adaptable and then, well, dinosaurs."
His face lit up, enjoying talking about his work without worrying about Official Secrets Act and all. "Anomalies in time, so we had dinosaurs, predators from the future, few insane and weird and terrifying things. Remind me to show you the scars some time." Yes, there was a hint of suggestion in his tone, a flirtatious glint in his eyes.
One element of that story sounded almost familiar and Becker frowned a little. "The name Helen Cutter doesn't mean anything to you, does it? Just curious, time before humans and all that. That was her thing. That and insanity."
He leaned forward, clearly fascinated. "But okay, really. Aliens. You've met actual aliens, what can that even be like? You've got to give me the details. I'll trade you dinosaur stories for alien ones?"