It was dim, but not uncomfortably so. A few of the older soldiers looked up as they entered, but the place was mostly empty tonight. Tables and chairs were arranged around the center of the room, and there was a bar to the lefthand side. Alcoholic drinks were available to ID-carrying IFC officers, but the students were restricted to tamer beverages.

There was a section toward the back, a slightly better-lighted corner furnished with couches and comfortable chairs, and it was here that he directed her. There were no other students in this area, and he wanted privacy for this confession.

"The girls there, Madeleine and Melinda, they were...like us, as much as girls can be. I think we would have loved them, if it had been allowed, and if we'd had any idea how. It doesn't matter anymore. They're gone, reassigned like we were, and we'll never see them again." For some reason that little loss seemed bigger than it had at the time, and he looked away for a moment, and then back to her.

"When we first arrived her, Dom and I thought that the girls would be the same...but they weren't. None of them even came close." He couldn't bring himself to mention Roxy. "They weren't...real to us. My brother and I have been together since before we were born. We never did anything separately. Anything. We've always been...alone. Together. Us against them." His free hand tightened into a fist, but he didn't stop. He wouldn't spare her and he wouldn't spare himself.

"When we found out how easy it was to get them to...to love us, we made a game of it." He saw her tense, but pushed on anyway. It had to be said. "We picked them out, found out what to say and do and did it. Whichever of us got to them first told the other what he learned, and we traded off and moved on."

"Jelice, I chose you...but the game ended when we met Mode. When I took you to my Cell this morning I had no intention..." He stopped. He had to explain what had happened, what it had cost him to love her as he did.

"We were able to trade because we can emulate each other that well. It's part of our training - a required part. We've cost the Creche millions in research and care, and we have to keep our part of the bargain. Until yesterday, my brother and I were ... we were interchangeable. Either of us could play either part with equal assurance. You've changed that, Jelice. I love you." He met her eyes as he spoke these last, refusing to let himself look away.

His explanation came back to her in little snippets as she tried to choke back the frigid pain and think. The game they played burned her anger, keeping her warm enough to glance up at him with a hint of fire in her eyes before she dropped her gaze back to her hands once more. A game, all she'd been at first. Like Nicolai played; only, she'd never expected to be anyone's prey. Years of forming that shell around herself obviously hadn't been enough, and she'd fallen for this man who sat watching her with resigned indigo eyes.

She remembered his frightened look when he'd first shown her his brand, his "designation code," the little shiver of his muscles when she'd touched it. They were identical, but she'd never guessed to that much of an extent, trading lives, personalities, trading... loves. The smirk on Dominic's face was an unwelcome image next, and her fingers started to shake, still clenched tightly in Donovan's hands.

But it was his next few words that hurt the most, when he told her that he loved her. Dante looked up into his face, into those midnight eyes, and her own slowly turned to crystallized violet when she realized just what had happened. Donovan loved her, had loved her at the expense of his brother, his life. And soon he'd be taken from her, sent Earthside, and she would never see him again.

The ice gave her only one option, the choice to save herself. Everything solidifed around her, leaving her trapped. She'd almost loved Jor, had been ready to say the words, when the battle erupted and they'd separated. She had loved Nathan, with all her heart, and her pain at that was too immense for even her to fully realize. And now... now she loved Donovan, more than Nathan, more than anyone before, but he too was about to be taken from her.

Dante was suddenly tired of losing everything she'd ever loved.

She could retreat now, under pretense of anger or rage, hide away from him until his review, until he and his brother were shipped away forever. The ice snickered, telling her to cut her losses while she could, withdraw again behind its protection and go on alone. She didn't need anyone. She didn't need Donovan.

But she wanted him, loved him.

Her shoulders slumped, and she hid behind her fiery veil, unwilling tears leaking from her eyes. She didn't want to cry in front of him, felt weak, her fears and troubles trivial against his own. He had said they could be sold, and the implications of that frightened her immeasurably, heart aching. Dante didn't quite know what she was doing when she glanced up, eyes wavering pools of mercury, and she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder.

She smiled sadly at that, kissing his throat before pulling away, smoothing the wayward curls from her face as she looked up into those midnight indigo eyes. Her own were brilliantly violet, shining with resigned happiness. Two weeks before his review, to take as much of him as she could before he would be taken away.

Two weeks.

He closed his eyes slowly, his cheek against her curls. I'm sorry, my brother, so sorry...it was my slip, not yours, and you're going to pay for my mistake, but I can't change this. I won't. There must be some other way for us to pass Review. We will find it, and I will win you both for another six months.

Kyle couldn't help but smile to himself noticing how cute she was trying to play it off. When she finally came to a door he had to give her credit though. She had hardly been here for a day.

Upon entering the room Kyle's eyes had to adjust to the dim lighting. He followed Sue to a bar where she grabbed two waters and then to a couch. This place might have something on Battle School after all

"So Kyle, what do you think, "she asked as she curled up on the couch.

He paused for a minute, "Swede? I remember her from Battle School." He smirked slightly remembering their first encounter. "She was with fox. We ran in to each other a few times. Had a few classes together and of course you remember the Fox, Eagle days in the Battle Room."

Once he was seated he breathed deeply trying to relax. He had stopped by his room where he started throwing things about insanely before he was kicked out by his room mates. Things had become more complicated and it wouldn't do to be so upset and unfocused.

He slowly ran his finger around the rim of his glass staring at it in thought. Nathan is here. Originally all I had to do was show up and it would be just me and Dante. And this Donovon kid. Fuck!

That futile feeling angered and frightened her as well, but on a much closer level. She couldn't seem to shake the sense of apathy that had descended over her since she'd run away from Jor. God only knew what those Jaydes were up to. It had been hard enough dealing with Ryan long enough to give him the hook. She'd gotten used to boys staring at her at an early age, but instead of appreciating it as she had before, it just made her feel insecure, exposed...nervous.

Almost everyone else was in classes right now, and she'd taken the opportunity to have tea in the Cavern while it was free of people. She'd been there almost twenty minutes dawdling over her cup and staring into space when a boy walked in. She steeled herself for the leer, but it never came, and she looked him over in surprise, a little of her lethargy lifting as her curiousity made her study him closer.

Tall, well-built, too old for a green...but Bianca couldn't recall seeing him before, and she was sure she'd met all the worthwhile veterans years ago. Despite that assurance, there he was, sitting down at a table thirty feet from her and looking awfully worthwhile...and he didn't glance at her once.

Her newfound sense of nervousness evaporated in the face of her irritation. Bianca did not like being ignored. Some of her confidence returned. Maybe that was all that had been lacking. She just needed a new boy, not one of those useless greens in her quad, but a real man. Maybe this one would do.

It was the same girl who had been watching him since he had arrived. He had caught her several times out of the corner of his eye. He had hardly noticed before in the dim light but she was quite attractive. She was blonde headed with a pretty little face and a shapely body. He almost smiled at the thought of Dante coming through the door now. Maybe jealousy was the way to go? He sat up in his chair when she said, "Hi, you ok?"

He started to get up and just leave but remembered he had nowhere else to go. He leaned back again in his seat. His lips almost broke a smile again when he thought of the kiss he'd give this blonde if Dante did show up. His smile never broke through because he knew he wouldn't do it. The next time his lips kissed anybody it would be Dante. Fuck Donovon. And Nathan damnit.

With his hand in hers, she tugged him through the swinging double doors and toward the couches in the back of the room, oblivious to the other assembled soldiers inside. Donovan remained silent as she slid into a seat and pulled him to sit beside her, and an unreasonably irritated flash lit her eyes silver for a moment. His quietly raging passivity bothered her, and she tightened her fingers around his and reached up a hand to tilt his face toward hers, until he was forced to meet her gaze.

This was childish but he hadn't had time to think. Sometimes opportunities show theirselves and you either move or lose. At this stage in the game Dante probably wouldn't even notice him with the girl but it was a chance and it was better than anything else he had at the moment. It could help to be seen with her early. Down the road this could be useful. The girl was very good looking and suited the part perfectly, she even seemed to be slightly interested in Seth and that could only help. Later when he had time to think he could sort this all out. He could always discard the blonde if he didn't need her.

"Bianca Westermin. Nice to meet you, Seth." Recognition jogged her memory. "Weren't you a commander in BattleSchool? Eagle, right?" Eagle had just begun to climb through the ranks when she'd graduated. She wondered again why they'd kept him on so long. He'd been pretty capable. Another bit of interest adhered and she smiled a little more genuinely, sliding out of her chair and into the one next to him as if she wanted to tell him something quietly.

Seth stood at the table offering his hand in a formal way to Bianca. On the way out he tried his best to make conversation to make sure it was clear they were there together, "Yeah, I commanded Eagle. We were at the top before I left so maybe I might get the Coyote position. I wouldn't mind."

He looked down into those silvered violet eyes and tried to contain his rage, for her sake, but it did no good, and her request just increased his frustration. He wasn't angry at her, though, and he lay a gentle hand on her cheek as his indigo eyes locked with her own, trying silently to make her understand his fury instead of quelling it, trying to make her understand as he tried to make Dom understand during their rare moments of discord.

Dante closed her eyes slowly as if she couldn't hold them open any longer, and bowed her head to hide behind her darkfire veil of curls. Donovan's hand was still warm on her cold cheek, and she shivered briefly as her eyes froze quicksilver and she raised her chin to stare intently at her love.

"I know," she said, her tone flat with a hint of resignment. "But..." But what? It was her fault, and all those years of rationalizing her attack were of no use as she met Donovan's gaze and almost faltered. "Never mind, Donovan... I... I don't want to talk about this." With that, she pushed away from the couch and stood, watching him tiredly for a long moment before turning away and slowly walking from the cavern.

Rox and Swede, despite their loud claims that they didn't have to be back in time for the meeting with Griffin Quad, had been caught by Ty and forced back amongst cursing complaints and some very accurate comments from Swede. She was left alone, completely and utterly bored, and not in the mood to go back to her own barracks and deal with Jack and his frantic raving about this parade review. Bereft of fun and tired of stalking around by herself, she'd retreated to the cavern.

He caught up to her as they entered the Cavern, and walked beside her to the bar. The little electronic bartended scanned his card and he put in the order for two Suicides, the house special. Each student was allotted so many drinks at the Cavern and the Observatory per month, so he was spending one of his credits to "buy" her a drink. He had plenty. He didn't spend much time here, unless he was with someone worth the trouble.

“yeah, I am going to have to get going in a bit” She sipped her drink appreciatively. She suddenly looked at her watch. DAMN! She was late.

"I have to go. I am sorry, but I have a meeting. Thanks for the drink."

But what a surface.

He flicked her glass with his forefinger, and it tipped, spilled and rolled to break on the floor next to the table. The little maintenance spyders would clean it up at the end of the hour, like they always did, and he'd lose another credit, but it made him feel better.

The Cavern was almost empty. He looked at his watch. Fifteen minutes before he had to head back to the Quad, and nothing to do and no one to do it to. Why the fuck had he bothered to come out here at all? To escape that little brat Raven. How could the IF expect something like that to do any damage to the buggers? Females shouldn't be up here at all...not as soldiers, anyway. Helen's piloting skill came to mind and he shook his head. So what if she could fly? She'd probably freeze up in battle anyway.

He downed his drink at one swallow and saw his motion echoed across the room, stopped to look. The girl he'd seen several times at the mock range was sitting at a table by herself, her boots up on the surface, empty glasses arrayed before her, looking disinterested and bored.

What was her name? He'd seen her on the lists there. Mikal. He couldn't remember her first name. The range was nice, but how nice could it be when you didn't have live ammunition? The only thing they had to shoot that could injure someone were the laser pistols, and they were all set to the lowest possible scoring setting, just enough for target practice. Just like everything else on this fucking rock. Sterile.

It felt good to shoot, though, even if it was blanks. Sasha smirked. For that, one girl was as good as another. Why not that one?

Guns were almost always more entertaining than people.

But lacking the motivation to get up, walk her ass over to the range, and knock some targets with those baby-grade laser pistols, Mik merely smirked to herself and took another swallow before answering. "Not anymore."

He didn't answer, merely smiled, and she took the time to survey him more closely. Some sort of mix; Spanish, she'd guess, with some other mutt she couldn't identify. Short black hair, brown eyes. Handsome, in that arrogantly cocky flyboy way she associated with Nicolai. Boring. Probably just another one of the boys-- a lousy hand with the guns-- both pistols and girls. That lent a malicious little twinkle to her eyes as she raised an eyebrow and set her glass down on the table with a thunk before leaning back in her chair once more.

Flyboy. Probably couldn't shoot. Worthless.

But maybe worth a few minutes of fun.

He took her hand and shook it, his grip not quite painfully tight. Her eyes gave nothing away, and he studied her face instead. Fair skin, with a light dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her eyes were...black, not dark brown, but black, fringed with strawberry-blonde lashes that matched the shade of her hair exactly. Very cute...but she wasn't giggling yet.

"Green's playthings, those pussy little pistols are." Mik grinned broadly, crossing her right ankle over her left and raising an eyebrow. Laying a hand on her thigh, she pulled the material of her pantleg up a few inches, revealing a holster strapped to her boot.

Fletchette pistol, custom design. Made by herself, from contraband parts either she or one of Rox's contacts had swiped. It'd taken her almost three months to build the thing; a few hours here and there, whenever she could find an empty room in the weapons department, sometimes at night in her cell by the light of her desk display. Never when someone might find her. It was her secret.

And damn. It was one fine ass gun.

Boyfriend. Right.

She finally managed to catch her breath again and gave him an incredulous stare that bordered on anger. Shit. What did he think-- that girls couldn't use guns? What a dumbass. "Yeah, that must be it. No, fuckstick, it's mine. I built it. Six pound trigger pull. Made entirely of this steel alloy; a heavy bitch, but worth the weight. Molded for my hands only." She held up a hand and wiggled her fingers before continuing. "And loaded with razor fletchettes."

So maybe a bit of target practice.

And hell, at least he hadn't called her Tiena.

She watched him leave before smiling again to herself, folding her arms behind her head and leaning back in her chair. Her afternoon hadn't been wasted after all, and if he actually showed at the range to shoot with her, then Mik might consider this day a success. Not that she had her hopes up too much, but part of her was looking forward to seeing what this commander Illiet was made of.

There were very few boys in the school who even dared to challenge her, let alone beat her, and finding one such arrogant asshole was a precious rarity. Mik had friends, but they were different from what she was searching for. Not someone to talk to; for that she had Rox or Swede or Dante or any number of buddies. She needed someone with the potential to out-talk, out-play, and out-shoot her.

She needed an equal.

"An' look," Jab said as they entered in, "It even looks like the one in Battle School."
It brought back memories, the room. Everything around them brough back memories. Jab was already expecting to see the old bartender behind the bar - but no, it was someone else. Some other half bored IF junior officer. However they would want it to be the same, it wasn't. It was different. That was a thing, Jab realised, they must never forget. This was Command School, not Battle School. Things were played differnetly in here. Things were different. Different people... At these times Jab felt as if the only person he had left was Dal. And he was happy - happy he met him. Happy to see the old friendship was also more important to Dal than any of the bed memories that accompnied their departure long ago....

"I'll have a suicide," Jab told the bartender. "Hot chocolate for me," Dal said. Jab grinned. "Extra sleepy today, Dal?" He got his reply of "yes." Dal seemed... occupied. His mind wandering.

"You're not thinking of that Mik Girl, are you?" asked Jab with an accusing tone. Dal looked apologetic.
'Yeah, I am... this is so weird."
"So let's not think of the weird stuff, okay? Let's thing of the good stuff. Like, what were you doing after Battle School that you only got here?"
Dal's experssion told him he was asking the wrong question. And his next words confirmed it.
"I thought you said you wanted to talk about the good stuff," he sighed, staring into his hot chocolate. Was he supposed to tell Jab about everything that happened to him. How would his friend look at him then? What would he say? He remembered Mik's glances, her reaction, two years ago, when she first saw him. He remembered the way she treated him afterwards. He had no buisness going telling this off to people.
....But this was Jab. Jab always understands. Everything.

As if on cue, Jab looked at Dal. "What happened?" he asked quietly.
"Let's just say... life was a mess. For a long time. But it's all alright now," Dal grinned. Even to Jab he couldn't expoe his lie, could not tell the truth, that his life wasn't back on the right track. Maybe later... Jab always seemed to know him so well when they were kids. All these years in Battle School. Maybe this relationship will return.

"By the way, what are you doing back in IF service?" Dal diverted the conversation. "As I recall, you were iced back on Battle School."
"Yeah," Jab laughed. "Someone in IF thought I was worth the money and forced Farrell to bring me back." He sipped his suicide. "Man, did I miss this drink!"

Dal, on the other hand, still pondered Jab's words. "You must have been a real big shot in Battle School, more than even I ever thought!" he laughed. Jab agered by sipping another suicide sip. "They made you commander?"

"Aye. Flame Army. Bunch of weirdoes, if you ask me.... and those disturbed Mik and Rox kept on messing us up!" He said that with a grin, but a bit of the old frustration remained. Flame was rated high on any standard, but Jab always thought he could have done better. If only.

As with all things where Mik and her friends were concerned, it was chaos.

"Yo, barkeep! Suicides for us all!" Sticks tossed his card to the officer behind the bar. After Rox's nice little present of unlimited credits for all her boys, they'd come to the Cavern often, nearly drinking their weight in suicides. Last time they'd been here, Fin and Resa had gotten so hyped up on the high-test caffeine drinks that they'd started a brawl, and they'd all gotten kicked out and banned for a week. Good times. He picked up a few glasses from the counter and slid them over toward Landry and Vin, then nudged Mik with his foot until she abstained from bickering with Jude long enough to take her glass. "Stop bitchin' at him, ho, and take your drink."

Jude snorted in amusement, and Mik whirled around to glare at him again. "Settle down there, Tiena. What do you think you're going to do? Set Sasha after me?" This drew roars of laughter from several of the other soldiers around them, and she scowled and stalked over to where Rox was occupied in braiding Khris's moptop of blonde curls. Khris winked at her, and Mik smirked back as Luke snuck up from behind and tickled Rox's sides. She erupted in a cacophany of curses and giggles, falling over backwards and toppling Khris with her as she went. Vin stumbled as Khris's arm caught him, and half the chairs and people on their side of the bar tripped or fell or shoved against eachother as they laughed and fought. Mik helped Rox up, amused by her friend's tousled appearance, and was about to say something when Rox's eyes widened and she waved to someone on the far side of the room. "Lookit, Ti, it's our friend Jab!"

... Or just when it concerned him and the old Flame army.

But he wasn't going to start the wrong way - as much as he could. It was obvious they're not going to leave him alone... so he could be polite and be done with it.. or let himself lose his temper and deal with it over and over again. They can't pursue on it if he's being cool with it all, right? They grew more mature than those far off Battle School days.

"Hi Mik, Jude," he moved his head ever so lightly and returned to his drink. Let them get the hint.. and go away....

Dal wasn't thinking the same lines Jab did. Jab could see it, too. Dal wasn't there in the old Battle School days, after Jab was returned. He already graduated. He didn't see them harrass his army, upset the soldiers.... Whether it was the old grudge Mik had against Jab, from that day in Tide Practice... whether it was the fact Jab was brought back after being iced.. or just generally bored kids with nothing to do. Jab knew that; Dal didn't. All Dal did know was Mik. And he was looking at Mik. And Jude.

He didn't know Jude's name. He couldn't remember the name Mik gave, of her...boyfriend. Dal was jealous. They were obviuosly close. He wanted to be close to that girl. You don't know her! He kept on shouting at himself, deep down in his heart. What do you want with her? But it didn't help. Reason didn't help.
So he was upset.

From across the room, Rox finally extricated herself from the mess of soldiers, and glimpsed Mik and Jude seated with Dal and Jab. That was just trouble waiting to happen. She couldn't see Mik's expression, but she certainly knew what it must have been, and without a second thought about it she bounded over and shook her finger disapprovingly at a very smug-looking Jude. "Tsk tsk, Jude-o. Hands off Ti, otherwise I'm gonna hafta tell Sasha on you. And you know you don't want Commander Illiet bein' mad 'bout you touchin' her again."

"Bullshit," Jude muttered, but dropped his hold on Mik long enough for her to squirm away and retreat to the relative safety next to Rox. She ignored them all as Rox smiled cheerily and gave Dal and Jab a wink. "Gee, we just keep runnin' into you two! Maybe you should join us for drinks. You're just all by yourselves, and--"

It was time for Khris to interrupt now, as he walked over with Luke. "Whoa, reunion time. Hey there, Commander Dal, Jab..." They were old enough to have been in armies and around when Dal left the school and when Jab was running Flame Army. Not involved with Rox and Mik's little mean-spirited pranking of Jab at the time, their greetings were actually sincere... but it didn't stop Jude from rolling his eyes and pushing up from the table. "I need another drink. You all can make your acquaintances without me."

Mik looked at Rox. "Bitch." Khris nodded in agreement, the four forgetting for a moment that Dal and Jab were still there. Mik gave Dal an apologetic frown. "Sorry 'bout that. He gets... out of line sometimes." It was all she could say before enduring Jab's glares became too difficult, and Rox realized this and tugged her back over to their group near the bar. Khris and Luke remained only a moment longer, nodding politely to the pair before they too retreated.

He went up to the bar. "Don't suppose I could have a beer?" he joked. "Don't suppose I could see some i.d.?" the bartender dead-panned back. Rick grinned. "Suicide, heavy on the root beer, please." When he had his drink, he gazed around the room. He hadn't seen too many people here that he knew, but then, he'd mostly been focusing on his work. He'd heard rumors that some of his old friends were here; perhaps it was high time he tried to find them.

Riya. Bitch thought Rabin was some kind of monster, hurting all those around the one that he really wanted to hurt. Rabin didn't do that. Rabin wasn't like that. He hurt people, yes; some people needed a little hurting. But he did it himself, and he did it to the one that deserved it exclusively, and he did it straightforward and fair, one on one, no sneaky bullshit.

But this Riya, she'd wanted Rabin to hurt Gabriel's woman. Fuck that. Rabin wasn't some damn thug. It was Gabriel he hated, Gabriel that needed to be taught a lesson. Solenis was a royal bitch too, almost as insufferable as Gabriel, but she'd never gone out of her way to embarrass Rabin, like Gabriel had that first day in Scorpion. Rabin didn't even count the final exam earlier today against her, not really; he figured it had probably been Gabriel's idea anyways. Seemed like a sneaky damn thing for him to do.

Rabin was still drunk. He'd gone and taken a shower, brushed his teeth, but he needed coffee now. He'd not been totally smashed, but it was enough to deaden his senses, and it didn't seem quite so fun right now as it had at the time.

So he was here, looking for caffeine.

Rox was here. Rabin might have spoken to her, but he was feeling rather ashamed of himself. Riya actually thought that Rabin was the kind of person that would do that. If Riya had come to that conclusion after a mere six months, what must everybody else think?

They think I am a thug. I am not a thug.