She was in the home stretch.

Grasping the flag with her left hand, she ran around the corner, her gun blazing from her right.

Two thugs blocked her path.

Easily bounding over them, she continued sprinting toward her goal. Dodging enemy fire she landed at her home target with two seconds to spare.

The victory music played. Princess had won again, this time on Level 32.

Ever since she had received the Army Fighter for her birthday it had rarely left her game console. Every spare moment she had she would pick it up and play a few games. And it showed. Even though everyone had access to the system, hers was the only name in the top ten scores. There was just something fun about this first person shooter.

Mark thought she was crazy to enjoy it so much.

"Isn't it just like training?" he would ask, "Like work?"

Princess would just shake her head and laugh. He didn't understand.

To his credit, Mark tried to play the game with her a few times, but just wasn't as interested as she was. Or maybe his pride had been wounded that she had pasted him… without really trying. In any case he ignored her obsession with it.

Which was easy enough. For the last couple of months he had been so busy at the Space Academy. He rarely came home anymore, even on weekends. If she was lucky she'd see him for a couple of days when Christmas came, and then he would be gone again before New Year's. Last year, when he had been a senior in high school, and she a junior, he had taken her to the senior prom.

Was it only a few months ago? It had been a magical night, and he had even kissed her once… softly… almost a whisper… while they were on the dance floor. At that moment she had thought that things would start to happen between them.

But for whatever reason they had not, and she had instead become addicted to a game.

She shrugged and began another session.

"Level 33, here I come!" she gloated.

A noise behind her made her jump. Pausing the game, she looked around.

Jason leaned against the wall in his trademark pose: arms crossed and eyeing her with interest.

"What are you doing here, Jase?" she asked. "Surely the Great Condor has a date on Friday night?"

"Not necessarily…" he grinned. "And don't call me Shirley."

Princess groaned. "That joke is so old Jase! With material like that it's no wonder you can't get a date."

"I think I've found a naïve soul who actually buys into my reputation!" Jason laughed. "Everyone seems to think that I have all of this experience with the ladies when actually…" He grew quiet.

"Actually… what?" asked Princess eagerly. She loved a good piece of gossip and this might buy her some leverage later on. A girl living with four guys never knew what kind of ammunition she might need down the road.

Jason walked over and sat next to her on the rug.

"Actually, I don't go on that many dates." he said matter-of-factly. "I think the girls are scared of me."

"Hmmmmm…." Princess put a finger on her lips as she considered the situation. "I can see that. Someone who doesn't know you might be put off by that icy Condor glare you seem to wear so often."

"Icy Condor glare, huh?" laughed Jason. "You've put some thought into this."

"No, not really." she replied. "It came to me, looking at you just now."

Jason appeared thoughtful.

"So what are you doing at home on Friday night?" he asked. "Why aren't you out with some of those giggling girlfriends of yours?"

"I think you have me mixed up with one of those empty-headed girls who is put off by your icy glare." Princess retorted. "I haven't had a 'giggling girlfriend', as you put it, in ages."

"Really?" asked Jason interestedly, "Why not?"

"Just…" Princess searched for the right words, "I just have nothing in common with them. Heck, I can't even invite them over since we're living at the training facility. Can you imagine me trying to get one of those girls through security?" She laughed.

"Oh, it can be done…" Jason winked suggestively.

"You're putting me on!" accused Princess, and she poked him in the ribs. He continued to grin wickedly at her and she was suddenly unsure.

"Uh… aren't you?"

He could only keep his face straight for another few seconds before he burst out laughing.

"Of course I am!" he said. "You're just another one of those giggling girls, buying into my reputation."

"Jerk!" Princess cried, and she pushed his chest with both hands. What she hadn't taken into account was how unstable his position was. Jason fell backward and Princess, losing her balance, landed on top of him.

They both laughed harder than ever. Princess couldn't remember having this much fun in a long time.

As their laughter died down, Jason became aware of the position they were in. While he certainly didn't mind, he wasn't sure how Princess felt about it.

"Oops!" she giggled again. "Silly me! I guess I am one of those giggling girls!" She sat up on the rug.

She kept smiling to hide her confusion. It felt good lying on top of Jason and laughing… but she wasn't sure that it was right.

Jason grinned wolfishly at her as he sat up.

"See, I was right!" he exclaimed.

"I guess so…" said Princess. "And we both know how much you love being right…"

He ignored the verbal jab.

"But seriously, Princess," he continued, "you need to have some friends. Someone outside of the team."

Her hackles rose. "Why?" she demanded. "What's wrong with hanging out with you four?"

"Well for one, it's not four of us right now." Jason replied. "With Tiny and Mark at the Academy, it's just me and Keyop. I know you love Keyop, but he's just a kid. So basically that leaves me."

Princess fell silent at this stark truth. There was a reason she was so good at Army Fighter.

She tried to explain.

"I just can't get close to anyone…" she began. "I can talk and laugh with other people, but I can't really tell them anything about myself. I can't really let them know what I do, what kind of career I'm training for."

She looked up at him, and he could see the pain in her eyes.

"I have to keep so many secrets, Jase. And it tears me up inside. It's just easier to keep everyone at arms' length."

She sighed. "You probably think I'm crazy. The rest of you all hang out with other kids at school. But I can't do that. No one really understands… and the sad part is that no one ever could."

Jason took Princess' hands in his.

"I understand, Prin."

Princess looked at Jason. She rarely saw this side of him. He was being so empathetic; not like his usual demeanor at all. She looked into his eyes and saw his seriousness and… vulnerability?

No… Vulnerability was not an emotion one would ever associate with the Condor.

But she found that the word refused to leave her mind.

"I guess you do." she responded slowly.

Jason's face took on a thoughtful, playful look.

"Tell you what, Prin." he suggested, "Why don't you come out with me tonight? I know this great place…"

He stopped speaking as she shook her head.

"No… I can't go anywhere tonight." she said. "Keyop isn't feeling well, and I promised him I'd stick around in case he needed me."

"Oh come on, Prin." Jason protested, "You know he's not going to wake up!"

"All the same," Princess insisted, "he's the closest thing I've got to a family, and I made him a promise."

Jason knew she was right, but he had another idea.

"So why don't we just hang out here?" he asked.

"Okay…" said Princess, "Are you sure? You're not just hanging out with me because you feel sorry for me?"

"Not at all!" insisted Jason. "Scout's honor!"

"Uh… Jase… You were never a Scout."

"D'oh!" he smacked his forehead in mock distress. "You found me out!"

She smothered a laugh behind her hand. "All right then... what would you like to do, oh Scouting Condor?"

Jason looked around the rec room.

"Well…" his eyes fell on the game console. "We could play Army Fighter."

Princess was surprised. "Really? I don't think I've ever seen you play it before."

"Doesn't mean I can't." Jason replied. "It must be fun with the amount of time you spend on it."

"You think so?" she asked, surprised. "Mark thinks it's a waste of time. Too much like work."

"And when did Mark's opinion ever make a difference to me?" he smirked.

"Point taken." Princess smiled. "So do you want to start at Level 1? I could show you some basic strategies."

"I think I could do better than that." Jason grinned. "Why don't we go head to head?"

"Head to head? I don't think that's such a good idea, Jason." Princess said.

"What, you're afraid I'll beat you?" he asked.

"Not at all." Princess said smugly, "But it would be a shame if I beat you so badly that you never wanted to play again."

"Oh, a challenge!" he retorted. "Let's say we make this interesting…"