'Ahm,' holding his evening meal tray, Dylan cleared his throat. He'd flown back to Arcology two hours ago in the Commodore's personal vehicle. Planning his arrival for the very last minute, Cadet Beyda rushed to locate his new quarters and dress for mess hall.

'What,' Joseph Ng screwed up his face in surprise as the others surrounding the table looked at him with a meaningful expression.

Turning to face the individual making the noise, a frown appeared on the young Chinese cadet's face. When Joseph discovered the chair empty beside Kallan James, he'd rejoiced. Rumour had it she'd broken up with her long term boyfriend over the end of year break. Added to that, her usual companion hadn't returned from his vacation. Using the opportunity to rub shoulders with the pretty blonde before classes recommenced in the morning, he hoped to gage her readiness to date.

'You're in his chair,' Tiny grinned from across the table, pointing out Dylan glaring at the interloper. 'He always sits beside Kallan. Seating arrangements at this table have become a tradition.'

Looking to Ryoko at his side, Tiny shared an obvious joke. From the night Harrison ended up in the infirmary, the tight knit group of friends noticed a subtle change. It signalled the inclusion of Ryoko into their ranks. It also formed the catalyst for a closer bond between Kallan and Dylan. None of them questioned the change, being the only ones to know the truth about the events of that night and how much they had affected Cadet James.

'I don't see anyone's name on it,' Joseph refused to give up, indicating the end of the trestle table, 'besides there's space down there.'

Picking up her meal, Kallan shook her head. Smiling politely at her class mate, she wondered why he didn't get it. She'd never made a move to welcome him. In fact she'd been looking forward to seeing Dylan after a month apart. This gave her the opening to get Cadet Beyda alone and discuss the events occurring during her visit home.

'So there is. Come on Dylan,' she teased, winking at him, 'I want to catch up on your vacation with The Commodore. You can tell me all about those Hawaiian hula dancers you dated over the break. I bet you managed to get more than one grass skirt into a better location.'

'You're just jealous. I got sun and beach while you soaked your feet,' he grinned back. Following her down the table to an empty area, Dylan displayed a rare moment of humour.

'You heard what happened last year,' Ryoko waited until the pair where out of ear shot before asking the oblivious cadet.

'The Harrison incident,' he guessed, recalling the gossip. Few knew what really occurred and those who did, wouldn't say anything. The cadet had been rapidly transferred after spending several nights in the infirmary with a head injury.

Nodding her head, Ryoko added, 'Dylan picked up the pieces and has acted as Kallan's knight in shining armour ever since.' Glaring at Joseph before he could ask any more questions, she stated in a determined voice, 'they're always been good friends. I should know, sharing with Cadet James last year. It's not a bond any of us are likely to break.'

'Besides,' Luc added with a mocking smile, 'he has something the rest of us can't complete with.'

'What?' Joseph asked, astounded.

Managing to get a seat with the tight knit group, he considered himself lucky. Since the earliest days at the academy, they'd formed a cohesive circle. Only Ryoko managed admittance and that through her association with Tiny. Now he understood the basis of their friendship. It didn't rely on being in the top percentage of students. Rather they knew each other. They'd developed deep and steadfast friendships, protecting one other from the worst the academy could throw at them.

'Dylan's grandfather, The Commodore,' Chadapa offered, 'is the head of the IRO's oceanography station in Hawaii.'

'Oh,' Joseph made the surprised noise. He hadn't realised Dylan to be that well connected.

'Kallan plans to be the first female Thunderbird Captain,' Bruce added, 'and she's taking oceanography as her major this year in preparation to pilot TB-4. It'd be mighty handy to have your best friend's family in a position to help you secure that kind of future.'

'Dylan's father,' Valesh continued, 'is a Commander in the IRO and has something to do with the new space habitats. I wouldn't mind betting, they get some space experience before we get our training in our final year.'

Joseph suddenly saw the attraction. Understanding the brushoff, he played with his meal. He didn't have a chance with Cadet James, it appeared no one did. Her time and attention completely devoted to staying at the top of the class culminating in the Thunderbird training program.

'They're talking about us,' Dylan observed, glancing at his friends.

'Let them,' Kallan smiled, facing the group they'd left and winked brazenly. Tiny, blatantly watching the interaction returned the cheeky gesture. 'Who's your roommate?' she returned her focus to the man sitting opposite.

'Leonardo Macchetta,' he answered with a frown realising the reason behind Kallan's question. 'I've never really had much to do with him before a couple of hours ago. I think he might be a stickler for regulations.'

'That's going to curtail any midnight visits from your female admirers,' she teased. 'I believe Leo doesn't date much and rarely leaves quarters. He fought to get here so staying at the academy means a lot to him. It's going to be an interesting year for you Hotshot.'

'You have any better luck?' Dylan fired back, wondering how they'd continue their relationship with the mounting obstacles.

'Kate Brown,' she smiled allowing a twinkle to enter her green eyes. 'Not only are our rooms at opposite ends of the floor, neither of our room mates are likely to drop out this year, so we're stuck with them. At least Kate goes to all the academy parties and dates frequently, so I might be able to arrange something.'

Dylan's expression said so much. It forced a giggle from Kallan, who could almost read his thoughts. Reminding her of Cathol, her face sobered.

'You've got something to tell me,' Dylan remark easily reading the change, 'something important must have happened in Ireland for you to risk us sitting far enough away from everyone to start gossip.'

'Cathol and Ann got married,' she fired back, allowing her expression to tell Dylan how she really felt about the fact.

'Why?' he asked, perplexed, remembering the conversations they'd shared about Kallan's favourite brother.

'Family,' Kallan responded, telling him the unabridged story. 'I can't believe they agreed and then went through with it. They've only just turned eighteen. They're off to college and away from the expectations of family for the first time. They should be discovering life and who they really are.'

'You,' Dylan broke in to remind her, 'came here with preconceived ideas, picked someone safe to spend your time with so you could continue on a predetermined path without getting distracted. True, we've both grown, but that because the academy is forcing us into a mould they've set. Is that so different to your brother?'

'Yes,' she hissed, 'they've made this massive promise because someone else decided they needed to follow the socially acceptable path. Cathol admitted he'd been pressured into it, even if he had every intention of marrying Ann in five years' time.'

'Not everyone is as focused and determined as us,' Dylan reminded, wanting to reach out in support. One look into her green orbs and he could see what this discussion cost Kallan in terms of self-respect.

'But they are, in their way,' Kallan complained, acknowledging the comfort with a glance. 'Cathol and Ann graduated top of their class so they could both attend the same university. They have plans to return to rural medicine together after years of training. The path they've chosen is almost as long and arduous as ours.'

'Then how are they any different to us,' he challenged, 'except for a legal document?'

'Oh, the fact they live together,' she counted fingers, 'get to sleep in the same bed every night. Promising to share that life until they die, it's been sanctioned by both sets of parents and the church. Finally they're in love and have been since they turned fourteen, at least I think that's when most people noticed the attraction.'

'OK so you've got a couple of points in your favour,' he tried to humour. It never worked. Dylan's serious personality made it seem like he lectured. Giving him a look, he knew she understood. 'Seriously, Kallan, your brother and his wife are doing exactly what they want. It's just the when that's changed.'

'It's not the marriage,' she lamented, 'they always planned to do that. And I know their perfect for each other. It's the fact they've been forced into something to fit another person's ideas of socially acceptable behaviour.'

Shaking his head, Dylan summarised, 'your brother sounds like a strong minded individual who wouldn't bend to parental pressure unless he wanted too. In some ways he sounds very much like you in personality. He must have considered this step carefully before he agreed to it. Cathol and Ann made the choice about how they want to live their life, just as you have. Not everyone is strong enough to come thousands of kilometres to attend the academy, removing themselves from parental restriction to follow their dreams.'

'No, it's often easer to cave into expectation. With my mother, it's always been about controlling her children's destiny, what she considered best for us,' she confessed, 'at least it seems that way for me.'

'I know,' Dylan stated softly, making sure he captured her gaze. The simple statement offered so much. It also explained his capitulation on the return flight from Hawaii months ago and his continuing agreement to keep their relationship quiet.

'Are you done?' Kallan pointed to Dylan's dinner tray. They'd both been playing with their food during the conversation. 'I need to get out of here for a while.'

Nodding, he indicated they should go. There were things he wanted to do, if only they could find somewhere private. After a month apart, a month without being able to touch and pleasure each other, Dylan needed the chance to reconnect on an intimate level. Glancing at Kallan, she had the same thoughts. They didn't need to ask were they'd go. Virgil Park their destination, they both realised how many obstacles would be in their way this year.

'Nanna planned a visit Ireland,' Dylan broke the heavy silence as they walked, 'the second week of vacation.'

'Let me guess,' Kallan managed a smile, 'Dorathea displayed disappointment when she realised you didn't have any intention of looking me up even though you could have easily found my address. I'm glad you didn't just drop in. The entire family would have been knee deep in wedding plans. You showing up would have created a meltdown.'

'I think Nanna understood how much I missed my best friend,' Dylan said, feeling brave enough to reach out a hand, curling a blonde lock between his fingers. Allowing his hand to continue down her shoulder and arm, he finally tucked her smaller palm in his. Leading Kallan to their bench, they sat, side by side.

'You went anyway?' she asked, content to display this much intimacy for the moment.

'We stayed overnight with her younger brother, who's about the same age as my father,' shaking his head, Dylan came to realise the differences between his upbringing and Kallan's. 'I've never been before so it gave me a better understanding of your parent's customs and the reason you react the way you do. Nanna describes her family a traditional. I guess they're a lot like yours.'

Laughing openly at his expression, Kallan's eyes held mischief. 'Get a taste of good, wholesome Irish culture. I bet you stood around watching and not saying a word.'

'Didn't get the chance,' Dylan added cynically. 'My father's cousins, who are the same age as us, decided to take me out on the town for the night. I'd never met these people before but they included me like, well, a long lost relative. We got back in time for breakfast and church.'

'That,' Kallan responded, her merriment obvious, 'would have been interesting. Did you go?' Giving her a look that said, do you think I had a choice, Kallan chuckled. 'I bet they dragged you out sightseeing after that. You can't beat the hospitality of the Irish!'

'Pop sent his launch before my second cousins could drag me out for the day,' Dylan responded. 'He had a weeklong meeting in London. I managed to catch up with an old school friend, Susan Frantosa.'

'You've never mentioned her before,' Kallan teased, 'someone I need to be worried about.'

'Maybe,' he grinned, 'in the distant past. Susan's your age and has an older brother Edward. Their father is Richard Frantosa.'

'The engineer who plans to build an underwater electricity plant?' she queried. Nodding his head in agreement, Kallan asked, 'which boarding school did you attend in England?' Naming a prestigious and well know institution, she gasped. 'You came second in your class with that kind of competition?'

Nodding Dylan smirked. 'Susan's studying engineering at Oxford while Edward is already working as a geologist for his father's company.'

'So,' Kallan turned her green, mischievous eyes on him, 'you and Susan spent a quite week together.'

Ignoring her teasing, Dylan didn't want to get into how well Susan wanted to get reacquainted. He knew Kallan could guess by his silent embarrassment. Once again she surprised him by brushing off the subject. He wondered if it had more to do with trust in him or the fact she considered them just good friends. The idea of a sexual encounter with another woman abhorrent, he realised the depth of the bond they shared. Even if he'd wanted to take up Susan's offer, Dylan Beyda didn't consider himself free to do so.

'Two days,' Dylan finally responded. He'd missed Kallan humour and ability to poke fun at him. When she teased, calling him hotshot and insinuated relationships with other women, he enjoyed the attention. Susan's intense personality, too much like his own, left Dylan feeling awkward at her continued flirting. 'I have some news. Mum, Dad and Danny arrived back in Hawaii a few hours after me. They're moving to San Francisco. Dad's been assigned a permanent position on the space colonies project.'

'Oh,' Kallan offered surprised. 'You spent the last two weeks with them?'

'Yes,' he smiled, 'in Hawaii. Mum and Danny asked after you. Tell me what you did, after Cathol and Ann left on their honeymoon?' He half expected to Kallan to turn up at his grandfather's home at some point in her holiday. That she didn't spoke volumes about her resolution to keep relationship from her parents. After a single day with his Irish relatives, Dylan had a new appreciation of why Kallan acted the way she did.

'I felt estranged from my friends when I first went home,' Kallan confessed. 'Mum had me so busy until Cathol and Ann's wedding I didn't have much time for to anything. Then Clodagh managed get me away from the village we live in for an overnight unsanctioned bachelor party. I forgot how much fun she can be.'

Managing a slight smile, he understood. 'University's not that much different from the academy. I guess your friend is revelling in the freedom.'

'So it would seem,' Kallan agreed. 'I expect a lot of my school friends won't return after they've graduated. Like me, they found going home brought mixed emotions and restrictions they're no longer willing to submit too. I learnt how much I've grown away from my family and friends, and yet we're still going through the same emotions.'

'Meeting up with Susan,' Dylan stated, 'I realised the same thing. What happened with the Aaron situation? I've heard the gossip about you breaking up with your long term boyfriend. In case you didn't know, it's all over the academy.'

'His hints were more about the lack of propriety,' giving Dylan a look that could melt steel, Kallan's anger surfaced, 'than any personal relationships I might be involved with. He made it sound as though everyone is promiscuous and without morals. I had to avoid my mother's probing questions about what I get up to,' Kallan tried to keep a straight face. She lost the battle. 'When she discovered I'd learnt how to fire a weapon and fly a plane I think it finally began to sink in that she had no control over my actions anymore. She forgot about the inquisition into my romantic life.'

'That's one advantage of coming from a service family,' Dylan managed in support, 'they know what I could get up too.'

'Clodagh invited me to go with her to Dublin for the last week,' Kallan reminisced. 'She'd reached her limit of quiet country life and to be honest, so had I. I needed to come back to the academy early to get some rest. I don't know how she manages to fill her nights with parties, still passing her classes in the day.'

They'd caught up but not in a way that mattered. Unsure how they could continue the intimacy of their friendship, Dylan sighed heavily. 'I guess we'd better go back to the academy.'

'Dylan,' she lifted a palm to his cheek, 'I'm sorry this is all we can have right now. It's not what I want either.'

Nodding his understanding, he pulled her in for a quick, deep kiss. It communicated more than he'd like. From his side at least, it demonstrated his desperation and frustration.

'Maybe,' he suggested, 'we should walk away from this. It seems impossible.'

'If that's what you really want,' Kallan's green eyes speared his soul, gaining her answer in seconds. 'We'll find a way, Dylan. I promise.'

One thing he could count on with Kallan, she always kept her word.