"All right, get out." Wash said affectionately as he stopped the jeep. The beach that he had decided to stop at was almost empty of people. Despite the hot temperature, there was only a small family and two joggers. One had a dog. The sand on the beach was clean and nearly white. Obviously the people here made an attempt to keep it nice because he couldn't see a single piece of trash. The water was a fresh blue and there were two sailboats out far in the distance. Other than those, nothing marred the horizon. The waves washed up gently on the shore, their sound carrying across the beach to the three in the jeep. The afternoon sun reflected off the water, the light rippling with the waves.

Wash looked at the jaguar that climbed out of the jeep. Noca turned around and picked up a small jaguar cub, weighing fifteen pounds, a bit large for a two-month old cub. She was their new trainee and Wash decided to try to have some fun with her. The young jaguar, Fira, had been rambunctious with Noca but had immediately stopped when Wash showed himself.

The cub was dropped to the ground and her small paws sank into the sand. She pawed at it, then jumped back and sneezed as it blew in her face.

Noca purred softly, then looked at Wash questioningly. *Why are we here?*

Wash smiled at the cub and spoke out loud. "Just wanted to have some fun. Go on, go play."

Noca looked down at the cub who was trying desperately to get away from the sand. With a small cough, Noca picked the cub up by her scruff and tossed her a couple feet. Fira landed with a soft thud and she shook her head, jumping to her feet- and promptly losing her footing as the sand shifted beneath her. She thudded to the ground again and Noca leapt down in front of her and nosed her roughly, sending her tumbling.

Fira again attempted to jump up and she slipped again. This time, Noca rolled onto her back next to the cub, who jumped on top of her and began to make the cutest little snarls Wash had ever heard.

He shook his head and began walking down closer to the water. Noca stood up, now playfully ignoring the cub as she slipped off and tried to run after them, slipping and sliding all the way.

Noca shook her head and, after a looked at Wash, bounded ahead. Wash watched Noca reach the water's edge and run into the surf. He looked on carefully as Fira followed and ran into the water as well. Noca swam close to the cub, ready to grab her if she needed to.

Fira went under after a while, Noca promptly pulling her out again.

*Wait,* She said to Wash as he quickly got to his feet from where he had been pulling his armor off. *She should learn.*

Wash sat back down, trusting Noca as the young cub again went under and was pulled out again.

Fira made a small cry, unhappy now. Noca only nudged her gently, but didn't let her go back to land, forcing the young jaguar to swim.

Wash set the last of his armor down as Noca finally allowed the cub to go onto the sand again. Fira lay down immediately and glared at the older jaguar. The agent laughed as Noca only splashed water on her, causing the younger to straighten up and let out another snarl. She flung herself at Noca. Noca moved out of the way and the cub splashed into the water, this time coming up by herself and emitting the odd coughing of the jaguars at Noca, dragging herself back onto the beach to lie again where the surf would touch her but not drag her in.

Noca splashed around on her own for a little while before grabbing the now sleeping cub and tossing her into the water.

Fira paddled back towards the beach, now thoroughly determined to take Noca down. She leapt onto her shoulder, only succeeding to slip off the wet fur. She attacked Noca's paws only to be tossed aside with an amused purr coming from the older.

Still not daunted, the cub tried and failed to be sneaky as she made her way around to Noca's tail. Wash laughed as Noca's head shot up when the cub began climbing up her tail. She then waited until Fira was on her back before sprinting towards the water and leaping in with joyous coughing. Wash laughed harder as a now bedraggled Fira once again dragged herself onto the beach, this time slowly making her way over to Wash.

Wash tried not to watch the cub. Eventually, he felt a small, cold, wet body next to him and a small sigh left that body. He looked down now to see Fira curled up next to him, eyes already closed. Noca was watching and she trotted up to them when the cub had fallen asleep. She lay down on Wash's other side and began cleaning herself.

*Where are we going?* She asked him after a moment.

*We're going to a desert outpost. They think the Meta may have gone there.* Wash replied, not wanting to wake the cub.

*Hm.* Noca replied. *Think she'll be okay?*

Wash shrugged. *She'll have to be.*

Noca was silent for another while before she spoke again. *Wash…I think…*

Wash looked at her. Noca was only nervous about talking about something when it was really important. He stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.

*I heard that she's supposed to replace me.* Noca said finally.

"What?" Wash almost jumped to his feet, only remembering the sleeping cub as an afterthought. *No. Why would you need replacing?*

*I'm getting old.* Noca told him plainly, still not looking at him.

*No, you're fine-*

*I'm getting slower and I'm not going to be able to keep doing this for so long.* Now she looked at him, and it was he who looked away. *I just…don't shut down on her.*

*What do you mean?* He asked after a moment.

*David, you can be really cold. If I do get replaced, promise me you'll treat her like you would me.* Wash looked up at the use of his real name, then looked down.

*David?*

*I don't kn-*

*She's going to be good. She's going to be big and strong and all she's going to want is to please you. David, she's going to be a better partner then I-*

*Noca, stop!* Wash ordered. The jaguar instantly fell silent but she continued to stare at him. Eventually, Wash sighed and let down walls they had set up so they weren't in each other's minds all the time. Noca's mind joined with his and he felt his senses change.

*You knew this was coming.* Noca thought quietly.

Wash only nodded.

*Please, David. She needs you. Look at her.* Wash followed her request, looking down at the still sleeping cub before looking away.

*I know you're scared. We both knew this was going to happen eventually. We knew one of us would probably leave before the other. But you can't just shut her out.* Noca persisted. *David, I need you to promise.*

Wash was quiet for a while before he looked at her. *I can't promise that I will be. But for you, Noca, I'll try.*

Noca purred and rubbed her head against him. *That's all I need.* They sat quietly, one sleeping and the other two watching the sun change the color of the water. Presently, Wash became aware of the stirring, then departure of the cub.

He laughed as the cub's attempt on Noca only got her thrown into the sand. The agent soon sobered as he watched the two jaguars play. He had been trying to ignore, he realized, that Noca's movements were slower than they had been before, that she tired of play faster than she had. Now though, he was faced with it. The two were a good match though, with Fira's endless optimism that she would bring Noca to the ground and get to stand above her. Wash had a flash of a much larger Fira standing above Noca as she struggled beneath the younger, stronger jaguar.

He shook his head and watched as the cub was yet again cast aside with ease.

A beeping sounded from his armor and he grabbed his helmet, putting it on.

"Recovery One, come in Recovery One." Command.

"Recovery One here. Proceed, Command."

"Recovery One, you have been stationary for an extended period of time."

"Yes, Command. We were just leaving."

"News of the Meta?" They went from scolding to interested.

"No. Just a stop."

"Get on it, Wash." 479er said. "We need to recover those AI."

"Yes, Command. Recovery One out."

"Command out."

Wash sighed and put his helmet down. "We're leaving soon." He called to the two tussling jaguars. They stopped their play and came over. Noca began to lick Fira with long strokes. The cub stood patiently as the sand was cleaned off her.

Wash himself began to put on his armor. Noca had finished cleaning Fira and was working on herself.

"Come on." He told her. "We have work to do."