A nock appears on my door. I pull the shirt I had been using to clean my armour on over my naked body and put the wrist guards I had been polishing down next to me on the bed with the rest of the polished armour.

'Enter,' I call.

To my surprise, Vector stands at the open door. He looks around with curiosity, something slightly inhuman in his movements. I wait. He eventually looks at me and hesitates.

'Last night we tried our first ration bar. We savoured the taste for two hours. We could taste every nutrient, every chemical compound, every trace of foil. Do you know what joining the Killiks does to a person?'

'Makes them unique in that they actually enjoy eating ration bars?' He smiles and shakes his head. I can't help but grin back. It's far too real and far too happy. But the feeling it causes prompts me to continue. 'I can't believe you get excited about eating a ration bar. That's very cute, Vector.'

He smiles in the way only he does, like only part of him is here and that part is feeling something that struggles against the rest; like a man on a spice trip. It causes a pain a Cipher should never feel. But then, I'm not a very good Cipher since he came aboard.

'We will let you know when we try the Chaka noodles.'

I choke back a chuckle and it turns into a cough. Did bug-boy just flirt back?

'Did you only come to tell me that your new meaning and dedication is to tasting every form of Imperial military gruel available?'

The smile widens but then fades slowly. 'No, but that does bring us to something more serious. Keeper described us a covert assault agent. Our position as Dawn Herald gives us that capacity. We just don't know if that's the only reason we're here.' He pauses for a moment. 'Or if it should be.' The perplexed look of the last time we spoke crosses his face again.

'I consider you a major assets. Though I have been conducting research into the abilities of Joiners there is little information to read and what there is shrouded in bias. I would be grateful for you to tell me your skills so I can better use you as I am still learning your talents beyond a taste tester,' I end with a smile.

Good. You sounded like an Agent. You are an Agent. Just not when it comes to him, a malicious voice whispers. Shut up. I couldn't let this stale mate continue. I was going to approach him tonight. Three weeks without his company is all I could stand.

'So are we in a way.'

'You have your connection to the Killiks, an impressive ability with an electrostaff, improved eye sight, sences and a rationale though sometimes queer perspective as well as the increased physical strength of being a joiner.'

'But... our whole life, we have been a diplomat and a man. Whatever else we become, perhaps it is best we do not forget it.'

He leaves silently, the door hissing shut behind him. I fall back onto my bed and sigh. A man, huh? I don't sleep. I stay up all night thinking of Vector's words and wondering if it is his answer. It's meaningless as long as he can promise to be my man. I'm getting in far too deep and I'm enjoying the slow, painful drown as he presses me further under.