When he gazed out one of the small windows near the only door and saw them attempting to climb the hill Mikhail couldn't help but laugh. He was barely able to let them in when Richard finally knocked. They had taken a while to get there, probably because walking up the hill was like walking on a slick oil path and as hard as they tried, they couldn't stop falling back down. For once Mikhail didn't mind how long it took them to reach the door, he needed the time to laugh it all out now. It wasn't until he opened the door though that he realized just how ridiculous they looked. They were both caked with wet mud, The only way Mikhail could tell them apart was the difference in height and the eyes looking back at him.

"What happened?" he asked, trying to keep from going into another laughing fit.

"Richard slipped into the river and had the great idea to grab my leg and drown me with him," Ben answered as his vibrant eyes flicked over to the coal coloured ones of Richard. The room fell into an uneasy silence just from that single movement. Mikhail watched silently as Richard tore his eyes away from Ben's burning gaze and looked back to him. Mikhail didn't know why, but his smile returned and within seconds they were both laughing despite Ben's annoyance.

As he stood there laughing with Richard beside him Mikhail remembered something, The monitors. He didn't know for sure but he had a hunch that someone would have to make a very unpleasent deal with a bright red man on goat legs to replace them. "There's a hose around the back of the station, you can use that to get the mud off. A little more water won't hurt you at this point" Mikhail said quickly as he opened the door and ushered them back out. He didn't think they were foolish enough to touch the electronics while they were blanketed in wet mud but you could never be to careful. After they were both outside Mikhail decided the best thing to do would be to get them each some dry clothes, then he'd make some coffee. A coffee was exactly what he needed at the moment and after the last few hours he really deserved one.

He left the main room and proceeded to the one that he used as a bedroom to find some basic clothing that could fit Richard and Ben, for when they managed to get all the mud off. Mikhail could quite vivedly imagine Richard getting to the hose before Ben and spraying him in the face with it, Richard was a funny guy for the most part but given Ben's uptight personality he was suprised that Ben hadn't punched him in the head yet, or maybe Richard was just out of his reach so he didn't even bother to try. Either way the thought brought a slight smile to his face, it had been a while since he could actually befriend people without the fear of loseing them. Mikhail was going through the many drawers that held all different sizes of clothing which he had carefully organized by size from left to right. To say the least he retrieved Ben's basic suit from the left, thinking they may still be a little big for the small man he decided to replace the pants with shorts and a jumpsuit then did did the same for Richard, so wouldn't offend Ben. Mikhail wondered briefly who the people here before him where, there were four beds in the station and he often wondered who they belonged to but never asked. Mikhail liked working alone and didn't want to jeopardize that by sounding lonely. He emptied the thoughts of the beds and previous workers from his already worried mind and soon enough he had the clothes neatly folded and turned to leave, clicking off the lights on his way out.

Mikhail came back in the main room with the simple suits he had collected for them that consisted of underwear, shorts, T-shirts, and grey jumpsuits. Richard was playing a game of chess against the computer while Ben idley watched from the small round table. Richard seemed to be mesmerized by the screen while Ben was impatiently tapping his fingers on the table. Mikhail could only see the back of Ben's head but could imagine the bored look that was definatly masked on his face right now. Mikhail personally thought Ben would have loved nothing more than to destroy the computer after being the first living or non living thing in everyone's memory to win against him, not that it won fairly. Sure Ben had always said it wasn't a big deal but Mikhail had noticed that if you glanced over to him at the right moment you could see that he felt quite the opposite. The only thing holding him back and keeping the thing in one piece was probably the guarentee of a prize if you won and the appeal the prize had to Ben's curiosity. To Mikhail those were the two worst traits a leader could possibly have, if the military had taught him anything it was that: routine is a necesity, trust is a necesity, curiosity is a leading cause of death and most of all to accept the fact that you can't always win.

"You do know that the instant you turn your back or get up from your seat it will have you in checkmate?" Ben asked as Richard continued playing, his eyes watching nothing but the screen.

"I don't really mind losing Ben, I'm just killing time until Mikhail comes back with dry clothes".

"It isn't the losing that bothers me, it's just the thought that it might only let you lose so many times before there's a catch."

"Like what Ben, blowing up in my face?" Richard was laughing now "You have alway's been such a pestimist, even when you were a kid."

"What can I say, hope for the best but expect the worst. It pay's to think ahead though, right Mikhail?"

Everyone had said it was nearly impossible to sneak up on Ben but he really couldn't figure out what had given him away. Richard finally pulled his attention away from the screen and got up to claim his dry clothes. Ben followed suit with Richard and answered the question that was practically drawn on Mikhail's face "I heard the door click when you closed it" Ben said plainly. Mikhail wasn't overly pleased at something as simple as that being the reason Ben knew he was eavesdropping, but there was nothing else he could remember doing wrong. Richard took his neatly folded stack and moved towards the washroom to make sure he got in first. Ben on the other hand stopped himself just as he reached for it, like he was seeing a trap in the folds of the material. Mikhail saw a very pronounced darkness appear in Ben's Emerald eyes, when he blinked it was gone.

"Mikhail do you have any pant's?" Ben asked

"Yes but your a little too-"

"That's fine I have a belt" Ben cut him off.

Mikhail was still a little stunned at receiving that look from Ben but turned to get the requested, or more appropriatly demanded pants. He looked over at Richard who was still standing about six feet from the bathroom door, he was looking from Ben to him as if watching a fight unfold. You would have never believed they were laughing like they were the best of friends less than ten minutes ago. Mikhail came back with the pant's Ben had requested/demanded and handed them over. He watched as Ben walked into the bathroom to change then jogged silently to the other side of the room beside Richard. He watched as he began a new game, sure enough Ben had been right and it had put Richard in check while no one was watching. As he opened his mouth to question him about what happened with Ben and the set of clothing he had offered Richard said "Maybe Later" and that was that.