Summary: Sybil and I are doing another FicTicTacToe. This time, we're doing Nichol and Lady Une with the set Symbols. This is move 8: 04. Gift.

Vladimir found himself grinding his teeth in frustration. The commoner Barton had not been demoted, nor had Colonel Une. Worse, the commoner seemed to be having a positive impact on the Colonel's mental stability. She was becoming more whole, again.

To make matters worse, Khushrenada was merely under house arrest. He had not been demoted, and his influence continued to extend inordinately far into space. The situation was becoming unbearable. At this rate, he would not continue to advance.

Now, he was forced to wait outside her office while she finished some other paperwork. He was at her mercy, a minor officer in her estimation. He was waiting on a colonel with a tramp tattoo, when he should be giving her orders.

At last, he was given permission to enter. She had her glasses on, and a severe expression to go with them. "Welcome, Lieutenant Nichol."

"Ma'am."

"Ever since you joined my command, I've become aware of some unusual politics surrounding you. I've had... 'firm'... recommendations that I recommend you for promotion. I've had unusual scrutiny into my performance of my duties. Everything that seems to irritate you comes to the attention of my superiors."

Nichol merely gazed at Colonel tramp, unwilling to acknowledge the accusations she was hinting at.

"I decided to find out what an incompetent like you is doing with the rank of Second Lieutenant." Well, a person in his position deserved far more, but he didn't really see the point. He was far from incompetent. He was a leader by birth. "I quickly discovered that your father is Aleksander Nichol."

Vladimir nodded as he said, "Yes, Ma'am."

"The same Aleksander Nichol who supplies nearly all the munitions used by OZ."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"It's a good thing you didn't mention your father's name before. You're nearly as odious a gift as his last one to me."

Vladimir looked at her with confusion. "Gift, Ma'am?"

She smiled evilly. "You see, Lieutenant, I've had encounters with your father before. He's a very well known man in the streets of Paris. Every time he visited on business, he felt the urge to quench the appetites of a man away from his wife."

Vladimir felt confused. What was she saying? What was she accusing his father of?

"I feel sorry for your mother, Vladimir. Aleksander is not a gentle man, and he is not discrete. I'm sure she didn't appreciate him bringing her diseases."

Vladimir could feel the heat rising in his face. "How dare you..."

"He gave me Chlamydia."

Vladimir's jaw dropped.

"I was lucky, some of the girls he spent time with needed bones set. Mr. Treize saw my potential and rescued me from that life, but it has marked me."

Vladimir could do nothing but stare. She had been with his father? For money?

"Now, let me make this clear to you, Lieutenant. You will cease to interfere with me, or I will personally see to it that you are the ranking officer in Siberia. I will not be satisfied with having the recommendation on your file. You will be there. Do I make myself clear?"

He gulped. There was a fire in her eyes, and venom in her tone, that told him she was barely restraining herself from inflicting all the hurt she had received at his father's hands on his head.

"Perfectly, Ma'am."

"Dismissed, Lieutenant Nichol." His name came out with a sneer, and he fled.

Nichol decided he would have a very different attitude from now on.