It wasn't a surprise for Kimball to see Doyle's office light on late at night.

The security system already acknowledged on her as a friend and let the door slid open for her only to see scattered papers on the desk and a dim light from panel table, displaying a birds' eye view of possible space pirate bases on Chorus.

Across the room, the bullet proof glass doors were pushed to one side, letting the wind from outside drift into the office from the balcony. There at the ledge, gazing over the Capital was Doyle.

Kimball knocked on the glass door, "Hey."

"Hello Kimball," Doyle greeted, he looked over his shoulder, "If you want coffee or tea, there's a pot by my desk."

Moments later, Kimball was at Doyle's side, sipping coffee while he sipped his tea. Neither of them said anything; they simply enjoyed the silence of the night and the peaceful view of the Capital's lights. After all, they didn't know when their last moments will happen.

"Is this a good idea that we're in plain view? We are defenseless right now," Kimball mused, no real panic in her voice, "Perfect for a sniper."

"Well, the general before me chose this exact location for the office to avoid snipers if that reassures you," Doyle looked up at skyscrapers, "Also Epsilon activated the motion trackers for the buildings."

"Yeah, Carolina informed me about that," Kimball nodded, "For some reason, the trackers for the helmets aren't working correctly. Also, did you see some purple light on Epsilon when he was talking about motion trackers?"

"From what I heard from Grey, it's probably Project Freelancer related."

The silence took over again, the wind easing the two with comfort. Kimball nudged Doyle with her elbow, "This is a lot like my radioactive lake back at the caves. Tranquil. It's also radioactive but I wouldn't mind showing you it."

Sighing, Doyle placed his empty teacup on the ledge, "That's assuming that I'm not killed on the way there."

"Doyle, you're not going to be assassinated."

"That's not what I meant," Doyle's grips on the ledge tighten, his knuckles turning white, "One day, I'm going to die. I'm going to die not as a soldier but as a coward! I will die as the worst general of Federal army."

"Doyle, you're a good leader. You have soldiers who respect you." Kimball reassured but he continued, his voice becoming softer.

"I am their leader but I don't see myself as one. I'm not brave or experienced, I'm just the man who ended up with the position," he sighed and continued to spill his misery, "The only sign of success during my time was because of Locus."

Kimball's shoulders slumped down at the memory of Felix's confession, "I thought the same for Felix as well."

Doyle faced her, seeing how the dark circles of insomnia around his eyes matched her own, "Kimball, you've seen from experience on how much of a coward I really am. I can't charge into the battlefield like you and the Reds and Blues." He fanatically waved his hands and shouted, "I even fainted last week when Freckles threatened me when I took the tank keys away from Caboose!" He sighed again, his tone in defeat, "I'm a failure."

There was a beat of silence as Doyle turned away from her, facing the Capital lights but then Kimball simply said, "No."

"No?"

"No," she repeated and grabbed Doyle's shoulder to turn him facing her, "You're wrong Doyle. You're not going to die a coward and you're not a failure. You're a leader, you have faith and honor for your army and in return they believe in you as their leader."

"But I'm a coward. How can a coward be a leader?" Doyle questioned, avoiding Kimball's stern glare.

"Will you stop talking like that?" Kimball crossed her arms and eased her scowl, "I understand your insecurities but what's the point on continuingly doubting yourself?"

Doyle's silence and frown was her answer.

"You and I both know the hardship of being a leader and being a leader also means that it's not always about you," Kimball dropped her arms and poked Doyle's chest, "Like I said, there are soldiers who look up to you and they'll be there for you if you'll be there for them. Fleeing from battle is not the way to win a war," she settled her arms on the ledge and smiled at the dazzling lights of the Capital, "Your army deserves a great leader Doyle and I think that can be you."

Gratefully smiling, Doyle nudged his elbow on her arm, "Thank you Kimball, I think I needed that."

"You're welcome," she smirked, "I'm getting used to telling people to get their crap together in an inspiring way."

Doyle only gave a questioning glance but just laughed it off, "I'll get us more coffee and tea. How do you take your coffee?"

"Cream and five sugars," as Doyle walked inside to the coffee and tea pots, she thought out loud, "I learned from an old mentor of mine that being a leader isn't just a title you carry into battle but a badge you wear constantly," returning with her coffee, Doyle set it next to her and drank his tea and listened, "If you're not performing at your absolute best, then what reasons you do give to others to follow you?"

Kimball drank her coffee as Doyle commented, "You certainly are wise."

She shrugged, "I prefer genius."

Thanks for reading!