[Kaydel]

Kaydel waited until the press of well-wishers began to disperse. She stepped forward. "You have a name now. Congratulations. Can I give you a hug?"

CL- … no, Lady, looked at her, blinking uncertainly. "Yes?"

Kaydel embraced her. She was a stout woman and hard as a rock. Maybe that was the armor. Kaydel gave her an enthusiastic squeeze anyway and parted from her grinning.

Lady started to speak, then sniffed and wiped at her eyes, obviously trying to adopt a little more decorum than she'd had with her unit. "Thank you." She paused for a moment, then asked, "What was your full name again? Will you tell me?"

"Kaydel Ko Connix. But you can call me Kaydel, or Connix, or Kaydel Ko, or Kaydel Connix."

Lady considered that. "Any combination then except your full name?"

Kaydel smiled. "Yes. Where I come from, you're only called your full name like that for formal functions or by family members when you're in big trouble."

"Ah. Names are … funny things."

"Yeah," Kaydel said shyly. "You don't have the wear the helmet either now."

"No." Lady wiggled it under her arm. "But I will."

"So you're going to stick with the armor?"

Lady sighed. "Well. I need the comm screens and the readouts on everyone."

"Isn't that now the job of the staff sergeant? FL …?"

"FL-2216. Yes, it is. You're right. I should … let her do it." Lady looked over to where H-482 and FL-2216 were talking quietly about the duty roster and showering schedule. Which surprised Kaydel that they'd have a duty roster given the situation, but then again, the troopers had a constant rotating perimeter guard with relief and overwatch, scheduled hygiene, now with cooking and food gathering, and whatever other things they were up to. Those tasks were being assigned somehow. It was just that since she wasn't involved, she didn't see most of what went into it.

"It's hard to let go, isn't it?" Kaydel asked.

"Yes. But … I should. I will. That's my duty now."

"Well," Kaydel said, extending a hand, "let me know if you ever need your hair combed."

Lady looked at the hand for a moment like she didn't know what to do with it, then took it in both of hers instead of the one for the handshake Kaydel had been expecting. Lady gave it a careful squeeze and released. "Same. You have … so much more." Her eyes danced over Kaydel's braided crown.

Kaydel looked at her, trying to decide if that was an offer, and took a chance. "Yeah. I, uh, have to comb it every morning."

"Oh. Then … tomorrow?"

Kaydel smiled and bit her lips briefly, her cheeks tight on a suppressed smile. It had been an offer, though small enough that it was easy to overlook. "Tomorrow, Lieutenant."