James woke up on the warm asphalt among the pile of his classmates. They had trained earlier than usual to prepare for the admiral's assembly on top of extra scouting patrols the night before. Ina was already awake sitting against the brick wall writing in a spiral bound notebook. She rubbed her eyes and then noticed him. She informed dully, "The assembly starts in an hour and a half."

James nodded and stretched. "Did you sleep at all?"

Ina shook her head without looking up. He frowned. She was doing it again. He stood and leaned against the wall beside her. Looking over her shoulder, he saw an extensive mathematic formula spaced around a child's crayon drawing of a dinosaur. She put her pencil to her lips and then erased a number using her pinky to brush away the rubber bits.

Half an hour later, Hunk rolled over on Veronica and Rizavi. Rizavi groaned and lifted her knees, shoving against Pidge. Except Pidge was so small, it shoved her completely out of the pile until she fell off of Kinkaid 'Lion King' style with a surprised shout. Everyone startled awake by then. James covered his smile with a hand, but Ina couldn't stop a giggle at their antics. Yep. The graduating class of the Galaxy Garrison.

"Ow." Pidge held her head and curled up for a moment before splaying out. "Can we just pretend we have nothing to do for the rest of the day?"

Kinkaid sat up and rubbed his leg. James pushed off the wall and replied, "It's not that bad, Pidge."

Hunk rolled the other way onto his stomach and complained, "I agree with Katie."

Veronica stood and pulled Rizavi to her feet. "We've been working really hard, but if this pays off, we'll have more down time. Come on, guys. Just one last push."

They collectively groaned and James insisted, "On your feet. We don't want to be late."

He led them around the side of the school and up the steps when they heard raised voices. He shared a look with Ryan and they took off in the direction of the argument. They slowed to a standstill as a gathered crowd blocked the hall. James shoved his way through to where a trio of sophomores were fighting with the college jerks. James broke through the final circle with Ryan and Hunk right behind him and grabbed one sophomore by the back of the collar before he could escalate the situation.

Ryan put himself between another sophomore and Hunk had wrapped up the final student in a bear hug. James glared between the cadets and the punks and demanded, "What is going on?"

"We already told you brats we don't want any part of your pow-wow."

James shot a sideways glance at the jerk and asked the student, "Is this true?"

The cadet balled their fists and spat, "They refused to come to the admiral's assembly!"

"Okay, no need to shout." James put a firm hand on the cadet's shoulder and turned to the jerk whose friends had stepped up beside him. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but this assembly is not voluntary. If we are to survive as a species, we need to do what Admiral Sanda says."

He turned to the gathering crowd and said for everyone to hear, "The assembly will be in the gymnasium in forty five minutes. It is expected to run long to handle questions in an organized manner, so if you need to arrange for childcare of anyone under five years old, please check into the first grade classrooms on the second floor. Youth caretakers are waiting to be of assistance."

The crowd began to murmur and break up. James smiled down at the cadet he still held under control and winked. The cadet smiled shyly and looked away. James squeezed the cadet's shoulder and pushed them toward their classmates. He shook his head and rolled his shoulders. This whole leadership role really was more annoying than Keith had let on.

"James! On your six!"

James turned back and a fist connected with his face. He stumbled backward and Rizavi caught his arm. James grit his teeth and glared. "What the hell was that?"

The jock shook out his hand with a triumphant grin. "That's for being such a twat. Military kids always think they're above the rest of us. Well fuck off! We don't listen to you and we aren't going to your PTA meeting."

"Permission to engage," Leifsdottir requested with cold precision.

James smirked and denied, "Negative, Leif. If they want to be that way, then we don't want them. The admiral will decide what kind of corporal punishment fits their crimes against humanity." He wiped a thumb along his lower lip and added smugly, "Besides, I've been punched harder by twelve year olds."

"You fucking prick!"

James dodged the clumsy punch and kneed the jock in the stomach. Then the rest of the college jocks pushed forward and a full on brawl erupted. James was almost happy the tension finally snapped, especially against him and not the sophomores. The college kids had caused nothing but trouble since they'd first met.

Then a shrill whistle made him freeze and he instantly let go of the guy he was pummeling to stand against the wall at attention and salute. From the corner of his eye, he saw the rest of his classmates follow suit as Admiral Sanda strutted down the hall. The jocks picked themselves up and crowded together. James swallowed the lump in his throat as the admiral stopped in front of him.

She looked him and his classmates over and asked, "Squad Leader Griffin, what is the meaning of this?"

James said through his panting, "There was a disagreement about today's scheduled events, ma'am."

"And you thought this was the solution?"

James looked straight ahead and answered, "No, ma'am. Me and my squad did not initiate first hostile contact."

The admiral's lip twitched and she said under her breath, "Taking after Keith now, James?" James struggled not to grin and lifted his chin in pride. The admiral looked down her nose at the jocks and said, "As for you, report to the gymnasium on the double."

The jock who'd punched James had a bloody nose and black eye, but he answered, "Stay out of it, granny. That punk's going to eat his words."

Admiral Sanda glanced wide eyed at James as if to ask why he'd stopped before she walked right up to the jock. She was almost a full foot shorter than him, but the sharp intelligence in her eyes cowed him. She said succinctly, "You are to address me as Admiral, young man, and that cadet who gave you that beautiful shiner is five times the fighter you are. Ask me how I know that."

"I-"

"I know he's a better fighter, because I know exactly who taught him," Sanda interrupted while the jocks took a step back. "And guess who taught their teachers." She smiled in complete confidence of her victory. "That's right. I did. Now, do I have to repeat myself, or shall I have my best students continue to prove their abilities in combat?" The jocks shared a worried look and Sanda said more firmly, "Am I understood?"

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

The jock ground out, "Yes... Admiral. Come on, guys."

Admiral Sanda didn't move out of the way as they walked past. Then she turned and clicked her heels. "I said on the double."

The jocks glanced back before stumbling into a jog. Admiral Sanda chuckled under her breath and walked back to James. She glanced sideways up at him and shook her head with a smile before pulling him to her for a quick hug. "That was rash, James."

The rest of his class relaxed and Veronica reinforced, "It really wasn't our fault. That jerk threw the first punch."

Sanda shook her head. "Even you, Veronica. I see where your brother gets it."

Veronica giggled. "Thank you, Admiral."

Sanda sighed and said, "We should go or we'll be late to our own party."

Adam shouldered the pickaxe and paused to catch his breath. He'd tied his jacket around his waist and sweat poured down his back and neck. He wiped his forehead on the sleeve of his black t-shirt and shifted the handle of the pickaxe in his blistered hands.

The rest of the men beside him continued working, resolved to their fate. A middle aged woman walked by handing out pouches of water. Adam took two and turned to find Takashi. He ducked out of the smaller mine-shaft and worked his way back to the main atrium where Shiro had helped with material processing. Most of the processors were women and older men. It should have been easy to spot Shiro in the crowd, but Adam couldn't find him.

A tap on his shoulder made him jump and a man pointed to a dark corner behind a pile of dead ore. Adam wove through the lines of production and sought out his husband with an anxious heart. He rounded the rubble and the continuous noise of the mine faded into the background. Takashi was curled up on himself and clutched his diseased arm to his chest. He'd locked his jaw and his eyes were squeezed shut against the pain.

Adam silently knelt beside Shiro and held him. He murmured nonsense syllables and kissed Shiro's hairline while they desperately waited for the attack to pass. At last it was too much and Shiro whimpered in pain. Adam sucked his breath through his teeth and reached for the bracelet on Shiro's wrist. Shiro protested weakly, but it was too much to fight Adam and his pain. Adam turned Shiro's hand and felt his blood pressure drop. The bracelet was empty.

Adam swallowed and covered his mouth with his hand. "How long have you been out, Takashi?"

Shiro murmured through his shaking, "I didn't want you to worry."

"You lied and said there was enough for at least another week. How. Long."

Shiro leaned into Adam and shook his head. "I'm not sure. Ten days... twelve? The doses kept dropping when the vial wasn't changed."

"Takashi, you jerk." Adam squeezed Shiro and kissed his temple. "Fuck, what are we going to do?"

The attack finally passed and Shiro slumped against Adam's chest. He was panting and had cut his palm with his fingernails. Adam ripped the bottom of his shirt and wrapped Shiro's hand. Shiro looked up with that special soft glance. The one that Adam loved and hated more than everything because he couldn't resist it.

"Adam... it's only going to get worse. I think... we might have to do it."

Adam shook his head. "No. We wait for rescue. That's what we decided together."

Shiro looked at the ceiling of the mine. "No one's coming. If we don't amputate, I'm as good as dead."

"We amputate," Adam put his forehead to Shiro's and closed his eyes, "and you will be. Takashi, love of my life, they'll kill you if you can't work."

"And what can I do now?" Shiro demanded with a hysterical note. "The disease has already spread throughout my body, but if we remove my arm, it will slow metastasis." He took a couple deep breaths, but his voice still shook when he said, "Amputation was always inevitable. I'd come to terms with it when the doctors said that was my only option. Are you willing to help me do this?"

Adam buried his face in Shiro's neck. "Yes. If that's what you want... I'll do everything it takes. Give me some time... to ask around and see if there's a doctor anywhere, anyone with medical knowledge. I... I don't think I can do it by myself."

"Yeah... that's fair." Shiro reached up and ran his fingers through Adam's hair. "I love you, you know. You and your dumb commitment to a jerk like me."

Adam kissed Shiro's lips. They were chapped and cracked while the rest of him was covered in grime and engine oil. He'd always liked that scent when Shiro came home from working in the hangar on his bird. When he separated for air, Adam pushed the water pouches into Shiro's hand and said, "I have to get back before the sentries notice I'm gone. See you tonight."

Shiro leaned forward and kissed him two more times, short lingering kisses that only bought precious seconds. "See you tonight."