"Little one," someone whispered.

A warm hand cupped his cheek and he blinked awake. Sunset streamed through the dusty curtains and he squinted when he asked, "Antok?"

"Shh," Antok coaxed. "Your patient is still resting."

Keith sat up from where he'd fallen asleep with his head on his arms at the edge of the bed. He stretched and looked Hunk over. After Keith removed the IV line, he'd rolled toward the wall. His breathing was full, even, and regular. Keith leaned over the bed and carefully shifted Hunk's arm to hold his wrist. Within seconds, his gauntlet read pulse and blood pressure. Keith sighed in relief and settled Hunk's arm back where it'd been.

"Ulaz has taught you much."

Keith straightened the covers and denied, "I've barely learned anything."

Antok chuckled and rubbed Keith between the shoulders. "There is more knowledge in your words than many kits your age. Come. Time to eat."

"I don't want to leave him alone."

Antok reached beneath his arm and straightened him up. "We'll ask one of the cadets. I believe they've started on Coleen's 'brownies'."

Keith followed his uncle out of his childhood bedroom. Something he'd never given a thought. Halfway down the hall, he widened his step to miss the squeaky floorboard in front of the table along the wall. On it were displayed a dream catcher his father had helped him make and a few photos.

In one, toddler Keith struggled to wrap his arms around a dalmatian puppy. Another showed his dad in his station uniform with his helmet tucked to his hip. The last, baby Keith in a smiling Dallas's arms. He paused when he noticed one picture missing from the wall. The one taken out front. James. He was on the right track.

"I've heard of the man your father was."

Keith frowned. "He was all that and more. Big and so strong. I never knew how strong." Looking to Antok, he asked, "How did he and my mom do what they did?"

Antok wrapped an arm around Keith's shoulders and pulled him to his side. "My sister... this place... your father... It changed her. When she returned, I saw a difference. Confidence and purpose the likes of which I'd only seen in her mother. It is a gift to those who care for the little ones they've been blessed with."

"Brother, what lies are you telling him?"

Krolia stood at the end of the hall with her arms crossed and a hip cocked. Antok pulled Keith in front of him in a mock headlock. "Just some casual bonding."

"Antok!" Keith groaned into the arm lifting him as Antok carried him down the hall.

Krolia laughed and met them in front of the kitchen. She tugged the hood down over Keith's eyes. "Should I believe him, little one?

"No! Let me go!"

Antok laughed, the vibrations of his chest going through Keith's back. "And let you spread mistruths? Never."

"I yield! Uncle! Uncle!"

Laughter filled the kitchen and Keith blushed inside his armor. All the agents and James's team were spread out in the kitchen filling plates with food. Antok finally let go and Keith ducked out of his reach. He backed up into the chest of someone else and a different arm crossed his chest. "Easy, kit. No need to be so feral."

Thace's hand rubbed Keith's arm and Keith crossed his arms underneath his mentor's. "I do not miss-speak."

Kolivan's low chuckle came from the left and a hand settled on Keith's head. "Of course not, little one." He leaned down and whispered, "Meet me behind the barn after you've eaten. No skipping tonight."

Keith groaned and nodded. Kolivan left and Thace leaned forward. His chin rested on the crown of Keith's head. Keith pressed back into him. The comfort they exchanged didn't help settle Keith's nervous stomach. Had Ulaz overheard his conversation with James? Did Kolivan intend to reprimand him for intervening? It hadn't been his fault!

"Little one," Krolia called, "join me upstairs."

Thace released him and someone pressed a plate into his hands. Someone else gently pushed him after Krolia. Keith looked over his shoulder as he left. The blades were at ease, but the cadets were sitting close together in the corner behind the table. Rizavi twitched oddly beside a glaring Kincaid. Ina had her focus entirely on James. But James refused to look at Keith. He had his elbow on the table and his hand up by his face.

Keith rolled his eyes. So much for subtlety. He turned away and followed Krolia to his father's bedroom. One of them had to maintain this facade.

"These are really good."

James put his other elbow on the table and rubbed his temples in frustration. Why? Stop engaging them, he silently shouted at the general.

"It's been too long since-" 'Mama Bear' cut herself off.

"Since?" Iverson curiously asked.

James looked at the general behind his hand, trying desperately to get his attention, but Iverson only took another bite of what tasted like the most amazing brownies they'd ever eaten. 'Mama Bear' sputtered and James looked over at her. Her secrets played into this whole charade as well?

"Who needs another glass of moo-juice?"

James moaned at 'Papa Bear's' moniker and said, "Please don't call it that."

"What do you prefer?" He asked, "Kaltenecker fluid? Liquid ivory?"

"None of those are any better," Ina answered for all of them.

'Mama Bear' took her plate and retreated as 'Papa Bear' placed two more glasses of milk on the table. James grudgingly took one of them and sipped. How long had it been since they'd had anything except powdered milk? He'd almost forgotten how good cold milk tasted.

'Papa Bear' asked, "Does anyone need anything else?"

Iverson smiled warmly and said, "You've done more than enough."

The two of them left the kitchen and James looked around. The rest of the galra had vanished sometime between when the pilot entered and when he'd looked at 'Mama Bear'. The picture frame inside his vest rubbed uncomfortably. The corner dug into his chest, a constant reminder of what he needed to tell the others. If there was a time, it was now.

The kitten shifted awake as he pulled out the photograph and placed it on the table. While he messed about freeing the kitten from containment, Ina reached for the frame. "Where did you find this?"

James poured a small puddle of milk onto the wood of the table and set the kitten beside it. He helped the kitten find it, grabbing it around the middle and redirecting it when it wandered, and Ina passed the picture around the circle. When the kitten finally started licking up the milk, James asked, "Can you hear now, Rizavi?"

"Yes, sir."

James leaned forward over the table. "Then everybody listen up. We were wrong and this photo proves it. When we took Hunk to the bedroom, I asked the pilot about Tretok... and Keith."

Ryan's stormy glare at nothing honed in on James and Iverson asked, "What does that galra have to do with Keith?"

"He doesn't," James answered, "but the pilot knows about both of them. He knows we've been interacting with Tretok and he knows something about Keith, probably Lance, maybe Coleen, and who knows who else. But we won't know until we've proven they can trust us."

"What?!" Rizavi struggled not to shriek. "They murdered our friends! They- they treat us like animals!"

"They didn't do that!" James hissed back. He huffed and laid his hands out to cool his head. "You didn't see what I did. The pilot-" he cut himself off and said quieter, "the pilot begged me to figure out what's really going on. Why they really brought us here. There's definitely truth to what they've been telling us about hiding from the empire. But I mean, he fucking sang Hunk to sleep."

"So what?" Ryan countered. He gestured to the photograph and asked, "What does this possibly prove?"

"You know as well as I do, Ryan," James snapped. He took a deep breath and poured the kitten more milk. "Look, I know Keith didn't talk much about his childhood. It hurt him to bring it up. This photo was all he had. Or, a copy of it. It sat on his desk."

He folded his hands and formed a circle around the kitten with his arms. "I wasn't much better. I never told you guys I was always the last to go home during summer break. Me and my dad never had a great relationship and when my mom died, it only got worse. When I was thirteen, I asked Sanda if I could be allowed to live at the garrison during break. The most she could do was two week intervals.

"It helped, but it wasn't enough. After a bad fight, I ran away. I didn't know who to turn to. I thought if the garrison learned, I'd be kicked out of the program. I planned to hide somewhere until the next time I could go to the garrison. It... sucked. I had no gear. No supplies." James watched the kitten curl up against his arm with its feet tucked under its chest. "I started getting sick after four days. I honestly believed suffering out there was better than going home. When I didn't return home, my dad called the garrison and asked if I was there. Sanda lied and said yes."

Iverson reached over and covered James's forearm. "We knew you needed help. You should have come to us sooner, James."

James lifted the kitten and sat back, cradling it to his chest. "The garrison staff were called out on emergency search and rescue. On my fifth night, a motorbike rode up where I was camping. Keith had heard about everything and stole another vehicle."

James sniffed and closed his eyes. "I'd told him once about that place and he remembered. He gave me a thermos of soup and wrapped me in a blanket. Made a fire. We just sat there and he didn't question why I'd run away. Instead, he told me about his time in the foster system. That he'd run away himself. How horrible it was for him before Takashi adopted him. We returned to the garrison in the morning and Sanda hugged us. Right before grounding us both. Sanda pushed for temporary custody and my dad agreed. He died before my fifteenth birthday and I never had to go home again."

"I'm sorry that happened to you," Ina said, resting her hand on his shoulder, "but what does that have to do with what's going on now?"

"I didn't tell you my sob story for sympathy," James admitted. "It took shared trauma for Keith to open up to me about his past. If the assassins know about this place, as they seem to be keen to display, then Keith must have told them about it. Don't you see? Keith told them about his dad and his house and how to milk freaking cows! He trusted them. So we have to as well."

"Alright," Ryan agreed slowly. "Do we just tell them that?"

James slumped in the chair. "No. I think that's part of the test. We need to find answers first. Knowledge is power and all the answers are right in front of us. We just have to know where to look."

Telling the others was like deflating a balloon in his chest. The uncomfortable pressure that had been building up for the past two hours finally vanished and he regained what composure he could. The kitten continued purring, but started getting restless.

"Where do we start?" Iverson asked.

"Maybe their ship?"

"Do you think the thing will talk to us?"

"It seemed to talk to him."

"No," James said. He reiterated, "The pilot said all the answers are right in front of us. I have to believe it's inside the house."

Ina frowned and reached for the kitten. "The pilot's still in the house."

James snapped his fingers. "That's it. We spy on them."

Ryan replied sardonically, "That seems like a strange way to ask for trust."

Rizavi slapped the table. "No, that's right! The marmorites are spies. If we can spy on the spies, that proves our skills. Give them evidence we know what we're doing."

Ina said, "Yes, but we're one short. I'll wait with Hunk until he wakes up and keep this animal occupied. I'll fill him in."

"Okay," Iverson said. "We need to split up to get as much intel as possible. We only have so much time. I'll try to find the cook and her husband. I haven't had baked goods like that since Mrs. Holt was still at the garrison."

"I'll check out the grounds. Maybe I can overhear something from the galra patrolling outside," Rizavi said.

"That leaves Kincaid and I to handle the pilot," James said.

Ryan frowned, but said nothing. James watched his friends and teacher leave to complete their own goals and took his glass to the sink. Running water out here seemed like a simple luxury. How had the galra managed to operate it? They hadn't brought anything except the lion, right?

"What is it with you and this pilot?"

Ryan's question held more accusation than James expected. He leaned on the sink and shook his head. "He's just a kid, Ryan, same as us. Face it. We never even finished school. We learned on the job. Same as him."

"That doesn't explain-"

"Are you blind?" James interrupted. "I know he hit you where it's tender, but that doesn't mean you can ignore what's right in front of you. Now come on. We have a mission."

He took off his vest and combat boots. They were loud when he was walking, let alone trying to be stealthy. Ryan copied him and raised a silent eyebrow. James smirked. He'd follow orders, but he wouldn't like it. Fine. James could accept that. He rolled his eyes and signed, "On my six."

James led out of the kitchen toward the front of the house. They went past the staircase to the basement. Voices came from above. Beneath the staircase to the master bedroom was a small crawlspace. James pointed toward it and crept over. When he pried it open, he expected a squeak. Somehow they lucked out.

He got on his stomach and army crawled into the awkward storage. He heard the scrape of Ryan behind him before they were closed in darkness. They followed the sound of voices until they were directly overhead. Laying still, James listened in.

"... and he loved the scent of cattle so much. He'd spend hours out in the field with the calves in the spring and come home reeking of horse and leather." Krolia giggled and continued, "I couldn't understand it at first. The tribe is true to the old ways, kit, but raising livestock has not been possible since the fall of Daibazaal."

"I know what you mean. The arusians were... god, I don't want to say primitive, but..." The pilot fell silent, uncomfortable with his own words.

"Undeveloped. It is not wrong. And when we are successful, their culture will never be threatened by the empire." Krolia's soft matronly voice said, "Dallas loved cows and horses. He loved everything about this farm so much. When he found my crashed ship and I recovered over the following months, I learned to see the beauty in his simple life. After all, to learn is the way of our people."

The pilot shifted and James realized they were sitting on the floor. He almost gasped, but managed to stifle it just in time. James felt a hand against his leg and Ryan signed against him, "Who?"

James reached back for Ryan's hand and signed against his palm, "Keith's father."

The pilot asked, "When did you find Blue?"

Krolia sighed and answered, "After the government gave up the search for my crashed ship, I spent many pheobs scanning the desert. Most of my equiptment was destroyed when I arrived. In the end... she reached out to me."

"You communed with her?" The pilot asked incredulous and excited.

Krolia chuckled. "No, little one. You are much more sensitive than I've ever been. Thace turned out to be a better mentor than I expected. I'm glad you love him the way you do."

The pilot scuffed his heel on the floor and asked, "Do you, um, I mean..."

"In time, my precious one," Krolia soothed. "I still mourn the death of your father. I do wish Thace were more subtle, though there is nothing I can do about that. Antok teases me relentlessly for it. My mother always said men have a certain... lack in that department." She paused and then murmured, "Do you love him as a father?"

"I... I don't know," the pilot considered, "but I think I could. It's not like we're short on time."

Footsteps ascended the stairs and a man said, "Sister, it's almost time."

Krolia replied, "Just a few more dobosches. I still need to show him something."

The pilot asked excitedly, "What's that?"

Krolia laughed again and answered, "Dallas had a box of mementos from our time together. I- oh! I didn't think he kept this one!"

A third weight settled on the floor and Antok asked, "What are you wearing?"

"It's a costume!" Krolia shot back defensively. "We went to the fire station for their annual Halloween party and they had a photo booth."

"You both look ridiculous. Is that really him?"

The pilot laughed and said, "I thought they looked cute."

"Thank you," Krolia said. "Someone has taste."

Antok replied, "He's too polite. We need to go, Krolia."

"Alright," she sighed and rose to her feet. "You can keep looking through the box if you like."

A weight scooted across the floor and the pilot said, "I need to speak to Kolivan first." The two heavier weights started toward the staircase before the pilot stuttered, "Um... d-daiyak, whe-"

Antok burst out in laughter and the floor seemed to shake with it. "Dai... Daiyak! Sacred flame, kit! You're going to kill me!"

"Shut up!" Krolia shrieked at her brother. "Who told you to call me that? Was it Shoren? Trillo?"

"Thace?" the pilot tentatively answered.

Antok sputtered into more laughter and Krolia said, "Of course that bretten- Oooh, he's going to get it for this!" She stomped after Antok's retreating form and called, "Seriously, if you don't shut up, I-"

"Dai- I mean Krolia, where are you going?"

Krolia turned back as the pilot's footsteps went to her. "We're going hunting. Our supplies are always in need of replenishing and there's a herd of rammox grazing in the foothills."

"Can I come with?"

"No, precious one," Antok answered firmly.

Krolia added, "There is simply too much danger, kit. We can't risk losing you to an unlucky patrol."

"And I can't lose you. Not again."

"Oh, my sweet child," Krolia murmured. "I promise I will return. I love you."

"I love you, too."

After a moment, all three sets of footsteps went down the stairs and left. James started backward and heard Ryan make his way back to the cupboard door. When they emerged into the light, James looked around, but they were gone. A second later, he ran up the stairs and looked around the room.

Ryan whispered behind him, "What are we looking for?"

"The box! It has to be here somewhere!" James tried to guess where they'd been. A double bed sat against the middle of one wall. The closet was on the inner wall. A mirrored vanity rested on the outer wall. A heavy chest with a cushioned seat and a dusty pair of cracked leather cowboy boots waited for use at the end of the bed.

"Here," Ryan said as he looked under the bed. He pulled out a large shoe box and lifted it onto the bed. The cardboard was dusty and well creased from use. Ryan moved to open it and asked, "You ready?"

James nodded. "Let's figure this out."

Ryan opened it and James sat on the bed as a small stack of photos spilled out on the covers. It took a moment to piece together what they were looking at. An old Polaroid camera still rested in the box, giving an explanation to the source of most of the pictures. There were pictures of animals from around the farm. Landscape shots over rolling hills. A dim photo of a large blue shape, glistening and metallic within a cave.

But the majority of the pictures were of a beautiful galra woman with long black hair. Bent in a garden. Dancing in the rain. Smiling at the camera, blushing and bashful. James found the picture Krolia had described from the party. She wore colorful makeup to accent her natural skin tone and cat ears. The man at her side wore a cheap astronaut costume and a fireman's helmet painted white. Each picture in the strip was a little different. In the last one, Krolia closed her eyes and planted a kiss on Dallas's cheek.

"James," Ryan whispered.

Ryan held up a photo and James took it. A black haired baby slept in Krolia's arms where she smiled tiredly at the camera. "That's Keith."

A noise below made Ryan jump and say, "Someone's coming." They both struggled to put away the photos without damaging them. "Hurry!"

"I am!" James hissed back. There. Now to-

"Children, what do you have there?"

James flinched and froze. Damn.

Iverson went to the back of the house and opened the door. As expected, 'Mama Bear' and 'Papa Bear' were eating supper on the porch. Iverson sat on the top of the steps and stretched out his knee. "Beautiful sunset."

"Yes, it is. Did you like supper?"

Iverson nodded respectfully. "Immensely. It reminds me of my younger days at the garrison. In fact... there's something about it. I remember someone told me the secret to smooth brownies is all about combining the sugar and eggs. If you don't get it right, it will get grainy."

The woman giggled under her breath. "You're not wrong. You should have seen the kit trying to gather eggs for the recipe. Cows are nothing to five pound poultry."

The man covered his wife's hand. "Should we tell him?"

Iverson sighed and rubbed his thigh. Taking a gamble, he asked, "Coleen... Sam... can you tell me what's going on?"

The woman sighed in relief and reached up to her hood. "Thank goodness." Pushing back her hood, long gray blonde hair braided strangely, but beautifully framed her face. Coleen stood from the rocking chair and reached for Iverson's hand. "It's been too long, Marcus."

Iverson fought tears and covered her hand in his. "Coleen. Welcome home." She came down to his level and knelt to hold him to herself. "Sam. Come here."

"Gladly, old friend."

Rizavi saw the pilot vanish around the side of the barn and started to follow him when she felt someone watching her. She looked around, but she seemed to be alone. Eyes appeared from the shadow of the house and a tall dark figure stepped into the dying sunlight. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the barn.

Footsteps followed her, but she tried to ignore it. Halfway to the barn, she whipped around and signed, "Quit following me!"

The galra tilted their head and raised a hand. Rizavi watched, confusion turning to horror as they signed, "Do not pretend to be deaf, little one." They said out loud, "Your hearing returned over a varga ago, yes?" Rizavi was so shocked she forgot to pretend she couldn't understand. The galra laughed and turned back to their post. "Our leader and the sweet one are holding a private conversation. I ask that you not interrupt until they are done."

Rizavi folded her arms. "Will you stop me?"

The galra paused and answered, "Will you regret the knowledge you learn? Truth is impossible to unlearn and may cause pain."

Rizavi glared at the galra. "Is that a riddle? Cuz it sucks."

The galra laughed under their breath. "It is simply something to accept. The choice is yours."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes again. "Whatever." She turned back to the barn, intent to interrupt the pilot, but it seemed she'd missed her chance. The pilot and their leader walked out from around the back of the barn. Nadia glared over her shoulder, but the galra had vanished back into the shadows. She'd delayed her on purpose.

The pilot trotted to the front of the barn and yanked open the large sliding doors. The lion emerged into the last rays of the day and stretched, a large cat in the sand. The pilot stood before her, hands up. She lowered her head into his palms and he pressed his forehead to her. The ground began to rumble and Rizavi looked around in alarm.

"There's nothing to fear, child," a man said at her shoulder.

Rizavi jumped and looked over where the commander had snuck up on her. Confused by his words, she asked, "What's going on?"

"The red lion is communing with our kit. She is happy." The commander barked a short laugh and added, "And she's grateful to be out of that dusty barn. She wanted to jump into the reservoir to clean herself and she hates water... unlike her sister. How about you?"

"Hm?" Rizavi turned from the lion to the commander and squinted in confusion.

"Do you like water?"

Rizavi bit her lip and folded her arms. "I know how to swim, but, no. My... my girlfriend is more about water."

"Veronica?"

Rizavi gasped and clenched a fist. "How the hell do you know-"

"Shh, little one," the commander coaxed. "You don't have to be afraid of the truth. It's not as terrible as you think. Accept what you know is right."

Rizavi felt angry tears sting her eyes and took a step back. "How can you suggest that? Do you know what we've been through? How many people we've lost?"

"I know your pain, child," the commander whispered. He sighed and pushed back his hood. Soft yellow eyes blinked warmly at her with a small sad smile. "We, too, have lost many. But all are not gone." He rested his hand on her shoulder and called, "Kit, come here."

The pilot looked at them and sprinted over. "Leader, what's wrong?"

Rizavi looked from the commander to the pilot. "What's going on?"

The commander nodded to the pilot. "It's time, little one."

The pilot gasped. Then with slight hesitation, he reached up. Rizavi held her breath.

Ina released the kitten to roam around on the bed and rubbed Hunk's arm. After ten minutes, she got bored and asked, "Garrette, you awake?"

Hunk groaned and answered, "Kind of. Where's James?"

Ina shook her head. "I'm not sure. He's somewhere in the house." The kitten bounced across the bed, pouncing at lumps caused by Hunk. "We're trying to figure out what's going on here."

"It's Keith."

Ina gasped and asked, "How do you know that? We've only just figured out they know-"

"You don't understand," Hunk interrupted. He sat up disrupting the kitten's antics. "The pilot is Keith. They're the same person."

He moved to stand and Ina grabbed his arm. "Easy, Hunk. Are you sure? You were on some pretty strong meds from the way James was talking."

Hunk shrugged out of her hold and staggered toward the door. "I didn't hallucinate it. I startled half awake and saw his face. He'd dropped his mask and fallen asleep beside me. He's different, but I'd recognize him anywhere. Keith is here. Now where is James?"

Ina scruffed the playful kitten and followed Hunk out of the room. Before she could direct Hunk, she saw James and Ryan being led out the front door by a galra. She followed Hunk as he staggered down the hall after them into the sunlight.

She squinted standing beside her friends. When her eyes adjusted, she gasped and started sprinting. Rizavi was near the commander, his hood down, but on her knees holding the pilot. Her wailing could be heard from the house.

The pilot looked up and Ina slid to a stop. She covered her mouth in shock and whispered, "Keith."

He smiled up at her, bright and warm as always. He did look different. Small scars on one cheek beneath his eye and a deep healed scar near his lip showed how much he'd been through. He said, "Hello, Ina."

He squeezed Rizavi around her chest and lifted her to her feet. She continued crying into his shoulder and Ina rushed to hug him too. "I can't believe you're here!"

"Me neither," Keith laugh-cried. "I missed you guys so much." After a minute, he asked, "Nadia, can you let go for a second?" He leaned down and kissed both of their foreheads, then walked between them to the boys. Ina felt Rizavi drop beside her and sank to kneel with her. They leaned on one another struggling to grasp what happened.

"I knew you could find the truth, James," Keith said with pride. Ina looked up in time to see Hunk, still in boxers and a t-shirt, rush up and completely engulf Keth in a bear hug. Keith was physically lifted off his feet. Keith protested, "Easy, Hunk! You're still recovering!"

Hunk let go just enough for Keith to find the ground and blubbered, "I knew I recognized something earlier. You shouldn't have hid from us."

"I know," Keith replied. "I'm sorry." He folded himself into Hunk's embrace and repeated, "I'm sorry."

"I still have questions, Kogane," James said above crossed arms.

Keith laughed and stepped back from Hunk, but still kept an arm around him. "More or less than before?"

James stomped forward shaking his head, unable to maintain his composure. Keith trotted forward and met him the last couple steps. While they hugged, Ina pulled Nadia to her feet and led her over. At the edge of the farmyard, the rest of the galra started to congregate, lowering their hoods and masks.

Iverson limped out of the front door with Mr. and Mrs. Holt. Ina was in too much shock to be surprised anymore. The two riflemen stepped up beside them and removed their helmets. Of course Sargents Miller and Davis were here too. Then Ryan turned toward the shed and walked away.

James moved to follow him, but Keith held his arm. "Let him think."

"He shouldn't wander off," James argued.

"I know," Keith agreed, "but the others won't let him go too far."

James sighed and leaned in to whisper, "I wasn't kidding, Kogane. There's a lot of explaining needed for who these galra are and why you're dressed like them. Let alone all the stuff we've overheard."

Keith tilted his head in a way Ina recognized from watching the assassins. She whispered, "Can we talk somewhere private?"

"Of course," Keith answered. "Kolivan already agreed we could light a fire if you all figured out I was here."

"He kind of gave it to us," Nadia moped. She wiped her eyes and folded her arms. "We thought you were dead. That they killed you."

Keith's eyes widened and his mouth dropped in shock. "No! God, no! They would never do anything to hurt me!"

"We gathered as much," James replied. "I mean, we didn't know you were the pilot, but they are pretty, um... affectionate? Keith, what is your relationship to these people?"

Kolivan cleared his throat behind them and Keith jumped. He took a few steps back from them and faced the assassin leader. Kolivan made eye contact and blinked with a slow heavy exhale. Keith nodded once and the leader walked away. Keith said in the following silence, "We should make camp before the moon rises. Come with me."

"What about Ryan?" Nadia asked.

Keith turned to the barn and started walking. "Bradley will bring him. Don't worry, I won't start without him."

Ina looked around their circle. "We need to get our things, Keith. We'll meet you in the barn."

Keith kept walking and Ina jogged toward the house. She sat on the couch in the living room and started tying her boots. James sat beside her with his own combat boots and asked, "Are we really doing this?"

"Why not?" Ina replied. "He's back and we're finally learning something."

Hunk came back from the bedroom with his pants and vest. "You guys ready?"

Nadia nodded. "Let's go."

They all turned to head out the front when Coleen stopped them in the doorway. "I made these for you, cadets. For the fire."

Hunk took the wrapped tin package and asked, "Are these homemade marshmallows?"

Coleen giggled and put her arm around Hunk's shoulders. "Yes. I thought you'd enjoy toasting them. Now, hurry. The sun sets faster than you think." She emphasized her words by pushing Hunk toward the door. James took the lead and they jogged toward Keith and the waiting lion.

He sat on her front foot against her leg, but slid off when he saw them. "All set?"

"Yeah," James answered for them all. "Where we going?"

"Just out to the pasture," Keith replied and walked under the lion's chin. She stood and stretched beside him. "Come along."

Ina watched him stride confidently with the lion at his side. Such a strange sight. Who was this boy? Did she even really know him anymore? Maybe Ryan was right to walk away. She hesitated and James took her hand. Whatever happened, at least they were together. She lifted her chin and walked toward the sunset.