Legal stuff: Nadesico is owned by Xebec and ADV Vision not me! So I don't claim to own any of the characters in this fic apart from those which I have invented (which obviously are not those which appear in the TV series) so please don't sue me or anything similarly painful. Er.... apart from Ryoko I'm not actually using any of the characters from Nadesico, well not yet, so all the other characters are mine.(This is still a fan fic though!)

Although the word they inhabit is technically owned by the owners of Nadesico, dammit.

"Means speech" 'means coherent thoughts' nothing means emotions and non-coherent thoughts

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryoko woke up at six in the morning, huddled up in her blankets. Although she had finally dropped off to sleep late last night, she still felt exhausted. 'I'm too tired to go to sleep, that doesn't make sense!' Pulling the thin, army issue, blanket up to her chin against the chill, she shivered. No amount of material comfort could remove the chill of failure that penetrated to her very core. She hadn't even lasted a day! In, Ryoko checked her watch One hour and fifty – one minutes she would be thrown out. It was all so unfair, she hadn't done anything …. well, deliberately anyway. Recalling all that she had done and trying to think how others would see it, she lost all remaining hope of a reprieve. As the wind howled outside Ryoko curled up into an even tighter ball.

If she couldn't get to sleep she could at least so something, however there was only one thing she could do. Ryoko started to pack her suitcase. By seven o'clock everything had been packed, and re-packed to her satisfaction. Because it was a weekend no-one else was up, understandably Ryoko was pleased about this. Hopefully she would be gone before any of them woke up.

Because there weren't any lessons planned, there was no connecting bus. So Ryoko had to walk half a mile in the biting wind, dragging her case along behind her. The dust on the path swirling round in miniature tornadoes, before ingraining itself in her eyes as a sudden up draft caught it and sent it streaming upwards.

Finally she arrived, frozen; at what she thought was the Commanding Officer's Office. After knocking at the door for five minutes she let herself in. A small room greeted her, containing a withered pot plant, a locked door leading further in and a distressing smell emanating from a stain in the corner where the damp had set in. Surprisingly there was a huge sofa, surprising because the rich leather was such a contrast to the industrial drudgery surrounding it. Importantly it looked comfortable, and Ryoko in contrast to half an hour ago was soooooo tired after the journey here, and she was half an hour early, no-one would mind if she took a quick nap before being sent off. As she curled up she wondered what she would do. Her Father was out of the country and she didn't know anybody around here, or even within a hundred miles.

When the door swung open it didn't wake her. Deeply asleep she dozed on. Curled up on the sofa still clutching her suitcase, an innocent and benevolent expression on her face, her face pale and taut due to the cold, it was a sight to brake any heard, well almost any.

"GET UP RIGHT NOW, you lazy, ungrateful little …" At this point words failed the head training officer, and all the insults he wanted to shout out at he top of his voice remained unsaid. The reason for this stood in the doorway, even under his thick coat Admiral Fujikage was freezing. "Send her through when she has woken up fully" This was delivered with a fait touch of reproach. However it was unclear whether this was directed towards the barely awake Ryoko or the training officer.

Ryoko woke up fairly suddenly seconds after the Admiral stepped into his office. However as she woke to see the Training officer leering at her from only a few feet away she wondered whether she had woken up. Finally she decided that this wasn't a nightmare, and she had just fallen asleep while waiting for the Commanding Officer of the whole camp. 'Not good …' were the first coherent thoughts to enter her head, although whether this was related to her present situation or to having the training officer leaning over her was undecided.

"I see you're already packed, well that'll reduce the time till we can throw you out, worthless scum that you are."

Thinking that this was a little extreme especially as it was partly his fault that she was leaving anyway, Ryoko stood up and although she wasn't tall she still was a few inch's taller than he was. Although it was petty it made her feel better to look down at him. Because she was about to be thrown out in a few minutes anyway she thought 'what the heck!' "I'm not the only worthless scum here you know …"

"……..!!!!!!!!!!!!" The spluttering and swearing under his breath was interrupted by a curt order from the door, which belatedly Ryoko noticed was slightly ajar …

"I'm sure she has woken up by now, send her in!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Admiral's office was as complete a contrast to the outer entrance, as the sofa was. All the walls were covered in wallpaper rather than the industrial green that prevailed everywhere else. Everywhere photo's hung, even some perched above the window. One was an old picture of three boys on a strange landscape which Ryoko didn't recognize. Another a graduation photo, between these personal photo's there were signed pictures from all the ships that the Admiral had commanded in his long history, before he had partially retired to command this UEF training Academy. The picture which caught Ryoko's attention the most was one which had obviously been taken on Mars; high in the night sky the earth could be seen. In front of it a man stood with two boys standing either side of him and in the corner the message 'From your loving brother, and nephews, good luck on your first command!'

Ryoko blushed as the Admiral politely coughed, realizing that she had been staring at the picture for several minutes and totally ignoring him.

She blushed even more as he deliberately continued as thought this had never happened.

"I suppose you know why you have been asked to come here…"

Ryoko was about to try and explain that it wasn't, totally, her fault, however something her father once told her can slamming into he thought process. 'If the odds are against you, and you can't do anything about it, take it on the chin without flinching, then at least you have your dignity intact … a broken jaw will heal, broken dignity won't' At the time Ryoko had thought that this was a particularly stupid thing to say, however everything she had said up till now had been taken the wrong way so what did she have to lose?

"Yes, Sir"  Standing straighter and trying to come to attention Ryoko stared at a spot above his head and tried not to let the hurt and disappointment show in her face.

With a slight smile on his face the Admiral replied "At ease soldier"

Ryoko not exactly knowing what to do relaxed.

"Sit down" Gesturing to a nearby chair he leaned back "And close the door fully"

Ryoko was confused. Why was he being nice to her? She was here to be thrown out!

"The amount of mayhem you've caused in such a short period of time is … interesting"

Ryoko tensed, 'Here it comes' she thoughts.

"Cadet Hiraki, has asked, and received permission to leave … due to stress. She wants to be with her family after her recent tragedy."

Ryoko's eyes flickered inadvertently to the signed photo from Mars hanging on the wall.

"However, many people have suffered similar tragedies" the gentle smile remained however it was tinged with sadness, the voice tinted with bitterness. "We must continue to live on regardless."

"I doubt that they have reported this on the news yet … but, we have lost control of Mars" The Admiral leaned back in his chair and stared at a picture behind Ryoko out of her sight. Thinking it rude to turn round Ryoko continued to look forwards.

"The nearest available battle group was sent in, we lost contact with them at 0200 hours"

Glancing back to Ryoko he continued "It seems that we are at war, and we will need every resource that we have, merely to survive"

Ryoko sat dumbly, shivering slightly as she tried to come to terms with what was happening. In one day her life had changed beyond any recognition. Everything seemed so dim and unimportant all of a sudden, all she wanted to do was sleep.

"I'm sorry, you must be freezing, have some coffee."

With some effort Ryoko shook herself awake, and grasping the cup in her chafed hands sipped at the piping hot rich coffee as the Admiral continued.

"As of now the whole Earth is on a war footing, everything will be mobilized and this Academy … will become a boot camp for rapid training. The two year pilot training course will become a 5 month crash course … All leave will be canceled of now. A new class will be arriving in about 4 months."

Finally Ryoko asked the question that had been burning to get out of her. "Why are you telling me this? I'm going … you're …. aren't you?"

"Honestly, at his point we need all the pilots trained and ready as soon as possible, no you are not leaving us quite yet. However now more than ever discipline will be of the utmost importance, and more infractions will be dealt with, severely, do I make my self clear?"

"Yes Sir!" Ryoko shot upwards in excitement; however she was still holding the cup of coffee…

…. which fortunately was now empty. Placing it carefully on the edge of the desk she stood a little straighter, and some of the defeat was out of her eyes.

"However, there is one problem …"

'Damn' I though it was too good to be true. Ryoko's buoyant happiness was deflating rapidly.

"It wouldn't be, wise, to leave you in the dormitory as it is."

'Finally out of that hell hole' "Sir?"

"Unfortunately, after the Hiraki incident …"

"The girl's dormitory's are out" 'Bugger, now where do I sleep!' Ryoko was starting to get slightly frantic. 'Hiraki Incident! I only tried being nice to the neurotic b…."

"Exactly… however I have found lodgings for you with one of the staff"

Ryoko froze

'PLEASE NOT THE TRAINING OFFICER, PLEASE NOT THE TRAINING OFFICER!!!!!!!!!!!'

"He has a son of about you're age, and although it is further from the main compound than the dormitory's I'm sure you can manage" With that he stood up and gestured towards the door. "Sergeant Ariwa will take you there"

As Ryoko walked to the door, she reflected on her sudden change of fortune. Then as she was about to exit she saw one small picture almost lost amongst the jumble. The Admiral and a pilot shaking hands, slightly under average height with dark hair he was smiling broadly, Ryoko stared up at her father.

The Training Officer was loitering outside with a leer at the ready. This soon disappeared when the Admiral gave his orders. "Take Cadet Subaru to Benkei's hut immediately, she is expected."

Grudgingly the training officer led her outside to his jeep. "Get in" he growled.

Ryoko got in the back seat, as far as possible from him. Still grumbling he accelerated immediately before she could get her seat belt on. Ryoko watched as the training buildings faded into the distance, almost as disturbing as the fact that the Training officer was glaring at her in the rear-view mirror rather than watching the road. His features seemed fixed into a permanent grimace which twisted his features unpleasantly. Ryoko shrunk back into her seat as he slid around another corner.

When they arrived at the low hut, Ryoko looked despairingly out of the window. She had no idea where she was now. She couldn't even see the main academy building. More worrying still the Training officer was now smiling. Ryoko got out as fast as possible, then noticed that a locked padlock was on the door and there didn't seem to be anybody inside. The coffee was wearing off and Ryoko was starting to feel sleepy and very cold. She turned back to the jeep just in time to get a cloud of grit and sand in her face. Standing there dejectedly Ryoko decided that he had dropped her off at the wrong hut. As she had no idea where she was, she curled up on the door step clutching her suitcase, and resting her head on it, reflected on how unlucky she seemed to be.

When she woke up from her dose she immediately stood up as there was a boy of about her age standing looking curiously at her, carrying two shopping bags.

"………..er hello?" Ryoko's attempt at conversation was hampered by her shivering.

Embarrassed silence reigned.

"Whoever you are you had better come in, I wouldn't want to watch you freeze to death, it might put me off my breakfast." With that the boy stepped passed her and unlocked the door. Gratefully Ryoko followed. Floating out from one the rooms ahead "Would you mind explaining what exactly you were doing sitting outside in a rather slow attempt at suicide."

Ryoko was rather non-plussed by this rather weird statement and so closing the door tried to explain. "I'm a Cadet, and it's all rather complicated…"

"Do you want some breakfast?"

This simple statement derailed Ryoko's story "You see what happened was … er… yes…" 'Where was I?'

"Good"

Ryoko continued to explain what had happened, more to sort out what had happened to herself than any other reason. Gradually the calmed down and became slightly more coherent and began to thaw out as well. As she became more comfortable she began to wonder where she was. Had the Training officer dropped her off at the wrong hut in some sort of cruel joke? The boy frying something in the kitchen obviously wasn't a faculty member; he was barely older than she was. While her mind was otherwise occupied her mouth continued to blurt out her grievances.

She had just reached the part about reaching the CO's office when the boy came in carrying two plates each piled high with bacon, egg and toast. As the sent wafted over, Ryoko realised that she had been awake for several hours and was extremely hungry. She faltered "er … then … the Admiral …"

"If you keep on talking the food will get cold" placing out the cutlery and drawing her a chair he gestured emphatically "enjoy!"

Without another thought or word Ryoko started eating. Halfway though as she finally felt warm again she suddenly thought 'Why the hell am I sitting here eating breakfast with somebody who I don't even know the name of? Wasn't I supposed to be going to …Ben…kei's or something like that? What am I doing here then?' "Er…I think that …"

Between forkfuls "Don't worry, you are in the right place, my father isn't here at the moment"

"But how, what…"

"I'm afraid that I knew everything already, although it was enlightening to hear your point of view, are you finished?"

Ryoko just stared as he went into the kitchen and started to wash the plates. 'Right now I have to share a house with a really weirdo! ... Not much of an improvement' her second thought was, 'Considering what has happened, I can't talk, I'll give him a chance, at least he hasn't insulted me yet, still weird though…'

"Do you want some help taking you're stuff to your bedroom?"

Ryoko was broken out of her reverie and glanced up guiltily "Er… yes, no there's only the one suitcase" She hastily corrected herself.

"Don't worry I'll take it up for you" With that he proceeded to drag the heavy case up the stairs whistling under his breath.

Following him up, she gazed around the building. 'Certainly bigger than it looks, it looks tiny from the outside.' Reaching the door he heaved the suitcase onto the bed. It was a nice room with a beautiful view over the fence into the surrounding countryside. Unfortunately there wasn't room for two people in it; it was more of a cupboard than a bedroom.

Scratching his neck nervously the boy smiled guiltily "It's a little…. small, but it's the only spare room we have, will it be ok? If you want I could shift all my stuff in here and you could have my room … it's a little bigger"

Leaving him to burble on inanely Ryoko walked across the landing. Glancing into the only other open door she said "No that will be fine, I take it this is the bathroom?"

"Yes, that's my room next to it, and my fathers is the last one down the corridor, um … your not allowed in there, you can go anywhere else though."

Ryoko returned to the room and while he still anxiously hovered by the door, started to unpack. Looking up at him and holding a bra she asked, "I'm sure this is very exciting for you but…" Taking the rather sarcastic hint he blushed and closed the door leaving her in peace. As she sorted everything into draws she pondered on her currant predicament. 'He's not as bad as I thought, just a little gormless, and nervous …. Of me? That's strange. However this is definitely better than before.' Finishing her unpacking she went back downstairs wondering what she was going to do for the rest of the day, there wasn't any training on weekends and she had no idea what else to do.

AN: Um…..I'm sorry if nothing seems to be happening, it will later.