Next chapter, but I have to take a break to say something:

Siren's Voice, thank you SO much! I was hoping someone would review. And there will be a pretty strong female char in later, along with some others. Probably about two chapters after this one. Anyway, thank you!

The Club

The blank metal walls seemed to glare at Tyler. Five days, he told himself. Five days, and I'm already insane. The five days he had been in the stupid Battle School had driven him crazy. Everything was just like the orphanage. The only difference, unfortunately, was that there was no escape. No fun little trips outdoors to the beautiful awaiting woods. Other then that, it seemed like everything reminded him of the 'happy' little place he grew up in. Tyler really thought he was going to go insane.

Lask wandered the hallway of his newfound 'home'. He had never had a home before. After this place, he was almost glad he had never had one. It had only taken these five days to determine it was not worth it. Not that he really had a choice. It was this or work the rest of his life paying of hospital debts. Maybe things will get better, he told himself. They said something about the Battle Room later today. Maybe I'll like that. But he didn't really believe it. If there was one thing the streets had taught him, it was not to kid himself. And he was really kidding himself if he believed that.

Tyler got up off his bunk. Time for a walk. Maybe the 'fresh air' would clear his head. And better that then the first set of assignments he had. He hated school. One of the things he had missed often on his day trips. Sure, they had snagged him in for a few tests. Not much. Although, he considered, making a face, that's probably how they got me for this hunk of lifeless metal. One of those stupid tests I couldn't just blow off. Not a pleasant thought.

Turning, Lask entered the room he and all the other Launchies shared. It was strange, to sleep in the same room every night. Something Lask knew with a horrible certainty that he would be getting used to. But as soon as he rounded the corner, he ran right into someone. One of the other Launchies. They both fell to the ground. Controlling his anger, Lask looked over. Which one was it? If they were an enemy, they would pay….

Tyler had just gotten off the bed and to the doorway when someone ran into him. He and the other boy, probably another Launchy, both fell to the ground. Jumping up, he looked at the other boy. One of his Launch. Which one was it? Tyler was horrible at names. "Sorry 'bout that." He said. "I'm Tyler."

Lask softened at the apology. This….Tyler didn't mean any harm. "No, 'was my fault. Sorry. Name's Lask." For some reason, he felt connected to this boy. He couldn't explain it. Almost like with the real Lask, only nowhere near as strong. They had never really met. But he felt like they were….friends? "You wanna go down to the game room?" The words were no sooner out of his mouth then he regretted saying them. Who was he kidding?

But the other boy just smiled. "Sure. Sounds like fun. Just going there myself anyway." He didn't say anything about it, but he too felt the bond, though it was different. To him, it felt similar to nature. To the way he had felt living under a canopy of branches. But it still clicked. It made sense, in the same way it didn't make any sense at all. Maybe it will work out here after all. He didn't know if he believed it, but it was worth a shot. Nothing else around here had been good for anything, and there was a first time for everything.

By the time the two boys got back to their bunks, they were friends. The entire idea of having a friend had startled them, seemed to go against their ways. But both shrugged it off. They were too…similar. Not in many ways, but both could tell the other was missing something desperately, and would do anything to get it back. It brought them together, and there was no questioning that.

As Tyler lay on his bunk doing assignments, a message popped up. From Lask. Knowing he wasn't the fastest typist, he got up and went to the other boy's bunk.

Lask looked up at him from where he was sitting and smiled. Yes, his idea had a chance. With Tyler, and maybe others, it could work. "So Tyler," he began slowly, "ever been in a club?"