This is mostly just Lika talking, but, oh well. It's kinda necessary, otherwise you lot wouldn't know what was what.

Encoded message

Situation has been much improved. Warning was appreciated. The subject has been located and captured.

Please send info from League databases concerning our Jr. Sergeant of Squad 5B.

Commander

Kayta took a tentative bite of the oatmeal and almost fainted with delight. She'd had no food after her escape and this warm delicious meal felt like heaven. Still shoveling oatmeal in, she glanced up at Lilika who was giggling uncontrollably. The ewe-girl calmed down and suppressed her giggles so that she could talk normally. "You want to know about this place, Kate?"

Kayta nodded. When was the last time she had had warm food? Heavenly, it was, absolutely heavenly.

Lilika drummed her fingers against her chin, trying to find a way to describe Camp 5 of the ALFF. "Remember how we always talked about the people who came and freed experiments? Well, these buildings belong to them and the people here are part of their organization."

"Well, I guessed that. You said the people who freed you brought you here and it's rather simple to put one and one together and get two." She scrapped the bottom of her bowl with a spoon to get another mouthful of warm--though now quickly cooling--oatmeal.

Lilika rolled her blue eyes. "Just shush Kate, I'm trying to make it simple." She glanced at the ceiling to relocate her train of thought then continued. "Well, the members of the ALFF are--"

"ALFF?" Kayta interrupted.

"Anti-league Freedom Fighters. Now, shush, please." Lilika sent a playful glare Kayta's way. "They free experiments but they also wreck League plans, steal supplies, and just cause mayhem wherever and whenever they can. When experiments are freed they are given the choice of joining the ALFF or leaving. If they leave they get supplies for a few days, if they stay then they help the ALFF and possibly one day even be on a Squad." Lilika's eyes glittered with enthusiasm and Kayta knew she would have no luck convincing her friend to leave. Kayta did not really want to stay with the people who had abandoned her, but if Lilika stayed...

"Lemme guess; you're staying, Lika?" Kayta asked, though she knew the answer.

Lilika nodded. "Kate, it's wonderful. When you see the poor experiments coming in... we must've been in the easy section or something because some of them make you think they might not survive the night, let alone have managed the walk from the League buildings. When you see them come in, with those hopeful eyes and the sincere and totally grateful thank you's when all you're doing is ladling out soup. It's pure beauty."

Kayta remembered that she had used that phrase mere hours--or minutes, she wasn't sure,--ago. Her "pure beauty" was the unreachable moon, giving her light in the dark night. Lilika's "pure beauty" was the grateful look on a child's face as she gave them food; life; light. But, then, that was her and Lilika: best friends, total opposites.

Something seemed to occur to Lilika and she looked worriedly at Kayta. "You are staying, right? You're not... not leaving because they left you? I left you?" Her voice trembled.

Kayta reached a hand across the lay it on Lilika's. "Lika, how could I possibly leave you? Best friends, remember? Nothing can keep us apart. Besides," she added, eyeing her now empty bowl. "How could I leave food like this behind? D'you think there's another bowl of this somewhere for me?"

Lilika smiled in gratitude and picked up Kayta's bowl. "I'll go get you another one." Kayta smiled back and Lilika headed off in the direction of the kitchens. Kayta glanced around the room, her margay's eyes picking up little meaningless details. Her eyes paused on Ben's dark-haired head and she stared curiously for a moment before letting her eyes roam once more.

He had a last name, she remembered. Kayta wondered what it was like to have a last name. It gave you an identity, a history, a part of humanity to call your own. The only part of humanity she could call her own was not actually a part of humanity. Last names meant you had parents and a family, or at least once had one. Kayta shot an envious glance at Ben Rayton, which reminded her that he had both a last name--and therefore a history--and was fully human. Lucky.

Sighing, Kayta turned back to see Lilika approaching with a warm bowl. "Thanks Lika!" she exclaimed, already reaching for her spoon.

Lilika laughed and set it down on the table. "So, wanna hear some more?" Kayta nodded. "Alright, well. The ALFF is run by a Commander. I think he stays at Camp 1 or somewhere. Anyways, a Camp Leader has the next rank: there's one in each Camp. And there's five Camps," she added before Kayta could swallow and interrupt. "Then there are A, B, and C Squads at each Camp, so, Squad 1A, 1B and 1C are at Camp 1. Make sense so far? Each Squad had a Squad sergeant and Jr. Sergeant."

"What Camp are we at?" Kayta managed to say between bites. "I haven't eaten in awhile," she added defensively.

"I know. We're at Camp 5. Squad 5B was the one that brought me here. Actually, they were the Squad that brought you here too. 5B probably goes on missions the most. 5A is mainly into running the Camp and 5C is full of beginners. I'm gonna be in 5B one day," Lilika confided. "Or at least I want to be. Imagine! Saving people, helping them..." she smiled dreamily.

Kayta looked down. Didn't seem like heroes to her. Just cowards who couldn't wait three seconds to free one last cage. Or sneaky liars who abandoned her on purpose.

Lilika noticed her look. She leaned forward and said quietly. "When I'm in a Squad, Kate, no one gets left behind. I promise."

Kayta looked back up and smiled at her friend; her best friend; her only friend. "Thanks Lika."