The next two years were filled with lessons and trials. Combat training was Calli,s favorite. She had become especially good with a rifle. She had had to work harder than anyone else just to make it through her training years. But then again her friends were there with her through it all, helping her through the tough times. She and Axel had become extremely close. He was her best friend, and she his. And now graduation was here, and none of them knew if they would end up in the same unit together, but they could always hope.

The KG had looked into putting Calli through advanced sniper training, but that was another month, and she was ready to graduate and get out on patrol. She was itching to get her tattoos and put on that bright red uniform. She had earned it. She deserved it.

As she sat on her bed, waiting for Axel to come escort her to the banquet hall, she couldn't help but stare at herself in the vanity mirror above her dresser. Calli realized how much she had grown in the past two years. She went from a scrawny sixteen year old, to a strong, filled out eighteen year old. The silky, navy blue gown she had chosen to wear to the ceremony fit her perfectly, flowing in all the right places. She admired the way her hair fell around her shoulders. It's long… Calli thought to herself.

There was a knock at the door. Calli pulled herself out of her daydream and got up to answer it. Axel was handsome in his short and tie.

"May I escort the young lady to the party?" He asked her in a fake accent.

"Why yes, kind sir, you may."Calli replied with a smile on her face.

When they entered the banquet hall, Travis and Cooper came to greet them. Calli admired the scar over Travis's right eye. He had gotten it about a year ago during a Metal head training scenario. He had saved his brother's life that day and was proud to wear that scar.

"Ready?" Cooper asked .

"Ready." Calli replied, gripping his hand for a moment.

They walked to their table together, heads held high. Calli blushed the entire way , seeing out of the corner of her eyes the way some of the other guys were looking at her. They better take a good, hard look. She thought to herself. Because this is the ONLY time they will EVER see me in a dress.

They all took their turns to walk across the stage and shake the Baron's hand.

As Calli shook the Commanders hand, he whispered, "Can I have a word with you after the ceremony?" She nodded and continued down the line, shaking Ashelin's hand as well.

"Congratulations!" she had said to her. "It'll be nice to have another woman around."

She walked off the stage and took her seat once more.

"Hey. There's an after party at the Hip Hog. Wanna go?" Axel whispered in Calli's ear.

"Hell yes I do! But first I have to speak with Commander Torn."

"Okay. We'll just meet you there then."

When the ceremony came to an end, Calli went to find the Commander. He and Ashelin were at a table in the corner of the large room.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" She asked quietly, hoping she hadn't interrupted anything.

"Yes. I wanted to speak to you about your options. You came out on top of your class, proving you have what it takes to be an elite KG officer. We have a meeting set up for you with one of the other officers. Your skills with a rifle could prove useful to him. Tomorrow. 11:00. Meet him at the gates to the palace. Now go with your friends. You've earned it."

Calli saluted and turned to walk out of the hall. She walked out into the night air and breathed deep. Now she even had a job offer? It was everything she had hoped to achieve! She made her way to her zoomer parked down the alley, and climbed on, careful not to ruin her gown. Maybe I should have changed? , she thought to herself as she navigated through the evening traffic to the bar in the port. It wasn't her favorite place, mainly because foe the scumbag owner, Krew. But if you wanted to have a good time, the Hip Hog Heaven saloon was definitely the place to go.

Calli parked her zoomer and headed inside. She could hear te loud music and celebration from outside. All eyes turned to her as she walked through the door. She quickly spotted Axel and the two brothers and headed over to where they sat.

"Why is everyone staring at me" she whispered, as she sat down.

"Because you're beautiful." Travis replied. "And everyone knows it! PLUS they all know you could kick their asses all over this bar." He grinned at her, adding a wink at the end of his statement.

Calli smiled and stole a swig of Axel's drink. Ah. It was a whiskey night. She got up and walked over to the bar. That pretty blonde woman, Tess, was working. Calli had always admired Tess because she could put up with drunk assholes all night long.

"Can I have something strong please?" she asked kindly.

"Graduation night, huh?" Tess asked her.

"Yeah. Finally done!" Calli replied, a bit of relief hung in her voice.

"Well congratulations!" Tess said as she handed Calli her drink. "And never let these boys get the best of ya!"

Calli thanked Tess and turned to walk back to her table.

"Congratulations." Came a mans voice from behind her. She turned around to see a red haired man smiling at her while leaning casually against the bar. From the tattoos on his face, she knew he was a KG officer. And by the way he was dressed he must have been at the ceremony. Come to think of it, Calli thought she had seen him around the training facility once or twice.

"Uh, thanks." Calli smiled at him and continued back to the table.

"What was that about?" Axel asked, leaning around Calli to get a glimpse of the man.

"I… Don't really know…" she said.

A slow song came on over the speakers and Axel stood and offered Calli his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

"Of course," she smiled to him. Axel twirled her onto the floor and pulled her close.

"So are you excited about tomorrow?" He asked her, as they danced together.

"I'm kind of nervous, actually. I just can't believe that anyone would request to see me," she explained.

"Well why wouldn't they? You have a lot of talent! Not only with that rifle of yours, but also in close combat. Any squadron would be stupid not to want you!"

At this, Calli smiled and put her head on Axel's shoulder, and they continued to dance.