Eun-ji Park enjoyed her work. It was not often one got to work out electrical calculations while lying on the beach of a tropical island. She had taken to island living with gusto. Paper and pencil in hand, her book bag over her shoulder and floppy hat to shade her eyes, Eun-ji strolled through the village. The week after Kuroi-sensei and her class came over the barricade, found the University of Washington graduate on her way from the HMS Inscrutable.

"Good Morning, Park-san," a cheerful voice called out. Eun-ji turned to discover the source of the greeting.

"Good Morning, Kuroi-sensei. Perfect bikini weather, isn't it? So much better than Seattle."

"How so?" Kuroi asked. "I've never been abroad, so I don't know such things."

"Oh, man. Winters are miserable. Cold, wet and rainy. Summers are a little better, but still too cool to wear bathing suits. Unless you're a bear." Eun-ji laughed at her own joke.

"I see. And the weather here is the reason for so little clothing?" Kuroi asked as she regarded the scandalously small bikini Eun-ji wore.

"Around here, absolutely. Naturally, I wear a skirt and jacket when I go to the sub, but..."

"You mean the submarine?"

Eun-ji nodded. "The HMS Inscrutable. The chief engineer they have is absolutely brilliant. The way he keeps his reactors working is just...wow. Plus, he and I have been working at how to keep the village running."

"Running?"

"Obviously our power, our electricity comes from somewhere, but we need to get it to where we can keep it running."

"I think you lost me..." Kuroi admitted. "I am not very good with this kind of stuff."

"My apologies," Eun-ji offered a bow. "I just get so excited whenever I disembark that I forget others don't share my passions. The Chief and I are working to ensure that Ikei's electricity keeps working independent of outside influences."

"Self sufficiency, right?" Kuroi asked.

"Exactly," Eun-ji said smiling. "We know there is a generation plant on Henza, but we can't get to it because of the zombies."

Kuroi shuddered at the mention of zombies. Eun-ji chose to ignore it.

"Every time the Navy sends a chopper to the site, zombies start crawling all over the place. So, we need to move power generation from there to here, away from Them."

"I am all too familiar with Them," Kuroi muttered as she clapped her hands twice. "I would rather not have any more to do with Them."

"I hear ya," Eun-ji said as she crossed herself. "If those Brits hadn't come when they did..."

"I was more worried about my students than myself," Kuroi said. "Still, scary to think what might have happened if we were not found at that moment." She fell into an awkward silence as she gazed at the ground.

Eun-ji cocked an eyebrow. "Hai?"

"I have a question to ask of you," Kuroi said. "How good are you with general sciences? I am embarrassed to admit I find myself out of my depth since I am a Social Studies teacher by education."

Eun-ji thought long and hard before answering. "Not very, I'm afraid. I am far better with mathematics than general science. I can help you in that area. Perhaps Kinoshita-san could help with sciences."

"I asked her already, but she declined citing youth and inexperience."

"Are there any other survivors with the skills you need?" Eun-ji asked. "There is a community billboard down by the harbor, maybe post an advert there."

"I have done that," Kuroi said, "But the recruitment and interview process always takes a while. That is why I am personally asking those I am certain would have the skills and knowledge first."

"I am available to teach math, if you will have me," Eun-ji volunteered.

Kuroi smiled and bowed deeply. "I accept your offer. I have a classroom set up at the middle school in the village. Can you be by in the afternoon?"

"I can indeed."

"Thank you so much," Kuroi bowed again. "I was beginning to lose hope for my pupils."

"If you want science teachers, you may want to get started on your recruiting drive," Eun-ji said. "The longer you hold off, the harder it will be to find someone."

"You're right," Kuroi sighed. "Thank you again, Park-san. Shall I see you this afternoon?"

"Of course, sensei."

The two parted company as Eun-ji wandered toward her favorite beach spot. She encountered Shaun and Asuka as they walked hand in hand to the harbor.

"Miss Park, you are looking in happy spirits today," Shaun said as they passed each other.

"I have a new job today," she said with a nod. "Kuroi-sensei asked if I would teach math to her kids and naturally I said yes."

"Wonderful," Asuka replied. "It's good to see some semblance of normalcy after everything that has happened. Good luck to you."

"Thank you," Eun-ji said with a bow. The group parted company as Eun-ji continued her trek to her bungalow.

"Excuse me," the man knocked on Kuroi-sensei's office door. "My name is Shinagawa Seiya. I am here about a science teacher position."

Kuroi stood and offered the caller a chair facing her desk. He was tall, somewhat rough looking in tank-top and knee pants with spiked black hair, but well spoken and polite. A tattoo of a dragon wrapped his left arm from shoulder to elbow.

"I apologize for my somewhat questionable appearance," the man said in answer to Kuroi's raised eyebrow. "The result of a mis-spent youth. However, I was able to rouse myself into some respectability and graduated from a technical college with a degree in science."

"Well, I can say that any offer of help is greatly appreciated," Kuroi said. "Will you be available in the morning?"

"I have no other engagements," Shinagawa said. "My younger sister takes care of the household with her husband. I am left feeling like a bit of a fifth wheel sometimes."

Kuroi smirked at the remark. "In that case, I have a number of questions for you."

Shinagawa nodded. "I graduated from Hokkaido University of Education in Sapporo."

"I've heard of it," Kuroi said. "How long ago?"

"Just over two years ago now. I majored in Biology, but I feel confident I can teach any science if I have the right materials."

"I don't suppose you still have your school ID with you?"

Shinagawa shifted in his chair. "I have it back at the house. Never took it out of my wallet actually."

Kuroi leaned back and let her eyes drift to the ceiling. Shinagawa continued to face her.

"May I ask a personal question?" Kuroi said, her eyes fixed on some spot on the ceiling tiles.

"I suppose...?"

"How did you come by that tattoo on your arm?"

"As I mentioned, mis-spent youth," Shinagawa tried to evade. "My father was rarely home and my mother took very little interest in me or my sister. I fell in with some people I thought would give me somewhere to belong."

"Were you in a gang?"

Shinagawa froze as his mouth hit the deck. Recovering, he met Kuroi's gaze as she fixed him in a stare.

"I have to be very careful with my students, you understand."

Shinagawa nodded, his eyes still transfixed by the power of the teacher's gaze.

"I never got very far and was kicked out shortly after I joined."

Kuroi considered the man's statement for sometime before speaking. "Very well. Since the afternoon sessions will be starting soon, would you please return tomorrow morning with your school ID?"

Shinagawa checked his watch. "What time?"

"8 o'clock, please."

"I will be here at 10 minutes before, Kuroi-sensei." Shinagawa rose to his feet and bowed.

"Thank you, Shinagawa-san." Kuroi-sensei returned the bow.

"Sweetie," Alex called into the house from the porch. Misa poked her head out the front door.

"Hai?"

"I'm going to the Ark and talk to Captain de Souza. He said he had something he wanted to discuss."

Misa nodded her head. "I will be going up to the school. There are some books in the library I want to take a look at. Don't wait up for me."

Alex smiled and blew a kiss before turning onto the lane. Misa watched her disappear from view as she slipped into her sandals.

"Aniki," Shinagawa bowed to the older man approaching the school. The man addressed as Aniki sped to close the distance, a scowl on his face.

"I warned you not to call me that where others can hear, chibi."

Chastened, Shinagawa lowered his head. "Forgive me, Chiba o-nii san. Force of habit."

"Change it," Chiba said. "We are a respectable family now. Last thing we need is trouble with the foreigners."

"Wakatta," Shinagawa said with another bow. "By the way, I may have a position at the school now."

Chiba cocked an eyebrow at the news. "Doing?"

"Science teacher," Shinagawa said with a smile. "'bout time I put that degree to honest use."

"Just stay away from those kids," Chiba cautioned. "They're way too young, even for you."

Shinagawa scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously. "I told you, I never touched her."

Chiba rolled his eyes and focused his attentions onto Misa as she materialized out of the summer haze.

"Come."

Alex stepped through the bulkhead into de Souza's cramped office. She smiled politely as de Souza finished the last of his paperwork.

"Miss Schweiger, how are you this afternoon?"

"Doin' good, Captain. Yourself?"

"No complaints, however, I feel compelled to relay some information to you."

Alex stared at de Souza for a moment before he cleared his throat.

"The villagers probably don't realize or even suspect, but all of the men I have on shore patrol speak Japanese, since these men were part of the Embassy detachment."

"And that has what to do with me?"

"Several of my men have submitted written reports concerning the safety of you and your companion, Miss Kinoshita. It would seem there are some nasty rumors spreading about you two."

The breeze blew in cool off the ocean as Shaun tied bait to his hook. Asuka leaned in close. "I may have been playing with the girls yesterday, but I think I really am pregnant."

"If this is true, that would be absolutely wonderful," Shaun said, his pole forgotten. "How soon will you know for sure?"

"I had the morning sickness yesterday...I think," Asuka said. "I don't want to get too excited as it may have been bad fish from the night before."

Shaun smiled as he returned his attention to the promise of tonight's dinner.

"How are we doing on supplies?" he asked.

"Rice is running low," Asuka sighed. "I have been having troubles scrounging for more since the last boat load of survivors from Korea arrived."

"Competition getting stiff?"

"Something like that. The group who claim to be from DPRK are really good at foraging. They have picked an entire lane clean."

"Any troubles dealing with them?" Shaun asked, the concern obvious from his tone.

"No," Asuka said. "They keep to themselves, but they are very well coordinated and work in a pack. I just can't keep up."

"I am to understand the first crop from the fields is about ready for harvest," Shaun offered.

"The farmer in charge said at least two weeks," Asuka explained. "And the garden I planted when we first got here is at least that long."

"How much rice do you think we have left?"

"If I ration like you taught, until the harvest."

Shaun smiled at the thought of his wife carefully counting every grain. Noticing this, Asuka asked, "What's so amusing?"

"You," he said. "You're just like a supply sergeant I knew in Aldershot. Kept careful account of every round that went through his depot."

"I can't tell if you are complimenting me or mocking me," Asuka said as she cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh, complimenting certainly," Shaun swore. "I dare not ever mock you."

Light laughter filled the wet air as Shaun cast his line into the shallows surrounding the pier.

"Fortunately, fish are plentiful," Shaun said. "And wheat grows anywhere."

Asuka turned her gaze to the azure waters surrounding the island.

"Will you be upset if it turns out I am not pregnant?"

"How could I ever be upset about that?" Shaun asked. "What is meant to be, shall be."

"And this is why I fell in love with you," Asuka sighed contented.