Sylvie fidgeted nervously, waiting for Mr. Scott to meet her for her lesson in the combination move she'd seen him do near the beginning of the semester. She'd already warmed up. The mats were almost empty of students practicing; she hadn't noticed the number dropping until today. Most of the students were gone now; some had quit because they thought being a Ranger would be easy, some had gotten injured, some had been dismissed, most of those honorably. She tried not to think of the one dismissed dishonorably. She hadn't particularly liked Amy, but it had been such a shock to find that she was responsible for the whole invasion thing! She'd almost caused Carlos' death, and Sylvie had tried for a while not to hate her for that.
Her hand brushed the letter in her pocket and she smiled. She hadn't seen him around, but Carlos had returned. Her mother had written that he'd called, looking for her. Sylvie had been afraid that would happen, and had asked her mother to tell him she was in a boarding school and couldn't take calls - which, technically was true - and that she'd write Sylvie and let her know he'd called. She said he'd sounded weary, which Sylvie could believe. Mrs. Kwan had told them to expect something like jet lag while traveling through space.
"Sorry I'm late," Mr. Scott said, stepping onto the mats next to her. "I had to find a willing victim."
"Gee, thanks. You didn't tell me I was going to be a victim," Mr. Park said from his other side, and flashed a grin in her direction. Sylvie raised an eyebrow. He did smile! Imagine!
"Victim?" she asked suddenly, as his words sank in.
"This is the final test. You've gotten good, and I wanted to test you on it."
Sylvie felt herself freeze. "Test?" she squeaked, and the two teachers exchanged smiles. Against him? She'd checked out some vids from the library, just to take a look at the different fighting styles of the teachers, and had been absolutely floored by Mr. Park's quickness. Then she gave herself a mental shake and stepped further onto the mat, refusing to be intimidated by the Asian man that stepped up to face her.
"Okay, Adam," Mr. Scott said. "Attack her."
She saw him moving towards her, and without much of a thought, her arms and legs flowed into a defense. Then someone was clapping and she looked to see Mr. Park flat on his back on the floor, grinning delightedly at her. She couldn't help but stare. Three smiles in less than five minutes! That was something of a miracle, had to be.
"Okay, Jase, I give, but I want to know the counter to that one." He got to his feet, rubbing at one leg, and Sylvie blushed. That was exactly where she'd gotten Portia so long ago.
"Talk to Tom. He's the only one who's come up with a counter move for that. He actually bested me once with it." Mr. Scott turned and clapped Sylvie on the shoulder. "Congratulations. You have mastered it."
Sylvie blinked, then broke into a wide smile. "Really?"
"Really."
She bowed to him, unable to quit smiling. "Thank you for teaching me."
"Thank you for asking." He bowed in return. "It has been a pleasure."
She turned then to Mr. Park, who had straightened, and with a straight face offered her bottle of Ibuprophen. "I happen to know that hurts," she said. "Would you like one?"
He blinked at her, then shook his head. "No, but thank you."
She nodded and tucked it away again, then left the gym for her room. She had to write Portia and tell her she was no longer being tutored privately. At least, not by Mr. Scott.
Sylvie dodged behind a boulder, trying to keep out of sight of the beings she knew had to be out there. The simulations had gotten almost dangerous lately, and she'd nearly been injured a couple of times. Behind her, the five man team was finishing up the initial guards they'd run into in their rescue mission. She kept moving around the perimeter, her eyes mostly outward, knowing they were out there. Whatever they were. She knew she was inexperienced - they all were - but Trey had said for her to trust her instincts, and she was. Besides, the force guarding the hostages was way too small, too easily defeated. There had to be more.
The battle sounds picked up again behind her, and she spun but didn't move toward them. This group was a little larger, but still something the team could handle. She started moving again, trying to keep all areas in sight without showing she was there. The expected attack happened just as the team defeated the second line of guards. It was luck that it was a sector she'd just passed, so she switched direction, laying into the small ambush with an ambush of her own. It was all the more successful because she surprised them.
"Sylvie!" Hunter Dillon's voice was furious and frustrated, and she wondered how long he'd been calling her as she took out the last of the... she could never remember what they were called, this particular brand of foot soldiers. Dusting her hands off, she moved toward the group gathered at the mouth of the cave. "We're leaving," the figure in red said tersely, and Sylvie nodded to him. "Watch our backs."
Sylvie nodded again, shortly, eyes narrowed as she scanned behind him. She still didn't feel particularly safe. "Can you spare a pair of eyes?" she asked.
"Cam. Would you mind joining Sylvie?"
The girl in the pink armor moved to join Sylvie, and she led the way back a ways. "You keep an eye out over there, I'll watch over here. Okay?"
Cam chuckled. "Works for me."
Seconds later, the simulation shut off, leaving the six-man team standing in an empty room. Sylvie sighed in relief and deactivated her training armor, shifting slightly and wincing as the skin over her ribs pulled. "Thanks, Cam," she said softly.
Cam flashed her a grin. "Sure, no problem!" she said cheerily.
"Where were you?" Hunter demanded, his own armor gone as well. Sylvie blinked up at him, surprised.
"I was on the perimeter, like you told me to be."
"I was yelling at you!"
Sylvie took a deep breath. "I was kind of busy. Sorry."
"Busy doing what?" he spat.
Sylvie kept from rolling her eyes, but only barely. "DECA, display Cadet Larson's last position," she said.
The area she'd left at Hunter's yell reformed, neatly displaying the creatures crumpled around the rocks and trees. Sylvie's eyes widened. She'd taken out that many?
"She was right, too," Trey added, moving easily into the room. "You didn't need to call her in. One of your team could have been the rear guard. All you had to do was let her know you were moving."
"Without calling her in?" Kelly Bowen asked. "Why not?" He'd been blue this time.
"Because there might have been another group, like that one. She took care of them because it was an ambush, exactly what they'd planned for you."
Taking a deep breath, Sylvie nodded. "I thought there might be more."
"Good," Trey said. "There was another group, but we ran out of time. Very good, all of you. Report to Ranger Kwan's class."
They left at a trot. Cam dropped back after a few strides to jog next to Sylvie. "You knew?" she asked.
Sylvie shook her head. "Nothing so... obvious as that. I just didn't feel safe."
"I felt fine." The petite brunette shook her head. "I don't understand."
Sylvie chuckled. "I don't either. Trey said that's the difference of a team person and a sixth man. You guys fight with this coordination that I find almost frightening. You almost seem to know where each of the others is. I'm surprised at the end of these simulations that one of you hasn't killed another. I couldn't do that."
Cam's brows swept together. "You mean, we have a predisposition to one or the other?"
"I've wondered that, too," Adeline said from Sylvie's other side. The group slowed as they reached the main hall. "I mean, I think the problem with Mack was that he could do both, and could never decide between them."
Sylvie chuckled. "Yeah, maybe. I don't know. I mean, there's Mr. Scott's friend, Mr. Oliver. He was both."
"But he had time to change, and adapt," Luz Carver offered in his accent that so often reminded her of Carlos. He'd been black that day, and it had been rather disturbing to her. "I asked him about it once, and he said that the transition was a very difficult time for him."
"Changing the way you think and the way your instincts work can't be easy," Sylvie agreed, then they spread out and waited for their next instruction.
After dinner, Sylvie returned to the practice mats, trying to perfect the combination move she'd learned from Mr. Scott. He showed up occasionally still, to help her out or give her tips, but usually, he wasn't there. Tonight was one of those nights.
She was on her way back when a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks. "I'm just worried, that's all." It was Carlos, and he sounded exhausted still, as if he hadn't recovered from the battle.
"So she can't be reached. As soon as she gets home, she'll call you." Andros sounded almost as tired, but there was a satisfaction to his voice that made her smile.
"I'm not so sure. I ignored her for almost... five years now!"
Andros chuckled. "Yeah, I know. Bulk told me when she finally quit calling. He sounded sad." Silence followed his words. "Listen, I know you're tired. You've been busy. Go to sleep. Get a lot of rest, and this will all work out, okay?"
Carlos sighed, a long, drawn out sigh. "All right, I'm going." There was silence, then his voice, farther away, "I'm still worried."
"Sleep. It will look better in the morning."
Sylvie realized that the Headmaster was heading in her direction, and with a sudden burst of speed, she dashed for her room, hoping he didn't see her. She arrived in the room she shared with Adeline and Cam out of breath.
Adeline raised an eyebrow. "What had you running?" she asked.
Sylvie grinned. "The Headmaster," she said easily, and swung up on her bunk. "He makes me nervous."
Cam snorted. "You didn't back down from Hunter today, and he makes you nervous?"
"Hunter's not a ranger...."
"Yet," Adeline said quickly.
"...yet," Sylvie added, her lips twitching in mirth, "but the Headmaster is."
"So's Trey, and he doesn't make you nervous," Cam said.
"Oh, so you're telling me the Headmaster doesn't make you nervous?" Sylvie demanded playfully.
"No, I'm not saying that at all," Cam grinned. "I would have run, too."
"Not me," Adeline said. "I would have wished him a good night and walked back here. And probably lost my dinner as soon as I got here," she added.
"Do you think we'll make it?" Cam asked softly, breaking the jovial mood.
"I've wondered the same thing," Sylvie said, sobered. "But pretty much I've decided that I have done my best, and even if I don't become a Ranger, it isn't because I didn't try. No matter how far I get, I've gone farther than I thought I would."
Adeline perked up. "Yeah! That's true!"
"It is. And even if I don't get to be a Ranger, I can do things I couldn't before, and I know things about me that I didn't before." Sylvie shrugged with a grin. "That won't keep me from trying, though!"
"No way," Cam agreed.
After lights out, Sylvie lay awake for a long time, talking to Delilah. "I may be totally wrong," she whispered when she got around to telling the doll about the conversation she'd overheard, "but I think he was talking about me. I'm not sure why he'd be worried, though." There was really nothing she could do to ease his worry, short of telling him she was there, and she wasn't about to do that. She sighed softly, then lay relaxed and fell asleep.
The next few days sped by so fast, Sylvie barely had time to breath. They did more simulations that increased in intensity each day, and Sylvie woke up with nightmares again. The only saving grace was that these nightmares were not like the ones she'd had after the Secret City incident; they were less real. And she was glad of that.
Early one morning, Sylvie was awakened by Karone. "Get dressed and lock everything in your locker," Karone said softly, "and meet me in the hall."
"What time is it?" Sylvie asked groggily, throwing her blankets back.
"Quiet," Karone admonished. "3:30. Hurry." The woman was gone before Sylvie could ask anymore questions. Moving quickly, Sylvie activated her personal light, and quickly dressed. She put her belongings in her locker, threw her blankets back over her bed in an attempt to make it somewhat presentable, then turned her light off and left the room.
When she stepped out of her room, blinking at the brightness of the hallway, she was surprised to see Zhane with his wife. "Come with us," Karone said softly, and they flanked her, leading her through the halls in silence. Sylvie wondered about the concern in their eyes, then her curiosity grew worse as it became obvious that he was heading toward the administrative offices, and then right to Andros'. Karone gestured Sylvie in, then closed the door behind her, just as Sylvie noticed that Andros looked exhausted.
"Cadet Larson, I'm sorry about this." He stood up, and her eyes widened, tears threatening to fill them and spill over. He couldn't possibly be dismissing her, could he? "One of our teams is in serious trouble. Due to..." his face took a sour look, "...political considerations, you're the best choice we've got."
Her jaw nearly hit the floor. "Uh... yes, sir."
He smiled shortly. "Yes?"
"It seemed the right response."
"Will you go?"
"Yes, sir." Her hands clenched to fists at her sides to hide how they trembled.
"Good." She thought she detected relief in his voice. "Ranger Chan is on leave; you'll be taking her rations for yourself. We can get you there quickly, and give you a change of uniform when you get back." He moved around the desk and ushered her out of the door, then handed her a datapad. "That's the information you'll need. Go ahead and start reading now."
Slightly overwhelmed, Sylvie did as she was told, surprised to find herself reading about a war. She was barely aware of the hand that closed around her elbow and guided her through the empty halls. She became aware a short time later that they'd stopped and Andros was holding a conversation next to her.
"Oh, it'll work, but how and why, I don't know. I think I've programmed the specs in so she'll match their zords." Justin half smiled. "He said it'll work for someone worthy, but what that means, I don't know." He placed something in Andros' hand, and almost immediately, Andros shuddered.
"That was weird."
Justin nodded. "It did that to me, too, but then left me alone."
"Keywords?"
"Not that I can tell." Justin looked worried. "I just barely got it. It's more complex than anything I've seen so far, and working with a being that has to have a translator is hard anyway."
Andros nodded sharply. "Thanks, Justin. Go get some sleep."
The younger man laughed shortly, and wandered off as Andros gestured for Sylvie to go on ahead of him.
"We prefer to do this with a ceremony," he told Sylvie, "but since we don't have time even for your final, this will be it." She stiffened and looked at him, eyes wide, but kept moving. "We aren't sending you in unaided, however. This was given to us by Chameleon." He opened his hand and showed her a small, silver coin that glinted in the lights as they continued toward the pit. "We'll be sending you on the fastest glider we have." He stopped her. "It's purely a support and rescue mission," he said sternly. "You need to stay out of the line of fire if you can."
Sylvie swallowed and nodded, and he started walking again. "We're sending extra ration and first aid supplies with you." They reached the end of the stairway and he paused, his dark eyes fastened on her. "Here."
He placed the coin in her hand, and her fingers closed reflexively around it. An odd feeling shot up her arm, and then she lost all sense of standing at the bottom of a metal stairway next to the headmaster. Instead, she stood in a large room, lined with what looked like file drawers. It was well lit, except for one corner that seemed positively dark and oppressive. She stared at a... quicksilver being who reminded her of the horse thing she'd met during the invasion, except that this one did not seem to be able to hold it's shape very well. "Who are you?" she asked.
"Chameleon," it said, but she would have sworn it hadn't actually spoken. "Your mind is very bright."
"My mind?" she repeated, almost stupidly, as it ambled - sort of - to one of the walls around them and pulled open one of the drawers.
"Yes."
"What are you doing here?" She remembered one night, when her mom was in bed, and she lay across the bed next to her, ready for bed herself. They were laughing, and had been laughing all night. She smiled softly in remembrance. It had been a fun evening.
"It should only take a minute," the being interrupted.
"I'm not sure I have that long." She felt a datapad in her hand, and glanced down at it; it was the one Andros had given her just minutes ago. She held it up, displaying the screen to it. "I have to help this team. They think I can slip in and give aid without being noticed."
"What's over there?" It pointed to the darker corner.
"That's the memories of things I'm not very proud of," she said. "Please, I really need to help...."
It moved faster than her words, and she was brought up short. The memory flashed across her mind, how she'd found out about Carlos, blackmailing him - and the connected memories of Brianna and the time she'd spent with them, the time she'd babysat during a school dance because she'd promised she would before she'd been asked to go. She flushed a little, then she was standing next to Andros again, and a shudder shook her.
"You okay?" he asked.
"That was weird," she said softly. "What was it?"
He looked contemplative. "I think it was checking your worthiness. I don't know what it might have been testing for, though. And it might have been checking to see if you already had power. At least, that was the impression I had."
Sylvie nodded. "Oh," was her intelligent response.
Andros gave her a half grin. "Are you ready?"
Sylvie took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Good." He started off again. "You understand what you are to do?"
"Get the rations and supplies in to the Rangers," she said. "Undetected, if possible."
"Do your best. You'll do fine."
The pit was busy in spite of the hour, and Droz met them with a hot pink glider. Sylvie winced at it, and Droz smiled sympathetically. "It's not pretty but it will get you there," the mechanic told her.
Sylvie nodded. "Do I have to morph before I get on?" she asked, almost hesitantly.
Andros paused. "It would probably be a good idea."
Sylvie opened her hand and looked down at the coin she held. "But... how?"
With a small smile, Andros told her gently "That's up to you."
Her eyes widened. "Me?" she squeaked.
"You."
Taking a deep breath, Sylvie closed her eyes and tried to relax, and the words came. "Chameleon, neutral," she murmured.
Silver slid from the palm of her hand, coating her hand and moving quickly up her arm, coating it and the rest of her body almost too fast for the eye to see, and finishing by closing over the fingers of her other hand. The metallic eased into a dull, light gray. Her boots, gloves, belt and visor part of the helmet were a shade darker.
Andros smiled, one eyebrow lifted. "The glider is programmed to get you there quickly."
Sylvie was glad of the uniform; it hid her trembling. She nodded in response to his words, and stepped onto the glider. As soon as she did, that same quicksilver flowed around it, dulling the bright pink to the light gray that matched her uniform. She stared in surprise as she realized that she could understand the glider. With only a thought, she sent it winging out through the doors into the night sky.
Sylvie's return was much less marked - and just as late. The quicksilver melted off her, forming a delicate bracelet around her wrist. "Thank you," she whispered, and glanced around wearily. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into a bed and sleep forever. Or at least until lunch time.
"Can I help you?"
She turned startled eyes on the handsome black man who had approached her, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. "I guess... direct me to the main complex, please. How late is it?"
"It's 4 am," he told her. "Where did you come from?"
She gave a short laugh. "The Parkra system. What day is it?"
"Tuesday." He gestured off to her right. "That's the way back in."
"Thank you." She turned and started the rather long trek back to the main complex. She held the datapad that had her report, and she wasn't entirely sure what to do with it. There was only a skeleton crew awake, if there was anyone, and she couldn't even be sure her room was still open. Knowing it was Tuesday didn't help her much; which Tuesday was it?
She found herself in front of the Headmaster's office, and still unsure, she sank down, leaned against the wall next to the door and waited. Someone shaking her shoulder woke her up, and she jumped to her feet, still half asleep, lost her balance and nearly fell into the wall. Laughter calmed her down a little, and she sighed in relief as she recognized Zhane's.
"Sorry," she said, blushing slightly.
"How long have you been back?" he asked.
"Um... It was four, I think." She rubbed her eyes, blinking at him. "What time is it?"
"7:30."
Sylvie gave him a sheepish look. "I wasn't sure what to do, or what day it was, or if my room was even open. Here's the report," she added, holding out the datapad to him.
Zhane shook his head. "You'll need to give it to Andros," he said. "He'll be here in a minute." He reached around her and unlocked the door. "Go on in and sit down. I'll check, but I think your student room is still open." She nodded and he walked down to his own office. She stepped into Andros' and sank down in a much more comfortable chair.
She was awakened a second time by someone shaking her shoulder, and she looked up to see Andros, looking curiously at her. "Damon told me a Ranger had returned," he said. "I thought you'd be in bed."
"Well, I didn't know the procedure, and I didn't know if my bed was even still unoccupied," she admitted. "He told me it was Tuesday, but I didn't know which Tuesday he meant."
Andros chuckled. "I understand."
"Oh." She suddenly remembered. "Here." She handed him her datapad. "That's their report."
He took it, then Zhane knocked on the door and walked in. "Your belongings were moved to a temporary room," he reported. "We needed your bed with the new recruits."
Sylvie nodded wearily. "Great. Where are they? I really need to get some sleep."
Andros nodded. "Definitely. Zhane?"
"With pleasure," he smiled, and gestured for Sylvie to proceed him.
"Wait," Andros said, and they both turned to see him with narrowed eyes. "You said you'd tell me who she was."
Sylvie glanced at Zhane with thanks in her heart, then smiled at Andros. "Sylvie Larson, sir, At your service."
Andros stared. "Sylvie? Little Sylvie, Carlos' friend?"
"Yes, sir."
"Stop calling me sir," he said, almost automatically. She smiled.
"It's a habit."
Andros grinned wryly. "I'll call your mother and have her join us for lunch."
"Thank you."
With a nod, he dismissed them. Sylvie followed Zhane through halls still relatively empty. "We got a new class on Monday," he told her.
"Already?" She stumbled slightly. He caught her harm with a grin.
"Yes. I'll send someone to wake you when your Mom gets here." He paused by a door and it slid open. "Activate the lock now." He smiled gently at her. "Sleep well. You deserve it."
As soon as the door closed behind her, she set the lock, crawled in the bed, and slept.
The door woke her, and she stretched luxuriously before jumping down. The temporary quarters were small, with two closets, so the room was intended for two people, probably two members of a team. It was weird, to be in this between state, not knowing if she'd graduated or what. Well, even if she hadn't, she'd gotten the chance to be a Ranger for at least one mission. The door sounded again, and she started, then changed quickly into the uniform she'd left at the school and opened the door. She grinned widely at her mother, reaching out to hug her. "I'm so proud of you," her mother whispered, then let her go and stepped back. Sylvie blushed slightly when she noticed Andros and Ashley standing just a ways off.
"Sleep well?" Ashley asked.
"Yes, thank you."
"Good," Andros smiled. "Ready for lunch?"
"Definitely," Sylvie said, and smiled ruefully as her stomach growled in punctuation. "I've had enough rations to last me forever."
Ashley chuckled. "Those are better than the ones we had," she said.
Sylvie shook her head. "I don't even want to imagine," she said.
It didn't take them long to get to the cafeteria, and once they'd gotten food, they found a table in a relatively quiet corner. The noise in the room reminded Sylvie of her first few days at the Academy.
"They sound sore," she said with a laugh.
Ashley grinned. "It's Adam's fault," she said. "He's working them hard."
Sylvie nodded. "I have to thank him," she said. "And Mr. Scott."
"Sylvie," her mother said softly, "would you explain to me why you felt you had to keep your presence here a secret from Carlos?"
"Not just from Carlos," Andros told her with a wry grin. "From all of us. Zhane only found out by accident."
"I just... felt that since the school was having such a hard time anyway, I didn't need to add to that by making people think I'd gotten in because of who I knew." Sylvie flushed slightly. "It was hard."
"Mrs. Larson!" Carlos' voice interrupted, and it was obvious he was startled, and pleased. "What... It's good to see you," he stuttered.
She stood up and gave him a hug. "It's good to see you, Carlos. And welcome back."
Sylvie couldn't turn, eyes wide in shock. Ashley hid her smile behind her hand, but Andros didn't try to hide it. "Sit down and join us," he invited the Black Ranger, who shook his head.
"You've got company. I just wanted to ask how Sylvie was."
Sylvie's mother smiled widely and sat down again. "Why don't you ask her yourself?" she asked.
It had given her a chance to calm down, and her smile was real when she turned around. "Hi," she said, almost shyly.
His eyes widened, then he grabbed a nearby chair and collapsed more than sat in it. His brown eyes were wide, disbelieving, and Sylvie barely managed not to laugh. Ashley, however, didn't try to hide it, and Carlos blushed at her laughter. "You knew about this?" he demanded, glaring at Andros.
"Not until Zhane told me this morning," Andros told him.
"How long has he known?"
"Since about two days after that invasion," Sylvie smiled.
Carlos nodded slowly. "I see." He took a deep breath. "Wow. Um. I'm not entirely sure how to even react. Thank you for your help, by the way."
"You're welcome," she said.
"That clears up some stuff," he mused after a minute. "You knew way too much about me, and about Rangers in general."
Sylvie smiled. "I'd hoped you wouldn't notice that and call me on it." She shrugged. "I got to hang out with a bunch of Rangers for a while."
Conversation turned to her adventures in the Parkra system, and she was careful not to say anything that would scare her mother. After a while, the cafeteria emptied, and Andros and Ashley exchanged a glance. "Excuse me a moment," Ashley said, and left the room.
Andros watched her go, then turned to Sylvie. "We're holding a meeting right now. Care to attend?"
Sylvie smiled. "Sure! Can my Mom come?"
Andros nodded. "Oh, definitely."
They all got up and left the room, and Sylvie wondered what it was as they walked down to the main room, where she'd spent so many hours in class and in study. When she would have stopped in the back, Andros took her arm and kept her walking, and with a glance at Carlos, kept him moving as well. They mounted the stand, where the teachers and the Astro Rangers stood in the formation Sylvie had seen them their first day. TJ pulled Carlos into line, where he looked rather uncomfortable. The students quieted as Andros moved to the podium. "Good afternoon," he said. "We had some business to take care of.
"Sylvie Larson was a member of the last class, and missed her graduation ceremony because she was on assignment. I would like to present to you Sylvie Larson, the Chameleon Ranger."
Sylvie's eyes widened in surprise as the students applauded. Zhane had to prod her to move forward, and she stepped up next to Andros. From Andros' other side, Ashley handed him something, then Sylvie's arms were full of a new, light gray uniform that calmed the fluttering in her stomach, if only a little. She couldn't have stopped the smile that crossed her face if she'd wanted to.
She heard little else, and followed whoever pulled her arm to get her off the stand so that the class could continue. She hugged her mother back, then they left the hall. Sylvie found herself in her quarters again, and was told firmly by her mother to change.
When she emerged in her new uniform, she found her mother was gathering her purse and jacket. "Turn around and let me see you," she said softly, so Sylvie modeled for her.
"Do you have to go?" she asked.
"Yes, hon. I do. But Andros said you can come visit now. And when you do, bring Carlos." There was a glint in her mother's eyes she didn't trust, but she nodded anyway.
"Thanks for coming," she said as they walked out to the main doors.
"I'm glad I could do it," her mother said, and they paused before she walked out. "I love you, Sylvie."
"Love you, too, Mom," she said, and they parted.
She wasn't alone long; by the time she'd reached the first stairway, she had a companion. "How does it feel to be a Ranger?" Carlos' voice asked gently.
"I don't know," she smiled. "I haven't had time to get used to it. Why did you go to Triforia?"
He was silent for a while, until they'd nearly reached her quarters. "A friend of mine wanted to see me," he said finally.
"Oh? Why?"
"I was... working for her father, and actually... I guess I helped prevent an overthrow on Triforia about a year ago."
Sylvie opened her door and gestured for him to go in. "So the rest of the universe finally knows what I always knew about you," she said softly.
He turned with one eyebrow lifted. "Oh? What is that?"
"That you're a hero." She blushed at her own audacity.
His eyes widened. "Oh. Thank you," he stuttered.
"What will you do now?" she asked, breaking the silence that had fallen heavily between them.
"I'm not sure," he admitted as she sat down and indicated that he should join her. "TJ offered me a position on the security team, but I'm not certain that's what I'd like to do."
"Recruitment?"
He laughed. "No."
"What about teaching? Or the entrance physicals?" He was shaking his head before she finished, and a terrible thought occurred to her. "Do you want to stay?" she asked tentatively, almost afraid of the answer.
A serious expression she didn't remember crossed his face. "Yes, I'll be staying," he told her, and she nodded, swallowing her expression of relief.
"Good," she managed to get out.
He smiled. "I just wanted to see how you were doing, and to extend an invitation to an informal gathering down at Adelle's," he told her. "Meet me at the front doors at 6:30 in civilian clothes, and I'll take you down, okay?"
She nodded. "Okay."
"I also suggest getting some sleep between now and then," he added, and stood. "Andros wanted to talk to me, so I'd better go."
"Thanks for coming," she said, and let him out. With a grateful sigh, she sank back down on the bed and went to sleep.
The drive to town was full of talk. He asked her what had really happened on her mission, so she regaled him with what she'd left out so she wouldn't worry her mother. He was laughing, more at the incredulity than because it was funny, when they pulled up in front of the Surf Spot. "He didn't."
"He did! Wrapped in blue to fight off color withdrawal. It had to have been a dare."
"They didn't tell you?"
She shrugged. "They said it was an inside joke."
"Still." He laughed again. "I'll have to ask him about it when they get back."
Inside, they found the party already underway. Carlos was swept off by Ashley almost immediately, so Sylvie ventured in, alone. She recognized some people, a few of the teachers, but that was it. Taking a deep breath, she started talking to people.
She was conversing animatedly about the school when the gentleman she was talking to excused himself and was pulled away by someone else. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her thoughts before diving back in, and someone touched her arm.
"You made it."
"You sound surprised." She turned to face her ex-boyfriend, Geoff, who'd insisted going to the Academy was a dumb thing for her to do.
"Pleasantly so, believe me," he said. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smirking, and didn't answer. "Are you busy tomorrow night?" She stared at him in disbelief, then tried to remember if anyone had said anything about dating when she was on active duty. Then she realized she didn't know what her status was or anything else.
Carlos' arrival was timely, and saved her from answering as he took her arm familiarly. "Hey, Sylvie. Andros wants to talk to you. Got a minute?"
"Yes." She cast one last smile at Geoff, who was staring at Carlos. She was sure she saw jealousy in Geoff's face. And she planned on doing nothing at all to get rid of it.
Go to next chapter | "I Wonder What it's Like...."