One thing was as constant as the archaic concept of seasons; that a certain number of cycles in rotation, GIS would dock at GOA to make preparations and restock on supplies and whatever else it was that GIS did, mysterious workings that Zero only longed to someday be privileged to.

He had been on GIS, once, since the incident. Erts had 'summoned' him -- a thoroughly impersonal message, except for the postscript, a wry, Don't let Garr see you. He could almost hear Erts's voice saying it.

"Sorry to call you up here," Erts murmured. "I would've gone down to meet you, but-- well." He laid back in his bed, one hand over the bandages on his stomach.

"How did you get hurt?" Zero demanded, hopping to the younger boy's bedside. "One of the Victim-- How did it--"

Erts laughed, a soft sound. It didn't sound like he really meant it, but maybe like he thought it was appropriate to laugh. "Not Victim. I was my enemy this time. I bruised a rib while training."

Zero was torn between appreciation of Erts's newfound dedication and scolding him for being too dedicated. He settled for an in-between, "Take better care of yourself! Next time it could be an automic." (He still wasn't sure what was the deal with those except that they were frequently used as threats on reckless Candidates such as himself.)

The blond boy smiled at him. "Thank you for your concern."

Zero dropped to his knees and folded his arms over the edge of the bed. "So what did you want to talk about?" he asked, tucking his chin over his arms.

Erts hesitated a moment, then shook his head wordlessly. "I... Just wanted to see you."

Maybe it was just the way Erts was, that unabashed sentimentalism, but Zero thought, I've never had a friend before who would have gone to trouble just to be with me. He smirked a bit and said, "Well, soon you won't have to send a message to spend time with me. I'll be right down the hall."

That prompted a laugh -- a real one. "Will you? What rank are you now?"

Zero grinned. "First of Second Troop," he said, smug.

Erts's eyes widened. "You beat out Hiead?"

It hadn't been easy. It hadn't been easy at all. "Yeah, well, he couldn't keep up with me. Torturing small animals instead of practicing."

"You're horrible."

"No, he's horrible," Zero corrected. He fidgeted a little at the edge of the bed, playing with a wrinkle in the sheet. "It doesn't hurt, does it?"

Quiet breathing, the slow rise and fall of Erts's chest, and then he shook his head. "No. It doesn't. You know... Zero..."

"Mm?"

"...to be honest, I wanted you to come because... being with you makes me feel better."

Hesitantly, Zero shifted, groping blindly on the sheets for Erts's hand. The telepathist stiffened at the contact, giving a panicked little jerk that Zero knew was reflexive, and then slowly, slowly eased.

When Zero thought about how soon he would have to leave GIS, and Erts, he felt colder than he had in years.