In the days after Adlai's team had brought Vail in, she noticed that the Ranger, Lieutenant Reid, was no longer watching Aquamarine group, and had, as she soon found out, left the base. Kramer said he would be coming back, this time bringing several of his people.

But she pushed the thoughts of Rangers and their agendas out of her mind and concentrated on her training. After the whole fiasco in the warehouse, she knew she had things to work on, not least her mistake of forgetting to radio for backup. Kramer still gave her grief on that, but, otherwise, he had been more than understanding.

With her arm injured, she was excused from most fight training, as well as any strength and weight training, though she still–gladly–participated in the runs and the classwork. Jeremiah, who was hurt the worst, was still in the infirmary, and Solberg was relegated to anything that wouldn't hurt his hurt arm.

Ilse and Walker shone, now, both climbing the ranks steadily, and, really, their whole team, all five of them, had become some sort of celebrities overnight. Now, other training groups stopped and stared at them, and Adlai even heard a pair of fully trained soldiers remarking that even first-year soldiers might not have gotten out of that scrape without loss of life.

After a life spent unnoticed and unwanted, it felt good to be seen by people, and to be respected. Adlai had never felt that way before.

And here she was, one of the five highest-ranking cadets on the whole base. Most of the time, she didn't dare believe it. It was one thing to be a part of something, and quite another to be noticed out of that part.

So she buried herself in her work. She wasn't infallible, not yet. Definitely not yet. There was still a long way to go.

On the third day after the warehouse incident, she went back to weapons training–especially on the gun range–and it became the highlight of her day. As much as she liked the classroom work, she prefered being outdoors, hidden in a tree, a thousand feet from her targets, and picking off the holograms one by one, to the shock of the people actually at the range who didn't expect a shot to come from behind them, picturing Vail's face on the holograms.

By then end of the second week, she held and defended the second-highest ranking, topped only by Solberg, whose combate scores topped hers by only a percent or two. It annoyed her a little, but she was doing her best, and every day pushed her a bit further than the last, so she couldn't complain.

Truth be told, she was happy, and happiness wasn't a feeling she was familiar with.

***

Rowan got to the Messina conference room before Levi, and made herself eat her apple turnover, but her appetite had deserted her. Instead, she picked at the flaky crust, staring out the tall, glass window in front of her seat.

Her report had dredged up memories she wished she could bury forever, and, on top of that, he mind was spinning with Falk's news. Stark needed to accept the promotion. She couldn't think of anyone else who could fill that position, except, maybe, Levi, but Falk was right; Levi was too young.

What bothered her was thinking that she would now be in command of Fox Squad. Her whole time with the Rangers, Stark had been either Sergeant or Lieutenant of the squad, and she'd always been under his direct command, but now...

Then, the door clicked open, and Levi walked in. His cheeks glowed with the cold, and, like Rowan, he'd accessorized with a scarf, but, unlike her, he'd actually remembered his beanie. "Hey," he said breathlessly. "How's it going?"

And Rowan, to her own shock, smiled at him. "Okay," she said, still smiling. Yup, Levi had some sort of odd effect on her, but she kind of liked it. "So, you have some profiles for me to go over?"

Levi nodded and set down his own coffee cup. Rowan knew from experience that it would hold a steaming cappuccino. "Yup," he said, untwining his scarf and pulling off his beanie. His hair stood up on end, and he ran a hand through it to smooth it. "I heard you were in charge of recruiting for Fox Squad."

Rowan nodded. "Apparently, yeah," she said, and she thought, and a lot more from now on. Levi grinned and settled in the chair right next to hers. "What've you got, Reid?"

He pulled out his tablet and keyed into the wireless hologram display at the center of the table. "A couple options," he said, smoothing his hair again. "All cadets at the army base in Alaska."

Rowan nodded. That particular base was renowned for producing some of the best-trained fighters in the Colonial Network. She pulled out her own tablet to take notes and said, "Okay, shoot. Not literally, of course."

Levi chuckled, typed something in to his tablet, and a photo and profile popped up on the display. "Okay, first up, Cadet Darcy Coleman, from Lares," he said. The girl in the photo had a cheeky smile on her face and her eyes seemed to twinkle, even frozen on screen. "High combat scores, higher technical ratings. Has made a habit of sarcasm, which neither of us would mind, I don't think." He grinned at Rowan.

She snorted. "With me, Ripple and Slate, she'd fit right in," she joked. "Of course, the three of us struggle to get any work done, as it is, so maybe that's not the best idea."

Levi pretended mock shock. "But you all get plenty done, and it makes the rest of us look bad! Maybe you should take her. It would give the rest of us a chance."

Rowan rolled her eyes, but leaned closer and read through Cadet Coleman's profile. She had good technical scores, yes, and would have passed the advance science training requirements, but Rowan already had the required number of operatives with high science ratings. She counted them off in her mind. Gerrit, obviously, Slate, Holden and herself, and now Carter, too.

She stewed over her decision for a moment, then leaned back in her chair. "Not exactly what I'm looking for. She's good, but we really need people with higher weapons scores. I just brought Carter on, and she doesn't have any real combat experience and no scores in the discipline yet. I know she trained with the army, but not for very long before she was fast-tracked into a pre-med program in London."

Levi nodded pensively. "I've put her in my 'maybe' pile, since I lost two of my science qualifieds. I saw her in training–I've seen all of these guys–and she's good, but not spectacular. With a bit of work, she could become spectacular." He ran a hand through his hair again. "It just seems like a pretty big risk to take, but who knows, right?"

Rowan shrugged. "Your call," she said. She agreed that it was a risk, but not as big as it could be. "Who's next?"

Levi flicked to the next profile, and the hologram changed as he did. "Harper Tang, from Tytios, Outer Fringe."

Rowan whacked him on his unhurt arm. "I know where Tytios is," she snapped. "And you know I grew up on the Outer Fringe."

Levi glared at her. "Yeah, and so did I. I was just..." He apparently gave up and took Rowan through the girl's profile. "Good weapons scores, but, again, nothing too special. Solid fighter, average mind. She's cold, though. I saw it in person. Doesn't hesitate to do what has to be done." He looked up, smiling a bit. "Kind of like Ripple, actually," he said, smirking a little.

"Oh, well, as we already have one of her, you can take the other, "Rowan said sarcastically. "Each team really can only put up with just so much ice, and then..." She grinned like the goddamn Cheshire cat.

Her comments had the desired effect, because Levi snorted, then burst out laughing. "Okay, point taken," he managed to get out. Rowan just watched him make a fool out of himself, smirking a little.

After a few minutes, he sobered enough to move on to the third cadet. "George Walker, from Lares. Practically inseparable from Cadet Coleman. I get the feeling the two of them come as a packaged deal. Whoever gets one has to have the other."

Rowan reached out and flicked through the hologram, reading through his details. She was impressed. The young man had an uncanny knack for mastering anything he touched, with insane technical and weapons scores. The only blemish on his record was a dislike of endurance training, even if he did excel at it.

"I like him," Rowan said decisively. "But, like you said, I think, if I took him, I'd have to take Coleman. Still put him as one of my maybes."

Levi nodded and typed something on his tablet. "Okay, next, Ilse Moreau, from Acantha." Rowan wanted to snort or roll her eyes or both. A rich kid, she thought, from one of the richest planets in the galaxy. Still, she had to trust that Levi wouldn't have even considered any candidate who was anything less than better than good.

So she took a closer look at the girl's profile. To her surprise, though she was pretty sure she'd masked it well, Moreau had run low-level conns and thefts in Acantha's underworld, struggling to stay afloat. Her aptitude skills were high, technical ratings higher than weapons, but she still wasn't half-bad.

Rowan nodded decisively. "Put her in my 'maybe' pile. I don't see any outstanding issues, and I think she'd be a pretty good fit, if not perfect right off the bat."

Levi nodded. "She's not as solid as Cadet Tang, but she has the mind to make up for the lack of brawn. She's street-smart, not just book smart like some of the others. I don't think you could go wrong with her."

They went through a handful of other profiles, the two most remarkable ones belonging to a Cadet Jeremiah Snow and a Cadet Aidan Kerr. Rowan put them both, with no small amounts of hesitation, in her 'maybe' pile.

Then, Levi flicked to another picture, this one of a sharp-featured boy, his jaw stubbornly set, his eyes flinty. Something about him made Rowan sit up a little bit straighter.

"Wren Solberg," Levi said, and there was something in his voice that made Rowan all the more eager. "From Earth, not surprising when you look at his record."

So Rowan read through his record. Off the charts high weapons, tactical and technical scores, perfect performance in drills, and, most surprising, a note that he'd acted in exemplary fashion on his first mission, alongside Cadets Coleman, Moreau and Snow. Rowan supposed it wasn't surprising that, in light of that particular note, Levi had selected him as one of their options, despite some choice remarks about his trainer on his behavior and disregard for authority. He was also the highest-ranking cadet at that particular base, and, since Juneau was the best training facility, probably in the Earthside army, overall.

"He'll be a challenge," she said, trying not to sound too eager, and thinking, Gerrit was a challenge and a smartass, too, and that turned out better than I could have hoped. Plus, Carter was so docile, and was apt to follow any orders she received without complaint. She and Cadet Solberg might be able to rub off on each other. Maybe. "Put him in my 'maybes,' please. I think I could straighten him out–not completely, but... enough."

Levi stared at her, an odd expression on his face. "Rather you than me," he muttered. "And on your head be it." He typed something into his tablet. "Okay, last option, and I think you'll really like her. Adlai Fletcher, from Lares."

The girl's picture stared at her from the monitor. Straight, brown hair, brown eyes, skin neither tan nor pale, stubborn mouth, button nose, directed gaze. Rowan found herself drawn in by the girl's physique. She leaned forward to read the girl's profile, and what she ready only confirmed her initial impression.

Cadet Fletcher had been an industrial worker on Lares, one of the worst-off Fringe planets, with above-average IQ and the determination to master any task set to her. She'd joined the army at sixteen for an unknown reason, and she'd exceled since day one. Not because she had a natural aptitude for anything in particular, except, apparently, anything that went bang or boom, much like Rowan herself. No, Fletcher's skills seemed to stem entirely from her stubbornness and determination. Once she set her mind to something, according to her trainer, she didn't quit until she'd mastered the task and surpassed expectations. She was ranked second out of all the cadets at the Juneau base, and she'd been leading the team on the mission that had apparently gone wrong. According to her trainer, she'd taken a bullet to keep the attackers from killing on of her teammates.

"Her," Rowan said without hesitation. "I want her. She has the ratings for advanced training in weaponry, sciences and tactics. And she's got the backbone to put up with all of us. I can tell just by looking at her that she'll be a good fit."

Levi nodded, pensive. "I agree," he said. "I'll put her down as probably definite. I guess you'll want to come when I go back to Alaska?" Rowan nodded. "Although, I can tell you, I don't really think there'll be any issues with her."

Rowan nodded. "Still, it's one thing to read about someone on paper–figuratively speaking, of course–and quite another to see if they actually gel with you. Jase and Ripple have asked to come, so I'd like their opinions too. The three of us all started the same year, and we're the most senior of the squad." She gave a shrug.

Levi nodded. "I'm bringing Indigo and Slater when I go back." Indigo Tate was his second-in-command, as well as his Science Officers. Jacob Slater was one of his operatives, and he had a penchant for anything that went bang, boom or pow.

Rowan finished her coffee with one, long gulp and started packing up, but a few words from Levi stopped her dead. "Is it true Stark's being promoted to Commander?" he asked, sounding more curious than surprised.

Rowan straightened from packing her bag, nearly whacking her head on the table as she did. "How did you know?" she demanded. "I only found out about it today."

Levi shrugged. "I didn't," he answered quietly. "I mean, I heard rumors. Everyone has. But it was more process of elimination. I mean, who else would it be? I'm too junior, and no one else on the Horizon is qualified."

Rowan sighed and buried her head in her hands. "Yeah," she said. "But I'm not sure he'll actually do it." And she told him everything that Captain Falk had told her.

Levi groaned. "He has to do it," he muttered. "He knows that, right? I mean, seriously."

Rowan pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. "I really, really need to talk to him," she grumbled. "I mean, no offense, but you men can be insanely dense sometimes."

Levi let out a strangled laugh. "No offense taken," he said, his eyes shining. "In this particular case, I'd have to agree with you."

Rowan smiled pathetically. "I have an hour before I have to meet Carter for physio. Stark will be there. I'll talk to him then. In the meantime, want to go get a coffee with me?"

***

With a fresh drink in hand–yes, another chai latte–Rowan maneuvered across Rangers' Square as quickly as she could, her head bent against the bitter wind. Carter had messaged to say she was running late, but Rowan had asked Stark to meet her in the gym, anyway.

At the fitness complex, Rowan changed into her workout gear–not the standard-issue Rangers wear, but a boring, black sports bra, a pair of lycra leggings and a baggy, long-sleeved, grey top and matching headband.

Civilians could by membership to the complex, so there was no set dress code, and only Academy cadets taking training courses wore any kind of uniform. Rowan pulled on a pair of running shoes and exchanged her crutches for a cane that the staff had helpfully provided, and limped out into the gym.

Stark sat at a weight machine, working slowly, his face set with grim stubbornness. A few feet away, Rowan stopped watching, feeling more concerned than before. Stark labored to keep control of a plate that wasn't even that heavy. It was the first time she realized just how hurt he was.

So, instead of going straight over to him, she waved over one of the physical therapists who worked at the gym, helping people like... well, her, regain the full use of their bodies.

The girl, a little older than Rowan and a little taller, walked leisurely over, her hips swaying hypnotically, and it struck Rowan that she hadn't so much as kissed anyone in several months. Suddenly, her mouth felt dry, and she took a gulp from the water bottle she'd thrown in with her workout clothes.

"Hey," the girl said, her long eyelashes fluttering. She was gorgeous, all lithe muscle and dangerous edges, and her brown hair hung to her shoulders with bright red and purple extensions popping out all over the place. She wore dark eyeliner and eyeshadow, and bright red lipstick. "My name's Keely. What can I do for you today?"

You could give me your name and number, Rowan thought. "Hi, Keely. I'm Rowan. I was wondering if you could get me started until my medic gets here?"

Keely grinned, her dark eyes shining. "Of course," she said, and typed something into a tablet she carried. "Rowan, rowan. Sergeant Rowan?" When Rowan nodded, she said, "Okay. Knee injury, abdominal injury. Yeah, I can work with that."

"Great," Rowan said, trying to convince herself to stop staring. "Thanks."

Keely grinned again, her white teeth flashing against her tanned skin. "Let's start with your abs. Just give me three reps, sit-ups, push-ups and crunches, yeah?"

Rowan settled herself on one of the mats that scattered the floors, keeping her hurt leg in a comfortable position. She pushed herself through the reps without making a fool out of herself, and, when she was done, Keely helped her to her feet. Rowan's libido kicked into full gear at the contact. God, she needed to get laid.

"Okay," Keely said. "I don't think me need to work on your abs, do we? But your knee's bothering you. I can tell. So let's work on that."

Rowan grinned at her. "Yeah, sure." Keely had her sit down on a bench and began making her bend and straighten her knee in a certain way, a task that should have been simple, but actually proved to be agony.

Still, with Keely's gentle hands on her leg, Rowan gritted her teeth and forced herself through the exercise. Keely kept talking, her low voice distracting Rowan enough that she could keep going. She didn't even notice when Carter walked in and got to work with Stark.

An hour went by, and Rowan completely lost track of time as Keely talked her through several simple exercises that she could do on her own. When she did look up, she realized that, not only was it lunch time, but that she was free for the rest of the day.

So she turned to Keely, plucking up her courage, and said, "Are you free right now?" Keely nodded, and Rowan took a deep breath and asked, "Want to get lunch?"

Keely bit her lip, then, tossing her hair over her shoulder, said, "Yeah, sure."

With Keely's encouragement, Rowan exchanged her crutches for the cane she'd been using, and Keely took her arm, helping her to walk, slowly and carefully, out, across the quad, down the street and over to a cafe nearby.

When they'd been seated at a table with a view over the bay, they ordered, then fell into an easy conversation.

"I never wanted to go into medicine when I was little," Keely admitted over glasses of sparkling water. "I wanted to be a makeup artist. Actually, that's how I put myself through school."

Rowan smiled. "I wanted to be a... singer, I think." She