"Yes, it was really great! We saw the entire Plains from there..."

"... to another place, this one was a little out of..."

"I liked the beef-flavored more, it was..."

Kyo laughed and shook his head as he looked at the throng of clones that had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, to surround the van as soon as it stopped. The day's five young explorers had barely stepped out before their companions swarmed them; those who'd already been to town were eager to compare experiences, while others still waiting for their turn wanting to hear something they hadn't heard before. Ellis, Timothy and René were trying to answer some twenty questions at the same time, while shiny-eyed Matt the MC had launched into a detailed description of a wondrous elevator system that'd caught his attention. And T-clone Nicholas was actually speaking to his four siblings, even though their slightly dazed expressions also betrayed the fact that mental communication between the quintet was very much up and running again.

"Stampede!" Juri complained good-humoredly. "Please, kids, let us get off as well!"

He managed to squeeze out of the van, followed by a smiling Haldor, and rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. "Really, everybody, shoo now! You don't need to hear it all right here and now. Shoo!"

The laughing horde obediently began to shuffle away from the transport, and Kyo sighed.

"Maybe I'll now be able to move this thing away enough to unload?" he said. "I suppose this is your stop as well, Juri?"

"Yeah, I'll go report to Orwel." Juri waved a hand. "Thanks for good driving!"

"My pleasure," Kyo replied and jumped back into the van. "What about you, Hal, coming along?"

"Sure thing," Haldor nodded. "I'll help you get the things distributed."

With two men, making the round in the base and unloading all crates from the van didn't take long, and they soon parked their transport in the long garage along the outer fence. They were just exiting the building when they both stopped to listen. A thunderous roar echoed from the walls around, gradually dropping into a deep rumble. Kyo grinned.

"Vanya and Corinn," he said and winked. "Something was missing from the garage – the Mustang's been out to stretch its legs."

Haldor turned towards the approaching sound and smiled when the large bike crawled leisurely into sight. It rolled to a stop next to him and Kyo, and they could see that both the vehicle and the two black-clad figures riding it were coated by a thin layer of reddish dust.

"Hey, you're back!" Corinn pulled his helmet off to reveal a widely smiling, sweat-striped face, and raked his fingers through wet, matted hair. "Had a good weekend, Hal?"

"Sure did," Haldor nodded, eyes glued to the bike. "Damn, that's a fine one... I've only seen a couple of those before."

"Our pride and joy!" Vanya's blond hair was pointing in every direction. "Cost us an arm and a leg, too, but that's something we don't talk about."

Even if dusty, the arctic blue Martinez Mustang was indeed a splendid specimen as it stood there, high-power engine idling with a near-underworldly hum, lovingly polished surfaces shining in the sunlight filtering through ragged clouds. Everything about it screamed speed and performance, from the aerodynamic design of its front shields to the uniquely shaped rear lights.

Corinn flung his leg over the comfortably cushioned seat of deep ocean-blue and stood up while Haldor walked slowly around, drinking in the sight. He sighed in envy and shook his head.

"Fantastic," he said wistfully.

"A wet dream," agreed Gary who emerged from the bowels of the garage with Roderick, another transport driver. "Wow, your baby looks a bit dirty, guys! I think you're gonna have to polish it."

"He'll need some tender loving care," Vanya agreed and swept a gloved hand along a smoothly curving side. "And we'll be happy to provide it."

Corinn peeled his driving suit open down to his navel and grimaced. "Yeah, but how about getting out of these wetsuits? It gets damn hot out there, wind or no wind!

"Hold your horses, man," Vanya admonished. "Musty likes to be adored, you know."

"Well, I'm melting," Corinn announced. "But Hal, tell us. How was your overnight visit to Trelissac? What did you do? Had fun?"

"Of course," Haldor said. "It was really interesting, to walk around and really get to know the place at leisure."

"A few hours is a bit short for that kind of thing," Roderick agreed. "Did you go out in the evening?"

"Sure I did!" Haldor tried to look affronted. "What do you take me for? Yeah, I went to that little restaurant that's one block away from the apartment. Had something to eat, and something to drink, and just watched the people there... I liked it."

Vanya, still firmly seated on the bike, raised his eyebrows and winked gleefully to Corinn. They both knew the locale, a cozy place for hanging out and having a few drinks, they'd enjoyed its atmosphere many times during their admittedly rare free weekends in the city. They also knew that in true Trelissac fashion it was a place where all sorts of people mingled with each other. Including not so few gays. In all likelihood Haldor had had an eyeful if he'd spent even a couple of hours there.

"Yeah, Misaki's is a nice place," Gary nodded. "Good food, and always somebody to talk to."

"When have you last spent a weekend there on your own, old married man?" Corinn asked. "As I recall, you haven't requested a town weekend ever since the guys flew off to the Zodiac system, and before that you always went there with Nameeka!"

"Yeah, but we used to go to Misaki's together, and we've always found people to chat with," Gary said. "And it's so close to the apartment, too. Good place to sit down and relax after spending a day in town."

"I wonder why Juri doesn't take the boys there for whole weekends?" Vanya mused. "The place has room enough."

"Are you crazy?" Roderick yelped. "Or rather, do you really want to get rid of the guy? I've driven them there and back a couple of times, and I tell you one day at a time is enough for one man! Those kids are something to reckon with."

"Okay, okay, I take you word for it!" Vanya chuckled.

"But Hal, you're omitting something," Kyo said quizzically. Haldor looked nonplussed. "Earlier today, when I was picking up things from Golbey, I saw you next to the small park. You know, in the corner of Twenty-second and Bellows Avenue."

"Oh," Hal said noncommittally, but a slight blush seemed to creep on his dark face.

"Yeah, I'm sure it was you, man." Kyo looked smug. "And you weren't alone."

"What?" Gary and Roderick perked up.

"Nope, he was with this really spiffy redhead," Kyo continued. "Only caught a glimpse, but I can't think of a reason why said redhead would've been hanging on his arm the way she did, if they weren't there together."

"Woohoo!" Roderick hooted. "Go Hal! And you've been to town, what, three times now?"

"Four," Hal corrected, now clearly blushing. "Three day visits before this weekend."

Gary whistled and elbowed Kyo playfully in the ribs. "Weekend visit, huh? Hanging on his arm?"

"I think that's Hal's business and not ours," Vanya said, his tone light yet conclusive, and received a grateful glance from the dark man. But Kyo, however well he understood Vanya's hint, was unwilling to drop the subject quite yet.

"Anyway, from what I saw she was a hot package and no mistake!" he said with relish. "Really nice legs, and really nice hair. Lots of it, too."

"A redhead, was she?" Corinn said. "Trust you to spot those!"

"What can I say?" Kyo flicked his long, thick, flaming red ponytail from one shoulder to the other. "Redheads are the best!"

"No comments," Vanya mumbled with a wink.

"I'm only happy that you're not too interested in me," Kyo retorted. "Sorry, guys, but none of you is really my type..."

The others laughed and even Hal smiled shyly. He did nothing to deny Kyo's observation but remained stubbornly tight-lipped about the mystery redhead, even refusing to reveal her name despite eager prodding. Finally the men were forced to retreat, all their efforts thwarted by Haldor's enigmatic smiles and silence.

"Okay, if you want us to just keep talking about 'that spiffy redhead', we'll do exactly that!" Gary grinned. "Your call, Hal! Won't you tell us anything about her? Where did you meet? When?"

"In a bookstore," Haldor said. "Last time I was in town."

"So you actually had a date for this weekend!" Kyo was jubilant. "Good going, man!"

"Oh, there you are!"

The six men spun around as they heard running steps. Troy and Salvador dashed from around the corner, hand in hand, and nearly stumbled on each other at seeing them. Salvador smiled uncertainly but Troy continued towards the group tugging him along.

"We heard you'd taken the Mustang out," he explained apologetically to Corinn and Vanya. "We haven't seen it before."

"Well, join the band of worshippers!" Vanya preened on his perch on the object of adoration and spread his arms magnanimously. The others smiled as the two young men walked slowly around it, oozing interest and, in Troy's case, unadulterated admiration.

"It's a beauty," he sighed, then realized that Haldor was standing on the other side, and his face lit up. "Hal! Goodness, I didn't notice you at first – so you came back with the kids, didn't you? How was it in town?"

"I had a good time," Hal said and smiled warmly to his cousin. "Do you really mean you haven't been there yet?"

"Only once," Troy said. "But we'll be going, at some point." His gaze strayed irresistibly back to the bike. "Have you ever seen any of these before?"

"Not Mustangs," Hal said. "I think I've seen a Bronco, and one or two Silverbirds..."

"Nothin' like our Musty," Vanya crooned. "But hey, boys, would you want a little ride?"

Salvador's eyes widened and he shook his head, but Troy didn't hesitate a second. "Could I?"

"Sure thing! Corinn, hand over the helmets, we'll take a round inside the Base."

Corinn tossed him one helmet – custom-painted arctic blue, to match with the bike – and tinkered with the other one for a while before handing it to Troy. "There. It's fitted for my head so it won't be quite as snug on you, but you won't be driving fast anyway."

Sal watched closely as Troy's excited face disappeared inside the helmet and he straddled the bike behind Vanya, entwining his fingers into the belt loops on the man's driving suit. The clone's sky-blue eyes never left the bike as it came to life again, made a graceful curve around the yard and disappeared behind a corner. When all that could be seen was just a cloud of dust, he sighed nervously, and only then seemed to realize that he was standing there all alone, without either his fellow T-clones or the indispensable Troy. He swallowed, and Corinn who'd been watching him stepped cautiously closer. But before he could say or do anything, support came from an unexpected quarter.

"Don't you worry, Salvador." Haldor's voice was low and reassuring. "They'll be back soon, and Vanya knows how to drive that thing."

Salvador blinked in surprise, lips parting, instinctively shifting closer to Hal. Corinn detected more than just a little conscious effort behind Haldor's smile, but Sal's tense face relaxed visibly.

"Yeah, just relax," Gary joined in, even patting the clone on the shoulder. "Besides, they can't drive fast here. Too many buildings and people around."

The blond smiled more broadly and nodded, clearly reassured. Haldor looked at him appraisingly.

"You know, Troy used to like motor sports as a kid," he said. "And he had a friend whose big brother sometimes took them out on his bike."

"He still likes motor sports, that I know," Sal nodded. "I think he sometimes took me – I mean, Ben – speed boating, on Tabaimo."

"He did," Hal confirmed. "I remember him telling me about it. You liked it a lot, he said."

Salvador suddenly looked pained.

"I wish I could remember it for real," he whispered in a strangled voice. Hal reached out to touch an awkward hand on his arm.

"Hey, brighten up," he said. "You can – uh – have new memories now, right? Why don't you take a little ride with Vanya, too, when they come back?"

Corinn's jaw nearly dropped in amazement. He was witnessing a genuine effort at bonding, and even if it was a bit clumsy, it was working. Salvador glanced at the dark man with a tremulous smile and whispered a 'thank you' under his breath, and actually managed to compose himself again while Kyo deliberately changed the topic. By the time the bike reappeared, the blond clone was standing comfortably in the group, face reflecting nothing but anticipation and definitely wanting a ride, too.

Vanya courteously offered the driving turn to Corinn who equally courteously turned it down, stating that he had after all been driving for the best part of their earlier round trip on the plains. So Vanya remained in the saddle and Salvador sat down behind him, but when Corinn raised the helmet, the clone gasped and recoiled, eyes wide.

"I can't... I just can't put it on," Salvador panted. "No! Take it off!"

"Sal, it's for safety!" Troy was beside him in a flash, but the clone shook his head furiously.

"No! I can't!" He was about to jump up from the seat but Corinn's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Don't panic, Sal," he said. "I guess you're remembering something particularly nasty there, but it's all right."

"We can go without," Vanya decided. "I'll drive extra slow and you'll have to hold on real tight, okay? But no helmets. I'll take mine off, too, so that I remember to keep the speed down."

To everybody's surprise, Salvador actually calmed down after a while, enough to mold himself to Vanya's back and wrap his arms around the man's waist. He took a deep breath.

"Let's go."

Corinn bit his lip not to grin at the jealousy in Troy's eyes when the two blonds on their mighty mount rolled off.

"He'll be all right," Haldor said to his frowning cousin, then chuckled. "I'm having a déjà vu here, you know? That's exactly what I told him a few minutes back."

"I hope he doesn't panic," Troy muttered. "Damn, he hasn't had those flashbacks for a while... and now this."

"He pulled himself together well," Gary advised him. "Don't baby him too much."

Troy's dark eyes flashed but Haldor nudged him. "He's right. We all know Sal has problems, but he needs to start dealing with them by himself."

Troy was clearly about to shoot an angry reply when Corinn stepped between them.

"Guys, cut it off. You have every right to be worried for him, Troy, but you also need to realize that you can't protect him from everything. Talk about it later, but don't show a sour face when he comes back – either of you."

The cousins scowled at him darkly and pursed their mouths shut, united by indignation, but soon forgot their budding argument when the Mustang returned once more from its round, bringing along an enthusiastically smiling Salvador. He jumped off, golden hair in wild disarray, and announced to all and sundry that he was determined to get rid of his helmet horror, because he wanted to hitch a ride to the plains. In a general burst of high spirits the bike was then taken into the comfortable shadow of the garage, and the entire group decided to spend an evening in the canteen. Vanya and Corinn promised to join them later, and congratulated each other on a successful mediation project all the way to the shower.

Their jubilant mood was, however, quickly dimmed when they some time later entered the unofficial heart of the Plains Base and noticed a distinctive silvery-blond head drooping over a small table that hid in a corner behind sofas and potted plants.

"There's the wraith," Corinn said sadly. "I guess it's no use to even ask him to join the rest of us."

"Won't work," Vanya said glancing at the delightfully merry party somewhat to their left. "But I'm not leaving him to brood there alone. Time to split, partner."

"You're right," Corinn nodded. "Which one?"

"I'll take Lancer," Vanya decided. "See ya later, Gorgeous."

Corinn's gaze followed Vanya, and he waited until the man had reached the small table before heading towards the group of men talking animatedly in another direction. Obviously Haldor's dislike towards Tabaimo's Lancer-lookalike was genuine and deeply rooted, because he still preferred to avoid the green-eyed young man whenever possible. And unfortunately Lancer was not in the mood to even try and bridge the gap. In all honesty, Corinn shared Vanya's concern for their friend. He was doing his job, both with the S-clones and with the regular AD drills, but outside of that he was totally unlike his usual sociable, soft-spoken self: quiet, snappy, depressed and withdrawn.

All that made for a possibly explosive situation. Lancer was likely to take the slightest sneer as a direct insult, and be appropriately hurt. Vanya in turn had been extremely protective of Lancer ever since the taking of the Base, and even though he wasn't violent by nature, his temperament just might flare up if provoked enough. And although Haldor had adapted remarkably to his new surroundings, the friendship between the three of them probably wouldn't survive if he got his face bashed in. Which was a distinct possibility, if he ever got the chance to somehow hurt Lancer within Vanya's hearing.

Corinn sighed. They were not going to throw all those weeks' work down the drain by making stupid mistakes that could be avoided simply by keeping Hal and Lancer away from each other.

"Hey, baby," Vanya said softly as he slid into a chair. "What're you doing here all alone? You look tired."

"Trying my best," came the apathetic answer from behind the veil of hair. "But it's not working."

Vanya picked up the solitary glass in front of Lancer and smelled it. "You should eat something... and this is alcoholic, too."

"Hardly, 'cause it's not working either." Lancer pushed the glass away, dug his fingers into his hair and rubbed his scalp slowly. "It's too damn bland to get me properly drunk."

"You want to get drunk?" Vanya put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his wrists, trying to peer into the narrow face underneath the hair. "Why?"

"I feel so fucking bad," Lancer whispered in a broken voice. "I want to cry, but I can't. I just feel like somebody is strangling me. There's this big clump in my throat and I can't even breathe, it fucking hurts but I just can't cry. And I feel like hurting someone."

He took a deep breath, fingers curling into fists in his hair. "I want to do something, anything, to stop hurting for a moment."

"How about punching me?" Vanya asked. Lancer gasped, or maybe it was a chuckle of sorts.

"Idiot. I don't want to hurt you."

"Maybe you should reconsider. We haven't been there for you nearly as much as we should, and for that I deserve to be punched." Vanya sighed. "In any case, I think it'd be better if you hurt me rather than yourself, as you're doing now."

"Am not."

"Yes you are. You're feeling miserable, and no wonder, but you really should take better care of yourself. You're not eating enough and you look like you're not sleeping enough, either."

"I can't sleep." Slightly bloodshot eyes glinted in the silvery shadow. "Vanya, I know you and Corinn have something stronger than this spring water in your room."

"Ye-es..."

"I want to get drunk. Totally sloshed. I want to knock myself out so thoroughly that I don't know the floor from ceiling." Lancer rubbed his face with slightly trembling hands. "Maybe it helps, 'cause nothing else seems to."

"All right!" Vanya stood up and extended a hand to Lancer. "C'mon, baby. You need a stiff drink and a shoulder to cry on, here you have'm. Let's go see what our secret stash has to offer."

When Corinn entered their room some two hours later, he was mildly startled to see Lancer curled up into Vanya's side, a bulky arm wrapped securely around his shoulders.

"Join in, Gorgeous!" Vanya rumbled amicably and waved the half-full glass of something amber-colored in his other hand. "We haven't finished all of the whisky yet."

"What the heck?" Corinn stepped closer and picked up the bottle. "You... what're you doing?"

"Shh," Vanya hissed, "don't wake him up!"

"What are you doing, Vanya Shenovski?" Corinn demanded, barely remembering to lower his voice. "Have you got him drunk?"

"Yep. By special request. Didn't take much, though. He's tired and poorly enough fed to keel over after a couple of glasses." Vanya looked fondly at the head sunk on his chest.

"Some explanation, please." Corinn poured himself some whisky and sat down into an armchair. "You mean to say he wanted a drink?"

"Wanted to get drunk," Vanya corrected. "It worked, too. He's been crying his heart out, poor boy. We really have to take better care of him, partner, or there'll be nothing left for Scott to find when they return."

The name penetrated even through exhaustion and inebriation, and Lancer raised his face to blink at Corinn in confusion.

"Scott..." he mumbled indistinctly. "I miss him so goddamn much."

"Sure you do, babe," Corinn said gently. "But you ought to look after yourself. Scott's not going to be happy if you've turned into a ghost by the time he comes back."

"What if he won't?" The voice was barely audible.

"Come back? Of course he will. You mustn't think like that, Lancer. The guys will be back, we just don't know when. They can't exactly send messages every day, you know." Corinn studied the pale face and shook his head. "You look like death warmed over. I think it's your bedtime now."

Lancer stifled a sob.

"I keep waking up, over and over again, dreaming of Scott... of us..." He hit his knee with a fist. "I hate myself! He's out there, fighting and maybe getting killed, and I'm dreaming of sex! How shallow's that?"

"I certainly wouldn't call you shallow," Vanya sighed. "We all know that's not the only thing you miss. But we're talking about your lover here, babe. You're two guys crazy about each other, you both enjoy sex, you've been living together. So I really don't understand how a healthy young man, with a hot lover who's not here, could not miss the sex as well."

Corinn nodded emphatically. "Come now, you need a warm shower and then you're going to bed. No objections."

Lancer was too tired and too tipsy to protest very efficiently. By the time his two hosts had showered and tiptoed into the bedroom, he was sound asleep. Vanya kissed Corinn, deep and long, their hips pressing together for a moment.

"I really hope the guys will be back soon."

"Yeah, me too," Corinn whispered. "Sleep well, Handsome."

"You too, Gorgeous."

Vanya slipped into bed as silently as he could – which was pretty impressively silent, he hadn't been involved in numerous stealth missions for nothing – and saw Corinn settle on Lancer's other side. His big hand stroked gently the long, shimmering hair, was about to slip lower to rub pale shoulders, but stopped in time. That wasn't a good idea, as it just might lead to dangerous areas best left unexplored.

Vanya listened to the young man's deepening breath and closed his eyes.