The mental health of all Vanguard are, of course, a top priority for all my siblings and I. They go through so much on a near daily basis that professional help is all but required to help them make it through the next day.

  Sometimes that help comes in the form of a long, deep conversation on the nature of war and life as a whole. Other times it comes from mercilessly teasing our Vanguard until they grow a spine and fight back.

  I'll let you decide which one works more often.

  -Vanguard AI Jelly in a Reddit AMA, 2056

  The only thing I remember that happened next was giving Kira approval to decorate her office area as she liked. I withdrew deep into myself. I don't know how I got back to the hotel. I knew Morrigan went off somewhere, probably the megabuilding, and the others were working on designing their new rooms on the building blueprint link. Even the Hero Unit's had rooms, yet everyone's rooms were private so no one could see them.

  When I recovered enough to be aware of my surroundings, I was in my bed, in comfy clothes on, staring up at the ceiling that was no longer an Aurora. Somehow, probably Synaptic, the scene had changed to a rural area in the rain. The sounds of the rain hitting roofs, cars, and the pavement was soothing.

  I simply stared up for a good while, then I sighed.

  Good afternoon, Victor. How are you feeling?

  “Traitor.”

  She chuckled. Yes yes, of course. You do at least know why, yes?

  “Your own amusement.”

  I will not deny that it is a part of it, as I have already lied to you once today, but that is not all of it. You really have no defenses to being teased or embarrassed, and she is a master of it. You will never escape her if you keep having such amusing reactions. And the best way to gain those defenses is exposure therapy.

  I grumbled nonsensical sounds at that. That sounded like it made some sort of sense, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

  In other news, you have been disassociating for four hours. A marvel of a defence mechanism, I must say. You missed the watch party and memes.

  I groaned loudly. I could just stay here. No one could force me out. I had enough money to buy this room dozens of times over. Then my stomach betrayed me. I was surrounded by traitors.

  As I contemplated a purge, I shuffled out of my room and to the kitchen. Thankfully, only Baba Yaga was present.

  She raised an eyebrow at me, then grunted as she put a bowl of something in the microwave. “Will you be alright?” She said.

  I nodded slowly, accepting my fate.

  She nodded, then the microwave beeped. She pulled out the bowl and placed it in front of me. “Eat. You will need the energy. Roger is plotting something, but Jill may protect you if I am reading her right.”

  The bowl is full of stew. It is heavenly, filled with beef, veggies, salt and spice. I savor each bite.

  Once I finish, she nods and takes the bowl and offers me a glass of water. “Do not feel bad, General. You stood no chance against her. You are lucky She has morals, otherwise you would have not returned with us.”

  I choke on the water, looking at her with wide eyes. I recovered quickly due to my new body, and I just stared at her.

  “Seriously?” I whispered.

  She sighed, “Forgive the discourtesy, but yes, child. Had you been more open, more willing before her with the same reactions, we would have seen you tomorrow, maybe later, and not have had to carry you back today. The others in that meeting all showed understanding towards you, meaning they have already fallen prey to her.”

  It took me a moment to come to terms with that. I sighed. “Any advice?”

  She raised her eyebrow, “Sexual advice, or avoidance?”

  I threw my hands up, “I don't know! Black Log said I have to hope someone else comes along who is more interesting. That or just flee.” I slump on the island. “And I don't want to flee. I already live here.” I grumble.

  She snorted, then patted my back. “Come to accept the situation by then, boy. You are too perfect a target for women like her. Once again, be happy she has morals.”

  I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the bedrooms. “Gotta agree with her, Victor. Unless you become a master of controlling your body and act like a monk for the rest of your life, she will eventually get you.” Jill said, patting my back as well. “If she didn't have at least this level of morals, she would have been attacked by all those Samurai years ago. Now, get up, stop sulking, and let's go. Leman took Outsider and Rogal out to hunt for materials for the building and iceboxes, and I want to check on something. Come on.” She pulled me up and towards the door.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  “Where do you want to go and check out?” I ask, allowing myself to escape the hotel room.

  “The old dorm building. I want to make sure Doma kept her word about saving the kids there.”

  ***************************

  The journey to the old dorm went smoothly, quietly even. It was on the far side of town from the hotel, so it took a while due to traffic. Neither Jill or I decided to just fly straight there, simply enjoying the silence of the drive.

  Once we got near, traffic died down to nothing. I had forgotten that there was an Incursion here not three days ago, and it always took time for people to return. Namely because the cleaners were still hunting remnant antithesis.

  The building entered our sight soon enough. Six stories tall, a few hundred feet long, with numerous garages peppering its side. The single faded blue line that ran its perimeter was the only special decoration on an otherwise grey building.

  We approached our old dorm garage and it opened easily enough to the old code. Parking inside, we walked down the familiar hallway that we had traversed thousands of times. Entering the old dorm, I saw that it hadn't changed. It was empty of a few things, our trophies and such, but the main things were still there. The chairs around the table, the single large screen on the wall next to it, and the kitchen. Moving back to the bedroom, I was surprised to see all my books were still there, stacked at the foot of my bunk bed.

  Jill stood at the door, watching me but not saying anything. I had a Scout swarm pick up the dozens of books and take them to the van. I stood there, watching the books fly off, and started crying quietly. Jill pulled me into a hug.

  We stayed like that for a few minutes, standing in the quiet of our old home, the only home we had ever known for ten years.

  I pulled back first, my eyes warm, but not puffy. I smiled weakly. “Thank you, Jill. Thank you,” was all I could say.

  “Of course, little brother. Now then.” She cleared her throat, “Synaptic, is this building clear?”

  If you are referring to the children that were used like you were, then yes. A massive amount of Family affiliated workers followed Doma here yesterday and collected them. If you mean of life as a whole, no. There are a number of squatters and looters moving systematically through the building.

  I could see Jill's face scrunched in annoyance. Then, she sighed. “Fine, that's fine. Come on, little bro, let's get out of here.” She turns and heads back to the van. I follow, confused as to her previous expression. As we pull out of the garage, I ask.

  “Why were you annoyed?”

  She pulled the van away from the building, making it about three hundred feet before adjusting it so we were facing the building.

  “I wanted to burn the place to the ground. It would have cost you some points, but I figured it would be a nice closing to everything. But there are unrelated people in there, so that's out.” She said, leaning back into the seat. So, we just sat in silence, staring at our old home.

  “Are you bothered by Doma?” she asked suddenly, catching me off guard.

  “Uh, what? Oh., um…. Shit, I don't know, Jill.” I stutter out. Sighing, I also lean back, “You are the only girl I have known my whole life, and… and I know you weren't allowed to be you for all of it.” she tenses at that, but doesn't say anything. “But I trust you, cause you are my sister. You have had all of our backs for ten years, so even with you finally being able to be you, well, that's just another side of you. But Doma? There's something about her that I want to trust. Synaptic knows that she isn't affecting my mind forcefully, no pheromones or illusions, just her being her. So, when she first did… that, it caught me off guard. I am still a guy, you know.”

  “And you have never looked at me that way?” she asked.

  “No, never.” I said without hesitation.

  She nods, “Good. ‘Cause if you had I would have kicked your ass.”

  I chuckle, “And that's why. You always had this rage in you. We all could see it, but only Buddy ever tried to do something about it.”

  She was quiet again for a bit.

  “Do you want me to say something to her?”

  I had to think about it. It was…. nice to get that kind of attention, I suppose. It meant I was being seen as more than a tool, more than a comrade. But she also had gone after everyone in that room, and succeeded, if their expressions are anything to go by. So I was just a toy for her.

  Was I bothered by that? Yeah. Yeah, I was. Cause Black Log said she would get bored and move on after. Meaning there was nothing further to build afterwards. She wasn't looking for a partner to do that with. And I guess I was.

  But did that mean I wanted Jill to say something? No. This was my problem, and I had to handle it myself, or she would probably never back off. Well, she might try again in a few years, but at least if I say something, she should back off.

  So I shake my head, “No. I'll handle it. Thanks, though.” I smile wryly at her.

  She ruffles my hair, smiling, “Good man, Victor.” She chuckles as she turns the van back to the road. “You still hungry? Cause I could go for a very greasy burger.”

  I chuckled, “ Sure. That sounds terrible right about now.”

  She rolls her eyes as she sets a destination to the nearest burger joint.

  **************************

  They were terrible. But they were exactly what we needed.

  **************************

  “Are you sure you want to do this, Outsider? We have no guarantee you will be able to retreat safely.” Rogal/Wall of Steel said.

  I/Void Eyes nodded, “We need to know the extent of the hive structures around the city. I already had Morrigan install the audio visual camouflage onto myself and my eyes, so as long as I stay cautious and avoid entering any pockets of EMC, I should not be discovered. Plus, with Leman and yourself providing a distraction from the other direction, I will be able to slip in undetected.”

  Rogal/Wall of Steel sighed. A strange action that he picked up from the General/ Victor that did wonders to convey a wide range of emotions audibly. “Leman, what say you?”

  Leman/Burning Wolf shrugs his shoulders, “She's right, Rogal. This is information The Family doesn't have, and it is of critical importance to safeguard the General and our pack.”

  “Very well. We will attack the hive here,” Rogal/Wall of Steel marks a spot on our map. It is a hive/warehouse/base just under the desert rock we discovered yesterday. It had a large tunnel running under it. The plan was to dig a small cylindrical hole with Assault nanites and Defence nanites, using the defence hardlight shield to prevent it from collapsing, then, once they breached the tunnel, use the hardlight to prevent a release of pheromones and a rush of air that would alert the hive to our intrusion. I/Void Eyes, would funnel through the shield into the tunnels and map out as much as I could over the next twenty four to forty eight hours, or until I was discovered. All for the sake of The General/Victor.