After Void and Clancy had eaten, Void had led him outside. He told the girl, who Clancy knew as Arya now, to watch the house and the cat in his absence. She had shoved a crate into Clancy's arms just before they left, telling him not to drop it. The old man's stride, although he had a limp, was fast and bold. Clancy struggled to keep up with his fast pace as they walked along the sidewalk. He mourned the fact he didn't have his lab coat for the millionth time as he shivered slightly in the brisk early April weather.
    "Um... Sir?" Clancy asked, shifting the crate in his arms. Void grunted in acknowledgment. "Where is it we're going?"
    "You and I are heading downtown." Void said, smiling a little.
    Clancy looked up. The way ahead was a simple road, hardly any cars or anybody at all traveling along, even though it was almost midday. There were no bustling people, or angry cops directing traffic, nor any of that Clancy could see in the distance.
    "Downtown?" He queried. "Is there even a downtown in Stillwater Heights?"
    Void nodded. "Indeed, but we'll have to take a train to get us there."
    Clancy shrugged. "Brilliant, I like trains. How long of a ride?"
    "No more than ten minutes." Void said. He smirked sidelong at him. "I guess you don't have any money."
    "Haha... No."
    "Guess you're walking." Void joked.
    Clancy let out a noise of protest.
    As the two arrived at the train station, Clancy looked around as Void bought them both tickets. The platform was a bit more crowded, Clancy noticed. He hummed to himself out of boredom, sitting on the bench beside the tracks. Void, after a moment, sat beside him with a huff, letting his hands rest on his cane between his knees. "What's that you're singing?"
    Clancy stopped humming as he realized he was actually forming a song. He opened his mouth to tell him, then realized he didn't know. "...I guess I just have it stuck in my head..."
    "Ah, I know that." Void nodded. "You heard it somewhere and now you can't forget it. Well, while we're waiting... What sort of music do you like?"
    "Music?" Clancy hesitated. "I like... I like, y'know, the stuff on the radio."
    The old man snorted. "Cadet, the last time I listened to the radio, Michael Jackson was black."
     "...Sir, you realize Michael Jackson is dead, right?"
     "Oh. Good."
     Clancy laughed a little. "Well, what music do you like?"
     "Elvis." Void replied almost instantly.
    Clancy nodded to himself. He could hear the train approaching in the distance. "Elvis?" He said. "I can dig Elvis."
    Void stood with a huff, leaning his weight on his cane again as the train screeched to a halt in front of them. "This is like an above-ground tube." Clancy observed.
    Void raised an eyebrow at him. "Train." He said. "The above-ground subways are called trains."
    Clancy blinked. "...Ah..."
    Void rolled his eyes. "You know son, you're about the dumbest genius I've ever met."
    "I get that a lot."
    The two walked onto the train, Void taking the crate from Clancy. Their car was filled with people so almost all the seats were filled, but not quite. There was one seat open, which Void took. Clancy stayed standing, holding onto the metal bar beside him. He nearly fell when the train started moving with a jolt, but he kept his footing for once. They exited the station and sunlight streamed through the windows. The speed of the train leveled and Clancy didn't have to worry about falling over anymore, so he let go of the pole, leaning against it instead.
    Void had his head down, probably trying to take a nap, so Clancy didn't try to talk to him. He looked out the train window and saw houses pass by, the occasional person walking along the sidewalk. They passed a high school, and he saw someone dressed as a snake mascot, talking with a blond teenager in a football jacket who was laughing. Clancy smiled a little, and for some reason, he thought of Andy. If she saw that mascot costume, she would probably throw up. Or maybe, she would like it. Clancy could never be sure what trends she would be into.
    Clancy smiled a little to himself as it occurred to him that Exodus probably played football. He was a big guy, he wouldn't be surprised if he liked to shove people down in his free time.
    The buildings out the window slowly got bigger as the minute went by, the streets more busy, until they were in the city and not the suburbs. Clancy wasn't paying attention as the train approached the station and slow down. He fell over rather ungracefully, landing flat on his face on the floor of the train. A few of the passengers winced and asked if he was hurt.
   "Only my pride." He wheezed.
   Void chuckled as he stood. "Come on, Cadet. We've got a place to be."
   Clancy got up clumsily, following the old man out the train door. They left the station side by side as the train rattled away to take its remaining passengers elsewhere.
    "Where's it going now?" Clancy asked, looking up at the taller man. That wasn't saying much. Void was a rather short old man, which made Clancy even shorter. He was planning on having a growth spurt any day now.
    Void shrugged. "Not sure. Might be going to Franke or Eriport. Those cities aren't far, you know."
    Clancy hummed thoughtfully. "I wouldn't really know. I'm bad with geography."
    "Perhaps that's how you went the opposite direction of the base." Void said.
    Clancy snorted, but said nothing for awhile as the journeyed down the street. "So... Where are we going?"
    "I told you, downtown."
    "But we're already downtown, where are we going now?"
    Void smirked mischeivously, saying nothing. Clancy merely rolled his eyes and didn't bother trying to get answers. He'd find out eventually. The two walked several blocks before they came to a tall apartment building and went inside. They went into the elevator and up to the nineteenth floor. Clancy huffed as he leaned against the wall, still holding tightly onto the crate. "Are we visiting someone?"
    Void nodded. "Mhm."
    The elevator stopped and they stepped out. The hall was lined with doors, each similar to the next. Void went to the door three down from the elevator, marked number two thousand and nine, and knocked. Clancy found himself shifting a bit nervously behind him. He was never good around people, especially new people. Once he made new friends he was alright but actually making them was difficult.
   The door opened to reveal a young woman. She looked like she must be in her late twenties, maybe thirties. She had long blonde hair, already with a few grey hairs, in a loose bun, like it had been put up quickly and carelessly. Her eyes were a gently brown and she looked tired. But as she saw Void, she perked up and a small smile creased her cheeks. "Lawrence!"
    Void chuckled as she hugged him. "Hello, Amanda. How are you, dear?"
    "I'm alright! I'm not too bad." Amanda still smiled as she let go of him, stepping back. It was then she noticed Clancy and she blinked. "Who's this?"
    A glint of mischief shone in Void's bright green eyes. "I'll tell you inside. Shall we?"
    "Oh right! How rude of me, me making you stand with your leg like that, come in!"
    The woman, Amanda as Void had called her, went quickly inside. Void followed and sat down on the couch with the huff Clancy was used to hearing. He sat beside him, setting the crate on his lap.
    Amanda looked at it as she stood by the kitchen counter, which could clearly be seen from the living room. Her house was messy and small; obviously she lived alone. There were only two doors besides the front one and the balcony that Clancy could see, which must have been the bathroom and her bedroom. "What's the crate for?" Amanda asked, drawing his attention back to her.
    "It's for you, actually." Void took the crate from Clancy and opened it. To the scientists' surprise, he pulled out a small funny creature, writhing in his rough but gentle hands. "Brad has a girlfriend, we discovered." He said, looking down at the baby grey tabby. "My neighbor's cat had five kittens, and she gave two to me. I thought I'd give one of those to you... Thought you could use a little friend."
    Void held the kitten out to Amanda and took it in both hands, staring down at it with wide eyes. "Lawrence... I love her, but I can't keep her. I'm not allowed to have pets in this apart-"
    "Oh don't worry about that. Your landlord's father served with me in the eighties. I bet I can get him to change her mind." He winked.
    Amanda smiled. "Thank you! I'll take good care of her, I promise."
    "I know you will." Void smirked. "And Junior's gonna lose it when he finds out you have a pet."
    "Junior?" Clancy asked, thankful to find an entrance into the conversation.
    "That's her son." Void explained.
    "And I actually got him to take a nap, so don't get too loud." Amanda added.
    Clancy nodded understanding. His mother told him all the time about how disruptive he had been as a baby, unless he was sleeping.
    "You have a son?" Clancy asked, lowering his voice a little.
    Amanda nodded.
    "Who's the father?"
    Void whacked Clancy's arm without looking at him. Amanda sighed. "Lawrence, there's no point turning a blind eye to what happened." She looked at Clancy. "He died before Junior was born."
    Clancy's shoulders sank. "Oh, I'm so sorry..."
    Amanda shook her head, smiling tiredly. "Don't worry, kiddo, I don't mind." She walked around the kitchen counter. "Coffee?" She called.
    "Please." Void said.
    "No thank you, I'm more of a tea person." Clancy said.
    Amanda nodded. "Coming right up then, Lawrence."
    As she hummed to herself making the coffee, Clancy turned to Void. "How did her husband die?" He murmured so only he could hear.
    "In battle." Void said just as softly. "And they weren't married, they were engaged."
    "Oh... That's so sad..." Clancy said.
    Void nodded. "She used to be in the army, but when he died and she found out she was pregnant, she asked me to find a way for her to leave. If she just quit, she would have set a bad example for her Cadets... So I just filed her in with the list of the dead."
    Clancy hummed a little. Then something Void said caught his attention. "Her Cadets?" He looked over at the old man. "You mean she was...?"
    Void nodded. "The Star Cadet leader now, Jason Provst, was her apprentice. They were very close, he took her disappearance hard. Everybody took it hard... Everybody loved her."
    Clancy nodded. "She seems so nice."
    Void smiled grimly. "You got no idea. It hurts seeing her so sad... She's not as bad as she was after Turner's death, but she still misses him. Can't blame her... I know that feeling."
    Clancy looked at him, but before he could ask another question, Amanda walked back into the room and handed Void a mug of coffee before sitting down with her own. "So, why'd you bring your little friend here?" She smiled, looking at Clancy. "Love the hair by the way."
    Clancy smiled, ruffling his blue dyed hair as she mentioned it.
    "Ah!" Void said. "Mandy, this is Clancy. Clancy, Amanda."
    Clancy nodded. "Nice to meet you."
    "Nice to meet you too..." Amanda went to shake his hand and stopped. Clancy drew his hand back awkwardly. Amanda's eyes widened and Void smirked knowingly. "...Is that..."
    Clancy held up his hand, looking to the side awkwardly. "Yeah. Lost my arm a few years ago and built this... Been doing robotics and chemistry since."
    Amanda stared at it in wonder. "That's absolutely brilliant!"
    Clancy blinked. "B... Brilliant...?"
    "I agree, it is brilliant." Void nodded.
    "See? Brilliant!"
    "I dunno about brilliant..." Clancy said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
    "No, I know brilliant, and it's brilliant." Amanda said. "How old were you when you made this?"
    "Um... I think twelve. But I've upgraded it since."
    "Brilliant!" Amanda looked at Void, smiling wide. "Is this why you brought him here?"
    Void nodded. "This is Jason's apprentice."
    Amanda's eyes slowly widened.
    Clancy glanced back at Void in confusion, about to argue when he continued.
    "At least, he will be if your kid has any common sense."
    Amanda smiled. "This is amazing." She looked at Clancy. "Keep this up, kiddo. You're a real genius."
    Clancy's cheeks tinted red in embarrassment. "Th-Thanks, ma'am..."
    The former Star Cadet leader just smiled. "Don't mention it, dear. You're going to make such great things."
    Void stood up, huffing once more. "It's been lovely, Amanda, but we should go-"
    "Wait, wait!" Amanda said. "Oh, at least stay for dinner! If Junior woke up and didn't get to see you, he'd cry for hours!"
    Void smiled warmly and looked at Clancy. "What d'you think, son? Mind staying a little later?"
    Clancy shrugged. "I don't have somewhere to be."
    Void nodded. "Well then, I guess it's settled."
    Amanda grinned, then gasped. "Oh, I completely forgot! Guess who's in town?!"
    Void blinked. "Who?"
    "Tommy!"
    Void smiled, his eyes lighting up. "No way."
    "Yes!"
    As the two old friends cheered, Clancy watched in mild confusion and amusement. They reminded him a little of his friends...

Thomas Paxwell was an interesting man, to say the very least. He was loud, a little rude, and very funny. Clancy learned a lot about the way the Sky Army used to be before Sky was Commander. Void was the Commander a few years back, Sky's mentor in fact. He had had to retire when he injured his leg badly in a battle, explaining his cane.
    His best friend had been a man named Remi Rent, the former head of the medical division before he died in the same battle. Amanda was the Star Cadet leader and fiancée of the Dual Division leader, Turner Rochelle, who also died in that battle. Last was the Dead Division leader, Tom, who hated rank and preferred to be called by his name even by his recruits.
    The five leaders had all been good friends. They were like a family, as far as Clancy could tell. Amanda and Turner were the parents, Void they grouchy grandpa, Remi the friendly uncle, and Tom that weird neighbor who shows up and eats all their food. Then there was Sky, who was like Void's son. Clancy wondered what it must have been like for him when Void retired. He kind of lost his dad and then was immediately put in charge of the lives of almost four hundred people. Maybe that was why he was so grumpy all the time... He was stressed out. Clancy made a mental note to go easier on the current Commander and maybe be less obnoxious to him all the time.
    Awhile later, after dinner had been finished and the three former leaders were sitting and talking about old references Clancy didn't get in Amanda's living room while Junior watched Star Wars on the television, Clancy got rather bored. No one noticed as he slipped away and climbed up the fire escape to the roof of the apartment building. He sat on the ledge and simply existed in the humid, chilly night air. Sometimes he liked getting away from all the math and logic and configurations of science and just exist. He closed his eyes and let the soft breeze touch his face quietly. He didn't think about anything, or anyone. He just gazed off into the distance and lived.
    Clancy wasn't sure how much time passed before someone sat beside him. He looked up and blinked. "Oh, Amanda... Sorry, did I bother you tramping around on the roof?"
    Amanda shook her head. "Nah... I was actually coming up here anyways."
    "Where are Void and Tom?"
    "Drinking."
    "Ah..."
    Amanda chuckled and looked at Clancy. "So, you're a scientist."
    Clancy nodded.
    "From Eriport, if I were to judge by your accent."
    Clancy nodded again, smiling a little now.
    Amanda nodded as well, half to herself. The two scientists were quiet for awhile before Amanda spoke again. "Who are you thinking of?"
    Clancy blinked and looked at her again. "Huh?"
    Amanda nodded upwards and to the side. "Lawrence always said that when you stare at the moon, you think of the one you love. You were staring at the moon."
    Clancy blinked as he realized he had indeed had his eyes locked on the moon. He thought on what she said for a moment, before looking down. "That's not true..."
    "What makes you say that?"
    "First off, there's no scientific evidence to prove that, and second, the person I was thinking of I'm definitely not in love with."
    Amanda smiled a little, a glint in her tired eyes. "Clancy, do you have a religion?"
    Clancy blinked in confusion. "What's that got to do with any-"
    "Just answer the question."
    "...Yeah, I'm a Christian..."
    "Mhm... Well there's no scientific evidence to prove God, is there?"
    Clancy hesitated. "Well-"
    "No, no, I'm not starting a debate. What I'm saying is, what makes you believe that God is out there when there's no 'scientific evidence'?"
    Clancy thought for awhile before he answered. "Faith."
    Amanda nodded. "That's how it is with the moon. Yeah it's really just a big hunk of rock two hundred thirty nine thousand miles from here, hurtling through space two thousand two hundred and eighty-eight miles per hour... But you can't get caught up in all the numbers. Science isn't all about that. It's about learning and knowing and hoping to figure out where you came from someday and becoming better than you used to be and teaching the young and coming up with ways to help the less fortunate. That's what God is about too." Amanda looked up at the moon. "Don't get caught up in the numbers, Clancy." She said. "Learn to crate the magic in science, and learn to understand the science in love. And by the way, yes you were thinking of someone you love when you were looking at the moon." She looked back down at him, her smile sadder than before. "I'd know that look anywhere."
   She watched him for a few moments as he stared at the moon before she got up and went back down the fire escape to her apartment. Clancy stayed where he was for awhile as his gaze didn't waver from the big mass of space rock high above, past the sky, past the atmosphere, among the stars. Then, his foot began to tap the air in time. A moment later, he started to hum the tune he'd had stuck in his head before once again.
    He closed his eyes, quietly humming to himself as the breeze ruffled his hair.