<strong>Location</strong>: ADAMS Headquarters (First Haven, Watcher’s Island). The Pilot's Barracks<br/><strong>Date</strong>: 5 January 2099. Monday<br/><strong>Time</strong>: Afternoon<br/><strong>Who</strong>: Ian Harker<br/><br/><hr/><br/>"I knew it'd be her."<br/><br/>"Vasquez. You didn't know shit," Ian murmured as he watched Luke and Julie walk into the commons of the pilot's barracks. They'd gotten the announcement just a few minutes ago. One of the administration lackeys had shown up the barracks to tell them about Julie's promotion, confirming at least one of the rumors that had been floating around for the past few days. A few of the pilots that were milling about the room, paused in their activities or conversations to give Julie a stare down or once over, though most returned to own business without a second glance in her direction.<br/><br/>Ian barely even looked at Julie. His eyes fell on Luke.<br/><br/>The noisy row of older pilots in front of the television continued their argument about some recent political controversy in the Asian Union. The card game that was being played by a group seated in a circle on the floor was only interrupted by a burst of laughter and giggles, though the comment that caused the humor was too quiet except for its players to pick up.<br/><br/>Free time was precious and most of them didn’t seem to want to waste it scrutinizing the newbie. That was what meal time and training sessions were for.<br/><br/>Ian himself was seated at one of the tables with Vasquez and two young pilots who were trying to finish up high school. They were sharing the laptop that contained their math textbook between them and figuring out math problems on tablets. Neither of them even bothered to look at Julie even they were engrossed in algebra. Ian didn’t know why they'd even want to keep up the school thing now that they were pilots. Luckily for everyone saving the world didn’t require a high school diploma. Ian had dropped school as soon as he’d been allowed.<br/><br/>“Hey. Harker?” One of the young pilots asked as he flipped his tablet so Ian could see the problem that was giving him trouble. “How come this isn’t a perfect square?”<br/><br/>Ian peeled his eyes away from Luke and looked at the screen and the trinomial that the other pilot offered to him. “Because this part here needs to be positive. If it’s not than it won’t be perfect.”<br/><br/>“Quit playing tutor and go play tour guide,” Vasquez said as he jostled Ian with a hand on his shoulder. Ian flipped his friend off as he left the table and approached Luke and Julie. He shoved his hands into the front pocket of the hoodie he wore over his pilot’s uniform.<br/><br/>“Sir.” There was something off in the way Ian spoke to the other man. The weight of the word as it left his tongue made<em>sir</em>sound like<em>bitch</em>. He didn’t snap off a salute along with the title and he stared at Luke for a second longer than he should have.<br/><br/>“Administration asked me to show you around since your mentors are busy,” he said as he glanced over at Julie and gave her a half smile.