"But can't you tell me your name?" The boy frowned.<br/><br/>The girl shook her head. "Sorry, no can do." Her grey eyes were filled with... something. Almost mirth, but not quite. She stepped along the lush grass and fell in step with the Pierre. She liked him - he was a sweet boy with infectious laughter and a spring to his step. He said he didn't like the hazel eyes he had, they made him look too serious. She thought they just made him look thoughtful. "So what's the plan?"<br/><br/>"Dunno. Do we need one?" He laughed heartily. "I was thinking ice cream."<br/><br/>"Isn't it a little cool for that?"<br/><br/>Pierre shrugged lazily. "Ice cream tastes better when it's cool."<br/><br/>She raised a brow. "Really now?"<br/><br/>"Really. I promise."<br/><br/>"I'll hold you to it." The girl smiled a little. She blinked as the edges of her vision blurred, and the boy seemed to fade for a moment. She desperately clenched her eyes shut, balling up her fists in concentration.<br/><br/>"Is something bothering you?" Pierre asked, turning to face the girl as he stepped backwards. Light shed by the two suns obscured Pierre's face as he stood against the horizon, perched on miles and miles of lush grass.<br/><br/>"I... gotta go now."<br/><br/>Surprisingly, he smiled. "It's just a dream, right?"<br/><br/>"Yeah... I guess. But I might not..." She couldn't say it, like admitting the idea that she might not see him again would solidify the fact.<br/><br/>"Don't worry bout it." She saw that same reassuring grin, those thoughtful eyes filled with mirth. "Hey, I hate to ask, but can you tell me..."<br/><br/>Her face was wet. Was in the sun in her eyes? "It's Fran."<br/><br/>"Oh, cool." He raised his hand, waving at her. He seemed so far away now.<br/><br/>The girl waved back, but the the colors of the dream were fading and she was staring at the floor of the same burned-out bus she had sat down in three hours ago.<br/><br/>Valkyrie wiped the wetness from her face and scooped up her helmet, staring at her reflection in its visor before pulling it on. She took a ragged breath and stood up straight. With a quick flick of the fingers she checked the chamber on her MA-5K and turned to Gladiator. "We should have given you more rest." The spartan stepped past him and went to work, scooping up the supplies and equipment she had placed earlier. Glancing at the other, fatigued spartan she pressed a steel can of ammo into his hands. "Double check your load. We'll move out in five mikes." As hard as she tried, her tone was stressed, terse.<br/>