<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Jerrod McKenzie</strong></span><br/><hr/><br/>The complicating factor was that, well...Jerrod had a crush on Amelia.  And something of a big one, too.  Oh, you might think crushes were more for people ten years younger (would the age-fashionable phrase be 'unrequited affection'?), but the truth was that Jerrod had been carrying it for a long time.  After all, he was just over sixteen when he and Amelia met for the first time, right after her being out of training and asked to help organize a McKenzie-sponsored event for the Battalion.  So for<em>her</em>to have walked in the door, saying that the Lightspeed Battalion needed him, and that<em>she</em>would consider it a personal favor heavily colored what would probably be solid judgment otherwise.<br/><br/>"Of...of course, I would be happy to help.  Where are we going?  What do you need me to do, exactly?"  The words echoed in Amelia's head.<em>"Lie to him if you have to, but get him to the barracks."</em>Of course, with his agreement, there was no time.  They needed to get out of the house and to the Defense Battalion now before anyone stopped them.  She could just explain in the car, right?