Sky joined the base in the late autumn of 2007 (Earth time). Now it was late February 2010, and he had turned eighteen in January. Arya had well adjusted to her new environment and was now a nurse in training. According to Remi, she was quite gifted and it was hard for the other medics not to like her.
   It was late, Turner and Amanda had been on vacation and now they were coming back today, so everybody wanted to stay up to see the two again.
   Ty and Jason were in the lab as usual, chatting boredly as Jason was working on a new contraption; a piece of metal that looked like a gun. Ty yawned. "Do you think they'll be back soon?"
   Jason shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe you should go to bed, Ty."
   "No, I wanna wait up!"
   "You're not as used to staying up this late as Adam and I are, and you have to get up early."
   "No, I'm staying up."
    Jason shrugged. "Whatever you say man..."
    Meanwhile, in the Training Hall, Sky blocked an overhead strike from Void, then a side swipe from his right hook. Then, suddenly, he was kicked across the face way harder than he expected.
    Sky yelped and fell to the ground and Void gasped in surprise. "Oh shit, Rookie!"
    Sky didn't care he was hit, he hardly noticed the stinging pain in his face; all he knew was that his sunglasses were several feet away. He squeezed his eyes shut. "D-Do you see my glasses?"
   "Yeah, yeah..." Void picked them up, and held them out. Sky reached out a hand, but he couldn't see where Void was holding them, so he groped the air.
    Void blinked and lowered his hand. "...It's almost midnight, why do you need sunglasses?"
    "J-Just let me see them!"
    "Rookie, open your eyes.
    "N-No!"
    "Vaerin, I wasn't asking."
    Sky whimpered, hesitating a few seconds before he slowly opened his eyes, staring down at the ground.
    "Look up."
    Sky sighed, his heart bearing fast as he looked up, not looking directly at Void.
    Void blinked in surprise as he saw Sky's eyes. One was a light brown shade, the other foggy and a light blue. He was blind in one eye.
    Void stared at him. "...How long...?"
    "Three years..." Sky sighed. "Ty was born blind... I donated one eye so he could see... He's half blind too..."
    Void didn't say anything.
    Sky looked up at him with a mix of sadness and fear. "Are you going to make me quit the army?"
    "What? No! Why would I do that?"
    Sky blinked. "...B... Because I'm a handicap!"
    "Kid, you gave half your vision away so your buddy could see, and then you learned advanced combat with one eye. That's incredible!"
    Sky stared at him with wide eyes.
    Void hugged him. "That's my boy..."
    Sky smiled a little, burying his face in Void's shoulder.
    After a moment, Void pulled back, handing him his sunglasses. "There you go."
    Sky out them back on, relaxing. "Thanks..."
    "So does he know?"
    "No..."
    "Tell him!"
    "No!"
    "Why the hell not?!"
    "He'll get mad, he doesn't want people to sacrifice shit for him!"
    "...Kid, are you certain that's not how you feel?"
    Sky stared, then sighed and looked away. No sooner had he done so than a cheerful voice could be heard from the door.
    "Guys, guys, Amanda and Turner are back!"
    Sky looked up and grinned at Jason. "Yes!" He ran past Void, out of the Hall and down the corridor with Ty and Jason. Void chuckled and followed calmly, taking his time.
    "Amanda!"
    "Hi Jason~!" Amanda laughed as she hugged her apprentice. "How are you?"
    "I'm tired!"
    "Good job!"
    Ty and Sky exchanged confused glances at the scientists' strange way of speaking. It was like their type had a completely different culture and dialect.
    "Hey, hey, you wanna tell them?" Amanda asked, letting go of Jason and looking up at Turner.
    Turner smiled. "Nah, you tell them..."
    "I don't wanna, you tell them."
    Void raised an eyebrow as he joined the group, Remi beside him. "Tell us what?"
    Turner rolled her eyes and took Amanda's hand, holding it out.
    Sky was slow. He was the last person to see. Beside him, Jason was laughing excitedly and Ty screaming slightly. Void just smiled and Remi laughed.
    Then Sky saw it.
    Amanda had a ring on her finger.
    Sky clapped his hands over his mouth as Amanda giggled.
    "Did you say yes?!" Ty asked.
    "No, she's wearing it because she said no." Jason said, shoving him playfully.
    Turner just smiled, pulling Amanda into a gentle hug. Void nodded to him and Turner gave him a grin.
    "Do you not want to tell them the other thing?" Turner asked Amanda softly. Only Sky heard as Ty and Jason were now bickering in good fun.
    Amanda shook her head. "Not yet..."
    Remi cleared his throat. "When's the wedding?"
    "We were thinking October." Turner said.
    "Good choice." Void said.
    Turner just nodded.
    "Okay kids, time for bed." Amanda said, herding Ty, Sky, and Jason in the direction of their rooms.
    Ty groaned, but Jason dragged him obediently away. Sky just smiled and walked away calmly, happily. He had a feeling he knew what Amanda and Turner had been talking about. He went to his room calmly where, predictably, Alesa had already fallen asleep with Rascal at the foot of her bed. Sky smiled warmly and changed into more comfortable clothes before getting in beside her slowly, careful not to wake her. He put his arm around her waist, pulling her gently closer to him as he closed his eyes happily.
   In that moment, everything seemed perfect.