The end of the old year...

Rhyssa was fiddling with a copper wire bracelet while Mildei checked her hand.

People certainly noticed the bracelet more than her hands- like the one Mildei was checking now, while Rhyssa tried to force the fingers to open on their own. She briefly loosened them, before they curled back in like they were dead. Rhyssa couldn't really feel that one, but the other three had healed fine.

[I don't know what to say, Rhyssa,] said Mildei. She tried her best to treat the novice, even before Macrurus told her to. She was furious that Mildei helped Rhyssa hide the foreigner, and threatened punishment if the mauling proved fatal... as if the attack was Mildei's fault! She wasn't the one who left things half-done, nor did she let Rhyssa have such a terrible 'pet'. But Mildei was younger and couldn't complain. And she couldn't deny she led the demon to the outsider for a laugh; Mildei hadn't thought the foreigners would escape. [I can't fix this. It would have been better if she'd bitten it off completely.]

[How would that have been better? See, now she has a fist. People might start taking her more seriously.] That was Sirex, who was far less concerned than her sister. She glared at Rhyssa. [And Macrurus wouldn't have done it at all if you would do what you were told in the first place instead of sneaking around like an idiot. What did you think would happen? Do you have any idea how lucky you are that she didn't finish you off? I know I would have.]

[That was uncalled for,] said Mildei. [But she is right, Rhyssa, you do need to listen. I worry when you don't, she has such a temper. The best leaders are all a little... unstable. You understand, don't you? All this pain was avoidable. If you're going to start working on fledglings you need to be in good standing.]

[Yes, I understand.] Macrurus said next year Rhyssa could start sharing her sister's insignia, learn how to pick good subordinates and after that a favorite or two. There was already one fledgling she was getting close to, and Mildei already promised to help her get that one. So next year will be much better. She would have someone to care for and teach, and with luck there would be no disasters or heartbreaks.

There was a rapid buzz behind them, and Sirex and Mildei wandered off to avoid the source. Macrurus stood at the opening of the cave and waited for Rhyssa to come over. [How is the hand?] She gave Rhyssa a treat- a small, well-insulated cage of baby millipedes for her to keep in the cave until spring.

Rhyssa flickered her wings cheerfully. New pets! [It doesn't hurt, but Mildei said it can't be fixed.]

Macrurus grabbed Rhyssa's crippled hand and squeezed it tightly. The pressure was nice. It made the hand relax, and it meant her sister was in a good mood. [That's a shame. Other than that, you're doing well?]

[Yes.]

Macrurus fiddled with Rhyssa's bracelet. [Hmm. Where do you plan on sleeping this year?]

Where else? She was a hunter now, and a citizen. Fall was very... busy. [With Sirex and Mildei?]

[Well, what would you think if I said you were settling with me from now on? Starting this winter?] She tugged Rhyssa's antenna to pull her face closer.

Honestly, she didn't know what to say. It sounded nice, but... [I don't see what I did to earn this.]

[Not a thing, I just feel like indulging my favorite. Is that so wrong?]

[No, but-]

[Good! You'll like being in the center, Rhyssa. It's so warm, and you'll be so close to the Queen.] And Macrurus, but that was a given.

Rhyssa nodded cautiously. She still wanted to spend the winter with her peers. Like herself, many had been shaken by the end-of-year activities. It was mostly fledglings gone, but she wanted to know if there was anyone she knew missing- there probably weren't since most of her friends also belonged to Macrurus, but it would be good to know. My name's burnt. I have a say in things now. I won't have to do any of that again.

The cage slipped slightly out of her grip.

[Are you unhappy with your present?] Macrurus pulled the feeler again, making Rhyssa look her way.

Rhyssa tilted her head away, which only made Macrurus hold tighter. [I'm not! It's just that... I don't see how I've earned it.] It was a huge favor. Would she have to pay it back later, or was this really just a gift her sister wanted for her? She couldn't even tell if Macrurus meant the pets or the sleeping arrangements.

[I'll tell you how: You're mine, and I said I want you with me. Aren't you glad?]

[Yes, thank you.]

Macrurus let the antenna go so she could pet Rhyssa's mandible. [You're welcome. Let's go get settled in.]

Rhyssa didn't protest. Arguing only brought trouble. Besides, Macrurus had been ignoring her so much- shouldn't she be excited?

After Rhyssa stashed the hibernating millipedes, they flew briefly and dove into the boiling hot nest to Macrurus' usual spot- together this time. They were safe for another winter.

… And the beginning of the new.

"Three! Two! ONE! Happy New Year!" hundreds of voices shouted along with the intercom. The cheers right afterward drowned out Brett Starkisser's coverage of Capitol Square, not that anyone inside was really paying that much attention. The screen in the Senate building wasn't as interesting as the party itself. Those who were saw the usual: The camera briefly flashed to the Senate, where Talnak could be seen laughing with his new fiancee and some colleagues, then back outside where people waved and jumped in front of the news cameras. A man proposed to his girlfriend, and she said yes. The reporter began interviewing them right afterwards. Quick flashes of celebrations on other planets popped across the screen, and then it returned to the fireworks display at the Square.

There was a party on the Star Command base. Hundreds of Rangers were gathered in the building, either staying for the festivities or catching a glimpse between assignments. They had punch and sparkling cider along with the usual party foods. There were even visiting families aboard, mostly for rookies and cadets. People chatted and there was a line by the karaoke machine, while those lucky enough to be off-duty (if not right then, then in a few hours) discussed party plans with their coworkers.

Which would have been a lot more fun for Ty than working security at the Capitol. Oh well. The suit he was wearing looked nice, and as great as it was to be back in uniform he couldn't say no to the occasional formal wear event. There were only a few hours left on his shift. He'd been there since that morning. Ty meandered to the buffet table, unsure if he actually wanted anything or not. There were a few desserts he had his eye on, mostly because of the way they looked- chefs from the newest planets to join the Galactic Alliance clearly tried to outdo each other, and ended up with huge plates of food that looked almost too pretty to touch. The Lahilan desserts, just to break with everyone else, were some kind of baked purple fruit covered in twisty spikes, all dipped in a sugar glaze. He was curious enough to try one- it was almost like a gingery, apricot... potato?

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Talnak intruding on a conversation between Madame President and Commander Nebula. Not the most polite of moves, but one that most people would ignore on a night like this. Ty peeked, saw Nebula's frown get less frowny, and slipped out of the Lahilan's line of sight. The guy kept trying to arrange for him to talk with some Lahilan officials about Apocrita and Ty just plain didn't want to. What did they even want to hear from him for, anyway? Talnak spent months trying to get Star Command to help cover everything up (never mind Ty's original mission was high-clearance anyway so that whole... disaster... wasn't going to be public information in the first place).

He was up to something, obviously. It was better, in his opinion, not to play along with the Ambassador.

So of course thinking that thought made a really good summon. There was Talnak, in all his chipper spiky glory (his quills weren't tied back). He was smiling broadly, and his patches were a cheery blue. Ty started to excuse himself when Talnak's gray, sandpapery palm plopped onto his shoulder. "Ty Parsec! I haven't seen you in ages! How have you been?"

Where's a big, shiny distraction when you need one? Ty thought. "Ages? I wouldn't say that long... I've been pretty good, how about yourself?"

"Bored out of my skull! You would not believe what the Pixarians were telling me."

"I try not to talk politics, sir."

The Lahilan snickered. "Oh, lighten up. It's funny! See, they were busy renegotiating a housing deal with Bathyos, and then they got word that a Ranger went missing a few months back-"

Not this again! "I don't think we need to discuss that now. Sir."

"-but it turns out the lady wasn't missing at all! There was a computer error and she was assigned two different missions at once. Nothing scandalous, just an mistake."

Ty glared. "And... what does this have to do with anything?"

"I just thought it was a funny story. Not every missing Ranger is you, Ty."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm sure you will. Happy New Year!"

What was that all about? Ty's whole mood was spoiled. He watched Talnak trot over to someone else. But then someone joined him. It was Booster. "Oh, hey Ty! When our shift is over, my team's going out to celebrate. Want to come with us?"

Ty considered it. Ah heck. It's not like I have any other plans tonight. "Sure."

"Buzz is scheduled longer than we are, but he's coming too."

"Is anyone else coming along?"

"Yeah, Ozma said she'll be there!" Booster ended the sentence with a cheery giggle.

Ty smiled. He didn't get that relationship, he didn't see how two people that stubborn got along so well, but it worked. It was a lot healthier than Buzz's first marriage, at any rate. Maybe it was like mixing acids and bases to get something neutral. "I'm guessing all's well with those two?"

Booster nodded. "Yeah. They've been together for two whole years now! Three if you count the Millenial Bugs... Oh, I need to go back to my post, see you in a few hours."

"See you soon."

The rest of the party passed without incident. After the replacements came, Ty left and checked that he didn't get any mystery food or dirt spots on his clothes- he usually managed to, but not this time. Good.

Mira bumped into him in the hall on the way out. "Hey, how was work?"

"Pretty good, actually. It's nice to have things back to normal again... I'm back on a normal schedule next week." Urgh, first there was the mandatory paid leave (which he felt was a bit too long, but the new protocol insisted was necessary), then he was limited to working on light duty for a while due to some ongoing problems with his elbow, and the set of new abdominal muscles that had to be brought into shape. Both problems were now resolved. Ty was never happier to be working full-time. He noted with pride that the only insignias on him was the one on the front of his suit. "And I'm on my next job then, too."

Mira grinned. "That's great! What kind of mission is it, do you know yet?"

"It's nothing too exciting, I'm just heading a security team at an asteroid mining site. There's a great big rock that's basically a fleet's worth of iron with some energy crystals to boot."

Mira elbowed him. "I just got emergency-assigned to the same team because Flarn broke his tail."

"Oh, really? That's great! You being there, not, ah, Flarn's tail." Seeing how most of his missions were far-flung solo assignments, Ty didn't recognize most of the people on this particular team. A familiar face was always welcome. "We're expecting the mission to last about a month, and then I'm back here before my next assignment."

There was a brief silence as they crossed the sidewalk to the shuttle where Buzz and the others were waiting. Mira elbowed him and whispered. "Hey, that mission... I heard there's a ghost!"

"No." Ty would have refused the assignment flat-out if there were rumors of anything freaky and wrong happening. With his luck, there would be some truth to them. "There's no ghosts." The pleasant chatter continued on the brief ride to their destination (he listened a lot more than he participated). The restaurant was crowded and noisy, but he didn't mind because they got a nice corner booth.

"To a new year," he toasted when everyone was seated (and Buzz and Ozma stopped their flirting for a minute). "May it be fantastic and full of surprises." Everyone at the table smiled politely. "The good kind of surprises," he added a moment later. He and Team Lightyear clinked their glasses together.