He scanned the cold, dark reception area. Bare metal, sparse furniture. Not quite like the 
home he'd had as a child. But that was a long time ago.
  "Dr. Hokuto?" the guard prompted. "Here she is."
  "She" was not who he expected to meet. Miyata's daughter, in his view, should have been one
of those casual-dressing computer geniuses who wore glasses.
  Well, she did wear glasses. Tinted ones, perfect for bumping into walls in a poorly-lit room like
this. But she seemed to walk just fine in her lengthy cardigan, knee-high skirt and strappy heels.
She looked, professional.
  "So are we going or what?" she asked irritably.
  He realized he'd been staring. "Um,I'm-"
  "I know who you are and I assume my father told you who I am. Now if we could please start the
trip?"

  Yeah, but he didn't tell me you were a brat." Right this way." He motioned to the platform leading
to his BT, Max.

  She surveyed the interiors with curiosity." Impressive," she muttered without emotion as she stood
in the midst of large monitors and keyboards with blinking lights.

Hokuto dragged up her suitcases with difficulty, as she didn't seem to want to offer a hand.
  " I thought you might be used to surroundings like this."

  "The academy didn't have this many within easy reach," she replied, facing him. In the better
lighting he could see she had a slick bob of green hair, with a few wispy bangs. Not your usual
sea green either. This was a few shades greener.

  Finally he hoisted the luggage up and the platform lifted and shut." Well, then, Tokiko..."
  "Call me Opal,"she interjected, taking off her tinted glasses." Everyone does."

  He could see why. Her eyes weren't the dark, dark brown most people mistook for black. They were
a real, harsh black that seemed to pierce him as he stood there." Opal." He tested it on his
tongue." Fine, I'll call you that."

  "Where's my room?" she asked in a commanding tone.

  "Over here."He pulled the suitcases down the hall. The door clicked and slid open, revealing
a small, neat room, all the furniture attached to the walls or roof, everything a soft,
peaceful white. "I'm not sure if you'll like it."

  "I can't complain anyway." Opal  looked around the room as though inspecting it. Hokuto was
leaving as she spun around. "Doctor?"

  "Yes?"

  "Is Hokuto your real name?"

  "It is."

  "Your only name?" It was almost a sneer.

  "I don't use my first name much." He turned to leave. "Make yourself at home." The door shut
with a metallic click and whir.
-----

  She smiled ironically to herself. "Make yourself at home," she repeated, laughing bitterly.

  Home? She didn't know the word; she never had a real home. Father had always packed her off
to daycare, or preschool, and, when she got older, boarding school. Hell, her friends'
homes became almost her own, the way she felt when she stayed over.

  "Things would be different if her mother were alive."Yes, she always heard them whispering.
Oh yeah, a mother was another thing she didn't have. She died when Opal was young.

  Or that bastard killed her off in his lab during one of his experiments. Not that
she complained much. He did provide well for her in material terms, and she always got
 more if she asked. And the communication lines weren't entirely cut either. She got a lot
of email from him, and once a month they'd talk on the viewphone.But aside from that, she never 
heard from her father. She had surmised long ago that he didn't despise her.
He was just, well, indifferent. The only time he got angry with her was when 
she did poorly in school or sports.

  "You must always try to be perfect," he kept telling her.

  Perfect. Perfect. She laughed again as the word echoed in her mind. Father was a genius
but he could be stupid sometimes What was perfection to him? A hundred percent in the
entrance exams? Fastest in the swim team? But he was never satisfied with that. How could
he, when perfection was something beyond what a man could measure?

  She gave a cry as a shard of pain cut through her head. Then the throbbing started. She
buried her face in a pillow. The migraine would go away soon.
---

  "Ryoto, you bastard," Hokuto cursed into the screen.
  Ryoto Miyata laughed at the other end of the line. "I take to it you've been acquainted with
my daughter?"
  "If that's how you wanna say it, fine. Just remember that you owe me back big time for this
favor."
  "I'm very thankful, Issei-kun."
  "Don't call me that!"
  "Well, it is my fault that she's a little unsociable..."
  Please. Call her 'brat'.
  "...but I wasn't able to watch over her as much as I would have wanted. My career
takes up much of my time. " Miyata sighed. "You know, balancing career and family
gets really tough these days."
  "Thanks. Maybe I'll just remain a bachelor," he replied dryly.
  "Well, why am I making excuses for lost time? " Miyata shrugged. "Just bring her here safe
and sound, okay? And bear with the prickly attitude for the meantime. It's only three
weeks. Gotta go." The screen fuzzed and blinked out.
  " It's gonna be a long three weeks," Hokuto mumbled.
-----

  They talked every now and then, but generally he and Opal avoided each other as much as possible. 
One day he heard laughter coming from Max's central control room. Piqued, he went inside
to find Opal listening to Max's voice, her eyes black velvet and her mouth in a soft smile.

  "What are you doing here?" he asked with more strictness than intended.

  The eyes and mouth regained their harshness the moment she spotted him. "I wanted to talk to
Max so I went here." She stood up and brushed off her slacks. "He has been a worthwhile
companion." She faced the monitor in the center of the room. "Ashta made, sayonara," she
bid with a snappy bow.

  "Goodbye, Opal," Max replied.

  Opal  walked past Hokuto quietly, then paused. "I like talking to him better than to you."

  He didn't face her. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing. And I'd appreciate it if you
didn't tamper with the security locks."

  "As you like it." She left the room.

  "You shouldn't be so mean to that girl," Max half-scolded.
  Hokuto turned to him. "What were you two talking about?"
  "Nothing."
  He raised an eyebrow. "What did she say about me?"
 "I can't tell you. She told me not to."
 "Yeah, but I've been with you longer."
 "Sorry, sir. I can't."
 "Have it your way." Traitor.
-------

 With an immature surge of rebellion, Opal  turned up he radio to maximum volume the next day
as she chatted over the viewphone with one of her few friends, Raika.

  Suddenly Hokuto burst into the room. "Could you turn that down? It's disturbing me!"
  She glanced at him over her shoulder. "No. Get out."

  "Hey, who's this babe?" Raika gushed loudly. "Introductions, please!"

  She sighed hopelessly. "Raika, this is Dr. Hokuto. Doctor, this is my friend Raika Tsujimune.
Now could you please leave?"

  He ignored her. "Pleased to meet you." He threw his most charming smile at the girl on the screen.

  "Oh,no, pleased to meet you," Raika purred.

  Opal  crossed her arms in front of her. "Okay. Get out,"she muttered, glaring at Hokuto.

  "Are you two going out?" Raika asked next.

  She rolled her eyes as Hokuto chuckled. " I'd rather die."

  "I'd like that," Hokuto replied as he went to the door. "See you, Raika." The door closed.

 "What a cutie! Does your dad plan for you to marry him?" Raika asked in enthusiasm.

 "Will you stop with the stupid questions? "Opal  spat. "I told you, I'm not interested!"

 "Why not? You told me you always wanted to marry a doctor."

 "Not this one. Besides, he's already twenty-eight.Ten years is a long way off."

 Raika brightened. "A-ha! So you are interested in him!"

 She blushed furiously. "Could we just change the subject? This is getting us nowhere."

 "Oh,sorry. I gotta leave, In the meantime, think about it. Bye! " Then Raika signed off.

 Opal  shook her head. Some friend Raika was. Never mind, she'd get back at her some time.
Next she contacted her father.
  "How are you, Tokiko?" he greeted with a benevolent smile.
  "Father, don't start."
  "Sorry, Opal. So how's he treating you?"
  "Fine. But I wish the trip were shorter."
  "We can't help that. B'Ts travel slower than your usual plane. And they have to stop at certain
 checkpoints along the route. That's why it isn't the best mode of transportation."
  "Then why use it? "
  "I thought I told you why."
  "Oh, I see." She sat back."Security reasons."
 "I have to leave now. Keep in touch. " Then the image on the screen disappeared.

Later she tucked her knees under her chin as she soaked in the tub, and thought about what Raika said.

"No, of course not," she said out loud. But at that moment an image came into view. Beautifully
clear green eyes, framed by thick lashes, complemented by an high,fine nose and gentle mouth.

His face.
  "Bakana!" she cursed herself as her eyes snapped open. She stepped out of the tub. Opal  had more
things to waste her time with.

She felt another headache coming on.
--------

  He smiled. "Opal. My daughter. My daughter."

  He brought out the picture of a woman with the same dark eyes as his child."I wish you could see
her now," he whispered, suddenly weeping. "You'd be so proud." Then he gave a manic laugh. "You
were always so proud, Akiko. "
--------

  She spotted him fussing about the computer terminals near the lab and quickly ducked behind one of
the conducting units.

 "Opal? Could you come here? I have to ask you something."
 She didn't move.
 "Do I have to ask nicely or drag you by the hair?" he asked in a calm yet commanding voice.
 She sighed. It was no use hiding anyway. "I don't appreciate your tone." she said, finally stepping
into view."So what's your problem?"
  "The cache for lab reports is going gangbusters." He looked at her with slit eyes. "You didn't go
here last night, did you?"
  "No," she replied with a firm gaze.
  "Well, somebody certainly broke in here last night."
  She shrugged. "Well, it wasn't me. But", she moved towards the largest terminal," in spite of
your accusation, I'm still going to try and help you out."
  He rolled his eyes. "Don't bother. I can handle it..."
  But she was already in front of the largest terminal, tapping away at the keyboard. Slowly, the
furiously blinking messages on the monitor slowed down and finally disappeared.
  "... wow."
  She didn't say a word, continuing to erase all the error messages on the other terminals. Suddenly
 a bright glare emerged from one of the screens. Opal turned  to him. "Get out! Quick!"
  "What the-"

  They both rushed out of the room. An explosion followed.
-----

  She opened her eyes. The bright white light from the ceiling half-blinded her. Then a
chill went up her spine. Memories. The operating table. The light. Blinking machines.
And they had masks on, and coats. Uncomprehending, unfeeling eyes. The glimmer of metal....
  "No..."she groaned. Even now she felt the restraining straps.
  "What?" A pair of green eyes brought her back to consciousness. "Opal?"
  She sat up on the table. "Why is everything white?" she mumbled groggily.
  He laughed as though she were an impertinent child who amused him. "Because this is my clinic.
This is where I cure my patients."
  She stared blankly at him. "Patients."
  "Besides, white is a neat color, don't you think? "

  "Not if it's spattered with blood," she muttered. Oh, don't close your eyes, child. You'll
only see them again... Then she noticed the burn marks on her legs. "Oh, the explosion." 
She stood up but he made her sit down again.
  "It's okay. I put it out." Hokuto sat on a stool in front of her. "You're safe."
  She frowned."But your files."
  He smiled. "You might think I'm stupid, but I'm not that stupid. I have backup." He saw
her look down at her feet. "Now what?"
  "No, I'm stupid," she said softly. "I never encountered that in my debugging class. I
didn't know...If I hadn't touched it, it wouldn't have been destroyed." But it
did, but it did! Daddy's not going to be happy to hear this. She sniffled. "I'll go
now." She scrambled for the door but slumped against the wall. Her vision blurred.
  He stood beside her. "You okay?"

  Her head was bowed. "I messed up your terminals. It was my fault. And you're going to
tell  Father."
  "No, I won't."

She looked up. "Don't lie!" she replied sharply. Boy, was she going to be in for it
 with Daddy this time. "Everybody lies to me! They lied. And you'll tell him anyway.
 It was my mistake. I wasn't perfect.... " Dammit, she was crying. Her father
 would never approve. But what the heck. Let the tears flow.

"Stop that, " he whispered. Not knowing what to do, he gave her a hug.
 
"I c-c-can't..." She cried even harder. "I'm sorry, Father! So sorry!
 Can't you hear me? It was my fault. I wasn't a good girl! Don't hate me, don't..."

"I don't hate you."

She was practically sobbing now. "And I blew up your system, and I hurt Max."

"You like Max very much, don't you?" he asked softly.

"Yes. He is like - a friend." She drew in a breath. "Do you think Max hates me now?"

"No. He's very patient with humans.  He knows we're bound to make mistakes."

"That's no excuse. Oh, you wouldn't understand."

"It sounds like a perfectly good excuse to me. " He stroked her hair. " I made a very
 big mistake once, because someone lied to me. But I tried to make up for it."

"Were you forgiven?"

"I was. I know I was." He closed his eyes briefly in recollection. "Just forget about the
 overload, okay? Your dad won't hear about it."

She looked at him. The expression on his face was so... forgiving, as though she
 could have committed a thousand crimes, and he would have absolved them all. Not like
 - not like.... She felt like crying again. "Promise you won't tell?"

"I promise. Now stop crying."

"I'm n-not,"she stammered, then gave a short laugh in spite of her tears.

"See? You're a whole lot prettier when you smile."

"What?" she blinked, a gentle pink blush appearing on her cheeks. Suddenly she
 realized that he still held her. "You're lying again," she managed to snap.

"No, I'm not." She couldn't break away from his tender gaze. "You are pretty."

Because he couldn't quite help it,Hokuto kissed her soft, warm lips, salted by
 her tears. Then a sharp crack accompanied the blow that sent him sprawling.

"Baksho!" she yelled vehemently, just a tinge breathy. Then she left the room.
-----


You fool, he scolded himself as he sat alone in the clinic. You moron, you
 imbecile, you son-of-a... I don't know what to call you!

He scanned the room. It was quiet enough to hear himself think.

(White.Why is everything white?)

(Not if it's spattered with blood.)

"They"? Who were "they"? Who lied to her?

But now you'll never know, a small voice from nowhere told him. He touched
 his face where she had slapped him. "Ow!" That wasn't a slap, that was a
 punch she gave him! He checked his watch. 10 days to go.
-----


She lay in bed and nursed another one of her headaches. She seemed to get a
 lot of them nowadays. Her eyes remained open under her pillow.

Kissed. He had kissed her. And she, stupid child she was, had hit him. 
Serves him right. I'd hit him again if.... If.

Tokiko Miyata, you blew up a doctor's computer, broke down in front of him,
 and probably misaligned his face temporarily. Yup, he's got a good impression
 of you now.

What would your father say?

"You've embarrassed me. Don't ever let it happen again, " she quoted.
 "They must have a perfect impression of you." Perfect my foot!
On sudden impulse she went to the bath and looked at herself in the mirror.
 Wow, she looked like a model daughter, with her uncombed hair and bloodshot
 eyes. She looked closer at her reflection. Her eyes were a true black. Opal.
 It was her father who coined the pet name.
She grinned lopsidedly at the thought.
(You're pretty when you smile....)

She found herself blushing again. Flopping back onto her bed, she sighed.
 Would he tell Father about the mess she made? Probably.

(I promise.... )

Heck, he probably lied. Everyone lied. She ought to be used to it by now.

"Liar, " she said out loud. "Liar."

The sound of the word gave her a strange satisfaction.
-----


 "I wish I were like you," Opal confided to Max the next day. "Maybe life would
 be a whole lot less complicated."
"That's what you think," Max replied.
She leaned her head against the cold wall. "I'm sorry I jammed your files."

"No problem. It happens sometimes."

She smiled. "Thanks for understanding, Max."

"Opal?" Hokuto's head peeked into the room."Your dad's on the phone."

She stood up and quietly followed him through the hall. Okay, he told. Might as
 well get the sermon over with.

He sighed. They were back to Square One. Oh well, he probably had it coming.

Opal faced the large screen. "Ohayou, Papa," she greeted with a low bow.

"Ohayou, musube," Miyata replied.

"Could you leave us for a while? "she asked Hokuto. She wasn't going to be berated
 in front of him.

He shrugged and left the room.

She folded her arms. "If you're asking what's up with me, there's nothing." Brace
 yourself for the scolding, it won't last forever. But then, again...
 
Father didn't seem to show any sign of displeasure. "Is he treating you well?"

She cringed inwardly. "Well enough. What did he tell you that concerns me?"

Miyata rubbed his chin. "There was something he couldn't wait to tell me..."

So the bastard did tell.

"He asked my permission to bring you to his friend's house along your route, and
 I said yes."
"You what?" she asked in disbelief.
"Is there anything wrong? I don't want them to think you're anti-social and all."

She chewed on her lip. Whatever made him happy.
He looked intently at her. " Is there something between the both of you?"

Why that little....! She shrugged. "If you mean that we fight fairly often,
 then the answer is yes."

Miyata's eyebrow jumped. "That wasn't exactly what I meant." He sat back. "Well,
 your private life is your own business. Just as long as you don't forget your duties
 as a daughter. As my daughter."
-----

He was standing outside when she left the room. She glared at him out of the corner
 of her eye, then walked away, her steps a rhythmic echo. Then she paused.

"You didn't tell him about the fire."

"No. I promised, didn't I?"

"I thought you might have gone back on it."
"You're not very trusting, are you?"

"I used to be. Not anymore. Especially not with you." You know you don't mean that.
 Yes, I do! Never mind, you said it. Then apologize, stupid!
Why should I be burdened with guilt?

A moment of silence. They started to speak simultaneously.
"About yesterday-"
"Look, I'm-"
[Sweat drop!]
They stared at each other. She leaned against the wall. "Okay, you go first."
"No way. After you."

A long silence. A gust of wind blew through the scene.

He gave an agitated sigh. " You didn't have to slap me so hard."
"You deserved it. You were manipulating the situation," she pointed out.
"I was not!" he replied defensively."What's the big deal anyway? It was just a kiss!"

She turned on her heel. "Maybe for you."

"Okay. I shouldn't have. The least you can do is forgive me." He was grovelling,
 he knew. But if that's what it took...
Opal started to walk away. "Don't hold your breath."

"Wait!" He strode up to her. "Why don't we just forget about it? Call it quits?"
Her eyebrow flirted with her hairline. "Give me a good reason why."
"Because I let you get away with blowing up my computer. Because if we go on like
 this, my conscience is really gonna kill me and I don't want to die yet because
 I want to know you."

She halted. You don't want to know me, she thought ruefully.

"And may I remind you, Tokiko Miyata, that you are on my B'T, and if you
 frustrate me so much I'll want to throw you out of the window, I will, and you
 can bet your sorry ass I won't pack you a parachute."

She gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "You don't mean that."
His forehead knitted for a moment, then he drew a deep breath. "No,"he admitted,
 exhaling audibly. "But if that's what it takes, I might."
She laughed some more. Not a scornful laugh. A real one.
He gave her a quizzical look. "What?"
"Nothing." She wiped the tears from her eyes."Forget about it, Doctor.It's
 destroying your logical train of thought. "She shook her green-haired head.It
 was petty. "I won't be responsible for ruining your genius."
"So you forgive me?"
She looked up for a moment. "I do." She smiled.

He stepped beside her "You really are pretty when you smile."

She rolled her eyes at him. "See? You're doing it again!"
"Doing what again? " he asked innocently, peering into her face. This close
 he could see that her black eyes were flecked with silver gray. And they were
...averse? Frightened? Maybe...
"Is there someone else?" Hokuto blurted out. And what if there was?

"Someone...." She looked away for a second. "No. There's no one." Shimatta!
 You're being too honest with him. In an effort to divert him, she said,"Father
 tells me we're to meet your friends somewhere."
"Well, yes, I did ask him if I could take you with me." He briefly drew a hand
 through his hair. "I know it's a little rude not to ask you first -"
"That's all right. I do want to go anyway."
"Really? "He tucked his hands into his coat pockets."Well, that's settled.
 Thanks." He was going to head back to the lab when a thought came to him. "We're
 friends, right? "

"Sure."

"Woo-hoo! " a voice bellowed.

They both looked up with irritated expressions. "Max!"
-----


He pressed the front bell. "You look great, " he told her. Well, she did.

Opal eyed him, as if debating the truth of his words. "You don't," she replied,
 reaching out to fix his tie. "Didn't they teach you about ties in med school? "

"I don't wear ties often. Where'd you learn?"

" Academy. We wore ties all the time."

" I'm glad you're here to fix it for me, " he said softly, looking intently at her.
"Well, you should be. There! All done." Opal leaned back to examine her handiwork.
"Now you look great too, " she smiled. Then to his surprise, she kissed his cheek.
 Just then, the door opened.

"Hokuto! Come in! You're just in time for lunch." The blonde man gave him a brotherly
 pat on the shoulder, apparently not noticing that both Hokuto and Opal were blushing.
 "And this must be Opal." He turned to his back and shouted, " Amethyst! Issei est
 arrivé!"

" Issei?" Opal raised an eyebrow at Hokuto as they sat down in the den.
"That's his first name," the blonde man replied, blue eyes twinkling, "He didn't tell you?"
" I thought I told you not to call me that," Hokuto muttered just as a dark-blue haired
 woman entered the room. He and Opal stood up. "Opal, this is my friend Fau and his wife Amethyst."

"Pleased to meet you," Opal smiled.

"She is beautiful, Issei." Amethyst gave a gentle laugh as she went to hug the girl. Which was a
 difficult thing to do, Opal discovered, because Amethyst was pregnant.

" Oh, a baby!"she suddenly exclaimed.

"I thought I told you I don't want to be called Issei," Hokuto put in. Then he gave Amethyst
a surprised look. "What? Already?" He turned to Fau. " Why you - " he began in mock pointedness.

 Fau put his arm about his wife's shoulder. " Six months," he beamed.

 Amethyst raised an eyebrow at him."Easy for you to say."

 "Boy or girl? " Opal asked excitedly.

 The couple looked at each other. "I hope it's a boy," Amethyst replied.

 "I think a girl is better," Fau replied. "A beautiful baby girl."

 " Opal is trés jolie, is she not? " Amethyst suddenly asked, as though in fascination.
 "Oui." Fau bent to her ear. " I like her better than you," he said in a loud whisper.
 "Issei looks better than you," she replied, also in a loud whisper.
 " I hate you," Fau whispered lovingly.
  She smiled."I hate you too."
  Opal guessed that she must have been staring because Hokuto - she couldn't
think of him as Issei - poked her in the ribs.

"Don't mind them, "he said, though his green eyes were laughing. "Both of them have French blood ; the
 romanticism is genetic."

  "Oh, sorry," Amethyst said with a touch of mirth." We get a little carried away sometimes. "

"Sometimes? " Fau teased as he patted her enlarged belly, to which she responded by elbowing him.

Opal cocked her head. " No problem."
"Well, come on, you two." The four of them went into a simple but elegant dining room, Fau and Amethyst
 trailing behind. "I still think a girl would be better," he argued to his wife in a bantering tone.

 "No, I want a boy," she purred.

 "Girl."

 "Boy."

Hokuto gave an exasperated sigh." Make it twins and cut it out already!"


-----

Amethyst proved to be very chatty during the meal, especially about Opal.

"Opal. That's a pretty name."
"Her real name is Tokiko," Hokuto pointed out,then got kicked on the shin.
"Shut up, ISSEI. " She gave him an evil look.
Amethyst laughed. "I suppose you were named for your eyes too? "
"What?" She was surprised by the question. Then she noticed that the woman sitting across her had
 dark lilac eyes, with irises of intense, almost hypnotic purple. "Uh, yes."
"Don't look into her eyes, " Fau advised, gesturing with his fork. "She'll bewitch you. I speak
 from experience. "

"You were always a sucker for hypnosis," Hokuto put in, and received another kick on the shin.

Later they went onto the veranda that surrounded the third floor of their house, Opal staying with
 Amethyst at one corner.
The breeze hit her face. "This is a very big house."

"You know, that's what I thought too, when we just came here. But, " she looked down at her
 stomach, "it won't be empty for long. "

Opal sat down on the balcony and scanned the horizon. "It will have a home, and a father and
 mother to take care of it. What a lucky baby." She turned to Amethyst. "What do you want your
 child to be when he grows up? "
  "Well."She put down her knitting. "I want my child to be healthy, and wise, and contented. It's
not much, I know. But those things are harder to acquire than success and material wealth. "

Opal examined the knitting. "Wow. How did you do this?"
  "My mother taught me."
  The girl's face dropped again. "My mother never taught me anything. She died when I was a baby."
  "Oh, I'm sorry. " Amethyst placed a hand on hers. "You miss her, don't you? "
  She looked away to hide the tears. "I don't know. How can I miss someone I never knew? But I would
 like to see her, just once, cause I have lots of things to ask her." Why did she marry Father?
 She must have a been so perfect then. He likes things that are perfect, you know. Not like me.
 If she were alive, maybe she could tell me how... "Oh!" There was a nestling  caught in some
 branches of the tree that grew near the veranda. "Poor thing! I'll try to help it. "
"Be careful, "Amethyst cautioned as Opal stepped onto the railing.

  "So what do you think?" Hokuto asked Fau on the other end of the veranda as the latter played
his violin.
  "She seems like a nice girl. Normal. Sane."
  "She is a little problematic sometimes. " He shrugged. "Oh, what the heck. Miyata would
never approve. She's too young. I know him ; he sets high standards for everyone and everything."

  "So? You're this bright doctor who's a leading researcher in bionics and medicine, and you are
still quite young to have received an award from the Legion in your profession, " Fau interjected. "
In short, you're a perfect candidate in Miyata's view."

"I really don't know what to think."

  Fau adjusted the violin strings. "You want to know what I think? I think that's what he intended
to happen in the first place. I mean, she could have been loaded onto a plane packed with security
personnel, right? But no, he asked you to do him the favor of escorting his daughter, the Legion
Academy top grad, a Comp Tech genius who happens to have no ardent suitors, no boyfriends or 
fianceés whatsoever. Besides, you told me once that Miyata always acts with purpose.

"You mean he set me up?"

But his companion never got to answer, for just then Amethyst's and Opal's mingled screams pierced
 the air.