After the incident with the three Neanderthal STS Agents in which Luc saved Viviane from an embarrassing situation at best, she, Luc and Kylian waited at the High School security checkpoint to cross into the grounds of the High School. Unable to save Viviane from the catcalling Agents, Kylian remained quiet, shoulders slumped, not saying anything and not looking at anything either save, perhaps, his shoes, which weren’t much to look at, but better than letting anyone see the disappointment on his face.

Luc explained to Viviane, “Those idiots who bothered you are new recruits. They don’t know how things work around here yet, but they will soon and they’ll shape up. I’ll go and have a word with their unit commander about professionalism while in uniform. They shouldn’t bother you again.”

“Thank you for getting me and Kylian out of that situation. That’s not the kind of attention I like getting!”

Kylian pretended not to hear any of Luc and Viviane’s conversation. He kept his head down and stepped over to the checkpoint Agent and started to empty his pockets and to remove his belt and shoes expecting to be groped again by the TKD 2000 automated body search robot while Viviane and Luc passed through with ease. But before he got too far along with inspection, Luc stepped over and spoke with the STS Agent on duty.

“The guy is with me and I can vouch for him. He’s harmless,” said Luc and then he turned to Kylian, “Hey Bouche-baby, you can skip inspection this time and just come through with me.”

Bouche-baby? thought Kylian. That was an odd-nickname Luc had given him, but he did not mention that to Luc. Instead, he expressed his gratitude for not having to face the TKD 2000 again.

“Oh, OK. Thanks for doing that for me, Luc.”

All three passed through the checkpoint without pain, humiliation or manhandling…this time.

On the other side of the checkpoint, the minor children of the researchers, scientists and employees of the National Laboratory went to school under the protection of the STS, the special branch of the military assigned to guard the UEN’s technological secrets. Kylian, still weak and emasculated, dragged behind Luc and Viviane with his hands pushed into his pants pockets. Viviane could not help but notice Kylian looking dejected and she knew it was because he tried and failed at her request. She did not want him to feel like a complete loser since he did not deserve it and because he had tried so hard. She waited for him to catch up to her.

When he caught up, she put her hand up to shield her mouth, but she grinned and whispered to him, “Kylian? Thank you, too. I know my little plan didn’t work, but you played along with it. I should have listened to you in the first place when you said not to tangle with the authorities.”

“You don’t think I’m a total loser?”

“No, of course not! Unfortunately, I receive a lot of unwanted attention like that. If anything, it’s because of the way I look that brought trouble to you.”

For the first time since he met her, Kylian realized that Viviane blamed her beauty and attractiveness for some of the problems she faced in her life. He never imagined before that being pretty might be troublesome for a girl as much as it might be beneficial. Having realized this fact, he found new admiration for Viviane and this made Kylian all the fonder of her.

“I’ll cheer up a bit if you stop feeling sorry for me,” offered Kylian.

“Deal!” said Viviane.

Upon hearing his deal accepted, Kylian’s self-pity melted away just enough, but not entirely, so he could feel like his normal, insecure, awkward self again.

As the party of three came up from the checkpoint to the High School, two teenage girls spotted Viviane and rushed over to greet her. It was Anaelle and Marielle, the 15-year old, identical twin daughters of Dr. Leandre Renard. They ran up to Viviane full of joy and smiles.

“Hiiiiiii Viviane!” they called out. They were always happy when Viviane visited them.

“Hi Anaelle! Hi Marielle!” Viviane responded. Even though Viviane was nine years older than the twins, she still felt a special connection to them and it made her happy to see them, too.

“Thank you for coming to visit us again,” said the twins with uncanny synchronicity.

“What news do you bring us?” asked Anaelle, eager to get started.

“Yes, what news? We want to know everything,” an equally eager Marielle finished.

Now that the twins and Viviane started chatting together, the men disappeared from their field of vision. The girls forgot about them as they drifted off to a lunch table nearby where they sat and talked about whatever topics teenagers happened to be desperately fixated with, undoubtedly to change by tomorrow. Kylian and Luc realized that they did not belong in the middle of this conversation for women, so they found a shady patch of grass for themselves away from the girls to talk about manly topics, namely women.

Luc broached the topic first. “Bouche-baby! So, I get the sense that you like this girl Viviane, huh?”

Kylian did not like this new nickname. “So what’s it to you if I do? And why’d you start calling me ‘Bouche-baby’?”

“Well, it looked like you were about to cry like a baby back there when I shut down those three new recruits from harassing Viviane.”

“Yeah, well, I’m trying to forget about that whole incident, OK? Maybe you can help?”

“Sure, whatever you want.”

“Stop calling me ‘Bouche-baby’ for starters!” Kylian glared back at Luc.

Luc put his hands up hoping to de-escalate Kylian’s annoyance. “What? You don’t like it? But it’s such a great nickname for you! Bouche-baby, Bouche-baby, Bouche-baby. Hear that? Got a great sound to it!” Luc chuckled at his own sense of humor.

“Argh! Just STOP it! OK?” Kylian burned with annoyance at Luc.

Luc decided he had had enough fun at Kylian’s expense. “Alright, geez! Touchy aren’t we today? Must be because you couldn’t save your girlfriend from a bunch of new recruits hitting on her.”

“Now, hold on,” argued Kylian. “Those guys might be new recruits to you, but they had guns and they have police authority. I was seriously thinking that if things didn’t go well, I’d be in handcuffs and on my way to jail.”

“Nah, those guys are nothing more than overgrown teenagers.” Luc brushed off Kylian’s fear of incarceration. “You gotta know how to handle these guys.”

“Easy for you say,” countered Kylian. “You’re one of them!”

“Well, yes. Being a member of the STS force does have its perks,” admitted Luc. “Here, let’s make peace. I’ll stop calling you ‘Bouche-baby’ and you leave Viviane to me.” Luc pointed his thumb at himself. He must have liked the deal he was offering because when he smiled, he teeth sparkled. Kylian, on the other hand, was not fooled by this supposed win-win deal.

“Forget it!”

“Suit yourself, Bouche-baby. Ya hear that? Bouche-baby! Bouche-baby! Bouche-baby!”

“Aaaagh!” Kylian covered his ears with his hands and staggered away. Where did he go? It did not matter.