Life went on, as it does. Under Sergeant Hansen"s uniquely "caring" tutelage, David felt himself improving daily—mainly in the variety of ways he learned to take a beating, and how to land a solid hit on the sim enemies even when Being beaten makes me dizzy and disoriented. Miller remained his usual self, occasionally grumbling over the encrypted channel that the company"s synth-steaks tasted like "alien worm leather." As for Lieutenant Samantha, they maintained their unspoken "Pennsylvania Mutual aid relationship among fellow villagers," getting together occasionally when both had downtime and needed stress relief—no strings attached, just physical release. But everyone knew that in the Star Marines, especially in a mech assault company, stable days were like a calm moment within Jupiter"
