Erin Rios POV

Escort Duty Sucks. Because it was my life that was saved, and it cost the poor kid his manhood, not that he seemed to care, I must serve as Escort and Guide for the next week, to and from school, and to the military classes. The Academy is Actually just a regular school, for the most part... the few military classes aren't divided by grade, so Thats three hours per day, plus an hour round trip, that i have to babysit. 

To make things worse, the kids Fuckin Cheery. One of the other two, A boy named Court, Is traveling with us to learn from the logistics and tactics team, and was amazed by just how cheerful the kid is.

"Lexi was never this way before... I guess she really was suffering... " He hugged the kid close. "Sorry i didn't notice, Lexi."

"Its Fine, Court! I hid it well. In fact... It WASN'T always painful... because i had Mama... "

That interested me. What could he mean by that. I spoke up. "Mind sharing the story with someone unrelated?"

The kid smiled... Damn thats cute. "I don't mind! Its not a secret. You see, my Mama was sick... Having me made her worse, and Papa let her name me whatever she wanted. Mama didn't want to pick two different names, so she chose one that works either way. It started when i was small, Mama found me playing with a hair ribbon... I'd apparently seen a girl in preschool with one, and was trying to make my hair look pretty. So Mama decided that, if i wanted to be pretty, i coukd wear girls things at home...  Papa didn't like it at first, but Mama enjoyed seeing me dressed that way..."

"So when did you start hating being male? Don't look so shocked, i saw the look on your face when you were told what happened."

"I was 7... I didn't understand why I had to wear the rough, uncomfortable boy clothes to school... And convinced Mama to at least let me keep my underwear the same... Another boy found out, and they beat me up... So i started completely hiding my real self... I still got beat up, almost daily...  but i kept my secret... Every day, before school, I'd look in the mirror and feel sick... But i dealt with it... I finally told Mama when i was 9, and she said we'd do something about it once i was an adult, If i still felt that way... A few weeks later, two days before my tenth birthday, Mama Was gone... After a year, Papa Said he was getting married again, and I'd have an older brother. i wanted to hate them, but i couldn't... And then the way she held the wedding, I got to wear a pretty dress, and hold Mama's Picture, so Mama was in the Maid of honor position... Nobody there knew i was a boy, except My family... So I really cared about my new mom... And i got a cool brother, who even helped me out a lot with the bullies... and other things. And now, i get the be the real me, and go to school in a skirt, and wear makeup, and have long hair... i... I'm just so HAPPY! And ive got someone who needs me."

"About that... Whats it like? Hearing your units Voice? My unit, 01: Alpha has no voice. I have an A.I. assistant named Maevis who functions as a translator..."

"Oh... Its like... Like she's always been there... its not like hearing a voice, its like a thought you didn't think pops into your head... and you FEEL it, the connection... And... Y'know that feeling when you bite into a REALLY good Cheesecake, with whipped cream and Raspberries? That same feeling of bliss."

"WOW!" I did know that feeling.

"Damn, Lexi. You know describing Levi's Cheesecake makes me hungry. Wonder if he'll make us one."