"You busy now? Check this out," he texted, indicating the pic he had just taken.

And that was when Garnet appeared at the door.

Niles clicked the "send" button, put his phone back into his pocket, and waved at her with a smile.

"Hi, Garnet. Come by to visit Wesley?"

Garnet nodded.

"Yeah."

“Wait. How did you... Oh, that's right! You transferred to the base in

Alorith, huh?" His family talked about helping Garnet get a transfer to

Alorith, so Niles naturally knew a bit about it.

“Mmm hmm. Your brother helped a lot." Garnet cast a grateful glance at the man in the bed.

Niles whistled at his brother, came over and flashed a goofy smile.

“He's a piece of work. With his contacts and reputation, it was a piece of cake to get you deployed here. Right, Wesley?" He tried to lick his brother's boots because he was afraid of being found out.

Wesley, however, didn't buy it. With a deadpan face, he spat, “Your phone."

"Huh?" Niles panicked. 'I guess he knows. Am I that obvious?’ he mused.

Garnet couldn't help giggling.

"Niles, you forgot to turn off your flashlight," she reminded him kindly.

Niles was dumbstruck. ‘What? I was such an idiot!’ he cursed himself inwardly.

Putting on a fake smile, Niles hummed and hawed over an excuse.

"I guess I must have accidentally turned that on. Silly me—"

“Your phone! Now!" Wesley repeated in a cold voice.

Left with no choice, Niles took his phone from his pocket, quickly trying to delete his text to Blair before giving up his cell. Wesley realized his attempt at subterfuge.

“Just hand it over. If you touch it one more time, I'll draft you. You'll be under my command at that point, and I'll make you work out till you drop."

‘Till I drop? Every day? My God! I'm so dead.*

Niles shivered at the thought. Resignedly, he held the phone in his cupped hands and offered it to Wesley.

When Wesley took the phone from him, it just happened to buzz. It was