The confused marine tapped his earpiece and returned to his post outside the door, speaking to the colonel as it closed behind him.

Todd relaxed and looked to her. "Closer that time." he grunted, getting up and going to the bathroom. He washed the blood off then returned with a damp towel and a first aid kit he'd found under the sink.

He sat back down, setting the kit between them and holding out the towel to her. "What happened?" he asked. He still ached something fierce all over and a wave of exhaustion was sinking in, but they'd both been quicker than in the arena, ironically enough, so it wasn't as bad.