"That's because we've just got chaos here," Hughes pointed out. This sort of conversation was one he was used to having, after all. "There's no government, no system of rules or laws. I mean, we've got what Landel puts down, but he's not exactly a respected authority figure. We've got different factions that need to be on the same page, free agents like you said, people who've got no idea what they're doing, in-fighting...."

It was exactly like a prison. Stripped away of medical trappings, there was no difference between this place and any prison back home in Central.

"I'm supposed to meet with one of the other club leaders today, I think. Maybe we'll figure something out, I dunno. You wanna come?"

Celes had, without intending to Hughes imagined, somehow managed to get Hughes thinking of her as his own second in command.