Chapter 11

Kazlaena and Pri waited in the crew airlock of the hangar bay, wearing their jackets for warmth. Pri wore a brown jacket with some artificial fur around the collar while Kazlaena wore a light blue one with several ‘bad bots’ patches sewn over the pockets. The trip to and through the Rockpig would have areas they’d need to pass through that were not well heated, making an extra layer a necessity. They sat watching the light panel intently as the Sumpter model cargo hauler completed its docking procedure. Sumpters were the most common hauler in the employ of the League; good handling, durability and a modular cargo bay that could fit passenger modules, bulk freight, liquid cargo or fragile and precious cargo modules. The Sumpter was a blocky craft that did away with any elegant designs in favor of maximum volume. It held the pilot’s seat at the front in a small, protected compartment like a beak. The Astral Feather had a Sumpter model for use in shore leave or ship to ship conveyance. The Rockpig had several Sumpters, along with a pair of the larger, similarly designed Jument model hauler.

The Sumpter from the Rockpig came to a rest on deployed landing gear, four large rubber tracks that took the weight of the ship and cargo with ease. The Sumpter rolled forward to the center of the hangar and spun 180 degrees, dropping a ramp once the green industrial light began spinning, which signaling a pressurized space with optimal atmosphere. The door to the crew airlock unlocked automatically and Kazlaena shouldered a small blue pack with several doodads hanging from it. One was a little krite figurine, a big triangle eared cat like creature often kept as a domestic pet in the League. She also had a couple of ‘bad bot’ figures, one large and squat, the other tall and narrow, both wielding ridiculous weaponry. Kazlaena and Pri passed through the door and into the hangar, waving at the two crew from the Rockpig as they walked down the ramp. They were dressed in orange coveralls with hard hats that sported several hoses and attachments. These included a headlamp, illum strip, water and oxygen line to two small tanks on belts and confined space monitors and gas detectors that were small and lightweight but necessary on industrial vessels in space.

“Ello lil Kazo.” One of them, bearing a red strip on her hardhat that marked her as the pilot, said as she threw Kazlaena a high five.

“Awesome, I am awesome,” Kazlaena said back quickly. “I sall soon be even more awesome.”

“Pri, correct?” The pilot spoke to Pri next.

“Correct,” Pri bowed her head.

“Good. I hate when I can’t remember names. Good to see you. Been quite a while yeah?”

“Correct,” Pri nodded. “More than half year’s passing.”

“Heya Kaz, Pri.” The other bumped fists with Kazlaena and motioned to the side of the ramp. “Give us about five minutes to offload cargo and then we’ll get you seated for the trip.”

“Yes sir, will do.” Kazlaena playfully saluted and stepped aside as her tail flickered excitedly with Pri standing patiently beside her.

“Eeee!!!” Kazlaena looked up at Pri with bright eyes. “So many funs to be ‘ad.”

Pri smiled and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

The two crew members off-loaded two large pallets of iron sheets in various sizes with a heavy pallet jack. They then unloaded another small pallet of various refined minerals like spooled copper wire and twenty-five-pound ingots of aluminum and titanium. This pallet also had small iron rods and boxes of a variety of refined mineral shards and flakes for the science team. Spurius had directed them to an empty hangar bay where the cargo was delivered, then signed off on the data pad he was handed, making it all legitimate.

“Heh,” Spurius grinned at them “Don’t take over the ship while you’re over there, eh?”

“No promise.” Pri winked at him.

“Haha, well, have a good time.” Spurius bumped her arm and she bowed her head to him.

When she did so, he brushed her feathers with his left hand, then acted like he was wiping grease off on his clothing with his greasy right hand.

“Oh, sorry bout the feathers there.”

“What!?” Pri reached up to check her feathers, feeling no grease.

“Heh, only kiddin Pri-ster,” Spurius winked and walked over to the delivered pallets.

“Did he...” Pri pulled out her commpad and did her best to check her feathers over with the self-photo screen.

“Sey are ok.” Kazlaena patted Pri’s hip, then stuck her tongue out at Spurius when he looked over.

A moment later, Pri followed suit, sticking her tongue out too and Spurius walked away laughing.

“Alrighty Kaz, Pri, we ready to roll outta here.” The pilot summoned them up into the cargo hold of the Sumpter and bid them to follow to the front. “We have a couple of mother-in-law seats in the cockpit. We’ll set you two up with those so you can get a good view of space as we travel back to the Pig, ok?”

“More san ok,” Kazlaena clasped her hands together and let out a squeak as she followed the pilot into the cockpit. She watched as a seat was folded out from the wall behind the copilot’s seat and locked into a secure position. Next, she was handed a temporary void suit and slipped it on before being handed an adjustable helmet that could fit the different anatomy of her head. The pilot helped her fasten the helmet to her void suit and then connected an O2 supply to the helmet. She then set the small, satchel with the O2 tank over one of Kazlaena’s shoulders and rechecked everything over. Pri received the same treatment after the pilot was done with Kazlaena, donning a temp suit and an adjustable helmet with an oxygen satchel.

“Alrighty, Kazo, Pri, you’re both good to go.”

Kazlaena took a seat and used locking carabiners beneath her seat to secure her bag while Pri sat across the cockpit from her, facing her. The pilot of the Sumpter then pulled out several retractable buckles from the wall that clasped together as a five-point harness over both their chests.

“Comfortable?” The pilot asked and nodded when Kazlaena and Pri gave a thumbs up.

She smiled back and bumped the top of Kazlaena’s shoulder a couple of times gently with her fist. The co-pilot stepped aboard after a moment’s discussion with Spurius and dropped the digital clipboard into its holder in the cargo bay. He slipped into a void suit of his own and secured it to his helmet, opening the oxygen before bumping fists with Kazlaena and a little awkwardly with Pri, then slid into the copilot’s seat. Meanwhile the pilot donned her own void suit and did a once over of the craft’s interior. She then closed the cargo ramp and made sure the interior of the Sumpter was airtight and pressurized. Then she took her seat. Kazlaena and Pri heard a faint crackle in their helmets as the pilot’s voice came through.

“Alright, electronics are green. Structure is showing one hundred percent integrity. No atmospheric leaks or faulty seals. Everyone’s ppe is in order. Ship is ready for zero atmosphere and zero grav.”

“Ship ready for departure,” The copilot said over the comm and Kazlaena heard Spurius reply.

“Hangar atmosphere dropping, artificial gravity maintaining one hundred percent until you start up. Atmosphere at twenty ... ten ... zero percent.”

“Stand by for startup,” The copilot said.

The pilot tapped a display screen. “Startup initiated, all systems are go.” Then she flipped a pair of switches on the central console. “Thrusters open, parking brake off, rolling to airlock now.”

As they rolled forward, they felt the slight drop in artificial gravity to help aid the ship in moving as the large inner hangar door split in the middle and parted sideways.

“Outer door opening, your departure is clear.” Spurius gave them the go ahead to depart the ship.

As they entered the hangar airlock, the outer door slid away and exposed them to the void outside the vessel. The Sumpter pilot allowed the ship to roll off the end of the hangar bay and float into space before retracting the landing gear. Kazlaena let out a little gleeful squeak as she felt the sudden weightlessness and looked out into the empty void around them. Using the compressed air thrusters to give a short burst of momentum away from the Astral Feather, the Sumpter then switched to ion drives to provide vector control and momentum over to the Rockpig. Within a couple of minutes, they were preparing to dock as the pilot spoke to one of the Rockpig’s traffic controllers. Kazlaena saw the great ship taking up most of the view outside the Sumpter cockpit and became excited.

“We only a few moments away.” The co-pilot turned and said to them, “Just stay with us for the usual routine.”

“I will, I will,” Kazlaena promised. “Eeeeee!” The pilot laughed quietly, and the co-pilot bit his lower lip slightly as he smiled

The pilot then gave Pri a thumbs up and Pri returned the gesture. They passed through the large outer door of the Rockpig’s hangar bay and came to a stop as the outer door began to close and a middle door began to open. Unlike the Astral Feather’s dual doors and required manipulation of atmosphere, the Rockpig had three doors in the airlock. The first was a standard, armored outer door. The central door and the inner door aided in preserving a safe working environment for the hangar bay by ensuring that, as a vessel entered or left, there were always two doors protecting against the void. This allowed for continued maintenance and interaction with the supporting fleet as ships came and went. Drones had their own, automated hangar with little human presence outside of controllers. Vast freight ships and the geoship docked in another bay that was always exposed to the void, utilizing gantries and berths to handle cargo processing.

As they finally passed through the inner most door and moved to a vacant bay, Kazlaena noted just how many vessels were on board. Nearly a dozen mining vessels were in the process of being prepared to begin mining the asteroid belt. She saw a pair of Sumpters on the opposite side of the hangar bay undergoing maintenance, along with a small, flat looking vessel with what appeared to be several solar panels on its wings.

“Wat sat sip?” She pointed at the strange vessel.

“Prototype energy collector. Captain Valeria’s looking into investing in the stored energy market. Send that lil thing out to deploy panels to charge batteries off the sun’s emissions, then sell the charged batts to an energy firm.” The copilot answered her. “Stored energy and batteries are a massive market in the void and on many worlds where infrastructure is hard to build. Ships can’t always rely on solar power being available at the snap of a finger. A couple of batteries with some charge can do wonders in emergency situations.”

“Sats pretty neat,” Kazlaena noted. “Valeria is always trying out sa new sings.”

“That’s good,” The pilot said as they came to a stop in the bay and the parking brakes were applied. “I wanna be a part of this venture until I retire.”

“Alright Kaz, Pri,” The copilot slipped out of the seat. “Let’s go get you two ship shape and get you up to the captain.”

Kazlaena wiggled her hips in acknowledgement while Pri grinned at the spectacle. Kazlaena followed, holding Pri’s hand as they dropped the rear ramp and were approached by a couple of hangar crew. As others set chocks around the Sumpter’s tracks, a couple of crew also worked on strapping the craft to the hangar deck. Kazlaena heard the brief conversation between the crew as they confirmed the Sumpter was powered down and secure.

A good fifteen minutes later and a ride requiring a lateral tram first and then a vertical lift, Kazlaena and Pri both stepped onto the bridge of the Rockpig. Unlike the cramped confines of the Astral Feather’s bridge, the bridge of the Rockpig was massive. The most apparent notable difference was the large, thick transparent view panels that gave a full view of the ship in any direction. With so much traffic and the size of the vessel itself, a lot of visual control was needed. Along with crew stations like those aboard the Astral Feather, the Rockpig had several traffic control stations, processor monitoring stations, point defense and drone control centers, incoming and outgoing cargo posts, control stations for large solar arrays and extreme range sensor stations that could detect incoming dangerous debris. There were as many crew members on the Rockpig’s bridge as the entire complement of the Astral Feather. Along with several Terrans from various home worlds were several other species, not unlike the Feather. There was a pair of Djardunsa working traffic control, a Cordavain, no less than four Praeminians and a long lived, non-shelled, turtle-like Roun-Roun, all working various consoles.

“Kazzie!” Valeria stood up from her station and moved quickly to Kazlaena.

“Vallie, eeeeee!” Kazlaena darted to her and embraced her tightly.

“Ya bein’ good to yerself?” Valeria shook her gently.

“I am, I broke my bank sough,” Kazlaena laughed. “Too many sings to buy.”

“Ah, haha, always is.” Valeria released her grasp and looked at Pri. “Really glad you decided to come over hon.” She walked up to Pri and took her in a hug, lifting the Sezar off her feet for a moment.

The Praeminians looked over curiously, one grinning with a bit of amusement before he focused back on his console.

“Uh, gratitude for extending invitation.” Pri regained her composure as she was set back down.

“You’re always welcome round here, sweetie.” Valeria bumped her chest lightly and Pri felt a little bit of embarrassment at the remark.

To be called sweetie was not something she expected to hear when she thought of her appearance. It certainly suited Kazlaena and her race, as well as some Terrans and most herbivorous races easily enough. Those of reptilian ancestry rarely experienced such a term of endearment, Sezars usually least of all with their martial stereotype. Pri knew Valeria well enough though to know it was genuine. Even with her scaly face, long snout with sharp teeth, and large three toed feet equipped with claws, she knew Valeria tended to see the value of the person inside.

“I got just a few things to finish up here, then we’ll get this mischief underway, sound agreeable?” Valeria asked them and they nodded.

Kazlaena coyly slid a datachip case partially from her pack.

“Aha,” Valeria grinned. “Here’s the keycard to my retreat eh, you go make yerselves at home would ya. I’ll be down briefly.”

“Will do,” Kazlaena took the card. “Got sa few snackies in ere too. I will ‘ave all sa snacks out and ready for when you can come.”

Valeria smiled as Kazlaena and Pri headed out of the bridge and down the hall towards her quarters.

Valeria’s quarters aboard the Rockpig were bigger than Lucinia’s, but not by a large margin. By the door there was a coat rack and a place to store footwear. To the left the quarters opened into a large common area with a massive vidscreen, a pair of couches and a recliner that all sat semi-circular to the vidscreen. Valeria had a plexiglass shelving unit along the outer wall of the common area, full of ornaments, rock geodes, digital photos and trinkets. Along the right wall there was a galley kitchen, cupboards, a pantry and a breakfast table with a couple of chairs. One of the chairs was full of paperwork and half slid under the table. Beyond the kitchen/common area was a door that led into Valeria’s sleeping quarters with its own attached restroom and walk-in closet.

“Are you ‘appy you came over?” Kazlaena asked Pri and saw her nod.

“Gratitude for invitation.” Pri smiled.

“Um, I always ‘esitated wis you cause I wasn’t sure you’d always want to do sis stuff. I know you like your alone time. I just don’t like to sink you enjoy being alone. I, sorry if sat’s um...”

“No need for concerned thought.” Pri began to remove her boots while Kazlaena slipped out of her shoes and hung her coat up. “This is step in right direction.”

Kazlaena took Pri’s coat with a smile, set it on the coat rack, then took her backpack and brought it into the common area. Pri watched as Kazlaena seemed to know her way around the galley kitchen, finding a couple of plastic bowls and a couple of platters for all the snacks. Valeria’s stash was on the counter and Kazlaena brought that over too, looking over the sheer number of junk food items they had at their disposal.

“Um, does Pri eat sa junk food?” Kazlaena asked as she opened a bag of chips.

“Current offering is not preferred indulgence.” Pri said as she looked over a box of cookies.

“Um, ‘ave you ‘ad many of sese sings?”

“No.” Pri shook her head and handed the box over to Kazlaena.

“Um, well, try sis.” She offered a chocolate cookie and Pri took it, looking it over for a moment.

She set the cookie in her mouth and bit down cautiously, almost expecting something to happen. Kazlaena gave her a bit of a grin as she nodded, finding the cookie agreeable.

“‘ow ‘ave you never ‘ad any junk foods?” Kazlaena patted at her stomach a couple of times, causing Pri to tense up with a bit of a laugh.

“Cultural teaching frowns on food that is consumed without purpose.” Pri took a large chip next. “Culture may have missed out gravely.” She set the chip in her mouth and crunched down, nodding with approval.

“Sose are Haswik flavor, made wis tubers,” She tried one herself. “Sa Terrans call sem potato sips.”

“Haswik herb has surprising taste upon baked tuber slice!” Pri remarked.

“Yes,” Kazlaena nodded. “Sise one is sa barbacue, old Terran flavor.”

Pri took the chip and tried it, eyes widening when the taste hit her tongue. “Very agreeable.” She nodded.

“Sese are popping candies,” Kazlaena gave Pri a couple of candies, and she set them in her mouth, feeling them pop on her tongue.

“Ah, ach, pop, what? Pop What is this? pop.” Pri looked at Kazleana with concern but saw the Vandean giggling.

“Sey just fun candies, see?” Kazlaena dumped several in her mouth and felt them start popping. “Eh, pop mleh pop, ah, oops, pop sat was too many, pop, pop, pop.” She gritted her teeth as the candies popped off relentlessly.

Pri felt the popping in her own mouth stop but watched Kazlaena with some concern as the Vandean looked up at her wide eyed while the candies continued to pop off.

“Ow,” Kazlaena felt a large pop against one tooth. “Um, want some more?”

Pri shook her head and held her hands up. “Certainly not!”

“Um, ok, sere are some oser sings ‘ere.” Kazlaena held out a bowl with some gummies, which Pro found troublesome as they sank on her sharp teeth and got stuck.

“Forgive Deportment.” Pri said as she turned away and picked at a couple she couldn’t force loose with her tongue.

“Um, maybe sey not so good.” Kazlaena scratched her chin. “Oh! I know!” She took out a small rectangle packet and pulled plastic wrap off.

Pri watched as she went over to a microwave and popped the packet in, then turned the appliance on. A few moments later it began popping and Pri knew what she was making.

“Terran popped corn?” Pri said as she walked up beside Kazlaena.

“Yes, um, you ‘ave ‘ad?”

“No,” Pri shook her head. “But have seen crew make it.”

“Well, sis can be for you, if you want. Try it out at least. Sere are oser sip flavors too.”

“Is intent to eat junk food to sickness?” Pri humored as Kazlaena gave her a wide grin.

“Um, maybe...”

“I must take caution,” Pri replied. “I am expected at meeting tonight upon return. Possibility of security team need is likely.”

“Aww ... Sat takes sa point away.” Kazlaena said as she opened the microwave.

She retrieved the steaming bag of popcorn and did her best to pour it into a bowl without burning herself from the heat.

“Sere, try some of sat.” She held the bowl out for Pri, who took a popped kernel.

“Hmm,” Pri nodded after she set the kernel in her mouth and chewed down. “Agreeable.”

“‘ere, ‘ave sis,” Kazlaena gave her the bowl and Pri took it gratefully. “Ok, Vallie sould be ‘ere soon, we can talk until see arrives. Let’s go sit.”

Pri followed Kazlaena back to one of the couches and sat down as the Vandean went after the box of popping candies. She sat down beside Pri, nestling up against the Sezars side before dumping several of the candies in her mouth and letting them pop. A particularly loud pop made her look up at Pri with a surprised grin, causing Pri to fall into laughter.

“Little one sure likes explosive candy.” Pri wrapped an arm around her.

“Sey pop are so pop fun,” Kazlaena giggled, then offered the candies to Pri jokingly, receiving a shake of the head in response.

She leaned forward once the popping had stopped and took a chocolate cookie.

“Sose are kind of big claws on sa feet, Pri.” Kazlaena said as she looked over Pri’s three toed feet. “Are sey uncomfortable?”

“Can be pain if sleeping under blanket,” Pri replied. “Turning or rolling can yield new holes in fabric.”

“Ah no,” Kazlaena looked at her with a bit of pity. “I always file sa claws down. File and file ... file, file, file, so mus filing, mainly on sa feet. On sa fingers, sa claws get worn down enouse wis sa daily work.”

“You prefer to wear sockings?” Pri asked, noting Kazlaena’s socks

“Um, yes. Wis sa filed down claws sa sockings last. I see you ‘ave taken sa ends off your sockings?”

“Correct,” Pri nodded. “Whether by hand or claw, end of socking will find itself torn to large opening.”

“Are sey uncomfortable?” Kazlaena tilted her head to one side.

“Less so than several holes,” Pri replied. “Thought failed to bring sandals.”

“Sat would ‘ave been good,” Kazlaena nodded. “I sould ‘ave too.”

Just as Kazleana dropped more popping candy in her mouth, the door opened and Valeria stepped in, brandishing a plastic dart gun that was levelled at them.

“Right then lasses, this is a stickup, ye best get to steppin over yonder to them there dart guns and eyewear in the corner there before I fill yas full of soft plastic.” She gave them a squinted stare.

“EEEEkkkk!!!” Kazlaena hopped up and threw on a pair of goggles, making her look ridiculous.

Pri was slow to rise, not sure what was going on and looking confused as Kazlaena jammed a set of goggles and a plastic dart gun in her hands, before taking aim with her own.

“Um, sese ‘ere parts aint used to, um, sa likes of you, outlaw Rocky Stoneater,” Kazlaena looked up at Pri, who was still yet to put her eyewear on. “Sa, back me up ‘ere, please.”

Pri was unsure of what she was doing, but went with it anyway, putting on the eyewear that made her look even more silly than Kazlaena.

“Sherrif Starseeker, ah see there you wrestled up yerself a deputy. Maybe this time ya got what ya need to take me down.”

“Sat’s right, outlaw, I ‘ave ‘ere, um...” She looked up at Pri for a second. “Sis is deputy Kind’eart. See may be yer only um, sance to surrender safely, so give up.”

“Never,” Valeria cocked the lever on her toy gun. “Best we get to dancin’ with our irons ‘ere.” Valeria fired off a shot between them, before cycling another round.

“Yeek!” Kazlaena jumped back, then fired off a shot from her gun, missing Valeria wildly.

Pri looked over the gun for a second, then shouldered it and aimed at Valeria. With a bit of a sharp breath in, she spoke, trying to mix their accents with her own.

“Poor intent ... that there was, firin between boss ... and myself. Duty predicts this ‘ere meetin be endin ... bad, for outlaw of the rocks...” She grinned momentarily before firing at Valeria, making her duck behind a couch.

“Ya got good aim there kid,” Valeria said, “let’s see how ya handle a six shooter.” She came over the couch and fired off several darts one handed from a revolver.

For a frantic couple of minutes, they fired darts back and forth, picking up ammo off the floor to keep themselves in the game. Pri and Kazlaena finally managed to get Valeria pinned and Pri whispered quickly in Kazlaena’s ear, making her giggle almost uncontrollably.

“I reckon we call it a draw?” Valeria offered a parley.

A couple of seconds later, she saw Kazlaena over the edge of the couch, looking down at her with a dart gun at the ready.

“‘Allo,” Kazlaena said, giggling as she squirmed in Pri’s hands.

“Ach, ya got me,” Valeria dropped her dart guns and stood up, seeing Pri holding the Vandean up and over most of the couch, causing all three to laugh pretty good.

“Let us see ‘ow long it takes you to escape sis time, outlaw.” Kazlaena grinned and Pri set her down.

“I reckon not long,” Valeria winked and Kazlaena rushed up to her, giving her a big hug. “I missed ya, little Sherrif.”

“I, um, aah missed ya, outlaw,” Kazlaena let out a happy squeak as Valeria picked her up and shook her a moment.

She set Kazlaena down and looked at Pri, “Yer turn, lass.”

Pri grinned before hopping over the far couch, eyeing Valeria cautiously.

“Let’s get ‘er.” Kazlaena said as she went one way and Valeria went the other.

“Sina saqua pervun for Ahhhh,” Pri let out a laugh despite her best efforts to stifle it when Kazlaena latched on, giving Valeria time to round the other side and get her in a hug.

“We got ya,” Valeria winked.

Pri eyed her for a moment, then picked Kazlaena up in one arm and almost succeeded in picking up Valeria in the other.

“Stars you are a strong one,” Valeria laughed as Pri let them go. “Alright, shall we dive into that there vid?”

“Um, yes,” Kazlaena nodded.

“Right then, seat up ladies, I’ll be out in a couple minutes. Either of you eager for a pillow?”

“Yussss,” Kazlaena nodded.

“You takin the recliner Kazzie?”

“Um, yeee.” Kazlaena spoke, ending in a bit of a shriek.

“Heh, ok, Pri, you want a pillow? Ya got a whole couch to yerself, might as well get super comfy.”

“Gratitude.” Pri nodded her head and Valeria went into her sleeping area, emerging a moment later with a couple of pillows.

She handed one to Pri, who took it and set it beside her as Kazlaena rushed up and took the other one. As Valeria changed out of her work uniform, Kazlaena started up the vidscreen and popped the datachip from her case into a small media player. Though streaming services and rental applications were available on the various local Sys-nets, those that travelled the void, or worked far from entertainment relay hubs, still needed a means to access media. Small datachips with one or more programs helped fill that lack of access.

As Valeria stepped back out, she headed over to the fridge and grabbed a wine cooler for herself, then looked over her shoulder.

“What libation be yer particular poisons, ladies?”

“What?” Kazlaena sat up and looked over. “Drink poison?”

“Haha no, lil lady, what would you like to drink? I have Lemon lime wine coolers, Citrona, Creamo Gleamos, uhh, water if you’d rather?”

“Gleamo, Gleamo,” Kazlaena said excitedly, “Pweeassse,” She gave Valeria a dopey expression.

“Aight, one Gleamo for the Vando, how about the Pri?”

“Citrona, if I may.” Pri said and Valeria brought their drinks over.

“No Cooler?” Valeria raised a brow as she handed Pri a can of the carbonated citrus beverage.

“Gratitude, but duty may call this eve. Must maintain readiness not dulled by spirits.”

“Fair enough,” Valeria smiled at her, then passed over the can of Gleamo to Kaz, who popped the top and was met by a blast of fizzy carbonation.

“EEEEKKK!!!” Kazlaena started sucking at the frothing can, trying to contain the contents.

“Ah! Sandy!” Valeria half scowled, half grinned as she rushed to get a towelette from the kitchen for Kazlaena.

“Sat was crazy...” Kazlaena paused for a moment, then let out a carbonated belch. “Um, sorry, sorry for sat and sa bad manners and um...” She covered her mouth, eyes wide with concern.

“Wasn’t you lass,” Valeria wiped the Vandean’s face. “Me n’ Sandy were watchin’ vids night before last. We play these jokes on each other all the time. You were a ... casualty in that, I suppose.”

“Um...” Kazlaena felt the unpleasant sticky feeling of the beverage in her facial fuzz and frowned.

“Go wash up,” Valeria sent her on her way to the restroom. “I’ll clean this up and check the other cans to find one that’s ok.”

Kazlaena sped off while Pri sat, looking at her can suspiciously. Valeria caught her concerned look after a moment and grinned.

“Here lass, lemme have it,” She took the can over to the sink and popped the top, hearing a quick fizz, then nothing. “All good in the hood.”

Kazlaena had her chair fully reclined and was surrounded by several containers of snacks. Valeria was laying across the length of the left couch, occasionally taking a drink from her cooler or eating a barbecue chip. Pri was still seated, pillow propped up beside her with her citrona can in hand and popcorn bowl beside her, still half uneaten. Her eyes fell over Kazlaena and Valeria for brief moments from time to time, seeing how much fun they were having with the movie. She could not understand why, though she found parts quite funny, she couldn’t quite unwind. She kept a guard up that she hated but just couldn’t let go.