"I told you," Danika said evasively.
"That, yes. Not the reason you wanted to join us in the brig."
"Hey! We're buds! I would've missed you guys."
Seth studied her suspiciously. "We are not 'buds'. I have the definition and we are not. We are teammates."
Danika shrugged. "Same thing."
Niles considered it. "No. He is right. The definition is not the same. I am not at all sure that I understand the definition of 'buds', but it does not match."
Danika eyed him crossly. "Close enough."
"But that is not the reason," Seth pursued.
"I don't know anybody else, ok?" Danika snapped.
Seth studied her thoughtfully for several moments. "It is not because one of the cyborgs tried to sex you?" he demanded suspiciously.
Danika felt her color fluctuate. "Why would you think that?"
"Because they are all horny," Dane said, nodding. "Seth has been noticing their dicks."
Seth slugged him. Since Dane had crouched beside the bunk, he sprawled out full length on the floor, slamming into Niles, who staggered back and hit the bars at the front of the cell hard enough to dent them outward.
"Pardon! He pushed!" Niles said, carefully straightening the bars when the guard glared at him. "Look what you made me do!" he added angrily, swatting Dane on the head with the flat of his hand as Dane sat up.
"Ow!" Dane growled, clambering to his feet and glaring angrily at both Niles and Seth. "What was that for?"
"I havenotbeen noticing their dicks!" Seth growled. "And I will beat the fuck out of you if you keep saying that!"
Dane gaped at him indignantly. "He said their dicks stood up and pointed at Danika whenever she walked by! Did he not say that, Niles?" he demanded.
"I did not hear that," Niles disputed after studying Seth warily for a moment.
"He was standing right beside you! How could you not hear that?"
"Shut up!" the guard bellowed. "If you three start roughhousing again I will summon another squad to beat you unconscious!"
Danika pulled the blanket over her head.
Seth grabbed it and snatched it out of her hands. "Why did you do that?"
"To hide," she snapped, glaring at him indignantly. "Can we change the subject?"
"You were not hidden," Dane pointed out. "I could see you."
"Yes, but I couldn't see you and that was the point. Let go of the damned cover, Seth!"
"You did not answer the question," Seth persisted.
"I don'trememberthe damned question!"
"You have forgotten already?" Dane asked, clearly surprised. "Seth asked if one of the others had tried to sex you."
"Thanks!" Danika snapped ungraciously.
"You are welcome," Dane responded, smiling.
