He looked at Hemma and said, “What?”
“Yup.They let a five-year-old name you.”Chaos patted him on the shoulder.“She also named me.”
He looked at her.“Chaos?”
“Well, she named me ChaCha, but she was two at the time.I don’t know what they were thinking.”Chaos grinned.“In Aksalla, I am now Char.”
Hemma blinked.“Where are you working?”
“At Z-Corp.I am a barista in the lobby.”
Hemma smiled.“I will be walking past that kiosk on Monday.I am getting some repairs.”
Chaos sighed.“Oh, thank goodness.You are full of disconnected pathways.”
Hemma glared at her.“Quiet, or I will get a spray bottle and squirt you.”
Chaos laughed.
Zephyr smiled.“What we need is Breen to get the band back together.”
Ekbert blinked.“Band?”
“We were all chained in the same room so that any of us acting out would kill the other.”
Chaos sighed.“Or we would kill Hemma.They were very good at using hostages.”
Hemma shrugged.“I was entertaining.”
“That you were, bug.”Zephyr smiled.
Ekbert looked like his head was spinning.“Who is Breen?”
“Oh, she got out early.She was a kidnapping for genetic sampling.She lives in the capitol, and no one believes she isn’t an active.Her entire activity is mainly her appearance, and she’s a heavy-hitter.”
Hemma looked at her com and called Breen.It took a minute, and then Breen answered.“Hemma?Did Kes give you this number?”
“No, I have always had it.I just wanted to let you know that Chaos and Zephyr are in town, and we thought of you.”
Breen’s expression softened.“I am in the capitol right now.”
Zephyr grinned.“Give me the address.I can put you back in an hour.”
The address was given, and Breen was pulled into the yard.Ekbert stared, shook his head, and walked away.
They hugged and laughed and went inside to raid the fridge, and for one hour, they were just women who had been bonded by something that was so horrific, no one wanted to hear it, and here, they laughed about it.
They all got a plan together for the Uraddan party, Hemma made a list of people to call, and they all took some of the names and got to work.
Hemma smiled.This was what she had been missing.Working toward a goal.By the end of the afternoon, the party was set, and the permits were acquired and confirmed.Food trucks with Uraddan delicacies that the actives had been forbidden to eat were arranged, as well as standard Aksallan fare.
Licensed premises were arranged.An enormous screen was arranged, and a stunning sound system was going to be there.Security was booked, and it had to be actives.
Hemma smiled when Breen hugged her, and Chaos nodded before she left in a crackle.When Breen was home and it was just her and Zephyr, Hemma asked, “Wanna go grocery shopping?”
Zephyr grinned.“I haven’t done that in ages.Let’s go.”
They went to the garage, got into Keska’s daily driver, and backed out.In a few minutes, they were driving down the street and heading for Hemma’s favourite market.
