Bianca smiled because she was not the only one getting more intimate with the Rhimodian soldiers. But just looking at Wrathin, he seemed like someone who would enjoy tangling up with Veta.
She hoped they were happy together.
It only made Bianca more concerned about the girls, though. Where had they wound up? Were the environments equally as stressful? Hopefully, they were safe too.
"Do you think they're together?" she asked.
Veta shrugged. "Maybe. I didn't get to see which direction the pods went. Mine was nearly blasted to bits, and I was just trying to land it."
"I helped," Wrathin said.
She sighed. "Yeah, I guess." She winked at Bianca.
Bianca raised her eyebrow. "You seem to be enjoying this far too much."
"I'm not enjoying the problems. I'm enjoying doing things again. No offense, but following you all around sometimes was so exhausting. All the protocols and the rules were endless amounts of boredom." Then, finally, they came around a corner, and a ship sat there, boxy and square. It resembled the transport she'd ridden over to the Rhimodian main world before the negotiations when she first met Harbin.
On a smaller scale.
Regardless of the simple lines, all Bianca could think about was getting warm. Her feet were turning into ice cubes, as were her hands, even if she had them tucked into her clothing.
"There has to be a new provision in the clothing, something that will be more insulating and weather protecting," Bianca muttered.
"You cannot prepare for everything," Harbin said. Where he'd appeared from, she didn't know--he'd just been up ahead with Wrathin, talking guy talk--aka, telling each other the details of what they experienced.
She never saw him come back to her side.
"Still, I can try."
"One cannot. I am a cyborg. My brain has machine enhancements. Functions make my logic move far faster than any humanoid's brain, and I did not come up with this scenario. You cannot be prepared all the time."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
He grinned.
They were finally at the craft's entrance.
Wrathin opened the transport. "Welcome."
They climbed in and got seated. Bianca had never been so happy about climate control in her life. Her feet felt like they were going to fall off; she was so cold. There were simple rows for people to sit while the ship moved, and in the front were two pilot seats. Veta and Wrathin went up there.
Harbin immediately headed to the first seats behind them.
"This is brilliant," Bianca said, the warmth feeling so incredible. "I might go stand on one of the volcano's edges just to warm up when we get to Sol-3."
Harbin smiled. "Be careful you don't fall in."
"I would have never thought I'd be excited to see that sulfur-smelling place again."
"You don't like Sol-3?" Harbin asked.
"Right now, I'm thrilled to go there. There is no ice there."
Veta smirked. "Well, we should be able to get you there pretty fast."
"The stars are clear. There are not a lot of ships up there now."
"No, they're all on planets," Veta muttered.
