The next several days flew by. I put all the effort I could into learning. Exploring the compound of Utopia. To my surprise, Verisha accompanied me most every time I explored. On one occasion, we trekked into the war-ravaged section. Many of the corridors lay completely collapsed. So traversing them brought us outside the structure. The barren red of Mars lined the left side, and the endless ravine on the right. As Hairu said, there was little here.

I was less than observant as we made our way. Verisha kept touching my shoulder to point at things, and I would say the name of them. Then she would wander closer to investigate, leaving me to stumble along after. The attention tightened my chest, then loosened it to flutter like the rush of falling from an edge. I didn’t exactly know what to make of it. So, I often scolded myself too calm down.

During one of our searches, Verisha called to me. I dropped the remnants of a small vehicle replica and looked over her shoulder to see a framed photo. Two young women standing in front of an older couple. The background filled with a huge black spire of complex pipes and vents. I tapped the frame. “They’re at a sky cathedral. I’ve never been this close to one.” Verisha turned. I hadn’t realized our proximity until her breath brushed on my cheek. I jumped back apologetically, the air rushing from my lungs with the Squeezing in my core.

“ Sk. . . sky cathedral?”

Thankfully, she seemed oblivious to my actions. “Yeah, they make it rain here.” I sputtered, waving my hands and fingers in a frilly manner. Feeling like I was insulting her. But this type of communication was becoming more common between us. She still looked slightly confused.

I clicked my tongue a few times and searched the horizon. It was weird to not have the giant structures dominating the sky. But even at this distance, I spotted the pointy tip of one just at the edge of view. Given our position, I assumed it was Arsia Mons. Following my pointed finger, Verisha scanned. I could see the empty look in her eyes telling me she wasn’t finding anything. Without thinking, I stepped behind her and gently cupped her cheek to point her at the distant object.

I froze. My nerves burned and miss fired as my brain scrambled to assess the damage I’d done. All while absorbing the most amazing and unintended sensations. Her smooth skin was cool under my fingertips and her sculpted shoulders were against my chest, sending currents of electricity from each point of contact. I wanted to stay put. Look at the horizon forever. Breathing the hypnotic smell of flora and iron drifting from her hair. What? No! Move before she kills you. Taken aback by my split thoughts, I followed the safer choice.

As casually as I could manage, I broke away. The whole thing took only a few micro cycles. But it seemed like a million orbits. She stared off, still as stone. Startling when she jerked, I clenched my teeth. Her eyes were on fire. Not with anger, but excitement. She looked at the photo. Then the horizon. “Sky cathedral,” she repeated.

I relaxed and blew a breath. “Yeah, sky cathedral.”

Later, after a long evening of laughing in the mess hall, Verisha and I again parted from Hairu, who seemed to want to spend a lot of time alone. I hoped she wasn’t under the impression that I didn’t enjoy her company. All around pleasant, the automaton was a wellspring of knowledge. At this point, I claimed her as a friend. I’ll make sure she knows.

Wandering to the place with the table instrument. We stopped at the entrance, and Verisha stared in. Orange eyes millions of kilometers away. “Do you want to play?” it sounded more like a request. She processed. Puzzlement on her face. Waiving my hands in the motions I’d seen her use. “Make music with that.” I pointed. She smiled, which brought a rush of heat to my face. Not knowing much about attraction past my own tainted experience put me at a disadvantage. Surely, I looked unexplainably primitive to this girl. I need to keep my actions in check.

“Yes. P-play.”

I leaned against the ebony edge of the musical table as she adjusted herself at the bench in front. A few notes sounded, then cut short. Verisha waved to the seat, which was barely wide enough for two. “Come. Sit.”

Nervously sinking next to her, I took in the controls of the device for a distraction. A long flat row of elongated buttons. But I drifted on to the blue clad toned leg that rubbed against mine on the narrow bench. Noticing her slender hip bone faintly visible through the suit. I jerked and forced my attention straight ahead. Damn it. I thought and drew in a ragged breath.

Glorious sound filled the air again as Verisha’s deft fingers flew over the buttons. She swayed, our shoulders bumping. The scent of her long green hair tickled my nose. My eyes fell shut and I let the music take me on an adventure. I absorbed it. Every single molecule that made up that moment. I wasn’t striving for anything. Fighting or learning. I was living next to this beautiful stranger, no. Another new Friend.

BRAA….

BRAA….

BRAA….

A glaring alarm filled the air and I winced, startled. “The hell is that?” This was the first time since arriving both girls seemed lost. The grating sound interrupted our now usual tea and food session that occurred daily.

“It’s an alert for when others have approached the settlement.” Hairu said as the noise ran on.

Shit! What if its Titans Wrath? Or worse, an entire army of Owls’ lackeys. My head filled with worst-case scenarios as she, then Verisha, bolted from the mess hall. Following, they permitted me to stop in my room and retrieve my contender, though Hairu forbid me from using it. Truthfully, holding the weapon immediately brought on a cold sweat. I can do this.

We met up in a chamber with pipes and vents running in and around the walls. This must be the entrance. My throat continued to tighten as we drew closer to the door. I pictured myself beaten and useless. Hauled through here by the women at my side. Without thinking, I took up a more defensive position in the front. I won’t let anything happen to them.

A pristine light rifle glistened in Verisha’s clutches. Did she get the don’t kill speech? She is more dangerous than me and she looks comfortable with that weapon. Feeling slightly more like baggage next to an armed, green-haired warrior. I pointed the contender towards the door.

With all of us present, Hairu walked to a keypad, and I tried to steady my breathing. The doors slowly worked open. My mouth dried with stress as I drew back the hammer of my pistol. Regardless of how Hairu felt. Someone could die in moments. Fully ready, I Squinted through the setting sunlight of the Martian outdoors. My eyes stretched wide.

“Wow kid, ya got that thing off your arm already?”