E:A Vol 3 Ch 8—October 31, 2119

Terra 2’s main control room was packed. Word spread quickly about the new inhabitants that were arriving that morning. Victoria and Be’atta were the first to cross from Earth to Terra 2. Be’atta was carrying a bag in one hand and a puppy crate in the other. Victoria had a crate in each hand. The rest of the team followed them over the bridge portal.

By the time the entire crew had crossed over, the control room crew was clamoring to see the pups. “Okay, people,” Vince’s voice boomed from up the steps outside of his office, “let them get settled in their quarters.”

“After that,” John said, “we need to take the little guys for a walk. So if you want to meet them, get to the mainland. We’ll be there shortly. Don’t worry, those of you on duty will get to see them soon enough.”

Becket and Amelia helped Victoria with her bags while she carried her furry son and daughter to her chambers.

“Can’t believe he said yes to this,” Becket said as they entered the chambers.

“Once he saw them, I think he wanted one for himself,” Victoria smiled. “Are you going to be able to join us on the mainland?”

“I can’t,” Becket said, “I’m heading out to work with Ja’val.”

“Any luck?”

“We’ll have results from the tests on the other fullbloods today, that’s why I have to pass on the mainland trip. I think they’ll be able to take the serum…the other fullbloods, that is. There’s something about your husband that is…unique. I’m reading through the archives as fast as I can.”

“So much so,” Amelia said, “that I think he’s not sleeping. And he wouldn’t be eating if I didn’t cook for him.”

“Now love, I’m sleeping. I just…I owe him,” Becket said, taking one of the puppies out and holding it. “Which one are you?”

Victoria looked over, “That’s Baxter, Ky’s pup.”

Amelia picked up the other, “And what’s this little girl’s name?”

“Celeste. You know Kenna and her stars.”

“Kinda takes after you,” Becket smiled at Amelia, one of the astrophysicists on staff. “I need to get back to work. I have a ton of reading to do. My Mythican isn’t what it should be.”

Amelia smiled and kissed his cheek, “Be careful. You can’t help him if you’re out cold from lack of sleep.”

“Yes, dear,” he said, then put Baxter back into his crate, “and Lia and I will be back for dinner and I will greet you properly then with lots of tummy rubs, Baxter. You too, Celeste. Welcome to your new home.”

“Thanks for helping me carry this stuff,” Victoria said, “I wasn’t expecting to have to bring back puppy food and toys and all of this stuff.”

“No problem,” Amelia said, “and I’ll be by to help you with dinner.”

“See you then,” Victoria smiled as she went about putting away a few things then dug out the two leashes for the puppies. John arrived a few minutes later, Scout in her crate.

“Here,” he said, “I’ll carry one of those crates. Ready?”

“Yup. Everyone else?”

“Already headed to the dock.”

The puppies were a little scared by the sound of the boat’s motor but once on the mainland they were eager to be out of their crates.

“Okay everyone,” John said to the huge crowd that had assembled to meet the puppies, “we’re not going to put leashes on them because I expect all of you to make sure they don’t run off. So without further ado…” He pointed to Be’atta, “This is little boy Shadow belonging to the beautiful yet dangerous Be’atta.”

She opened his cage and the puppy came scampering out, not sure what to do. There were so many people, so many new smells.

“Belonging to the Chapman newlyweds is young Miss Storm. And to Chief Chapman, Miss Montana, but you can call her Montie. Here’s Kaven’s little boy, Hero, and my little girl, Scout. And now for the stars of the show, Mr. Ky’nayth’s little boy, Baxter, and Miss Mik’kenna’s little girl, Celeste.”

Everyone got into welcoming the puppies. John and the gang were tired from their work at Victoria’s house plus the tension of the storm, so they simply planted themselves under a tree and watched as the puppies were showered with attention.

“Vince, glad you could make it,” John said as the general sat beside him.

“I have to admit, they’re cute,” he said. “Everyone’s going to want one now. How am I to handle that?”

“You know, if this is gonna be everyone’s home, you can’t really prohibit people from having pets.”

“We’re supposed to be a military base in another galaxy, living in glass towers that don’t exactly have backyards. I shouldn’t have allowed it.”

“What? And disappoint Ky and Kenna?” Chris asked. “The High Chancellor would never forgive you.”

“To be honest, I thought he’d put a stop to it, giving me a way out. I was shocked when he said he was going to allow the kids to have two pets. Well, I guess I’ll just deal with it. And as much as I don’t want to break up everyone’s fun, I want to show you where the bridge portal is going to be put, so you’d best round up your critters and let’s go for a little walk.”

“Scout, here girl,” John called and whistled. To everyone’s surprise, the puppy immediately ran to him.

“Okay, how in the world did you get her to recognize her own name after just one and a half days?” Victoria asked.

“I have a way with dogs.”

“Would you guys mind rounding up our puppies?” Alessa asked the crowd when none of them came when called, “We need to go with General Cavanaugh.”

People gathered the puppies up and carried them to their owners. “When we get back,” Be’atta told John, “you’re going to teach Shadow his name.”

“Can you get them paper trained fast?” Victoria asked.

John chuckled, “You guys have to do your own training. I can’t help it if I picked the smartest one of the bunch.”

November 4, 2119

Zy’nayth appeared in the main control room four days after John and his crew returned to Terra 2. The twins and Kol’non were with him.

Be’atta was there to greet them, “Victoria just got off her shift and is making herself presentable. She said she’d meet you in the chambers.” Then she gave Kol’non a kiss on his cheek, “Come on, Shadow needs to be walked and I was hoping you’d join me.”

Kol’non smiled, “I’d love to. Sir?”

Zy’nayth gave him a nod. “Go on,” he said then turned to Vince. “Once I get the children back to my chambers, I will return and we can go to the mainland so I can see where you would like the new portal.”

“Just stop by my office anytime. And thanks again for the present.”

“I am sure you will find it useful.”

The kids practically pulled their father down the corridors to their quarters. Zy’nayth opened the door and the kids ran in. “Greet your mother, first,” he said.

Victoria came out of their bedroom, “There are my three favorite people in the entire universe,” she said.

The kids ran to her and gave her hugs and kisses. “Okay, I know you guys are eager to see your puppies. But wait a second. I need to give your daddy a hug and a kiss.” She stood and walked over to her husband. “How much did they bug you about the puppies?”

“They talked about them constantly,” he said, “now give me that kiss.”

“Ma, can we pweez see Baxter and Suhwest?” Mik’kenna asked.

Victoria reluctantly released her husband. “I suppose you need to talk to Vince.”

“Yes, but I will stay here a few moments and watch the children get reacquainted with their puppies.”

“Okay kids, first let me show you where their puppy pad is.” She led them to the bathroom and pointed. “If you see potty messes on it, fold it up and take it to the incinerator. If the mess is on the floor, you come and get me and we’ll clean it together. I take the pups for walks every couple of hours so they can go outside. Okay?”

“Kay,” they said in unison.

“Come on, let’s go to your room.”

Victoria led the way and the kids, wanting to run, followed obediently.

“Mik’kenna, Celeste is over there by your crib; Ky’nayth, Baxter is by yours. Do you remember how to open the crates?”

“Ess,” they said.

“Okay, you may let them out.”

“Were they in there all day?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Four hours, while I worked. I can’t leave them out while I’m gone, they’d wreck the place. I felt bad about it, but I had to.”

The kids ran to the crates and opened the doors. The little puppies came bounding out and the kids hugged them and kissed them and rolled on the floor with them.

“You know,” Victoria said to her husband, “we really need to get them little beds. The kids, I mean, not the dogs. They don’t need the cribs anymore.”

“They are easily converted,” he said and walked over to Ky’nayth’s crib. “Here,” he said, pointing to a hidden panel behind the headboard, “just push this button.” He showed her the button, then pushed it. Victoria watched the rails retract to half their height then fold and slide under the bed. Then corner posts lowered down to the height of the head and footboards.

“Oh, how handy. Are the ones on the island the same?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Nice,” she said and converted Mik’kenna’s crib into a bed. “I like this.”

“If you wish to put it back as a crib, just push that button again.”

“Best tech ever,” she smiled, “Well, next to the laundry machines. Okay, go and talk to Vince and get that portal in place.”

“Is that an order?”

Victoria chuckled, “No. I just want you to get that done so you can come home and be with me.”

“In that case, I shall tend to business.” He gave her another kiss then went to talk to Vince.

Victoria sat on the floor with the twins, “Did you guys see the toys?” She pointed to the cardboard box that contained the toys that Chris and Alessa had picked up.

“Oh!” Mik’kenna said and went over to the puppies’ toy box. “Suhwest, what toy?” Both puppies scampered over to the little girl. “Baw?”

Celeste gave a little bark and Mik’kenna threw the ball, nearly nailing her brother in the head. Both dogs chased after the ball causing the kids to clap and giggle.

“There’s another ball in there,” Victoria said.

Ky’nayth ran to the box and found the other ball. “Baxter!” he said and rolled the ball towards the dog. The dog grabbed the ball in its mouth.

“Remember to praise him for doing good,” Victoria said.

Ky’nayth walked up to the puppy and petted him. “Good boy,” he said. “Good boy, Baxter. Lub ooh.”

“That’s right,” Victoria smiled. She moved and sat on Ky’nayth’s bed and watched them play. Soon she was curled up and asleep. She’d been working hard the last four days to get the puppies into a routine and found it almost as exhausting as taking care of the twins when they were first born. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep when Ky’nayth nudged her to wake her up. “What, sweetie?”

“Baxter at door. Won’t pway wif us.”

Victoria sat up and stretched. “Oh, he’s learning fast. He needs to go for a walk to go potty.”

“Baffwoom?” Mik’kenna asked. “Puppy pad?”

“I’m teaching them to go to the door when they have to go potty. We can take them to the mainland.” Victoria grabbed one of the crates and both puppies loaded up into it. They knew that the crate usually meant they’d get to go outside and play.

“See their leashes on the hook by the door, each of you get your puppy’s and come with me.”

Though she didn’t always get them to the mainland in time for them to do their business, she was happy that they were learning, plus a quick rinse of the crate in the gulf water was easier than cleaning them out in the quarters. They made it to the mainland in time and Victoria quickly put the leashes on each puppy after opening the crate and let the kids try to walk the dogs. Though the kids were stronger than what human children their age, it was still a little bit of the challenge for them to remain upright and hold onto the leash while the puppies tugged and tried to run.

Major Steve Kessler came walking up along with Nicole Burelle. “Hey Dr. Carson. I don’t know if you’ve met Nicole yet,” he said, “she works in astrophysics.”

“I have,” Victoria smiled, “met her through Amelia.”

“Hi again,” she said. “Hi Ky’nayth, hi Mik’kenna. Are these Baxter and Celeste?”

“Ess,” Mik’kenna said. “Mine is Suhwest. Ky has Baxter.”

“May I pet them?”

“Ess. Suhwest is sweet. Very sensy tiv.”

Nicole knelt down and did a little clicking sound with her tongue and called their names. The puppies ran to her more from the fact that she was someone new they needed to investigate than by responding to their names.

“How’ve you been, Major?” Victoria asked, “I haven’t seen you in ages. Actually, since the rebel Rayth attack.”

“Been working off-world a lot with the Elgolians. Their population has grown a lot in the last couple of years, as has their technology, and, unfortunately, crime. I’m helping train up some sort of police force.”

“Oh, nice. Well, not nice that they need a police force, but I’m glad you can help them out.”

“Nicole, I’m going to leave you here with the pups. I really need to talk to Vince.”

“That thing still gnawing at you?” Nicole asked.

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Go.”

“Victoria, good to see you. Sorry I have to run.”

Steve had seen Vince, John, and Zy’nayth land on the mainland shortly after he and Nicole had come over to enjoy their day off. He’d been debating on talking to the general, but seeing both of his superior officers together, as well as the High Chancellor, he knew the time was right. He made his way over towards MedBay 2 near where the new bridge portal would be located.

He gave the general and colonel salutes, then apologized for interrupting.

“At ease, what’s on your mind?” Vince asked.

“Sirs, I have a couple of situations I need to bring to your attention. The first has been dealt with, and I received a good dressing down, but, sirs, if I may, it’s been nagging me. Not the dressing down, sirs, the incident. Doesn’t seem right. May I speak freely, sirs?”

“Steve, go on. No need to be quite so formal,” Vince said.

Steve began by telling them about an incident that happened a month previous, then said, “My Team Leader told me that it was something you, sir, already knew about and I was out of place for bringing it up. Didn’t sit right with me, sir. The second situation is much more serious, I believe.”

He paused and got his thoughts in order. He wasn’t nervous, he just wanted to get his point across and that he knew what he was talking about. After only a few seconds, he looked at Vince, occasionally glancing at John and the High Chancellor as he talked. “I’ve been here with the Expedition from day one. I remember our first trip to Elgolia. I remember the weapons they had. What they have now, however, are years ahead of their technology.

“Before you ask who I’d know, let me say that I studied guns growing up. I know a Colt from a Beretta from a Glock from a Browning. Old, Revolutionary War to our Z-120s. Guns are a hobby. I know them inside and out. The Elgolians, with their level of tech and industry, what they had when we first encountered them was around the what we’d call a multi-shot revolver, like a Colt. My last trip there a few days ago I saw automatic weapons. Fully automatic. I wasn’t shown them, I just caught a glance of them when I passing through their HQ. That’s not a normal progression of arms, sirs. That would be like discovering dynamite then two years later the atomic bomb. I was wondering if we’re helping them build up their armory.”

“First,” Vince said, “Who was your Team Leader who told you I knew about that situation on Farvosk?”

“Lt. Col. Novitz, sir.”

“Next time, come to me or Col. Hagen. I’ll deal with Novitz later. Right now, this situation on Elgolia is my concern. We haven’t given them any weapons. High Chancellor?”

“We have no projectile weapons,” Zy’nayth said. “Stunners and blasters. I would also have no reason to arm them. It would not be in my best interest to do so.”

“You sure about what you saw? Any chance you could get them to show you what weapons they have?” Vince asked.

“Certain, sir. No so certain about getting them to show me what they have. I’ve been sharing my love of guns with a couple of the up and coming cops. One of them might show me. I could break into the police station armory if need be.” He chuckled, “I actually know where they keep the keys.”

“When is your next scheduled trip?” John asked.

“Tomorrow for four days,” he said.

“Chris?” Vince asked.

“A second set of eyes would be good. And we know that he knows his guns,” John said.

“Visual only. And only if they can do so without raising suspicion. Until we know what’s going on, we need to be on friendly terms. There might be something bigger going on.”

John nodded then tapped his comlink, “Hagen for Chapman.”

“Miss me?” Chris replied.

“So much so that I’ve got a little off-world mission for you. Alessa can go if she wants, I don’t think there’ll be much danger.”

“Much or any? Makes a big difference to me,” Chris said.

“I’ll let you decide, here’s what’s up.” John explained the situation and that he wanted Chris to tag along on this next trip using the guise that the Elgolian police force should see a real sharpshooter in action. “If I’m right, we often exchange farming items with them, Alessa could tend to a few things if she needs to.”

“You know, she’s never been off-world. Let me think about it and talk to her. So what time do I need to be ready tomorrow and how long will we be staying?”

“6:00 a.m. our time,” Kessler said when asked a the question, “we’ll stay three nights and return the evening of the fourth day.”

“Okay, Chris will be there,” John said, “Thanks Kessler, good catch. Go about your normal training, but keep your eyes open. You taking a team?”

“Two others.”

“For now, they are to know nothing,” Vince said. “Just you and Chris. If we have someone selling them our guns, I don’t want to tip off the seller. Keep your eyes and ears open. I also want a written report about the dispute with Novitz before you leave in the morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’re excused.”

“Sir,” Steve said looking at Zy’nayth, “your wife and children and the puppies are down by the beach.”

“Thank you, Major.” Zy’nayth replied as the men went back to their discussion regarding the location chosen for the second bridge portal.

“I’ve been thinking about how to handle traffic on this portal,” Vince said as he continued his discussion with Zy’nayth. “Nearly everyone knows at least one or two addresses and I don’t want people just randomly bridging out with me knowing. So, I’ve come up with a couple of options. Option one, I could construct a facility around the bridge and man it just like the one in the control room. I would keep the portal offline until we got the building up and staffed. Option two, have the portal programmed to only allow access to and from the city. However, if a situation arises where we need to evac, that could be problematic.”

“I like option one,” John said as Scout pounced around his feet, attacking his bootlaces and started growling at them. “Evac is always going to be something we may face. As the farm gets bigger and the botany lab out here expands, we’ll have more and more people here on the mainland that we’ll have to get out, and bridging to the city-ship might not be the optimal location.”

“I tend to agree. High Chancellor?”

“I believe either of your options to be viable, it just depends on how you wish to utilize this portal. I can always program a bypass code that, should the need to use the bridge for something other than returning to the mainland, you or members of John’s team could punch in then enter any bridge address you would like. That bypass code, of course, would need to be kept secret.”

“I need to understand a few things before I make my final decision,” Vince said, “we can pull up a tree stump or return to my office.”

“If it does not require secrecy, we could join my wife and children on the beach.”

“Let’s do that. I’m sure Scout would like to see her brother and sister. Besides, I think she has won the war with John’s bootlaces. I’d rather keep mine.”

The three men walked down to where Victoria was settled under a tree while the kids and the puppies played nearby. She didn’t want them on the beach, afraid that the puppies might venture too close to the water, but she needn’t worry since more people came out to enjoy the day, and spent time with the puppies.

“Mind if we join you?” John said as Scout darted for her brother and sister.

“Hey guys, get your work done?” Victoria smiled.

“Not quite yet,” Vince said, “I have a few more questions for your husband and thought we could cover them while he spent a little time with you.”

Zy’nayth sat beside his wife and wrapped an arm around her, “Okay, general, how can I enlighten you?”

“I know the bridge needs power. At least I’m assuming so since when our computer systems were taken down and the city-ship lost power, we eventually lost bridge access. I need to know how to get a power supply to the new bridge.”

“I would like Simon involved, of course,” Zy’nayth said, “but it will require Mythican technology. Ja’val and my Second Science Commander will oversee the project. My men will carry out the work so that it will be completed in a timely fashion.”

“That means we’re gonna need Mythican tech on Earth,” John said.

“Yes. I have already taken that into consideration.”

“And that means the bridge in Colorado has a Mythican power source,” Vince said.

“Mythican technology, Earth energy, most likely,” Zy’nayth said.

“Interesting that they haven’t uncovered it yet,” John said. “Or if they did, never asked us to check our portal to see if it had the same power source.”

Vince frowned, “They may have uncovered it but don’t want to screw up the bridge so they haven’t messed with it, and don’t want us messing with it.” He waved off the remark, “Next question, if I want to build a facility around it, and since I now know that we need to power the thing, should I wait to start construction until the power is ready? Should I go ahead and have the engineers pour the floor, then we set the bridge on it, or do we build around the bridge…I guess I need to understand the order in which things need to be done.”

“The bridge should have enough stored energy to last a few thousand transfers,” Zy’nayth said, “this is something I have not checked into. But given that it hasn’t been used in quite some time, it should have plenty of stored energy. In any case, we can go ahead and teleport it down today. I could, however, have it teleported into your MedBase so that it is in a building that you can staff. I can shut off all addresses but the one to the city. Then you can go ahead and start planning the construction of the portal facility. I can have my two science commanders here tomorrow and have them start at this end to get the tech in place before you are ready to start the physical work of the construction. When you are ready to put the floor in place, the commanders will walk you through everything and move the bridge appropriately.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Vince said, “though I don’t know what else you were thinking of doing. So I can have our civil engineers start drawing up plans now, your guys can do their thing and I’ll have Jack Burgeon touch base with them to make sure we’re doing our stuff correctly.”

“That should work,” Zy’nayth said.

Mik’kenna came walking up, looking very downcast. “Ma, ebbee one is pwaying wif Suhwest. I no get to pway wif her. I only has Suhwest day to self and then no see forebber and now I see her ‘gain and I no get to pway wif her.”

“Oh sweetie,” Victoria said as she stood and took her daughter’s hand, “come on, Mommy will help.”

“And I think we should go find a spot in MedBase 2 for the portal,” John said. “Keep an eye on Scout for me, please.”

“I will,” Victoria replied as she approached the gang of people vying for the puppies’ attention. “Hey guys, don’t mean to ruin your fun, but the kids need a little one-on-one time with the pups. They’re still getting to know each other.”

There were no grumbles and everyone apologized, then they all went off to swim or play games on the beach. Victoria rounded up Scout while the kids got their puppies and walked over to the tree where they sat and played.

“Tank ooh, Mommy,” Mik’kenna said.

Victoria smiled, “You’re welcome, sweetie. And that’s the first time you’ve called me Mommy.”

“I sowwy.”

“No, honey, I’m not upset. I like it. I was just noting the change in your vocabulary. You can call me Mommy if you want. Or Ma. I love both of them.”

“Day are firsty,” Ky’nayth said, “Go to beach?”

“No, honey, that’s salt water, that’s not fresh, drinking water. It’ll only make them more thirsty. Come on, we can walk up to the MedBase and get some water for them there.”

“Couldn’t leave us alone,” John said as they walked into the facility with the three puppies.

“Just getting them some water,” Victoria said.

“Here, let me,” John said and found something that could be used as a bowl and filled it with water.

“Do you need any help in here?” Victoria asked.

“I do have a question,” Vince said, then marked out where they were going to temporarily put the bridge portal, “it’s the most open spot, and though we don’t use this place much, if something does happen and we need to utilize it, how much of a problem is it going to be to have it sitting here?”

“Just when bringing in patients, and there’s plenty of room to either side for that. Just make sure Becket knows.”

“I will, and it’s only temporary. Hopefully I can have the floor laid in a week or two. Depends on the engineers. Then we can move this thing out.” He gave a nod to her kids, “They’re wiped out.”

“Yeah, I think we’re going to head back home. Zy,” she said in a whisper, “Celeste doesn’t look well. I know she’s the shiest of the bunch and the smallest, but can your healing ability…can you help her or see if there’s something wrong? We had the vet check them out on Earth and he gave them their shots and stuff, but…honey, I’m worried and if anything happens to her, it’ll devastate Kenna.”

Zy’nayth knelt down, “Mik’kenna, Ky’nayth, would you bring Celeste and Baxter over,” he said, “I would like to make sure they did not overdo it playing with everyone today.”

Ky’nayth held onto the leash, “Come here Baxter, here boy, come here,” he said but the puppy pretty much ignored him and tackled Scout. So he tried again. Zy’nayth grinned. Mik’kenna simply walked towards her father and her puppy obediently followed.

“Daddy take care of ooh,” she said as she petted Celeste’s head.

“Daddy?” Zy’nayth asked.

“She just called me Mommy,” Victoria said. “Broadening their vocabulary.”

Zy’nayth smiled and kissed Mik’kenna’s forehead, then his massive hand dwarfed the puppy as he picked it up and held it in his palm. “You were correct, Victoria,” he said, after a few seconds, “but she is all better now.” He set the puppy back down and looked at his son who still couldn’t get his puppy to move. He was trying to whistle, but couldn’t, he was patting his legs, doing everything he could to get Baxter’s attention, but the dog ignored him and continued to play with Scout.

“Ky’nayth, try dropping the leash and just walk over to me,” Zy’nayth said.

The boy ran to his father. Zy’nayth turned him back to look at the puppy. “You are giving him too much information. And you must show more authority. Uncle John, can you give him a demonstration please?”

John, standing next to Vince smiled, “Sure. Scout, come,” he said then gave a whistle.” The puppy stopped wrestling with Baxter and darted for her guardian. “Good girl,” John said as he lifted her up and kissed her.

“I no wissle,” Ky’nayth said. “I twy. I no can wissle.”

“That is all right. Just use the same command and be strong when you say it,” Zy’nayth said.

Baxter was now pouncing on Celeste despite Mik’kenna trying to protect her.

“Baxter, come,” Ky’nayth said.

The puppy stopped and looked at Ky’nayth, then went right back to playing with his sister.

“It no work,” Ky’nayth said, exasperated. “Baxter no wisten.”

“He is still learning his name,” Zy’nayth said.

John walked over and picked up Baxter’s leash and gave it a gentle tug, “Baxter, come.” It took three attempts but the dog finally obeyed. “Just practice with him when you get home. A little, gentle tug, say his name, then praise him when he obeys,” John said. “Pretty soon you won’t even need the leash.”

“Tank ooh,” Ky’nayth said as his father checked the puppy.

“He is well,” he said. “Would you like me to check Scout?”

“Might as well,” John said, “but I’m sure she’s fine.” And she was.

“All right kids,” Victoria said, “it’s almost lunchtime. We need to head back to the city. After lunch and naps, we can bring the puppies back for another walk.”

She gave her husband a kiss, “You gonna be much longer?”

“No. I think we are finished. I just need to head up and teleport the bridge portal down then test it. I should not be more than thirty minutes.”