~~~~~The first hour was, as always, just a stunning experience, like being reborn, or discovering the world for the first time, all over again. The ai...r was clean and fresh, with just a hint of coolness this early. The sun was low on the horizon, peeking through the pines as we walked along the trail, and, with the mountains surrounding us, it seemed as if we were alone in a magical place.And indeed, we were alone.In my experience of hiking, there are three classes of hiker.First, there are. Chuck is helping Mom and Dad set up for tomorrow." What about Lupe?" Andy wondered."She went to the game with the Manleys," Elizabeth said with a smile. "They offered to take Chuck but he'd already agreed and suggested Lupe go instead."Regan glanced over at Andy."I can see if I can get you a ticket if you'd rather go to the game," she told him."No," Andy replied instantly. "I have to study - and you've invited our friends over. I'm not going to leave Chris alone with your four! He'd hate me. Or he did up until he got elbowed in the ribs by his youngest sister Abby, “What’s so funny?” Abby asked seeing his smirk as she started rolling up another ball of linguini and alfredo sauce onto her fork and shoveling it into her mouth with her eyes still fixed on him.“Uh nuthin,” Alex replied, “I was thinking of a joke that a buddy of mine told me earlier today.” Which of course he wasn’t really, it was he had just pulled his response out of his ass.“Bullshit”, Abby retorted around her. Beside him Adele and Zara went through the same motions silently.“Shall we go ladies?”Adele nodded and led the way to the airlock, Zara patted Colin on the shoulder as she passed him and followed her sister. Yana followed the group silently as Colin tracked the two bots and tried to prepare himself for whatever was going to happen.As the inner door closed Colin had a sudden thought, “Uh, ladies,” he said, “How many bad guys are there likely to be?”“About a dozen at a guess,” said Zara.“Don’t.