The sun was on us, the warmth making the armor I wore uncomfortable.But we kept going. Footstep after footstep as the day grew warmer.I flexed the fin...gers of my left hand, my arm still throbbing. The pain came in waves sometimes. Prickling annoyances washed up and down my arms. I ignored it as Mother found another pit trap. We skirted the edges of it and pressed on.The pulsing waves of pain were joined by an itching heat. I wanted to scratch at my left arm. I tried to ignore it, but it became. Could she really? No, that would be... oh he'd neverknow anyway...Boyish Katie was going to turn into this vision of mature, femininelust. Pippi Longstocking wearing Jayne Mansfield or GinaLollobrigida...She lay somewhat oddly on Ashley's Queen sized (Katie couldn't help butstifle a giggle) bed, propped up against the headboard, lensed eyesstaring forward with her mouth agape."Joan" was made of rather thick silicone and rubber, which allowed herto sit upright without flopping over. It was a. . Time: 11:16 PM June 21, 207145 Nebraska reference timeThe five of us were together at last. I jumped Jim and Cindy back to the jet. A'moth and Isabelle had Hoshi and the girls all lying stretched out on the comfortable chairs in the main cabin. We would occasionally hear a soft gasp or sigh as they struggled with their ids. It was two hours after sunset, and if our own experience was a guide, Hoshi and the girls had another two hours to go... The five of us had a conference in the small. Mason got up and walked back to take a look over Sonja’s shoulder. “Why are they back here and not with the controls up front?” Mason asked after a moment. “Why are they split up?”“Because the energy weapons are primarily defensive weapons,” Abi answered. “They can be operated automatically, or two of you can each take control of one of the turrets in case of pursuit. That doesn’t mean they can’t be used offensively, because they absolutely can, but the missiles are better suited for.