Chapter 6

Leaning back looking up at the sky, I almost miss us entering the large area SAGE found for us, and it's picture perfect with the large lake bordering the clearing. As the guys set us all down, Tordan starts dishing out orders. "XuL, you take the perimeter, RaZ, check to see if there are any threats around us from above."

RaZlowers the backpack down and Katherin's feet no more touch the ground and he is in the air. His large wings glide effortlessly above us. DaR grabs XuL's and RaZ's packs as we all walk towards the lake shore. "Wow, this place is amazing."

"AvX, will you do us the honors in making sure the lake is safe for us to swim and sleep next to?"

"My pleasure, Father."

DaRand Tordan gravitate towards each other as usual, awaiting the others to confirm that the area is safe. I don't even see AvX go under the water until he comes walking out dripping wet. "The area is clear, Father, there is a large drop-off that everyone will have to watch out for, but other than that it's fine."

Ican't help but giggle when I notice that Hugo and SoL are still holding Miya and Alana. The girls are so used to being toted around they don't think to even ask to be put down.

RaZdrops down right in front of me. "Everything is fine from above Daddy dearest." He grabs me around the waist and kisses my forehead only to dart away when DaR reaches out.

"You've got your own girl, get your paws off mine."

XuLwalks up next. "Father, it appears that SAGE sent Guard bots out, and they are currently stationed in random areas around us. As far as I can tell, without having the proper surveillance equipment available, the area is secure. So, which one of the females is in charge of this outfit?"

"This was all Luna's idea, but I can tell you that we will need to get our tents set up and a fire ring built for later this evening. I know there are several solar showers that will also need to be filled and hung so that the water will be warm later."

Theguys all start walking around the clearing, claiming their spots before emptying the backpacks they had all carried. Tyberius and Victoria are the first to have everything done, it is apparent that he is a pro at this. His tent and all their gear is perfect, but it goes downhill quickly after that.

Ididn't think about each tent being different, but apparently, they all are. DaR pulls ours out of the bag. WhenI reach over to help him stretch it out, he gives me the look. "What? I was just going to help."

"Kira, I do not require your assistance. I am perfectly capable of setting up this inferior covering on my own."

"Fine, go all caveman on me then. I will just see if someone else would like an extra set of hands." I walk off before he can say another word. Sometimes that man pushes all my buttons.

Ivyis sitting on the ground reading the directions to their tent while AvX is laying out the pieces. Hugo looks as bewildered as DaR did as he holds the small rolled-up tent in his hand. RaZ and Katherin already have most of theirs up, but it's leaning heavily to one side. Tordan and Luna's tent seems to be missing some of its parts, and I can see his mind working on how to fix the issue. XuL and Danny are working together to get their larger family tent up while Keida and Brit hold up the interior until they can get it staked correctly. SoL's boisterous laughter has me and everyone else turning towards them.

Alanais bent over, laughing so hard she is having to hold her sides. SoL got his tent up, but apparently. It's so small, the bottom of his legs and feet are hanging out the doorway. He scoots on his butt back out of the tiny opening with a huge smile on his face. "Is there even any room for me in there?" We all hear Alana ask.

"IfI tucked you in the corner. It's a good thing you have me to sleep on, huh?"

"Speaking of having something to sleep on, how the hell are we supposed to inflate these sleeping pads?" RaZ yells out.

Lunaholds the one she has been blowing up, showing him the nozzle. "The old-fashioned way; as much hot air as you're always blowing RaZ, this should be a breeze for you."

RaZgrumbles something about flying back to civilization before grabbing the large air mattress. "This is a crock of shit, just saying." Katherine must have taken pity on him because she reaches over and takes it from him, within minutes she has their air mattress blown up. He just smirks when she hands it back to him.

Iturn back to see how DaR is fairing, only to find him completely done. Our tent is slightly larger than some of the others and through the mesh, I can see the air mattress and the blankets are already in place. Somehow, he has even filled the solar shower, and it's hanging in the direct sun in a tree behind the tent.

"Wow, you're not only handsome, but you're handy, too. How did you get all this done so quickly?"

"I did my research before we headed out. I asked SAGE what type of equipment she packed for us. Then had her download the instructions straight to my comm unit; it ensured that I was more prepared."

"Ohh, using that brain of yours too, you know that is kind of impressive. Where did the chairs come from? No one else seems to have these."

"I sent a few things ahead. The others could have to, but they didn't even try to find a way around the unknowns. They don't call me commander for nothing."

"You are way too full of yourself, mister."

"That's a possibility, but you love every minute of it."

"Yep, pretty much. With all that confidence floating around in your head, don't you think you should help the others out?"

"Nope, come here and sit down, it's the best seat in town. Watching this bunch struggle is a blast, I am not sure who to look at first. It's like watching one of your earth circuses."

"DaR you are terrible," but as I am saying that, I settle down in the folding chair he has set up in front of our tent, and it doesn't take long for the giggles to take over. These are some of the baddest men in existence, but every one of them look completely bewildered. RaZ has attempted to straighten his tent up twice now and it's like the moment he turns his head, it leans back over. All of them are having one issue after another.

Mostof them are standing in front of their makeshift shelters just looking around, not knowing what to do next. WhenTyberius shows up with two handfuls of fishing rods. They all abandon the task they are working on. "Come on younglings, this is something I have always wanted to do with my family."

Hugois the first to say anything. "What are those?"

"Fishing poles. SAGE just verified that there are several edible creatures living in the waters of this lake, so we are going fishing. I was going to have you make your own poles, but decided this would be much easier."

Lunaand Keida start skipping towards the lake, only stopping long enough to take a pole from TY. None of the boys seem to be as excited as the girls are. WhenDaR doesn't get out of his chair, I see TY motion for him to come on.

"Ughh, I don't want to go," he grumbles.

"Now, don't be like that, DaR. Fishing on Earth was a way for guys to bond. It was like a rite of passage for a man to teach his son how to fish. Now get your grouchy ass up and go make your dad happy."

"What are you planning on doing?"

"I am coming but only to watch, fishing is a hard no for me. For once, I am going to play the girl card. I have seen enough worms to last me a lifetime."

Igrab the blanket DaR had thrown over the back of my chair because he knows how easily I get cold and head down to the lake with all the others. Tyberius is having the time of his life. He has placed all the men a good distance apart from each other and is teaching them one at a time how to use the rod and reel. PoorSoL's hands are so large it looks like he is holding a toothpick, but bless his heart he is still trying his best to cast the thing.

Spreadingthe blanket on the ground under the shade of a very pretty purple tree, I sit back, ready to enjoy the show. WishingI had a camera to capture all this. SAGE films everything and I can pick images for her to save, but I still think a camera is more personal.

Luna, Keida, and Ivy all have poles of their own. AvX and Tordan seem to have gotten the hang of it and are casting in and out gradually like TY showed them how to. Then there are Hugo and RaZ, who keep swarping the water with their poles. Several times now I have had to duct down as a lure flies over my head. DaR is holding his pole, but I don't think he is doing much fishing for watching everyone else.

Victoriacomes over and settles down with me on the blanket. A small smile on her face as she watches Tyberius walking between each of the guys giving pointers here and there. "He is really enjoying this isn't he?"

"Yes, and it pleases me greatly that we decided to come on this trip. I think we become so wound up in the everyday stuff that we forget to stop and enjoy the life we are building."

"No truer words spoken, girl."

Igrab her, barely pushing her down in time, when I see another lure fly over our heads. "I think we are in the hot zone; we might want to move back some." RaZ's cussing gets my attention immediately and within a blink, Katherine is next to him.

"Owww … get it out, get it out."

"Hold still a minute, you are just making it worse. How in the world did you hook your own wing, RaZ?"

"How the hell do I know? My reel is defective, every time I hit the button the line just drops to the ground. Look at AvX, his is all the way out there. I want another one."

"There is nothing wrong with the reel RaZ, it's user error."

Katherinepulls the hook out of his wing and he flares it out, looking so he can see the tiny hole it caused. "Look, I am going to be permanently damaged from this little outing."

"You big pouty ass, you're fine."

"Here let me show you how to do this."

"What makes you such a pro, have you caught anything?"

"I don't even have a pole RaZ, but I don't need one. Watch and learn." Katherine points towards Raven and the hound walks up calmly to the edge of the water. The poles are temporarily forgotten as all eyes turn towards the Hellhound. We all watch as she lowers her head slowly, and I actually jerk as she pounces without warning. When she steps back out of the water, she has a huge, … something that is shaped like a fish, … I think, in her mouth.

Raventhrows it up on the bank and then looks up at RaZ. I swear the beast is smiling. "Show off," RaZ snarls at her. "Fine, if she can catch one right here, then I can, too. Stand back and watch a pro get to work."

"You guys better catch something or we are all going to go to bed hungry later," I yell out. DaR frowns and I see him instantly touch his comm unit. I know he just asked SAGE about food, but he doesn't say anything, just winks at me before turning his attention back to the rod in his hand.

Tyberiusappears in front of us with a huge smile on his face. "Vic, my love, do you remember what I did with the stringers? I thought I had them in the tackle box I sent on ahead, but I can't find them anywhere. Danny is catching one right after another. We are going to have a feast this evening if he keeps this up. I'm really excited to teach the boys how to filet them."

Isnarl my nose at the thought. AsI look down the shore, sure enough, I see Danny pull in another one. Keida and him are both laughing as he struggles to bring it in. WhenVic and Tyberius suddenly disappear, I get up to walk around, simply enjoying watching them all together in a more relaxed atmosphere.

RaZis still throwing his pole like a madman. PoorAlana has had to put her pole down so that she can help put bait on SoL's hook because his fingers are too big to do it himself. Of course, all the guys are riding him about that. AvX is casting like a pro and already has several dead things already lying at his feet. Tordan has his reel in pieces, apparently it wasn't working efficiently enough to suit him. So, in normal Tordan style, it's become a project. Hugo is sitting on the ground cross-legged with Miya on one knee, completely ignoring the bobber he put on his line when he gave up trying to cast, while he gazes at her lovingly. I am not sure where XuL and Brit snuck off to, but they are nowhere in sight.

Ismile to myself when I catch DaR watching me, making sure I don't wander too far off. For a split second, I allow myself to see another sunny day like this back home. A day where Rick was teaching Marisa and Cody how to fish. Even after all these years, I can hear Rick's laughter and the sound of their tiny feet running through the house.

Strongarms slide around me, and I blink back the tears not wanting DaR to see them. "Where did you go?"

"Oh, not far, I am simply enjoying the day. I take it you're done fishing?"

"I don't have the patience to stand there all rising. WhileI can see why some would find this relaxing, it's too slow-paced for my liking."

"Now we are going to starve unless AvX and Danny share theirs with us."

"I believe we will survive until SAGE brings the sustenance later."

"I knew you couldn't resist calling her when I yelled that out earlier."

"If what you had said proved to be true. I was going to have a shuttle come get us. I get cranky when I'm hungry."

"Never … you're nothing but a bubbly ray of sunshine."

DaRkisses the top of my head before whispering, "Only with you. Come on, let's take a walk."

"What about the fish or whatever they are? We can't let them go to waste."

"Father is going to teach everyone how to filet them so they can be fixed later. I had full intentions of ditching that part of this Earth experience, anyway. Come on, let's go see how far we need to walk to escape all their noise."