2304 UNPC Universal Calendar

—

“Brand new house and you already want to change something about it?” Anton sounded bewildered. The three adults sat at the same table they usually sat at, albeit in a completely different place. The long and ornately carved mahogany table sat in the middle of what would usually be used as a living or family room. Instead, the room had floor to ceiling bookcases, the shelves of which would soon be filled with books that currently took up residence in boxes, which crowded the corners of the room.

“I would just like to add a little outdoor area I can relax in and keep out of the sun while I read.” Sarah sighed.

“You want another place to sit around naked, you mean?” Kate jested.

“Yes.” Sarah let it roll off of her.

“I can have it built, you can have a covered deck.” Anton said. “I don’t care, but you’re killing the wasps.”

Sarah smiled at him fondly. “Deal. Thank you honey.” She said.

“Where did the little one and her furry friend go?” He asked after a few seconds of staring off into space, unblinking.

“Playing in a field, I can hear her from time to time.” Kate replied.

“She’s pretty good for a free range child.” Sarah said, remembering her own childhood.

“I need to put the books away, I’m tired of looking at all of the boxes.” Anton sighed.

“I never realized how many you either wrote or helped write until they had to be sorted then boxed.” Kate said.

“I liked using the pen you bought me, what can I say?” Anton replied, looking at the callous on his right middle finger, and the outside of his ring and pinky finger, from holding the pen and contacting the page.

“The one you gave me in return feels like I’m holding your hand when I use it sometimes.” Kate smiled. Using the very antique Pelikan 400 still felt wrong to her in a way, but she supposed she was part of the family now, and that made it okay.

Anton stood abruptly, his ADHD kicking in like a turbo 350 neutral drop. Neither Kate nor Sarah helped him put the books away. The man would have organized the shelves in his sleep and known where everything was placed. More than once he pulled his little green notebook out of his pocket and dictated a field manual that needed revision or rewritten.

He had the time now, so why not?

Throughout the process, Sarah or Kate occasionally got up and tended to something around the house. Either unpacking a box or doing some other slightly more than menial task.

“Someone is here.” Kate said. “Sounds like a SUV.” She added calmly.

Anton smirked, noting the time. She’s late.

Sarah got up, and peeked out of the peephole in the door. “Oh.” She said, stepping back. “It’s doctor raine and Tim, and he’s got a big ass backpack.” She noted, sitting back down at her chair.

5 rapid knocks from Terror came, and a choroused “come in” was the response.

“Hello.” Dr. Raine said in a sing-song soprano. Kate smiled and waved, Sarah stepped up and hugged her, and Anton looked back, waved, and continued setting books on shelves.

“Are those all yours?” Terror asked, looking at the books, his heavy XXL rucksack hanging off of his broad shoulders by a single strap as he stood in the foyer.

“They are.” Dr. Raine said proudly. “My boy can write, some things being dirtier than others.” She said, squinting at a line of erotica novels which were more ‘based off a true story’ than pure fiction, she knew.

“For the record, it was my idea, and after the first one did so well…. “ Kate trailed off.

“Jolene loves those.” Terror nodded.

“Last time I was here, it was just a house.” Dr. Raine remarked, looking around, still standing in the foyer. “Now it looks more like a home.” She told the three.

“It’s getting there.” Kate replied.

“Clothes free accommodation. I like it.” Dr. Raine noted, looking at the easily washable cushions on the seat of every ornately carved heavy hardwood chair.

“I grew tired of carrying a towel with me everywhere I went,” Sarah said. “These,” she patted the seat beneath her, “are amazing.”

“How long has it been since you wore any type of clothing?” Terror asked.

“Several weeks.” Sarah replied. “I need to go to town from time to time.”

“This one said to hell with it and hasn’t worn a top in a few months.” Anton gestured to Kate.

“He doesn’t understand that I don’t care yet.” Kate shrugged.

Terror was obviously in the process of having a relatively silent phone call under his helmet, sitting in the corner in a chair.

“May I say that your confidence in appearance has actually inspired many in the coalition, you should know.” Dr. Raine said to Kate, “That and yours.” She turned to Sarah.

“I’m glad.” Sarah said.

“There’s a point to be made about the stigma about the nude body and how a ‘regular’ person’s body looks versus what society considers attractive.” Anton said.

“That reminds me.” Sarah said, snapping her fingers and pointing to him. “Could you edit an article I wrote later?” She asked.

“For that nudist magazine website thing?” He asked. She nodded, making him shrug. “Sure.” He replied.

Terror was still sitting in the corner, having an argument of some sort judging by his body language.

“Sounds like he’s having a hell of a day.” Sarah said as Dr. Raine found a seat, having pulled her laptop out of the backpack Terror had carried for her.

“He’s had a hectic few.” Dr. Raine said. “Would you mind if we stayed for a few days? He and I could use a break.” She said tiredly.

Sarah looked at Kate, and Anton shrugged. “Sure.” Kate and Sarah said at the same time.

“Thank you,” Dr. Raine sounded genuine, and appeared to be embarrassed. “Would you mind if I removed my clothes as well?” She asked.

“Not at all, please, make yourself comfortable.” Sarah told her.

“We need to make more male nudist friends.” Anton said, looking back at the group of women.

“I was about to say something like that.” Kate said. “There’s this stigma around guys being nudists, and I don’t like that.”

“Amen to that sadly.” Sarah nodded. “I could set up some meetups or something like that. As long as you two don’t mind, I’d like to have them here.” Sarah looked to Anton and Kate.

“I’m all for meeting new people.” Anton said. “Just make sure you’re honest with who we are and what we did for a living.” He added.

Dr. Raine put her neatly folded clothes into the rucksack, and sat down, pulling her arm over her head, stretching.

“I would praise the day my son is the inadvertent founder of a nudist resort.” Dr. Raine said, smiling at Anton.

“It is what it is.” Anton replied.

“If you wouldn’t mind, I’m going to take a shower quickly.” Dr. Raine said, looking at Terror, who flashed a thumbs up. Terror snapped twice, getting Anton’s attention. He made a writing hand gesture with his pen on his palm. Anton leaned over to a stack of small green notebooks on a shelf, and grabbed one, handing it to him.

Terror nodded in thanks, and started writing.

“I enjoy seeing you nude,” Sarah said to Dr. Raine, pulling her knees up to her chest. Dr. Raine saw through her wording, and recognised the appreciation behind it.

“It means a lot that you’d take a vacation here.” Kate said. Sarah nodded, and looked at Terror.

“I wonder if he wants to be here.” Sarah laughed.

“He can hear you.” Kate said unnecessarily.

“I know, we can talk all about it once he’s off the phone with his side piece.” Sarah grinned.

Terror flipped them off, making both of them laugh.

“How could anybody be grump with tits to stare at?” Kate said, teasing him by pushing her chest out at him. Terror quickly wrote something in the notebook on a fresh page, and showed it to them.

“Way ahead of you.” Was written on the light green paper. Anton gave three quick bursts of laughter.

“Bet he’s blushing under that helmet.” Sarah said, pushing her breasts together with her biceps, her hands in her lap.

“I don’t mind you using your body to tease him, but I might have a problem with you getting stabbed.” Anton told them, shaking a finger.

“Parker will also be joining us shortly.” Dr. Raine said.

“Define shortly, and for how long?” Anton asked.

“Two hours, maybe longer, and don’t worry, they’ll be sharing a room.” She gestured towards Terror.

“Great, another naked female.” Anton rolled his eyes.

“What’s wrong with another pair?” Kate asked as Dr. Raine left for her shower.

—

“Your bathroom is amazing.” Dr. Raine said, breaking up their banter.

“Hygiene is important.” Sarah said. “I also wanted an open design with a large one way mirror.”

“Oh thank god, I thought I’d scarred Amara for life” Dr. Raine put a hand over her heart. Kate and Sarah shared a giggle.

“The multiple shower heads were a trip, I couldn’t decide which one to use.” Dr. Raine said, folding her towel neatly and putting it in front of her.

“The rain one is a good bet, that’s the one I usually use.” Sarah shrugged.

“The extra long wand is appreciated.” Dr. Raine smiled.

“Good for your skin, and clitoris.” Sarah added thoughtfully.

“You all are too damn open with stuff, you should keep at least some of it private.” Anton said, looking over his shoulder at the girls as he put his books away.

“Does discussion of sexual pleasure and anatomy make you uncomfortable?” Dr. Raine asked him.

“Not particularly, frankly I'm used to it at this point. “I’m just giving my two cents.” He replied.

“Discussion of sex topics is healthy among friends, but I think if one person is uncomfortable with it….” She trailed off.

“No no, don’t dictate what you talk about because the ‘sensitive asexual’ is in the room.” Anton set it straight. “It gets under my skin.”

“I know honey.” Sarah nodded.

“Anyways, don’t use the shower head to do that all the time, and only use it with lukewarm water, it can lead to desensitization.” Anton said.

“You see, he goes from serious lecture to sex advice like a metronome” Kate said, looking at Dr. Raine.

“Don’t look at me. I raised him in a somewhat nudist, and overall sex positive home, and he ended up asexual.” Dr. Raine shrugged.

Sarah’s eyes perked up, and she knitted her eyebrows together at her, Dr. Raine catching her look.

“I was an at home nudist, and I went to resorts every once and a while.” She said, smiling at the past. “Long time ago.” She added.

“Things I never knew.” Sarah nodded.

“I stopped going to most resorts because the regulars were almost always swingers, so I eventually stopped.” Dr. Raine shrugged.

“A shame. Happy to see you’re back into it.” Sarah said.

“How old were you when you first started going to resorts? And how old were you when you stopped?” Kate asked.

“My parents approved, and I was sixteen my first time, and when I stopped I think I was twenty or twenty one.” She replied.

“You were a brave little one.” Sarah said.

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“I tried, I always found ways to find the limits of my comfort zone.” Dr. Raine said.

“Oh, doctor, I had meant to ask.” Kate said. Dr. Raine made a questioning humm. “Did they ever pass the coalition wide signage thing for the pools?” Kate asked.

The “signage thing” being simple signs that said female toplessness and all gender nudity are allowed at every pool at any installation in the coalition.

“Yes, as a matter of fact.” She replied. “They did do away with allowing nudity at gyms, except the one located next to the pool at oh-five-eight, at least a pair of shorts or something are now required.” Dr. Raine said.

“That’s not a bad change.” Sarah said. “More hygienic.” She nodded.

“I’ve seen more and more desk jockeys take up nudism, or at least partially.” Dr. Raine continued, crossing her legs. “Requiring a uniform to sit at a desk and type is stupid, anyways.” She shook her head.

“Oh, and one of the female augment corps training instructors has taken after you.” Anton told Kate.

“Really?” Kate asked.

“Uh huh.” Anton nodded. “I was on a video call with them discussing a training manual I’d written and they were topless, sitting in a public area with people behind them.” He explained.

“Ohhhh” Dr. Raine said, “That’s Wilkins” She remarked. Anton nodded, checking the inside cover of a book before shelving it.

“Nudity is all but required for most of the training I’ve seen, and it’s starting to become the norm for most training in coalition basic and the coalition marines.” Dr. Raine said.

“I’m sure that has the unintended but appreciated effect of weeding out the perverts early on.” Anton said, nodding solemnly.

“He’s not complaining, he gets to show up and break their jaw the next time they stand in a formation.” Dr. Raine shook a thumb to Terror.

He gave a health hearted shrug in response, taking notes in the small notebook.

“Something about being naked during both coalition basic and later during the augment corps indoc felt different.” Kate said, crossing her arms.

“By that you mean you were stumbling around half asleep and you had no care in the world for body modesty?” Anton said, smiling towards his books.

“Yup.” Sarah agreed.

“I still think they’re far too hard on you all during training.” Dr. Raine said.

“It’s good for us, makes us as strong as we need to be.” Sarah said.

Dr. Raine shrugged. “Still.”

Anton took his pilot vanishing point out, and wrote in his pocket notebook some again.

“That reminds me, I brought you ink.” Dr. Raine said, standing and opening the rucksack. She spread most of it out across the table before she found what she was looking for - A cardboard box that was surrounded by a blanket and encased in a plastic bag.

She handed it to him, and he opened it. A fifteen piece assortment of bottles from many brands, all neatly tetris’d into the box with a layer of thin styrofoam packing material between them.

“Thank you, so much.” Anton said. “This gives me an excuse to unpack the box of other bottles.” He said. While he was picking up the box, Amara came running into the house, Varg hot on her heels. She ran upstairs, giggling all the way.

“That one cracks me up.” Dr. Raine said, smiling from ear to ear.

“Varg keeps her in check.” Anton replied.

“We let the animals watch the small humans around here.” Sarah remarked.

“I hope the wolf has been in good health.” Dr. Raine said. Varg, a timber wolf, who barely puts up with the hairless apes, was always on Dr. Raine’s mind. She’d probably seen too many complications with Varg’s cousins, brothers, and sisters.

“I keep telling you he’s in perfect health, and happy as a clam.” Anton sighed. “He doesn’t even look at me like he wants to kill me anymore.” He added, making his mother laugh.

“I’m always concerned about that beast.” She said. “Good to know that he is in a good home.”

“He’s an asshole sometimes, but we love him.” Anton said. “I still can’t believe you just gave him to us.” He picked up a large thick cardboard box, and flipped it open.

“You deserved him.” Dr. Raine answered. “Ou also took one of my favorite children under your wing in the same day.” She said, remembering D8.

“I had meant to ask you how they were doing.” Sarah said, adjusting her legs and making her hip pop.

“Just fine, they’re getting along well with the others, and recently deployed with Eric and Alex.” Dr. Raine replied, the sound of Sarah’s all but destroyed hip making her wince.

You can still do everything, there will just be pain.

Not bad for putting the pieces back.

Terror suddenly took his helmet off and threw it down into his lap, the augment equivalent of slamming a phone down to hang up.

“What did they say?” Dr. Raine asked him.

“They told us to go fuck ourselves, professionally, of course.” He scrubbed his face.

Dr. Raine shook her head, and sighed.

“What’s all this about? If I’m allowed to know.” Anton said, neatly arranging his bottles of ink on a shelf.

“THe nuclear regulatory commission isn’t allowing the use of old munitions for training.” Dr. Raine said.

“Parker is pissed because of it, and since I’m one of the graduates of the school before they decided we weren’t allowed to use them, I had to give a statement and basically lobby for their use.” Terror sighed, making a face like he had a bad headache.

“Speaking of which, she’s almost here.” Dr. Raine said. “Oh and she brought you a gift.” She said to Anton.

“I can’t wait,” he replied. “She always gives good ones.”

“Last year for Christmas he gave her a part from a Davy Crockett” Terror told the group. “Can you believe that?”

“She collects explosive components, it seemed a fitting gift.” Anton replied.

“He doesn't get me anything.” Sarah shrugged.

“I so do.” Anton replied. “Remember the hairbrush you still use, the waterproof backpack, the bulk sunscreen, among other things.” He listed off.

She frowned, “I guess you do get me stuff.”

“Uh-Huh.” Anton threw over his shoulder, having gone back to organizing books. “If you would just tell me what you want every once and a while.” He said.

“A lot of times I straight up don’t know. I usually buy the things I want with my own money anyways. It’d be a waste to have you buy those things for me” Sarah said.

Anton sighed. “Okay.” He said.

“That’s it?” Dr. Raine asked. “I’d have laid into Jackob.”

“Just how we communicate.” Sarah shrugged.

“The first few years I knew him, he communicated with grunts and vague hand gestures, occasionally with single word replies.” Kate grinned.

“Only because you pushed my patience.” He said.

“I saw a consistent overall attitude improvement with exposure to bare breasts at least once a day for one hour.” Kate said like in an advert for medication.

“Titties fix everything.” Terror said, looking at each of the nude or partially nude females. “I agree with him, you need to make more naked guy friends.” Terror said.

“I'm working on it.” Sarah said, “you can be a stand in if you’d like.” She suggested.

“No thanks, Sarah.” Terror said, shaking his head. “There’s enough swinging dicks around double oh one, you can find one there.” He suggested.

“Come one come all.” Sarah spread her arms out.

“Oh, completely unrelated,” Kate said, grabbing attention. “We’re in need of a good printer. The human one doesn’t count.”

“I’m not good enough?” Anton asked, smiling.

“I need something to print out all of my medical documents and maybe some continued schooling stuff.” Kate said, ignoring him.

“I’ll ask Charles, he gave me one I use at home, and it just works.” Dr. Raine said. “Takes a standard toner cartridge as well.”

“I don’t think there’s a printer made since twenty twenty five that’s worth half a damn.” Terror said. “I’ve got an old brother band laser one I’ll give to you.”

“That’ll be the alternative.” Kate said.

“Fine by me, I was going to throw it out anyways. I just send what I want printed to one of the office printers at one, and stare down anyone who says I can't use it.” Terror said.

“There are days I wish you would act normal, at least somewhat, and not like a psycho.” Dr. Raine said.

“No fun in that.” Terror replied.

“Would you recommend the Pilot Vanishing Point?” Dr. Raine asked Anton who was taking notes in his small notebook again.

“Yeah, ink capacity with the converter leaves something to be desired, but the cartridge it comes with is easy enough to refill, and it holds a bit.” Anton replied. “You don’t have to use a blunt syringe, you can just eyedropper it into there.

“I like my Pilot Capless, basically the same thing, just without a gold nib.” Terror said, holding it up.

“What do you use, I always wanted to ask you.” Dr. Raine asked Sarah.

“Anton found me a nice Cross Classic Century, it’s as thin as a Bic pen, and I feel like how the thing feels.” Sarah replied enthused, leaning forward and pulling it from a tray on the table that held Anton’s Pelikan M1000, Kate’s Pelikan 400, and her Cross, along with a bottle of ink.

She offered the entirely chrome pen to Dr. Raine, who accepted it.

“May I?” Dr. Raine asked, indicating towards a piece of paper on the table.

“Of course.” Sarah nodded, smiling about their shared hobby, which was becoming a dying art in the day and age.

They pulled the cap off, and wrote a few words in deep black ink, and smiled. “Very nice.” She said, caping it and handing it back.

“Thin and weighty” Sarah said. “I’m very happy with it.”

“I recently gave Charles a pen, and an ink he couldn't’ smudge with brake clean covered hands.” Dr. Raine said. “Surprisingly hard to find.”

“What’d he end up with?” Anton asked.

“A Lamy safari with Noodler’s lexington gray.” She said, “He got a medium nib.”

“That’s a good one, the lego plastic is pretty resilient.” Anton said.

“Recently I’ve taken a liking to broad nibs. I’ve got a new Pelikan M400 with a broad I like.” Dr. Raine said. “I all but demanded better paper.”

“Took you long enough to figure out better stuff existed” Anton said.

She laughed in response. “I bought so much Rhodia and Clairefontaine on the coalition card.”

“I’m sure they didn’t care, it must be cheaper than Jakob’s ships.” Sarah said.

“I’ve seen those financial documents, they are scary.” Terror said, his eyes wide and serious.

“In short, yes.” Dr. Raine replied.

“Parker’s here.” Kate said, “at least I think that osprey is her.”

“He’ll land about a hundred meters away.” Dr. Raine assured her son.

Still, the windows shook, and the floor vibrated beneath their feet.

“Hey guys!” Jolene “C4” Parker said, walking through the front door, and looking at everyone sitting at the table as she stood in the foyer.

“Nice place.” She said, looking around. Her eyes clicked on Dr. Raine.

She sat at other side of the table relative to the entrance, Terror one seat away.

“You?” She asked. “Never saw that coming.” She grinned.

“Nice to see you, Jolene.” Dr. Raine said.

“Hi honey.” Terror waved.

Parker laughed. “Hiii” She, stood, walked around the table, and kissed him softly.

“I’m not much of a spring breeze, I’m going to take a shower and get cleaned up.” Parker said. “Is that okay?” She asked Anton.

“By all means.” He waved her off. “I’m sure you can find the bathroom upstairs.” He told her.

“I have something for you, as I think the old lady told you.” Parker said, dropping her small 3 day assault pack on the table, and pulling out a cardboard box, shallow, broad, and rectangular.

“Here you go, I left you a little something in the box.” Parker said, handing the box off.

“Thank you.” Anton said, accepting it. Parker went to walk off, and Anton stopped her with a gesture that said “wait a moment.”

“Yes?” Parker asked.

“Amara’s up there, with Varg, I thought I’d let you know.” He smiled.

“I wouldn’t miss that little tike at a mile.” She replied, Anton not exactly grasping her expression.

“She’s fine with naked people, right?” Parker asked softly. “I mean strangers.”

“Totally.” Anton replied, “Make yourself comfortable.”

“Come back naked, please, join us and make the boys blush together.” Dr. Raine said.

“I’m sure Anton has seen more of his mother today than he ever has.” Sarah laughed.

“Fuckin’ A” Anton said sternly.

“I was going to anyways, not because you told me to.” Jolene said as she walked away.

“You're still not used to seeing you nude, are you?” Kate asked Terror.

“Nope.” He replied flatly, his face slightly red. “It’s different with her.” He said quietly.

“It always is, you’ll get used to it in time.” Dr. Raine assured him.

Anton opened his box, and read what she’d written.

“I reckoned you would appreciate something like this, I had the outer case custom made and the paper is A3 standard size.

Hope it serves you well - Jolene.” She’d written.

It was written in perfect print handwriting on a simple piece of printer paper. Beneath the paper was a very large leather bound notebook with a piece of rawhide rope holding it closed. On the cover was the augment corps insignia, stamped into the leather.

“Wow.” Anton said, pulling it out and flipping to the first page. Six dot per inch printed with light gray dots that wouldn’t show up when scanned, he knew.

It was just how he liked it.

He leaned over and plucked his M1000 out of the tray on the table and uncapped it. He put nib to paper, and the ink sat beaded, not absorbing into the page.

The black ink was a stark contrast to the high brightness paper. He grinned like a kid at Christmas as he pulled his fine nib vanishing point out of his pocket. The Blue-Black ink in it shaded, and even sheened on the paper in places.

“Nice.” He nodded, still grinning. “I’m going to need to know where she brought the paper and who made the cover.”

“It’s that good?” Kate asked.

“You aren't at the level of appreciating amazing paper, I see.” Dr. Raine lectured, frowning teasingly at her.

Kate laughed. “I guess not.”

“That was very thoughtful of her, I haven’t seen him look at something like that in a very long time.” Sarah adjusted in her chair, scratching under a breast.

“I’m going to have to kiss her.” Sarah said to Terror in a mock serious tone.

“Go for it.” Terror shrugged.

“I’d fight you for her.” Kate said, smiling at him. “I mean I’d probably lose, but I’d try.”

“If you and her want to bump uglies, I can’t stop you.” He scoffed.

“It’s okay big boy, we won’t take her from you.” Sarah told him.

“Thanks.” He replied flatly again. HE wasn’t being defensive or saying it with attitude, that was just how he spoke, they knew.

“Did you pack your laptop?” Dr. Raine asked.

“Yeah, it’s all the way at the bottom.” Terror said. “You can use it.” He added.

Dr. Raine leaned across the table, and inadvertently gave Terror a full view. He sighed and looked away.

“Grow up.” Dr. Raine told him over her shoulder. “Prudes.” She said, playfully eyeing Sarah who smiled.

“This is going to be a long few days.” Terror pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You will be just fine.” Dr. Raine said in her usual motherly tone.

“I really did not need to see all that.” Terror said, blinking rapidly like what he’d seen just hit him.

“You’ll get to see Parker's in a little. That’ll make it better.” Kate teased, holding back a smile.

Anton was doing his best to ignore them, sorting the books.

Terror sighed heavily, and shook his head.

“I had meant to ask you, since I’m sure you know far more about it.” Dr. Raine put the laptop on the table and opened it, then leaned back with her hands at her sides. “I’d like to stop wearing bras, but I’m concerned about sagging.” Dr. Raine said simply.

“I’m quite large, but I know I’m just trying to delay the inevitable.” She added, hefting one of her large C cup breasts.

“You’re actually more likely to see lift, as the connective tissue that has atrophied from external support develops again.” Kate explained. “Try not wearing a top at all for a week or two. You’ll probably see a difference.”

Dr. Raine smiled broadly. “That’s good to hear.” she said, looking down at her chest. She moved her eyes to the carved mahogany table and smiled at it, cherishing the memories that flood up at her.

“This has been in the family for a very long time. It is nice to see it continue on and still be used.” Dr. Raine said, laying a hand flat on the ornately carved mahogany table.

“It looks better here than it ever did in our boring barracks room.” Kate said. The first time she’d seen it, she couldn’t take her eyes off of it as she ate.

“The first time I saw this thing I was too dumb to ask about it.” Sarah said.

“Damn near 600 years old, it’s been around the block a time or two.” Anton said.

“It’s older than some countries.” Kate smiled.

“Surgery has been done on it.” Dr. Raine said, making Kate nod.

Parker came downstairs, naked as a jaybird, and walked up to Kate.

“Would you take a look at this spot on my inner labia?” Parker asked, stepping up.

“Sure.” Kate replied, making a ‘come here’ motion. “May I touch?” Kate asked as Parker moved so she had access to her crotch.

“Of course.” She said, “This thing.” She spread her lips apart, and indicated a small spot on the inside of the right side of her labia minora.

“It’s a pimple.” Kate assured her, feeling it between her fingers and then moving her hand away. “I would recommend that you leave it be.” She said.

“Will do.” Parker replied. “Thank you.” She smiled, visibly relieved. SHe stepped over to Terror, and plopped down in his lap with her arms around him.

“I like how you went to her instead of me.” Dr. Raine frowned playfully. Being the person who gave Parker her gifts, she’d seen more of Parker than anyone else, inside and out.

“She’s been inside of me while we were under fire, so I’m a little more trusting with her.” Parker replied, making a bit of a freudian slip at first, and blushing.

“I get it.” Dr. Raine said.

“I might have you take a look later too.” Parker said, turning to face Terror, and smiling as she spoke.

He squeezed her stomach twice, tickling her and making her yelp and giggle. “Later.” He said flatly.

“Seeing you show affection is weird.” Sarah said.

“You just haven’t seen it before.” Terror told her.

“Jee, thanks Tim.” Sarah scowled, then broke into giggles along with Terror and the rest of the group.

“I miss just hearing the chemistry between all of you.” Dr. Raine said, looking at all of them.

“Chemistry?” Like a VX artillery shell maybe.” Terror scoffed.

“A good, clean nuke, I’d say.” Dr. Raine said, making Jolene snort.

“Do you not agree?” Dr. Raine asked her.

“Not that I don’t agree, but you’re leaving the fist fights and stab wounds out.” Parker said, looking at Kate.

“Hey, she nearly broke my jaw. That means we’re even.” Terror said, making eye contact with Kate, who was grinning, and holding her gaze.

“I am still mad.” Kate said. “But it was a long time ago, and I’ve cut you up many times since.”

I, for one, hope you do not have to cut him up again.