​     "Moving where?" Niki asked. "Where are we going? Naturia, right?"

​     "Technolica, yes."

​     "And we're using the van to go up there?"

     Gramps nodded. "I've still got a cache of Azure weaponry we can use." 

     "I'm still not seeing why the Azure bailed," Trevor said. 

     Niki nodded towards the baby. 

     Gramps nodded in reply.

     "How much longer have we got to go before the portal is activated?" Trevor asked. 

​     "It's not even eight in the morning yet," Gramps replied. "And Technolica's not going to activate the portal before he fucks Mother Naturia again."

     "Daddy, please," Abby said. 

     "Oh, I'm sorry, honey. I..." 

​     Both Alison and Kathy frowned. 

​     "Change the subject," Alison said. "Quick."

     "We don't have to leave in the next five minutes, do we?" Abby asked. "I say we sit down for a minute of two, get centered a little."

     Gramps said, "And I think it's time we..."

​     "Daddy!" No one could stare Gramps down better than his daughter, Abby. "Have some coffee."

     "I've had enough coffee," Gramps said. 

​     "Not me," Niki said.

     "You said something about being hungry, Trevor?" 

     "I'm starving."

     "We still have some of those raspberry muffins, don't we Alison?"

     "Well, yes, but not really," Alison replied. "They're made out of botanicals."

     Bits of Mother Naturia, in other words.

     "Sounds good," Trevor said. 

     "I'll go get 'em," Skip said. 

     Alison replied, "You don't have to..."

​     "No no, I'll go get 'em. I'll be right back."

                                               CONTINUE