Forget The Rain–– Day 4, February 5, 2317

[Lithium]

Perseus grinned. "The spicier the better. In fact..."

He stood up and went back to the pantry. "I was worried you didn't like hot salsa, so I didn't bring this out. It's my special Ghost pepper salsa. It's so spicy that I am the only one in the entire camp who can eat it without tearing up." He grinned with pride. "Think you can handle it?"

He opened the jar and poured a little into a smaller dish, pulled out a chip and ate a whole bunch of it. His face remained blank. "It's good."

[Cytherea]

"Think you can handle it?"

He opened the jar and poured a little into a smaller dish, pulled out a chip and ate a whole bunch of it. His face remained blank. "It's good."

Hazel grabbed the dish and smelled the salsa. Her eyes almost crossed, but she stopped them just in time.

"All right. I never turn down a dare." she said. She grabbed a chip and dipped it into the salsa, putting on just as much as Perseus had. She put it into her mouth and started chewing. Her face turned bright red, but she focused all her will on not crying.

Finally she swallowed. Her skin felt like it was on fire, but she ordered the tears not to come.

"There." she said. She cleared her throat, though her voice sounded a little strangled. "No tears." she smiled at him. "I should make you some of my Cayenne and Jalapeno Pepper Chili. It's pretty darn spicy." she coughed. "This is just a different type of spicy."

She pulled out another chip and twirled it around in her fingers. She looked as if she were concentrating on something.

"You know," she absent mindedly dipped the chip into the Ghost pepper salsa. "My father and I were the only one's in my family who could ever eat my concoction." she put the chip into her mouth. "Spicy foods..."

Suddenly she tasted the food she was eating. She concentrated again on not tearing up, but found that it was easier this time.

Maybe I already burned off all my other taste buds the first time.

"Oh man!" she said as she swallowed it. She coughed and put the bowl down. "I need some time to adapt to that salsa." she said weakly. She managed a smile. "But I didn't tear up."

[Lithium]

Perseus clapped. "Nicely done, Hazel." He grinned and took some more salsa. "And I would be delighted to try your special, spicy salsa."

Something blipped on one of the screens and he dashed over to it. The pale face of a young woman with luminescent blue eyes and hair the color of clouds against the blue of the sky came onto the screen.

"Perseus, I need a status update."

"We are currently experiencing a storm. We have added three more people to our group–– two males and a female."

"Is the female pretty?"

Perseus looked back at Hazel and grinned before turning around. "Absolutely."

"We'll bring supplies tomorrow morning, once the sandstorm has cleared. Can you produce the usual payment?"

Perseus nodded. "We have just come in to a large cache of Ion weapons. We can trade for them."

The girl nodded. "Good. Do not let my people down. We must be prepared for when the war comes to us."

Perseus nodded.

"Stars unto you."

"May they light our world's sky."

The screen turned back to black and Perseus turned around. He shrugged. "Like I said, it's always work. Work, work, work. But I enjoy it."

[Cytherea]

As Perseus talked with the women, Hazel surveyed him.

He has so much power. Such a compelling way of putting his words together. But then he's so nice as well.

"Is the female pretty?"

Perseus looked back at Hazel and grinned before turning around. "Absolutely."

Hazel smiled back, though she was still lost in thought.

Does he know? Should I tell him? I don't want to seem rude, or jump to conclusions. But I never lead boys on. But... should I admit to myself that I like him? It's just a small feeling right now; so easy to crush. It would cause so much less conflict.

"Stars unto you."

"May they light our world's sky."

And I know what I want. Well, more like what I don't want. Why did Johnny and I have to be engaged since birth? It's such a stupid thing to agree to. And he's such an idiot.

He shrugged. "Like I said, it's always work. Work, work, work. But I enjoy it."

"Perseus;" Hazel said quickly and abruptly. She took a step towards him. "I have to tell you something. First off, I never lead guys on. Secondly, I'm engaged. Ever since I was born. Third, the guy I'm engaged to is a complete jerk. Fourth..." she wrung her hands. "Fourth, I never want to see him again in my life, and I like you much better."

She quickly took her hair out of its ponytail and shook it gently. She smiled happily.

"I can crush my feelings before they grow too strong. After all, my fiance still lives and breaths." she shrugged as if she was talking about some trivial matter. "Of course, I don't know what you feel like. Didn't Siren say you already have a girlfriend?"

[Lithium]

Perseus shrugged. "Eh. Like you said, I can crush my feelings before they become too strong. She's no one important." He took a step closer and smiled warmly. "Unlike you. You're important. I can sense it. I think Luna could sense it. She asked about you. She doesn't normally ask about our new people."

He looked away. "We're all brought to specific points in time for a specific reason..."

Breaking into a brilliant smile he added, "Plus, you were able to eat my salsa. That's got to count for something."

[Cytherea]

Hazel smiled back.

"That's true. That salsa is so spicy."

Hazel stretched and then ran her fingers through her hair.

"How long do these storms passing through Borderway take?" She grinned at him. "I kind of lost track of time."

[Lithium]

Perseus shrugged. "It kind of depends on how big it is. I'm thinking it should take all night, which will really, really be awful. I mean..." He checked his watch. "It reached its largest point about ten minutes ago... and it's now 10 o'clock..." He shrugged again. "It should take a while for it to completely blow itself out. Probably until 2, or 3."

[Cytherea]

"Sheesh." Hazel said, wide-eyed. "That's a long time."

She hopped back onto the bed and swung her legs over the edge.

"When I was captured by the slave traders, we were plagued by sandstorms for what seemed like every day." she stuck her tongue out distastefully. "Awful. Especially because slaves normally don't get as many privileges as their captors."

[Lithium]

"Yeah..." Perseus said. "Well, I've got a major meeting with the Princess of Solari and I'd like to be at full thinking capacity tomorrow, so I need to get some shut-eye. I'll set up a cot over there and sleep."

He quickly pulled out a cot from a supply closet, grabbed a blanket and pillow and settled himself down. He pulled the blanket up, and said, "Lights at 20 percent power." The lights automatically dimmed.

Perseus soon fell asleep.

End of day for Perseus, Siren and Matthew

(Can we wrap it up, guys? Thanks! ^.^)

[Cytherea]

Perseus pulled out a cot, pillow and blanket, and settled down onto the floor. He said something, and the lights in the room dimmed. Hazel quickly pulled her worn shoes off her feet, and put her hair in a ponytail.

"I am so tired..." she mumbled before crawling under the covers of the king-sized bed. She put her head on the pillows and pulled the covers around her shoulders.

(End of day for Hazel)