V-GR shivered under the frozen water particles, trying to keep his internal temperature from fluctuating too much. Because of his planet's strange tilt, winter always lasted more than an Earth year as his side pointed away from what little sunlight there was outside the Kuiper Belt.

He'd recently been fired after it was revealed that he was transgender. After that, no one wanted to hire him. His surgical scars still ached and stung as he pulled the thin blanket closer around himself. He had no home, no job, no family. Everyone hated him. He hadn't gotten a decent charge in more than a week.

If this kept up, he would starve.

He heard a clattering sound and looked up. There was a little girl, maybe five years old, with silver eyes and pale-moon skin. Her hair was jet-black, and she was all bundled up in a furry parka and soft mittens. The sound she'd made had been her tossing a coin into his rusty can. He checked the coin, beginning to cry as he realized it was a full unit. He would be able to get a 500 watt charge.

He looked up at the girl as he shivered, "God bless you..."

She tilted her head to the side, "Are you homeless?"

He looked down in shame, "Yes..."

"Why?"

"B-because..." he covered his mouth as his teeth chattered, trying to warm him up. He couldn't finish.

"It's okay. My Mama was homeless once." she said, "But now she's rich and famous. She told me to listen when people talk, even if they had nothing."

V-GR rubbed his face before his eyes could freeze, "Th-thank you..."

The girl squatted down, whispering with one hand around her mouth, "Mama doesn't know this, but I've been trying to help homeless people for years. Can you tell me how old you are?"

He averted his gaze, "I-I'm nine..."

"I meant your model age, silly!"

"Oh...um..." he thought for a moment as he breathed over his hands and rubbed them together, "Nineteen or twenty, I believe..."

"Ah! I see!" the girl extended her hand, "My name's Cassandra, by the way. But my friends call me Cassy."

He shook her warm gloved hand absently, "V-Gr." she didn't seem bothered by the dirt.

She pursed her lips, "You're so cold..." she began undoing the buttons of her coat.

"No, don't." V-GR insisted, "I just wanted some spare change. I don't want to take your coat."

"But I'm all warm and cozy while you're freezing cold! Besides, I'm wearing another coat under this one." she got her outer coat off and handed it to him, "I have dozens of coats at home. It's really no loss for me."

He hesitated one more moment before wrapping his fingers around the soft material. It was so warm.

"Listen. I know why you're homeless. You used to be a girl, right?"

He was suddenly conscious of all his stapled scars as he nodded.

"I'm sorry." Cassandra replied, "I had a friend like that who was born a boy, but he always wanted to wear blue and white. He wanted his hair long, and he wanted me to call him Ma'am."

V-GR listened while he held her precious coat.

"I want to help you." she said, "Maybe you'll be rich someday like Mama. I'm going to bring you little things to help you get by until your scars heal, and then you can get a job, okay?"

V-GR shook as he buried his face in his new coat, balling it in his fists, "Thank you! Thank you thank you! God bless you, Miss! God bless!"

"Hey hey. I'm just being a person. I haveta get home now though. Mama gets mad when I'm late."

"Thank you, Cassandra. I'll never forget you."

"I know!" she giggled, "Bye, Vee-Jur!"

She skipped away carefully, so as not to slip on the ice.

V-GR slowly slipped the warm coat over his shoulders. It was too small for him, as the sleeves only came up to his elbows, but it fit his frame perfectly. He stopped shivering as he pulled his knees up closer to his chest, enthralled by the heat provided by the thick furry interior of the coat.

He would get a recharge soon, but in the meantime, he was content to stay in his own personal sauna as the ice raged on outside.


"Urg!" V-GR slid the final piece of furniture into place, "Okay...that should do the trick..."

"Whew..." Willow fell on her side on the sofa, "That took awhile..."

"Willow, can robots have ADHD?" V-GR asked.

"Not really, why?" she realized right after saying that, "Oh, I see...I get sooo distracted don't I?"

"You thought the bug on the window was cool while I was carrying a nightstand to the bedroom."

"It looked like it had giant eyes on it!" she retorted, "Anyway, why were we here again?"

"And you said you don't get distracted..." he mumbled.

"I heard that!"

He laughed, "We're here to help people migrate! Remember?"

"Oh. Right." she rolled over so she was on her back, "Because this place is crowded and oppressed, right?"

"Yup." V-GR lay across the couch with her, nuzzling her brown LED eyes, "I'm sick and tired of people suffering here, and I just want it to be over."

"Hm..." she replied.

V-GR stroked her cheek as he planted a small spark on her forehead, "Have I rendered you speechless again?"

She blushed as she nodded, "Mmhmm..."

"Daw! You are just too cute! Mwah!" he kissed her one more time before swinging his feet onto the floor, "Well we'd better get started then."

"Huh?" Willow was quick to follow, "Um...where are we going?"

"Just down the street." he replied, "Take your coat. It'll be freezing outside."

"Why?"

"Because winter here is scary." he replied, "Trust me. If you don't bring your coat, you could die."

"Oh..." she did as she was told, though the giant sleeves felt odd around her floating arms. V-GR helped her zip it up.

"There ya go. Nice and warm?" he asked.

"Ugh. Too warm." she replied, "It's hot."

"Perfect." he made sure his own coat was fastened properly before he gave a thumbs up, "Ready to go?"

"This winter had better be as scary as you..." she trailed off once V-GR had opened the door. White. Nothing but hard and white. No soft snow like back on Earth. It was all cold and quiet.

Willow exhaled, "Oh..."

"Hurry out! I don't want the cold air inside!" he carried her outside and locked the door up tight.

"Now the coat makes sense." she said, "Yikes..."

"Yeah." he chuckled, "Just wait'll summer comes. It's hotter than the sun."

Willow felt herself shrink in V-GR's arms.

"Let me know if your treads get stuck in the ice, okay?" he set her down carefully, "Beginning Operation: Rescue."