Chapter Six-Too Late…Too Late
Coal and Samus ran into the street, scanning the area. Samus tapped Coal on the shoulder, and pointed across the road. Kagu and Torina sat on the edge of the sidewalk, looking at something in Torina's hand.
"Torina, baby, what're you looking at?" Samus called, walking across the empty street.
"It's tracking Admiral Dane." Kagu responded, waving at Samus.
"You lost him?" Coal asked, lowering his voice.
"No, he's heading toward Velain."
"No, I meant the man in black took him away, didn't he?"
There was a short silence. "Yeah." Torina said shortly.
"But we know where he is!" Kagu said enthusiastically. "We can go get him!"
Coal looked at her. "I'm confused. First, you're care free. Then you're serious, now you're enthusiastic. What's happening?"
"Mood swings." Kagu replied jauntily.
"Right…"
"Where is he now, Torina?" Samus interrupted.
"He's gone past Velain and landed on Akull."
"We can get there and get Dane out! Come on!" Samus turned and began to run toward the alley.
"Wait!"
Sam slowed to a stop.
"Akull is… it means ice in Abanian." Torina stood, clutching her palm computer. "And I've looked into it. It's really cold there, and Kagu and I might not…" The two looked at each other, "we might not survive."
"Why not?" Coal asked.
"We grew up in an extremely hot environment. We…" Kagu looked at Torina.
"We don't sense heat as well as you do. But we feel cold acutely."
"So, right now it may feel warm to us, but you feel slightly cold?"
"If ever so slightly." Kagu answered.
"So I was wondering," Torina cut in, "if there is some sort of equipment we can use to keep the environment at a neutral temperature?"
"I was hoping to be let out at the next available bus stop." Kagu said, standing up and facing Torina with a "You-promised-I-was-through-with-this" look on her face.
Tory sighed. "Well, I was wondering…"
"Hang on." Kagu interrupted. "Is he going, too?" She said pointing at Coal.
"Yeah," Coal said, suddenly annoyed. "I am."
"Then never mind. I am sticking to my sister like glue." Kagu said, striding off with Samus back down the alley way.
"Then why isn't she stuck to your arm?" Coal asked in a quiet whisper.
"Don't ask…Hey, wait a minute!" Kagu looked over her shoulder at Torina, smiling at Tory's outburst. "When of earth were you and I sisters?"
"No idea."
"That solves a lot of problems."