Chapter 3 Part 3 Cont

"Cold." Griff said.

They'd left the sun for a tundra. Kate froze her down to the belly button! She screamed and screamed and screamed, despite no sound escaping her lips.

Instead, she winked at Griff.

"Yeah, we should have ordered some of the cream. Though, fancy place like this, with the most sophisticated weather control system we've ever seen…" Kate said with a playful slowness.

She laid it up for Griff to slap down.

"Body mods!" He said, bouncing on the spot.

He actually pocketed his phone.

That would change things. External Mod packs. And there was no mother to talk money, and nutritional upkeep. The cars were away…

The search wasn't a long one. They found a line of tweens in an open kiosk with walls around like a hug. The walls had displays where people could select and buy in the centre where the main stand was. They joined the collection line. It was crowded, so many youths that they'd had to switch to private networking due to the chatter.

"Are those ever for the cold?" Griff's voice chimed in her ear.

"I doubt it, you saw how everyone just knew we were outsiders. I think there are just that many different body mods."

Kate's brain binged, notification of a request came in her network.

Kate hesitated for a moment but accepted.

"Ya'll adorable," Come on other worldly but familiar twang.

"Tiffany?" Kate asked the air.

"Tiff's here? Tell her about Jackie and what you did!" Griff said "She saw Jackie and tackled a girl called Sakura. And used her as a shield. They both sat on me though."

"Sakura? Sakura Tanaka. The cosplayer? Are you guys just collectin' people?"

"I collected nothing. She basically jumped me in front of her parent's and mine."

-Tiff added to friend network (+)

"Just like that. That's something. Shud I be gettin defensive over ya?" Tiff breathed.

Not wanting to slow the banter, Kate went with the flow, the comprehending part of her brain on a smoke break.

"Why? Am I yours to-"

And then her brain dropped the cigarette upon realizing what was being said. Unfortunately her brain had also slipped and banged its head on the control panel, and the cigarette had landed on Kerosine and her mind was blown. The monitor only displayed: What! What! What! What!

Stuck on repeat.

What!What!What!

Kate coughed and swallowed.