Editing Story:ROAD TRIP! (Warhammer High)/Part Five (section)

===Bye, Chuck!===


At last, the day came.  Trailing behind their luggage, Venus directed the carrying servitors down to the cargo bay.  The other four, feeling the need to go full circle, stopped in the O-Club one last time before the ship docked over Mars.  As they drew up stools, Kines put out their now-well-remembered favorite drinks and leaned back against the rear counter.  “Thanks for flying, my friends,” he said.

“It’s been real,” Jake said.  “On the tiny chance you have the opportunity, definitely check up on us.”

“I should,” Kines said.  “You go have fun at school, your Lordships,” he said to Alex and Jake.

“I’ll certainly try,” Alex said, shaking his hand.  “Stay safe, Lieutenant.”

When Freya and Jake were done shaking hands too, Remilia walked up to him and paused.  The others made for the couches to prepare for deceleration, and to give them a moment.

Remilia smiled over the counter at him.  “Thanks, Chuck.  It’s been a lot of fun.  I feel…a lot better than I did when I came aboard.  It was wonderful to have someone to talk to.”

Kines’ face fell.  “THAT was why you kept coming back?” he asked, crestfallen.

Remilia blinked, then buried her face in her hands.  “No offense to your technique or anything,” she said through her hands, holding back a laugh.

Kines beamed.  “Better.”  He reached under the counter.  “Here, I was saving this.”

She peered through her fingers.  “Huh?”

“When your friend Julius was aboard, he bought this and told me to save it for you,” Kines said.  He extracted a bottle of orange soda and handed it to her.  “Last one aboard, actually.”

“Aww, that was nice of him,” Remilia said, accepting it.  She twisted the cap off and sipped.  “Mmm.  Want some?”

“No thanks, Remilia,” Kines said.

She downed a bit more and made to throw out the bottlecap, then hesitated and put it in her pocket instead.  “Think I’ll hang on to it,” she said with a faint smile.

Kines grinned.  “A memento of the trip?”

“Sure.”  She paused as the ship lurched a bit.  They were decelerating into orbit over Mars.  “Well…time to go,” she said.

Kines nodded and started to salute, but she grabbed his hand before he could finish and pulled him into a quick kiss.  “Thanks, Chuck.  I won’t forget you,” she said softly.  “You were exactly what I hoped I would find on this trip.”

He pulled back, blushing a bit.  “Thank you, Princess,” he said.  “That’s very kind.  I’ll remember you too.”

“Eternal youth plus eidetic memory…and they say you never forget your first,” Remilia said, grinning mischievously.  “You keep yourself safe and go open that bar of yours, hear me?”

“Count on it,” Kines said happily.  “Farewell, your Highness.”