IV: MARS

visiting hours.

Venus could hardly wait for Dakota to come visit again. She had been worried sick about how he was adjusting. Not to mention, everyone else in Venus was constantly nagging her about him. He'd grown to be quite popular amongst her people. They wanted to have a welcoming party, but Venus thought that'd be overkill; besides, he'd only been gone for a week. It was probably just an excuse to party anyways. She looked at the sundial. He'll be here soon. In the meantime, she thought it'd be best to change out of her gardening clothes. Something light, like a sundress, is typically the way to go since it's always like summer in her biome. She opened her dresser carefully, as to not disturb the sheet covering the mirror hanging on the door.

There was a knock at the door. Once fully clothed she answered it, expecting it to be Dakota.
"Sorry, not Dakota."
Abel. Of course it was Abel.
"Remember I said no welcoming party." She warned.
"I know, sweetheart, I know. I'm not here to talk about parties. I'm here to talk about boys."
Venus rolled her eyes and sat down at her vanity desk. Abel made himself comfortable on her bed.
"I saw THE cutest guy at the reception. I think he's from Earth."
She turned to look at him.
"Don't you think every guy is the cutest? Especially if they're from Earth?"
"Well yeah, duh. How could I not? They got round ears and are so tiny and cute!" He gushed.
Venus rolled her eyes.
"Hey! I know how you think about your crush! Always going on about how she's got pretty hands-"
Venus shushed him and held up her hairbrush, threatening to throw it.
"Yeah but you didn't have to listen to me say that stuff, you read me!" She pointed out.
Abel was sort of like a psychic but for emotions; specifically that of attraction. It's strongly advised that you don't look into his pink eyes or else he'll get enough information about your love life to expose you for 50 years. He will know everything. Who you've kissed, who you've thought about kissing, wet dreams, hookups, fantasies— everything. Needless to say he isn't really someone that people consider approachable. Aside from invading a part of your psyche, he's also a staggering 6'4 and has glowing pink eyes. It's a bit much for some folks. That's why he was surprised when he first met Dakota. He was such a polite and quiet guy that Abel thought he must have some deep dark secrets. Unfortunately, not an impure thought in his head. Bummer. That would've been really fun to play with. Regardless, Dakota makes good company. So Abel had planned to drop in coincidentally  at the same time Dakota was visiting. Venus wasn't oblivious, but she didn't mind. As long as he wasn't bringing a party.

There was a soft knock at the door. Venus and Abel both made eye contact and smiled.
"Come in!" Venus shouted.
The man himself walked in, still wearing his Mars uniform. Abel dramatically gasped.
"You're in BLACK! And you look GOOD!"
Venus shot him a look while Dakota laughed nervously.
"Abel, get your head out of the gutter." She said.
"Don't stress, I know he likes it," He said winking at Dakota. He felt his soul walk out the door right then.
"Dakota, ignore him. Tell me all about your training." Venus said, motioning him to come sit by her. He sat down with his back against the leg of the vanity. He noticed the sheet over the vanity's mirror, but didn't mention it.
"It was fine. I'm not allowed to practice fighting with the other rookies because Baddar says I'll make them eat the dirt. It's an expression, I guess. So I practiced with him. He says I'll be able to join the intermediate class in half as much time."
"Oh my god are you a twunk?"
"Abel, shut! Up!" Venus said, wide eyed.
He rolled on her bed howling with laughter. Dakota sat there confused, yet unbothered.
"How's Malakai? Have you guys spoken to each other yet?"
Abel stopped his rolling and perked up to listen.
"I think he's fine. Baddar says he's hiding from people because he's in a mood. We talked once briefly, but not about that."
The other two didn't speak, only stared at him with anticipation.
"What?"
"Well? What did you talk about?" Abel blurted out.
"Death."
The eagerness on their faces disappeared. Abel looked at him with sympathy. Venus put her head in her hands.
"Don't you two know how to talk about anything besides work, death, or blood?" She said with a sigh.

***

"Your stance is wrong." Baddar corrected.
Malakai ignored him and continued the move. He had a clear shot at his abdomen, but Baddar hooked their ankles together and tripped him before he got the chance. He landed with a painless thud. Baddar hovered over him.
"I know you're not tired. So why are you messing this up?"
"I'm fine. Just distracted from all the work I've been doing this week."
"Damn, are the intermediates that bad?"
Malakai got off the floor and turned off his Holo-Blade 600.
"It's complicated, I don't want to talk about it. How's the rookies?"
Baddar noticed he changed the subject and let it slide.
"I can't believe they let some of these people walk freely around when they have these crazy abilities. There's this guy called Bear Trap, and wanna guess why they call him that?"
"He traps bears?" Malakai answered sarcastically. Baddar stifled a laugh but quickly cleared his throat.
"It's because the strength of his jaw is like a bear trap. He could rip a man's leg clean off. I watched him bite into a rock the other day like an apple."
"Wow, that's kind of disturbing. Please don't tell me you scouted out other people like that."
"Not yet! A few other oddballs here and there, but nothing too wild."
Baddar paused for a beat.
"Speaking of normal...Am I allowed to ask what's up with Dakota? I know Mrs. Research Lady is probably up your ass about "confidentiality", but in my professional opinion, I'd like to know what I'm dealing with."
Malakai turned to him with a worried look on his face.
"Why? Did he do something? Did he hurt someone?"
"What? No! He's just really good and it's a little freaky."
Malakai looked at him oddly.
"He's the perfect student, don't get me wrong. He does everything he's told, he executes everything with precision. Not to mention he has amazing stamina; I don't think I've seen him breathe heavily."
"Yeah, he's got some experience under his belt."
"Some? The kid is like a machine! He kinda reminds me of you."
Malakai tensed at his words. He covered it up with a joke.
"Must suck for you having to deal with two of me."
Baddar laughed and clapped his hand on his shoulder.
"Well, on the bright side you now have a fair opponent so you can stop kicking my ass!"
Malakai laughed at this in the moment, but later that day he could not stop thinking about it. Maybe that's why he found himself waiting for Dakota to come back from Venus'. He moved his couch to be positioned right in front of the doorway to the kitchen. When he finally showed up, he walked past the doorway and saw Malakai waiting with his arms stretched over the back of the couch.
"We need to talk."