Frozen Sea

2. Outpost Zero

Hongjoong shuffled into the base with his nose runny and his cheeks numb. As he kicked his boots off he scowled at San and Seonghwa who looked just peachy. San merely winked at him as Seonghwa worriedly rubbed his back. The warmth inside slowly seeped into Hongjoong's body like the pricks of thousands of needles.

Their way here had been a blur of white. Hongjoong had not seen much in the incoming snowstorm apart from some grey cliffs and white ice that surrounded them. The base was neatly tucked in the protective shadow of another cliff and shaped like a U. In the yard, Hongjoong had seen different kinds of vehicles and equipment for their research. However, since he had been freezing they had not dwelled and rather hurried right into the warm base.

Now, inside the white and rather sterile quarters that would become their new home, Hongjoong found the exhaustion of their journey catching up with him. He wanted to drop down on a bed and get some rest so his body could adjust to the gravity and surroundings of a planet, but he was left no second to relax.

Because in the next moment Wooyoung already came racing towards him from the adjoining room with a big smile painted on his lips. His youthful eyes were cheerful as he approached.

"Hongjoong! You're finally here!"

Hongjoong let him as the man happily wrapped his arms around Hongjoong's form. He patted Wooyoung's back tiredly while San wandered off to inform the others of their arrival.

"Yes, here I am. Can't say I missed this planet."

Wooyoung pulled back with a giggle, his face open and honest. Hongjoong couldn't even pretend to be mad at him. The physicist was obviously enthusiastic about their mission here and getting to stay with the group. Hongjoong couldn't help but soften at the man's excitement.

"Oh, but this time it's so different! Literally the only similarities between the two outposts are some minerals and Salty's friends!" Yunho and Mingi said that they have encountered a whole new palette of lifeforms here and boy, will you be curious about them!"

Hongjoong squinted at him while Seonghwa wandered off to put Salty in another container.

"So new leviathans, huh?"

At this, Wooyoung brought his hand up to shyly rub his neck.

"Yeah, also new leviathans... But I swear this will not be half as bad as last time! We got weapons to stun them now and if anything happens, we can come right back! There's also these cool-"

Wooyoung was interrupted in his rant as Yeosang and Jongho finally joined them. The android was wearing a patient smile on his lips while Jongho looked nearly bored. He hid his glee to see Hongjoong well, but if he looked closely, Hongjoong could still detect some happiness in his eyes.

"Hey, Joong! Did Eden finally let you go?" Yeosang was first to speak up.

"Filing Seonghwa as my android was a pain. He had to go through literally all the useless tests to assure his functionality as if they didn't know him. I didn't expect to even get back here within the year." Hongjoong rolled his eyes at the overzealous fuss the higher-ups liked to make about Seonghwa. Their relationship was disliked and considered playing favourites between the folks who regarded androids as exchangeable goods. Whenever they had things to discuss, their conversations tended to heat up.

"I can only imagine... We figured they would drop it as we reported on the Frozen Leviathan. They needed all hands here."

Hongjoong followed them to the sitting area where San had already settled together with Seonghwa. As they entered the room Seonghwa was just pulling back from one of their exchanges via a kiss. When the android noticed Hongjoong's jealous eyes on him he gave an apologetic look.