Jove was the last one to arrive in the cafeteria. He was also the least dressed, despite having on track pants, a long sleeve shirt, and socks. The others had wisely bundled up in their jackets, and in Eve's case, her wool hat.
"Good morning, Jove," said Kira. "Coffee?"
"Absolutely." He glanced at Aster, but the standoffish way she avoided his eyes told him that she was still annoyed he'd sided with his mother the previous night.
"I also made pancakes." Kira gave a slightly sheepish smile. "Again. I added chocolate chips this time around."
"Nice," said Jove. "Those must be rare here on the station. Is it a special occasion?"
He meant the question as a joke, but the silence that followed felt heavy and dire.
"The station has been forced to institute emergency fuel rationing protocols due to the current propane level," said Andromeda, helpfully.
"Well, that's a reason to toss some chocolate chips into pancakes if I've ever heard one," muttered Jove.
Kira finished pouring the coffee for him and gently offered it across the table. "They're Eve's favorite, and I wanted to make sure she ate enough before… heading out this morning."
Jove took a sip of the coffee, which was too hot and scalded his tongue. "You're sending her out alone?"
"To Port Sirius," said Eve, nodding. "I'm taking a snowmobile but also my skis for backup in case anything happens."
"I don't understand," said Jove. "Why would you go alone?"
"I need to stay here at Termina Station now as much as ever," said Kira. "Andromeda seems trustworthy, and she managed to figure out how to control the heating system better than I could. But if anything happens, I need to be here to… course correct."
"We have no idea what might be happening at Port Sirius right now," said Jove. "If we all went, at least we'd be together."
"I can't leave the station yet, Jove," said Kira, firmly. "You don't understand how relevant my work here has become. One of Termina's main research projects is a seed vault - samples of biodiversity across a massive swathe of species which may now be extinct."
Jove shook his head, furious at the circumstances as much as his mother's cold, calculating logic. "And what about you, Aster? I thought you wanted to get back to Port Sirius as soon as possible if there was a chance of escape."
"That was before it was confirmed that killer robots were hunting us on the ice." Aster shook her head slowly. "Eve's better positioned to make a journey like this, with her training and experience. Once she arrives in Port Sirius, she can simply alert the relevant authorities there and have help sent back our way."
"Of course," said Kira
She gave her sister an obliging, if condescending smile. Aster narrowed her eyes in return.
"I'm not letting her go alone," said Jove. "It's too dangerous."
He wasn't just thinking of the ice drones. He was well aware that Eve was still nursing an injured knee.
"Jove," said Kira. "This isn't you sneaking out around a curfew. This is a serious situation with life or death consequences. It's better if Eve, with her experience in winter environments, makes the trip alone."
"I actually agree with Jove," said Eve, in a careful tone. "The journey is right in my ballpark. But it's not as though the propane is simply going to be laying out for us to take it once we arrive. With his background in the criminal dark arts of breaking and entering, we stand a better chance in getting past any locked doors we encounter."
"I'm going to take that as a compliment, if a slightly backhanded one," said Jove. "It's settled, then."
"I am your mother and the director of this station," said Kira, in a firm voice. "The final decision is mine to make. With that said… you make a good point, Eve. It might help for your brother to be with you."
"Wow." Jove shook his head, irritated almost beyond words. "So when Eve says it, she makes a good point. When I say it, totally ignored. Love this family dynamic."
"You just find any excuse to act affronted, don't you, little brother?" asked Eve.
"Fuck off."
"I was only waiting for you to wake up before heading out," said Eve. "Go get your stuff together."
"Stop bossing me around and maybe I will."
He finished his breakfast, enjoying each bite of chocolate pancakes around the sour knowledge that they were made as a sendoff for the golden child. Gathering his winter gear, he secured an extra set of thin gloves to wear under his normal ones, remembering how cold his hands had been on the ride out.
"I would recommend taking the crowbar with you, as well," said Andromeda. "It may come in handy."
"Good point," said Jove. "It's good for opening doors, among other things."
"I hope you stay safe, Jovian," said Andromeda.
"I'm sure it will all be fine."
He pulled on his scarf, aware that as much danger he and Eve would be in, another threat loomed over the station in their absence. They were quite literally running on fumes, fuel wise. If he and Eve didn't manage to successfully return with a resupply, the cold would become an insurmountable threat.
"Any tips?" he asked.
"If you do encounter difficulties which impede your progress, immediately take shelter and huddle together for warmth."
"That's, uh, helpful," he said.
He met with Eve outside the entrance chamber. She smiled at him in a way that was too sincere and earnest, lacking her usual dark humor and aloofness.
"You all set?" she asked.
"Yeah, I think so," he said.
"Supplies for the journey," said their mother, as she set a heavy duffle bag down next to them. "There's food, an emergency insulated tent that can sleep two, hand warmers, extra socks and gloves and scarves and hats."
"What about a stove or something to start a fire with?" asked Jove.
"Regular camping stoves don't work so well in this level of cold," said Kira. "They tend to clog up and, well… explode, sometimes. There is a lighter in one of the pockets of the bag, but you won't find much to burn on the ice."
"I doubt we'll need it," said Eve. "The map that Andromeda made for us is fairly detailed. Should be a simple matter of watching for landmarks as we head north, and then if we're lucky, following our tracks on the way back."
"Right…" Jove frowned a bit as he internalized that obvious, unfortunate fact.
With Earth's satellites now controlled by rogue AI, they had no GPS to navigate with. They'd be reliant on the old methods, eyes and maps and a compass.
"Be safe." Kira wrapped Eve in a tight hug. "You too, Jove."
"I plan on it," he said.
He hugged his mother, feeling her soft body even through the layers of their jackets. She pulled his scarf down a bit to kiss him on the cheek. There was an odd moment of tension as they looked at each other afterward, faces still close. A strange part of him was tempted to kiss her on the lips, but he didn't, aware of Aster and Eve watching nearby.
"Don't get yourself turned into a popsicle out there, darling," said Aster.
"Why not?" he said, smirking. "You don't like popsicles."
"Not my favorite thing to suck on. Ahem. Phrasing." She hugged him, some of their earlier tension melting the face of the situation's weight. "Hopefully we'll be able to get back to normal after all of this."
"Normal," he said, oddly disappointed by the word. "Right."
This time, feeling Aster's soft, movie star proportioned body against him, he was tempted to sneak a touch of her ass. Once more, he resisted, though only just.
He pulled away, nodded to his mother and aunt, and followed Eve through the door of the entrance chamber.