[Location: The Waterfall Pool] [Time: Day 3. Afternoon.]
"This is illogical."
Vesper was standing waist-deep in the waterfall pool we had found earlier. She had washed her uniform and hung it on a branch to dry. She was wearing only her undershirt and undergarments.
The water made the thin white fabric of her shirt translucent.
I was sitting on a rock, facing the other way, guarding the perimeter.
"What's illogical?" I asked over my shoulder.
"My physiological response," Vesper said, splashing water on her neck. "My heart rate is elevated. My cortisol levels are down, but my dopamine is spiking. It creates a cognitive dissonance."
"It's called 'relaxing', Vesper. Try it sometime."
"I do not 'relax'. Relaxing is a waste of processing power."
I heard her wading through the water. She stopped right behind me.
"Caelum."
I turned around. Bad idea.
She was standing there, wet hair plastered to her face, water dripping down her collarbone. She looked... human. Vulnerable. And incredibly beautiful.
She adjusted her glasses, which were fogged up.
"In the 4,000 lives you lived," she asked softly, "did we ever... do this? Just stand here?"
I looked away. "Once. Life #2,009. We found a cave during a blizzard."
"And?" Vesper stepped closer. "What happened?"
"We froze to death," I deadpanned.
Vesper blinked. Then, she let out a small snort. Then a giggle. Finally, she started laughing. It was a rusty sound, like an engine that hadn't been started in years.
"You are infuriating," she smiled, splashing water at me.
"Hey!" I dodged.
"Come in the water," she commanded, pointing a wet finger at me. "That is an order, Specialist. You smell like ozone and burnt metal."
I sighed, unbuckling my boots. "As you wish, Commander."
For twenty minutes, there was no war. Just two people washing the blood off their hands.