Free Future Prospect by Lynn Rae

hard. That was good; she was adjusting to the planet. She cleared her throat and raised her chin just as Colan felt a breeze flutter along his back and chest. His bare back and chest. Nebula’s balls, he was out here in the middle of the street wearing only briefs and hiking boots. Thank stars he hadn’t fallen asleep nude like he usually did, or this conversation would be even more awkward.
    “I need to find those boys.” And get some pants on .
    “I’ll help.” Lia turned her head away to scan along the road which was deserted of people. This was a small blessing, despite the embarrassment of having her see him nearly naked, Colan didn’t want to hear anyone joking about his attire. Pearlites were desperate for amusement, and this would certainly fall into the category of something to chortle over for the next few days.
    “What do they look like?”
    “Ah, one is about this tall, and the other is this tall.” He indicated different heights against his midsection, realizing yet again he was nearly naked when Lia glanced at his stomach and away quickly. “They’re both brown haired, tanned, and menaces. Ermil and Perrin Healy. They belong to Gina, the head scientist.”
    “Got it, just over a meter and a half tall and wild.” Lia started to walk away, her legs far too long to be ignored, but Colan did his best.
    “I’m heading this way.” He waved in the opposite direction and called out to the miscreants. He passed all four buildings and saw no sign of them, so he doubled back and jogged in the direction Lia had gone, glancing in between structures as he went. Lia was nowhere in sight, and he wondered where she’d gone when he noticed the door to the science building was open. He heard raised voices and went inside to find both boys backed into a corner as their mother glared at them. Lia stood near the door and did not look any lower than his chin when he stopped at her side. Gina was reading her two sons the riot act, and when she noticed Colan she swung on him.
    “Here he is! Now I’ll get the straight story.”
    Colan held up a hand. “I didn’t see anything. The noise woke me up, and I went out to see what the hell happened.”
    “The noise of an explosion! What did you blow up, Perrin?” Gina stared at her oldest son as he tried a shamed expression. He didn’t pull it off.
    “Just those old buckets in the back. You said we were going to 'cycle them so I figured why not?”
    “Why not indeed? Dangerous, foolish behavior, and you disturbed the neighbors. Poor Colan here is running around in his nothings searching for you!” Gina ranted as both Ermil and Perrin shot him unrepentant glances of amusement. Little Ermil seemed ready to burst into laughter as his eyes sparkled. Lia shifted on her feet, and Colan risked a glance at her. She looked as if she suppressed a laugh as well as she tightened her lips and avoided his gaze.
    “That’s it from you. You’re both confined to the house for the rest of the day—”
    “But mom, we were supposed to go watch the building with Joli.”
    “Not anymore you’re not. You go home, clean everything up, and apologize to Colan.” Gina took a breath as she glared at her sons. “You’re both lucky no one was hurt. I know we just got a doctor with a medical suite, but I hardly want my reckless children to be the first patients. Ermil, tell me how you blew it up.” Gina stared at her youngest as if she thought at his young age he’d spill the truth under pressure. Colan could have told her Ermil was as tough to crack as a Freton gambler. The little boy widened his eyes and stayed quiet, but Perrin couldn’t resist showing off.
    “It was really phenom, Mom. We synthesized a compound from cleaning supplies and put it in a pressurized container,” the older boy enthused, and Gina’s disciplined composure cracked in the face of scientific discovery.
    “What cleaning supplies? Where did you get the idea?”
    Colan realized Gina was going to delve into