Free Lady by Viola Grace Page B

family and you can’t have them here. They have found a man that you have possibilities with, and he is willing to tie himself to you, sight unseen.”
    “It shows he is brave, I will give him that.” She laughed as the kids came through the door. She spent the next two hours dividing up her telescopes and remote control helicopters in a fair and equitable manner.
    Julian answered the questions about where Aunty Rox was going and Laura stood as far from Rox as she could, rubbing her arms at the chill.
    “Don’t worry, Laura. You can turn up the heat the moment I leave.”
    Laura blushed. “It isn’t personal. You know that.”
    Rox laughed. “I know it. You always shivered when I passed in high school. Your biology can’t burn enough calories to keep you warm when I am around. I don’t take it personally. You are a great mom and a great wife. I respect what you have done with my brother and I wish you nothing but the best.”
    Laura zipped up her coat and came toward Rox. “You are really going?”
    “I am. The fact that you had to put on a coat to come close to me is why. I have yet to meet a human who can stand close to me without three layers on. So, I will take my wares elsewhere and see what the universe has to offer.”
    Laura lunged forward and hugged her. No further words needed to be spoken. Julian watched while supervising his children, and he wiped a tear from his smiling face. He gave Rox a thumbs up, and it was all she needed. She had her family’s blessing, so she was on her way.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    Roxelena stood at her fitting and looked at the mirror. “You have to be kidding.”
    Weebr chuckled and kept working. “No, I am not kidding. Your body needs to warm itself, so it draws the heat from the world around you to keep you functioning. You don’t generate heat, you steal it. This suit may be minimal, but it will make it easier for your body to maintain a fixed temperature.”
    “I am in boots and a bikini made of straps.”
    “But how do you feel?”
    Roxelena wrinkled her nose and took in the ice blue of her costume against the silvery blonde of her hair. Her pale eyes matched the outfit, and she looked like the snow queen mixed with a warrior princess. She had to admit she felt good.
    “I feel warm.”
    He grinned. “The fabric is designed to help you pull heat and the minimal nature of the clothing will make it easier for you to move through crowds. Wait, I got that backward. You will be given a long robe that will cover you and assist you in social situations. The air will still flow, and it will help you remain at a socially acceptable temperature.”
    She scowled. “If my body doesn’t call heat from the world around me, what use will I be?”
    Weebr handed her a large trident. “That is where this comes in. It will focus your talent through these gems. They resonate with your mental frequency.”
    She looked at the trident and really wanted to play with it. “Can I take this for a test run?”
    “Certainly, but you will need the matching wrist and thigh cuffs. Combined with your headpiece, they will assist in your focus when you don’t have your weapon handy.”
    “I am seriously in charge of a trident as well as super cuffs. This even beats language day.” She stayed still as she was cuffed and banded to complete the outfit.
    She had gone from warrior to alien princess in a matter of minutes. “Oh. I like this. I wish my senior picture in the yearbook made me look half as good.”
    “Do you mind if I take an image?” Weebr was nearly vibrating with excitement.
    “Go ahead. I am heading to the range after this. I want to try out the focus.” She smiled.
    He ran the imager over her body, and she kept a heroic pose the entire time. When he was finished, he beamed. “Excellent. I am so delighted with how this is working out. Wear the suit through your classes and let me know how it performs.”
    “Will do. Thanks, Weebr. Talk to you later.”
    She hopped off the