Artemis stares at the comm, as if she was trying to mind meld with it. Then she sighs, and says, "No, they're probably on the golf course, discussing plans to put put more lead into baby food. Maybe there['s a command frequency." With a sigh, she puts the stupid thing in her pocket and says. "I guess we're humping it. Like a bunch of jarheads."
"Oh, we're leaving? Let's tidy this place up!", she says with a cheery smile. Then she starts squaring away the gear they'll need for the trip.
"Well, I guess we have to wait at least we know there is a secondary team that's coming our way. Maybe we should start analyzing what will be done once they get here."
"Blast. I should have read that survival guide a little closer when I was at the base before all this happened. None of these plants look even remotely familiar."
Before the food gets put away, Gault grabs a couple of trail bars and some bagged nuts and fruit.
"Artemis, I do not believe that regular contact with base is advised. From what I read and remember, we are to be operating under the media's radar and outside of civilized contact."
"So the second or primary team and us, that is all of us. I am a trader, a wasteland merchant, and unless there are negotiations at hand, the only other thing I can do is cook and use a radio."
Artemis drops what she's doing, and rushes to confront Gault. "That is a lie! There are many things you can do! Have you not hands, with which to take up weapons? Have you legs with which to walk, no, march, to the, gates of our enemy?"
She takes his hands in hers. "Have you not fists, with which to strike the wicked?" She releases his hands, and touches his chest, "In this breast, does there not beat a heart? A heart that rages in righteous anger at the iniquity of our foes?"She rests her head against his chest, "I know there is, for I hear it, Gault, I hear it beating like the drums of battle, I hear it beating, pure and strong, it is the funeral drum of those who would stand before us."
Her hands slide down to his hips, and her voice gets low and husky. "Do these loins not ache for battle? Do they not throb in holy rage?"
She stands on her tiptoes to touch his face.
, her mouth mere inches from his. Her voice goes soft. "Will these lips not curl in disgust as you pronounce doom upon those who sin against our friends?" Breathlessly, she says "Will this tongue not part the velvet curtains of the chamber of mystery..."
She pauses, realizing she's gone off track, then tilts his head to stare deeply into his eyes. "In your eyes, I see no fear. I see the soul of a warrior!"
She pushes herself away from him and spreads her arm like she's about to start singing. "Brothers! Let us not lament! Let us be joyful, for this is a day of glory! For on this day, we set out, not for gold, nor for vengeance, but to liberate our friends from the vile clutches of the foul, stinky bad people! Look about you! Our path is clear, and our cause is just! The very sky smiles down upon us!" And she takes a breath.
"Oh, and about the radio? I think you're right about that. We're not going to get any help."