"Last of the perimeter sensors are laid down,Captain Rose!" Atalanta had to shout over the rising wind. "Some of the wind gusts are topping sixty KPH! Permission to pull back to the ship!?" Captain Rose's Voice sounded faint and filled with hisses as she responded,"Return to the ship! We're losing power to the radio! Junction box overloaded after the MMI's failed! Legs are stable at least! Take the most direct..." The radio went dead. Slicey-Dicey Called again, and received nothing. The snow was coming down almost horizontal, and the wind was howling in a deep tone. Upsilon rotated his dark blue head around, and asked her,"Your orders,ma'am? You're in command." "Take the most direct ROUTE BACK! I'm picking up the elevator beacon-marker at about one thousand nine hundred meters away that way!" She pointed out into the swirling miasma of blowing snow. She noticed that Upsilon was shaking. Atalanta asked,"You cold? Only thirty-five below zero centigrade out here!" Upsilon shouted over the wind,"Cyclops are rated to fifty degrees below zero before our operations are compromised!" She looked at Slicey and said loudly enough to be heard,"Slicey--hold hands with him and follow behind me ,holding onto my belt." Their objections were shouted down by her,"DO IT! LET'S GO!" Atalanta headed out, with the two Cyclops in tow. Under her breath, she muttered,"Boy! For machine-life, they sure are argumentative! I thought they were obeying without thought!" Slicey radioed to Atalanta's head set,"We aren't thoughtless. We always double-check any order who's nature is suspect." Atalanta almost tripped over a curb in the ruined city, and double-checked her microphone. She turned it on and asked,"How did you hear me?" Slicey replied,"I read your lips from behind with my phased array radar." Atalanta asked,"Can you mark the ship from here with that?" "No. To much crap in the atmosphere. WHen we get within a hundred meters or so, I should. I was looking through record...It's not there. I am rated for fifty below! There are NO records for YOUNG Cyclops! Infants must be kept warm, over twenty degrees C! When adult, FIFTY below! No one ever tested children!" Atalanta shouted,"AW, CRAP! Let's pick up the pace!" They slogged through the wind's increasing resistance. Halfway there, Upsilon fell for the first time. Slicey offered to carry him, but he objected, and Atalanta agreed. Slicey asked,"WHAT?" Atalanta shouted,"I'm from Maris! Hot days and freezing nights! Lighter gravity? I KNOW HYPOTHERMIA! He keeps moving as long as possible! I'M FREEZING,TOO! Temperature is dropping! You might need to carry us both!" Slicey shouted back,"OH, SHIT! GOTCHA!" Atalanta's face was numb when they walked into the side of the airlock elevator. The temperature had dropped to almost fifty below when the door slid open. Slicey had to pull Upsilon inside with Atalanta's aid. Atalanta thumbed the 'up'switch and spoke into the intercom,"We need a Hypothermia treatment for this away party. Upsilon is not responsive to queries, and I'm half-frozen. Slicey?" She dialed up the heat all the way and stood in front of the vent, shedding her armor. SLicey remarked with a stutter,"I'm-m-m-m F-f-f-f-fine! Wh-wh-wh-wh-why?" Atalanta laughed,"For ALL three of us!" Captain Rose responded,"Medical team standing by! Atalanta elbowed Slicey gently over and muttered,"DON'T hog the heat!" They looked over, and lugged Upsilon over the vent and waited for the elevator to come to a stop.. --TO BE CONTINUED!--