Laz had a bad feeling all day and no matter what he did, that feeling didn’t go away.

Seeing this, Saanvi told Laz about a place he could go to possibly relax, a heated pool in a building connected to the gym area. He had known about it before but didn’t think about it much since what was relaxing in a heated pool suppose to do? But as he hadn’t had much luck with mediation or exercise, he figured why not go for it. Saanvi also hinted at her sneaking over herself later to help him relieve some stress, but he questioned how much that would even help considering even he didn’t know what was causing his mood.

Still, he went out to the building since he wasn’t doing anything else and entered, the locked door opened by the key that Saanvi had left him.

The pool wasn’t large, larger than a hot tube, but not large enough or deep enough to swim in. As for what purpose it served considering what purpose the base itself had, Laz didn’t know.

Stripping off his clothes, Laz entered the hundred degree pool, letting go of his defenses so that he would actually feel the heat from the pool. While his body was strong enough to withstand the flames of a fire, that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel the effects of the heat and the water. Laz was also pleasantly surprised to find that there was a small amount of energy mixed in with the water. Using his senses, he noticed that the water came from a deep dug natural geothermal spring, deep beneath the ground and the energy that was being supplied, while little in amount, had a rather ancient feel to it. To a normal person, this would refresh their fatigue and slightly strengthen their bodies. For him though, it was like someone added a sprinkle of lemon to normal water, noticeable, but nothing more than that.

Laz let his mind drift, forcing the negative thoughts out of his head as he closed his eyes and laid his head back on the edge of the small pool. He couldn’t pinpoint the source of his discomfort, but with the change in environment, he was at least able to force it to the side so that it didn’t enter his thoughts for the moment.

Laz let his spirit go free and drift, not looking at anything, but just feeling the world around him. Even in this land of eternal snow and ice, there was life to be seen, whether that be from inside the base or the creatures outside of it like tundra wolves or polar bears. The only point that didn’t let his thoughts drift to was where the waves of power were coming from, deep in the ground. From an outside view point, Laz could see the strength of those waves were growing stronger as something was happening, but he let it be. For all he knew, it was a gate that just appeared in the middle of the ice with nothing wrong with it. There were some slumbering beasts deep within, almost surrounding that gate, but there was no telling what was happening. After all, there were many strange things happening on this planet ever since the great tree had descended and it wasn’t his job to investigate all or even any of them.

’What will happen will happen...’ Laz thought, knowing that he was just being lazy. He just wasn’t keen on being drawn into anything again, especially so soon.

Still though, observing it from afar, Laz could tell whatever was happening was getting stronger. Despite that, the lack of movement was what really irritated Laz.

’Didn’t they throw a giant ball of ice at us not too long ago? Yet there is no cave or even tunnel underground? How is that possible? Is this the real cause of my irritation?’

Knowing that such thoughts would lead to nowhere, Laz gave it up.

Besides, there was a presence coming through the hall and had just arrived at the door. More amusingly were the presences following behind it a distance away.

"I knew you’d be here," Saanvi said as she opened the door and then closed it behind her. She was wearing a bathrobe and had a towel with her. She hung it up on a hook next to where Laz had left his stuff and stepped into the pool, her bikini leaving little to the imagination. Her body was toned and firm with defined abs and tinted skin. Her breasts were restrained by the tied up top, but even then they showed their firm and full grace. As for the bottoms, while not being indecent, it was still a thong that allowed for little more that complete coverage of all the parts that mattered.

Laz couldn’t help but take a second look when such a display was put on before him.

"I’m surprised. I would have thought that something like that would have been out of the question considering your husband?" Laz said, honestly surprised she owned something like this.

"Of course it is. Even though my husband isn’t that old fashioned, the only swimsuit I actually ’own’ is a full one piece with enough padding to stop a bullet. And even that was considered a compromise..." Saanvi laughed as she slid in the water and made her way over to Laz.

"So then what is this?" Laz asked with a chuckle.

"This was my bit of freedom I bought without his knowledge that I never thought I would wear. Even when I come here with the girls, I would wear the other one just in case something ever came up that would get back to him. That and we wouldn’t know when the captain would come charging in, acting like he thought the place was empty..."

"He’s a piece of work, huh?"

"You mean a pervert? Oh yes. But he’s so busy currently that I can guarantee he won’t be stopping in any time tonight. Whatever is brewing out there.... well... he has to fully pay attention to it. If anything happens and he is unaware, the consequences would be disastrous when the exploration team gets here. So that means that I get to wear what I want with you, all night tonight. And I know how you enjoy a nice little outfit even more than being completely nude sometimes. Otherwise, I would have come in naked...." Saanvi purred as she whispered the last part in Laz’s ear.

"It’s probably a good thing you didn’t then," Laz said, just as the door opened with Jun and Shelly walking inside, both in bathrobes while holding towels.

"Damn girl. You should have told us you were coming here to relax a spell. If Jun hadn’t caught sight of you heading this way in a bathrobe, we never would have.... oh.... Oh my lord.... I..." Shelly stopped in her tracks the moment the bit of fog cleared and she saw Saanvi draped all over Laz. Jun, as silent as ever stood there with a shocked look on her facing having hung up her bathrobe and turned around. Her one piece glistening in the moisture of the room already as not a sound was heard.

If something like this had happened in the past, Saanvi probably would have turned the most red and would have tried to quickly make an escape. Instead, she just stayed where she was, her breasts resting on Laz’s arm while her arms were draped around his shoulders.

"Come and join us. I promise he doesn’t bite... unless you bite him first," she said with a laugh. Shelly, frozen in shock, didn’t know what to do, but Jun had regained her composure quickly and stepped into the water. Her one piece was tight, resembling a swimmers race suit which covered her chest but leg her legs fully exposed.

Seeing her stepping in, Shelly turned to look at her.

"I’m tired," was all she said as she sat on the opposite end of the two of them.

Not wanting to seem like a chicken or be a stick in the mud, Shelly shyly removed her own bathrobe, revealing her own dangerous curves which were barely held in by her top which seemed a bit too small. While not as chiseled as Saanvi, Shelly didn’t possess extra body fat either causing her to jut out in all the right places.

"You were never embarrassed to wear that swimsuit before when it was just us. And what did you say? We were being too prudish?" Saanvi said as she noticed the red tint on the otherwise white flesh of Shelly.

"Well that be obvious since it was just us girls before. And where in all the nine hells did you get such a suit from? I couldn’t even tell you were wearing the bottoms until the light hit it just right. I’ve seen lengths of ropes that could cover more of yer backside than that piece of fabric’s doing."

"Well... special times call for special outfits, don’t they?"

"And he be the special times you be talking about?" Shelly said, indicating Laz who had leaned his head back again as though resting.

"Oh yes."

"Girl. I’m not one to be saying much most of the time... no laughing Jun. But... you be a married lass... right?"

"That’s right," Saanvi said, lacking any shame what so ever.

"Then... what are you doing with the boy?"

"Living my life the way I want. Something I seemed to be lacking before."

Shelly was about to say more but Jun suddenly opened her mouth.

"You know this isn’t going to change anything, right? If anything, this will just make your life more difficult."

"Oh. I am fully aware of everything. I fact, I couldn’t care less if he just fucks me for all I’m worth, leaves when the time comes and never contacts me again."

"Why?"

"Because I’m no longer the woman who came here just to get a break from my husband by using my career as an excuse. If I ever see that man again, it will be in the court room for the divorce proceedings when I tell the story about him sleeping with the maid and my best friend and my sister and his sister. I didn’t want to lose him.... but it never occurred to me how much else out there there was to find. And now that I’ve had a taste of something else.... how could I ever go back? Especially after I’ve had a taste of him. He’s ruined me... and I wouldn’t have it any other way."