Zero History

“Hello, Chandra,” Hollis said.
Chandra smiled shyly. She had perfectly straight black hair, enormous dark eyes, and
complexly pierced ears and nose. Her lipstick was black, and she appeared to be wearing
a sort of Edwardian nurse’s outfit, though it too was black.
“Hello, Chandra,” Hollis said. “Chandra and Ajay, Fiona and Milgrim. And Garreth,
Chandra.”
Ajay was looking at Milgrim. “Bit of a stretch,” he said, dubiously.
“Spray you on the sides,” said Chandra, to Ajay. “That fiber stuff, from a can. For
covering bald spots. Have some here.” Now she looked at Milgrim. “He could do with a
haircut. So that’s in our favor, really.”
Ajay ran his hand back through his hair, military-short on the sides but a silky black
mop on top. He looked worried.
“It grows back,” said Garreth, from the bed. “Milgrim, would you mind taking your
pants off?”
Milgrim looked to Fiona, then back to Garreth, remembering Jun in the back of Tanky
& Tojo.
“The waterproofs,” Garreth said. “Ajay needs to get a sense of how you move.”
“Move,” said Milgrim, and stood up. Then sat down again, bending to untie his shoes.
“No, no,” said Fiona, getting up. “Zips for that.” She knelt in front of him, undid footlong
zips on the inner seams of the armored pants. “Stand up.” He did. Fiona reached up,
drew the massive plastic fly-zipper down, loudly ripped Velcro, and tugged the pants to
the floor. Milgrim felt himself blush, explosively.
“Come on,” said Fiona, “step out of them.”