Under the relentless Clivilius sun, amidst the monotonous soundtrack of shifting sands, I found myself rummaging through the scattered camping supplies at the Drop Zone. I was searching for anything that might aid our latest endeavour when Luke’s peculiar behaviour caught my attention. His intermittent grunts and stream of expletives provided an almost surreal backdrop to my task.

"What the heck is Luke doing?" I muttered to myself, my curiosity piqued. Luke was wrestling with a large, white desk, trying to drag it from the vicinity of the Portal. His string of expletives, punctuating each tug and pull, contrasted sharply with the usual tranquility of Clivilius, almost bordering on the comical.

I shook my head, amused yet baffled, but decided to momentarily set aside my intrigue about Luke's odd endeavour. This seemed like the opportune moment to share our breakthrough. Holding the laptop as if it were a rare relic, I approached Luke with a sense of purpose, eager to catch him before he disappeared again.

"Guess what?" I called out, emerging from behind and startling him.

"I'm not particularly in the mood," Luke grumbled, his face a reflection of his exhaustion and irritation. His tone was as sullen as his expression.

His mood didn’t dampen my excitement. "We can access the internet," I announced, practically leaping onto the desk in my enthusiasm, undeterred by his obvious annoyance.

"Get off!" he scowled, making a half-hearted attempt to shoo me away with a swipe of his hand.

I slid off the desk, a bit deflated. "What's your problem?" I asked, my curiosity genuine. I could sense his frustration was more than just surface deep.

Luke let out a tired sigh. "I'm just tired," he replied, his voice conveying a weariness that seemed to go beyond physical exhaustion.

Feeling a twinge of guilt, I realised I needed to be more understanding. Luke’s role as a Guardian was taxing, and he was also coping with the loss of Duke. Setting aside my usual inclination to jest about his tendency to leave things near the Portal, I decided to offer him a helping hand. Sometimes, even Guardians needed support, and this seemed like one of those times.

Gripping the desk firmly, I gave it a solid tug. A grunt involuntarily escaped my lips, and I winced, feeling an unexpected twinge in my back. The desk was deceptively heavy, refusing to budge easily. No wonder Luke had been struggling with it.

"Help me carry it to the Drop Zone," I said, trying to keep a grin on my face despite the strain. I gestured exaggeratedly with my hands, lifting motions intended to coax Luke into cooperating. I knew he'd be hesitant to accept my help, but it was clear neither of us could manage this bulky piece of furniture alone.

Luke rolled his eyes, but eventually, and somewhat grudgingly, agreed to help.

Together, we each took an end of the desk. Grunting and frequently stopping to catch our breath, we trudged across the barren terrain. The short distance to the Drop Zone felt longer due to the desk's substantial weight.

I saw this as an opportunity to have Luke's full attention and decided to revisit our earlier conversation. "Did you hear what I said before?" I asked, breaking the slightly awkward silence filled with our grunts and heavy breathing.

"Do we really have to talk while we move?" Luke grumbled, clearly not in the mood for conversation.

"Yeah," I persisted. "It's exciting."

"Fine," he huffed, his reluctance clear but acquiescing to my insistence. Despite his weariness and our current physical exertion, I was eager to share the news of our achievement. The excitement and hope that had been reignited within me were too significant not to share.

As Luke and I navigated the cumbersome desk across the rugged terrain of the Drop Zone, I seized the moment to explain our latest technological feat. Between the grunts of exertion and our laboured breathing, I shared how Nial and I had managed to use Beatrix’s router to capture a WiFi signal right here in Clivilius.

“The downside,” I added, noting Luke’s emerging skepticism, “is that because the router still had to be connected on the earth side, Beatrix had to keep her Portal open the entire time.”

“And this was today?" Luke asked, his interest now clearly piqued despite the physical effort of our task.

"Yeah, this morning," I confirmed, my breath slightly ragged from the exertion.

"Interesting," Luke muttered, his expression turning contemplative, as if his mind was rapidly piecing together a puzzle.

"What is?" I prodded, always curious about Luke's thought process, which often seemed to operate on a different wavelength.

"We need to test it," he said, somewhat cryptically, leaving me slightly in the dark about what exactly he had in mind.

"Test what?" I inquired, my confusion growing.

"For fuck’s sake, Paul. Keep up, will you?" Luke snapped, his irritation evident as he began walking back towards the Portal.

"But you haven't explained anything," I protested, trailing after him, eager to understand his sudden burst of inspiration.

Luke paused and faced me. "When Beatrix next arrives, tell her to contact me. I have an experiment of my own to conduct with her," he said, his statement cloaked in mystery.

As he spoke, the Portal erupted into a dazzling array of colours, as if on cue. I couldn’t suppress a grin at the impeccable timing.

"What?" Luke asked, not sharing my sense of amusement.

"Speak of the devil," I replied, nodding towards Beatrix, who had just emerged from the Portal, driving a vehicle with a caravan attached.

Beatrix exited the car, her silver hair flowing freely in the breeze for a moment before she gathered it and tied it back, her fingers deftly taming the rebellious strands.

"Beatrix!" Luke called out to her, his focus immediately shifting to her. His earlier frustration seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of purpose and anticipation. Whatever experiment Luke had in mind, it was clear that Beatrix's arrival had provided the perfect opportunity to set it into motion.

As I approached the vehicles, Beatrix's request echoed in my ears. "Can you two unhitch the caravan?" she asked, still battling with her hair.

"More work," I grumbled quietly, not particularly enthused about the additional task. Despite my reluctance, I moved towards the caravan.

Luke, however, seemed more focused on something else. "I need to test something with you," he said to Beatrix, disregarding her request.

As I started working on the tow bar, a practical concern struck me. "How am I supposed to move the caravan back to camp if it's not connected to a vehicle?" I questioned, pausing in my task.

"You've got other vehicles here," Beatrix replied, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Surely one of those has a tow bar you can use."

I let out a loud grunt in response, my frustration becoming more apparent.

"You're doing a lot of grunting today," Luke quipped, giving me a playful slap on the shoulder. His light-heartedness contrasted sharply with my growing irritation.

Resistance indeed seemed futile with these two. I resumed my work on the tow bar, resigned to the task at hand.

"I can always bring you another vehicle that has a tow bar," Beatrix offered, her voice softening.

With a final effort, the caravan uncoupled, causing the car to bounce slightly from the sudden disconnection.

Luke's curiosity then took over the conversation. "I can't go through your Portal nor you mine, right?" he asked Beatrix.

"Right," she confirmed, her expression turning contemplative.

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly to myself at their exchange. It was somewhat reassuring to see Beatrix just as bewildered by Luke's theories as I often was.

“So, what if that also means that I can’t open my Portal if you have yours open, and vice versa?” Luke pondered aloud, his theory forming in real-time.

Beatrix's reaction was louder than mine. “The router,” she realised, her voice reflecting her sudden understanding.

“Exactly!” Luke exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with triumph. “I’m pretty sure my Portal Key wasn’t working at the same time that you had your Portal active with that blasted router.”

“Shit,” Beatrix muttered, the full weight of the implication hitting her.

A wave of realisation washed over me too. This newfound knowledge about the Portals could significantly complicate our plans. If their functionality was interlinked in such a way, it meant we had to rethink our entire approach to using them.

Luke quickly outlined his plan, a sense of urgency evident in his voice. "I have a small truck with fence supplies to bring through. Beatrix, go somewhere safe on Earth and wait for two minutes. Give me enough time to get this truck here. I'll leave my Portal active for another few minutes, and in that time, you keep trying your Portal Key."

My mind raced, trying to keep up with the logistics of their plan.

"Yeah, good idea," Beatrix agreed, clearly onboard with Luke's strategy.

"What about the internet?" I found myself blurting out, eager to steer the conversation back to our earlier triumph with the WiFi connection.

"Not now, Paul," Luke dismissed abruptly, his focus already shifted as he disappeared back through the Portal to Earth.

Beatrix gave me a glance that held a flicker of curiosity but didn’t delve into it. Instead, she quickly made her way back to her car, her movements swift and purposeful. "I have another caravan appointment to get to," she said, her voice tinged with urgency. The car's engine roared into life, the sound punctuating her hasty exit.

Left alone, I looked at the unhitched caravan with a mix of resignation and annoyance. "And now I have an unhitched caravan to move," I grumbled to myself.

As I continued my brisk walk back to camp, focused on finding a vehicle with a tow bar, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. This straightforward, physical task was a refreshing change from the mental gymnastics involved in our Portal experiments. It was a chance to engage in something tangible, a problem that could be solved with simple logic and observation.

As I approached the camp, the first vehicle I spotted was Nial's ute. Peering through its dust-smeared window, I saw him taking a nap, his head resting at an awkward angle against the seat. A quick inspection confirmed my suspicion – no tow bar. Still, I figured I should wake him up; we needed every hand and resource we could muster to move the caravan.

With a smirk, I decided on a more playful approach to rouse him. I called over Lois, who had quickly become a favourite around the camp for her enthusiastic greetings. "Lois, go say hi," I encouraged her, pointing towards Nial's ute.

Tail wagging, Lois happily obliged, nudging the slightly open door with her nose. Nial was jolted awake by her eager snout and the sound of her joyful panting.

As Nial rubbed his eyes, he groaned slightly, still half-asleep. Spotting me, he asked groggily, "What's up?"

"Have you seen any vehicle with a tow bar around here?" I asked, cutting straight to the chase. I was keen to complete this task and move on to the next inevitable challenge.

Nial stretched, his sleepy mind slowly coming to life. "Chris took his ute to the lagoon. He's picking up Karen – she’s been doing laundry," he said, slowly piecing together the information. Then, as an afterthought, he added, "Kain's resting in his tent."

"Thanks," I responded to Nial, already heading towards Kain's ute with a glimmer of hope. Locating it was easy, and to my relief, it did have a tow bar. But my sense of triumph was fleeting. Settling into the driver's seat, I turned the key, only to be greeted by the discouraging sputter of an empty fuel tank.

Nial, who had followed me over, suggested, "We could take the tow bar off Kain's and put it on mine."

I paused, weighing his idea. "That could work, but I don’t know where all the tools are," I admitted, feeling a fresh surge of frustration. The day was turning into a series of endless complications.

With a heavy sigh, I left Nial to tackle the tow bar switch. "See if you can sort it out. I'm heading back to the drop zone to wait for Beatrix. I'll just take the car when she comes back," I said, resigning myself to the situation.

As I trudged back to the Drop Zone, the weight of the day's challenges pressed heavily on me. My mind was a whirlwind of Portal theories, our WiFi success, and now the logistical headache of shifting caravans and locating tow bars.

Reaching the Drop Zone, I found a quiet spot to sit and wait. Lois, having expended her energy with Nial and Buffy, came over and settled down beside me. Her presence was a soothing counterbalance to the complexities of our lives in Clivilius. I reached down and stroked her fur, finding comfort in the simple, rhythmic motion.

"Finally," I exhaled, my eyes fixed on the Portal as it burst into life, displaying a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours. Through the shimmering gateway, Beatrix made her re-entry, another caravan in tow. Despite her earlier hesitations, she eventually acquiesced to my request to use the car for transporting the caravans back to camp.

Opening the back door of the car, Lois, ever the enthusiastic companion, hopped inside. By the time I had comfortably settled into the driver's seat, she had already claimed her rightful place in the front passenger seat, her warm brown eyes expectantly fixed on me. A chuckle escaped me, conceding to her undeniable canine allure. As I gently scratched behind her ears, a sense of comfort enveloped me. Lois’s presence had become a small, yet significant, beacon of happiness in the unpredictable world of Clivilius.

For a brief moment, a thought crossed my mind – the notion of Glenda taking an extended leave, leaving Lois as my only companion until I could bring Charlie to Clivilius. The idea had an appealing simplicity, but I quickly chastised myself for the selfishness of such a wish. While Lois’s company was something I cherished, Glenda’s medical expertise was indispensable to the camp.

"Sorry, Lois," I murmured, giving her ears an affectionate rub, as if she could grasp the complexities of my thoughts.

Turning the ignition key, the engine hummed to life. As the car set off, wheels churning through the thick dust of Clivilius, clouds of the alien soil billowed around us. The dust rose like a mist, a constant reminder of our otherworldly environment.

Lois remained quiet beside me, her gaze shifting between me and the path ahead. Her tranquil demeanour offered a comforting steadiness in a world where little remained constant. As the car jostled over the uneven terrain, my focus remained unwavering on the task at hand. Each trip was vital, and my resolve was fuelled by the importance of our goal. Despite the challenging journey, the purpose behind it drove me forward. With every caravan we secured, we were fortifying our camp, inching closer to ensuring our survival in the challenging and unfamiliar landscape of Clivilius.

As Lois and I circled the camp, she eagerly sniffed around, searching for Nial or Buffy. Our expedition soon led us to Kain's tent. True to her nature, Lois dashed into the tent with all the exuberance of a Golden Retriever. "Good thinking, Lois," I murmured, following her lead.

“Kain!” I called out as I stepped into the tent, my voice alive with enthusiasm. Kain was sitting up, caught in a playful tussle with Lois, who was showering him with her slobbery brand of affection.

“You have a caravan!” I declared, my sense of accomplishment spilling over.

“Huh?” Kain looked up, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion.

“Beatrix has delivered the first caravan and given your injured leg-” I paused, nodding towards his legs, hidden under his sleeping bag. “I’m assuming that's why you're resting?”

“Yeah,” Kain replied, his tone subdued but tinged with a touch of gratitude.

I felt a need to justify my excitement. “In that case, it makes sense that you take the first caravan. If anything else attacks us in the middle of the night, I doubt you’ll be running anywhere.” I realised my enthusiasm might be a bit much considering the circumstances.

Kain absorbed this, seemingly still coming to terms with the idea that he wasn’t confined to his tent anymore.

“I’ve parked it outside for you,” I said, hoping to encourage him to take a look at his new living space.

Kain quickly extricated himself from his sleeping bag and scooped up Henri, who had been nestled in his little bed. Together, we stepped outside, followed closely by Lois.

“I’m expecting Beatrix to bring a few more caravans,” I added, aiming to dispel any guilt he might feel about claiming the first one.

As we neared the caravan, Kain asked, “How is Beatrix paying for them all?”

I handed him the keys, and as he opened the door with a characteristic squeak, I chuckled. “I didn’t dare ask her,” I admitted, acknowledging the enigma that often surrounded Beatrix’s ways. In Clivilius, some mysteries were best left unsolved, and Beatrix’s methods definitely fell into that category.

Stepping into the caravan with Kain, I watched his reaction as he surveyed the interior. His eyes roamed appreciatively over the compact space, taking in the neat kitchenette, the cozy seating area, and the snug sleeping quarters. "It’s nice," he remarked, his voice carrying a tone of genuine approval.

I followed him inside, allowing myself a moment to admire the caravan’s inviting interior. It was modest but comfortable, providing much more than just a shelter – it was a hint of normalcy, a touch of home in the midst of Clivilius’s untamed wilderness.

Henri seemed to approve as well. He did a few investigative circles on the double bed before settling down with a contented snort, claiming it as his own.

“Looks like there’s no complaints from Henri,” I commented with a chuckle, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me. Being able to offer these comforts to our camp members was a small yet significant achievement.

Kain, still exploring the caravan, asked, “Is this really all mine?” The excitement in his voice was palpable as he fiddled with the drawers and cupboards.

“It is indeed,” I confirmed, happy to see his enthusiasm. “I know it’s practically empty now, but between Luke and Beatrix, I’m sure it won’t be more than a few days before you’ll have yourself a fully stocked and self-sufficient little home here.”

Kain nodded, his eagerness to settle in unmistakable.

“You can move your belongings in as soon as you like,” I told him. “I’ll head back to the Drop Zone to wait for Beatrix, but there’s really not much more that can be done there right now.”

“And what will become of the tents?” Kain inquired, curious about the fate of our existing shelters.

“Until we get the first sheds operational, we’ll use the tents for more storage. I think it’s safe safest if we can avoid sleeping in them as much as possible,” I replied, my answer coming more instinctively than I had anticipated.

“Can’t really argue with that,” Kain agreed, nodding in understanding.

Before leaving, an idea occurred to me. “Henri seems comfortable with you. Would you mind looking after him while Jamie’s away?” I asked, watching Henri’s ears perk up at the mention of his name.

Kain’s smile was warm and genuine. “Of course,” he replied.

I nodded appreciatively and left Kain to his new home.

“Lois!” I called as I headed back to the car. Lois, ever responsive, appeared from seemingly nowhere and leaped into the passenger seat.

Closing the car door with a solid thud, I joined her inside. As we drove away, leaving Bixbus behind, the car churned up clouds of ochre dust. A sense of satisfaction mixed with anticipation filled me. We were slowly but surely making progress.

Returning to the Portal with Lois, I was immediately met by Beatrix's palpable air of irritation. Before she even spoke, her body language screamed annoyance. She wasted no time in expressing her displeasure, chastising me for what she perceived as tardiness. I tried to explain that I had been busy assigning the caravan to Kain, but she interrupted me, her frustration clear in every word. Undeterred, I focused on hitching the car to the caravan, intent on completing the task I had set out to do.

Amidst this tense exchange, the sound of Luke’s laughter echoed from the Portal. It was a stark contrast to the atmosphere between Beatrix and me. Curious, I called out, "What’s got you so cheery?”

“Nothing, really,” Luke replied, his voice light and nonchalant.

Beatrix, growing more exasperated by the minute, shouted from across the distance, “I need the car back, Paul!” Her tone was sharp and urgent, cutting through the air.

I glanced over at Luke, who seemed amused by the situation, and sighed in frustration. "I just want to take the caravan back to camp first," I said, wiping the sweat from my forehead. "Then she can have the car back.”

Luke, the ever-present observer, simply shrugged, indicating his choice to stay out of the disagreement.

Beatrix, clearly desperate, pleaded, “C’mon, Paul, just help me unhitch it.” She threw a glare towards Luke, hoping for his assistance.

“I have stuff to do,” Luke responded, his posture clearly showing his reluctance to get involved in our caravan issues.

Aware of the other tasks that demanded our attention, I said, “We need more wood, too.” My voice was heavy with the day’s responsibilities.

Beatrix, focused solely on the caravan issue, disregarded my comment about the wood.

“I’ll take care of the wood,” Luke offered, patting my shoulder reassuringly before stepping through the Portal.

Beatrix called out after him, but it was too late – Luke had already disappeared. “I’ll only be five minutes,” I reassured her, asking for just a bit more time with the car.

“Fine,” she responded, her voice betraying her displeasure.

Relieved, I couldn’t help but smile broadly as Lois and I returned to the car. As we drove the caravan back to camp, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about the complexities of our situation, the delicate balance between necessity and the demanding expectations of the Guardians in Clivilius.

Arriving back at camp with the caravan in tow, I was greeted by Nial and Buffy, who approached Lois and me with a casual curiosity. “Impressive,” Nial remarked, giving the caravan a friendly pat, a gesture of approval.

I nodded in agreement but didn’t linger on the moment. My focus was already shifting to unhitching the caravan. “I need to get this car back to Beatrix before she kills me!” I joked, though a part of me knew there was a bit of truth in my jest.

“Why the rush?” Nial asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Apparently she needs the car back,” I replied, feeling a bit unsure about Beatrix's exact reasons. With a sigh of relief, I finally detached the caravan. “She’s mad at me for taking it again, but I needed it for the tow bar.”

Nial's face lit up with a helpful suggestion. “I’ve managed to fix my ute with Kain’s tow bar. You can borrow that next time.”

I felt a wave of gratitude. “Thanks, Nial,” I responded, genuinely appreciative. “Really appreciate that. It might save my life,” I added, trying to keep the mood light with a chuckle.

Noticing the absence of Karen and Chris, I turned to Nial. “Can you tell Karen and Chris that this caravan is for them?” But then, remembering Nial’s injury, I quickly reconsidered. “Or maybe you should have this one instead.”

“I’m fine, really,” Nial assured me, brushing off his injury as nothing serious. “I’m assuming these won’t be our only two caravans?”

“Of course not,” I replied, though a small seed of doubt about the financial implications lingered in my mind.

Nial smiled. “Karen and Chris can have this one, then. I can wait.”

“Great,” I said, relieved. Opening the car door, I added, “I better get this back to Beatrix.”

With Lois already in the passenger seat, we set off once more, leaving behind a cloud of Clivilian dust as we headed back to the Portal. The caravan delivery was complete, but the day's challenges, I suspected, were far from over.