The base takes shape

The drone cut out blocks of stone, and Brynn stacked them how she pleased. She struggled with the bigger ones, but she preferred large bricks over small ones for this project. They had used an attachment on the drone to carve out the inside of some thin tree trunks, making wooden cups, and Jesslyn watched her work while sipping fresh river water from one.

"We need to find a way to dress you properly for work," said Jesslyn.

Brynn was wearing an oversized t-shirt that was white at some point, but after over a week in the wilderness had started to yellow with grime. A cartoonish, zombified cat face was printed on the front. Her shorts were so short that it almost looked like she was wearing nothing at all underneath, but when she knelt in the dirt to adjust the blocks Jesslyn could see they wearing an eye-gouging shade of pink.

"I'll make do," Brynn said, trying to get each of block perfect with almost obsessive detail, "what's important is that we begin metal fab. We're basically going back to the iron age. The drone can cut stone blocks and metal sheets with heat, but it's going to make a lot of slag, and some precision work will need human hands."

They were making a forge, of course. Jesslyn watched the geneforged girl struggle with a long, wide slab of white stone before getting up and grabbing one end, helping her set the heavy rock on top of the miniature furnace. It sat at a crooked angle, and Brynn began pushing it gently exactly into place.

"I have the drone digging up clay, making molds of some basic components and equipment. Clamps, drill bits, the like."

"And where are we going to get the metal?"

"Natasha found some rocks the east. I ran them through the analyzer, and it's mostly hematite. Probably the richest iron deposits you could hope to find out in the wild. We lucked out."

Brynn gestured at a pile of firewood. Jesslyn had gotten used to her wordless orders and began the slow process of hauling cut logs, two at a time, towards their makeshift forge and stacking them up nearby.

Brynn paced and talked, as much to herself as to Jesslyn.

"Cut blocks of hematite, melt them down, pour them out. First order, make a machining shop so we can have actual tools. I could power most of it with a foot petal pumping air to essentially make the whole setup pneumatic. Then farming equipment, to make your life easier."

Jesslyn set down the last of the wood and wiped her forehead.

"I'm getting used to stone tools, actually. I found this kind of dish-shaped rock I've been using as a shovel, it's a big help."

She gestured to her small grove of trees. Brynn stopped pacing to observe the saplings.

"How did you get trees to sprout from seeds so quickly?" she asked.

"I found some botanical growth hormone in the seed supply. Forces them to germinate faster and pumps them full of nutrients so they can handle rapid growth. Cuts down the plants lifespan pretty significantly, but with something that lives as long as a tree that isn't a huge deal. They won't grow apples until next spring, but apple trees are pretty determined to make fruit so we'll get a good crop."

Jesslyn leaned back on a stone and groaned.

"I don't know how you handle this heat. I'm about to melt."

She began to unbutton her plaid work shirt. Brynn oggled her.

"Why did you decide you're so comfortable stripping in front of us?" she asked.

"Why not? We're all women here. Besides, it took me a lot of time and money to get this body, I might as well show it off if I get the chance."

To accentuate her point, Jesslyn leaned back against the stone further, sticking her chest out. She certainly didn't have massive boobs, but Brynn still found them impressive, especially the way Jesslyn's posture suddenly made them strain against her bra. Jesslyn gestured to her chest.

"Look! My underwear matches your eyes, isn't that sweet?"

Brynn had barely registered that her bra was purple, and somehow the idea made the situation seem even more embarrassing. Her face flushed. Jesslyn laughed and stopped peacocking.

"You know, you'd never make it out with my old friends," she said, "we used to go to festivals and gatherings, and when it got really hot in the middle of summer two or three of us would be crammed in one tent. All the body heat would make it even hotter so we would strip down. Ended up with a lot of skin-to-skin that way. There's nothing weird about it, really. It's just practical."

Brynn looked away from her, focusing on arranging clay molds where they'd get the maximum amount of sunlight so they could dry as fast as possible.

"I always had a private dorm. I would study 12 hours a day. Never really had time for many friends," she said.

"No boyfriends?" asked Jesslyn.

"No, I had always assumed I would arrive on a colony and be able to meet a man there."

Suddenly, Brynn felt her head and shoulders being pulled towards something warm. Jesslyn had knelt down beside her and pulled her into a surprise hug. She felt the laborer's chest against her face and neck, slick with sweat. This close, she could smell Jesslyn's body odor, surprisingly not unpleasant, but musky and almost sweet.

"You poor thing," said Jesslyn, "you must be starved for affection. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're taken care of. We're aren't going to just survive out here, we're going to live a little."

Once the redhead released her, Brynn stood quickly, her face burning. She brushed dirt off of her bare knees and hands.

"I need to go check my notes real quick."