“(Unsure if she should laugh or groan, Astrid held fast to the tank before her as Zarek pushed the snowmachine to the limits. It vibrated so badly that she half-expected it to disintegrate underneath them.) Cap’n, I don’t think she’ll hold. The warp engines can’t take any more. It’s going to blow apart. (Astrid)”

“Why did Acheron tell you not to talk to Zarek? (Astrid)I don’t know. That redheaded bitch-goddess got all angry when he told me to come protect you. It went like this. (She flashed to Acheron’s form.) Protect Zarek and Astrid. Now. (She flashed to Artemis’s form.) No! You can’t let her go, she’ll tell Zarek everything. (Simi, looking like Artemis, put her hand against her cheek and whispered loudly to Astrid.) This the part where the redheaded goddess went on and on about what happened in Zarek’s village and akri got all upset at her. Don’t know why he won’t let me kill her and get it over with, but finally he say…(She flashed to Acheron’s form.) Simi, don’t speak to Zarek but make sure Thanatos doesn’t kill either one of them. (She flashed into her own form.) So I said okay and here I am not talking to Zarek. (Simi)Wow. She’s a camcorder, too. How convenient. (Zarek)”

“Zarek! I won’t leave you here to die. (Astrid)It’s okay, princess. I don’t mind dying for you. (Zarek)”

“Here. (Zarek)What is it? (Astrid)Arsenic and vomit. (Zarek)Really? And yet you managed to hack that up so quietly. Who knew? Thanks. I’ve never had vomit before. I’m sure it’s extra special. (Astrid)”

“Zarek? (Astrid)What?! (Zarek)Don’t use that tone with me. I like to know where people are in my house. Be nice, or I’ll make you wear a cowbell. (Astrid)”

“So what really happened to you? (Astrid)Nothing. (Zarek)Well, I hope I never come across Nothing then if it’s capable of putting a hole in my back. (Astrid)”

“My friend died. (Astrid)Died how? (Zarek)Mmm, he had parvo. (Astrid)Isn’t that a dog’s disease? (Zarek)Yes. It was tragic. (Astrid)Hey! I resent that. (Sasha)Behave or I will give you parvo. (Astrid)”