Heat Of The Moment - II (private)
 

After spending quite a bit of time in the frozen tundras of Siberia and the northernmost regions of North America, the Uruk-hai chieftain Grizgad had elected to move on to a warmer climate. For this, she had been drawn to the dunes of the Sahara, namely Egypt.

Needless to say, she was excited and pleased as Cleopatra proceeded to receive her personally with Antony beside her.

The former Queen of the Nile sat on her love seat, stroking Arrow's head as the female Uruk-hai approached. "You are most welcome, my lady."

"It's great to be here," Grigzad said. "Thank you for having me."

Cleopatra smiled and stood up to hug her. "And thank you for dressing appropriately." Grizgad had worn full-body ensembles to counter the extreme cold of Russia. Now, she had come to the far drier Giza in only her fur diapers.

She beamed and hugged Cleo back. "So, what's going to happen right now?"

"To begin, have you eaten?" Cleopatra inquired.

"Not at the moment, but I guess we could."

"Then come with me," Cleopatra bade the much taller woman, taking her hand. "It's almost Arrow and Javelin's feeding time, in any case."

Grigzad chuckled at that, following her.

They made their way to the dining hall, where lunch was being served. There was also a platter of raw steaks for the jaguars.

They were quite excited as they sat down. Cortana was there with Cleo's other children.

"Nice to see you, Lady Grizgad," said the A.I. in the artificial body, shaking hands with her.

"It's good to see you too," she said. "I take it humanity has treated you well?"

"Very," Cortana confirmed, "This part of the world may be short on my type of technology, but I find I appreciate a quieter, quainter existence."

Cleo nodded and gave her adopted daughter a big hug and ruffled her hair.

Cortana sighed in bliss at the sensation, absolutely adoring it.

They soon were digging in together.

Grizgad found Egyptian cuisine quite endearing, and she chuckled at the way Cleopatra alternated between feeding herself and her jaguars.

"Do you ever spend time going to yourself, 'this is the life?'" she asked her host.

"More often than you might think," said Cleo, "'Dying' was the best thing to happen to my family. It gave us free reign."

Antony nodded. "Here, we can be and do whatever we please."

"That certainly has its advantages," Grizgad said in approval, raising her goblet to that.

They all soon were nice and full.

"Very filling; my compliments to the chef," Grizgad said as the plates were cleared away.

"Thank you for that," Tryphaena said.

Grizgad smiled as she was then led along to another room.

It was a veritable sanctuary and bedchamber specifically for Cortana.

"Seems rather cozy," Grizgad observed, "Does your body allow you to experience all the same forms of comfort as humans or other organic beings?"

"Yes, I can experience it all," she said excitedly.

"Intriguing," Grizgad thought aloud, "Science can truly be just as astonishing as magic at times."

"Is that like a real common saying for you?" Cortana giggled.

"Not really, though it could be," the Uruk-hai thought aloud, "After all, I am from a fantasy world; your world falls under the realm of science fiction. There was a time when both were considered equally improbable by the people of this world."

She nodded and smiled a bit as she went to a special trunk.

Grizgad curiously watched, wondering what lay within.

Cortana opened it and beamed with pride.

It was a trunk of her personal effects, some of which dated back to her tenure in the UNSC.

"Tell me the story of this one," Grigzad said. "What is it?"

"Ah, this particular device was once my vessel," she revealed, holding up a module which the Master Chief had taken into battle during the campaign on the first Halo.

(Lunch. Have a good trip)

Grigzad observed it for herself.