“PRIVATEKLEIN WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU ON BEHAVIOR PROTOCOLS,”HE DECLARES. “MONITORING QUERY AND RESPONSE PATTERNS FOR THEUTANEUROGRAMMING TEAM BACK ONARESVI.”
DATA ARE POURING IN FROM ACROSS THEALEXANDERAS WE SPEAK.
FORWARD SCANNER SWEEPS AND MAINTENANCE REPORTS AND ENGINE DIAGNOSTICSAND A NOTIFICATION THAT THE VENDING MACHINE INWHITECORRIDOR159IS OUT OF CHICKEN SOUP AGAIN.
AMILLION POINTS OF DATA. AMILLION CALCULATIONS PER MILLISECOND.
AIDAN’S SERVER TOWERS PULSE WITH SCARLET LIGHT AS IT FORMULATES THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
“EXCELLENT. AIDANLOOKS FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME WITH YOU, PRIVATE.”
OLIVIAKLEIN LOOKS BACK UP INTO THE CAMERAS. HER HEART RATE IS ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL,THOUGH HER CHEEKS ARE STILL FLUSHED WITH BLOOD. SHE IS SUCCESSFUL AT KEEPING HER ANGER FROM HER VOICE,HOWEVER. SHE EVEN MANAGES TO SMILE.
“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT,TOO.”
Participants: Olivia Klein, Private, UTA Information Services Division
Stephanie LeFevre, Private, UTA Information Services Division
Date: 12/21/74
Timestamp: 19:42
LeFevre, S, Pvt: Where’d you put my tweezers, roomie
Klein, O, Pvt:I didn’t touch your tweezers.
LeFevre, S, Pvt: Maybe you did and you forgot
Klein, O, Pvt:Stephanie, I remember the shirt you were wearing when we first met. I remember your mother’s palmglass number. I remember pi to a hundred decimal places.
LeFevre, S, Pvt: Okay, okay fine
Klein, O, Pvt:Date tonight?
LeFevre, S, Pvt: Yes, and my eyebrows are dangerously close to unlocking their final form
Klein, O, Pvt:You going out with that Dorian guy in comms?
LeFevre, S, Pvt: No, Corporal Dorian remains firmly behind glass
LeFevre, S, Pvt: As in, “Break in case of emergency”
Klein, O, Pvt:I get it.
LeFevre, S, Pvt: Tonight I will be keeping the company of one Sergeant James McNulty
LeFevre, S, Pvt: Met in the gym. The boy has abs on his abs
Klein, O, Pvt:Sounds delightful.
LeFevre, S, Pvt: You want to double? I’m sure he has friends
Klein, O, Pvt:No thanks. I have plans.
LeFevre, S, Pvt: Swooning over Mr. Darby does not constitute plans
Klein, O, Pvt:It’s Mr. Darcy.
