Ava chuckled and whistled softly.
The huge creature came in on silent paws.
Ava said, “Jienne needs some support.”
“Got it.”
Ava chuckled as those who hadn’t met Nigel stared.The creature sat next to Jienne.Ava smiled.“Okay, you can speak with her.”
Vikor got up and walked over.“Miss Jienne, I am very sorry that you came to harm under my roof.I was under the influence of the patron, but I should not have requested that the hub not to give you a bot to protect you.Our protocols are being changed to insist on the distress protections the BDC has put in place.No weaselling out of it to give patrons a chance to be bad actors.That was our mistake, and our culpability will be included in our compensation for you.It will not happen again.”
Jienne swallowed.“Thank you.That’s comforting, I guess.”
He sighed.“I am sorry.”
She nodded, and Drin walked up and put out her arms, and Jienne got up for the hug.Nigel watched as the next apology was given.
Ekron wasn’t an ass for a change.Techor was extremely remorseful because it was he and Remark that had ripped her mind open.They were both very sincere.
Jienne nodded and then swallowed when Klauz was standing in front of her.
“Jienne, I am so very sorry that I was in your mind like that.Please don’t quit.”
She blushed.“I have to, and you know exactly why.”
He stroked her shoulder.“Why?”
Nigel growled loudly, and Klauz dropped his grip.
“I am sorry.”
Jienne sighed.“Klauz, every time you look at me now, you will remember that night, and you will feel the need that I didn’t let myself express.Do you have any idea how humiliating that will be to me?That is a very dangerous and depressing situation.I just want to go and start over somewhere.”
She looked up at him, his purple skin looking a little sallow.
Ava looked at him and paused.“Jienne, did you want to talk to the consortium?Nigel can keep track of you, making sure that they are on their manners, and we need to start our little discussion about BDC policy and culpability.”
Ekron asked, “Why is Torun here?”
Ava smiled.“He’s a shareholder.”
Jienne nodded and got up.Nigel came with her, and they walked out to the backyard.
The consortium followed, looking relieved but sombre.Klauz extended his hand, and Jienne took it.
Ava nodded and nodded to Keska.“Bring Cabree on, please.”
Keska got her on the com, and then she tossed a disk to the ground.Cabree was standing there, looking as if she were physically present.“Morning, everybody.I hear there was a colossal fuck up?”
Caska walked over to sit in a singular chair.“I am here today to make sure that everything is covered.”
Keska walked over to the side of the room with Cabree, Zera, and Torun.
Ava got up and dimmed the lights, showing the projection of the events and the description of what happened to Jienne.
Zera rubbed her face, and Ava saw that she was crying when Jienne slunk away into the night.“He made stipulations, and we have started giving in to the patrons.That will stop today.No more lack of cloaks, no more optional masks, no more meeting with other patrons if it isn’t authorized in advance with the patron and escort and other patron.The guard bots are no longer optional.Ever.”
Keska nodded.“A bot could have had her wrapped when her mind broadcast distress.The problem was that he was inside her mind, projecting pleasure and pushing out to where it was all that the other patrons could see.That was how he used her to get into their heads.”
