Three hours later, she was mortified and back in a transport heading for the BDC.She filed her report and shuddered as the events of the evening kept playing in her mind.First, she had to quit Klauz’s.Her patron had made her cum in front of the group, and somehow, her voice had triggered a memory in him, possibly from her trying to pacify a guest.His eyes had lit up, and he had leaned forward.Drin and Vikor were watching her as well, and with the lack of control, her shielding broke, and Techor and Remark had swanned right in and found her identity.
She was going to cry as soon as she got this mask off.She took in a deep breath and called a friend.“Ava?”
“Yes?Oh, Jienne.How are you?”
Her voice wobbled.“Not good.I think I have to quit the BDC.I don’t think I can do that again.”
“Tell me what happened, and don’t let anyone make a booking with you right now.Don’t quit.We will suspend your availability.It lets you keep the advantages of the Blind Date Corp.Now, deep breath and talk.I will find out what you need.”
Jienne nodded, though her friend couldn’t see her, and she talked.
Ava gave her instructions, and when she arrived at the BDC, Ava was waiting.“Come on, we are going to make a conference call.”
To Jienne’s shock, Ava had an entry code and was scanned into the BDC entrance.Jienne said, “I didn’t know you were an escort.”
“A long time ago in a city far away.Now I just do it when I want to blow the cobwebs out.”She smiled.They were in a descending elevator.”
Jienne blinked.“How old are you?”
Ava grinned.“Come on, Jienne.We are going to make a call.”
They arrived in the fully automated prep area, and Ava guided her to the lounge.She brought up two displays and made the calls.
Zera and Tirra looked at her, sleepy with their group and husband in the background.They both widened their eyes.Zera gasped, “Avagail?”
“Yes.I am here to report the psychic sexual assault of Aksalla Sixty-Six, the gateway access to the crowd around her, and the breaking of the public activity clause in her contract.You might want to get your lawyer on this.”
Tirra started making notes.“Who were the affected actives?”
Jienne whispered, “The Elf Star Consortium.”
Zera paused, nodded, and then started cursing as she took her tablet out of the room where her partners were sleeping.Tirra did the same.Once the ladies were in their home offices, the questions came hard and fast, and Jienne answered them all with Ava holding her hand.Then the first description of being held by her patron in a psychic grip that attracted the other minders, wearing away at her control from within.
“I am going to get her changed now and out of the mask, and then we are going to stay at my place, as he also doxed her fairly effectively.I think he wants to use her as bait on his schedule.The shadows that he used were very effective on her, and I believe there is a specialist in Z Corp who can assist, so I will be calling her next.”
Zera paused.“You know Dex?”
“Well, you know, once I had my stake, I did well for myself and headed out, investing as I went.”
Jienne was suddenly very happy that she had met Ava at the restaurant.“Can you help me get the shadows out?”
“Yes, Jienne.I am going to call on a shadow hunter.She will track him using what he left behind in you.”
Jienne nodded and shuddered.“But you can get them out.”
“Yes, buddy, I can get them out, but right now, they are preserved evidence.”
Tirra looked at her.“Make the call, and take care of Jienne.We are sending a therapist.”
“Don’t.She will be at my house until we sort this out.I am not putting a target on her.If Dex doesn’t get him, I will.”
Jienne nodded.“Right.So, what do I do?”
“Take off your clothing, put it in the container marked Evidence.Same with your shoes and underwear.Psychometrists will go over your clothing to see what they can of what happened.That doesn’t happen here.A scanner will go over you for all fingerprints and fluids.Then a counsellor should arrive here who can make a memory copy.I have already made one, and I am writing a copy to my secure com.”
Jienne swallowed.“So, clothes in Evidence.The scanner will take fingerprints.Then what?”
Zera said softly, “A tech will arrive and take samples from anything that is obvious on the scans.They are en route and should be arriving in four minutes.If you could wait until then?”
