Jienne nodded and wrapped her arms around herself.“I didn’t say no.”
Ava tutted.“You did.It was in your contract, which was forwarded to him when he asked for you.He knew.And he did it anyway and used your broadcasting as a way to draw in other actives.He picked you deliberately for your activation.”She held her hand, keeping her from closing in on herself.
The tech arrived, and it was Arcady.Jienne blushed as the gorgeous woman approached her.
“Hey, Sixty-Six.Heard your patron was a bit of a bastard.”
Jienne smiled weakly.“You could say that.I don’t do public because I pull everyone in.”
“Right.Sensible.I remember that from your interview.It was flagged on your contract.”
Jienne heard a ping on her com and looked.“He’s trying to book me again.”
Ava spoke quietly, “Suspend the bookings.Don’t quit, don’t close your accounts.Just suspend bookings.”
Jienne nodded and quietly did as instructed.The alert ceased.
Zera exhaled.“If you quit, we would be limited in our assistance, but with you suspended, it counts as you being injured on the job.We will get your counsellors, and if you can’t return to work, there will be a payout.If you ever change your mind, you will be welcomed back.”
Jienne heard the options and what could happen, but she heard that she would be taken care of.That was comforting.She went with Arcady, and the other woman didn’t touch her.Ava had touched her hand, and that had meant the world.
* * * *
Ava looked at two oldfriends.“Well, you two are both blooming.”
Zera snorted.“This is afterglow.”
Tirra grinned.“I am not going to be in danger of glowing for another few months.We don’t want kids back-to-back.Oh, we got your baby present and the wedding gift.Thank you so much.”
“You are welcome.Oh, I ran into Cabree out in the islands a few weeks ago.She’s glowing.”
Zera nodded ruefully.“And thankfully, she’s good to work remotely.”
Ava nodded.“Lucky you.”
Tirra asked, “How did you meet Jienne?”
“I was at the restaurant where she works and sitting at the bar.I was playing my favourite game.Analyzing strangers.She broadcast her good mood, and it got into their minds but only surface deep.She soothed them all, one by one.When she left for the night, she went for coffee rather than joining the crew at the bar.I brought her a cupcake and chatted with her about the BDC.Jienne is keen, she’s sweet, and she was doing really well, and then he doxed her and forced her to engage in public displays.Ah, there is my com.Dex is waiting.This should be short.He’s followed her to the building, so he’s waiting outside.”
Tirra sat straight.“I am calling the guards.”
“Great.I am going to ask for forgiveness, not permission.Worst thing that happens is I get deported again.”
Zera frowned.“What do you mean?”
Ava laughed.“Where do you think I went?I was booted out of the capitol.I refused to use my activation for government work, so they kicked me out in the middle of the night.It was all stealthy and stuff.I suspended my account with y’all and went.”
Zera stared at her.“No one said anything.”
“Of course not.If they told you, they would have had to explain that they were using my activation for government purposes for a country that wouldn’t give me citizenship.Oh, by the way, I have an appointment for an assessment to see if I can be of use to Aksalla.Now that they have organized that program, I might be able to stick around.”
Tirra looked at her.“You are Uraddan?”
Ava nodded.“I escaped when I was eight and just walked to the capitol.I thought this was in my file.”
Zera cleared her throat.“We had a security breach a decade ago, and the escort histories were dumped and rewritten before we noticed.”
Ava nodded.“How unfortunate, and right before Aksalla was about to audit the escort histories for your push to get licensing.”
