Diena smirked.“Right.Business first.My office is this way.”
She smiled and looked at Jenaki.“You don’t have to come along.Keska has the unlimited food passes.You can get something to eat.”
He smiled.“I can wait.”
“Okay.Let’s go then.”She looked at Zera and Kritz.“Unaccompanied grownups, stay with me.”
As they walked to the administrative offices, Kritz asked, “What is this place?”
“It’s a playpark for children.We have a section for toddlers when your little one is up and running.A nice, contained track with fall-fields.The little waddlers can get themselves tired and drop into a nap without injury.”
Kritz looked around with wonder.“This place is amazing.”
“The idea is that active and non-active siblings can play together on an even set of challenges.Kids can have parties here, and schools can bring kids here on field trips.We have a museum with the history of actives in Aksalla and different places around the world.Retired team members are safety officers for the more advanced attractions, like the boxing.Some are height- or age-restricted.”
Kritz inclined his head.“Thanks for creating this.”
“Well, it was me and Keska and a few local investors.Some have kids, and some don’t.”
She opened her office and waved them in.
She sat at her polished wood desk.Zera sent over the contracts, and Diena read them carefully, highlighting them and looking for hidden text.When they were clean and clear, she filled in her routing information and signed.
Zera blinked.“How long until we get the minerals?”
Diena leaned to the left, knocked twice on the desk, the top slid off a hidden container, and she lifted the sealed case out.
She sent Zera an acknowledgement of receipt and slid the case toward Kritz.“There you go, you grubby little tech wizard.”
He grinned and opened the case.The gasp was gratifying.He pulled an instrument from his pocket and scanned the first canister.His hands started shaking.He continued with the next two and looked at her in astonishment.“These are the purest samples I have ever seen.How did you refine them?”
“Oh, one of the Khaskik actives.Purification is her thing.”She smiled.“Killing anyone who touches her without permission is another thing.She’s complicated.”
Kritz was still looking at the mineral readouts in wonder.“This...this is amazing.Can we get more?”
She looked at Zera.“Sign the receipt of goods, and pay the nice lady, and we can discuss it.”
Zera authorized the receipt, and the payment arrived a few seconds later.
Diena sighed and moved the funds from the drop account.They were in the trust account that she used to help survivors of the Lorn Empire.
She smiled.“Would you like a tour of the facility?Salat wants to zip through the paintball area with Khytten.I think they like the idea of getting messy.”She shrugged.“I don’t judge.I am kicking around the idea of having a late-night paintball for adults.Sober adults.It will involve more suits, but I think the seamstress wouldn’t mind.”
Diena brought up a holographic projection of the suits.
Zera stared at it.“What is that?”
“Lacing to contract the suit to fit a variety of forms.Metabolics always need to let out or retract their clothing, for example.This suit automatically fits the body as long as height is taken into account.”
Zera blinked.“Would you be willing to send the design to our R and D department?”
“Nope.It is the proprietary design of the creator.She’s having fun with this, and I don’t want to dissuade her from future participation.”
Zera nodded.“I see.I have to ask, what do you wear with the markings?”
Diena put a hand over her eyes.“About two yards of fabric, arranged strategically.”
“How does it stay on?”
