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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Turkey melt, please."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina shivered at the deadened look in the sandwich scientist's eyes as he trudged away to prepare her order. Was this
the way she would be after years in the service industry? "Is that how I'm going to look if I spend years in the service industry?" she whispered to Rezo, who had been outside Middle Grounds when they had come to pick up her scooter, and had come along to
get his own lunch.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Don't worry. You're way more likely to get vaporized or eaten before your soul gets crushed by customer service," he
whispered back with a comforting pat on the shoulder.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mmmmmmeat sandwich?" Maow wailed plaintively to another sandwich scientist.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"What kind of meat." She replied, impervious to Maow's furry face and pleading, saucer-wide eyes.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Is there somewhere nice and sunny we can take these to eat?" Mina was starting to get creeped out. "I don't really wanna
look this closely into my possible future right now."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Somewhere *</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">nice*</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">?"
Rezo looked like he was going to say something more, but just then the windows of the sandwich shop crashed inwards accompanied by a purple and white hardsuit. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"ATTENTION PEONS!" the hardsuit boomed, "DO AS I SAY AND YOU WILL BE--HEY, DON'T I KNOW SOME OF YOU?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Hi Malmechano!" Rezo waved, "This is Subs 'n Grubs. Liquor store is next door."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"REZO! DIDN'T I LAY YOU OFF? I DON'T NEED YOUR INPUT, I KNOW WHICH BUSINESS I HAVE BROKEN INTO, FOOLISH MINION! I FULLY
INTEND TO ROB THE SUBS 'N GRUBS OF THEIR CASH AND SALAMI! THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS RAID! THE LIQUOR STORE IS MERELY A CONVENIENT--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Are you going to kill us?" One of the workers asked, with the faintest note of hope in her voice. Her name was Kate,
according to her nameplate.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oohh! Shoot me first!" The second worker, Todd, was younger and less beaten down. He jumped up and down waving his arms,
enthusiastic for the first time in perhaps months. "Please free me from my unending drudgery."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I don't. Believe this." Mina was rubbing her eyes. "I just--I just wanted to go have a nice day with--with what passes
for my friends in this city after the third or maybe fourth worst night of my life but YOU COULDN'T HAVE THAT!" She hurled a napkin dispenser, which bounced unnoticed off the white hardsuit torso.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"ER. ARE YOU CRYING? BORING NORMAL PEOPLE LIKE YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE PROBLEMS." The purple hardsuit helmet turned
back and forth between Mina and the workers. "THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A REAL DOWNER OF A HEIST. HOW ABOUT YOU JUST HAND OVER THE GOODS AND THEN I KILL ALL THREE OF YOU?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Wait! I just had a really bad night! I don't wanna die!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"MAYBE NOT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'RE THE SAME ILL BRED NOBODY WHOSE OAFISH CLUMSINESS LET A PACK OF MANGY CATS INTO
MY LAIR. YOUR PRESENCE IS DEPRESSING. TELL YOU WHAT. HOW ABOUT I KILL THESE TWO FIRST AND IF YOU AREN'T LESS DISAPPOINTING BY THE TIME I--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You don't have to kill anyone! The cash register's right there, just grab it!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You're ruining this for us," Kate growled at Mina. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"How about everyone who *</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">doesn't*
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">want to die just gets on the floor?" offered Rezo, who was already under a table with a sleeping mask on.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"What's going on here?" A man emerged from the back. A pin on his chest read "manager". He took in the hardsuit and his
eyes glazed over immediately. "LOSS PREVENTION MODE" he said in a different, robotic voice, his lips no longer moving. His eyes went red, and his chest opened up to reveal an array of missiles, which began to launch at the hardsuit. Mina had just enough time
to see Maow drop from a panel in the ceiling, taking out both the workers before she dropped herself, rolling over to the table Rezo was under.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"What is this?" she shouted over the crash of the manager bot walking straight through the counter. "What's going on?"
Rezo just lifted the corner of his sleeping mask and looked at her as if she had asked a stupid question. Mina took this as her cue to be more specific. "Where did he get a hardsuit? Why is the store manager a robot?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"SURRENDER, COMMUNIST TERRORIST FASCIST!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"EAT RAILGUN ROBOT SCUM! THAT WILL TEACH YOU TO TAKE JOBS FROM HARD WORKING AMERICANS! AHAHAHAHAHA!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"He bought it used." Rezo called over the sound of lasers. "Said the paint job looked like a lab coat."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina looked up long enough to see Malmechano's hardsuit grab the arm of the robot and swing it around, throwing it out
the window. Stepping out behind it, he pressed his advantage with another volley of laser fire. Mina took their brief absence as an opportunity, and vaulted what was left of the counter. On the other side, Maow sat on the older woman, who was larger, and kept
the man's head pinned to the ground with a clawed hand. The three were having an animated discussion.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I am delicious!" declared Kate. There was a muffled yell from Todd. "*We* are delicious!" she corrected. "Between us,
there's enough meat to feed an army of humanoid cats!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Consensual cannnnnibalism is an unnnnsettled question, ethically speakinnng. I don't knnnnow if I'm comfortable innnnnnntroducing
such an arrrrrrrangement."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You're trying to get killed AND eaten now?" Mina panted. "What is wrong with you people?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I've worked 90 hours this week and I still can't feed my four kids. The settlement my family will get will more than
make up for my wages."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Mmmph!" Maow adjusted her hold, and the man turned his head. "You don't know what it's like working here!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Try me," said Mina, "starting with that robot thing."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">A Hummer exploded in the parking lot. ("YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE," the robotic voice shrieked. "MUAHAHAHAHAHAH"
replied Malmechano.)</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Every bathroom trip, timed. It waits outside the door, listening. Do you know how hard it is to go when--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"All right, all right! I think I get it. Why is it here?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Some kind of corporate experiment," Kate put in. "They tried to automate the workers first. It turns out they couldn't
mass-market a robot sophisticated enough. They kept glitching up during complicated orders and customers didn't find them satisfying to yell at. But then someone came up with the idea of replacing the managers instead. It turns out that a manager's job is
much easier to automate. All they have to do is tell us to come in on holidays and watch us while we work."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Corporate seems real satisfied when they come by now," Todd said, despairing. "They want to expand the program to other
stores. They just needed to test the loss prevention system."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Still," Maow said thoughtfully, "There mmmmmust be something more prrrrrroductive you could do, than simmmply end your
lives. Some kind of rrrrrrrretaliation..."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I know what." Mina's eyes were shining with terror and excitement. "We need to make sure Malmechano wins this battle!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The door was marked Employees Only.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"But none of us has the key to it," Todd explained, "And we don't know where it's kept."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"And there's this," Kate added. She flipped up the panel of a lightswitch by the door. Behind it was some sort of fancy
high tech scanning instrument with a red LED attached. "It scans people's eyes. I think the only people it lets in are some kind of maintenance from Corporate."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Put me down! Hairball," complained Rezo, who, having refused to move, was being carried over Maow's shoulder. She dropped
him at Mina's feet. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Can you open this?" She demanded. Another explosion came from outside, this time causing the lights to flicker. Mina
hoped it was another Hummer, and not the supervillain's hardsuit.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The ex-henchman sat up and eyed the retinal scanner. "I could pick the lock, but it's probably a dummy. I can't do anything
about the scanner. Can I go now?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"What about... This!" With a flourish, Mina drew forth her trusty laser pointer.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"That's a laser pointer," Rezo pointed out, "It's just meant to distract..." His eyes drifted over to Maow, and he shut
up.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Maow, you have the keenest senses. Why don't you keep watch?" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The catgirl nodded to Mina, and turned to examine the battle outside.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"It's not going to do anything!" Rezo protested as Mina flipped through settings, aiming the pistol-shaped artifact at
the scanner and trying various settings. "Well, you might burn out the detector, but..." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Incoming!" Maow yowled as a stray missile headed into the devastated restaurant. It was at this very instant that the
red LED turned green, and the door opened. Fortunately, it opened inwards, allowing all of them to pile in ahead of the explosion.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Shouldn't have worked..." Rezo coughed, brushing dust off his clothing.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Shut *cough* up and help me break this thing!" Mina had bounded in first, and was staring at a pod large enough to accommodate
a humanoid robot. It was surrounded by buttons and readouts.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Maow crawled over to a large piece of equipment. "This lllllooks like a spammm powered rrrrreactor. The robot must use
it to rrrrrecharge. Dangerous." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Whoa," Todd and Kate said in unison, having never been allowed into this room.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Are you trying to become a henchperson now?" Rezo demanded, "It won't help you to work for nothing, you know."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Nooooo, I'm trying to stop an evil corporate plot before it engulfs my workplace. Where you work now too, ever since
you blackmailed the cook, I'm pretty sure! Anyway," and she began pressing buttons. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh." Self interest began to kick in. "Yeah, don't mess with that. Those are the reactor controls. I think this alters
the AI mode, so..." He pressed something. A distant, indistinct robotic chatter suddenly fell silent. "There." There was a loud BOOM from outside, followed by familiar maniacal laughter, followed by silence. Kate and Todd edged out the door.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Whew!" Mina leaned back. "Time to get out of here." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Minaaaaaaaaa! What did you dooooo to the reactor!" Maow screeched suddenly. The catgirl pawed at the interface, panicking.
There were lights on it now. Ominously colored lights. Lights that had definitely been dark when they first entered the maintenance room. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina turned to the panel and desperately tried to remember which buttons she had pushed. At the same time, Rezo lunged
for the reactor. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The world went white, and he screamed.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Blue and purple and red blotches were the first things to distinguish themselves to Mina's eyes. She blinked hard, and
the brilliant colors began to fade to the grays of her surroundings. A brief inventory determined that all of her parts were intact.
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">Maow</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">, she thought. The catgirl had such big, sensitive eyes. "Maow?" she said out loud.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Ahhhhhnnnnnnn!" It was a slow, pained wail. Mina felt her way over to it.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Are you hurt?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Can't seeeeee!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina felt fur under her fingers, saw a black and white blur of a face, no red. "My vision's coming back. I'll get you
out of here."</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Hey."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Rezo! Are you hurt?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I feel pretty good!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"...No way."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Better than ever, actually."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"*</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">No*</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"In fact I feel pretty invincible? ‘Snice."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina shut her eyes tight, briefly bringing back the explosions of color. "Rezo I'm going to need you to shut up about
that right now. Just tell me if you can see."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"See? Oh shit! Wait, my eyes were closed. Yeah, I can see. All those lights and panels look back to normal now." He sounded
baffled. "That's what you wanted to ask, right? I didn't do it, though."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Can you get up? I need help with the catgirl."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh yeah, I guess none of us wanna get caught here. Good thing the security cameras got wrecked in the fight." A blurry
form began to move, shifting from horizontal to vertical. Mina coaxed the whimpering catgirl to her knees as the lights on the console came slowly into focus. Whatever had happened to Rezo, she reasoned, must have reset the reactor somehow. She retrieved her
laser pointer, shoved it back into her purse, then she and Rezo took Maow's arms. Between the two of them, they got Maow to her feet and through the door. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Back in the kitchen area, she was able to make out Todd and Kate, kneeling beside an open safe stuffing a small backpack
with assorted bills. They had very guilty expressions on their faces, but Mina didn't have time to worry about that. Maow suddenly stiffened, ears up, and flung herself to the side, shoving Rezo and pulling Mina along with her into a pile of debris.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">A crunchy crash and a slightly maniacal chuckle were her second clue that Malmechano had come back to claim... whatever. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"THE SALAMI HAS BEEN RUINED! AND I BELIEVE THAT IS MY LOOT YOU ARE MAKING OFF WITH, PEASANTS!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Come and take it! What do we have to lose?" Kate shouted defiantly. There was a pew-pew sound of laser blast, and she
cried out in dismay.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina popped her head up from behind a box while her companions burrowed under rubble. She saw the hardsuit, battered
and with sparks coming out but still looking deadly enough for the likes of her. The two workers were trying to take cover behind the open door of the safe. A fresh burn mark, uncovered by dust, scorched the floor next to the safe. "Malmechano!" she said.
"Let them go. I helped you win, so you owe me."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"WHATEVER. JUST HAND OVER THE LOOT AND I'LL BE ON MY WAY!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"It's ours!" Todd cried, "We worked for it!" There were tears streaking his dusty cheeks.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina fought the urge to bury her face in her hands.
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">This is too much</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">--she shoved the voice back down. "It's not worth your lives," she told
the two service workers. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">I don't want to see anyone else die.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Says you! My other two jobs won't even cover my rent!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"BOO HOO HOO! IF I HAVE TO LISTEN TO SOB STORIES I'M JUST GOING TO KILL YOU ALL."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Shoot us and the cash burns!" Todd shouted.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"There's more valuable stuff here to steal! There's all this equipment from the robot guy. A--some kind of spam reactor.
That's got to be worth something, right?" Mina put in.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"THAT PIDDLING SAFE WON'T PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY SUIT... VERY WELL, LET'S SEE THE REST OF THE GOODS." The hardsuit
stepped forward and around the open door of the safe, where Todd was trying to hide his entire body behind the cash filled backpack. Ignoring the other civilians, the villain turned to Mina.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"In there," she stood up, pointing to the open utility door. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Todd and Kate start
to move. "You can see the pod where the robot charges itself," she added hastily. "It probably does it at night, when there aren't any employees or customers around. There's the panel with the manual overrides, with all the lights, see? That's where we got
it to stop attacking. And that big box thing there is--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"STOP THAT BABBLING!" A light shove from the hardsuit arm sent Mina sprawling onto her rear. "WHICH ONE OF US IS THE
GENIUS SCIENTIST, ANYWAY? YOU TWO! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" The last part was directed to the escaping sandwich workers, who had snuck towards freedom while the villain was distracted. Discovered, they launched themselves through the broken window,
abandoning stealth. Roaring with rage, Malmechano fired a final missile as the fugitives ducked to the side. Mina shut her eyes and covered her ears, but in that same instant felt a hand close around her ankle.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">A strange sensation came over her then. She became aware of a solid, comforting anchor inside herself. All she had to
do to be safe was lay back and grasp it, which she did.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The explosion of the missile against the side of the restaurant made the floor shake and more dust and rubble fall, but
it sounded to Mina as if it happened on a television at half volume. Bits of ceiling tile fell towards her, only to slide away a few inches from her face. She watched this, fascinated. Invincible.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Malmechano took a step forward, as if to pursue his lost loot. Then he paused, his head swinging back towards the utility
closet and its unexplored treasures. Back and forth he went, a series of indecisive one-eighties, until his gaze stopped in the middle. Stopped on Mina.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"YOU HAVE A BIG MOUTH, FOR SOMEONE OF SUCH LITTLE CONSEQUENCE." He pointed a wrist-mounted laser cannon at her, and fired.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina stared wide eyed at the beam of light splashing against an invisible barrier.
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">He was really going to do it!
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">And she was stopping him, sort of. She felt very aware of the hand wrapped around her ankle, a lifeline.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Malmechano pulled his arm back, the laser beam cutting off. "SO, MORE THAN A NOBODY AFTER ALL. WELCOME TO THE METAHUMAN
ARISTOCRACY." He looked at her down on the floor. "THOUGH NOT TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS, I THINK."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina was about to protest that it wasn't her, really, but the hand around her ankle gave a squeeze, and so she remained
silent.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. I HAVE LOOTING TO DO. BUT I REMEMBER WHERE I'VE SEEN YOU BEFORE AND I
*</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000;font-style:italic">WILL*</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000"> BE HAVING A WORD WITH YOUR MANAGER. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Noooooooooo..." Mina wailed feebly in response to this dread threat. The hand around her ankle tightened into a vice.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The hardsuited villain turned and strode into the maintenance room. As he was starting to make exclamations of delight,
Maow rose soundlessly from a pile of debris and launched herself at the door, slamming her hand against the panel and causing it to whisk shut. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Rezo popped up from his own cover, letting go of Mina's leg. The sensation of untouchable power vanished abruptly, leaving
her feeling quite squishy. "Time to go. That won't hold him for long." Already, there were indignant shouts coming from behind the door.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I hope he's not crazy enough to set off missiles in there," gasped Mina, climbing to her feet. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Maow shrugged, unconcerned. "Wwwwiill help cover up ooooour presence if he does."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Are you okay? I thought you were blinded."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Nnnnnever been blind. Nnnnnot since I was a kitten." The catgirl stalked proudly ahead, tripping and nearly falling
over a metal tub.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Maow!" </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"What?" She responded with great dignity. "Nnnothing has happened."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina took her elbow anyway. "Nevermind. I just hope our scooters are all right."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The machines had been knocked over and hit by flying debris, but otherwise seemed all right. "We should split up." suggested
Rezo, picking up his battered Vespa.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Good strategy," mewed Maow.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Okay." Mina righted her Genuine Pal 250, then, unable to hold herself in, whirled to face him. "You... It's so unfair--
You saved me, though. I've never heard of anyone lending powers out like that--"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I think I hear sirens and lasers..." Rezo started up the scooter.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Oh, all right. Thank you. I'll just go and vomit with envy when I reach the privacy of my own home."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Iiiii think you did verrry well. Perhaps the nnnnnext unstable reactor will give yoooou yooooooouuur powers?" Maow purred
in her ear as she settled in, wrapping her arms around Mina and resting her soft chin on the shorter girl's shoulder.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">As she buzzed out of the parking lot, Mina resisted the urge to stop and stare at a figure rising from the ruin in her
rearview mirror, improbaby burdened. Instead she hit the gas, wanting to stay ahead of the just-arriving police, with whom she had spoken last night. She had already come to the conclusion that they were not up to dealing with metahuman criminality. Her adrenaline
had begun to wane, and she felt just as dismal as she had this morning but even hungrier.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Where do you want to be dropped off?" she shouted. This was met with silence. "Maow?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Drrrropped off?" came the confused answer. "I'mmmmm coming home with you."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Mina pulled off onto a side street and parked under an overhanging tree canopy. Turning around, she pulled off her helmet
and half turned to look at her companion. The gaze that met hers was uncomprehending, pleading.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You--you can't just move in. I have things I need to do. I still have to call my mom." She remembered as well the gadget
stored under her sink, plucked off of the same contraption the chaotic catgirls coveted...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Maow's soft fingers brushed her face. "But yyyyou are still sad. Ssscared." Mina closed her eyes as the rough tongue
licked her messy hair. It was a funny sensation, but kind of nice. Too confusing.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Nope," she said, pushing away. "You were attacking me with your friends just last week, and this is all moving too fast!
I let you get away with things because you're like a cat. But you're much more than a cat, and it's so hard to sort out! So just tell me where--Maow? Maow?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">But the catgirl had already made her exit.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Amy Sunderland's business phone buzzed a crucial instant before she could strike the killing blow. Her opponent took
advantage of her distraction, and Ramrod's bullets struck home, knocking the digital figure of Fallen Angel off the Space Needle and causing her life counter to go down by one. Biting back a foul curse with some effort, she handed her controller to her watching
niece, who shrieked with glee.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Y'all have fun. I gotta go take this." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">She stepped out onto the back porch, closing the door firmly behind her. After checking for inconvenient neighbors, she
flipped her phone open. The Belles of Bellum... this would have been the mind influencer, lifted from that loudmouth Malmechano. "What can I do for you, Miss Rule?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I have a complaint to make," The accent was old Southern aristocracy, and rather exaggerated by Amy's reckoning. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"No refunds." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Miss Amy, I made a purchase from you in good faith. I and my associates have spent some time studying the item you sold
me and we have come to the conclusion that it has been sabotaged. This is not the level of service we expect."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You got it in the condition I found it. I never mess around with this stuff." Amy, who ranked neither the "mind control"
device nor its purchaser's technological expertise highly, couldn't rule out the possibility that the machine was working perfectly but with no effect anyone would notice.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Perhaps something could have fallen off in transport? Because my expert assures me that this machine is short one car-bunk-u-lar
co-ag-u-la-tor." The voice pronounced the scientific gibberish with slow and careful precision.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Ain't seen one of those around, but if I find one I'll give you a call." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Don't you hang up on me, Miss Amy," the voice softened, but the accent sharpened, "I don't intend for you to defraud
me. I will have a complete machine or you will regret it."</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"You do know where I work, right? I'm pretty well appreciated there. In what way are you gonna make me regret it that
ain't gonna make you regret it more?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Why don't you just shut your mouth and take a listen?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Shutting her mouth was never on Amy's agenda, but before she could think of anything to say she heard it. The clop clop
clopping of horses' hooves came first, followed by the cheerful sounds of "Dixie." She ran around the side of the house in time to catch sight of the carriage. She recognized the carriage, though not the man driving it; he waved at her, sending chills down
her spine. </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"I take it you understand me?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Amy Sunderland resisted the urge to look back at the house behind her, where her nephews and nieces played Super Smoosh
Guys, and the rest of her family prepared for dinner. "Okay, Miss Rule! I really don't know where that co-uncle carbohydrate whatever is! If y'all really want I'll even give you your damn refund, okay?"</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"That will not do, I'm afraid. I have plans for this particular contraption. I have waited for too long for the power
to oust those carpetbaggers sitting pretty up there in Savannah, keeping decent southern superguys from enjoying the fruits of the Hostess City! Now you think real hard about where that part might be, and you call me back within the hour." </span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">The line went dead. Amy stared at the carriage until it was out of sight. A part of her mind had been working on the
question even while she was protesting her ignorance. Two people had helped her that night. She was sure Rezo hadn't deliberately messed up anything. He was too self-interested, and he just didn't possess the drive. But the other person... she had the initiative,
and the annoying self-righteousness, to do something any number of stupid things.</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Amy looked down at her phone, and then up at the house. Her sister in law opened the door, waving her in for dinner.
Amy held up a hand to indicate that she would be a minute, then looked at her phone again. "Sorry, kid..." she whispered as she redialed...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">At the same time...</span></p>
<br>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">A number of computer monitors bleeped and blooped contentedly in a shaded upper-story room. One of the monitors, which
like its companions displayed arcane formulas incomprehensible to the ordinary layperson, began flashing red and bleeping with considerable urgency. When this failed to elicit a response, one of its usb ports disgorged an imp. Activating its tiny built in
jetpack, the imp took flight, searching for the room's occupant. It soon located him: a tall, heavy-set black man intently studying a small but complicated electronic eye. The imp screamed; the man did not respond. The imp seized an earbud and yanked, then
screamed again. This time the man turned his head to listen.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">When the imp had finished, the man sighed, reaching for a microphone. "Small problem down south. Come talk to me."</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">*****</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">Song credit: </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Courier New';color:#000000">"Bury My Lovely" by October Project</span></p>
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