you with whatever you need on Pallas Five as well. You'll stay with me, of
course, in the governor's habitat and I will expect to share your habitat here. We've made some
external scans and find the security of the building to be...adequate, despite its isolation."
He paused for a reaction, but she stood gazing out onto the ordered, colorful beds of
flowering shrubs and plants as if she hadn't heard him. Her illness hadn't done her any favors. If
anything, she appeared more gaunt. The circles under her eyes were bigger and darker. One thing
he was going to do, he vowed to himself, was teach her how to eat real food and get more rest.
The console behind them chimed.
"Maegan, are you there?" It was a male voice filled with excitement.
She stirred and turned. Her gaze flickered over him as if he were inconsequential. "Yes,
Makiee."
"Celeeebration time." The male voice was filled with glee. "The prototype of ComXFive
came through the test without a burp or hiccup. We'll meet you down at Gloriana's."
"Well done, Makiee. I'll be there." None of the liveliness in her voice was evident in the
cool expression she turned to him. "Business calls."
"Of course, and I must get back to Pallas Five. I'll see you in two cycles."
Chapter 7
Margaine Confluence:/Fifth Rising
Pallas Four
Gloriana's was jammed with bodies and it was still early in the evening. The real action
wouldn't happen for some time yet.
The Janas group had arrived early enough to stake out a corner with padded stools and a
table. Most people stood in intimate, closed groups. Some prowled through the brightly lit room,
trolling for interest in an age-old mating ritual, or posed on one of the many balconies that
overlooked the main floor to see and be seen.
Gloriana's made that easy enough. From floor to wall to ceiling, the entire club was
mirrored. There were few locals in the crowd, which was interesting. When had the shift occurred
from favored local hangout to tourist hangout?
Maegan had had too much to drink and the Janas celebration was still going strong. Her
group had even pulled in Brown-hair and Black-hair, who had followed her to the club. The two
weren't participating in the drink of choice though. Grogon limale was usually a mild alcoholic
beverage, but tonight it seemed to be spiked with something. She would bet that whatever it was
her two bodyguards were imbibing didn't contain a trace of alcohol.
She turned her head and the entire room undulated. Maybe it was just that her body in its
present state couldn't handle even a small amount of alcohol. She should go home and go to
bed.
Her focus wavered again and settled on a disturbance in the room. Gloriana herself worked
the crowd tonight. Spectacular in studded bronze body armor, which made it dangerous for anyone
to come into contact with her, her enormous body forged a wide path. Fake scarlet hair tumbled in
artful disarray over her shoulders and huge breasts, which were faithfully outlined by the tight body
armor. Strands of beaded jewelry dripped from around her neck, and thick make-up glittered on her
face, rendering her age indeterminate.
Her intent wasn't. She was headed straight for their corner.
Maegan's flight instinct kicked in. She had to figure out how to vanish without attracting
Gloriana's notice. Brown-hair and Black-hair had become the focus of attention in her group. Her
young engineers had begun by launching a gleeful, unmannerly interrogation of the warriors. The
conversation had quickly turned more respectful and now an intense discussion on the complexities
of a hologame Maegan had never heard of was in process. With luck, she might be able to slip
away into the crowd.
Setting her half-empty glass on the table, she tried to rise and couldn't. Her legs wouldn't
obey her brain. She braced her arms on either side of the stool and pushed. Still nothing. A frisson
of panic swirled through her. She must have made a sound because Black-hair turned to look at
her.
His gaze
course, in the governor's habitat and I will expect to share your habitat here. We've made some
external scans and find the security of the building to be...adequate, despite its isolation."
He paused for a reaction, but she stood gazing out onto the ordered, colorful beds of
flowering shrubs and plants as if she hadn't heard him. Her illness hadn't done her any favors. If
anything, she appeared more gaunt. The circles under her eyes were bigger and darker. One thing
he was going to do, he vowed to himself, was teach her how to eat real food and get more rest.
The console behind them chimed.
"Maegan, are you there?" It was a male voice filled with excitement.
She stirred and turned. Her gaze flickered over him as if he were inconsequential. "Yes,
Makiee."
"Celeeebration time." The male voice was filled with glee. "The prototype of ComXFive
came through the test without a burp or hiccup. We'll meet you down at Gloriana's."
"Well done, Makiee. I'll be there." None of the liveliness in her voice was evident in the
cool expression she turned to him. "Business calls."
"Of course, and I must get back to Pallas Five. I'll see you in two cycles."
Chapter 7
Margaine Confluence:/Fifth Rising
Pallas Four
Gloriana's was jammed with bodies and it was still early in the evening. The real action
wouldn't happen for some time yet.
The Janas group had arrived early enough to stake out a corner with padded stools and a
table. Most people stood in intimate, closed groups. Some prowled through the brightly lit room,
trolling for interest in an age-old mating ritual, or posed on one of the many balconies that
overlooked the main floor to see and be seen.
Gloriana's made that easy enough. From floor to wall to ceiling, the entire club was
mirrored. There were few locals in the crowd, which was interesting. When had the shift occurred
from favored local hangout to tourist hangout?
Maegan had had too much to drink and the Janas celebration was still going strong. Her
group had even pulled in Brown-hair and Black-hair, who had followed her to the club. The two
weren't participating in the drink of choice though. Grogon limale was usually a mild alcoholic
beverage, but tonight it seemed to be spiked with something. She would bet that whatever it was
her two bodyguards were imbibing didn't contain a trace of alcohol.
She turned her head and the entire room undulated. Maybe it was just that her body in its
present state couldn't handle even a small amount of alcohol. She should go home and go to
bed.
Her focus wavered again and settled on a disturbance in the room. Gloriana herself worked
the crowd tonight. Spectacular in studded bronze body armor, which made it dangerous for anyone
to come into contact with her, her enormous body forged a wide path. Fake scarlet hair tumbled in
artful disarray over her shoulders and huge breasts, which were faithfully outlined by the tight body
armor. Strands of beaded jewelry dripped from around her neck, and thick make-up glittered on her
face, rendering her age indeterminate.
Her intent wasn't. She was headed straight for their corner.
Maegan's flight instinct kicked in. She had to figure out how to vanish without attracting
Gloriana's notice. Brown-hair and Black-hair had become the focus of attention in her group. Her
young engineers had begun by launching a gleeful, unmannerly interrogation of the warriors. The
conversation had quickly turned more respectful and now an intense discussion on the complexities
of a hologame Maegan had never heard of was in process. With luck, she might be able to slip
away into the crowd.
Setting her half-empty glass on the table, she tried to rise and couldn't. Her legs wouldn't
obey her brain. She braced her arms on either side of the stool and pushed. Still nothing. A frisson
of panic swirled through her. She must have made a sound because Black-hair turned to look at
her.
His gaze
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