If you can, use the voice activation only. Use the palm print in the hall as a last resort."
"What's going on? You never used to be worried like this, and you never mentioned anything in your vidMails."
"We don't know. There have been a number of unexplained deaths in the building recently. Everyone is nervous. I've been showering four or five times every day, and Curtis just installed a new internal environmental system after sealing off the building's air-purification vents inside the co-op. He had air samples taken and they were negative for any harmful airborne bacteria, but he decided to separate us from the rest of the building as a precaution until they discover why so many people are dying."
"How many?"
"I've lost count. Somewhere around twenty-six I think."
"Oh my God! Twenty-six co-op residents in one of the most exclusive buildings in the city? I can tell I'm going to sleep well tonight."
"Sorry, sis, but I thought you should know. Here, just place your right hand on the palm plate and enter AJ8-2Emc2. After it accepts your print, tell it your name. Then leave your hand on the glass and talk about anything until the machine tells you it has an adequate sample. The instructions suggest you assist the unit by saying something like, "Open the door, Jeeves."
"Jeeves?" Sydnee said with a giggle.
"Curtis named it."
"Nuff said," Sydnee said with a grin.
----
Chapter Seven
~ September 7 th , 2285 ~
"Sweetheart, why didn't you tell me you were coming today?" Kathee Deleone said as she arrived home and saw her two daughters sitting on the living room sofa."I would have stayed home so I was here to greet you."
Sydnee rose as her mother hurried over with outstretched arms to embrace her. After their hug and cheek kiss, Kathee stepped back to give her daughter the once-over. "You look thin. Are they feeding you enough?'
"Momma, I'm four pounds heavier now than when I entered the Academy."
"Well— you look thin."
"Perhaps it's because I'm in better physical condition than I was back then. You know, more muscle, less fat. I run every day and work out."
"Men prefer their women with a little fat, sweetheart. They want a few curves. You should put on a few pounds— in the right places of course. I know a great surgeon who can change your whole life in just a two-hour visit."
"Big boobs and hips are what some men want. Others want a sharp mind and a healthy body."
"None that I've ever met."
"You were never in the military."
"No, I wasn't. And I wish you weren't either."
"Momma, don't start. I love my job. I love being in the military. I can't imagine a life of simply living for the next party or social event. If that's what you want for yourself, that's fine. But I want more."
"You're going to get yourself killed out in space, and I won't even know you're gone for several months. We never did get your father's body back. They told me the area of the ship where he was fighting at the Battle for Higgins was totally destroyed and open to space. They never found anything they could identify as coming from him."
"That was true of many good people, Momma. According to the logs, the last contact they had with dad indicated he was doing his job and making a difference. That's all I want people to be able to say about me— that I did my job and my efforts made a difference."
"Well, I'm just glad they sent you out where you'd be safe instead of shipping you off to Region Two to die in that terrible war."
"Um— Momma, I have a confession."
Kathee Deleone's face instantly reflected shock. "You're not going to tell me you've been in Region Two all this time, are you?"
"Um— no."
"That's a relief. I was afraid you were going to tell me you've been in extreme danger during that time when we couldn't contact you."
"Um— that's sort of what I have to tell you. I haven't been entirely truthful in my vidMails because I knew you'd worry. But everything will come out now, as soon as the Board of Inquiry findings are
"What's going on? You never used to be worried like this, and you never mentioned anything in your vidMails."
"We don't know. There have been a number of unexplained deaths in the building recently. Everyone is nervous. I've been showering four or five times every day, and Curtis just installed a new internal environmental system after sealing off the building's air-purification vents inside the co-op. He had air samples taken and they were negative for any harmful airborne bacteria, but he decided to separate us from the rest of the building as a precaution until they discover why so many people are dying."
"How many?"
"I've lost count. Somewhere around twenty-six I think."
"Oh my God! Twenty-six co-op residents in one of the most exclusive buildings in the city? I can tell I'm going to sleep well tonight."
"Sorry, sis, but I thought you should know. Here, just place your right hand on the palm plate and enter AJ8-2Emc2. After it accepts your print, tell it your name. Then leave your hand on the glass and talk about anything until the machine tells you it has an adequate sample. The instructions suggest you assist the unit by saying something like, "Open the door, Jeeves."
"Jeeves?" Sydnee said with a giggle.
"Curtis named it."
"Nuff said," Sydnee said with a grin.
----
Chapter Seven
~ September 7 th , 2285 ~
"Sweetheart, why didn't you tell me you were coming today?" Kathee Deleone said as she arrived home and saw her two daughters sitting on the living room sofa."I would have stayed home so I was here to greet you."
Sydnee rose as her mother hurried over with outstretched arms to embrace her. After their hug and cheek kiss, Kathee stepped back to give her daughter the once-over. "You look thin. Are they feeding you enough?'
"Momma, I'm four pounds heavier now than when I entered the Academy."
"Well— you look thin."
"Perhaps it's because I'm in better physical condition than I was back then. You know, more muscle, less fat. I run every day and work out."
"Men prefer their women with a little fat, sweetheart. They want a few curves. You should put on a few pounds— in the right places of course. I know a great surgeon who can change your whole life in just a two-hour visit."
"Big boobs and hips are what some men want. Others want a sharp mind and a healthy body."
"None that I've ever met."
"You were never in the military."
"No, I wasn't. And I wish you weren't either."
"Momma, don't start. I love my job. I love being in the military. I can't imagine a life of simply living for the next party or social event. If that's what you want for yourself, that's fine. But I want more."
"You're going to get yourself killed out in space, and I won't even know you're gone for several months. We never did get your father's body back. They told me the area of the ship where he was fighting at the Battle for Higgins was totally destroyed and open to space. They never found anything they could identify as coming from him."
"That was true of many good people, Momma. According to the logs, the last contact they had with dad indicated he was doing his job and making a difference. That's all I want people to be able to say about me— that I did my job and my efforts made a difference."
"Well, I'm just glad they sent you out where you'd be safe instead of shipping you off to Region Two to die in that terrible war."
"Um— Momma, I have a confession."
Kathee Deleone's face instantly reflected shock. "You're not going to tell me you've been in Region Two all this time, are you?"
"Um— no."
"That's a relief. I was afraid you were going to tell me you've been in extreme danger during that time when we couldn't contact you."
"Um— that's sort of what I have to tell you. I haven't been entirely truthful in my vidMails because I knew you'd worry. But everything will come out now, as soon as the Board of Inquiry findings are
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