Hello, my name is Charles.\u00a0 My family always focused on business when I was child, and I spent years learning how to run that business.\u00a0 In my free time, I relaxed by reading books.\u00a0 I flipped through real paper books, I read electronic books, and I walked through fully holographic stories.\u00a0 There are so many ways to create and experience fiction, and I explored them all.\u00a0 I do my best to hold onto a piece of that, even now.<\/p>\n
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Charles stepped through the afternoon rain, water droplets running off his suit jacket.\u00a0 He wore the same style of black civilian dress suit he\u2019d grown up with, the kind that told anybody who knew anything about Class that the wearer was Old Money.\u00a0 Dorothy walked beside him, her ankle-length black dress bouncing just above the street with each step.\u00a0 The hem of her dress looked wet from rain splashing off the street, but beyond that the light rain hadn\u2019t soaked either of them.<\/p>\n
Dorothy cocked her head to the side and smiled at him.<\/p>\n
Charles shook his head with a chuckle at being caught staring, and turned his gaze to their destination.\u00a0 Landing Books, the oldest bookstore outside of the Terran system, towered over the street like an ancient castle.\u00a0 Stone parapets decorated the top of the building, round towers held the corners from roof to street level, and large wooden doors hung open, waiting for customers to enter.<\/p>\n
Charles walked into Landing Books, Dorothy at his side, and scanned the shelves full of actual paper books.\u00a0 Some people still bought them even now, so some stores still sold them.\u00a0 And Landing Books made certain to place their<\/em> paper books front and center at the main entrance so everybody could see real<\/em> books on sale.<\/p>\n Charles saw many of the classics on display as his eyes scanned the shelves.\u00a0 He saw many books he just didn\u2019t like because they made him depressed.\u00a0 Books about crazy men like Don Quixote, or worlds where individualism was dead like Brave New World.\u00a0 He also saw some books that he enjoyed like the Wizard of Oz, and Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.\u00a0 There were some based on a world that might have actually been such as to Kill a Mockingbird and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.\u00a0 It was an impressive collection of paper books, one of the better ones in a store he\u2019d seen in his life.<\/p>\n Charles walked past the bookshelves and into the part of Landing Books that most people would recognize as a bookstore.\u00a0 Digital displays promoted new stories, some of them full holographic that even gave small previews.\u00a0 Some of them were just text on pages like books had been for thousands of years, and some of them were movies, and some were full holographic interactive stories that took the watcher\u2019s actions into account.<\/p>\n There was a children\u2019s section, full of bright colors and imaginative stories, and a romance section full of bare-chested handsome men.\u00a0 He found the science fiction and fantasy areas far more interesting, with the displays full of scantily clad beautiful women.\u00a0 Of course, he liked them for the stories, but he was honest enough to admit that the girls helped.\u00a0 The store had all of the other sections any bookstore had, from the self-help to the religious to the travel areas.\u00a0 It really was a good store.<\/p>\n Charles walked through them to the back of the store, Dorothy at his side, to where the previewing rooms stood, and scanned the room numbers.\u00a0 Some of them showed green status markers, proclaiming them open for people to use.\u00a0 A few were red, declaring they were occupied.\u00a0 A small number flashed between green and red and Charles smiled as he found the one he wanted.\u00a0 His reservation for room eleven was ready, and nobody had arrived yet.<\/p>\n \u201cDorothy?\u201d he asked with a nod towards the door.<\/p>\n Dorothy smiled in response.\u00a0 \u201cThe store tells me you can enter now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Charles said to both Dorothy and the store, and stepped forward to open the door.\u00a0 He walked into the previewing room, Dorothy following, and scanned the clean white walls with a nod.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease load the simulation.\u00a0 Place me on Upper Baker Street near 221.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Master Hurst,\u201d the store answered in a suitable old English accent.\u00a0 \u201cLoading now.\u201d<\/p>\n The cobblestone street appeared first, followed by a flagstone sidewalk, and a stone fence next to him.\u00a0 Grass and flowers and trees flickered into existence, along with houses and sky and clouds.\u00a0 Finally people walking down the sidewalk and a single horse drawn carriage appeared, and Charles found himself looking on a high-class residential neighborhood in London of the 1880s.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to begin the narrative, Master Hurst?\u201d the store asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo thank you.\u00a0 I\u2019m meeting someone here.\u00a0 Please let them in when they arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Master Hurst.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles opened a gate next to the number 221 and walked onto a flower-lined footpath not that different from the one he\u2019d grown up with outside Philadelphia.\u00a0 He carefully stepped over the flowers and walked across the immaculate yard to a private sitting area he knew well.\u00a0 He\u2019d explored these stories for most of his life, and actually enjoyed just sitting and watching the world much more than following the stories.\u00a0 The London of the 1880s was so interesting to visit.<\/p>\n Charles sat down on a wooden bench, leaned back into it, and breathed deeply of the flower-scented air.\u00a0 It smelled good, very different from the smells of New Earth.\u00a0 Dorothy sat down next to him and he blinked as the bench shifted from her weight.\u00a0 He realized the hum of his holoemitters was gone and smiled at her.\u00a0 She was using the previewing room\u2019s emitters.<\/p>\n Dorothy answered him with a self-satisfied smile, lifted herself up off the bench, and sat back down with a firm motion that moved the bench again.\u00a0 She enjoyed having a real interaction with her surroundings.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t blame her.\u00a0 He tended to take that interaction for granted.<\/p>\n Charles patted Dorothy on the shoulder, feeling her as real as the bench he sat on.\u00a0 She grasped his hand with one of her own, holding it in a firm grip.\u00a0 He closed his eyes and they sat like that for what felt like a long time, listening to the sporadic English banter on the other side of the wall.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t mind waiting.\u00a0 This was a beautiful place.\u00a0 Finally, the gate creaked open and he opened his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s here,\u201d Dorothy announced.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d Charles answered and turned to watch his old friend walk into the yard.\u00a0 \u201cHello,\u201d he called out with a wave of his hand.<\/p>\n \u201c221 Baker Street?\u201d Malcolm asked with a smile and stepped over the flowers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an old favorite,\u201d Charles returned with a shrug.\u00a0 \u201cNever fails to remind me to study the smallest details, for they are often important.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm stopped, placed his hands on his suit\u2019s pockets, and looked up at the magnificent house with an intrigued gaze.\u00a0 \u201cDo you think he was based on someone real?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shrugged again.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s possible.\u00a0 The more I learn, the more possible I begin to believe it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded, walked over to Charles and Dorothy, and held his hand out to her.\u00a0 Dorothy smiled and raised her hand for him to take.\u00a0 He grasped it, leaned over, and kissed the back of it in a gentlemanly way.\u00a0 \u201cMy lady,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cIt is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.\u00a0 My name is Malcolm.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy glanced at Charles for a moment, who cleared his throat and covered his mouth to hide a smile.\u00a0 The twinkling of his eyes betrayed him though, and her smile grew as she turned back to Malcolm.\u00a0 \u201cDorothy.\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard so<\/em> much about you,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll scurrilous lies, I assure<\/em> you,\u201d Malcolm said with a wink.\u00a0 \u201cUnless it speaks well of me of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then it\u2019s a complimentary<\/em> lie?\u201d she asked without missing a beat.<\/p>\n Malcolm laughed and released her hand, stepping back to sit down on the bench facing them.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re a good one,\u201d he finally said with an elaborate wave of a hand.<\/p>\n She smiled and nodded, accepting his compliment in graceful silence.<\/p>\n Malcolm turned to Charles with a smile reserved for old friends.\u00a0 \u201cFor what it\u2019s worth, Chuck, I think you made the right decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded in return and patted Dorothy\u2019s shoulder again.\u00a0 His decision to volunteer for the military had not<\/em> been approved of by his family.\u00a0 Hursts were expected to lead from business or political positions, not fight like a common born brat after all.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s why I wanted to talk to you<\/em>,\u201d Charles said with a smile.\u00a0 Malcolm cocked his head to the side, inviting Charles to continue.\u00a0 \u201cI need someone with more far<\/em> more time than I have.\u00a0 I also need someone with your contacts,\u201d he finished with a chuckle.<\/p>\n Malcolm chuckled back and relaxed into his bench.\u00a0 \u201cMy contacts?\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid I have no idea what you mean,\u201d he returned with a perfect straight face.<\/p>\n Charles sighed.\u00a0 Back when they were kids, Malcolm had always been the person anyone talked to when they wanted to get anything they couldn\u2019t get by walking to a store.\u00a0 And according to his reports, Malcolm was still<\/em> the go to guy.<\/p>\n \u201cMalcolm, I plan on establishing a new colony, and I need someone to organize the planning for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm blinked in surprise and stared at Charles.\u00a0 \u201cA new colony.\u00a0 Just like that?\u00a0 In the middle of a war<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled and relaxed back into his bench.\u00a0 \u201cJust like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t think small, do you?\u00a0 How do you intend to fund this?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a Hurst, remember? My budget is the closest to unlimited that you\u2019ve<\/em> ever had the option to work with before,\u201d he said with a pointed look.<\/p>\n Malcolm swallowed as the realization that Charles wasn\u2019t joking sank in.\u00a0 \u201cWhy me?\u201d he asked with a shake of his head and let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cI mean, you have people in the family who do planning like this already, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThe family has grown complacent.\u00a0 They don\u2019t see the big picture anymore.\u00a0 All they see is the profits they can squeeze out of what little thing they want to do.\u00a0 Everybody capable of big plans like this has long since left for greener pastures.\u201d\u00a0 He aimed a finger at Malcolm.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s why you<\/em> never accepted a position in the family, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I guess you\u2019re right there.\u00a0 Although I wouldn\u2019t have said it as bluntly as you just did.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles spread his hands out wide to show he wasn\u2019t hiding anything.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that<\/em> is why I<\/em> said it.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm scratched his chin and let out another long breath.\u00a0 \u201cFine.\u00a0 I\u2019m interested,\u201d he finally said in a determined tone.\u00a0 \u201cBut I need to know something before I decide.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles pulled in a long breath and held his smile.\u00a0 \u201cAsk.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded.\u00a0 \u201cHow determined are you to see this through?\u00a0 Establishing a colony is not<\/em> cheap.\u00a0 What are you going to do if your father finds out?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cTrust me, Malcolm.\u00a0 My father will<\/em> find out.\u00a0 That\u2019s part of the plan, you see.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm blinked and his face went slack for a moment before he shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cOh.\u00a0 He\u2019s really<\/em> not going to like you after this.\u201d\u00a0 He brought his eyes back up to stare at Charles.\u00a0 \u201cHow much do you plan on leaving him with?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles gave him a confident smile.\u00a0 \u201cAs little as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm shook his head and Charles saw that he was getting ready to walk.\u00a0 \u201cLook, Chuck, you\u2019re talking about something other than just a colony here.\u00a0 This is the kind of family infighting that gets people killed<\/em> when it hits the surface.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want any part of a civil war like that,\u201d he finished and started to stand.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Charles said with a calming gesture that stopped Malcolm.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I never would have called you if it was a simple fraud and family infighting.\u00a0 This is much<\/em> more important than any family, even mine.\u201d<\/p>\n That got Malcolm\u2019s attention, and the man turned his head to the side, studying Charles with a careful expression.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Chuck?\u201d he finally asked in a truly confused tone.<\/p>\n Charles spread his hands out wide again and gave Malcolm a confident smile.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Malcolm, is that I\u2019m sick and tired of alien civilizations coming into our territory and making Contact<\/em> with us.\u00a0 We know<\/em> there are other races out there, beyond the Peloran, the Arnam, the Shang, and the Roderan.\u00a0 We\u2019re a backwater<\/em>, Malcolm.\u00a0 A local<\/em> power.\u00a0 To them, we\u2019re just some backward race of humanity that needs uplifting to galactic standards the way we uplifted dogs<\/em>,\u201d Charles spat out.<\/p>\n Malcolm\u2019s eyes narrowed and Charles knew he had the man.\u00a0 But he needed to say just a little bit more to make certain that Malcolm stayed<\/em> had.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to change the playing field,\u201d Charles said in a passionate tone.\u00a0 \u201cIf we stay here, in our little corner of space, and wait for them to come Contact<\/em> us, we\u2019re never<\/em> going to be a galactic power.\u00a0 We have to go<\/em> out there<\/em>,\u201d he said, waving a hand at the sky.\u00a0 \u201cWe have to establish colonies in their<\/em> neighborhoods.\u00a0 We have to fly our ships over their<\/em> worlds.\u00a0 We have to join<\/em> them out there, or we\u2019ll never be one<\/em> of them.\u00a0 And once we\u2019re out there, Malcolm, the things we\u2019ll be able to buy, the things we\u2019ll be able to discover\u2026a man with the right connections\u2026\u201d Charles let his voice fade away and winked at Malcolm.\u00a0 \u201cForget the sky<\/em>, Malcolm.\u00a0 Forget the few pitiful worlds we own here.\u00a0 The galaxy\u2019s<\/em> the limit to what a man with the right connections could do out there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy God,\u201d Malcolm whispered in shock, his eyes glittering with the idea of just how much money he could make.\u00a0 Charles smiled.\u00a0 He truly had the man.\u00a0 Then Malcolm shook his head to clear it and let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cHow long have you been planning this?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cHonestly, my entire adult life.\u00a0 I saw as a child what we were looking at.\u00a0 I\u2019ve spent years<\/em> planning and helping people into positions where they could be ready when it came time to pull the trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm frowned and looked at Charles for several seconds.\u00a0 \u201cSo why do you need me<\/em> to be in charge?\u00a0 Why aren\u2019t you<\/em> doing this?\u00a0 Why did you\u2026why are you fighting<\/em>?\u201d he finished in a tone that showed he really did<\/em> want to know.<\/p>\n Charles sighed again.\u00a0 \u201cBecause, no matter how much I\u2019d planned, there were still some contacts I needed to make the plan possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles turned to Dorothy and swallowed.\u00a0 A part of him had hoped that Malcolm wouldn\u2019t ask that question, but he\u2019d known it was a possibility.\u00a0 And whatever the cost, he wouldn\u2019t lie.\u00a0 He gritted his teeth in anticipation of her displeasure and spoke.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve studied Aneerin for years, Dorothy.\u00a0 Anyone else would stop my plan if they discovered it.\u00a0 I needed to contact him, to get his support, but he doesn\u2019t trust my family and wouldn\u2019t meet me.\u00a0 So I had to take\u2026extraordinary measures to contact him,\u201d he finished, keeping his gaze on her, and waited for her response.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t have to wait long.\u00a0 She smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles blinked in confusion.\u00a0 He\u2019d expected\u2026anger\u2026something<\/em>\u2026for using<\/em> her.\u00a0 Not\u2026that<\/em>.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy pulled in a deep breath and gave him a proud look.\u00a0 \u201cMy mother studied you extensively before she chose you.\u201d\u00a0 Dorothy spread her hands out wide and her smile grew.\u00a0 \u201cI was born to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles felt his mouth fall open in surprise as he wondered just how much they knew.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n The words broke Charles out of his confusion and he turned to see Malcolm beaming at Dorothy, his face showing he meant all three words.\u00a0 Charles\u2019 eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n Malcolm turned back to him with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cSeriously, do you know how long I\u2019ve waited for someone to outthink you so profoundly that you\u2019re speechless<\/em>?\u201d the man asked in an amused tone.\u00a0 He turned back to Dorothy and waved a hand at her in a debonair manner.\u00a0 \u201cThank<\/em> you, my lady, for such an amazing<\/em> sight.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles saw Dorothy straighten in her seat and smile at Malcolm.\u00a0 \u201cYou are welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm pulled in a long breath and sobered as he looked back to Charles.\u00a0 He nodded in understanding.\u00a0 \u201cSo\u2026you\u2019re willing to risk your own life to make this plan work?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles swallowed before nodding back.\u00a0 \u201cYes,\u201d he said, keeping his response short and to the point.\u00a0 Nothing more really needed to be said after all.<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded slowly, deep in thought.\u00a0 \u201cThen I\u2019m in.\u00a0 What do you need?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled at his old friend and collected his thoughts.\u00a0 \u201cI need freighters and transports, rugged ones that can take a hit and keep on flying.\u00a0 They have to be at least<\/em> first generation gravtech.\u00a0 Rockets won\u2019t fly where they\u2019re going.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded in understanding.\u00a0 \u201cGot it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI also need supplies.\u00a0 At least one full class one colonization package.\u00a0 No cutting corners on that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded in agreement.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need man portable small arms, security AIs, and fighters.\u00a0 Maybe even some combat ships if we can find them.\u00a0 Most systems have old patrol boats that they were looking to unload on some private corporation back before Yosemite.\u00a0 I honestly don\u2019t know if any still are.\u00a0 I do have contact information for the places I was planning on purchasing from though.\u00a0 Some may still be willing\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded and gave him a sly smile.\u00a0 \u201cI might be able to find something.\u00a0 Weapons are going to be tough now of course.\u00a0 How\u2026aggressive do you want to be about getting them?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head, recognizing the real question.\u00a0 \u201cWe can\u2019t afford to hurt the War effort.\u00a0 Nothing that is going to the military can be touched.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded.\u00a0 \u201cUnderstood.\u00a0 We can\u2019t get top line equipment then.\u00a0 The best I can manage with that restriction is old surplus stuff that nobody wants anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI guess that makes me nobody then.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm laughed at the joke.\u00a0 Then he paused and tapped his chin for a few moments as his eyes flickered back and forth in thought.\u00a0 \u201cI remember some old first generation gravtech fighters that were up for sale a few months back.\u00a0 I think they were Blackhawks.\u00a0 I can see if the seller has more he\u2019d like to unload.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease do.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded slowly and considered Charles for a long moment.\u00a0 \u201cKnowing you, you have plans in very complete detail saying what you need and where you need it.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI do.\u201d\u00a0 Then he shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cOf course, I never planned for Yosemite though, which makes things\u2026difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm pursed his lips.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe not.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles cocked his head to side.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be harder to get the equipment, what with The War, but it will be easier to hide what we\u2019re doing from your father.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled in approval at how Malcolm\u2019s mind worked.\u00a0 \u201cVery true.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm held a hand out.\u00a0 \u201cWell, if you\u2019ll give your files, I can get started working on this.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles turned back to Dorothy with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cDorothy?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy gave him a curious look.\u00a0 \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cCould you send him the appropriate files?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy blinked and cocked her head to the side, examining him for several seconds.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m afraid I\u2019ve never accessed those files, Charles.\u00a0 They\u2019re behind a wall.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled.\u00a0 \u201cWell then, I suppose you\u2019ll just have to go through the wall.\u201d<\/p>\n One of Dorothy\u2019s eyebrows rose.\u00a0 \u201cAre you certain?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy pulled in a long breath and her holoform flickered for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cWow,\u201d she whispered, her tone impressed.\u00a0 \u201cYou had a good AI running your privacy screen.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles frowned.\u00a0 \u201cHad?\u201d he asked in a concerned tone.<\/p>\n Dorothy shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWell, she actually trapped me and then began trying to shred my code.\u00a0 I really couldn\u2019t allow that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOops,\u201d Charles whispered with a wince.\u00a0 \u201cI forgot she was supposed to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy smiled and brought a hand up to pat the pocket of his jacket that held his private personal computer.\u00a0 \u201cWell, no worries.\u00a0 That instance of her program will never get another chance to do anything<\/em>.\u00a0 I took the liberty of replacing her with more secure privacy code.\u00a0 I hope you don\u2019t mind?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head rubbed his temple in amazement.\u00a0 \u201cYou realize that was the best privacy AI my family has ever written?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy\u2019s smile took on a proud look.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 I do.\u201d\u00a0 Then she blinked in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cCharles.\u00a0 There are millions of folders here, each one named a different random number.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cWell then.\u00a0 Maybe you shouldn\u2019t have destroyed that privacy AI.\u00a0 She had the algorithm.\u00a0 Now you\u2019ll just have to scan every folder the old fashioned way,\u201d he said with a wicked grin.<\/p>\n Dorothy gave him a disapproving frown.\u00a0 \u201cAm I going to find any nasty surprises in there?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed.\u00a0 \u201cWell, my diary is there.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at her.\u00a0 \u201cI may have admitted my true feelings for you in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy\u2019s eyes narrowed.\u00a0 \u201cFine,\u201d she finally whispered.\u00a0 Then her holoform flickered again and she stepped back from him in alarm.\u00a0 \u201cOuch!\u00a0 There are data<\/em>mines on that thing!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOops,\u201d Charles repeated and let out a sigh.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose you should hurry then.\u00a0 If you activated one of them<\/em>, the automatic scram<\/em> program would have kicked in.\u00a0 You\u2019ve only got seconds to save the data before it\u2019s all<\/em> gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t look so smug,\u201d she returned in a tart tone.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve already disabled that program.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I guess that proves I was right.\u00a0 I always thought it was stupid not to hire a cyber to encrypt our information.\u00a0 Now I know<\/em> it was.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy gave him another smug smile.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve found the files.\u201d\u00a0 She pointed an arm at Malcolm.\u00a0 \u201cTransmitting now.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm\u2019s suit beeped and he looked at the display on the inside of one sleeve.\u00a0 He pressed a button, accepting the file transfer, and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, my lady,\u201d he said, came to his feet, and smiled towards Dorothy.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll take my leave now and let you two talk.\u00a0 I detect a need to,\u201d he finished with a wicked grin and turned to leave, his long legs taking him back to the flower lined footpath with meter-consuming strides.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Charles called out to the retreating figure.<\/p>\n Malcolm waved back at them, stepped over the flowers, and strode down the footpath to pass through the gate onto Upper Baker Street.\u00a0 Silence filled the space between Charles and Dorothy, and Charles breathed in and out.<\/p>\n Dorothy broke the silence.\u00a0 \u201cYou could have just told me which files to send him,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cYou could have sent them yourself<\/em>.\u00a0 You could have kept your secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 I could<\/em> have,\u201d he answered in a serene tone.\u00a0 He held a hand up between them, palm up, and looked at her.<\/p>\n She returned his look, smiled, and brought her hand up to lay in his, an intrigued expression on her face.<\/p>\n Charles squeezed her hand, pleased at the feeling of solidity it had here.\u00a0 \u201cBut I don\u2019t think they\u2019re really just my<\/em> plans anymore, are they?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy\u2019s smile grew conspiratorial.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps not,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cAnd the rest<\/em> of the information in those files?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shrugged and said a single word.\u00a0 \u201cTrust.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy cocked her head to the side in confusion?\u00a0 \u201cTrust?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles rose to his feet in a smooth motion, pulling her up as well.<\/p>\n She raised an eyebrow at him, inviting him to explain himself.<\/p>\n He let out a long breath.\u00a0 \u201cTrust is rare.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to give it a try.\u00a0 Shall we try it together<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy\u2019s smile grew radiant.\u00a0 \u201cI would love<\/em> to.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled, pulled in a deep breath, and began to walk through the flower gardens of 221 Upper Baker Street, four centuries in the past, considering the future of the human race, with a beautiful lady his side.\u00a0 It was a very good way to walk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello, my name is Charles.\u00a0 My family always focused on business when I was child, and I spent years learning how to run that business.\u00a0 In my free time, I relaxed by reading books.\u00a0 I flipped through real paper books,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2304-forge-of-war-1stdraft","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-charles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=838"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1848,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838\/revisions\/1848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}