Amye fails to argue, but nor will she admit she too has distain for relationships with non-Osirians. “And the other half?”
“Better not to ask.” JarBok bows.
“Told you they’re smerth’n sick.”
“With so many jackers plugged in, aren’t they worried about security?” Reynard asks.
“These mersion units are singularly wired. They don’t talk to each other or the security system. You load a storage crystal with your fantasy on it into the machine before you jack in,” JarBok explains.
“Privately at home seems appropriate.”
“Mersion technology is highly expensive. Holoemersion units even more so.”
“Do they work for training?” Reynard glances at his fellow crewmembers. They may not need more training, but he knows he lacks certain skills they grew up learning.
“Explore any environment you have a crystal for,” JarBok says.
“Buy us one.”
“Smerth’n hell! No smerth’n way,” Doug squeals as if getting to be the first to open a Christmas present.
“There’s plenty of room on the second deck, and those long hours in hyperspace allow for training time.”
“You’re the captain.” Doug rushes off before Reynard changes his mind.
“Not a wise way to spend the princess’s fortune.” Amye whispers a question, “Where’s Ki-Ton gone?”
They should blend in. They should be enjoying some of the entertainment this place has to offer as they search for this bounty to quell any suspicion about them being here. None of the patrons have even taken notice since most are too enthralled with their own vices.
“Let him go have fun, as we all should.” He whispers, “I’m spending the Admiral’s money.” He pushes her back a step. “Even if you haven’t been to many planets you were at least educated in what they are like. I have no such training.”
“So you want to hike the deserts of Gelheit before you hike the deserts of Gelheit. I get it, Commander.”
“If you’re worried about such an expense, spend some time at the gaming tables. Offset the cost with any winnings you acquire.”
Too young to gamble when he still resided on his home planet, Reynard still understood casinos were a money-making operation. For every dollar an individual won how many actually lost five or ten, or even twenty? This place was created outside the confines of any planetary system laws. The games are rigged in favor of the house.
This gives Reynard the opening he needs to give an order to his crew: “JarBok, enough of the tour. We should separate and enjoy the many splendors of your establishment.”
“Anyone wish to experience a specific desire? I’ll show you the way,” JarBok offers.
The crew departs at Reynard’s nod.
“You’re worried about the holoemersion device?” Reynard asks Amye.
JC remains close to Reynard. Scott leads JarBok down a corridor.
“How many women do you think he’ll buy?” Amye mumbles to herself.
“He loves Australia.”
“He may love her, but it doesn’t stop his enjoyment of other females.”
“I asked about the holoemersion unit. On my home world we created one-dimensional fantasies called movies. You could watch any type of adventure you wanted, but only watch and the story never changed no matter how many times you viewed it.”
“Holoemersion technology overwhelms emotions so strongly some people forget they are in a game. Stick around and watch one of those jackers unplug because they ran out of credits and you’ll see. They will fight with everything they have to get back inside,” Amye explains.
JC adds, “The smart thing to do is only buy games. They have a quest goal. When you achieve it—game over. Your brain adjusts better to a trophy award better than to those who engross themselves in a romance they don’t want to end.”
“I’ll stop Doug.”
“They’re effective, if used for training. At least the pain of slamming into the mat goes away when the program ends. I still have bruises from my last sparing session with Joe.” Amye rubs her, shoulder her body instantly bringing back a pain she thought she had forgotten.
“Try training under an Old Maestro. He would work me until I collapsed and then left me there until I built up enough stamina to match them. I spend many a night sleeping under the stars unable to move.”
“Calthos warriors are hard taskmasters and fierce combatants. Why do you think everyone wants to employ one? I don’t know how you survived a year of your life training under them.”
“I wanted it. I wanted to learn. They won’t teach anyone not ready, or worthy.”
“I’m not sure I’m either.” Amye lowers her eyes from his.
“You’re in the exercise room with Joe. He must consider you both.”
“My sister wouldn’t agree with you.”
“You can’t let what you think Kymberlynn would tell you rule your life, Amye. Every part of life you had on Tartarus is gone. Completely reinvent yourself in my crew. No more test scores to hold you back.”
“What do you know about my test scores?”
“Should you two have this discussion here? We’ve got to find entertainment.” JC grits her teeth.
Reynard fails to admit he has read her IMC file. “I know the IMC tests its employees for everything.”
“You smerth’n bastard. You read it.”
“I’m not sure what I have to defend here, Amye. I’m your captain; I needed to know your skills. I’ve read Australia’s and Scott’s military dossiers.”
“You read what Maxtin wanted you to, and not a page more. How did you get it? The IMC wouldn’t just hand it over. They’ll barely admit I’m AWOL.”
“Doug found it.”
“He’s read it!” She storms off.
“You want to explain?” Reynard scowls at JC.
“You invaded her privacy more so than telepaths.”
“I did my job as captain. I have to know my crew.”
“Then maybe something else set her off. I get no reading on anything. It’s a strange sensation.”
“I forgot they took away your mind.”
“It’s like having every noise you ever heard screaming at you and a door slams and nothing.”
“It’s only temporary.”
JC’s breathing steadies. “Knowing as much keeps me from losing it. The Order has punishment where they remove or
