Deep underground


    something, even if I can''t grasp exactly what he is trying to achieve." he said.


    Sarawatch: Hearing some choice gossip #1


    Nobody cares what I do in this stupid job, anyway.


    Strange, she looks a little spaced out. Wonder what she has to think about?


    She''s turning on that cute look again, medium strength.


    And now there''s a sly look on her face, trying to hide behind that smile.


    You should have thought of that before you told me, young lady.


    He''s beginning to get nervous. Now, why would someone who is so accomplished at talking himself into anybody''s trust be willing to reveal so much about himself?


    But why? Conmen don''t go around telling the truth. He''s actually beginning to sweat. No wonder Adalace and the others had so much fun yesterday.


    exploit - these kids in any way, are you?"


    What a shame. But, still...


    Those teenagers, they own him, good and proper, don''t they?


    Teylon: Judges again, and is forced to be honest again


    some standards. So, wearing freshly ironed trousers, a good but not too ostentatious shirt with a tie plus matching tie clip, he set off. They met at the location, and sat around one of the tables, provided for just these purposes. Within half an hour of the food being delivered, it had all been demolished, leaving nothing behind but a pile of paper plates, plastic utensils and a few bushels of crumbs. Feeling in good mood, the teenagers happily cleaned up, and Leroy zoomed across the grass, one metre up, to the nearest rubbish bin and back again.


    Groan.


    Oh my god, he really is hopeless when dealing with girls. And boys, too, for that matter.


    anything about such matters! Otherwise Maggie will take it to be a declaration of hostilities, and you might not survive next time!"


    Couldn''t have said it better myself.


    It''s not very animated or skilful conversation, but at least they are talking to each other.


    Oh my god. Oh my god. Just what was that man doing to that girl...?


    This is bad, far far worse than before. There is absolutely no choice but to - wait!


    Damn - I have five teenagers watching me. I can''t have them see someone drop dead!


    I catch up to him, then call out his name - err, what is his name?


    Now that''s handy. I''ll call out his name, look him right in the eye, and...


    Shit, those damn kids are following me!


    I''m losing my cool. Since when did I ever do that? Maybe I need to wait until the kids have gone home?


    Damn, he''s actually planning for the next time! If he gets away now, I don''t know where he lives, I don''t know how to get to him in time. If I let another girl die because I didn''t act now then it''s my soul that will be getting the blame!


    Judgement!


    That was Esmeralda, wasn''t it?


    A really really bad nightmare version of Esmeralda. I don''t have to worry about ever meeting her when she looks like that, do I? I could never in a million years do anything that deserves that sort of treatment, could I?


    I hope not. My god, I hope not.


    OK, now what do I do, Oh - shit.


    Teylon do this?"


    Esmeralda, this is deliberate, isn''t it? Again.


    Shit, how do I convince them? I mean, am I sure myself... Of course I am. Otherwise, nothing makes sense. But, still...


    Damn it, she''s not the least bit cute at this moment!


    Is she actually enjoying my discomfit? Nice friend she is!


    Let''s not say anything about me knowing that all five of them, God help me, have been suicidal at some point. Or should that be Angel help me?


    I certainly hope I never meet them in a dark and lonely alley when they are looking like that...


    Oh yeah? I am now declaring that something happened to you, for sure.


    I wonder if he is hiding something, also?


    Even without any soul readings, I detect a pattern here.


    Sarawatch: Hearing some choice gossip #2


    Today she looks serious for once. I wonder why?


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.<hr>Deep underground


    <hr>Teylon: Having a brisk, uneventful, walk home


    So, if I take a loop around the town centre, cut across the park, over the bridge, back via the next bridge and then straight for the north tower, at a brisk pace, I should satisfy my persistently demanding exercise software.


    I have my group of faithful retainers - well, reasonably compliant teenagers, as long as I feed them enough food. But, I still don''t know what to do. Perhaps I should be proactive for once?


    They have elections, but only for limited roles. Definitely not a true democracy. More like an interlocking series of companies, with executive staff of each company appointed by their company boards, and answerable to their owners. Where the owners are other companies, plus shareholders. Sort of like you can have a vote if you have enough money to buy enough shares - or influence.


    I smell a definite rat here, and not a Teflon one either. The fact that everyone on Mars lives in a totally enclosed, artificially maintained, environment where a single mistake could kill thousands, where single mistakes have killed thousands, is certainly a huge justification for some sort of governance that is different from Earth''s democracies. But, the current system is also provides ideal conditions for hiding things. Like shady deals ripping off citizens, running corrupt rackets in the background that provide ''exclusive'' services to selected (as in wealthy) clients, running things to an agenda that the average person would not agree with, all sorts of things.


    Yeah, I know the sorts of things they can get up to. This is definitely a job for a Teflon Rat. Only, this time I''m not going to worry about the money.


    fascinating talk about his career.


    Definitely not about the money. Definitely not. This time he really was going to do it for the common good.


    Err, not that I wasn''t doing it for the common good before, mind you, just that, aw, forget it.


    Let''s just get back on track, shall we? The Teflon Rat is on the move, once again!


    This could be fun!


    Another assassin: Briefly


    Perfect shot, no problems.


    Huh?


    What the -


    Teylon: Keeps walking


    The cat is chasing something? Although I could have sworn the scream was further out. Oh well, whatever.


    I wonder if one of the teenagers has a cat?


    Actually, it might be idea to start visiting each other''s living quarters. Especially if they have a cat. Right, at the gathering tomorrow I''ll float the idea.


    <hr>Deep Underground