I got bored waiting for you. You''ve touched base with the ''computer'' here so I assume you''re alive. Where are you? Did you get those numbers you were after? Find a new scooter? Did that odd little brain of yours get distracted by something?


    Anyway, as I said I got bored. You could have just come back, you know. My bioforms wouldn''t have harmed you. I had a whole thing planned, I wanted to surprise you but, well, obviously that didn''t work out. Maybe my intentions were overly optimistic, how broken are you, exactly? How long has it been since you spoke to another person? Have you ever done that? I did a little digging, you know. You''re not from around here. War orphan, is that right? Probably part of that heinous post-war child shuffling scheme. Painful memories? Lasting trauma? Or maybe I''m thinking of a different Jin Alakija.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Wherever (and whoever) you are, you can come home. Your ''Biscuit Fort'' is safe. I left a few guardians around but they won''t be a bother. Not to you, anyway. Once you''re comfortably settled I''ll make time to drop in for a visit. Or maybe you''d prefer to come visit me? I can send an escort. Your choice. We should meet, though. I think we have a lot to discuss. ''Superscience genius girl'' to ''superscience genius boy''.


    Yours in good faith,


    with apologies for the intrusion,


    Dr. Lucas Bedford