When not pursuing a line of research that more often than not ended nowhere and had very little to do with the mission to the Anomaly, he simply idled...away his time. He might visit virtual space. He might spend hours playing games in cyberspace. He might even just doze. But what he didn't ever do much of was socialise with his fellow scientists.But now he thought he'd do just that. It also occurred to him that he might even meet Beatrice who often claimed that she was visiting other scientists. “I’m pregnant!” She announced. “I’m going to have a baby! And Josephine’s the father!” “Josephine?” Wondered Harriett in genuine disbelief, looking at the supposed father’s crotch to assess by what means she’d attained this apparent status. Josephine smiled indulgently. “Not the father in the biological sense!” She explained. “Someone else (and we’ve no idea who!) has that particular distinction. But Charlotte says that as I participated in the conception then I have as much right to be. The first week was no problem for both of them; mum was a widow, Jack's father had also been an Accountant; it had been his firm that mum had joined just after she graduated. His dad had been older than mum; they had married, had Jack then when he died, mum had taken over the firm. Jack would join the firm after he graduated.The first weekend was the first problem; they could only go out for shopping. Jack would drive mum to the shops; she would put on her mask and gloves then do the shopping. .." Drink up and come with me."The young ladies giggled at the noises next door: the moans and the bouncing bed."It's making me horny," said Melissa."I'm sorry. I'm not as sexual as you or your mom." It's okay," Melissa smiled genuinely."I should go. It's ... distracting."They giggled. They embraced. The kiss lingered. "I should go," said Sarah again, breaking the embrace gently. "I love you." I love you too."After another brief kiss, Sarah backed away and walked out of the room and the.