D-d-deals and contracts.” She reached out with her hands and grabbed at the air subtly with each example. “Real things.”“The order does deal w...th real things.”“Those weren’t ... just...” Ugh, talking with her sire was like talking to a stone. But then, she imagined she wasn’t very easy to talk to either. Couldn’t they have had this conversation with e-mails, or texting? Did Daniel even know what those were? Time for a topic change. “So...” Her feet drifted around a little. Nervous shuffling.. I’ve been afraid I’ll do something to you and Suzi at some point that makes you into something you’re not supposed to be.”Joey said, “We should get Suzi on the phone.”I said, “Not yet. I need to know. What are we?”Joey turned, looked at me frowning and asked, “What do you mean?”“We’re not brothers. Are we just best friends?”Joey didn’t answer immediately. He looked me in the eyes and I could feel that familiar feeling trying to bridge us together, but I resisted allowing that to form.Joey. His ship, HMS "Barnham", had been part of the USW fleet sent into the Police Action. His last combat had resulted in severe facial and upper body burns and, with the consent of the Mountserrat government, a Distinguished Service Cross to add to his George Cross received for his actions in saving the lives of four shipmates in the aftermath of the magazine explosion which wrecked the BC, HMS "St Vincent". One of the reasons for his return was that he required further regenerative work which. A short while later the mechanical voice said, "Delousing commencing in fifteen seconds." Then the lid of the box slid shut.When the delousing sprays started up, Jacqui stood quite still, but tried to avoid inhaling the odd-smelling cleaning gas. The robot voice then said, "Jacqui Mountjoy, you may replace your clothes." The box which protected them slid smoothly open. Jacqui hastily dressed.The door opened and a policebot said, "Come on."Without waiting it dragged her at break-neck speed down.