"In addition to serving the Elohim, that is?" Maurice commented."Well, that was part of the fighting bit that I mentioned, but yes," she answered."How...many Elohim are on Belial's side versus those on Jehovah's?" he wondered aloud."Most of the Elohim are dead these days. They were killed by Jehovah the only way that Gods can die: they were prevented from changing shape. If a God stays in one shape too long, he is trapped in that form and eventually dies. A dead God's body inevitably transforms. ..)It is the Year 2532. In the wake of the 'Miranda Wave' public outcry on the core worlds has completely revised the government of the Alliance and ousted its former leadership. Gone are the days of secret eugenics projects on backwater worlds and training facilities where those with psychic gifts have their brains cut up to make them perfect spies. Accountability is the new regime's watchword and this is for the best. They have stepped up efforts at Terraforming and 'Civilizing' the marginal. Has she tried an online service to meet people?" She says she has and that it's a bit like a meat market. Most of the guys just wanted a quick fuck and a home-cooked meal. Not necessarily in that order, according to Mom." Well, maybe I can think of some guy at work." You know, Doug, there is a guy where you work that might just be the right one." Now, you don't mean Fred Winters, he's too old." No, you." Shit, Janet, are you kidding? Your Mom, my Mother-in-law?" Come on, I've heard that lots of. Still, it did feel better to wake up without the usual headache. Even the aches and pains from the exercise that somehow he seemed almost compelled to do seemed to be lessening. And he admitted that Angela wasn't on his case all the time.Saturday morning came and Charley cut the grass around their small two bedroom tract house and made some minor repairs that Angela asked him to do. Asked him, Charley noted, not nagged him. Not even when he took a break in the hottest part of the day and.