Looking up, I could easily envision a cosmic toilet seat appearing over my head like a glowing halo with the Divine fundament settling down onto it an... taking aim right at me. This evening was too fucking depressing to be believed. Giving up all hope, I sent a steady stream of vitriol and invective skyward and slumped in my defunct car, defeated.When the grey field finally dropped, the mob swarmed in, and then almost immediately they trickled out again, disappointed. I could have told them it. “Hey, it’s three o’clock in the afternoon - time to get up” shouted Nikki.“Do what?” said Lauren, squinting in the light at her clock. “Stupid, it’s only ten. What are we going to do today? Shall we go to town?” she asked, stretching so that she touched the wall above her bed.“Don’t know, is there anything you need to buy?” asked Nikki, sitting beside her.“No, I’d like to see what Mike is doing. I haven’t seen him yet, is he downstairs?” asked Lauren drinking her coffee.“Lori!” shouted her. Brighid is the fourth planet of a G-0 type star far out in an arm of the Milky Way. It was founded some 500 years after interstellar flight was perfected on Earth. Two hundred years after its founding, the collapse of the Earth Federation began.Because of their distance from Earth, and the time it took to receive the newer technologies or other advanced equipment, Brighid had depended on older technologies that were easier to produce locally. Theirs was a mostly agrarian economy with only light. "The four younger Hoddinots exchanged glances and smiled conspiratorially at Richard's happiness and their correct surmise.Sharon was hugged warmly by all four. Deborah held out her arms to Louise who ran to her. Sharon did the same to Annette. Louise then looked a little doubtful but Bill said, "Two new sisters in two days. Unbelievable!" That was enough and she was hugged and kissed by all four.Deborah then organised everyone and they all dispersed to their various chores.Sharon got the loos..