There were so many stars. But Man had still not run into any other race capable of spaceflight. Of course, we were still exploring and settling a very...small sector of a very large galaxy in an even bigger universe. The closest to advanced intelligent life had been those things on the Dog planet. They were called dogs for want of a better term. They built dwellings from mud and sticks, had a language we had managed to learn, though we could never make the sounds. An engineer on the first landing. It was obvious Alice and Tom had a good time but no wrongdoings happened.Back home that evening I asked Alice, "I had a damn busy day today, how was your day?"I noted a slight hesitation before she replied, "Nothing special, just an ordinary day."Obviously a slight progress for Tom as a lunch with him at an Inn was regarded as an ordinary matter."Nothing further was said about her lunch with Tom that day or their going to the Inn at least once a week. But some time later when we were talking. "I might ask the same thing of you, Herr Gruber." I couldn't sleep. You?" Hunger," I replied. "I woke and needed a snack."I bit into the apple I had taken from the kitchen on my way out to give mejust this excuse if I encountered anyone."Now if you'll excuse me, I need to return to bed."For a moment I thought he might try to bar my way, but instead he justnodded."Goodnight, Fraulein," he said."Goodnight, Herr Gruber," I replied.He looked oddly sad and a little lost, but I didn't care. I was. "Oh no! The fates are smiling upon me and they're laughing their asses off!"(Wait until I tell Maria about my change of heart)Jackie opened a folder and handed it to me. "Let's take a look at your script and who you'll be working with." Glancing down at the folder it was filled with nude pix from various web sites.Dede sat down on the other side. "See how one's Asian, one's a black T-girl from Brazil and one's from Turkey. This is why Nick really likes you." "What! I'm the token white.