.God, she could become a habit. He knew when this became a habit, this short tumble off their adrenaline high into each other, that over the months an... years her smooth pale skin would begin to crisscross with the hard knots and scars of iron and copper and flesh and bone. And every time something took a pint of blood and a pound of flesh it would leave on her skin a mark so much smaller than the hole it left in her soul.She was losing him. She could see it on his face as his hands slid over. 'I thought it was illegal to bring technology back,' I thoughtfor a moment. In the end I shrugged and figured that they must have hadsome exceptions in the laws specifically for their company. I signed,initialed, signed, initialed, and signed and initialed, more electronicforms than I had ever done in my life! My training as a doctor meant Iknew that I should look through fine print, but after the hundredth pageof signing and initialing, I began to waver on that. I went throughseveral dozen. I’ll leave that for you to discuss with Devon. I’m sure he knows how to...ah...to ah...”“I’m sure he does,” Ella confirmed, letting the nurse off the hook. “And?”“Lotion. Lots and lots of lotion. Not so much on the sutures, use the antibiotic there, but on the scratches – have him use some good lotion to keep them from scabbing and scarring.”I’m sure I can help with that – lots of lotion on that thick shaft, Ella imagined, before finally concluding with, “Okay, lots of lotion – got it.”As. Maybe your stud will help. Make sure there’s chocolate -- lots of chocolate!”The three scampered off to the replicator, where Dora had trays of goodies cued to pop out. She delighted in pampering her family, and unlike with alcohol, chocolate replicated accurately. She knew the favorite treat and capacity of each family member and always ensured there was at least one more item than any individual could want or stuff down.The return of the Nerds was greeted with cheers.In the interim, a space.