familiar terms with a computer program. Really she found it strange to be on familiar speaking terms with anyone, after years of being almost completely ignored. “I’m supposed to take the first of two tests which will determine whether or not I can make it as a factor.”
“So you’ll need something comfortable and that will move well, in case it’s an obstacle course type test, but you need something that will look good in case it’s just a book test. Hmm,” Tawny paused, and there was a click in the other room, when Tawny’s voice returned it was through speakers in the main room, “Why don’t you come try this on?”
Annette peeked out of the bathroom and saw a pair of blue jeans and a red shirt hanging off the inside of the wardrobe door. She grabbed the clothes and started to unbutton her pajama top. Then she stopped, Tawny had sensors everywhere and suddenly Annette felt shy.
“What? Not to your tastes?” Tawny asked.
“Uhm, they’re nice, but could you turn off your sensors for a few minutes, please?” Annette asked.
“Are you shy about changing in front of me?” Tawny asked in the gentlest tone Annette had heard out of, her, or it or whatever.
“Yeah, a little.”
“Well, that’s about the nicest thing anybody has ever said! Nobody has ever thought of me enough like a person to worry about that! You go right back into the bathroom, I’ll turn off those sensors for the duration of your stay, just for you! Though to tell the truth, I never peek when someone is naked. It just isn’t polite!” Tawny said in a confidential and positively friendly tone.
Annette took the clothes, and, with a little more confidence, dressed in the bathroom. When she came out, her breakfast sat waiting for her on the desk. Annette sat and bowed her head and quietly thanked god for her food. It was the only family custom that she had brought with her from the time before her parents were killed. Then she looked at it for a moment. The glass milk was tall and frosty and the stack of buttered pancakes almost as high. She had four different flavors of syrup to choose from and Tawny had ordered her some bacon and sausage to go with. It was a lot more food than she usually ate for breakfast
“Well, well aren’t you going to try it?” Tawny asked eagerly.
Annette poured strawberry syrup over the pancakes and took a bite. She took a drink of milk to wash it down and tasted the bacon. “It’s wonderful, thank you,” Annette said before attacking the plate again. Tawny let her eat in peace. It was all great, but after a while, with her plate less than half empty, she began to feel full. She stopped and laid her fork on the plate. “It is really good, but I’m sorry, Tawny I can’t eat any more.”
“That’s alright, Niri is waiting impatiently for you outside,” Tawny answered.
Annette almost choked on one last swallow of milk, “What? Why didn’t you tell me? I really can’t afford to upset her! Not if I want to be a factor.” Annette leapt up and raced for the door. She tried to turn the knob, but it wouldn’t.
“Wait one second! I have something for you to think about. Niri doesn’t make people factors, neither does Chavez. Believe it or not, Angela herself doesn’t do it. So I wouldn’t worry about any of them. You make yourself a factor. Then it’s up to them to figure out for themselves that you are one!” Tawny said, then released the knob with a click.
Annette held onto the knob for a minute. Should she really be taking advice from a room? It was Corrine Dayton’s room, and she was one of the best factors in the business. It was also a stubborn insubordinate computer program. The trouble was it seemed to like Annette, and strangely enough Annette was starting to like it. Annette turned the knob and met Niri’s angry expression in the hall.
Niri had a scowl on her face, but it quickly faded to puzzlement. Her sudden puzzlement was what probably turned the
“So you’ll need something comfortable and that will move well, in case it’s an obstacle course type test, but you need something that will look good in case it’s just a book test. Hmm,” Tawny paused, and there was a click in the other room, when Tawny’s voice returned it was through speakers in the main room, “Why don’t you come try this on?”
Annette peeked out of the bathroom and saw a pair of blue jeans and a red shirt hanging off the inside of the wardrobe door. She grabbed the clothes and started to unbutton her pajama top. Then she stopped, Tawny had sensors everywhere and suddenly Annette felt shy.
“What? Not to your tastes?” Tawny asked.
“Uhm, they’re nice, but could you turn off your sensors for a few minutes, please?” Annette asked.
“Are you shy about changing in front of me?” Tawny asked in the gentlest tone Annette had heard out of, her, or it or whatever.
“Yeah, a little.”
“Well, that’s about the nicest thing anybody has ever said! Nobody has ever thought of me enough like a person to worry about that! You go right back into the bathroom, I’ll turn off those sensors for the duration of your stay, just for you! Though to tell the truth, I never peek when someone is naked. It just isn’t polite!” Tawny said in a confidential and positively friendly tone.
Annette took the clothes, and, with a little more confidence, dressed in the bathroom. When she came out, her breakfast sat waiting for her on the desk. Annette sat and bowed her head and quietly thanked god for her food. It was the only family custom that she had brought with her from the time before her parents were killed. Then she looked at it for a moment. The glass milk was tall and frosty and the stack of buttered pancakes almost as high. She had four different flavors of syrup to choose from and Tawny had ordered her some bacon and sausage to go with. It was a lot more food than she usually ate for breakfast
“Well, well aren’t you going to try it?” Tawny asked eagerly.
Annette poured strawberry syrup over the pancakes and took a bite. She took a drink of milk to wash it down and tasted the bacon. “It’s wonderful, thank you,” Annette said before attacking the plate again. Tawny let her eat in peace. It was all great, but after a while, with her plate less than half empty, she began to feel full. She stopped and laid her fork on the plate. “It is really good, but I’m sorry, Tawny I can’t eat any more.”
“That’s alright, Niri is waiting impatiently for you outside,” Tawny answered.
Annette almost choked on one last swallow of milk, “What? Why didn’t you tell me? I really can’t afford to upset her! Not if I want to be a factor.” Annette leapt up and raced for the door. She tried to turn the knob, but it wouldn’t.
“Wait one second! I have something for you to think about. Niri doesn’t make people factors, neither does Chavez. Believe it or not, Angela herself doesn’t do it. So I wouldn’t worry about any of them. You make yourself a factor. Then it’s up to them to figure out for themselves that you are one!” Tawny said, then released the knob with a click.
Annette held onto the knob for a minute. Should she really be taking advice from a room? It was Corrine Dayton’s room, and she was one of the best factors in the business. It was also a stubborn insubordinate computer program. The trouble was it seemed to like Annette, and strangely enough Annette was starting to like it. Annette turned the knob and met Niri’s angry expression in the hall.
Niri had a scowl on her face, but it quickly faded to puzzlement. Her sudden puzzlement was what probably turned the
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