Deep

Chapter Part 78 Lighten up.

The oppressive silence while we ate gnawed at me, while I gnawed my meal. I did not want them departing with a gravitas of doom, so I started a conversation.

'All's not lost. We may yet win this with our secret weapon.'

'We have a secret weapon?' Su asked. 

'He means Bob.' Seki said. Her tone still heavy with suspicion.

'Yes, Bob. He's not in our ship registry, and our end to end transmissions are quantum encrypted. I doubt our adversary is aware he's pursuing him. Also, time moves faster in Bob's world. I estimate time moves ten times faster there.'

'That's amazing, but...'

'But?'

'But, your brain is working overtime, it needs more rest to recover.' 

'She has a point,' Su said. 'Are you getting enough rest?'

'I have noticed no changes in my sleep pattern, and I feel okay.'

'Maybe Cassandra can design a longer sleep program for you and give your brain some additional rest. Just in case.' 

'I think Su's idea's sound.' Seki said.

I admit, I thought it was a good idea too.

'I'll have her do that. Seki, how's Velox's reactivation?'

'It's on schedule, why?'

 'Maybe we can increase foot traffic, both human and bot, to pique their interest?'

'That sounds like a good idea.' Seki said.

'Good, So Su, what do you think about Jorge?' 

Su choked on her meal. 'Where the hell did that come from?' 

Seki joined the matchmaking team. 'Yeah, what about Jorge?' 

'What do you mean, "what about Jorge?" I barely know the guy?' 

'Yeah, but he's a great catch. You're perfect for each other.'

Su's eyes narrowed. 'Really, you two, I don't like where this is going,' She said.

 'So you're saying that you don't like Jorge?' I asked.

'It's not that I don't like him, I just don't know him yet.' 

'Yet? Does that mean that you'd like to get to know him?'