I scanned the room, trying to pick out an off-white and black shaped Felinzi among the all the white and shadow.I scanned the room, trying to pick out an off-white and black shaped Felinzi among the all the white and shadow. Despite the lowered lighting of nighttime operations, I found her. Of course, other than a party of three centaurs in a quiet corner, she was the only person in the place, and she waved me over. I walked towards her, and as I approached she rose and smiled. "Hi," I said, and returned her smile. "Hi to you, too, father." She helped me with my chair, and then sat down herself. "This is kind of odd, isn't it?" "What do you mean?" "Well, usually it's me who asks the birthday...uhm...'victim'...out to dinner, and help her with her chair, and such. What's with the special treatment? And why so late at night?" "Oh, I dunno. I just wanted to see you. Tomorrow's a special day. "Is it?" "Well, it is my hundredth birthday." "I'll drink to that, but in that case I need to order a drink." At which point, almost on cue, a Tindal came striding over and said "Hi Ember, Hello Shardik, can I get y'all anything, or do you just want to sit and talk for a while?" This person was unfamiliar to me, but Josh, the Arc AI, identified him as M'Arden, and said he was an excellent cook. Of course he recognized me, but apparently he knew Ember as well. "I'll have my usual, sweetheart," Ember said. "And I'd like whatever you think is good, and two glasses of Orange Juice and Champagne, it's almost breakfast time," I said. An old friend had introduced me to OJ&Champagne, and I found I rather liked it. "Okay, I'll send out a domo with the drinks, and I'll bring breakfast around in a few minutes." He strode off. I turned to Ember. "Who is he?" "M'Arden? He's just the late-night cook for the Arc. He's the only night-owl around here who's willing to try and cook for this place. Of course, the only ones who come here are me, those three quiet drinkers, and a couple of flyboys who are out practicing late-night drills. |