Tangle in the Dark - Kassidor

shortly," it said and left the room. He allowed himself toimagine one of those elaborate shorting-out scenes like inancient movies where the robot becomes encased in blueplasma with arcs of lighting all around them until their partsclatter to the floor, smoking.But he was right, the captain opened the door to hisprivate office soon after. The door opened like the scene theywere watching was projected on a wall and he had a door onthat wall. The part on the door stayed on the door, like thedoor was paneled with video screen. "Why don't we talk inhere," Kelvin said and held the door for Alan. It was exactlythe same scene in here, but in here there was a table andchairs. They were invisible, but quite plush and comfortable.This was where the officers went to have their privatemeetings with the captain.Alan came in and took a seat, said nothing.Kelvin M'Kintre took the seat across from him and saidnothing.If they were to get into a staring contest, Alan was sure hecould win it, but be sorry he did. After a few seconds ofsilence Alan asked, "You must have some reason for asking tosee me?""You know Ava very well," Kelvin said."Not as well as other people know her, but better than Iknow anyone aboard but the McReadys." He still wasn't ableto call them his parents, but he was able to call them friends.102