Tangle in the Dark - Kassidor

"Cooking," he answered, "I've been trying a lot of newrecipes lately.""Ah," Harvey presented himself as retired, as if one couldjust retire to a universe on a starship. Of course that wasexactly what he'd done, so he was being honest. He took uphobbies with regularity, and told you way too much aboutthem. The good thing about Harvey was he was easy to tuneout. He was also much more presentable than Imogene. Hewas a distinguished older gentleman, maybe part Italian,especially when he wore shades. All he required was anoccasional, 'wow,' or 'yeah!' and he was good for another fiveminutes.Imogene was not going to be so persistent as to chasehim. Then he got really sick, what if she already knew aboutthe separation papers? What if she really was pursuing him?She would HAVE to change her personification. She'd haveto look at least as good as Ava. Her personality would have tochange. It wouldn't be worth it.Harvey was still prattling about zhlindu thesh rolls whenthe captain and senior officers re-appeared. They stepped outof a door and back into the space the ship was in where agood portion of the crew was waiting. Heymon and Elmoregave briefings on the strategic situation relative to thesuspected Chinese vessel.Neither of the ships was carrying anything intended as aweapon, but their point control laser was capable ofdamaging the other vessel's external systems and the naked189