I feel Lee wave at Tara happily from behind my back, “Hi, Tara!” I cautiously echo Lee’s greeting. Tara’s image seems to split for a second. One image muttering and the other waving and saying hello.
“I didn’t understand what you said, but I’ll take it as a greeting…” I slowly put Lee back on the ground. He feels so much heavier without the Rayment. I’m already starting to miss it.
You’d think I’d be better prepared to carry Lee after my trial with Susie’s rescue. No need to exhaust ourselves anymore. I clearly can’t outrun Tara.
Lee runs right to her. “Tara, you know I can’t process things like you can. Humans can only focus on one thing at a time.”
“Whoops, sorry, Lee. It is an old habit. I find it harder to focus on one thing at a time when I project part of myself like this since I am already multitasking. What did you think of the demonstration, Lee?”
“I loved it! Gēgē looked so cool in his Rayment! He made the obstacle course look easy! And then taking down Driger with that dive. Pow!” Tara smiles with brilliant white teeth, a rarity for most these days, as she listens to Lee’s monologue. I wonder how these two could’ve gotten so close so quickly. Lee never warms up to anyone this fast. At least no human. Maybe this could work out in more ways than one…
“Tara, I think we can work something out.”
“Like what?”
“You need more testers don’t you?” I ask in my most businesslike tone. President Belen would be proud.
“Yes! Do you happen to know more people?” She cheerfully leaps off her chair towards me.
“I do.”
Lee interrupts, “No you don’t.”
“I will if you’ll let me explain, Di Di.” I give him a noogie. “It would take some time, but if you can ‘upgrade’ our transceiver we can communicate with Sojourn’s other foraging groups.”
Lee squints up at me, “Oh, that could work.”
I roll my eyes at him, “Of course, it could work, Einstein.”
Tara’s eyes sparkle. “Consider it done!”
I start walking into the cabana, “OK, just let me get—”
“It’s done!”
“—what’s done?” I turn back to face her.
“Ever since I scanned your tablet I have been tapping into Sojourn’s communications. It seemed so handy; I decided to make my own communications towers! That way Tamers can always communicate with each other!”
Oh flotsam. Our communication system is encrypted! Well, was. It’s one of the greatest advantages we have over hostiles. Practically no one else has working radios. We have the next best thing with our tablets and the e-ink delivery system. “Tara, we need that to be—”
“Naturally, all Sojourn communications remain encrypted! I made a secondary system piggybacking on Sojourn’s that will use Terra Tamers tablets or scanners. Tabs? We should workshop it. Long story short, only friends can message each other. And I have also set an age restriction so that you cannot friend anybody who is two years older or younger than you without a player’s parents, or a Guild leader, allowing it. I’ve already put everyone from Sojourn on a friends list.”
Well, that’s one concern taken care of. I still have to-
“I have also compiled everyone’s reports for Sojourn into a summary.” I could hear the transceiver finish printing the e-ink report. “It is ready for you to take to the city. Did I…do something wrong?”
Lee interrupts, “See, Matt, Tara is super helpful! And awesome!”
“Do not forget cute!” Tara rises from her seat and poses weirdly, her index finger pressed to her bottom lip. Frankly, it looks awkward.
Still, who am I to look twice at a gift like this? At a chance for freedom from Holos? And paperwork!
I try to match Tara’s pose, remembering the importance of mirroring people’s mannerisms in negotiations. Lee snickers. I quickly give up and reach out with my hand instead. Tara grabs it and winks at me, giving it a firm pump, completing the ancient ritual of the handshake.
“I look forward to working with you, Matt!”
“I’ll do my best, Tara. After we turn in this report, how about we sit down and talk over a few ideas?” I reply. I can’t muster up the same enthusiasm that Tara seems to have. It’s surely my adrenaline crashing after a hectic day.
“Sure thing! I will keep a projection here to watch the sunset until you come back.” I nod. Then Lee and I head to Sojourn. As we walk, I raise my cracked tablet. The Terra Tamers icon gleams onscreen. Evidence of a new path ahead. It’s time to call in every favor I have.
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