"Mr. Radek...?"
Tony glared. "Do I get that paint or don't I? Don't just stand there!" His fist banged down on Supplies and Control button. The Master Screen went blank, and then flashed into motion again fast. The blonde again. Nasty now. A chip off the old block. Another hell-hips, but this time with skirts.
"Request not granted! This is entirely against regulations, Mr. Radek! Specifically, against ordinance 1991, of the Code of...."
"Oh, can it," he growled wearily. "For God's sake, don't give me any more of that."
The blonde stiffened. "Well! After all, I'm only doing my duty, Mr. Radek. As head of Supplies and Control, I have certain well-defined and inflexible...."
Tony blacked her out. He held her blacked out till he was sure she wouldn't come on again. Duty.
The Master Clock made a quiet blipping noise. Amber Official lights dimmed and Emote Neutral came on. Long, probing shadow fingers snaked here and there across the floor, and a stillness that should have been restful descended eventually on the place.
"Radek!"
The hard eyes. The hard voice. Tony looked into the screen. "Yes, sir?"
"Radek, that woman is still downstairs in Portal Waiting! We can't have her hanging around all night. Why hasn't she been given her bill of divorcement and sent home? My God, man, where's your feelings? She's at least entitled to that."