"What if one of Susan's pals sees us?"
"So what? I'm getting tired of checking in every night, like a baby. Besides, one of her pals did see us, last night, at the bar."
Fear. What'll she do? Susan's a hellcat. I know she is. But maybe Pete'll get really sick and tired of her. He looks it. He looks mad. I'd sure hate to have him mad at me....
"Let's go for a spin, baby. Out in the suburbs somewhere. How about it?"
"Well—why sure, Pete...."
Sitting beside him in the copter. All alone up here. Real romantic, like something on the video. But I shouldn't with him married, and all that. It's not right. But it's different, with Susan such a mean thing. Poor Petey....
Riuku prodded. He found it so much easier since the Shielding boost. If only these Earthmen were more telepathic, so that they could be controlled directly. Still, perhaps with this new integration he could accomplish the same results. He prodded again.
"Pete," Alice said suddenly. "What are we working on, anyway?"
"What do you mean, working on?" He frowned at her.
"At the plant. All I ever do is sit there soldering plugs, and no one ever tells me what for."