While a certain amount of loyalty was expected of a butler, there were occasions when an offer came along that was so good, it was considered poor form for the current employer to block the move.  In the event of that happening, the ever conscientious Harold dilligently kept a list roughly titled "Things To Tell My Successor" up to date.  The departure of a butler often caused confusion and bad feelings, so keeping the list was his way of minimizing any consequences and bad feelings.

High on the list was the set of rules to properly seat guests at dinner parties like this one.  "Seating rules," his mentor had told him, "tell a lot about a family and an employer." The Trodden rules were rather simple:  Irregardless of who was there, if the guest of honor was a family member, then any Normals present (as the Von Richter family called non-members), or Specials "not born of the tank" must be seated next to them.  If the Von Richters were not present, but Dr. Pearce was, then Bethany had to be seated next to her..  If the Von Richters were present, then Maria had to be placed to Bethany's left, and the Troddens seated to Dr. Von Richter's left.  Everyone else who were not married had to be mixed so that no two of the same Model were seated together.

Yes, seating rules told a lot about a famliy and an employer.  Harold had no plans to depart at any time in the forseeable future.

So it was that Erin found herself sandwiched between Cyprus and Cybersix.  Type 37 was on the other side of Cybersix, followed, counterclockwise, by his wife, Bethany, and Reba.

"Harold?"  Erin beckoned.

"Yes, Miss Cheng?" he answered, putting his head down to hear her as he poured champagne in her glass.

"Where's Dr. Zack?" she asked.

"In Paris.  I'm not sure why.  He muttered something about a supercollider in the Black Forest, saving several billion Euros, and taking Fritz down a few notches.  I took it to be a Quantum Theorist imbroglio and didn't make any further inquiry, since it would certainly have gone over my head.  Is there anything wrong, Miss Six?"

The appetizers were arriving, and since she was the guest of honor, she had been served first.  She had admired the arrangment of the oysters and greenery on the plate, then gazed with wide eyes at the large number of utensils stacked up on either side of the exquisite chinaware, "Ummm, ahhhh, which one do I use?" Cybersix asked, obviously puzzled.

"Whisper it loud enough for me to hear too!" Erin hissed under her breath.

Harold smiled and pointed, "You start from the outside in, using one set per course, leaving no gaps between utensils of the same type.  You can tell from the number of each how many courses will be served.  If in doubt, follow your host's lead."

Cybersix absorbed his information, glancing at Erin, who winked at her, "Umm, Thanks Harold." she said, "We Cybers don't usually use this many at the mess hall on the Compound."

"Um hmm." Harold nodded, "Now, if you are still uncomfortable, I could talk with one of the guards.  He was a member of the armed forces and kept his mess kit as a momento of his time in the service.   I believe I could convince him to part with it temporarily,  Both he and it were at the Falklands, where they received blows enough from my countrymen to render them charmingly battered."

Cybersix considered this soberly, glanced at Erin for a long moment, then both girls broke down in a fit of giggles as if on cue, "Harold!  Are you pulling my leg?" Cybersix got out, picking up the smallest fork.

"Miss Six!  That would involve my laying hands upon your person! That would be uncharacteristic of me, since you are a lady, and I am not a cad.  Not to mention being highly unlikely, since you are a Cyber and I am not a fool."

"Harold," Erin said, picking up her champagne glass, "Please don't leave us."

"I pay him too much," Cyprus said, popping an oyster into his mouth.

Erin nodded in confirmation as she sipped the bubbly liquid in the glass, "Six, that was an awesome entrance!" she said, nudging her with an elbow.

Cybersix smiled, "Thanks.  I must confess, I feel terrific in this satin dream."

"Heh!" Type 37 chuckled, "You should have seen her at the head table after the rescue, Erin!"

"YES!" a Techno called from across the table, "I heard SOMETHING about that, but nobody's come out with the details!  What happened?"

Type 37 grinned, noting that Cybersix had become suddenly interested in the salad being served next, "Okay, everybody is nervous because she is just not behaving like her normal self since she lost her leadership ranking.  You know how everyone waits and talks until Father and Mama come in?  It was very subdued, going almost silent when the Cyber Training Board members walked in to take their seats."

"That bad?" the techno asked, frowning.

"That bad." Type 37 nodded, looking grim, but only for a moment. "Well, when Mama and Father finally enter, Cybersix is pushing Father's wheelchair and is wearing a terrific, strapless, 5 alarm red dress with a pearl necklace and earrings.  You could just feel the worry and tension draining away from everyone when they saw her face and how serene she looked."

"Who'd she pick to sit at the front table?" Cyprus asked, tossing a glance at his sister next to him, her face nearly hidden by the fall of black hair.

Type 37 grinned wickedly, "Well, Six just positively SLINKS from one table to the other, picking the Cyber Training Board members one by one and walking them to the front table, wrapping the arms of the guys around hers.  Everyone is just howling, for they're in their grubbies and look like crap compared to her.  She then walks Jose and Grizelda to the table too, since they were the most pissed at the decision and howling the most.  Six herself is seated between Mama and Father, and they are going overboard making sure she is pleased with everything.  I should add that they served french peas that night."

"Uh oh." Reba muttered aloud.

"What?" Bethany asked her.

"Jose positively HATES peas."

"Yeah," 37 nodded, "I noticed.  Flicked them at the Training Board members with his spoon all through the meal."

"Pretty good aim too." Cybersix remarked, trying to sound professionally detatched, "He didn't get anybody else by mistake." She lifted her head, "And I did NOT slink!" she said insistently.

Reba snickered, "Did you walk the same way you did coming in here?"

"Well, yes-"

Reba glanced at Bethany, who had glanced at her at the same moment.  They locked eyes for an instant, then in unison both said, "YOU SLINKED!"

"I think I know which dress you wore, Cybersix." Serena remarked after the laughter died down, "I believe Mama special ordered it the second year she was here in South America, although she wasn't able to get Father away from the labs for another couple of years to get an opportunity to wear it.  She and Father were quite the pair on the dance floor."

"It's THAT old?" Cybersix looked at her, amazed, a fork of lettuce halted in mid-air, "It looks-"

"Modern?" Serena smiled, "Mama stayed ahead of the fashion curve by staying out of it, always getting stuff that looked good on her, and didn't have the little frills that date a particular style.  Understated, but eternal.  That she loaned it to you was a great honor, Six."

"Actually-" Cybersix stopped.

"What?" Erin prompted her.

"I still have it." she replied, looking around apologetically, "She said I ought to 'go out on the town' a few times while I was here, and insisted I take it with me.  It's hanging in my closet right now."

"If you do go out in that dress, Six, be sure to call me for a police escort." Type 37 said drolly.

"Which reminds me," Erin waved her fork at her, "What IS your mission here?"

Cybersix took a few more bites and laid her fork down on the plate before answering, "There's a newspaper reporter named Lucas Amato, who'd been publishing bioengineering articles in The Independent.  Ah, I see you all are familiar with them-" she said, noting the looks on all those present except Erin and Bethany.

"I'm not, but I suppose its the usual, bioengineered-monsters-will-be-grown-and-threaten-all-mankind BS." Erin said, making a face, "Am I right?"

Cybersix nodded, "He's a Biology teacher at Meridiana High School, and the science is right.  There's something strange about the articles, which Techno 881 and I are still puzzling about.  I'm here to figure out where the man stands, sound him out, maybe win him over.  Dr. Zacharias is my contact, and was able to get me a position as a Literature teacher for the upper grades.  Kayla and I discussed it, and decided that my posing as a male, using 29's disguise of Adrian Seidelman, would help me get the information I needed with fewer complications."

Erin grinned wickedly, picked up her spoon to eat the soup that had just been brought out, and asked "So, how is THAT working out?"

Cybersix slowly leaned back, rolled her eyes, and blew out a puff of air in exasperation, making her forelocks flip upward visibly, "Great.  Terrible.  I don't know!  I'm not used to teaching classes of students who don't want to be there.  This redhead, Lori Anderson, starts throwing kisses at me in the middle of class-" she threw a scowl at Type 37, who was guffawing loudly,"THEN she puts this note, in the shape of a red heart, in the book I'm reading to the class.  It says, 'I think I love you.'"

Cybersix paused while everyone laughed, "Well, of course, I slap the thing back down on her desk and finish the reading.  After school, I head back home.  I'm checking out some Shakespearean sonnets for tomorrow when I get accosted by three of my students..."

"Lori's gang." Type 37 confirmed, chuckling, "Skeeter, Lingo, and Jitter."

"Oh.  Is Lingo the one who fluently speaks Archaic Patagonian?" Cybersix replied, making a face.

"That's the one."

"Wait a minute," Serena waved her spoon, "A GIRL runs a GANG?"

"For about a year now.  They're into petty crime, like stealing CDs, cigarettes, and booze.  Very rare, and their timing is rather good.  When they strike, it's usually when we're chasing something or someone more serious and have no time to deal with them." Type 37 said.

Erin grinned, "So how'd you handle that, Six?"

"I want to know too!" Type 37 grinned.

"I-wasn't-in-a-good-mood." Cybersix said irritatedly, "I was hot, sweaty, and itching horribly from the men's underwear I was wearing and a tube top three sizes too small to kinda flatten me.   Don't laugh!" she protested, glancing around defensively, "It's supposed to help me get in character!"

"Well, since you obviously got Lori's attention," Reba said, eyes sparkling, "Then I'd say you definitely succeeded!"

"Yeah.  Right.  Well, I try to reason with them first, only someone arrives to save the day, so to speak." She paused.

"Who?" Type 138 asked.

"Would you believe Lucas Amato?  The guy is HUGE.  College level boxer from his dossier.  He told me later he saw the kids tailing me, suspected the worst, and followed THEM.  They ran like rabbits."

"Wow.  Talk about good luck." Erin said.

Cybersix nodded, "Sooo, the day wasn't all bad.  He's rather friendly, and quite the soccer fan.  He even treated me to a cup of coffee at a rather nice French cafe.  I had to run because of this party, but it was a start.  A very good start.  I was planning to approach him first, but Lori's gang solved that problem for me.  My!  This looks good!" Cybersix remarked as a plate with the main course, roast beef au jus with vegetables, was set before her, "We sure don't eat this well at the cafeteria!"

"We usually don't have many family parties like this, Six, but your coming was a very good excuse for one." Serena said.

"Is everyone here?" Cybersix asked.

Serena sighed and shook her head, "I'd like to talk to you about that later, if I could, Six." she said, lowering her voice.  Cybersix glanced up at Cyprus, who dipped his head slightly to add his agreement to his wife's concern.

Cybersix was a bit relieved when the focus of the conversation moved to Reba, who gave what was apparently a catch-up report of the latest goings-on at Meridiana General Hospital.  From the sound of it, the action was about as facinating and addictive to the listeners as any soap opera.  The discussion then moved to Type 37, who voiced his concerns about a judge that seemed far too lenient for the city's good, and which he blamed for a recent uptick in the crime rate.  It finally ended, during dessert, with a mild debate over which Normal under Cyprus' employ should be told next about the Family, with the usual side-debate over the question of whether ANY Normal should be told at all.

The entance of Harold with a large covered tray (trigged by Bethany's second yawn) put an end to all the talk.

"Miss Six?" Harold uncovered the tray and held it out to her first.  Smiling, she reached out and chose a vial of sustenance from the neatly stacked pile.  Skipping Erin, Harold went around, letting each pick a vial, ending with Cyprus.  Harold then exchanged the tray for a bottle of champage, which he used to refill Erin's glass.

After squeezing Serena's hand, Cyprus stood up, "Brothers and sisters, I'm glad that we had this opportunity to be  together, but it's time for this delightful evening to come to an end." He paused, "I have piece 4."

"I have piece 6." said Cybersix.

"I have pieces 3 and 5." said Erin.

"I have piece 3." Said Type 37.

"I have piece 4." Said Type 138.

"I have pieces 1 and 7" Said Reba.

"I'm working on piece 2." Bethany said, "The letters are funny." she added.

They went around the room, each family member stating which part of the complex derivation that burned like letters of fire in their minds.  A derivation that would show mankind how to harness the sun to power the world, freeing mankind from burning the branches and leaves of the dead.   Erin wondered what Dr. Zack would have thought or said about the little ritual built up around his equations and blueprints.

"To father, mother, and family." Cyprus said.

"To father, mother, and family." Everyone replied in chorus, clinking their vials (or glass) wth the family member on either side of them before drinking the contents.
------------------
"Thanks for the wonderful evening, Serena!" Cybersix said.  She was again dressed as Adrian Seidelman, except that her glasses were in her shirt pocket, "I enjoyed it a lot, even if you did spring that surprise on me!"

"What surprise?" Serena asked.

"Being the guest of honor, of course!"

"Oh Six!  If we'd told you, you'd probably have found an excuse not to come!"  she laughed, then grew sober, "Which reminds me."  She had been holding Cybersix's hands, but now grasped Cybersix's right with both of hers..

"What is it?" Cybersix asked, sensing something wrong.

""It's my batchmate,Techno 254.  It's been YEARS since I've seen her!  I try to visit, look her up, invite her over, but she comes up with one excuse after another and doesn't come.  I called up Mama, and she doesn't remember her ever coming to the compound for Christmas for years either.  Please Six," Serena's fingers tightened, "Could you look her up and find out what's happening?  Is she mad at us, or in trouble?  Or worse?"

Cybersix shook her head, smiling sourly, "I'm just a Cyber, and a loser at that!  Why would-"

"Look, if Father thought you were good enough to sound out a human, then you're good enough to help your sister.  Please?"

Cybersix cocked her head, "And what if I fail?" she asked, in a tone that indicated that she regarded the outcome as foreordained.

"I've talked to Mama about this.  She suggested that you try, and that if you won't do it or don't succeed if you do, then she's going to try herself."

"Well that settles it." Cybersix said decisively, "I'll do my best!"

"That's all I'm asking for!"  Serena fished a slip of paper from her pocket and pressed it into Cybersix's hands, "Good luck, sister, and thank you!" she leaned forward and kissed Cybersix on the cheek.  Cybersix kissed her back.

She then pulled the glasses out of her shirt pocket, put them on, and swept her hand through her hair, "Good night, Mrs Trodden!" she said in a male voice.

"Good night Mr. Seidelman!" Serena replied, grinning and shaking her head at the transformation.

Harold bowed as she left, then closed the door behind her, "She is very good, Maam." he commented.

Serena nodded, "Amazing." she agreed.

Harold smiled slightly, then frowned, "Maam..."

"Yes?"

"I believe Miss Hansen is having trouble getting Miss Bethany out of your room and into her bed."

Serena frowned.  Janelle Hansen was Bethany's nanny, "I'll get her going." she replied, turning and heading for the stairs, "Good night, Harold."

"Good night, maam."  He replied.

Serena went up the stairs and to the master bedroom.  Janelle was at the door, looking chagrined and puzzled, "Ah'm sorry, maam," the American expatriate said in her lilting Southern accent, "but she's being downright ornery-".

"Let's just see." Serena started as she opened the door to her bedroom, "Bethany!  You're-" she stopped, sighed, shook her head, smiled, and walked over to her daughter sitting on her chair in front of her mirror.

"Mommie." Bethany started, gazing into the mirror and turning her head, inspecting the necklace of pearls around her neck, "Do you think I'll ever be as pretty as Auntie Six?"

Serena thought of the sketch that Techno 159 had drawn of what she thought her niece would look like at 20, "I  think you would." she said, touching the pearl bracelets on Bethany's arms, "These did make her look very pretty, didn't they?"

"Yes," Bethany nodded, "They did.  But she helped a lot, didn't she?"

"She sure did.  Well, let's get to bed, little girl!"

After handing her daughter over to Janelle, Serena frowned at her grinning husband, "Did YOU put that necklace on her?"

Cyprus went over, picked the necklace up, and held it out.  Sighing and shaking her head in mock resignation, Serena turned around and let him put it on.  She then picked up the bracelets, put them on, and admired herself in the mirror, "Is it just me, or do I really look more glamorous with these on now that she's worn them?"

"It's not just you."  Cyprus confirmed.

Serena shook her head slowly as she removed the jewelry and put them in the most prominent spot on her dresser, realizing why certain occasions could turn a thing into a family heirloom, "Each and every one of those Cybers could be a model if they wanted."

"Don't suggest it at all.  37 needs them on the police force." Cyprus looked somber, "Did you tell her-"

"About 254?  Yes.  She'll see her, although she was reluctant."

Cyprus smiled at her, "If anybody can find out what's going on with your batchmate, it'll be Six.  But she didn't want to do it?" he asked, frowning slightly.

"Yes.  She said she was just a Cyber AND a loser.  It was only when I told her Mama would do it if she wouldn't, that she finally agreed to it." She looked distressed, "What IS it about that leadership ranking that's so important that losing it makes her doubt herself so fiercely?"

"It's a Cyber thing." he shook his head, "I'll have to report that."

"Report it?  Since when?"

"Since Father AND Techno 1318 called me up personally and asked me to do that."
----
Erin Cheng (C) Syberkat
Dr. Reba Pearce (C) Queen of Mars
Bethany, Cyprus, and Serena Trodden, (C) Bethany Trodden
Maria Schweitzer Von Richter (C) Genesis Seidelman
Dr. Anthony Zacharias, (C) Ptah Aegyptus
----

Back to Top
Chapter 5
Chapter 7