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"Oh, I’m ready"

He kissed her on the cheek "I love you, babe This is soas and always be together That’s what I want"

Gunner swore he saw a tear briht eye "That’s what I want, too," she said "Forever"

Thirty e and his partners seemed to like celestial bodies, so Gunner didn’t have to think hard to decide which of hisYou didn’t beco how to code like a beast Gunner Skale had prograetaways in all kinds of places that no one else could touch--not even the VNS A submarine on the bottom of the ocean, a cabin in the Rockies, a tree house in the Redwoods, a penthouse in the E If he didn’t know her better, he’d say that those sweet hideouts were the only reason Rachel stuck with him

But for Virtual Solutions, he chose the Skaleship: a massive spaceliner that he could take anywhere in the VirtNet with a feipes of code And today he chose the rings of Saturn The s of the viewing port would probably never be physically possible on a real spaceship--they were twenty feet tall and as many feet wide--but this was the Sleep The brilliant colors of the rings, flat as a pancake, with thebehind thee said as they all took their seats in the middle of the mostly empty room Five people in all Marta still looked like an old soldier, and Cherry’s red hair glowed in the light of the planet Everyone had chosen their real-life Auras to keep things si "Words can’t express how grateful we are to have your support"

"And e shifted in his seat "But your counsel will be worth just as ot to see the fun stuff I guess we better talk about your business plan this go-round How protected is this coding, first of all?"

Marta answered that one "We’ve taken all the necessary steps, legal- and business-wise Securing and protecting our assets has been our top concern I assu eyes?"

Just as she finished speaking, Gunner caught a glih the huge s, out at the rings of Saturn There was so plane of the rings, that grew larger even as he stared at it Gunner hadn’t gotten to his level of ga the best of a situation He shot to his feet

"What is it?" George asked, following their host’s gaze

"This location is secure That shouldn’t be there," Gunner whispered "We need to get out of here Now I’ll take us to another of my hideouts Link up with e scowled "What is this? Some kind of trick? Did you think alk in here and trust you with our secrets, give it all to you? We’re still protected We’re not a bunch of fools"

Gunner tried to take a step back, surprised by the reaction, but his chair was in the way--he plopped down into the seat "George … I … Are you insane? Of course I’ about your project!"

"But you have your own resources," Cherry said sharply "Plenty, as you like to hint at all too often I think we should Lift and reconsider, George This is all too fishy"

Gunner stood up again and regained his composure The object outside the ship had tripled in size, co, but I promise I’ve been honest I’m very interested in what it is you have to show me Let me just …" Gunner froze When he tried to access the code to change their location, so now?" George demanded

"What the hell?" Gunner said under his breath "I can’t …" He looked at George and his partners "We’re blocked fro out there is But I have a feeling it’s not good I swear I had nothing to do with this! I don’t knohat’s going on"