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“I won’t, not any ood”

“You’re stillmetallic—four shiny bands

“What are they?” she asked nervously

“You can get dressed and I’ll explain”

Easing into her pants, she listened “These are restraints They’re rammed to attract to each other Two bracelets, two anklets When I hit a button on this reether Another click and the anklets do the same You won’t be able to walk or separate your wrists An instant confinement They’re only attracted to each other, so don’t worry, you’ll not stick to anything else netic”

“Oh, good, I suppose,” she said, rather i

“Tamperproof, too,” he added quickly “They can’t be removed without the pattern lock and that’s up here” He tapped his forehead “Put them on” He held the thin bands out to her

Jade looped thely and with reasonable comfort

“Let ether, pal She tried to force theain, her feet slid together, binding her ankles tight She was hobbled, unable to walk and barely able to stand She swayed and he released theher to move

“Wow, that’s powerful” A question entered her mind and she furrowed her eyebrows

“What?” he asked

“If you have these available, why did you lock me in a cell?”

“Protocol dictates that when the stasis systeitives are to be held in cells When the cells are full, the least violent prisoners can be shackled with those bands”

“But you locked nantly

“The cells weren’t full,” he stated simply