I arrived back at Abernathy Farm just before dusk on May 30th, and quickly found my self being hugged on both sides by Winter and Piper. 

 

"Welcome back," said Piper.

 

"I'm glad you're safe," said Winter.

 

I returned the embrace, though the nature of my position ended up with Piper being on most of the receiving end. "I missed you both," I said.

 

 

They hustled me into the homestead and didn't waste any time getting me out of my suit - and not a moment too late, I have to admit. This was the longest I'd worn it continuously by a wide margin, and it felt good to have the constant tension of the suit off of my skin - to say nothing of giving my bodily orifices a break from the suit's plugs and tubes. As Winter got ready to pull out the catheter, she looked to Piper.

 

"It's still your day," she said. Piper shifted a little bit, revealing just the slightest hint of reluctance, then crouched down between my legs. 

 

"OK," she said, "let her rip." 

 

Winter proceeded to pull out the thick, ribbed tube with a smooth but firm motion that left me no time to even try to avoid making a mess. Immediately, Piper had her head buried in my bush, sucking on me as my bladder drained. I'd gone long enough without sex that the sensations hit me extra hard, making me squeal and curl my toes a little as Piper seemed dead-set on not letting even a drop of my piss spill.

 

 

Even after I was completely empty, she kept alternately licking and sucking until I rolled right into an orgasm. The release was surprisingly refreshing, especially after such a long dry spell, and my whole body felt incredibly relaxed afterwards. I smiled lazily at Piper, saying, "damn, I missed you."

 

She laughed before saying, "I can tell. You're filthy, and hairy. Clearly the product of being separated from my good influence."

 

"Hey," Winter cut in, "I think I deserve some welcome home sex too. And I don't care how filthy you are. In fact, I kind of like it when you're filthy."

 

"Maybe in the morning," I said, "I'm suddenly dead tired."

 

"Get into bed if you need to," she said, "but I am going to fuck you." I could see now that Winter was tightening the belt for a strap-on, so obviously she intended to play the dominant role. Relenting, I let her lead me into bed, where she - with surprising gentleness for the usually energetic Winter - stuffed me full of rubber cock while kissing me passionately.

 

 

After Winter finished having her way with me, we all kind of piled into the bed and just cuddled for a long time. I was exhausted, but I was also too aroused to drift off just yet, and I was enjoying soaking in the body heat of both women.

 

"We need to do this more often," I said, dreamily.

 

"Definitely," Piper agreed.

 

"Lots more," Winter said, her words catching in her throat a little and causing Piper to smirk. 

 

"Are you masturbating?" she asked.

 

"Just trying to drum up one more before your turn's over. I always need to pee after I cum, you know."

 

Piper groaned at that, and I considered her. "Do I want to know what this thing with turns is all about?" I asked.

 

 

"It's this stupid game she and Lucy Abernathy made up. All of her 'special friends' - that's her, Lucy, Lily in Concord, and now me, take turns and whoever's up has to drink everyone else's piss that day."

 

My brain was a little foggy but still, "I feel like that might not be the healthiest activity," I opined.

 

"That's what I said!" Piper agreed, "but apparently they talked to Doctor Cain and she said it was OK."

 

I rolled my eyes at that comment, asking, "is Susan part of this club too?"

 

"No," Winter interjected, "but I'm working on it. Sienna too, though she's going to be tougher."

 

"Who's Sienna?" I asked.

 

"She runs the clinic in Concord - makes all her own medicine from local plants. Smart girl, and cute," Winter said.

 

Asking no one in particular I groaned, "another horny doctor? I know its a blessing for our settlements but they seem to be popping up everywhere."

 

"Like attracts like, maybe," Piper guessed, "you created a place where they don't have to pretend to be all buttoned down and respectable... so they come."

 

"Speaking in coming," Winter said, "I'm ready, Piper. Come over here and I'll give you a nightcap."

 

"You have no idea, Blue," she grumbled as she moved in between Winter's legs, "how much piss I've swallowed in the last week."

 

After a good night's sleep, I enjoyed a long shower and changed into a fresh vault suit. After a light breakfast, during which I noticed Piper drinking about twice as much coffee as I remember, we talked about the events at Joint Bast Hagen.

 

 

"...and that's where we stand now," I wrapped up. "Kellogg's dead, my son is at the Institute, and no one really knows where to go next. The only lead we have is a brain implant that was in Kellogg's head, and it might be no lead at all."

 

"Shit," Piper said, "I'm sorry, Blue."

 

"It's OK," I said. "At least we know that Shaun's alive. That's something. And there's no such thing as an impenetrable fortress. We'll find the Institute, and we'll get him back."

 

"So what's the next move?" Winter asked.

 

"I'm going to meet with the leaders of the settlements. I gather they've formed some sort of council to make decisions when I'm not around, and I want to know their thoughts on this. After that, I want Doctor Cain to look at that brain implant. She mentioned having a colleague who worked on what she called 'biomechanics,' and maybe he can help us understand this thing."

 

"That makes sense," Piper said. "I have some contacts I can work too - and besides, I need to go check on how Nat is doing with the preparations to move to Concord. Maybe I can find something out that'll help."

 

"Thank you," I said, "I really appreciate it - and I'm looking forward to learning what you found out."

 

When I reached Concord, the town was... bustling. It seemed that while I was out on campaign, the population had swollen further and Jake's firmware update had gone to good use - several shops were set up along the main drag, with residents hawking goods to passers-by. The streets were still in pretty rough shape, but a lot of the trash was gone now and things just generally looked more lived-in and less abandoned. 

 

"Hey, how's it going?" A man asked, beckoning to me with a fist full of leaflets. As I approached he continued, "Haven't seen you around town before. I don't suppose you'd be interested in checking out the mostly open, new and improved, Fallon's Department Store, would you?"

 

 

"You fixed up the Fallon's?" I asked, "really? That does sound interesting."

 

"Doesn't it?" he echoed, "I told Carnal somebody's stop by eventually. Alright, well, if you'll just follow me inside?"

 

 

I let him lead the way into the department store. The new owners have done a pretty good job cleaning it up, though the shelves were mostly bare. In the distance, I could hear a rough voice saying, "Carnal no need others tell Carnal pretty. Carnal knows is pretty."

 

"So... must be tough running a clothing store in Concord," I said. "I was kind of expecting you'd focus on other, um, departments."

 

The guy shrugged, "Carnal's still working out that part of the business. She just loves fixing up old clothes, and so clothes are the main attraction. But there's other things upstairs. You should go check it out."

 

Ascending the stairs, I was shocked to find myself standing face to face with a super mutant. 

 

"What? Carnal busy," she said. "Go bother someone else."

 

"Nice to meet you, Carnal," I said, not missing the impressive cock hanging between her legs. Evidently, Preston wasn't unique in the Commonwealth of being born with the wrong plumbing. "I'll let you get to it then. Though... it looks like we need to find a vault suit in your size."

 

 

"Yes, get. You get, then I thanks. Busy now."

 

I'd heard super mutants speak before, but I'd never had a conversation with one. It was an interesting and unexpected development for the day. I spent a little more time walking through the upstairs part of the store, then resumed my walk through town. It was a rainy day, and after taking in the sights a little I decided to check in with Doctor Cain immediately before summoning the mayors. Maybe if I was lucky, the rain would stop and I could avoid having to listen to Stef Ainsleigh complain about having to walk down from Sanctuary in the drizzle. 

 

Turning onto main street, I noticed with some interest that the Publick Occurences sign from Diamond City had apparently already made it to Concord... and had been mounted over the door to the building that housed my apartment. I wonder who was behind that - Piper? Nat? The council? Could have been any of them. The development surprised me, but I wasn't disappointed. Piper had lived right upstairs from her place of business before, so it kind of made sense that she'd want to again, at least when she was in town. Though that made me wonder... was Nat going to move in also? If so, there might be some explaining to do about Cain's 'improvements' to my apartment.

 

 

After poking my head into Jake's shop to look for her, he pointed me to the clinic just down the block. Cain was indeed there, chatting with a woman in a medic's vault suit who I realized must be Sienna. They were huddled around a stove in the middle of the building, Sienna chopping up some meat that I presumed was bound for her lunch plate while Cain, still dutifully following my instructions to stay naked whenever she was out of the workshop, was letting the warmth radiating off the stove dry her rain-slick body.

 

"Susan," I said, then turned to Sienna, "and you must be Sienna."

 

 

"Charley," Cain said, " welcome back."

 

Sienna didn't immediately return my greeting, and I asked, "is everything all right?"

 

She shook herself ever so slightly, then responded. "No, everything's fine. Sorry. It's just not every day that the Overseer walks into your little clinic. And I guess I should ask the same of you - is everything all right? Did you come looking for a doctor?"

 

"I'm alright," I answered, "but thank you for asking. I'm actually here to find Doctor Cain. While I was out working with the Minutemen, I came across something unusual that I think she can help with."

 

"Can we talk about it here?" Cain asked, "I was hoping to share lunch with Sienna."

 

I wasn't especially hungry, and I didn't want to impose on them, but I also didn't want to drag Cain away kicking and screaming, so I answered, "I think that's fine. But you don't need to make any for me. I had a late breakfast."

 

My blessing obtained, Sienna finished cooking her cuts of meat and the two of them sat down on the couch to enjoy their meal. While they ate, I told them the short version of my recent adventures, waiting till they were finished to dive into the real reason for me coming. Sienna peeled off to do some housekeeping, though I could tell she was still listening to the conversation. I wondered if I should be more secretive, but I figured that we hadn't learned anything really sensitive just yet. Earlier, when I talked about Kellogg unleashing his synth army, Cain had seemed a little uncomfortable, but by the time we got down the the real reason for me coming she seemed to have regained her interest and focus.

 

 

"So the reason I'm looking for you specifically is because of something Curie found." As I said this, Curie produced the brain implant. Curie had cleaned the gore off of it, and to an untrained eye it probably looked like any old piece of electronics. However, from her immediate and keen interest, I could tell that Cain had intuited more.

 

"This device," Curie explained, "was implanted inside the mercenary Kellogg's cranium. It appears to be some kind of augmentation device, and it is our hope that it might offer some clue as to where Charley can find her son."

 

"You mentioned that you had a colleague who specialized in biomechanics," I said. "I know you explained that the field isn't the same as cybernetics, but it sounds like this person might have the expert knowledge to help us analyze this device."

 

Cain was looking uncomfortable again, saying, "Charley, I know I was the one who mentioned it, but I thought I told you that I wasn't supposed to talk about there. My organization has very strict confidentiality rules, for our own protection and for everyone else's too. I cant--"

 

I held up my hands to forestall her. "I don't want to cause any trouble," I said, "and I know you can't tell me everything you know. But can you at least reach out to your contacts and find out if they'd be willing to help? This is our last lead, our very smallest hope of finding a way to get into the Institute and get Shaun back."

 

Cain was squirming a little now, and she said, "do you mind if we go back to your apartment, Charley?" The projecting her voice a little she added, "I'm sorry, Sienna. I trust you, but I have to talk about some kind of secret things with Charley."

 

"No problem," Sienna said, "thanks for sharing lunch with me."

 

Back at my place, I settled onto my couch and patted the cushion, inviting Cain to join me. She hesitated though, and I didn't press the matter.

 

"Susan," I said, "let's talk. What's bothering you?"

 

 

"I... I really like it here. At first it was just having a safe place to work on the ASAMs, then I started to get really excited about the medical research I could do here. And somewhere along the way, I started liking the people, too."

 

"I've noticed how well you and Jake seem to get on."

 

"Not just him," Cain explained. "Lily, Sienna, and so many others - they've all made me feel so welcome here."

 

"I'm glad," I said. "But you haven't told me what you're afraid of, what's worrying you."

 

She didn't answer right away and after a moment I realized that Cain was struggling to hold back tears.

 

"Hey, it's OK," I soothed. "It's just the two of us here. You can tell me what's bothering you."

 

 

"That's the problem," she said. "I can't. There's so many things I can't talk about. It wasn't a problem before, because my past didn't seem important. So many people are starting new lives here, so no one cared that I didn't want to talk about my life before I came here."

 

"I understand. I don't really like talking about my old life either."

 

"But you left your life behind," she said. "You had a clean break. For me... my old life, my old friends, hell, my foster parents even, they're all still out there, and at some point I have to go back to that life."

 

"You can have both, you know," I offered. "I don't force anyone to cut ties in order to live here. In fact, my whole point in bringing you the implant was that I hoped you could use those ties to help me."

 

Cain seemed to deflate just a little bit further. "I know, and I feel like you deserve my help. But I also have a duty to my friends and family, and I'm afraid that this course of action you're taking, the questions you're starting to ask, I'm afraid that you're going to force me to choose between Concord and... my old life."

 

 

I decided not to dance around the big question further, and I put to her. Gently, but also unvarnished, "Susan, your academic institution... it's the Institute, isn't it?"

 

"I can't answer that question," she said. That non-answer though, it pretty much confirmed what I'd been starting to suspect since our earlier talk in the clinic.

 

"Alright," I said, sighing, "take a seat." Cain relented this time, and I scooched up next to her.

 

"Susan," I said, "tell me how you feel about this situation. Do you understand why I want to get into the Institute? Why I need to?"

 

 

"I do... I think. But it's not that simple. If you keep doing this, if you keep pushing, then people are going to get hurt. People that I care about. There has to be a better way for you o reunite with your son. What you want to do... it's reckless, and it'll provoke a response."

 

"All they have to do is give me Shaun. Why do they even want him? Why did they take him?"

 

"I don't know," she said. "But there must be a good reason. Can't you just trust them? And trust that he's safe?"

 

"I wish I could. I think if I really believed that, maybe I could even live with people apart from him. But everything I've seen of the Institute tells me they're a threat. That they're heartless killers, that Shaun's in danger every minute he's with them."

 

The tears were welling up in the corner of Cain's eyes again, and she asked, "do you think I'm heartless?"

 

"No," I said, "not you."

 

"Would you believe me when I told you that my friends and my family, they spend every waking moment trying to make the Commonwealth safe for people again? That they're just like you - they laugh, they make plans for the future, they fall in love?"

 

"I want to believe you," I said, "but I think I need to meet them in person, see what they're really like, before I can accept that they aren't a threat to us. And if you could be a bridge, facilitate that contact, maybe that--?"

 

Cain leaned closer to me. "I can't, Charley. I'm sorry, but I can't. Can you forgive me?" She was very close now, and I could feel her breath on my lips.

 

"It's not something I have to forgive," I explained, "I understand your dilemma. But... if you're going to try and walk that line, how do you foresee your role here? Don't you have an obligation to warn the Institute about my intentions?"

 

"My role? I want to be Evan's research partner. I want to learn everything there is about the ASAMs. I want to be a mentor to the wasteland doctors you attract here, but who don't have as much formal medical education. I want to make Concord safer and healthier. And... I want to be your doctor. I want to understand your unique body, and help you stay healthy. So I want to be your doctor and, if you'll let me, I'd like to be your friend... and your lover?"

 

Her lips parted a little, quivered in anticipating, and I took the invitation to kiss her. Her lips tasted savory and a little salty, perhaps the traces of her lunch, and I leaned in further, drawing out the kiss.

 

 

When we separated I said, "I'd like all those things, but--"

 

"But I have to give up my old life? Leave it behind?" She finished my sentence, incorrectly reading my intent.

 

"No, not that. But you have to promise me you won't have any contact with them until I've settled things with them. Until I have Shaun back. Have you communicated with them since you came here?"

 

"No," she said. 

 

"Then just keep it that way. I won't ask you to snitch on them, and I won't tell anyone else about your connection. And in exchange, you don't talk to them - not even an 'I'm OK' message. You just disappear, until this is all over."

 

"That's..." she said, uncertain, "I think I can do that."

 

"Will you be safe? Will they punish you for not telling?"

 

She broke contact with my eyes, offering, "I can't answer that question."

 

"Damn. Susan, if I'm putting you in danger, maybe it's--"

 

"Don't finish that sentence. I've been in danger ever since I got here." After he weepiness earlier, I sensed a newfound steel in her words, "not just in working with you, but even before then, when I ran into those raiders. You saved me then, and I owe you. Don't you dare send me away because you don't think I'm safe here."

 

"OK," I said, "pretend I never said anything."

 

"Wait, that's it?" she asked.

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"You'll just take my promise, and I can stay? I don't have to do anything to prove I'll be loyal? Don't have to give you any collateral?"

 

"Susan, you've already proven your dedication to this community. I know how you've been screening would-be medics and making sure we only get qualified ones. I know how incredibly helpful you've been to Jake - and if we're being honest, I don't think we'd be nearly as far along with hacking the ASAMs if it was just him on the job. I know I heard genuine concern in your voice when we talked about the danger of the mystery implant. So yeah, your promise is enough."

 

"Fuck," Susan muttered, "I'd completely forgotten about the implant. We need to find it and get it out of you. I believe Kendall Hospital may still have a working imaging machine, or at least one that we can repair. Do you think we can get into Cambridge safely to visit?"

 

I laughed, "Jesus, Susan, when you switch tracks, you switch completely, don't you?"

 

She blushed and looked away. "I'm sorry, Charley. I'm just worried about you. I want to take care of you, be a good doctor."

 

"You said you wanted to be a lover, too," I pointed out, suggesting, "how about we continue this conversation in bed?"

 

Cain glanced towards my bed, looked back at me, looked away - seemingly embarrassed, then looked at me once more, determined, "can we play on the rails instead? I really want to show you the improvements I made."

 

"Alright," I told her. "But don't we need someone else to release the restraints when we're done?"

 

"Your robot seems to have medical programming. Can she help?"

 

"Hmm, you know? I bet she could. You wait right there."

 

I retrieved Curie, and briefly explained what we were about to get up to.

 

 

"Oh, my," she said, sounding like she was swooning a little, "you know using electricity like that can be unsafe, no? Are you certain you don't have a more... conventional way to gratify yourself?"

 

"Don't worry, Curie," I said, "I've done it before and I was fine."

 

"That is not a logical argument, Charley," she pointed out. "Just because you avoided injury from a risky activity does not mean you will continue to avoid injury in the future."

 

"That's why we want your help," Cain said from where she was standing next to the purple couch, "We need a qualified medical, well, medical robot in your case, to supervise us."

 

"Can you help us with this?" I asked, "I trust you and I know I can count on you."

 

Reluctantly, Curie agreed - on the condition that she would stop the session if there was any sign of danger.

 

I got on the rail first, and while Curie secured my wrists into the cuffs, Cain made some minor adjustments to the vibrator. 

 

"Hmm, this isn't going to work," she muttered.

 

"What's wrong?" I asked.

 

"I need to trim your pubic hair a little, it's getting in the way of the contacts. Just sit tight, I'll get a razor."

 

Of course, being already secured to the rail I had little choice but to obey. I waited there for a few minutes, the rail supporting my spine but keeping my arms in an uncomfortable tension position that felt just a little more intense than it had been before Cain made her adjustments.

 

 

When she returned, I told her, "hey, Susan, don't shave it all off."

 

"Don't worry," she said, I'm only going to clean up your vulva. I'll leave everything above intact."

 

Not waiting for my acknowledgement, I felt her starting to shave me with quick, efficient strokes of the razor. Before long, she stopped and said, "much better. Now, the big difference between the old configuration and the new one is the vibrator. Originally it had a textured rubber covering and it pushed against your body from the outside. The new configuration has a smooth, hard plastic covering and its designed for you to hold it inside your vagina. So scooch forward a little and get it inside you."

 

As I shifted, which put even more tension on my shoulders, I asked, "won't this make it harder to use with the suit?"

 

"I thought about that," she admitted, "but Winter told me not to worry. She explained that she wanted to standardize the suiting-up procedure and that going forward she expected me to instead use the method of injecting fresh urine into your bladder to ensure it's filled to capacity. I tried to point out the hygiene concerns, but she was very insistent - and as one of your wives, I deferred to her preferences."

 

"Hang on," I started, "what do you mean, 'one of my wi--' ahhhh!"

 

Susan flipped on the machine, cutting off my question with a powerful vibration and tingling electrical current that made my toes curl a little and made me reflexively arch my back - a motion that caused a burning pain in my shoulders.

 

 

"Jesus, Susan, did you increase the power?"

 

"Oh yes," she said, "I forgot to mention that. I've noticed how pain seems to heighten your sexual arousal, so the electrical shocks will get progressively stronger and the new arm position should cause you constant discomfort. I have some additional ideas to make the sensation even more intense, but we can work on that in the future. OK, Curie, my turn, can you help get me locked in?"

 

While I groaned and shuddered under the machine's abuse, Curie helped Cain get set up next to me. Just before Curie activated Cain's rail, she turned to me, saying, "my only regret with the restraints is that I can't hold your hand while we play. I think that would have been nice."

 

"Ahhhhhh!" I responded as a powerful electric sock hit me.

 

Soon we were both writhing on the rails, alternately screaming and moaning as the vibration, the electricity, and the stress position flooding us with an intense cocktail of endorphins that made each orgasm more intense than the last.

 

 

 

Still, Cain apparently wasn't so lost in the sensations that she didn't have her eyes on me. Panting, she said, "no, not like that. Slide your butt further back."

 

"Whaaaa?" I managed.

 

"Next time the shock hits, push your butt back. You want to rotate your hips so your clit is directly on the vibrator when it's shocking you. It'll be like -- Ahhhhhhhhhh!" her explanation was cut off by a loud scream as a shock hit her.

 

I did my best to follow her instructions, but it was hard. The stress position made it very painful to move like she described, and it took three more shocks before I got it right. But then... God, it was like my head exploded. I'd just come a little earlier - by then I'd lost count of the orgasms - and I was still a little numb, but even then that shock straight to my clit didn't just push me over the edge, it sent me flying over the horizon.

 

 

"Jesus... Susan...." I panted, "you're a genius..."

 

"Thanks... I did it all... for you. I... AHHHHHHHH!" she screamed as another shock hit her. Still, true to form she arched her back into it and ground down hard on the electrified vibrator.

 

We kept at it for... who knows how long? We weren't really concentrating on telling time before Curie finally pulled the plug. "That was most remarkable to observe," she said, "but of of your vital signs were moving in away from the safe range of possibilities. I absolutely insist that if you plan to use these... toys in the future, you do so only under competent medical supervision."

 

Cain, who seemed to be a little less of a lump of jello than me, agreed, and then by unspoken agreement we both piled into bed. By which I mean, Cain piled me into bed and then joined me, because I wasn't walking anywhere on my own at that point.

 

 

"We might have to get a third one of these," I mumbled. "Winter would love this, and I'd hate to leave you out." 

 

"I think that can be arranged for," she purred.

 

At that point, I'd shelved my plans for summoning the mayors. I'd deal with that in the morning. Cain's little play session had completely exhausted me, and in retrospect it was exactly what I needed. The campaign in the south had slowly loaded me up with stress and tension, and I was having trouble releasing it. But Cain and her infernal machine? It took my batteries all the way to zero. Sure, my shoulders still hurt in the morning, but I felt incredibly refreshed. I was glad I hadn't sent Susan away, though I hoped I wouldn't live to regret it.

 

 

Based on logs we recovered some time later, while the two of us were sleeping away the rest of the day, a conversation was taking place far to the east that would be highly influential on events to come.

 

"I received a very interesting report from Recon Squad Gladius," a raspy female voice said. 

 

The Prydwen was moored over Logan Airport at that point, and Arthur Maxson surveyed the sorry remains of what had once been one of the largest airports on the east coast. "Look at all this," he scoffed. "Just imagine the layers of complexity, the pure artistry of applied science, that brought this place into being. All wiped away in hours. And now, two centuries later, still just rotting. We were right to come here, Handmaiden. The Commonwealth needs us. Needs our... guidance. Our discipline."

 

"Well then," the woman continued, "you'll be pleased to hear that not everything has been left to rot. But you might not like the details so much. I know I didn't."

 

"If you insist on bringing me this minutiae," Maxson growled, "then don't dance around the point. What did Paladin Danse discover?"

 

"While the Institute has eluded him, it seems your man has found another technologically advanced group of survivors. They are currently rebuilding the city of Concord, and have set about taming the wasteland as far south as Lake Cochituate."

 

"And you see them as rivals? The proper channel would have been Lancer-Captain Kells. Then he would have briefed me, at the proper time, if he felt it was relevant."

 

 

"Rivals, perhaps. Though Danse seemed to feel they might be allies."

 

"We don't have allies," Maxson said, "auxiliaries, vassals, supporters, yes. But not allies. Allies implies that we would make compromises to sustain the relationship. And we do not compromise. We've seen the ruin that road leads to."

 

"Indeed. There's another dimension to this. A more personal one. The woman Paladin Danse interacted with claimed to be the Overseer of Vault 111." As she said it, the woman unconsciously brushed her hair away from her scarred and battered brow. The motion momentarily revealed the Vault 111 tattoo over her left eye.

 

 

"Well," said Maxson, "it seems your past hasn't waited long to catch up with you."

 

"No, no it didn't," said the woman, flexing the steel fingers of her prosthetic hands.