Wherewithat 6

Amy Orton was happy in her work. Painstaking clerical detail isn't everyone's thing, but Amy loved to absorb herself. She relished settling into her highly organised world of contract processing and monitoring. She gained satisfaction from the small but essential part she played in the functioning of the 5th Commune's transporter system and the lives of those who used it.

So absorbed was she that she didn't notice her supervisor walking, smiling, towards her until the very last moment.

"Oh, Barbara!" she clasped her hand to her mouth, bright blue eyes staring, "I'm so sorry. I forgot our meeting."

Barbara smiled benignly. "Are we overworking you, Amy? Are you ok to finish what you're doing? The room's still free."

Amy hurredly finished up and locked her terminal. "I'm really sorry."

Barbara gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and led the way across to an interview room. The pair poured coffee from the dispenser and sat facing each other in two comfortable chairs.

"How are you settling in with us, Amy?" Barbara leaned back in the chair, rested her hands in her lap and crossed her slender legs. The soft, coloured lighting helped provide a feeling of relaxation and conviviality. Amy felt comfortable and at home.

"I'm really enjoying it, Barbara, thanks. I love the work."

"And the environment? The people?" Barbara's pleasant gaze never left Amy's face.

"Oh, the people are lovely." Amy gushed. "So friendly and helpful. It sometimes feels like I've always been here."

"We do our best." smiled Barbara. "Is everything ok at home? With the move and settling in?" Barbara took her coffee from the small table beside the chair and sipped it.

Amy was a mirror image, reaching for her own cup, bringing it to her lips and politely sipping. She enjoyed the coffee. Sometimes the sterilizer killed the flavour, but this had a richness about it that she savoured.

"Paul is very settled in his job. It's shift-work, but it suits him well. The girls are all busy with their orientation finals - almost at the job application stage." She paused for thought. "Yes, I think we're all settling in nicely."

Barbara chuckled. "It can't be that blissful with three girls, surely? What's your secret?"

"Oh they have the odd squabble, but that's normal. You know what inheritors can be like in the early years. It takes time for a unit to form and, even then..."

The two women laughed. Barbara's gaze became slightly more intense and enquiring. "But you're generally happy? No worries? Nothing bothering you?"

"No." Amy recovered herself a little. "No worries at all." She placed her empty cup gently on the table. "I suppose I'm quite lucky."

Barbara smiled warmly. "Well I'm glad. If only everyone was as settled as you and Paul. If you're happy I don't think we need another interview for, say, three months. Unless you want to meet earlier."

"I'm fine, thank you." said Amy. Her expression was cheerful and open - absolutely nothing to hide - what-you-see-is-what-you-get.

"Great." Barbara stood up beaming - almost a bonding between the two. Amy looked at her empty cup.

"Don't worry - I'll tidy up." said Barbara and held the interview room door open.

Amy walked back to her cubicle, glowing, knowing that she had fallen on her feet with her new employer.

Twenty minutes later, the Administration Centre RMT received a short PIT status update, graded "Normal". It simply read:

Serial: C5G40043829;
Alias: Amy Orton;
Previous Alias: Heti Flaardvoorst;
Status: Reintroduced.