Fantasy The People Makers

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The Story of Sam J. Jones​

His name was Sam Jones. He was a Junior Data Collator (fourth class!) in the World Government Office of Censored Statistics in Omaha, Nebraska. He was handsome, strong, muscular, and had bright blonde hair (at least, until he arrived at the Station).

When he arrived he was bewildered to find the Earth destroyed, gone, five hundred years in the past, and thousands of light years that-a-way. He felt lost at first, until a kind woman named Susan Shinn took him under her wing. She seduced him, fucked him, and partnered with him, and then stopped speaking to him altogether after they got a combined score of only 580.

Sam felt fairly miserable about the whole pairing process after that. He tried to spend time with the other guys but didn't really like them either. He felt they were blowhards, fakes and phonies. One claimed to be a governor; another a billionaire, and yet another a famous Survey Service Captain, but to him they all seemed like frauds.

The only guy he kind of liked was Haggis O'Leary, which was odd since Haggis was perhaps the least friendly of the bunch. At least Ardis and Craig and Gavin would smile and pretend to be friendly with him. With Haggis there was no layer of friendliness but neither, he sensed, was there any phoniness. So he sat and talked with Haggis though whether Haggis was listening he wasn't always quite sure as he always seemed to be gazing at other people in the room.

And then Serra came.

At first Sam thought it was Sarah. Sarah, his beloved. Sarah, the love of his life... and the woman who barely knew he existed. They had both worked in the Office of Censored Statistics and for Sam it was love at first sight. But Sarah had been dating a tall black man named Obamaungabunga and thought of Sam as little more than an officemate or at most a casual friend. Sam had been secretly in love with her for six months when he got taken. Sarah was long dead now, 500 years gone, and yet still he pined for her.

And then... Sam saw her again, one morning in Bermuda!

From the back it looked exactly like Sarah. Of course, Sarah had been blonde and most everyone's hair here was white, but then he heard her girlish laugh and he knew it was her!

He ran over to her, raising eyebrows all over the lounge.

"Sarah!" he cried.

She turned around to face him. She had almost the same, thin girlish face as Sarah... but it wasn't Sarah.

"Excuse me?" she said.

Sam skidded to a halt.

"How did you know my name?" she said.

"Sarah?" he asked, sounding confused.

"Serra, S-e-r-r-a. Is that what you were trying to say?" she asked. She had an amused little smile on her face.

"No, I was saying Sarah."

"But my name is Serra," she said. "What is your name?"

"Sam," said Sam, feeling dazed. "Sam Jones."

"You look flustered. Why don't you sit down and join me for breakfast?"

"Sure."

Her name was Serra. The face was almost the same, the voice was almost the same, but clearly it was not his Sarah. Her eyes were blue, not hazel, her face was a bit longer, and her breasts were somewhat larger. She had just arrived two days ago. She had been immediately seduced by a kind man named Ardis McDuff, "A billionaire!", who had fucked her, partnered with her, and then stopped talking to her when they had only scored 590 together.

Since Serra was new and had only partnered once, she still had men chasing after her. A thought occurred to her. "You're not here to partner with me, are you?"

"No!" said Sam.

"Good," said Serra. "I need a break from that stuff."

Sam sat and listened to Serra talking about her life in Nova Scotia. She had been a Fishing Auditor for the World Government, instructing fishermen when to fish and when not to and what was permissible to fish for. She felt good preserving the environment, but obviously felt sad that despite the well intentioned efforts of herself and millions of World Government social engineers that the planet had still be destroyed by Galactic Temperature Change.

She talked about her parents, she talked about her sister Seska, she even talked about her boyfriend Hirogen. Sam just sat and breathed it all in. It didn't take very much imagination to think he was with Sarah again. It was like being in Heaven.

As she stretched her arms and yawned and said she was going to bed early, Sam impulsively asked if he could have breakfast with her tomorrow.

"Of course," she said with a smile. She extended a slender hand. "It was so nice to meet you, Sam!"

He felt chills shaking it.

Sam walked by Haggis's table at lunch. "You look happy," said Haggis.

"I am!" said Sam. "Can I tell you about it?"

Haggis gently tapped the table with his fingertips. "Why not?"

Sam sat down opposite him. "I met this girl, Serra."

"And she's going to partner with you?"

"No," said Sam. "But she does want to be my friend."

"How nice," said Haggis, playing with his electrofork.

"You don't understand. Serra looks and sounds almost exactly like Sarah."

"Excuse me?"

Sam explained Serra's resemblance to the woman he had had an intense crush on back on Earth. "She even has the same name! Almost."

"What are the odds of that?" Haggis asked with mock interest.

"I know!" said Sam, mistaking mock interest for the real thing. "And she likes me!"

"And so?" said Haggis.

"So... what?" Sam asked.

"What's next?"

Sam shrugged. "Maybe our friendship will grow into something more."

"Is that the strategy you used with the other Sarah, on Earth?"

"Well...."

"And would you say you have more time to try this strategy here, or less?"

"Probably less," said Sam. He sucked his lips inward. "I do really wish I had had the courage to tell Sarah my true feelings. But I'm afraid if I do the same with Serra that she'll reject me. Just having a friend in this place is really important to me, you know?"

"Especially a friend you're very much attracted to."

"Yeah." Sam gave a goofy smile. "Is there anyone you're attracted to, Haggis?"

Haggis cast a quick glance at Marla, who was chatting with Hamilton Jurgenson across the room. "No. Attraction is a weakness here. One which can be used against you."

After three days of having breakfast with Serra, Sam got up the courage to walk by her table at lunch. To his delight, she invited him to join him. Soon they were having breakfast and lunch together almost every day.

"What about dinner?" Haggis asked when Sam gave him his next update.

"What about it?" Sam asked.

"Why don't you ask her to dinner?"

"Oh... I don't know... I couldn't."

"Why not?"

"She might say no," said Sam.

"You'll never know unless you ask," said Haggis.

Before long Sam and Serra were having nearly all their meals together, and they were the talk of Bermuda and sometimes Algeria and Oregon. And yet... they never partnered together. As far as anyone knew, they never even has sex. They were just friends.

"Is that really possible?" Marla asked, sitting at Haggis's table.

"Is what possible?"

"Them," she nodded in the direction of the table Sam and Serra was at. Sam was saying something and Serra was laughing. "For men and women to be friends. Just friends."

"No," said Haggis quickly. Too quickly.

"That's what I thought," she said. Then she leaned forward and stared provocatively at him. "You know, you have your cycle and I have mine. It's time for me to select another partner."

"Good luck with that."

"I was thinking about Hamilton Jorgenson." She looked for any trace of emotion in his face.

"Yes, I saw you talking with him," said Haggis.

"Really?" She smiled at him. "Watching me?"

"Among many others," said Haggis.

"That's probably what you did back on Earth. You worked in surveillance. I can see you watching women on a hundred different holoscreens, watching, recording, listening."

"It sounds like a very voyeuristic profession," said Haggis.

"But that's all you, Haggis. All you do is watch. You dutifully select a partner once a month, one you have absolutely no feelings for, but the rest of the time you simply watch, simply wait. What are you waiting for?"

"Maybe the next bus back to Earth," said Haggis. He paused. "That idea you had about Hamilton Jorgenson."

"What about it?"

"I'm not sure he'd be the best match for you. His scores have been in the low 500's."

She leaned forward again. "Do you have a better suggestion?"

"Yes. Giscard."

"Giscard?"

"Giscard Reventlov. The engineer."

"Oh." Marla looked a bit deflated. "Why?"

"He has higher overall scores. And his analytical ability would be a good match for your good personality."

"You think I have a good personality?" said Marla.

"You're friendly and outgoing and you don't just talk but you also listen. Your empathy and understanding quotient is quite high."

"Why Haggis.... If I didn't know better, I'd say you like me. Just a little."

"Maybe, just a little," said Haggis.

"But not enough to stop me from sleeping with Giscard Reventlov?"

"No, not as much as that."

She gave him a bittersweet smile. "All right, Haggis the inscrutable." She got up to leave.

"I'm not so inscrutable, Marla."

"Oh?"

"You're listening to the music, but you're not hearing the song," said Haggis, staring up at her with clear blue eyes.

At lunch the following day Serra had a big grin on her face. "I have great news."

"You do?" said Sam, sitting down next to her.

"Yes!" She put a hand over his, making his heart jump. "Gavin Ansom wants to partner with me!"

"What?" said Sam.

"He's such a nice guy, Sam! And he's the former WG Controller for California, did you know that?"

"No."

"Imagine that, a powerful WG Controller interested in partnering with little old me!" She looked so happy!

"That's... nice," said Sam.

"Oh, don't fret, Sam," said Serra. "You'll find a girl to partner with, I'm sure of it."

"Maybe... maybe you can suggest someone to me, tonight at dinner," said Sam.

Her face fell. "Oh, I'm sorry, Sam. I'm having dinner with Gavin."

"Dinner?"

"Yes! We're having dinner and consummating tonight."

Consummating. "Isn't that a bit quick?"

"Well, the Genetic Council is meeting tomorrow afternoon and that barely gives us time to meet first with Bessie. Normally she doesn't schedule pre-approval meetings on such short notice, but Gavin has influence with her. He could be the one, Sam! Isn't that great? Imagine if Gavin and I were the parents of the next human race!"

"I... I'm very happy for you, Serra." He took a deep breath and tried not to cry.

"What did you expect?" said Haggis.

"I...."

"You expected the same thing you wanted with Sarah, the original Sarah," said Haggis. "But she only thinks of you as a friend, right?"

"Right," said Sam. "But I still held out hope...."

"Having attachments in this place is not a strength, Sam. It's a weakness."

"It's a weakness I wanted very much."

"I know that. But this woman... she's not even the woman you're thinking about. And that woman, the original woman... you never even had a relationship with her," said Haggis. "You fell in love with the idea of a woman, not an actual woman you were involved with. You remind me of a character I once created who fantasized about a certain woman being his perfect woman, ignoring what she really was like in real life."

"A character you once created?"

"Sorry," said Haggis, twitching his fingers. "A poor choice of words. My point is that there is nothing unique about Serra, except in your mind she vaguely resembles another perfect girlfriend archetype from your past life on Earth." He paused. "But none of what I said changes the way you feel, does it?"

"No."

"I didn't think so." Haggis paused. "Do you still want to be her friend? You don't have to watch, you know."

Sam looked over at Serra having dinner with Gavin. Every time she smiled, every time she laughed it was like sticking a dagger in his heart. "I know. But it hurts more not to."

The next morning Serra actually stood up and hugged Sam as he approached her table. "Oh, Sam, it's so good to see you!"

"It is?" said Sam.

"I feel so refreshed and invigorated!" said Serra. She smiled slyly at him. "Gavin and I spent the whole night together. It was so nice to fall asleep in a man's arm's again!"

"I'm... I'm glad for you, Serra," said Sam.

She bit into some atomic toast. "Busy day ahead. We meet with the First One in the morning, and then the Genetic Council in the afternoon. By dinner time I could be the mother of an entirely new human race!"

"I'm... happy for you," Sam repeated, struggling for the right words.

"He looks like he's drowning," said Marla, sitting three tables away.

"Drowning in a pool of affection of his own making," said Haggis.

"How poetic," said Marla. "Have you ever considered writing?"

"Poetry?" Haggis shook his head. "I've never had an aptitude for it."

"You use words in such a precise way, like a...."

"Like a what?"

"Like a scalpel," said Marla.

"Maybe I was a surgeon back on Earth," said Haggis.

"Maybe," she smiled at him. "I took your advice, by the way."

"Which advice would that be?"

"Giscard Reventlov. We're going to seal the deal tonight. Does that please you?"

"More than you'll ever know," said Haggis, eating his space eggs casually.

She leaned forward. "Haggis O'Leary, I know you like me."

"Do you?"

"Yes," said Marla. "Do you really have absolutely no feelings for me beyond that?"

He gave her a long look. "I'm sorry."

"So am I," she said, standing up abruptly.

Serra scored a 620 with Gavin. She was told it was a good score, an above average score, but not close enough to passing to make retrying worth while.

"I'm sorry it didn't work out," said Sam, as they shared dinner.

"I am too," she said, noticeably looking around at the diners in Bermuda.

She's looking for who to pair with next. She's looking at everyone but me.

Neither Serra nor Sam saw Frog watching them from the edge of the holographic scenery.

By sheer coincidence, Marla also scored a 620, partnering with Giscard Reventlov.

"You see? An above average score. I told you," said Haggis.

"Thanks for the advice," said Marla dryly. She nodded towards the table where Serra and Sam were. "How's your boy doing?"

"Hope springs eternal," said Haggis.

"And hope is crushed eternally," said Marla.

"Exactly," said Haggis, rewarding her with a rare smile.

Two days later, Serra had dinner with Roland Miller.

"She says he's a writer. Serra says she likes creative types," said Sam.

"Who doesn't?" Haggis asked.

"How... how can I be...."

"How can you be what, Sam?"

"Like him." He nodded at Roland.

"A famous writer?" Haggis asked.

"Or... just good at something. Anything."

Haggis raised a fork to his mouth. "Have you ever tried being good at being yourself?"

Sam gave him a puzzled look.

The next morning Serra told Sam all about it. "Roland was nice. He's a warm, witty guy. But... I don't think he's right to partner with."

"Why not?" Sam asked.

"I... I just don't feel I have a connection with him, you know?" She looked at Sam. "When I talk to someone, I have to feel something. Do you know what I mean, Sam?"

"Yes, yes, I think I do."

"He's a very nice guy, but not the one for me," said Serra, looking around at the men at the other tables.

After they finished breakfast, Sam was heading to the exit when he saw Frog.

"Hello Sam."

"Hey Frog."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Frog asked.

"I... I don't know," said Sam.

"I notice you having breakfast with Serra," said Frog. "She's a very nice woman, isn't she?" His talk crystal glowed with every word.

"Yes, she is," said Sam.

"I'll bet she likes men who can dance. Can you dance, Sam?"

"I... yeah, I can dance," said Sam. "What of it?"

"Just be sure to be on time for dinner. Have Sarah meet you in Bermuda. If you're ready, you'll have an opportunity."

It was a new age jazz band. There was a baked potato playing the saxophone, a bowl of gelatin playing an electric piano, and a glass of Biter Juice playing an atomic guitar.

When Sam showed up he saw Frog looking at him, and nodding slightly.

"It's music! I've never heard a live band here before," said Serra.

Sam looked at the baked potato playing the sax. "I'm not quite sure it's alive."

She laughed, and hooked her arm into his. "Care to dance?"

"Why not?" said Sam.

Sam was not an incredible dancer, but he was serviceable enough; his sister Milly had seen to that. "Sam, the way to a woman's heart is through her feet." He had puzzled over that until she had taught him to dance. When she was done she pronounced him "not terrible." But he had never had the chance to try out his skill... until now.

Serra seemed pleased by his relative skill level, smiling and winking at him as they danced. It's working, he thought.

"Oh Sam I'm having so much fun!" she said.

"I am too!" he said. And then his heart leapt and he grew courage he didn't know he had. "Serra, there's something I want to tell you."

"What is it?" she asked.

"For a long time now, ever since we met-"

"Excuse me, may I cut in?"

Sam turned and saw a man half a head taller than him with a big chest and broad shoulders.

"The name is Taylor, Michael Taylor. May I?" he asked.

Sam gave a dissatisfied nod.

And then all of a sudden Serra was dancing with someone else.

"A Captain in the Survey Service?"

"Um hm," said Taylor. "You heard about the little problem the Earth had with the Black Box?"

"The Black Box which almost destroyed the planet? Sure! It was said that the Survey Service sent someone into the Black Box to shut it off." She frowned. "Was that you?"

"Um hm."

"You... you were the one who saved the entire planet?"

"Well... I had some help," said Taylor modestly.

"WOW!" said Serra. "I... I never thought I'd meet the savior of the planet Earth! What do I call you, Captain, or-"

"Michael," he flashed her a smile. "Just Michael."

Sam watched the two of them dance and talk and laugh all evening. He tried to summon the courage to cut in again but he couldn't. He would be devastated if Serra refused him, which he strongly suspected she would.

He sensed Haggis coming to his side.

"How? How did this happen?"

"It's always been the survival of the fittest, even on Earth," said Haggis. "But here, even more so. Those who pass down their genes are always the boldest and the strongest."

"Neither of which is me," said Sam.

"That's why I told you it's best not to have any attachments," said Haggis.

Behind them, Frog watched in silence.

And so Sam watched as Serra partnered with Survey Service Captain Michael Taylor.

"He's so handsome! He's so dashing!" Serra said at breakfast.

"Yes, he is," said Sam

She frowned. "Is something wrong, Sam?"

"No," said Sam.

"There is something wrong. And I think I know what it is," said Serra.

"You do?"

"Yes," she said. "You haven't partnered with anyone in a while, have you?"

"No, no I haven't," said Sam, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.

"Well, I have the perfect woman for you. Her name is Shelly Rendler, and she's a little older but very kind and understanding-"

Sam watched as Michael Taylor wined and dined Serra that evening. He knew what was coming. They all did. As they walked hand and hand out of the Oregon Lounge, it didn't take much imagination to figure out what would happen next. Taylor would take Serra to his quarters. He would kiss and hug her and Serra would laugh and hug and kiss him back. Then he would take off their clothes and he would slowly and carefully make love to her, rubbing his big, broad chest against her perky breasts. Then he would insert his big, hairy Survey Service penis in Serra's vagina.

The thought of the gallant space captain making love to his woman was driving him mad.

630. That was the score that Serra got with Michael Taylor. Like Haggis, Taylor was very selective with who he paired with and he seemed to get steady scores in the mid-600 range, just a few dozen points below Haggis's average.

"We fell short," Serra said ruefully over a slice of bread and butter as she told all to Sam. "But Sam, what an incredible man he was! And now I can truthfully say I've been with the most famous man in the galaxy!"

"I'm happy for you," said Sam, getting up abruptly.

"Sam, what's wrong? You've barely touched your food."

"Not hungry." he left abruptly.

That afternoon Serra felt unusually sleepy. She took a nap in her quarters. As she did, a ball of light entered her head.

That night at dinner she found Sam, who was eating alone and pulled him up from his chair. "Kiss me, Sam."

"What?"

"Kiss me!" she cried.

The two locked lips. It was better than Sam could ever have imagined it. Serra's lips were warm and soft. He felt a tingle wash over his body.

When she pulled back he was in a daze. "What... how...."

"I just realized it, Sam. It came to me in a dream," said Serra.

"What came to you in a dream?" Sam said.

"It's you, Sam. It's been you all along," said Serra.

"It has?"

"I was so busy looking for the love of my life that I forgot the most important thing."

"And what, what is that?" Sam asked, still flustered by the kiss.

"That it's important to be friends first. Your lover must be your best friend. And what have you been, poor suffering Sam, as I paraded and fucked man after man in front of you? You've been the best supportive friend. Never a harsh word even as I knew, we both knew, what you really wanted."

"You knew all along?"

"Of course, silly," she said, playfully hitting his arm. "I just didn't feel the same way you did."

"But now...."

"Now I do! Kiss me, Sam, kiss me hard, because I want to partner with you and make love to you... but not necessarily in that order!"

Sam kissed her again and held her tight. He felt her breasts pressing against his chest through their flimsy jumpsuits and felt himself getting a rapid erection. He knew all eyes were on him and he reddened but he also didn't care. He really didn't care. And then when he pulled back he proudly put an arm around Serra and walked her out of the Lounge, even with a giant erection sticking out of his jumpsuit.

First Susan Shinn started to clap and cheer, and then Marion Kelly joined in, and then some of the guys as well. By the time they reached the exit the crowd was roaring.

"It was wonderful," said Sam, the following morning. "It was amazing."

"Was it?" said Haggis.

"Yes," said Sam. "Serra was incredible! We did it several times."

"Repetition is standard procedure to prove validity for the scientific method."

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm very happy for you, Sam," said Haggis.

"She was just like Sarah, the other Sarah I knew on Earth," said Sam. "I felt like I was making love to the real Sarah."

"Sam, there is no real Sarah. There is only Serra, the woman you are currently with. You are still in love with the idea of a woman."

"No, she's just like my Sarah would have been, I'm sure of it," said Sam. "When I'm with her, it's just like being with the real Sarah."

Haggis sighed and looked away.

"We're going to meet with Bessie later this morning and Graylor this afternoon, if she gives her blessing."

"Pray that her blessing doesn't cost too much," said Haggis.

"What?"

"What I mean to say is good luck," said Haggis.

"Thanks," said Sam. "You're a good friend, Haggis."

"Am I?" said Haggis.

Marla, who had been hovering in the background, chose that moment to step forward once Sam had gone. "Love is a strange thing, isn't it?"

"I wouldn't know," said Haggis.

"Of course you wouldn't," said Marla. "What do you think will happen?"

Haggis shrugged. "He'll get a middling above average score."

"Do you think they'll stay together afterwards?"

"I'm not a good judge of character, how would I know?" said Haggis.

Serra was getting ready for lunch when there was a buzz at her door. "Coming, Sam!"

But it wasn't Sam. It was Hamburger.

"Hello," she said.

"Hey, Serra!" said Hamburger. "How are you?"

"Fine. How are you?" she said cautiously. She had never heard of Hamburger or Hot Dog seeking people out like this.

"Doing well. Thank you for asking!" said Hamburger. "I wonder if you had time to talk."

"I'd love to, but I have a very busy day ahead of me," said Serra. "Sam and I have to meet with Bessie, then a quick lunch, then the Genetic Council-"

"That's what I wanted to talk about."

"She was just like Sarah, the other Sarah I knew on Earth," said Sam. "I felt like I was making love to the real Sarah."

Serra's jaw dropped open as she watched the holoimage of Sam talk about her.

"Sam, there is no real Sarah. There is only Serra, the woman you are currently with. You are still in love with the idea of a woman."

"No, she's just like my Sarah would have been, I'm sure of it," said Sam. "When I'm with her, it's just like being with the real Sarah."

The real Sarah. Serra struggled to choke back her tears.

"I'm sure she'll be here. She's always on time," said Sam, trying not to look nervous.

Bessie smiled politely. Hot Dog hopped back and forth on his big white tennis shoes. Even Frog shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

And then Serra tore through the door to the First One's tiny office.

"Bastard!" She yelled.

"Serra-"

SLAP!

"What was that for?" said Sam, rubbing his now red cheek.

"The real Sarah? You were thinking about the real Sarah?"

"What?"

"I heard you! I saw it all!" her eyes were full of tears.

"Serra!"

"And to think I slept with you! I slept with you while you were just using me, using my body to think of another woman!"

"Take it easy, Serra," said Hot Dog.

"No need to get excited, Serra," said Hamburger, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"You take it easy!" said Serra. "I'm done with you!"

"Serra, what are you saying? You don't want to partner with me?"

"Partner with you?" she cried. "I never even want to see you again! AAARRRGGHHH!" she cried, waving her hands in the air as she rushed out.

"She looked upset," said Hot Dog.

"Very upset," said Hamburger.

"I wouldn't take it personally Sam," said Hot Dog.

"No, not at all," Hamburger advised.

Sam was in a state of shock. For a long moment he couldn't even move or talk. When he could focus again, he realized he was looking up at the face of Bessie, who stared at him with faint concern.

Hot Dog and Hamburger pulled and pushed the motorized stretcher across Oregon the following morning. But the sight of the body on it was an unusual one that made more than one person gag.

It was not the powderized body of Sam Jones. Rather, it was the body of Sam Jones which had been torn into pieces, arms, legs, torso, head, and the pieces hadn't always been cut neatly. The stretcher was soaked with blood.

Marla took one look and gagged. Suddenly she somehow found herself in Haggis's arms. Haggis pet her hair in an attempt to comfort her.

"What happened?" She asked, through eyes thick with tears.

"You know the Entertainment Sphere, the room with the colorful gravity waves?" Haggis said.

"Yes."

"He stepped off the catwalk."

"Why?" said F.

"You had to ask?" said X. "You broke the rules. You intervened."

"I simply did what I thought was best to produce what might have been an incredible match," said F. "Now we will never know. Who authorized this?"

"I did," said J.

"Why?"

"You tainted the Experiment," said J. "Part of the matching involves whether the pair are emotionally compatible."

"They were emotionally compatible. You all saw that," said F.

"What we didn't see was whether the male had the skillset to seduce and bed females, a vital skill that males need to carry down to succeeding generations. If he could not do it on his own, his lack of ability would likely have transmitted to succeeding generations and ruined the Experiment," said J. "Once you tainted the Experiment, permission was given to abort it."

"It was a cruel thing you did," said F.

"Cruelty. This should not be a word in your lexicon. Many of us have felt that you have dwelt in that body for too long, that you are too heavily influenced. That species has long served us well but in situations like this the danger of absorbing their empathy can be your undoing. We can secure a new host for you, one from a race which does not have this weakness. Will you be willing to switch bodies?"

There was a long pause. Then F said, "My host has served me loyally for uncounted decades. Despite what you believe she has not influenced me unduly. You yourself has said that this Experiment is almost at an end and I would prefer to end it in the same host."

"Very well. But you will be observed more closely. Any further deviations from the Plan will be brought before the Committee, and penalties may be assessed."

Haggis was alone, staring out an enormous viewport when he heard familiar steps. Then an arm intertwined with his, and a head leaned on his shoulder.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because," said Haggis.

Marla looked at him. "Who are you? Who are you really?"

And in that moment, Haggis O'Leary told her.

Her eyebrows shot up. "Why did you just tell me that?"

Haggis didn't answer for a long moment. Then he said, "A moment of weakness."

"That was the most intimate thing you could have done," said Marla. "And you did it with me." She looked into his eyes, and confirmed what she already knew, and she kissed him.

Haggis held her tightly and kissed her back. The floodgate was broken after that, and they kissed, long and passionately. When he paused for a moment he said, "Marla... I really like you... but I can't afford to have a weakness. Not here."

"You can't afford not to, Haggis," she said, playing with her fingertips on his arm.

"How do you mean?"

"You forgot one thing, Haggis," said Marla. "In all your efforts to survive, to make yourself invulnerable as possible to our enemies, you forgot one thing."

"And what's that?"

"To live," she said, and she kissed him again. It felt good for both of them. When she pulled back she said, "Who knows how long we have here? Who knows when either of us will wake up as white powder? If the lesson of Sam Jones teaches us anything, it teaches us to live life while we can."

Haggis considered for a moment, then he nodded vigorously. He wrapped an arm around her waist, and walked her to the door.​