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Chapter 25

Chapter 25

December 11th, 2157

With in two hours the group had worked out a basic idea of how they wanted the translation software to work.  Once the basics ideas were established the group invited Erlith and his group to brainstorm what they would want the software to be able to “look” for in movement and other non verbal communications.  An hour after that the two groups were ready to pitch the software to a software engineer.

Tim did manage to set up that meeting and in no time Logan and Nora were ushered into another part of the station.  Mike and Nora's escort were their guides as they made their way down several corridors and down a few flight of stairs.  There was a noticeable feeling of awkwardness between the two soldiers, who avoided eye contact with each other.  The only conversations that was made came quick and professional.

They continued on their journey and for a moment Logan had forgotten that they had been on a space station, until they reached their destination.  It was a large room filled with workstations and people moving around quickly.  The ceiling had a very large viewport, through which the other side of the stations ring could be seen, as well as the enormous planet that they were orbiting.

Mike had stepped up to one of the workers and said something.  The worker nodded his head and pointed to the end of the room and said something as he did.  Mike nodded his head and returned to where Logan Nora and the second soldier were standing.

"This way," was all that Mike said.

He turned and led the group to the area where the worker had pointed.  They were met by a man who was short and thick, mostly fat but with some undeniable muscle.  Tufts of untamed red hair stuck out from under a hat that was stained with years of sweat dirt and oil.

"Names the Ed," the man said shoving his large hand out for Nora and Logan to shake.  "I'm one of the two engineers that were assigned to assisting ya today."

Logan noted that Ed had a thick accent that he guessed was from Texas, probably the only person on the station with that particular cadence.  Logan could only guess because he hadn’t spent too much time studying the United States.  The US was no longer the economic empire that it had once been.

"I'm one of them old school engineers who actually built stuff." Ed said as he looked over his shoulder at another man who was walking up to the group.

The new arrival was the polar opposite of Ed.  He was average height, but skinny, with jet-black hair.  Where Ed exuded comfort and hospitality, this new man was edgy with the look of someone who was about to have a panic attack.  He stopped several steps away from the group and stared wide eyed.

Ed broke the brief silence, "well?  Are you going to introduce yerself?"

The man looked at Ed with a question on his face before looking back to the group.  "I am, uh, John."  His voice was quiet.

"Nice to meet you John," Logan said as he extended his hand out for a shake.

John looked at Logan's hand as if it were a strange animal and took half a step back.  Logan slowly dropped his hand and looked questioningly at Ed.

Ed shook his head, "not much for the social life, that one."  He refocused his attention on Logan and Nora.  "So you want us to build you some software and the like?"

"Yes," Logan said as he pulled a few pieces of neatly folded paper out of his breast pocket.

Logan and Nora walked Ed and the distant John through the wants of the software.  Ten minutes latter Ed took the pieces of paper from Logan and handed them to John.  John snatched the papers and scurried off to the seclusion of his workstation.