"I need a boomer," I said to Ohara."What?" He stared at me."I need a boomer," I repeated. "Don't worry, I'll disable itsweapons systems before I start working with it."Several moments passed while he digested this. "Do I even wantto know *why*?" he finally asked."No."He pursed his lips and looked at me over his glasses for a fewmore seconds. "All right," he said. "I'll have one sent to yourshop immediately."Immediately was right. Illya showed up at my door at almost thesame moment I did, accompanied by one of the maintenance guys,who was wheeling along a seriously large crate on a handtruck. Istood at the door to my shop and watched as they came to a halt acouple of feet away. "Ordered a boomer you did?" Illya askedwith a grin.When I saw the model number stenciled on the side of the plasteelbox, I gave him an incredulous Look. "You keep combat boomers*on-site*?"He shrugged in a manner that seemed far too Gallic for hisRussian blood. "One or two we have left over from, um, earlierphase of studies.""Yeah, right." I studied the box for a moment, then opened thedoor and stood aside. "All right, bring it in and put it next tothe nanofac."
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.