"One more inane conversation about superficial geopolitics, Rachel, and I'm going to begin ejecting people from the party. Possibly through the roof." Alexandra's tone was cool and amused, but there was a spark of fire in her eyes that suggested she wasn't entirely in jest. "I don't know how you stand giving that same speech about the technology ( Read more... )

      Gerad spent the better part of the evening playing wallflower. That was nothing new, but his reasons for it tonight were. When the company signed him, he spent two years jockeying a monitor doing surveillance as a cell tech spook. Countless sleepless hours sitting in front of a screen absorbing the crumbs of other peoples' lives. He'd ( Read more... )

      "I feel fuckin' ridiculous, Sergio."
      A Greek sculpture cast in bronze flesh wearing a tux smiled a million dollars over his shoulder at his companion as he handed over a gold-leafed invitation to the Pomme d'Or crewman who had the unenviable task playing bouncer to a room full of living gods for the evening. "Gerad, my friend. You ( Read more... )

International Waters of the Coast of Africa, 20:00, 01/14/2007

Waves of fireworks exploded like a tapestry of flame and thunder, heavy smoke drifting on the warm night air above the Pomme d'Or as the cruise ship executed a right turn as smart and precise as any warship could have hoped for. The pit orchestra finished the Pini di Roma with a ( Read more... )