"Drink up, Ely! You're too strait-laced by half, my friend!" You reluctantly hold out your glass as a grinning Amir refills it with strong whiskey. You throw back the shot, feeling it burn as it goes down your throat, then slam the glass back down on the table.

"More! More!" he laughs, refilling it. "To think, that prohibitionism ever once held sway here, in the land of the free and the home of the brave! What rot! (hic!) But I digress. So what's the story with you and the android, eh? Don't tell me you've gone and fallen for an infernal machine!"

"Not a chance." You wonder what prompted his statement. "The government stopped buying my excuses, is all. She was assigned to me last month."

Amir snorts derisively. "Believe me, I ran interference as long as I could. But the writing was on the wall. You've got the government's attention now. The question is, what are you going to do about it? I hope you realize just how serious this is."

"I'm aware. That's why I'm out here drinking with you."

"Ha ha... Seriously, brother, what are your plans? You've built... what, like a dozen mansions around the capital? What's the end game? You can't possibly believe you'll turn the tide."

"Singlehandedly, no. But beauty may yet save the world.

"Beauty?"

"Yes. As for what I'm planning... nothing. My only concern at present beside my work is getting along with my wife."

Amir looks at you shrewdly. "You're talking about a one-woman army against the might of the government."

"Something like that." You respond coolly, but inside you're thrown off once more by Amir's intuition, his instinctive grasp of the workings of other men's minds. It's precisely that perceptiveness that has allowed him to climb as high as he has… along with his considerable fortune and connections, of course. The three form quite a potent cocktail.

Holding his half-empty whiskey glass by the fingertips, Amir meditatively taps it with his forefinger. "I dunno, brother. I think you overestimate how much good she can do."

"She's already done more than I could've imagined," you reply, wondering just how deeply he's penetrated into your thought process. Amir gives you a sideways glance. "What's your intention, exactly? Go public with your bot and try to stoke public outrage? Have her deliver an impassioned plea and condemn current policy? I mean... You're not seriously going to try to save the world yourself, are you? That's just ridiculous, even by my standards."

"I'm serious," you say, feeling a pinprick of annoyance.

Amir bursts into laughter. "Oh, brother! What exactly do you think you can do?"

"I've already done it. 'Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?'"

"Biblical, but inapplicable. No offense, brother."

You laugh softly. "We'll see, won't we."

Amir raises his glass. "I look forward to what you have in store. To your android friend." You both clink and drain your glasses.

Amir wipes his mouth with his sleeve. The sleeve of a very expensive designer suit, you note. "Well, brother," he says. "I best be going. I have important business to attend to."

Your interest is piqued. "At this hour?"

Amir leans in and thumps you good-naturedly on the shoulder. "Good heavens man, do try to keep up with current events! It's election season, and all Washington's finest are assembled in my living room. I can't call it a night before fulfilling my hob-nobbing quota. What is it you think I do all day? I'm not actually involved in the running of this city. If it wasn't for my name recognition, I'd be out of a job. This is the mayor's job. I'm more of a celebrity, really. People love me. They like to see me sweat. That's why I always carry a handkerchief with me; it makes you look industrious to dab your brow when the cameras are rolling. A little tip for you, for when you enter the game."

"I don't think I'm cut out for politics," you say mildly.

"Nonsense! It's a game. And a ripping good one at that." His eyes twinkle with mirth.

"It's a poor game that sets up the virtuous for failure," you observe.

"Ho, here's one who fancies himself a philosopher!" he replies, raising an eyebrow. "Well, then, perhaps you're better off not playing after all." Then Amir grins. "Wait, what will that say about me if I win?"

"That the lesser of two evils was confused for the greater."

Amir laughs heartily at this, and claps you on the back. "Oh, that’s a good one!… well then! Just like I thought. You're a man of deep thoughts, deep words, and even deeper convictions. But enough of this! I should be going. Best of luck to you, Mr. Architect. I look forward to seeing your plans when they're done. And if you need any help, just holler. I'll be there."

He walks to the door.

"Amir..." you start to say.

He turns around.

"Yes?"

"You're in my prayers. Be omide khodâ."

He smiles. "Thanks, brother. And you in mine, whatever you decide to do. Ghorbunet beram azizam."

And so ends your time with a broken man.