Frasier sat across the table from me. “Procurement isn’t really my department, Belessar.”

“I understand.”

“And we can’t have allegations of impropriety. That’s why all military procurements go through a separate branch, one that undergoes Congressional oversight.”

“I know.”

“And the process for getting it approved is cumbersome as hell.”

“I figured.”

“Let’s skip to a more relevant question. Why do you want to sell stuff to us? The real reason.”

“Well….” I shrugged. “I need money.”

“I thought our relationship was based on more than that.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. Basically, I need to get some stuff to upgrade my armour, and it’s …. expensive. So I need to raise the funds. Which means I have to sell stuff to someone - and who better than the people who can make best use of it?”

“You have a point. It’s just that we can’t sanction huge amounts of cash to pay for equipment purchases without Congressional oversight. What did you have in mind?”

“The fullersteel plate. The stuff I use for my suits, both the Greyhound and the Boar. How much would you need to protect a tank?”

“Depends. Tank armor is usually thickest up front. We could put a layer of fullersteel armor plates and improve its survivability, but the weight would be a factor.” Frasier steepled his chin. “However, that’s not the most interesting tech we can consider. You made plasma rifles recently?”

“The HEPARs.”

“Can you make some for us?”

“Sure. How many?”

“Can you do fifty, and the ammunition packs for them?”

“Sure, but will that be enough to make a difference? That’s hardly a platoon.”

“I don’t want them as man-portable weapons, Belessar. I want to mount them on the back of a jeep and have them follow the troops as a heavy weapon element. Something to one-shot an alien - or two-shot, in this case.”

“In that case… what if I built you mass driver cannons?”

“... Pardon?”

“The mass driver rifle I use. A single shot does about 1000 damage. With a Medium Power Pack, you could shoot 400 rounds.”

“That… does sound useful. If you can make a prototype, I can arrange something.”

“.... and that’s how they agreed to buy fifty Mass Driver Rifles,” I explained.

Paul nodded. “How much are you charging them?”

“Frasier offered twenty thousand dollars per rifle, and five hundred dollars per Medium Power Pack.”

“.... That much, huh? They must value them quite a lot.”

“I was surprised, actually. It seems General Xavier put in a word. Anyway, with this much in funding I can probably repay Agni for her loan….”

“How much do they actually cost you to make?”

I did some quick mental calculations. “Only a few hundred dollars for the materials… the real expense is the MP. Do you think I’m overcharging?”

“No, I think you’re charging for your time. Besides, if it helps you pay for the shields, it’ll be worth it. Now what’s the story on those?”

“I transferred Agni my share of the funds, as well as the money for the gamma-ray burst bombs, so I’m almost broke again.”

“Don’t worry, I still have enough saved up.” Although Paul’s tone was light-hearted, I could sense a twinge of strain in his voice.

“How’s the job hunt coming?”

“Slim pickings at the moment. Being on the outs with the Association puts a damper in any job openings. Still, something’ll turn up, so don’t worry.”

“I could get a job….”

“You’ve already done enough, Andrew. I think you should take time to do something for yourself.”

“I am doing things for myself.”

“I don’t mean prepare for London. How long has it been since you went out to have fun?”

“... fun?”

“You know, a party, a picnic, meeting people your own age. You can’t spend your entire life cooped up with the two of us.”

“Have you heard anything from the detective?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“What detective?” Anne asked.

“I hired a detective some time ago,” Paul explained, “to see if they could find Andrew’s family.”

Anne’s eyes went wide. “Dad… why?”

“Because Andrew deserves to know about his past, Anne.”

“Relax, Anne, I’m not going anywhere,” I reassured her. “We talked it over, and unless my memory returns suddenly, I doubt I’ll be able to recreate my feelings for my family … wherever they are.”

“Andrew’s real parents deserve to know where their son is, Anne,” Paul explained gently. “We talked it over beforehand. And even if his memory does come back, we’ll still be friends.”

“Assuming the detective finds something,” I sighed. “So far he’s been working for two weeks and has absolutely nothing to show for it. No missing persons reports, no biometric or fingerprint matches…. Nothing. It’s as if I dropped out of the sky.”

“Maybe you did, just from further afield,” pointed out Paul. “Given that you appeared on that roof with no warning, the best likelihood is that you were going through a Traveler portal and lost your memory somewhere along the way.”

“It does seem the most likely explanation. Of course, that means figuring out which Traveler creates portals which cause memory loss when you go through them….”

“Nobody registered, according to the detective. Although the fact that you know Hindi and a little Sanskrit does limit the field a bit.”

“How’s that?” asked Anne.

“It means Andrew’s birth family also have at least one Indian-origin ancestor. Like us.”

“Or I could have a degree in foreign languages.”

“In which case the detective would have found out by now. There is one more possibility, though I’m hesitant to discuss it with him.”

“Which is?”

“You might be from another country. Like the UK, Australia, or South Africa, anyplace with a strong English-speaking community and some Indian settlers.”

“... so I might be an illegal immigrant too, perfect.”

“Doesn’t matter, at least not until he comes back with clear findings for the United States. So far he’s just covered Florida. Getting back on point, when are you going to go out and meet some people your own age?”

“Well the whole illegal immigrant thing might put a damper on it.”

“Then go with Agni, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have a valid visa either.”

“She’s not my own age, Dad.”

“She took you out to dinner at an expensive restaurant. You should at least buy her a gift.”

Anne made a face. “You’re encouraging him to go out with her?”

“Yes, because both of you kids need a break. Anne, you should try to go meet some friends. Andrew… go with Agni, or with anyone else you like, but get out and have some fun. At least for one night.”

I gave Paul a dubious look. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Tomorrow’s Saturday, and you two shouldn’t be sitting around the house moping, or working. Take the break.”

Agni stared at me as if I’d grown a second head. “You want to take me out for drinks.”

“Yes.”

“To a pub.”

“Here in America we call it a bar.”

“”You’re only eighteen so we’re limited to beer.”

“Hanratty’s allows patrons to order age-appropriate drinks, so you can have what you want. Look, think of this as a thank-you for loaning me the money for the shields.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Seriously. In fact, I may have plans for tomorrow.”

“What plans? You just said you were thinking of binge-watching soap operas in your hotel room.”

The ultrahuman rolled her eyes. “Cute and dumb, that’s what you are. Fine. I’ll go with you.”

“Terrific. I’ll pick you up at five?”

“Eight. Don’t make me regret this.”