“Good. Leader Kaine will, bring family units to Entertainment Center. Exchange platinum, when units aboard.”

“Damn.” Arni looked at me. Fortunately I’d had the foresight to switch off the transmission before venting my frustration. “If they don’t like the contructs this could be my last gig.”

I looked over at the machines, they seemed pretty lifelike.

“Just programmed in the fertility mode,” Mindy walked over, strutting with pride. “These suckers, given the right materials, will reproduce babies which will accurately simulate child growth. All of them programmed to deactive at the average age of death, somewhere around 256 years.”

I felt my jaw drop. If that wasn’t realistic enough, then nothing would be.

“Mindy, I love you.”

“Not me, big boy,” she grimaced. “I bat for the other team.”

“Whichever team it is I love it,” I told her, then switched the communications back on.

“Vronel, I’m ready. Designate your boarding location.”

Suddenly I was surrounded by a bright light.