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connectors but any power supply conversion you need. Also, if we have to scrape it off Nelly, the color marker will help.”
    “Sounds okay,” Kris said, then the skeptical part of her brain kicked in. “Where’d you get the money for the gel?”
    “I won a small lottery pot,” Tru said without looking up from arranging various tools and stasis boxes on her worktable.
    “Won or rigged?”
    “Now didn’t your dad say the last time he reauthorized the lottery that some of the money should go for research?”
    “Yes,” Kris agreed slowly, wondering if Father had this in mind and not at all sure he didn’t. What had Harvey said when Kris first began to question her aunt’s lottery “luck”? “A smart woman knows not to push it.” No question, Tru was smart. Kris loosened her collar to take Nelly from around her shoulders.
    “Keep your connection,” Tru said. “We’ll need rapid feedback from Nelly when we start this.” The wire between Nelly and the back of Kris’s neck was smart metal; it stretched out as Kris set her personal computer on the table. Kris knelt down to keep the distance short; the longer the wire, the narrower the bandwidth. The actual installation was over in a moment. The interfacing gel slid on easily. Tru told Kris how wide a bed the rock would need, and Nelly quickly arranged it. Then Tru set the small wafer in place.
    “There, now that didn’t hurt.” Her old auntie smiled.
    “Isn’t that what the condemned man said as the trapdoor snapped open?” Kris said dryly. “Nelly, run full diagnostics.”
    “Already running,” Nelly said. “Everything appears normal.”
    “And the chip?” Tru asked.
    “No activity,” Nelly replied in a low-tech voice. “Excuse me while I initiate interface with the new gel.”
    “Oh, right,” Tru said, biting one fingernail. Kris had never seen her aunt so excited.
    “I am developing a project plan that will involve triple checks of buffers at every phase of activation of the wafer,” Nelly said. “I do not expect to begin testing power sources before this time tomorrow.”
    “You can go faster than that,” Tru said, almost stomping her foot with impatience.
    “And who taught me to take new things slowly and carefully?” Kris shot back.
    “Yes, but you never paid me any mind before.”
    “Now I’m a mature woman,” Kris said, standing up to her full height. She didn’t exactly tower over Tru, but her three extra centimeters did come in handy once in a while. “And I have a ball tonight, command performance.”
    “You could skip it. Tell your mom you were detained.”
    “My Skipper is now tracking my social schedule.”
    “Your mother didn’t—”
    “No, but I suspect my Captain very much wants to avoid a call from Mother. And if it does come, he wants to be as innocent as possible.”
    “Coward,” Tru said, but she was ushering Kris from the lab.
    “Strange, those Navy types, lions in the face of laser fire, but threaten them with society, and they flee for the door.”
    “Like a young woman I know.” Tru chuckled. “Well, bring Nelly by tomorrow so I can check up on her. Sam and I may have some test ideas of our own. You’ll need to check in daily,” she said as Kris slipped out the door.

3
    The drive home was quiet. Kris’s efforts to involve Nelly in anything were met with “Is this activity essential?” in that low-tech voice that showed Nelly was otherwise busy.
    At Nuu House, Harvey excused himself to park the car. That was strange; he usually left it in the entrance’s wide circular drive. When Jack tried to go with him, Kris knew something was amiss. “Jack, stay with me. If something goes wrong with Nelly’s new installation, I might need a hand.”
    NOTHING WILL GO WRONG WITH ME, Nelly shot back.
    QUIET, Kris ordered silently.
    “I thought you trusted your Aunt Tru,” Jack muttered.
    “Never can be too safe.”
    “Now I know something is definitely wrong with you,” Jack growled through a smile