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and she knew it. So did everyone else.
    â€œIt’s going to take hours to get the knots out of my hair,” she said.
    â€œOne more word about your hair,” said Killaine, “and it’ll be taking you days to get the knots out of your titanium spine.”
    â€œJealous?” said Radiant.
    â€œWhy should I be?”
    A shrug. “Seemed as if all the men in the office were paying attention to me.”
    â€œAnd it’s no wonder, what with the show you put on of removing your cap and—”
    â€œCatfight, catfight!” shouted Itazura.
    â€œShut up!” said Killaine and Radiant simultaneously. A beat, then both looked at each other and laughed.
    Zac laughed a little himself. “Okay, okay, settle down. Everyone did a great job. Preston was very pleased.”
    Itazura snorted a laugh. “Liar. Nothing personal.”
    â€œWell, okay, maybe he wasn’t exactly pleased . . . but I sure am. One hundred and sixty thousand dollars tends to have that effect on me.”
    â€œThat,” said Itazura, “and knocking Preston down a peg or two. Oh, come on, Boss, admit it. Half the incentive to take that bet was knowing that you’d get to see him eat crow.”
    â€œAnything wrong with that?”
    â€œDid I say there was?”
    â€œNo,” replied Zac, “but I’m never sure with you. Besides—why shouldn’t I get a little enjoyment out of this? While I was busy building the five of you at WorldTech, Preston was becoming rich and respected by marketing programs that we’d kicked around together.”
    â€œLiar squared,” said Itazura. “Well, maybe not a liar, exactly, this time, but . . . aw, don’t look at me that way, Boss. The creep ripped off a bunch of your ideas, made a few minor modifications, slapped a different name to them, and marketed them as his own creations.”
    â€œHe is a very bright man.”
    â€œAnd Hitler painted roses. So what? One good trait doesn’t redeem a monster.”
    While Itazura and Zac continued their debate (the death match between Itzy and Killaine having reached an impasse), Radiant moved to the back, seating herself next to Psy–4 who, for a few moments, merely stared out into the night, oblivious of her presence.
    She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Psy–4? What’s wrong?”
    â€œThere was . . . there was something there and we didn’t have time to—”
    â€œâ€”look, if there was a delay, it was my fault. You know how I get sometimes. I’m vain, I admit it,” She reached up and began massaging the back of his neck. “Come on, talk to me. I don’t like seeing you this way.”
    â€œDo I really not smile that much?”
    â€œWell, no, to tell the truth, you don’t. But I’ve got a feeling this isn’t about your—what did you call them? Your ‘dreadful personality problems.’ This is much more than that. Tell me. Please?”
    Psy–4 looked at her, nodded his head, then placed one of his hands on top of hers. “You’re not half as big a pain as Killaine says you are.”
    â€œShe says that about me? Why, the nerve of some—I ought to—”
    Psy–4’s grip tightened. He pulled her closer. “We’ve got to get back in there.”
    â€œIn where?”
    Psy–4’s reply was a cold stare.
    â€œPTSI?” whispered Radiant. “Why?”
    Psy–4 looked at the others, then back at her. “Do you remember when we first entered the main building? On the ground floor?”
    â€˜â€œDown there . . . so dark and lonely.’ That part?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI remember you scared me. What happened?”
    Psy–4 took a deep breath, rubbed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, then sighed. “I heard someone crying when I telepathed with the