If we're going to try to optimize me, I'll need someone to take her place." "Her name is Andrea. I've already talked to her." "Why not you?" Mandi sighed and said, "Sorry. You're still several days away from being able to make love to me, Ed." Another chunk of steak later, Cade asked, "So this Andrea -- who's never even met me -- is willing to take over for Beth in my bed, huh?" "If she likes you. She's very fond of sex. If she doesn't like you enough, she'll simply supervise your normal conversion." "I'll need supervised? It won't just happen on its own?" Sighing again, Mandi said, "Yes, of course it would, but there are ways -- that don't involve sex -- to heighten the effect a bit." "What ways?" "Hard exercise and energy infusion can help." "Energy infusion?" "Direct transfer from one of us to you. That couldn't happen for another day or two, though. It would kill you." Filching his other slice of tomato, she said, "Andrea is taking a week off to help you through this. John says you have a three-bedroom house." "It would be if I threw out two rooms'-full of ceramic molds and computer gear." After a pause, Mandi said, "Oh." Cade chuckled. "Yeah. Oh. The place is a factory, too. But don't worry about it. If we don't get along well enough to sleep together, I'll take the couch for a week. Think she'd like to go to Disneyworld and some of the other tourist traps?" Smiling, Mandi canted her head and said, "I really don't know. I do know she shoots pool fairly well." Returning her smile, Cade said, "Well, that's a plus." He'd just put the last bit of steak in his mouth when Mandi said, "Slide your plates over here. John's coming." Shoving everything to her side of the table, Cade asked, "Why doesn't he know about this, Mandi?" Giving him a firm look, Mandi said, "He's not in the loop." "I've known him for ages. He'd be cool with it." "Okay, he probably would be, but you weren't supposed to happen for a while yet. Quiet. Here he comes." As John walked up to the table, Cade thought, 'Not supposed to happen for a while yet? What the hell?' "Hi, all," said John, taking a seat beside Mandi. "Good news. They found Kahlil this morning. The company is saying this op is finally over." More strangeness. John had referred to 'the company', which the NIA most definitely wasn't. Only the CIA was referred to as 'the company' by anyone who knew the difference, and John definitely knew the difference. Cade said nothing and gave John a slightly puzzled look as Mandi agreed that it was good news, indeed. John gave Cade the old-days hand sign that meant 'later' and talked to Mandi as the waiter brought the other steak dinners Cade had ordered and asked John if he'd like anything. John ordered coffee. 'Great,' thought Cade. 'Settle one problem and up pops a new one. Get