Profession

Seasons change

Deri didn't have much to say, other than she was sick of being stuck out in the sticks with the parents. I had to go to Tabs to find out what had really happened. "I don't know all the details myself," she said over drinks. "But she's changed her feelings since you were blown up. It came to a head at a board meeting, when the director overseeing our media asked her how you were doing." I nodded; some of the directors were fond of me despite my refusal to work at the company, and I'd gotten flowers from this particular one in the hospital. "Daniel kind of butted in, said that you were fine, you'd recovered nicely, and did they want to start the meeting. The meanest look crossed her face and she said that why you were physically fine now, you were having some memory problems and that she was concerned and thanked him for his concern. The director heaved a sigh and everybody headed to the table. After the meeting, though, the director asked me to convey his best wishes to you--so there, I just did--and that it was unfortunate that there was less empathy for your situation than was warranted. And Daniel heard. Deri's PA called me later that afternoon to tell me that Deri and Daniel were going at it in her office behind closed doors and did I think she needed to do something about it. I said no, because Deri can handle almost anything, and after that, she was a changed woman."

So, wow.

Jon and I took the girls the day that Deri and Grant moved into the penthouse. John helped them get things situated, and we were able to take the girls to their new home just before bedtime. They were curious but more tired than anything, having been delighted by the dogs, and didn't have many questions about the penthouse. The dogs were also pooped. John had less to do with the penthouse, so he cleaned, supplied the meals, but spent more time out on the estate. There were improvements to make that had been deferred because the family was in residence, and it made updates to the cave easier as well. There were upgrades going in all over the estate. Alfred was directing it all, but John and Darius were doing the work.

Summer was almost over before Uncle Tony asked me to drop by the company. I was feeling a lot more cheerful these days; I was relearning book stuff and I had enough memories back or retold to me that I didn't worry about falling into a conversational pit anymore. I got a good hug, and he handed me coffee from the maker in his lab before he held up a clear crystal, maybe an inch in diameter, round like a dowel, and about three inches long. White streaked its length artfully, so I knew it had data. I looked at him politely as he nudged my hand with it.

"What is it?" I asked warily. With Uncle Tony, it's good to know what you're getting yourself into first.

"It's a key, Lys," he said impatiently, giving up and folding my fingers around it himself. "To  your new sub."

"My new what now?"

"Sub. Submarine. We've got a reliable model that uses supercavitation in propulsion, developed over more than a decade, sized for personal use. There's room for a crew of two, but you don't actually need it if you want your privacy, or to reduce risk. We've tested the design extensively; even dropped one into the Marianas Trench and brought it back, no substantial damage; the interior integrity was intact. So even if something weird happened and you were stranded inside, you'd be ok. There are air scrubbers to keep the oxygen going , and it's comfortable enough. There's room for four passengers, six if there's no crew, and it's nice inside. Not as nice as your yacht, but this is safer." He pinned me with a look. "There's a sea port off High Island. Ann and I bought the island a few years ago, we're having a new home constructed there. There are also docking facilities in the underwater research facilities we've constructed, and there's a bay for a small two-person boat with limited range, so you could take it through all the seas and deep rivers and you wouldn't have to worry about docking. At Themyscira, for example. And it's safer than a yacht; Emma consulted on the metals, and since it's underwater there are much fewer opportunities for damage. Faster than your yacht, too. Easier to go through bad weather, too. We've had one for years, continually upgrading, until we've got this model, which I feel good enough for all my kids to have."