"Wait, you're saying the application has access to the hardware's system-level commands?" Yasmin asked with a frown."Only for the actual transmission and receipt of data packets through the network interfaces. The app is responsible for managing the flow of data through these cards. If there are unaccounted data bits in the stream, that's something the application will identify and act upon," Henry indicated."That's not feasible! It would add way too much lag to the interfaces!" Laurence Franklin insisted.Henry grinned at the group. "Does this mean we've reached the demonstration portion of the presentation?"The three techs were all frowning but eager to see Henry's outrageous claims go up in smoke.Henry walked the group over to the test rig. "This is a blade server I purchased and configured for running the firewall application. The specs for this are in the data packages I've prepared for you. This configuration is optimized for the demands of the application. You can't scrimp
Camila changed her glamor into her workout clothes before walking out of her washroom. She saw Henry had tidied himself up and was snoring softly. She paused to watch him for a moment and felt that odd tugging in her heart again. She gave her head a shake and went to her desk to call Sigrid."Hey, are you available now to join me in the gym?" she asked when Sigrid picked up."Now? Let me check," the Head of HR said as she checked her calendar. "Yeah, I can spare an hour. I'll meet you down there."Down there meant the basement where Roy's security personnel had a gym. Once they built the boardroom, they realized they had sufficient space for this additional purpose. The team and a few executives were given access to it. No Humans were allowed inside. They'd be able to push themselves beyond Human capabilities, and she had energy to burn! It felt like she was walking an inch above the floor.Camila gave Henry another fond look and added a trench coat over her skin tight workout clothes
Soft music was playing, and the artist was singing in a language that teased his brain.A small kitchen was tucked into the corner, and heavenly scents were floating out its door."Something smells wonderful!" Henry said with a wide smile."Thank you, Henry!" Siobhan said, preening as if he'd just complimented her. Henry glanced at her in surprise, then gave her a raised brow as she giggled."How went your big meeting today?" she asked over her shoulder as she went to the kitchen to chill the wine.Henry nodded to himself. "Camila said it was a success, so that's good enough for me.""That's wonderful! Give me a sec and make yourself comfortable."Henry sat on the sofa and took in the art around the room. Beautiful seashells, surf-polished glass, some rough but interesting stones, and photos of wild coastlines with rustic cottages on hillsides. And sheep. He spotted several small plush sheep dolls scattered throughout the apartment.Siobhan returned from the kitchen, and Henry turned
Henry snorted as he contemplated how often he was being used for stress relief these days.Siobhan pulled back slightly to look up at his face in false outrage. "What? Don't you think women enjoy casual flings, too!""Uh, you do know who you're talking to, right?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "The one thing I'm very aware of is the sex drive of my female friends." His expression suddenly froze with remorse. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry! That was an overshare."Siobhan burst into delighted laughter and clung to him. "Ah, Henry. You're so charming!"They swayed to the music, enjoying the feel of their bodies touching. Siobhan purred as she enjoyed squeezing his muscular body. She recalled being pressed up against Stanley's chest in an elevator with Marisa pressed up against his back. Stanley had been a much smaller man. She marveled at the difference between the two sizes of the same man.She tilted her face up to ask him about it when his lips found hers. Sparks shot from their kiss to
She froze as an expression flashed across her face.Siobhan suddenly pulled his face to hers, and her tongue was in his mouth in a frantic kiss. She moaned and shook as she flopped back down to the bed."What was that?!?" Henry exclaimed.Her eyelids were still closed as she leaned her face away from him, panting and licking her lips as if trying to capture the last drops of ice cream from her lips. He watched this odd behavior with increasing unease."Damn, Henry! You taste so good! Like nothing I've ever had before!" she gushed.He leaned back from her. "What have I done?" he muttered in dread."No, Henry! Please! It's good, I-I just need to recover from the initial shock, and I'll be able to get control of my senses once again." She went quiet, and a look of embarrassment crossed her face. "This may sound like a terrible request after what we just shared, but it might be easier for me to get control back if I was alone. You're just too strong a source of Wild Magic."Her face froze
Minkah waited until the coast was clear and no eyes were on her before switching back to her Human form. She stepped out of the shadows by the tree next to the bench and looked to the front door where her quarry had gone.He wasn't at all like she'd expected. Her impression of the smaller, timid man in the large body had been strengthened by their encounter. If he'd followed her to the alley, she would have tranquilized him and stuffed him away in the council's dungeon. She wouldn't have heard his confession. He was going to be a father, and he wasn't ready. He seemed to have endured some unresolved trauma involving a child. That had shaken his confidence badly.He'd shown her kindness and didn't try to pet her or pick her up. Instead, he'd held out his hand and let her set the pace. She'd tested his magic with a taste, and that made her fur stand on end. He'd just smiled at her, but at that moment, he could have done anything to her as her senses were overwhelmed by a new kind of mag
Camila leaned back in her chair with a small smile on her lips. She was watching the smug expression on his face. "You certainly have a surplus of self-confidence. It's too bad that's not all that's required. You have to be able to play well with others." She sighed because Carl's smile was being replaced with a look of annoyance. "This is what I'm talking about. When people tell you the truth, you'll need to be able to recognize it and appreciate it. We're all at risk at the moment with the strange events occurring all over the globe. Now, more than at any other time in history, we need to be treading lightly and cooperating with each other. Have you watched the news recently? Attention is being focused on things that should not be seen. And you want to start a turf war in one of Earth's most populous cities?" She threw him a disappointed look.He hit the tabletop with a big fist, and conversation died off around them.He kept his voice low, but there was a definite edge of suppresse
Henry arrived at work at almost thirty past the hour and saw Roy standing in the lobby. The big redhead gave him a raised eyebrow. Henry aimed a self-conscious smile his way, then paused before walking over to the man."Good morning, Henry. Is everything okay?""Good morning, Roy. I think I need to have a talk with you, Camila, and Sigrid," Henry responded."Can it wait until after our 9:30 executive meeting? I was sent upstairs to collect you," Roy said.Henry's expression dropped. "Shit! Sorry! It completely slipped my mind. Let's go."The two men took the elevator to the basement level and entered the boardroom just as Camila was about to begin."Take your seats, please."Henry hustled around the table and took his seat between Frank Caprelli, the Head of Operations, and Rosalind Wingham, the Head of Marketing. He said a silent sorry to both and got smiles in return.Roy paused to whisper something in Camila's ear, and she nodded. Then Roy froze before stiffly walking over to his s