A company will become a workers entire world: they will live in company provided housing, eat at the cafeterias inside the companies, and all their friends are people working at the company as well. By doing this we create not only a working environment, but one that feels like home, and that is why we can push our employees harder, because they are afraid to lose their home.

-- New Hope shareholder meeting.

As we continue to wait for mom to pick us up, I gather rocks, chatting all the while about meaningless topics with my sisters, and try my best to make Pluto not look as destroyed as it is.

When Mom's car arrives - well, calling it a car is selling it a bit short, it’s really sleek and moves in space with a decent speed as well - we have cleaned up a decent part of Pluto.

The car parks in front of me, and I move to the passenger side and wait for a second as the door slides open. Getting into the car was a weird experience, like your body simultaneously expanded as it is deflating, making me feel slightly nauseous as I sit down in my seat. It might be because of the gravity coming back to my body.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Luna asks while looking outside.

“For the integrity of my pride, I would rather not?” I say as I strap in.

I hear a small giggle in the back of the car, and I turn around only to notice the demoness who helped me out earlier sitting on the backseat.

“Heyo, was not expecting you to show up so soon again. Thank you for the assist earlier.” I say.

The demon just nods. “No problem. You helped my sister. I thought it was only kind to return the favour.”

I don’t remember helping anyone recently, but that is fine. I guess for now, she is on our side, and honestly, that is good enough for me.

“So, what is your speciality, then?” I ask the girl.

The red-skinned teen just shakes her head. “I am not a Samurai. My mother is, she gave me these powers.”

“Right, that must be fun.” I try to correct myself.

“Not really. I’ve had them since birth which made for a very weird childhood.” she says, waving her arm in a dismissive gesture.

“I see. I guess that makes sense.” I say.

“Yeah, just don’t modify your kids unless you know what you are doing.” she says, while giving me a look.

“Noted. I will wait until they're eighteen before I mess with their DNA.” I say with a smile.

In the intervening awkward silence, Luna finally speaks up, “So, want a quick lesson in politics?”

She waits for exactly 2 seconds, before continuing: “Well, too bad! You’re getting it anyway. Zealot, of course, had a goal during all of this theatre, and it wasn’t rebuilding Zürich. What was that goal, and why didn’t she achieve it?”

Okay, so no, ‘I am glad you are okay’ and ‘you did good’ and just straight into quiz mode. “Uhm, she wanted to look strong and respectable so that she could easier bully a Corp?”

Luna nods. “I guess that’s not technically wrong. Which corporation?”

I try to open up the net, but since we are still in space, I don’t find a stable connection. Time to guess. “She is from America, so the biggest American corporation.”

Luna smiles. “Alright, let me give you a hint. What do you think was the purpose behind her suggesting you be placed under the care of a more experienced Samurai?”

“Hmm, well, it would make me more predictable since I would have to stay with another samurai…”

“Maniac, honey,” Evelin speaks up in headspace. “They wanted control over PsyCo.”

“That fucking bitch! I'm going to kill her if she survived the bitch slap I gave her!”

"Yyyyup. She wants PsyCo. Now, next question: There were three big mistakes she made, which is why she didn't get what she wanted. What were they?" Luna asks next.

I start counting off some things on my fingers. "Assume that I was stupid. Started off too aggressive and, uhm, I don't know, is bad at surprise attacks?"

Luna snickers. "Well, one out of three is good enough I suppose. Specifically, the mistakes were literally not knowing the first thing about you and assuming you'd just lie down and accept it, trying to play politics with me there in the first place, and the only one you can realistically learn from: showing her hand before she secured what she wanted."

She counts on her fingers, as she’s speaking.

I nod. "She should have just hired Cierra to do it. She would have easily drained all my shares.”

“Why would she go against you?” Luna asks, confused.

“Either to flex or show dominance, if I had to guess.”

The little demon in the back snaps her fingers. “Ah, it's a sex thing.”

Arriving back home was slightly anticlimactic. No fireworks or big party. I mean, it's not like I went out for milk or something. I went to space. Well, I guess people might be busy, this is still a company after all. At least Daisy is happy to see me and doesn't want to leave me out of her sight.

Well, this gives me some time to catch up with the people I have really missed and couldn't see for a while. I leave Luna and the little demon, who as turns out, is called Apocalypse, alone with some of the staff. As I start roaming the halls, I take off my mask, feeling a lot safer within this place.

I find my favourite person in some kind of computer room, together with some other people, including Mio. I grab one of the free chairs and sit down next to her. “Hey Sammie, how you been?”

Sam jumps up, turns to me and punches me in the face. “You fucking bitch! I thought you were dead!”

“So you try to kill me now?” I ask, rubbing my face.

She crosses her arms. “Hmph, the least you could have done is swing by before you headed off to space.”

I raise my hands in defence. “Right, I'm sorry. Wait, how do you know about that? I just got back?”

“Cierra tells me everything. She is a lot more insecure than I expected her to be.”

I frown. “Everything?”

Sam nods. “Yes, everything.”

“Okay then, how many moles do I have on my butt?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.

Sam rubs her face. “You have none. All of them got removed during your surgery. Also, if you still had some, would she even count them?”

I shrug. "Not sure, but I have a Cierra-shaped bite mark from last night, so she might've had the chance.”

“I don’t understand how you can manage having multiple partners.” Sam sighs as she slumps down on the desk. Her head resting on her arms.

“Well, it's pretty simple: Protector prescribed stamina enhancing drug.” I say with a smile, “Oh and I can make my fingers vibrate by slightly misusing the built-in tech.” with a soft hum my fingers start to shake.

Sam turns her head, still laying on the desk. “Evelin, you are so bad!” she pauses, “But I guess that's why we are friends. Please never change.”

I nod slowly. "Well, about that, I kind of changed a bit.” I say, pointing at my head.

“Oh, the multiple personality thing? Honestly, that explained so much for me.” She says with a smile. “We should definitely play some games sometimes with all the sisters.”

I smile. “Yeah, I would like that. I mean, we are going to do family game nights on Thursday so you're more than welcome to come.”

“I'm not part of the family though.” She says.

“Bitch, shut up! You and me have been together for years. You’re basically my work wife.”

I get a punch to the gut for that one. “I am not anything close to being your wife.”

“It was only a joke. I'm well aware that you're straight.” I say, rubbing my stomach. Since when has she become this violent? Then I remember our sword training practice matches, and maybe she has always been a bit violent.

“I am not straight.” Sam says, stopping all my other thought processes.

“Wait, really? How did I not know this?”

“Because I was not interested in you or your little club in that way.” She says.

I nod. "So, is there someone you are interested in, then?” I ask, now feeling a lot more interested.

Sam nods. “I have a partner.”

“Wait, really? Who is it? Do I know them? Are they hot?” I start jumping up and down in my seat with excitement.

“Okay, down girl.” Sam says with a smile, “Aren’t you a hacker? Go figure it out yourself.”

I pause. "That feels like a trap.”

Sam touches my cheek. “Good girl, you do know what boundaries are.”

“Wait, so you want it to be a secret, then?”

Sam nods. “For both our careers, I think that would be the most beneficial option, yeah.”

“But I can keep a secret.” I beg.

“How many people know you are Maniac again?” she says, with an arch look.

“Okay, fair. Why don’t you just kill me already?” I complain.

“Stop being dramatic. Oh, and I should remind you that Magenta wanted to see you. Something about doing a stream together or something, so you better behave.”

“I am always well behaved,” I counter “Wait, are you dating Magenta?”

“No, fuck no!” Sam adamantly denies, “That somehow sounds worse than dating you! Constantly being filmed isn't something I would enjoy.”

“She is not constantly filming, right?” I ask, feeling a bit unsure.

“Yesterday she streamed her date with Liquid Catalyst.” Sam says

“Ah. Wait, really? She did that? What are her streams about, anyway?”

“You live with the woman, but don’t watch her?” Sam asks incredulously.

“I mean, should I? It feels like I would have better things to do during the day.”

Sam just shrugs. "Know your enemies?”

“She isn't my enemy, just a bit of a nuisance.” I point out.

“Well, talking about nuisances, Cierra just sent me a message asking me if I know where you are. Because Magenta is in her office waiting to see you.” Sam explains.

I slowly get up. “Okay I'll be off then. See you on Thursday, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“I think I will also not do some things you would do, either.” Sam counters.

I smile as I head up to my apartment or, I guess, Cierra’s apartment. As I get out of the elevator and make it to the living room, I spot Claire nervously fidgeting.

“Something wrong?” I ask as I walk over and give the girl a hug.

“No, yes... I, uhm...” Claire gets out, looking away. “I'm weak.”

“I don’t really agree with that. Why would you think that?” I ask as I stroke her hair.

“Because I caved too easily." She says.

“Caved to what?” I say, looking around and spotting a small white ball of fluff slouching on the chair. Black-tipped ears occasionally twitching around. “Ahh.”

“Are you mad?” Claire asks.

“Why would I be mad?” I ask, confused.

“Because you told me to handle it.”

“And you did. I never said I didn’t want one, just that I was too busy at the moment to consider it. If you thought it was a good idea, then I am fine with it.” I say, giving her a kiss.

Claire nods. “Okay.”

I smile as I stroke her face. “It's all good. Also, I was here to see Magenta, not scold you or anything.”

“Just let her wait a few more minutes.” Claire says as she snuggles in closer.