Singularity Hunters: The Rigel Incident

[Weremensh]

Spot lets a second or so go by, then asks "This sort of thing?"

[Stan Cold]

Wilshire is still completely thrown off by the urgent voice that destroyed the pretty music.

[CCC]

"About every half-dothen monthth or tho." explains the taxi driver. "Thome guy getth thick and tired of paying lithenthe feeth all the time, goeth to the nearetht ThyberTholuthionth offithe, and thootth the plathe up. Terroritht attackth, they call it."

The pretty music, in the meantime, has returned.

[Weremensh]

Spot considers that, and while it does so it rifles through it's unconscious comrades pockets for cash to pay the driver. Eventually it replies "That does not sound productive."

[CCC]

"Yeah, I agree." says the driver. "There'th better wayth to deal with that thort of fruthtrathion."

Spot finds more than enough money in Thomas' wallet. As the taxi turns into the street Spot asked for, though, he sees that there are two police cars parked outside; there's no immediate sign of the policemen, which suggests that they're all inside the house.

[Weremensh]

Spot says "No beds there tonight. Please keep driving, I need to call for instructions." If the driver does keep going, Spot calls The Man to ask for another crash pad (for failing that, instructions to go to the spaceport).

[CCC]

The taxi driver shrugs. "Okay." He drives on.

The Man answers the phone immediately. "You have reached safety?" he enquires.

[Weremensh]

Spot replies "We are in the taxi. Two of the humans have had too much, and need a place to sleep it off. One is still at a bar. The 'friend of a friend' looks like trouble, not someone to ask for a couple of beds. Do you know of another place the humans can crash?"

[CCC]

The Man considers Spot's words for a moment, then says "Go to a hotel called the Residence. By the time you arrive, rooms will have been booked for you in the Professor's name."

[Weremensh]

Spot replies "Thank you. I hope he will meet us there when he is done at the bar. Right now Mr Wilshire is the only awake man with me." Spot tells the driver as an aside: "Take us to the Residence Hotel, please."

[Stan Cold]

Wilshire waves to the phone.

[Weremensh]

Spot duly comments on the phone "Mr Wilshire sends his greetings."

[CCC]

"Oooh!" says the taxi driver. "That'th an expenthive plathe!"

"I shall speak to you again once you have settled in your rooms." says The Man, ending the call.

Notwithstanding the price, the Residence Hotel is also nearby. It is a tall structure of metal and glass, and the sign above the door reads "THE RESIDENCE HOTEL" - with, below that, in smaller print, "A fully owned subsidiary of CyberSolutions Incorporated." There's a long driveway out front, lined with trees, with apparently the sole purpose of saying, in effect, 'we can afford to have all this open ground in the city centre". The driver pulls up in front of the main entrance, and a uniformed hotel employee is at the cab door almost immediately, politely opening it for Spot and Wilshire. He seems a bit taken aback - possibly by the fact that they're not arriving in a limousine. Thomas and Dave are still out cold and show no signs of waking up.

"Do you have a reservation?" enquires the employee, haughtily looking down his nose at Wilshire.

[Stan Cold]

"We were told there would be room. For sleeping and eating. In Professor's name. Professor Barnes."

[Weremensh]

Spot adds: "Professor Allen Barnes and his party. He sent them ahead as most had over indulged."

He then pays the taxi driver. "Thank you."