"Tell me about your childhood, Jenni." Nash's tone of voice was that of a commander expecting routine obedience.
"I have no childhood," Jenni replied. "And you are fully aware of that, so why did you ask me about it?"
"Because I'm still proving you out," Nash explained. "If you answer me correctly on things I know are true, then I have at least some indication that you are being truthful and forthcoming with me on matters that I do not know at the moment."
"My project managers would have a plethora of things to ask you, Colonel, should they ever discover that I am even sitting here with you." Jenni locked her eyes onto Nash's. "That you have been debriefed from all of your classified access for how long now? Certainly since before your failed run for the Senate. The location and activity data reported on me are false at this moment. Certainly you know you would do jail time were you to be caught."
"No, I wouldn't do jail time," Nash countered. "Milt would, as it was he who hacked the system to get you here."
"Clearly a misuse of privileged information, Mr. Fitzsimmons," Jenni said to Milt. "Your brilliance could be your undoing."
Milt looked at Nash. "I would go to jail for you, sir."
Nash looked at Jenni and snickered. "You are so quaint for one so advanced as you. Jail time. Undoing. Lady, let me tell you something: Even if I were to be caught, they would never prosecute me; to convict me would require the release of such sensitive information as the damage done by a trial would be far and above anything I could do myself. Furthermore, there aren't enough people cleared at that level to form a jury."
"You certainly aren't anymore," Jenni retorted.
"Since I have the hack to the system," Milt suggested to Nash, "I could reprogram it to neutralize both her and that Nenmaran chick. That way we could dispatch two of Lyle's bitches in one fell swoop."
Nash and Milt shared a hearty and gleeful laugh.
"Nice thought, Milt," Nash replied still choking from his laugh, "but that wouldn't get what we want, would it?"
"No," Milt agreed. "First Bennett, then the bitches."
"Now you have your priorities straight, Milt." Nash turned to Jenni. "What missions are you active in at the moment?"
"A couple," Jenni replied.
"What are they?" Nash probed.
"Declare your role in them, and I will be able to disclose the information pertinent for you."
"Don't be coy with me, Jenni." Nash appeared displeased, but with practiced patience. "What I'm really interested in are the windows of open time in your operations schedule."
"Ah, now we're getting down to business." Jenni sat up sharp and alert. "What times are you interested in?"
"My schedule is dictated by yours," Nash replied. "And I need to know my options."
Jenni raised an eyebrow. "Options indeed; if you want to call them that."
"Well?" Nash persisted.
"Believe it or not, my free time is during the busiest time of the workday for most people. So do you want to do whatever in broad daylight with thousands of people around?"
"Frank." Milt nudged Nash. "Suppose we go back into the system and get the scheduler key. She's programmed to lead us astray anyway."
"No!" Nash shook his head. "There are too many safeguards deeper in, and your whole hack would collapse. That's why we're here talking with her now; it's the only way available to us."
Nash turned to Jenni. "Milt and I need to consider our options, so perhaps we could meet again here tomorrow at this time?"
"My schedule can accommodate that," Jenni confirmed. "By the way, you've never been clear on what it is that you wanted to accomplish with me."
"No, I haven't." Nash smirked. "You're not cleared to know."
"I count it as my good fortune to be such." Jenni smiled at them and took her leave.
"We're screwed, Frank," Milt sighed.
"I'm not ready to give up just yet," Nash replied. "Let's go think this through."
