Beth, the Desire Flogger, smiled now that she was sure her fish had taken the bait. "Dear Mr. Pile Driver, what can I do for you?"
Pile Driver hesitated, then asked tentatively, "Is Miss Sharan doing well?"
Sharan was the Desire Emissary he had rescued.
Back then, Sharan had been an instructor training Desire Emissaries at that factory.
At his question, a smile touched Beth's lips. Then she sighed. "Not very well."
"The attack at the mall frightened Miss Sharan badly."
"Your heroic image was the only thing holding her fragile spirit together."
"Since you left last month, Miss Sharan seems to have lost her anchor. She's been fading by the day."
Beth heard a note of urgency enter the powerful Human Alliance Pioneer's voice.
"Could I see Miss Sharan?"
"Since I left last time, I've... missed her terribly."
Beth sighed. "Mr. Pile Driver, I'm not trying to keep you two apart."
"But given where we stand, too much intimate contact between us would be difficult."
"Besides, Miss Sharan has a new assignment. She's about to leave for Sas City to serve an obese mayor."
"I can feel Miss Sharan's pain, but those are her orders."
"Until a Desire Emissary has a master of her own, she has no freedom."
Pile Driver immediately said, "Ms. Beth! Please wait."
"I... I could become her new master."
"Ms. Beth, if... I mean, if..."
"If I helped you with something, could Miss Sharan stay by my side?"
Beth held back a smile. "That depends on what you can do for us, Mr. Pile Driver."
Pile Driver lowered his voice. "I know about an infiltration attack on Kaan City planned for the near future."
"A group of elite Human Alliance Pioneers will launch a feint, then send their scouts inside."
Beth's eyes lit up.