Chelsea's Communicator showed her as online.
"I've had plenty of free time lately. We can chat tonight, but why bring Ryoko?"
Jonas sent the message. On the other end, its status changed to received, then to typing.
People who were close could enable this option in their Communicator settings to see whether the other person had read their messages. Jonas had actually wanted to leave both of them a little breathing room, but Chelsea thought this was better, so she had simply enabled it for both sides.
"[Snicker] Ryoko asked to come along herself. When I asked her why, she gave me the same old spiel, saying she couldn't trust me to meet you alone. She was afraid I'd fall into your clutches, so she insisted on coming. But you said you've had plenty of free time lately. Does that mean our chats don't necessarily have to be limited to the evening?"
Chelsea's voice naturally played in Jonas's head. He thought for a moment, then typed on his Communicator, "Any time works for me, really. I've had plenty of free time lately. Where should we go?"
He would have a fairly long stretch of free time now. There had been no movement from the Federation, so he could take some time to do other things.
"Nowhere. Let's meet at Alt Tower, in your office."
A new message came through from her, along with a video.
Chelsea was in her office. Unlike her usual look as an aloof, elegant mature woman, the slightly curled tips of her hair brushed her shoulders, and her lovely features were bright and relaxed as sunshine, radiating cheer. The corners of her lips tilted upward, her eyes narrowed to little slits, with their bright gleam hidden within as she looked at him with the hint of