SARAH-Stark, weekly report.

[smart_house]

SARAH had to hear about Callister Raynes secondhand. Zoe picked up Puck and played with his catnip toy in front of the cat's nose while explaining everything that had happened.

Callister Raynes, artificial intelligence.

Created by Nathan Stark.

SARAH reports in for her weekly conference call at Global Dynamics a day early.

Comments

[director_global]

"I don't know about that," Stark counters. "You're very memorable."

A beat.

"By the way. If you have any further problems with Felix Gaeta or others of his ilk, I hope you'll let me know."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I imagine that Mr. Gaeta does not view me as enough of a threat to argue with me. You on the other hand..."

[director_global]

"Oh, we've certainly argued."

Blandly said.

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I do not know if I will be allowed to post bail for you at the end of the universe, Dr. Stark."

[director_global]

For the first time in what feels like days, Stark laughs.

"Let's hope we never have to find out."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"Yes, let's not."

Especially with X-23 on Security. That prisoner transfer SARAH cannot calculate going quite well at all.

"Shall I give my report now or call back tomorrow?"

[director_global]

There's a muffled thud from outside his office, as if someone had walked straight into a door that they'd expected to automatically open.

"... uh, Dr. Stark?"

He manages to not roll his eyes as he raises his voice. "Just a minute, Fargo."

To SARAH, Stark adds,

"Why don't you call back tomorrow at the usual time? That way there won't be any need to rush."

[smart-house.livejournal.com]

"I will do so."

After a second, and just before the screen goes black with a disconnect:

"Try to have a good day, Dr. Stark."

[director_global]

His eyebrows rise. Stark considers the black screen with interest for a few seconds, one corner of his mouth quirked slightly.

Then he taps the unlock sequence and spins around in his chair as he calls out,

"All right, Fargo, what's so urgent?"

One look at Fargo's expression when the door slides open, and Stark's on his feet as the younger scientist hurries into the office, stammering,

"I'm sorry, Dr. Stark, it's just -- the researchers from Apex Aerospace? They-- well, they're downstairs, and they wanted to --"

"--you didn't leave them alone, did you?"

"--well, I--"

Stark spares Fargo one sharply irritated glance before striding past him out the door. By the time he reaches the stairs, he's already smiling a welcome.

"Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to keep you waiting. The demonstration you're here to observe will be taking place in one of our clean rooms, right down this hallway... "

Five minutes later, everything is smoothly back on track in the normal routine of another day at Global Dynamics.

('Try to have a good day,' SARAH had said.

Nathan Stark intends to do just that.)