The meal was all set out family-style, and Co filled a plate for her. “We need to make you stronger, little one.”

“I am not little.”

“You are so skinny I could snap you and use you to spark a flame.” Co gave her more mashed potatoes.

Rake chuckled. “You are a little on the slender side.”

“I am usually a blur and fighting my clothes, so it doesn’t show.”

Rake was serving himself. “Well, I am here to make sure that you maintain balance. When you are up to it, we will start a gentle exercise regimen.”

She smiled. “Thanks. I was trying to work out at the apartment, but there were a lot of actives in there, and they didn’t respect personal space.”

Amber blinked. “What? Why didn’t you mention it at the appointment?”

“Exercise was in the contract, and I didn’t know how to bring it up.” She felt really relaxed. “It is hard to explain that a giant, green active fireman is sniffing you while you’re on the treadmill.”

Rake smiled. “He has good taste. Did he leave a name?”

“Yeah. They added themselves to my com.”

Amber frowned. “How?”

Cadence said, “Would you like a demonstration?”

Amber nodded. “Sure. Show me.”

“For this to work, there needs to be two. One to grab your wrist for the add and the other to grab your hand and force the addition.” Cadence grabbed Amber’s arm and brought her other hand over to tap it to accept the new signal.

“Why did it take two of them?”

“I was playing hard to get, apparently.” She rubbed her wrists as she sat down. “The bruises healed in three days.”

Rake smiled. “Can I see their idents and any messages?”

“The messages are gross. Here are the idents.” She showed him.

Rake smiled. “Thank you. I will look into it and contact the appropriate authorities.”

“Oh, uh, did they do something wrong?”

Amber said, “Harassing someone in a gym is not appropriate, and if they are both actives, it isn’t legal. Their very approach to you was the use of undue force.”

Rake nodded. “This will be handled. Did they know you were carrying?”

“Yeah, that is why they dropped me and told me to call them when I was in a safe zone.”

Amber gasped. “Cadence, why didn’t you call?”

“I was just upset, a few bruises. Nothing that endangered the project.”

“After dinner, I would like to check things.”

Rake lifted his head from his com. “May I be there? I can close my eyes and face the corner, but I need to know more about your physical state.”

Cadence shrugged. “Sure. At this point, I feel the entire universe has seen me.”

Amber chuckled. “It was only your sister, Dr. Kritz, myself, and everyone watching your scans.”