video:

[charring]

[Charlie has taken one look at the Network today. Just one. And she looks really uncertain, nose wrinkling slightly. She just has one thing to say about it.]

This feels like a bribe.

[And from the safety of her apartment, pets bouncing around behind her, Charlie switches off the device, shaking her head slightly.]

Comments

audio;

[candothat]

This is a good day to work. Most of the City is very quiet.

audio;

[charring]

What are you working on?

audio;

[candothat]

This, that. I would like to make a replicator, but I'm not sure that even I am clever enough to do so with what is available here. I would like to make a phaser, but the proper elements are not here. I would like nothing more than to make a working transporter, but that--that is more difficult than the replicator. It is simple to assemble atoms, but not so simple to assemble them in the correct order.

So I am working on many things, but none of them will work.

What are you doing with today?

audio;

[charring]

Gardening. A lot of my tomatoes are ready so I think I want to try to make either tomato sauce or see if I can find a ketchup recipe. And there are strawberries to turn into jam. And mint leaves, those are ready, too.

audio;

[candothat]

Tomatoes for ketchup?

[There is a long, thoughtful pause.]

Charlie. May I keep you company? I cannot accomplish anything, I am bored, and I don't want to go to the springs.

audio;

[charring]

Please do. I don't mind at all. I'll be upstairs in ten.

audio;

[candothat]

I will be there in nine.