"The kneeling mat is just such a place and time. Respect and decorum must to be maintained, slaves and masters are never equals. But this is a place t...o learn, to speak, to express truths clearly and without games. Here a master can ask a slave a question and the slave knows that what is being sought is the answer. A slave can ask a question and the master may choose to answer or not, but the act of asking is not considered rude."But be warned. Masters can still become angry by what is said. “You’re as bad as any patient I ever had.”“Cool, take care of Brett,” Owen said. “I’ll just--”“Stop squirming! Idiot! I’m trying to help you and--”Maxim whispered something to Giselle. Owen could see it. Yes, Giselle was his, but the room was chaos. He wasn’t even sure his voice would carry if he shouted over at them. Carlos growled at him again. Owen slammed back down an inch into a seat.“Unbutton his shirt, I’ll--”“I don’t have time for this,” Owen said. Grabbing for Carlos’s hand, he slapped. You might tell your 'professors' that eventually everything that we are learning about the Dyson's spheres and star-gates will be published. The reason will be, if for no other cause to implement hazard avoidance protocols. I suspect that information, how to detect and avoid the spheres at least, will become as widely known as the AIs can make it without causing a panic. That of course, what will cause a panic among the 'sheep', will always be debated among the various power brokers that hope. ‘Jason’s parents are going through a rough time at the moment so he’s staying here with us,’ Charlie had said heartily, by way of introduction. ‘I’m sure you’ll all get along famously.’ But as soon as Charlie left the living room, Jason had fixed her with a long hard stare. ‘Good God,’ he’d said with a sneer. ‘You never said she was a carrot top, Matt. She’s bloody ugly.’ Startled, she’d turned to Matt for reassurance and was horrified to find him laughing. She’d fled before either of them.