After they left the UEM hangar, they trudged along the conduit that led back to the workshop, but by the time they reached it, everyone had left. The place was quiet, almost peaceful, the sound of tools and the Optechs’ banter stilled for another day. “Everyone’s cleared out,” Pasternak remarked, his voice betraying no surprise. “It’s not like these guys are fond of overtime,” Cait said. “When the whistle blows, that’s it.” Pasternak finished clearing off the work tasks on his omni-device, then handed it across to her. “So, see you at Dive in ten?” he grinned. “You bet,” she said. “I just want to go home and change first—” She caught sight of Landry’s desk—her desk—in the corner, and the stack of omni-devices that the Optechs had tossed upon it when they left. Dodge’s words from a few hours before came back to her, loud and clear.
