Paul collects Rae from her ‘day job’ as an operative for Time Corp hunting down temporally active miscreants across a number of high tech closely related realities. She is seriously unimpressed at being disturbed in the middle of a case, protesting that her work uniform is not really suitable for a visit to Chrimel for a party, but he is not willing to take no for an answer.
Chrimel security is tight as usual, but he knows their system well enough to hide his arrival as part of an in bound U-Space portal. It’s a simple matter of timing to slip into the hall with the others when the time comes for the announcement.

The Hall is full of people all waiting for something, the hum around the hall indicates they have no real idea what is going on. Paul spots a new face in the crowd; A young teenager with loose curly blond hair and blue eyes. She is dressed in a very feminine dress which is really too young a style for her age. She looks a little lost and confused in the mass of people. Near to her, almost protectively is Mac; It is hard to look at the woman without focusing on the fact that half of her body is made of metal. Some heavy duty Cybernetic system that replaces her right arm and both legs. Even her eyes have an ‘all to perfect’ look to them which suggests they are not natural. Her hair is black and pulled back in a tight plat. Paul guesses the young girl must be the Silvia that has brought them here. With a nudge he points her out to Rae with the line “Chris has been collecting again.”
Rae frowns at the girl. “Interesting. She’s Bulmas.” What’s Chris doing with something as pretty as her, can’t imagine she’d last two seconds against a Daemon.”
Paul looks at her and grins. “Looks can be deceiving.” He taunts her. But before he can get dragged into an argument, the doors at the top of the stairs open and their hosts come in.
Christine Mellor is tall, with broad shoulders and an athletic build which shows she looks after herself. Her hair is dark and short with slight curls. Both the hair and the make up are obviously professionally done and immaculate, the eye shadow perfectly complimenting her green eyes. She is wearing a black silk trouser suit, which manages to be both business-like and feminine at the same time. Rae can’t help but reflect on the way her presence fills and dominates the room, so unlike Aaron’s preference for shrinking into the background. Sometimes it is hard to believe they are related at all.
Beside her is Ryan. Everything about Ryan Screams Aryan; his neat fair hair, brilliant blue eyes and athletic build. His stance suggests to the trained eye that he has had military training and can hold is own in a fight. He is wearing a royal blue T-shirt which clings to his skin, revealing his muscles and a pair of dark blue trousers. On his belt is a small black pistol with a stubby barrel, but his stance almost suggests he has forgotten that it is there. He is looking at Christine and smiling and Rae suddenly guesses why they are here, only one thing could cause that look of Ryan’s face, and Christine looks far to happy to have just caught him in the photocopy room with one of they typing pool.

Paul leads Rae to the back of the hall as the Chrimel personel move forward to hear the announcement. He finds himself standing next to the Chris’s Head of Internal Security; Jerry. Jerry is the exact opposite of Ryan; Short, stocky with dark thinning hair which is clipped short in an attempt to hide the approaching baldness. His dark eyes twinkle as if he is enjoying some private joke. He is dressed in a smart leather jacket over black jeans.
Christine nods to them as they line up at the back, almost as if she expected to see them there. It doesn’t surprise him; after all he has got a reputation to maintain.
Jerry looks up at Paul, a look of realisation passing his face. “You!"
Paul smiles at him cheekily. "I did knock, just not loudly."
A cough from Christine calls their attention to the front of the hall.
"I suppose the rumours have been flying since you all heard about this meeting. I hate the think what you have come up with even in the short time I gave you."
A polite ripple of laughter runs through the crowd.
"Well I know at least two people have worked it out," She states looking pointedly at Paul and Jerry. "But for those of you who havent..." She pauses to look at Ryan.
He smiles at her reassuringly.
"For quite some time now, Ryan and I have been an item. I have decided it is time that relationship should be on a more formal and public footing. As such in the papers today there is an announcement informing the world of my engagement to Mr O'Naigh."
She pauses to let her words sink in most people seem to be genuinely surprised. She smiles.
"And this meeting is so you lot know as well." Ryan adds.
The tall muscular woman, her left side more metal than flesh stood steps forward. "May I speak for all of us and offer my congratulations Mistress?"
"Thank you Mac."
There is a mummer of agreement amongst the crowd.
"Yeah, good going Ryan." Paul yells. Rae elbows him in the ribs.
However his cry breaks the ice and slowly people step forward as Ryan leads Christine down into the crowd.

As the babble in the room builds Jerry turns to Paul. "You pick very unsociable times."
Paul looks at him confused. "what?"
"3:47." Jerry replies.
The expression on his face makes it clear the time means nothing to him.
"That wasn't you down at the dock last night."
Paul shakes his head. "No we came in at 6:30 labelled as party supplies." He explains.
"Oh." Jerry looks at him.
"Problem?" Paul asks.
"May be I'd better go and check." He looks at Rae. "Sorry." He excuses himself heading for security.
Rae looks at the concerned look on Paul’s face as he watches the security chief go. "Ok?"
He shrugs "I thought I told myself to get here for the announcement. Now I'm not so sure." He lies to his wife. "You armed?"
"You know I am you pulled me off a job." She retorts.
He holds out his hand expectantly.
She pulls a small fire arm from a hidden holster and slaps it down.
He looks at it and grimaces at the inadequate weapon, whist a Haylin alchemical pistol is fine for the combat accountants she is normally chasing, it is useless for the fire fight he knows lies ahead.  "Well it'll have to do for now." He slips it into the waist band of his trousers, watching his wife check a similar pistol and seats it back in it’s holster.
"Should we tell Ryan?" She asks.
"No, lets not spoil his day, it might be nothing. We'll just cover his back for him. Stay here." He heads off at a jog after Jerry.
Almost instinctively Rae moves up the right hand staircase where she can cover the door.