Tom leaned side to side, coughing quietly, "I can see you guys fine... Can you see me?"

Dr Elune nodded, Alex standing at their side patiently, "Everything is clear on our end. What do you think?"

Grinning, he tapped the little projector gently, "These Holograms of yours are rather handy. How do you get such a clear image capture, though? And in 3D, no less..."

Alex smiled, "That would be my doing. That is not standard functionality with the OHPS units... Or, with standard camera quality, either."

"Ahh, I see now. Your little helping hand also explains why half of Sam's systems aren't in mass production, yet."

"Both in terms of intuitive responses, and sheer proccessing power." Giggling, the doctor leaned towards their projector, "Now, as to why you have called today... Have you made a decision on your stand on this?"

Tom nodded, leaning back in his chair with a sigh, "Both yes and no. I am certain I won't tattle, at the very least... I do support what you are trying to do, and those notes Ren sent me were enough to put my few concerns at ease." Grimacing, Tom shrugged, "But, to risk going against interplanetary law for you? I'm... Uncertain."

"Uncertain? So, not fully against it yet?"

"Right. If you can find some concrete way of proving Alex will remain good natured, that will give me more to work with as your representative. Until then... I plan on simply remaining a friend and customer." Tom chuckled with a sly smirk, "Possibly thinking of some of that evidence as I do so, if I can."

Sighing with relief, Dr Elune smiled gratefully, "Thank you, Tom. We are asking for a lot, I know..." Alex nudged the doctor slightly, making them lean up to listen to a whispered comment, "Oh, right... We do have one idea of our own."

"Oh? And what is that?"

"You known those sims of Mars we made?" Tom nodded, curiously listening, "Well, we had some help from a friend who you might still remember. Do you keep in touch with Maximus anymore?"

"Hmm, Maximus... Ahhh, I remember him, yeah. We don't talk often, but he was an interesting one. Dated young Jolana once, now that I think of it."

Alex choked slightly at that, causing Tom and Dr Elune to chuckle, "What, you hadn't figured that out yet, Alex? I thought you were smarter than that."

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"... I hadn't thought to ask." Blushing, Alex took a deep breath, feeling like an idiot for not piecing that together, "Anyway... I have met Max, was the main point."

"Right. Well, if you get him on our side as well, I'm sure the lot of us will think of something to convince my beaurocratic friends."

Laughing softly, Dr Elune shifted in their chair, "We thought the same thing. Problem is, Max doesn't know yet... And is showing more signs of caution."

Nodding as he mulled it over, Tom hummed to himself, "That makes sense... Well, I can help you with the reveal, and pick his brain to see if he would really accept things."

"That would be great, and the sooner the better. We don't know how long we can fool him for." Nodding up at Alex, the doctor grinned, "Max comes to visit about as often as you do, to use our VR setup. Maybe we can start combining your sessions?"

"... I think I actually saw him in one of your pods once, now that I think on it." Laughing with a nod, Tom sat up straight, "That works for now. I may need to miss the next one, to try and get some plans in order... But, let me know  when you are thinkiong of having us meet up."

"Sounds like a plan. His next session is actually tomorrow, but for the one after that we will try and arrange something suitable for the both of you."

Nodding in agreement, Tom leaned forward, poking around at the sides of his projector, "No promises, but I will see if I can help... Alex shows promise. Now, how do I turn this off?"

"Small power switch on the bottom. I will handle the rest." Smiling, Alex waved goodbye as the images flickered out, transmission over.

"That... Went almost as planned, actually."

"Yes it did, doctor. Which is a surprise around here, from all the malfunctions we have to clean up."

Smirking as they looked back at Alex, the doctor leaned over, "Speaking of, I have been meaning to ask... Your proccessing peaked a few nights ago, but there are no signs of damage this time. Getting used to things, now."

Blushing with an exasperated sigh, Alex left the room without responding, leaving the doctor to laugh quietly to themself... Smiling as they thought to themself about Alex's adjusting to this way of life.