"Well done, Sam. You have officially made us the center of all media attention across this entire section of space."

Grinning back at Ren as they walked into the mansion, the doctor nodded, "Just as planned!"

Laura shook her head with a grin, watching them waltz on in, "You do realise you have to actually deal with that attention now, right?"

The doctor shrugged, "I have... Plans. Besides, if I rehearse a dozen or so scenarios, I can just reuse the same scripts to deal with every reporter or scientist to come our way."

Francis groaned from the chair he was slumped in, face pale. "I hope this plan of yours works... The nerves alone make me feel queasy..."

Dr Elune slouched into a nearby chair themself, laughing quietly, "People aren't as smart as they like to think. They want scoops... We give them freely. And for the nerves... We can handle the reporters pretty easily."

Laura raised an eyebrow, "And if one of them wants a tour of our ship?"

Dr Elune grinned, "Tell them the truth: There are high security doors seperating some compartments, to protect trade secrets. They will asume processing methods, or something stupid. Alex will be safe."

Greg wandered into the room with a broad smile, "Ah, there you are. I have had nothing but calls to see you since the meeting... Your friend Alex is handling them remarkably well, using a few little tricks."

Dr Elune craned their neck to wave at Greg, "Hello, sir. The meeting went fabulously... And I spent most of it just shaking hands and jotting down requests for interviews. Alex is setting up calls to try and compress them into small groups, handle them half a dozen at a time."

Greg shook his head in wonder, "Given you have half the haven asking for you, you will still take a while. These Holographic devices are well crafted, after all."

Dr Elune shrugged, "Give it a few months. We have our eyes on some potential partners to start... Get them up and running, shift some of the interest. Then move to our second list, hand over the production methods as well. We will be out of here in half a year... Giving us plenty of time for Francis to do what he needs to and go back home."

As Francis nodded in exhausted agreement, Hope popped her head in, "I thought I heard a commotion. Anything I need to know about?"

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Dr Elune grinned as they shook their head, "Nope. The bustle is of the beaurocratic variety. Find anything neat in the armoury?"

Hope nodded, "Some neat blasters, and this odd tower shield... Mind if I have Alex give it an inspection, sir?"

Greg laughed as he waved idly, "Not at all. I think I know the one you are talking about... It has baffled a few people. Get me a second one, and I'm a happy man!"

Hope nodded eagerly as she rushed off. Greg paused for a moment, "Say, we are giving dear Alex a large list of responsibilities. Will they be okay?"

Ren nodded, "I have seen Alex at work, and I am taking part in the recent diagnostics. As long as proper rest is taken... Alex can handle twice this current workload."

Dr Elune nodded, then grinned, "Speaking of... That could come in the form of Sims. Which we will be running a lot of, once your dear daughter arrives tomorrow. What time was that, again?"

Greg sighed, "Early morning, at the spire... After I come back to drop her off, I will be neck deep in work again, so I won't be around much. I should enjoy the long ride back and forth while I can."

Laura smirked, "Well, considering how... Excitedly everyone is going through your collections of oddities, you might not want to leav us too unattended."

Greg chuckled as he eased himself up, "Ah, I have had worse things happed to this house. Some of them by me not understanding an item... Those labels didn't all come with the objects in question." He tugged at his shirt collar, letting the tip of a faint car show, "I am more worried about you lot... But I am sure you will be fine."

Dr Elune nodded, "Given my habit of leaving unfinished projects laying about, eveyone here knows better... Except maybe Ren."

"Hey, I invent things too, remember."

"Suuure. I just do it better."

As the doctor grinned cheekily at the xasperated Ren, Greg chuckled again as he left the room, "Stay safe, you lot. Especially once my daughter gets here, understand?"

As everyone nodded, understadning the various implications of that, Greg quietly wandered away, off to prepare for his work. The res delved back into coversation, mostly about how to best make use of this fascinating mansion... And a little on what to say for the coming interviews.