Companion 3000

Stop it, Leita, she lectured herself angrily. Why does every single thought in your head have to go back to Pierce? The guy was a jerk—forget about him. He’s not worth the time or emotion.

That was absolutely right, Leita decided. She took a deep breath, taking the filtered, lightly scented air of the shopping area deep into her lungs. She was here on her annual shopping trip and even if she was alone she ought to try and enjoy herself and forget about the disaster with Pierce. In fact, what she needed was to treat herself to something decadent. Maybe she’d get a full body massage and mud wrap once she drifted past the food section and got to the services area of the ship. But that was twenty miles down the walkway and she felt in serious need of cheering up right now.

As though the Galleria itself had read her mind, something to the left of the null- grav walkway caught her eye. A closer look showed her a brightly lit store whose display window was full of gold and silver boxes wrapped in elegant crimson ribbon. Xander’s Gourmet Chocolates. For when only the finest will do! the scrolling holo-sign above the boxes proclaimed. Leita felt her stomach rumble and her taste buds perk up at once. How long had it been since she’d tasted real chocolate? The chocolate-flavored protein powder mix she often had for breakfast didn’t count—it tasted like sawdust with a little bit of cocoa mixed in.

Chocolate, especially luxury chocolate, was usually an item Leita denied herself, feeling she couldn’t afford it. But she’d had a truly rotten month between trying to get over Pierce and fending off Horny the humping robot—she deserved a little chocolate. For that matter, she deserved a lot of chocolate, Leita told herself. As though sensing her interest, the scrolling holo letters changed from Xander’s Gourmet Chocolates to Annual Half-Off Sale!

That did it. Leita touched the railing of the null-grav walkway, which parted obligingly to let her through and found herself standing in front of the brightly lit store front. If she couldn’t have love, then chocolate was the next best thing. She could almost taste it melting on the tip of her tongue and the warm, indescribable smell of pure cocoa came drifting out the front of the shop like a beckoning finger. Mmmm, she had to have some.

“Good afternoon, Madam. How may I be of assistance?” The man behind the counter had sleek black hair and narrow black eyes. His coat was spotlessly white, contrasting sharply with his yellow teeth when he smiled.

“Hello.” She smiled back a little nervously. The clerk made her uncomfortable for no reason she could put her finger on. Maybe his smile was too wide or his tone too fawning. Then again, she reminded herself, he was there to sell a product. She just wasn’t used to being around people that much. Besides, she had on the watch-me bracelet, a tiny slim vid device around her wrist that looked like an ordinary piece of jewelry. The watch-me was recording everything she did and said and sending the images in a streaming link to Schneider back at the life pod. So she had nothing to worry about.

“Are you interested in any of our fine products?” the clerk inquired, still smiling. “We have a wonderful sale going on right now. Chocolate is often thought to be a luxury but we here at Xander’s Gourmet Chocolates consider it a necessity and we price our products accordingly. Our prices are so low your husband or lifemate won’t even complain about the cost.”

“Oh, I’m not here with anyone,” Leita said, before she thought about it.

“Oh, no?” The clerk leaned forward, a look of interest on his swarthy face. “A beautiful young woman like yourself alone at the Galleria? How very surprising.”

“Well, I did have someone but he turned out to be a jerk and…” Leita shook her head. “Never mind. Maybe I should go.”

“No, no.” The clerk leaned across the counter eagerly. “You’re exactly the kind of customer we’re looking for. Would you like to sample some of our fine chocolates? I can give you a free taste as an incentive to buy.”

“Well…” Leita hesitated. On one hand, the clerk was kind of creepy. But on the other, she had on the watch-me and he was suddenly holding out a tray full of exotic chocolate truffles. The smooth dark brown spheres were the perfect size to pop in her mouth and savor.

“Our most tempting display,” the clerk said with a yellow smile. “Liquor truffles. An absolute taste sensation. Just try one—I guarantee it will change your life forever.”

“Well…all right,” Leita decided. The rich aroma of the truffles was making her nose twitch and her mouth water. She selected a truffle from the center of the tray that the clerk said was filled with champagne and put the whole thing in her mouth as he recommended.