Feeling a bit spent and kicking back on the prostitutes couch, Matthew takes a long draw off of a joint rolled from the latest experimental micro test crop of 'organic synthweed' & turns on the Colony News Service. Thinking back over his actions earlier today, he replays the memory of his outburst over & over as the minutes pass.

'If that guy had known how badly I wanted to rip his throat out today' Matthew's internal voice narrated, 'he'd have probably $#^% his pants.'

A twinge of regret begins to cast its shadow over him.

"Locate Druce Faolan"

The CNS fades from the screen & is replaced by a map stating that Druce is currently stationary at Grinder's Grill.

'Good, he must have salvaged the moment after my screw up.'

He takes another deep hit & listens to the sound of the woman taking a shower in the other room and then it dawns on him how funny of a word 'pants' is

'pants'

'pants, pants, pants, pants, pants, pantalones, pantaloons, anti-panties, Miss Smoothparts McHairlessness Pinky von Non Pants'

The smoke expels from his lungs painfully as his body juggles hoarse coughing with intense laughter.

The beautiful whore enters the living room wearing a towel and a confused expression, wondering what the hell is so funny.

Eventually, Matt gets control of himself, springs to his feet & takes the woman into his arms.

"Baby, I think I finally got the formula right!" & without hesitation, plants a firm kiss on her lips.

She pushes him away, and he breaks from her easily & briskly leaves the apartment with a wink & a smile, then trots down the hall towards the exit.

"Kissing costs extra you bastard!!" she yells at his departing form from her doorway.

"Bill me!" he replied with a wave, but without a backward glance.

"Bite me!!" she managed to retort before the exit door closed behind him in the distance.

After a few seconds, she cracks a smile herself & goes back inside her flat to pick up her fallen towel from the floor and proceeds to finish drying herself off.

As Matthew jogs from the residential cavern to the reservoir, he realizes that he forgot to begin timing his high when it began to take effect.

'Short term memory loss is a good sign' his inner voice told him, 'plus, your failure documenting the data allows for further personal research.'

The rest of the way to the water, his mind concentrated on possible marketing strategies & indulging his imagination at the obscene amount of credits that could be made for the faction in the future if everything is done properly & efficiently from the top down.

He kneels at the loch for a breather and scoops up a small drink with his hands before joining the NLH, the Zoner & the Orderman on Grinders small five table dining patio.

Banger kneels again, this time at Eriksson, so that both men can share dead-level eye contact.

Sir, allow me to apologize for my angry exit today. Please understand that I am a human with high passions and an extremely fierce protective instinct for my people.

('Oh yeah, you're definitely high alright' his inner voice teased him.)

My actions earlier today reflect poorly on both the faction I am a member of, and the biosphere I administrate...furthermore, since I don't wear the NLH leader pants, it was not my place to allow my emotions to possibly jeopardize today's meeting...I was wrong, ('heh!! you said pants!!!') and I'm truly sorry.

Matthew stifles a snicker with a snort & does all he can not to smile & begin a snowball effect into another uncontrollable laughing fit.

I, uh, would be honored if you allow me to join you all for dinner & put the past behind us.

'But in the future' he reminds himself silently, 'if this deal goes green and ends up screwing us Corsair-style at some point while I'm alive, I'll force you to bite a curb on your knees & kick the back of your head till your eyes turn the color of an empty, soulless gray.'

"However, because of my actions, if you would prefer the absence of my company, I will understand & would not blame you in the least."