"Sorry 'bout that." Eli said as he collapsed into his chair. "Underneath all his arrogance, Rush knows he can't function without me." Eli blew on his nails and then brushed them on his shirt. "He had trouble getting his Kino to work, so I fixed it for him."

"Really? What was the problem?"

"It wasn't turned on." We both laughed. "So, how have things been around here?"

"Fairly quiet, I guess. I caught Greer and Dr. Park making out again."

Eli chuckled. "Ah, the joys of operating the Kinos, right?"

"Yeah. Especially when you get to see a certain Senator's daughter in the shower."

Eli's face got as red as his shirt. "Well, um, oh, who wouldn't want to see her in the shower, I mean, look at her! She's just so-" Eli stopped himself. "Well, if you were a guy, you'd totally understand."

"Oh, I understand, all right." I sighed. Men always go for the hot bodies and sexy faces. It's been that way for me ever since high school. I never got so much as a second glance as long as there was as least one affluent cheerleader in the room. Why should Eli be any different? "She's hot, so naturally, every guy within a ten kilometer radius wants to bone her."

"Oh, it's more than that. Trust me. It's her personality, her smarts. She's just the most amazing person I've ever met!"

"And yet, she doesn't feel the same way about you."

"Well..." Eli suddenly got a very confident look in his eyes. "Not yet, at any rate. But mock my words, my friend, as certain as Colonel Young and Doctor Rush hate each other, Chloe Armstrong will be mine!"

"Well, okay, if you're that certain."

"Oh, just you wait. Before you know it, I'll be introducing Chloe Wallace."

"Okay, okay. Well, I just hope you wind up happy."

"Yeah. Anyway, what does that Scott have that I don't?"

"Well, let's see here... a six-pack, military rank, the ability to fly any-"

"Okay, okay, I get the picture. Anyway, what about your love life. You got your eye on anyone?"

"Um, maybe." I couldn't help but blush.

"Really? Who is it?"

"Nope. Not saying."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to. Isn't that reason enough?"

"Can I at least guess?"

"Sure. But don't expect me to answer truthfully."

"Ah, you're no fun. How about this... we play twenty questions. But you have to be totally honest in your answers."

"Okay, but in return, you can only ask 'yes or no' questions."

"Deal. I'll figure out who he is. Uh, it is a 'he', right?"

"Yes, it is a 'he.' I'm not Dr. Wray. Okay, one down, nineteen to go."

"Wait a minuite. I didn't know the game had started yet."

"You asked a question about him, and I answered it."

"But... but... but..."

"But you'll be more careful with the other nineteen, right?"

((Author's note: Okay, I know that these two chapters are fairly far apart. I promise that Chapter 3 won't take nearly as long.))