"Dr. Lewis! What a pleasant surprise!" Rimma greeted. Lauren had decided to visit Rimma in her offices to discuss the progression of Bo's Tantra training.
"Your Serene Highness, am I interrupting you?" Lauren asked.
"Not at all. How may I help you?" Rimma replied as she directed Lauren towards a chair in front of her desk. Rimma came round her desk and sat in a chair opposite her.
"Again, I apologize. I know you have a ton of things to do for the Convocation." Lauren said.
"No worries. What's on your mind?" Rimma asked.
"Bo's Tantric training. How's that coming along?" Lauren asked. Rimma cocked her head slightly.
"Bo hasn't told you?" Rimma asked.
"Some things, but we've been so busy preparing for the Convocation that the only time we really see one another is at breakfast and dinner with the children." Lauren replied.
"I take I we can speak intimately here?" Rimma asked.
"I actually appreciate that I can speak with you and Dr. Prescotti quite comfortably about such things." Lauren replied.
"Bo informed me during our sessions you two are still not sharing a bed?" Rimma queried.
"No."
"It's going on two weeks hasn't it?"
"It's not because I don't want to, trust me, I do, I really, really do. It's just that…"
"Her snoring. Hasn't that situation improved?"
"The Seneschal told me there has been improvement with the exercises you taught her. Some days she does still snore, but then there are days she doesn't at all." Lauren replied.
"Glad to hear progress is happening."
"With the Convocation I want to make sure Bo and I are both successful so I'm being the hard one. But the reason why I'm here is that I…miss her, and so I want to know what I can do to help?"
"Miss her? As you two haven't been intimate?" Rimma asked.
"No, and that's because the intimacy and the snoring go hand and hand."
"Have you two thought about using bed companions?" Rimma asked.
"We've been down that road of a sort in the past."
"I understand. So you want to know what you can do to help Bo?"
"Yes."
"I could teach you some of the techniques I'm teaching Bo, but some of those techniques are very intimate, gratifying even. Would you be comfortable with that?" Rimma asked.
"Bo is learning so much about her own self that I want to learn the same skills so I can be closer to Bo." Lauren replied.
"I know Bo's primary motivation is so you allow her back into the bedroom." Rimma replied. Lauren smiled and blushed.
"If the Presidium can only cure snoring." Lauren said. Rimma smiled.
"There is another way, you know. More like an advantage for which you are uniquely suited for as a human."
"What's that?"
"An enchantment spell." Rimma replied.
"An enchantment spell?" Lauren repeated.
"It sounds like the exercises are having a positive impact in reducing Bo's snoring, but not enough for her to share your bed again. An enchantment spell may help shore up that gap, and afford you with an advantage that you might not have yet experienced intimately with Bo." Rimma explained.
"What's the advantage?"
"A temporary way where you can, under an enchantment spell, can equal or outmatch Bo intimately, even in her Succubus state."
"You're kidding?"
"No."
"Will I physically change in any way?" Lauren asked.
"No, you will simply call up an environment where she can be herself and yet you can handle her." Rimma replied.
"I have never heard of such a thing. In any event, I'm game. What do I need to do?" Lauren asked.
"Let's arrange for a time later this afternoon and we can start, is that alright with you?" Rimma asked.
"Absolutely! And thank you again, Rimma for taking the time and I'm sorry about disturbing you this morning." Lauren replied.
"No worries at all. I'll see you this afternoon." Rimma said. Lauren smiled then turned and left.
Later in the mid-day Lauren joined a conference call with her former staff at the JFM. They wanted her input on the clinical trials they were about to push through to Phase 3 as well as discuss the Transition plan and JFM's role in it.
"Thank you Dr. Lewis for taking the time to join us today." Dr. Danna said. Seated around the conference table on her side were Drs. Gardholt, Gallo, and Monteiro, and Dr. Danna's new deputy, Dr. Lina Rosati. On Lauren's side of the call she had only Dr. Stockely Easton in charge of Programs for Presidium Medical, and tapped to be the liaison with the JFM.
"Glad to see everyone again. Bo and I plan to visit the County after the Convocation and Installation ceremony are overwith. We need to stop and see her mother, and check on her regime." Lauren replied.
"I can do that if you'd like Dr. Lewis." Dr. Danna volunteered.
"Thank you, Abigail but we plan on using that trip to knock out our annual visit with the children." Lauren replied.
"The offer still stands if things change." Dr. Danna said.
"Thank you, Abigail. So how does everything look?" Lauren asked.
"Well, the investor meeting went extremely well. Grand Ducal Marquis was present along with Liam and Ryan to help soothe concerns, and now we are fully funded heading into market production." Dr. Gardholt reported.
"Good. Dr. Easton will serve as your point of contact if you need anything." Lauren replied.
"I look forward working with you all." Dr. Easton said.
"It's so weird to speak of these things now with the Transparency plan happening soon. It's like we are going through the motions." Lauren said.
"Work still needs to be done, and things could still change." Dr. Monteiro reminded.
"I agree. Once the Agency finishes cleaning up the dissenters with their purges we can move on." Dr. Gallo said.
"Purges? What purges?" Lauren asked.
"You're joking right?" Dr. Danna replied incredulous.
"No."
"You haven't heard?" Dr. Rosati asked.
"About purges? No!" Lauren replied as she quickly glanced at Dr. Easton whose face conveyed nothing.
"How could you not have heard? What do they have you living under? A communications rock?" Dr. Gardholt said.
"Clearly." Lauren replied.
"Her Royal Highness hasn't said anything?" Dr. Danna queried.
"Bo knows?" Lauren countered. Everyone looked around the table at one another then back at Lauren.
"I would find it hard to believe she didn't know." Dr. Danna replied
"I need to hear what's going on." Lauren said.
"If her Royal Highness hasn't said anything then I'm not sure…" Dr. Danna replied.
"Tell me what is going on!" Lauren insisted.
"I can only tell you what we see happening not why it's happening." Dr. Danna replied.
"That'll do." Lauren said.
After her conference call with the JFM Lauren returned to her offices, sat behind her desk and contemplated a thought. Then she called out to her staff assistant, Dyak Anissa Knut.
"Yes, Dr. Lewis?" Dyak Knut asked when she entered the office.
"Could you please get County Regent Tamsin on a call for me?" Lauren asked.
'Right away, Doctor." Dyak Knut replied and then left the room. A few minutes later she returned.
"County Regent Tamsin is standing by." Dyak Knut said.
"Thank you! Call on." The air shimmered and Tamsin's image appeared. Dyak Knut then stepped out of the room and closed the door.
"Hey Lauren! Great to see you!" Tamsin greeted.
"Great to see you too." Lauren replied.
"What can I do for you?" Tamsin asked.
"What's going on with these purges?" Lauren asked. Tamsin took in a deep breath.
"Tamsin?" Lauren prompted.
"Perhaps I should leave this to Bo. Not sure if I should fill you in." Tamsin replied.
"Bo's in a meeting now." Lauren said.
"Can't Dyson get into the middle of this?" Tamsin pouted.
"What is going on?" Lauren insisted.
"Apparently, any Fae deemed unsuitable or unwilling to adapt to Presidium rule are being purged along with their claimed humans. Some unclaimed humans have been caught up in the process." Tamsin replied.
"Caught up? You mean purged?" Lauren asked.
"Yes."
"Why wasn't I told?" Lauren asked.
"Bo said to keep you out it of it. Said you had alot going on, and you didn't need this on your mind."
"Bo did?"
"I just didn't get Bo into trouble did I?"
"She did that all by her lonesome. Thank you Tamsin. Talk to you later." Lauren replied and ended the call.
Lauren walked into Bo's outer offices and both Willa and Landon stood up.
"Dr. Lewis!" Willa said surprised.
"Is she in there?" Lauren asked without breaking her stride.
"Yes, but she's is in a meeting with the Special Staffs of Parliament and..." Willa started but Lauren had already passed her and opened the doors.
Lauren saw Bo seated at her conference table in the middle of a discussion. Her back was to the door. The staff facing the door saw Lauren first and stood up which made Bo turn and look.
"Lauren! What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Bo asked.
"Why haven't you told me about the purges?" Lauren asked. Bo stood up from the table.
"Would you excuse us for a few minutes?" Bo said to everyone. Willa quickly moved everyone into the next room. After all the doors closed Bo turned to face Lauren.
"Why haven't you told me about the purges going on back home?" Lauren repeated.
"We've been sleeping apart for over a week now." Bo replied.
"Bo!"
"Had to get it in there." Bo took a deep breath. "I wanted to respect the fact that you wanted to focus on your work here at Presidium Medical."
"Bo…!"
"We have a handle on it."
"This is about our home!"
"How did you find out, anyway?"
"Abigail and Hollis."
"Should've covered my bases there."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nevermind. I have a plan to deal with it."
"Oh, and what plan is that?"
"Like I said I have it covered."
"Are you punishing me now by not sharing information with me because we are sleeping apart?"
"Not at all, Lauren!"
"Then why not tell me how you have it covered?"
"Because you are right, you need to focus on your work here, and I'm just trying to respect that."
"I want to know Bo!"
"Fine! I have Kenzi going back to investigate."
"Kenzi's heading back?" Lauren asked.
"Yes." Bo replied.
"Then I should as well."
"What? No!"
"Look, I need to get back and see Mary anyway. And I'll take the children with me so they can visit. Plus, I can get a first-hand look at the clinical trials, and in doing so, maybe I can help do something to stop these purges, or stem the tide at least." Lauren replied.
"Kenzi can handle…" Bo started but then Landon walked in.
"Your Royal Highness, Dr. Lewis, apologies, but the Teutorigos Delegation awaits." Landon reported.
"You've made your decision and I've made mine. You can go back to your meeting now." Lauren said and headed for the door.
"Lauren!" Bo called out. Lauren kept walking. Bo shoulders sank.
