Deref

Artie pulled up to the kerb, killed the Pinto's motor, and looked around cautiously.

"At last." he thought, "A nice neighbourhood, no grays to be seen. For once I might just be able to make a delivery without meeting any of...them."

He reached over to the back seat and grabbed the hot pack. Two pizzas, a small vegetarian with no cheese and a large pepperoni with extra anchovies. He read the name on the card: "Quinn Morgendorffer."

Feeling a little more relaxed than he had since he started work he walked up the path and rung the bell. The door opened. You couldn't be too careful. They were shape changers, but if she was one of them, their technology had improved out of sight.

"Finally. I'm starving." she said as he removed the pizzas from the hot pack. "How much do I owe you?"

Artie swallowed. "Um, sixteen-fifty miss, er, Morgendorffer."

She handed over a twenty and, as he reached down for the change she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Artie fainted.

"Quick - help me get him inside." she said. Two green-sleeved arms appeared and, together, they dragged the prostrate form inside.

"I'll get his pants off. You get the probe."

Ten minutes later he was standing catatonically outside the door, dressed but still unconscious, the cooling hot pack under his arm. "This is too easy." said Quinn. "The memory implants and dependancy routines are working perfectly."

"Those three preliminary tests were perfect. I think we can proceed to full implementation. Wake him up."

Quinn leaned over and kissed him on the cheek again. His eyes snapped open and he turned to see her standing in front of him, the light from inside framing her like an angel in one of those European paintings. He blushed.

"Can I get you a soda, Quinn?" he panted.