Woo yeah! You have obvioulsy been waiting to tear into thie part of the story. Every single point where you set up the situation previously fits neatly into the dialogue now - and even more importantly, the readers have already been to the Empire (so to speak) while we in Furriston are yet to find out what kind of fire we're about to get our fur singed by. (Except Roger, he's a rhino and his hide's too tough to singe ^_^) I love the way you have my tomcat and i already hitched ^__^ Are you gonna get our son into something complicated during our visit to the Empire? :)

He will meet Styral Beers. And you think Jack Daniels was trouble!

Jack Daniels *is* trouble. You mean Styral is MORE? O_o

Well, first he befriends Eugene. Eugene, having little to do while in the Empire, goes with Styral on a night on the town, little realizing much of what is illegal in Furriston he is fully of age to do here.

I don't have TOO much sin and vice planned for the story, as one of the drinks Styral encourages Eugene to take (intended to enhance the viewing of a fight) flattens the cat. It is, by the way, one of myriad drinks from the Empire that can NOT be legally found in Furriston.

It's probably a good thing for Eugene, since Styral takes him to Deltarg Koor to recover, rather than to where Styral intended to take him... a public bath where getting clean is just about an afterthought.

Oh my goodness *^_^* Well don't let our son get in too much trouble, or you'll have a couple of suspicious felines to answer to!

Oh, he won't get in TOO much trouble, although Styral's hardly going to be a good influence on Eugene, either here or later on. As I said, Eugene has the good fortune to get hooched before Styral can entice Eugene into too much sin.

Writing a protagonist that has a load of bad habits is a lot more fun than writing one who is cast in the "poor little angel" trope, don't you agree?

More fun for the author, yes ^_^ But the characters who run afoul of those bad habits... well they might take exception to that statement. >_O

*Rubs paws and grins evilly.* I do have plans for a scene where Eugene floors Styral for getting Eugene into something Eugene objects to.

I shall say no more. ^^

Now you got *me* anticipating the next chapter! ^_^

I'm glad. :) Did the computer I dream up sound plausible, Techmaster?

Oh, indeed, quite plausible! The only odd thing (in the eyes of the rest of the world) would be why the Empire would still be using such antiquated devices, and you've already explained that.

One very minor note: If the machine's designer, Billy Gandeson, is sitill alive and employed at CED (indeed, even if he's retired) the company would get him involved. >=)

Hadn't really thought of Billy Gandeson being still alive; he COULD get involved, except the Empire really restricts who has access to it. Citizens may come and go as they please; outsiders must be vouched for by citizens of the Empire. Roger Tuska will be vouched for by his cousin. Gene and his family could either be vouched for by Donald Clydesdale, who was given citizenship by the Emperor himself in gratitude for a long-time friendship, the House of Lynxen via their Furriston cousins or... I'm getting ahead of myself here. >=)

Billy Gandeson has no such ties, and didn't make a great impression the first time around, so gaining a voucher is unlikely.