As hard as she had worked to prepare them Lani never quite felt comfortable in the station quarters. It was hard to pin down what made her feel that way, but if she had to point to one factor she would have instantly named control. Unlike at the Tower or the Inn, she felt that there were too many unknown factors here. The layout was still unfamiliar, and she didn't have access to the same security systems as they had at home. She felt like she had been shut in a box, sealed in and tossed around a few times, then left floating along in a ditch.
But like any good mouse she had a backup plan. If she wasn't to be left with a copy of the station layout, well she'd just make her own. It was the same thing she had done when installing the camera's at the apartment she had set up for her Lord's pleasure. It still amazed her how quickly she had taken to the use of technology, and how indulgent Travanix tended to be when she asked for the use of this device or that. The one she had borrowed this time were two tiny tracking units equipped with cameras and a hand held holo-recording device.
Before beginning preparations for the meal the Lord had requested she set her pets to work. She had constructed special harnesses for the camera units allowing them to be carried on the back of the two tiny white mice that always accompanied the luggage when she traveled here. On previous trips to the station they had begun a basic map of the entrance and exit points accessible from the quarters there. This trip Lani intended to expand that to the surrounding sectors.
One mouse left through the ventilation ducts, the second through and electrical conduit. Lani switched on the audio for the camera units letting the little shuffling noises of the mice fill the silence of the quarters.
It was quite a surprise to hear security massing in the corridor outside. The voices were muffled, but she clearly heard the words "Travanix" "Treason" and "Execution" in the mix of idle chatter and gossip that waiting men were apt to. She sighed and turned off the heating unit under the simple stew she had been preparing.
"What a bother, I was looking forward to a good nights sleep." She slipped into the same air shaft the mouse had left by, taking the holo-recorder with her. It was easy to return to the habits of a mouse. Scurry away before one got caught. A trapped mouse could do nothing for herself or her Lord.
But like any good mouse she had a backup plan. If she wasn't to be left with a copy of the station layout, well she'd just make her own. It was the same thing she had done when installing the camera's at the apartment she had set up for her Lord's pleasure. It still amazed her how quickly she had taken to the use of technology, and how indulgent Travanix tended to be when she asked for the use of this device or that. The one she had borrowed this time were two tiny tracking units equipped with cameras and a hand held holo-recording device.
Before beginning preparations for the meal the Lord had requested she set her pets to work. She had constructed special harnesses for the camera units allowing them to be carried on the back of the two tiny white mice that always accompanied the luggage when she traveled here. On previous trips to the station they had begun a basic map of the entrance and exit points accessible from the quarters there. This trip Lani intended to expand that to the surrounding sectors.
One mouse left through the ventilation ducts, the second through and electrical conduit. Lani switched on the audio for the camera units letting the little shuffling noises of the mice fill the silence of the quarters.
It was quite a surprise to hear security massing in the corridor outside. The voices were muffled, but she clearly heard the words "Travanix" "Treason" and "Execution" in the mix of idle chatter and gossip that waiting men were apt to. She sighed and turned off the heating unit under the simple stew she had been preparing.
"What a bother, I was looking forward to a good nights sleep." She slipped into the same air shaft the mouse had left by, taking the holo-recorder with her. It was easy to return to the habits of a mouse. Scurry away before one got caught. A trapped mouse could do nothing for herself or her Lord.